197. Good People

The wind is cold and bleak.

Chen Ji stepped over the threshold of the back hall of the Chen Mansion and strode away without looking back.

After going through many things, when Chen Ji looked back at Chen Wenxiao, he felt that the other party was just a very small trouble, like a small stone on the road, which could be kicked away when passing by, or not.

But Chen Ji holds a grudge.

Outside the back hall of the Chen Mansion, Chen Wenxiao was pinned down on a long bench by the servants, but the servants were hesitant to hit him.

Chen Liqin stood on the steps and said in a stern tone, "Fight him, why not?"

The two servants looked at each other while holding their whistles, and then secretly glanced at Liang.

Chen Liqin followed their gazes, warily looking towards Liang, then rushed forward, grabbed the baton, and struck Chen Wenxiao hard on the buttocks: "What is 'benevolence'?"

Chen Wenxiao was so focused on howling in pain that he couldn't answer the question. Or perhaps, even if he hadn't been hit by the whistle, he still wouldn't have been able to answer.

Off to the side, Chen Wenzong whispered, "The Master said, 'The nature of mountains is benevolence, and benevolence nourishes all things.' Being simple and generous, treating others with sincerity, and being willing to help others—this is benevolence." Chen Liqin pressed the issue again, "What is 'righteousness'?"

Chen Wenxiaotao burst into tears: "Yi——————loyalty to those above, benevolence to those below!"

Chen Wenzong said, "The Master said, 'A gentleman is concerned with righteousness, while a mean man is concerned with profit. Wealth and honor gained through unrighteousness are like floating clouds to me. Righteousness is conscience, it is morality.'"

Chen Liqin pressed the issue again: "What is 'ritual'?"

This Luocheng Tongzhi usually worked on the riverbank, and if there was a flood, he would carry sacks of mud and earth on his shoulders. He was tanned and had tremendous strength in his hands.

Chen Wenxiao was nearly suffocated by the three blows, so he had no time to reply: "Mother, mother, save me——"

Before he finished speaking, Chen Wenzong whispered, "A father's kindness makes his son filial; a brother's friendship makes his younger brother respectful; a ruler's benevolence makes his subjects righteous. Husband and wife have distinctions, elders and juniors have order, friends have trust, and ethics are etiquette."

When Chen Liqin heard the words "father is kind and son is filial", his expression changed, and then he hit him hard with a stick, without asking any more questions.

Chen Wenxiao lay on the bench, wailing loudly, "Father, this is strange! Chen Ji just got back, and Yunyang and Jiaotu are already here. He must have colluded with these two."

Chen Liqin knew that Jiaotu and Yunyang had come to warn him. This was not something Chen Ji could interfere with, so it naturally had nothing to do with him.

He flew into a rage: "How dare you throw dirty water on your own brother!"

Liang looked at his fierce expression and quickly stepped forward: "Master——"

Chen Liqin snarled, "No one is allowed to plead for this beast today!"

Liang was silent for two seconds, then quickly said, "I'm not trying to plead for Wenxiao. Now that I know Wenxiao has committed a grave error and wronged Chen Ji, I will definitely make it up to him in the future. Wenxiao, quickly apologize to your father!"

Chen Wenxiao cried hurriedly, "Father, I know I was wrong! I won't do it again!"

Chen Liqin's expression softened slightly, and he dropped his whistle a little slower. "Chen Ji lost his mother at a young age, which was already unfortunate. How could you, as his brother, have the heart to treat him like this? Furthermore, you've incurred huge losses gambling over the years, and have developed bad habits. Therefore, I will ground you to your room before the imperial examination. You are not allowed to go out alone anymore!"

Liang agreed, "Master, rest assured. I will keep a strict watch on Wenxiao and will not allow him to leave the house. As for Chenji, I will be very considerate and will find him the best teacher and the best marriage. I will also provide him with the best food, clothing, and other necessities.

The same applies to asking about the month's silver and asking about one's clan and filial piety."

Chen Liqin's expression softened again, and the whistle stick in his hand was raised in the air, and finally stopped falling.

Seeing his father stop, Chen Wenxiao immediately took advantage of the situation and climbed up from the bench. "Don't worry, father. I will definitely change for the better from now on."

Chen Wenzong frowned: "Who told you to get up?"

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, took the whistle baton from Chen Liqin's hand, and snatched it away fiercely: "What is 'wisdom'?"

Chen Wenxiao cried out in grief, "Ah! Brother, what are you doing?!"

Chen Wenzong angrily asked, "I ask you, what is 'wisdom'? Answer me!"

At this moment, another servant came running up, saying, "Master, the prefect, Mr. Zhang, is here with his children."

Chen Liqin frowned: "What is he doing here?"

The servant bowed his head and said, "I don't know, and Master Zhang didn't say anything either."

Chen Liqin raised his hand to stop Chen Wenzong: "Don't rush to fight, don't let outsiders see you and laugh at you."

But Chen Wenzong ignored him and just grabbed the whistle stick and asked, "What is 'faith'?"

Seeing this, Chen Liqin sighed inwardly.

He instructed Liang, "I'll go to the door to greet him. Don't ask Zhang Zhuo to come to the back hall."

Chen Ji walked along the winding path to the back house. He returned to Tingquan Garden, looked at the tiles and blue bricks all over the yard, then sat down on a good blue brick and began to daze.

Wuyun lightly jumped onto his knees and meowed, "Are you relieved?"

Chen Ji propped his chin up, his eyes fixed on the corner of the yard as he casually replied, "It's not about whether I'm angry or not. Chen Liqin wouldn't be willing to kill Chen Wenxiao, and Liang is a woman of great eloquence, so she won't do anything to Chen Wenxiao. As the saying goes, every naughty child has his own naughty parents. If they had been willing to use such brutal force, Chen Wenxiao wouldn't be like this."

