Go to Beijing? Demand an explanation.
Chen Yaozu was taken aback at first upon hearing this, but then some images flashed through his mind, and the resentment on his face immediately dissipated by most. He hunched over slightly and shrank back a little, pouting as he complained:
"Demand an explanation? You make it sound so easy! If she were afraid of us demanding an explanation, would I have suffered these past few years?"
He's probably already living the high life as the young master of Gan Kee!
How could Chen Danian not know the reason why his son said that?
Previously, when Gan Li had just started to make a fortune, they had considered this idea before. They thought that Gan Li, as a businessman, would naturally care about his reputation, so they made a scene a few times.
However, neither he nor his son Chen Yaozu gained any advantage from Gan Li; instead, they lost all their reputation!
Chen Yaozu was still complaining: "We didn't get any advantage before, let alone now! Now she's a favorite of the new emperor, and dealing with us is as easy as crushing an ant!"
Chen Danian's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, but he immediately shook his head: "No! The past is the past, and the present is the present. In the past, in a small place like Cangxi Town, she was just a small business owner. To put it bluntly, she was still a peasant and didn't care about face."
But things are different now. The nobles in the capital are extremely concerned with their image; they'll have to be more careful there! You're her own son; if she doesn't want to be a laughingstock, she'll have to keep an eye on you!
is that so?
Chen Yaozu was somewhat persuaded, but he still couldn't muster any enthusiasm:
"Even so, it's no use! The journey to the capital is a long way, and we're barely scraping by. Where are we going to get the travel expenses to get there?"
Chen Danian: "..." That's a good question.
That year, because of his tarnished reputation, he could no longer make a living in Cangxi Town. He took his son and left, thinking that with his scholar's degree, he would not starve to death no matter what.
Unfortunately, he was unlucky and happened to be caught in a period of upheaval. During this turbulent time, his limited education was not enough to support him and his son, and they were forced to beg for a living.
It's not that they don't have decent work, but the father and son are both lazy and proud, and simply refuse to lower themselves to do any hard work...
Now that a way out has finally appeared, Chen Danian gritted his teeth and decided to give it his all!
"Tomorrow, let's go out and find some work! We'll work for a while, save up some travel money, and then we'll head to the capital!"
Chen Danian made up his mind that this time, he would do any dirty or tiring job as long as there was money to be made!
Once we get back to the capital, my son will benefit. How could I possibly abandon him? I'll suffer this once, but I'll be happy for the rest of my life!
Chen Yaozu looked at his father in surprise. His initial hesitation disappeared when he saw his father's determined expression.
He slapped his thigh and declared, "I'll do as you say!"
Let's get right to it.
The next day, the father and son went out to find work.
Unfortunately, they had been wandering for a long time and were not very presentable. As soon as they stepped into the shop, before they could even ask if the shopkeeper needed them, the shopkeeper covered his mouth and nose and chased them away in disgust.
They had no choice but to go to the dock.
The dock manager didn't look down on them and gave them a chance. However, the father and son together couldn't even lift a bag of sand... Amidst the mocking gazes of the crowd, the two covered their faces and fled.
Is it really true that there are no jobs they can do?
The father and son squatted dejectedly by the roadside.
The chilly autumn wind carried a few words past the two of them.
"Have you heard? The old man who empties the chamber pot took a nasty fall yesterday while he was working. I heard he fractured his tailbone and will need to rest for a while. They're looking for someone to replace him, and I heard they're offering quite a bit of money."
"Ha, this kind of work, you'll get used to it after a few days. If you don't pay more, who will do it?"
"Are you interested, brother?"
"Pah! Pah! Pah! How uncivilized! If we couldn't survive, who would want to go door to door collecting people's excrement every day!"
The two walked away chatting and laughing, leaving only the father and son standing at the foot of the wall, staring at each other slowly...
Six months later, after pushing the night soil he had collected all night to the designated location, Chen Danian hurriedly went to collect his wages for the month.
As soon as the manager saw him coming, he waved to him from afar, then covered his nose and threw a string of coins at him.
He was radiating disgust, but Chen Danian didn't care at all. He took the money and walked back excitedly.
Back in the thatched hut, he pulled a clay pot from under the bed and poured out a pile of copper coins.
For the first time ever, Chen Yaozu didn't sleep today. The two of them sat head to head, their butts sticking out, counting the copper coins, their faces beaming with barely suppressed excitement.
"We've finally saved enough for the journey! Dad, can we go to the capital now?"
Chen Danian's mouth was practically stretched from ear to ear. Hearing his son's words, he nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "We'll leave tomorrow!"
Although it sounds a bit rushed, he had been preparing for this day for a full six months! During those six months, while others were still sleeping, he and his son would get up and push a cart, going from house to house throughout the city emptying chamber pots...
Not only did they have to endure the stench, but they also had to endure the ridicule of others.
If it weren't for the support of his belief in the capital, he would have given up long ago!
Now that he has saved enough for the journey, he doesn't want to wait a moment longer!
So early the next morning, Chen Danian took his travel money, led his son, and set off towards the capital!
...
In the sweltering heat of summer, the two finally arrived in the capital.
Looking at the bustling capital city before him, Chen Yaozu felt both excited and inferior. He tugged at his worn-out clothes and whispered to his father:
"Father, shall we go straight to the Gan residence?"
Along the way, while they were busy traveling, they did not forget to inquire about the situation of Gan Li and the others in the capital.
For reasons unknown, Gan Li publicly refused the honor of being granted the title of princess by the new emperor, saying that she did not have such great ambitions and only wanted to do small business and live a life of leisure and wealth.
Although the new emperor reluctantly agreed after she declined, he still showed Gan Li considerable favor. He not only gave her the title of the number one imperial merchant in the Great Jing Dynasty, but also bestowed upon her a mansion in the capital, along with countless servants and maids.
As soon as Chen Danian and his son arrived in the capital, they inquired about the situation and location of the Gan family. Chen Yaozu was already eager to enjoy the unprecedented wealth and luxury.
He looked at his father expectantly, but Chen Danian shook his head:
“Things are different now. She has so many people under her command. If we go directly to her mansion and she drags us in and secretly kills us, no one will know!”
Chen Yaozu trembled upon hearing this, and exclaimed in horror, "No, no way..."
"Who knows? That bitch is ruthless by nature. What wouldn't she do to save face?"
As Chen Danian spoke, he revealed the idea he had already come up with: "This matter cannot be kept quiet; the more people who know, the better! Therefore, we cannot go to her residence; we must go to Gan Ji's."
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