Wuyun thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go lick all their snacks and then shit on Chen Wenxiao's pillow!"

Chen Ji was in awe: "Very fierce!"

"Hehehe."

"Hehehe."

At this moment, Wu Yun looked at the messy yard and said, "What should we do here? If you clean it up by yourself, it will probably take two or three days."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "No need, someone will come to clean it up."

The clouds darkened for a moment: "Is there such a good person in the Chen Mansion?"

Chen Ji patted its head and said, "Don't worry. We will be interacting with the Chen family more often in the future. I will teach them how to be good people."

At the gate of the Chen Mansion, Chen Liqin greeted him with a bow. "Master Zhang, you have been my neighbor for several years, but you are still a rare guest in my Chen Mansion. Why did you think of me today?"

Zhang Zhuo smiled and said, "Master Chen's words are full of sarcasm. If outsiders heard this, they would think that there has been a long-standing feud within the Luocheng government. Zhang Zheng, Zhang Xia, quickly present the gifts you brought, lest Master Chen blame us, the Zhang family, for being impolite."

Chen Liqin twitched his beard and asked, "Master Zhang, why are you being sarcastic?"

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, "Master Chen, you're overthinking it. I'm not here to visit you."

Chen Liqin asked, "What's the purpose of Mr. Zhang's visit?"

Zhang Zhuo asked curiously, "Today, with nothing to do at the government office, I went to the Taiping Clinic to play chess with Chen Ji. But when I got there, I found it locked and sealed. I thought carefully, he had nowhere else to go, so he must have returned to the Chen Mansion. Has he returned?"

Chen Liqin breathed a sigh of relief: "He's back. He's settled down in the mansion."

Zhang Zhuo let out a long "oh" and walked inside, pulling Chen Liqin's arm.

The master said: "Come on, Master Chen, take me to find him."

Chen Liqin frowned.

Zhang Zhuo acted as if he hadn't noticed his expression. He smiled and jokingly said, "Master Chen, he used to have a lot of grievances against the Chen Mansion and refused to come back. Now that he has finally returned, you, as a father, must stop being confused."

Chen Liqin was slightly annoyed: "I naturally know how to be a parent. I don't need Master Zhang to teach me."

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard and said, "Oh, I was just too talkative."

Chen Liqin led Zhang Zhuo into the mansion, and Liang was waiting on the road with two maids.

She clasped her hands loosely together and bowed to her right ribs, "Master Zhang."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, my wife always wants to invite you to go to Tuoluo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. When our two families have free time, we should go out together more often and don't get bored in this Chen Mansion."

Liang smiled slightly and said, "I will follow Master Zhang's orders."

Zhang Zhuo didn't say much and pulled Chen Liqin to continue walking inside.

Liang asked curiously, "Where are you going with Master Zhang?"

Chen Liqin explained, "Master Zhang had previously met Chen Ji at the Taiping Clinic. They became chess buddies, regardless of age difference, and now he's come to Chen Ji to play chess and relieve his boredom. Madam, please go to the lake to get some tea, which will be brought back to Chen Ji's residence later. Please don't neglect Master Zhang."

Liang's expression changed slightly, and she bowed her head and saluted deeply, "I understand, but someone has just moved into Chen Ji's place, and I'm afraid there aren't enough tables and chairs for so many people. How about the master take Master Zhang to the study, and I'll call Chen Ji over."

Zhang Zhuo seemed to be lost in thought.

Before he could speak, Zhang Xia suddenly said, "Don't bother, Auntie. I'm familiar with Chen Ji, and I'd feel more at ease in his garden."

Liang smiled gently and said, "Miss Zhang Er is still unmarried, so it might be inappropriate for her to stay in Chenji's room."

Zhang Xia looked Liang up and down, then smiled gently, "Aunt, you're worrying too much. I have my father and brother with me. If anyone dares to gossip, my father and brother will skin him alive."

Zhang Zheng said cheerfully, "That's right!"

At this moment, a mournful cry was heard from deep within the house. Zhang Xia looked around for the sound, "What's that sound? Is the Chen family punishing the servants today?"

Chen Liqin's face darkened, and he hurriedly led the way: "Today, a servant in the mansion broke the rules, and I am asking the housekeeper to discipline him. Master Zhang,

This way, please."

Several people walked through the deep courtyard and came to Tingquan Garden.

Chen Liqin pushed the door open and walked in, only to see Chen Ji sitting on two green bricks in a daze, holding Wu Yun in his arms.

At this moment, Chen Liqin looked at the ruined courtyard and stood there.

Zhang Zhuo was also shocked. He walked into the yard, looked left and right, then took a few quick steps and pushed open the wooden door of the main house, revealing tables, chairs and benches piled up randomly inside.

He turned back in shock and said, "Master Chen, if your Chen Mansion cannot accommodate a bastard, then you can adopt him to me. My Zhang Mansion can accommodate him.

Chen Liqin opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time. He slowly looked at Chen Ji, his throat dry: "You—"

Chen Ji stood up hurriedly and said, "Master Chen, I didn't expect such a distinguished guest to visit. I'm sorry for being so rude. I'll clean up the yard right away."

Chen Liqin leaned against the door frame, turned his head and stared at Liang for a long time. After weighing the pros and cons, he slowly said, "It must be that the servants in the mansion misheard the arrangement."

Liang understood and quickly shouted to the maid, "Call the housekeeper. I clearly arranged for Chen Ji to live in Mingquan Garden. Why did he bring Chen Ji to Tingquan Garden? Is this how he usually does things?"