Chapter 14 Chapter 14 She gestured to put it in her bowl, and he insisted...
Chen Jinshi paused as he put food into her bowl, glanced across the table, raised an eyebrow at the person who spoke, and then smiled: "It's my duty."
Chen Ying glanced at him and didn't see anything wrong, thinking that no one had annoyed him.
The crowd was filled with congratulations and casual conversation, and the atmosphere was very lively for a while.
Chen Ying was talking to a guest when Chen Jinshi handed her another chopstick of shrimp. She gestured to put it in her bowl, but he insisted on handing it to her mouth.
Everyone started to make a fuss again, saying things like how Shi Ge'er was sensible and filial, and how he understood and cared about her.
His smile became more and more smug, and she had no choice but to cover her lips and open her mouth to catch it. Her fingertips gently pinched his waist under the table, signaling him to behave himself.
However, he held her hand with his left hand and scratched her palm with his fingertips, as if trying to please her but also as if to provoke her.
Chen Ying suddenly pulled her hand back, her face changing slightly. He was teasing her again.
Has teasing her become his habit lately?
She used her eyes to warn him to be quiet, and he curled the corners of his lips slightly, raised his eyebrows slightly, and chuckled twice.
Chen Jichuan was chatting animatedly with his old friends. Occasionally, he glanced over and saw the two of them like this. He told Chen Jinshi, "Take good care of your mother."
Chen Jinshi responded loudly: "Got it!"
Chen Ying just felt uncomfortable all over and wanted to sit farther away from him.
Chen Jinshi added some warm water to her cup and whispered in her ear, "Amu, don't drink. I prepared this warm water for you. My father also drinks this."
Chen Ying frowned and looked at him. The hot breath from his voice brushed against her earlobe. Chen Ying felt a tingling sensation on her back and frowned at him.
"Ahem."
The two turned around and saw Chen Jinxing standing behind them.
Chen Jinshi had an expression that said "What are you doing here?", and Chen Ying's face turned a little red.
Chen Jinxing raised his glass towards Chen Ying and gave her a toast: "Auntie has done so much for the Chen family and patiently taught me medical skills. Chen Jinxing will remember this for the rest of his life and will never forget it..."
Seeing him say these words seriously, Shen Ying felt uncomfortable. She was just doing what she should do.
Someone at the banquet had drunk a bit too much and chuckled, "Jinxing, there's no need to talk about this. You didn't see General Chen rescue Dulan and her family back then, but we on horseback all saw it. Dulan looked at your father with such fascination, she was filled with admiration. She kowtowed to him and insisted on following him even if she died. We all joked at the time that the general should just accept her offer of love, but they didn't mean that."
When people drank too much, they talked about the past incessantly.
Chen Jinxing smiled and said that he only did what he should do and it had nothing to do with what his father did. His mother treated him well, so he should be grateful.
Chen Jinshi buried his head, his fingertips toying with the wine glass, twirling it around and around. For a moment, he was very quiet, his eyelashes drooping low, covering the depression surging in his eyes, sometimes piercing out with a cold and sharp gaze, then quickly suppressing it.
Someone called out to him, "Speaking of which, Dulan took care of Shi Ge'er the most. Shi Ge'er was so naughty when he was little."
Chen Ying quickly signaled the man to speak less. Chen Jinshi hated to hear this the most. Besides, who wasn't naughty when they were little? Who would like to hear such words when they grow up?
Chen Jinshi raised his wine glass, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, a faint smile in the corners of his eyes, and said to Shen Ying: "Chen Jinshi will naturally repay you with gratitude."
When the sun outside the window had set and only some afterglow remained, Chen Jichuan said goodbye to several old friends. Chen Ying stood in the corridor to see him off, and Chen Jinshi handed him a cloak.
She took the cloak and put it on. The maids invited from outside were clearing away the cups and plates. He walked over to her, chewing on a sweet-scented osmanthus cake in his hand. Seeing that she was staring at the courtyard in a daze, he handed her a piece.
She shook her head gently: "Thank you, I don't want to eat."
Chen Jinshi was stunned and withdrew his hand.
She was also slightly startled. She thought he would force her to eat, or at least would not give up.
She turned her head to look at him, and at one glance, her sight was caught by him. How could someone's gaze be like a rope, once it met hers, it would be held tightly.
She dodged slightly, and he asked her, "Am I really that naughty and do I bother you that much?"
Chen Ying was stunned. She wasn't really worried. She was just doing her best for him. It wasn't like she couldn't live if he killed her or made her useless.
But she tried her best to prevent him from becoming like that and to guide him in a good direction. Now it seems that the results are obvious and she is quite satisfied. In that case, there is no need to say any more unpleasant words.
She shook her head slightly and said with a smile: "Nothing."
In the following days, Chen Jinshi rarely went to the academy. However, the academy's director, Mr. Wang, did not dare to care about him, so the mansion did not notice this matter.
He went out at noon every day and came home at noon. He greeted her normally and occasionally went to her shop, so she didn't notice anything wrong.
Little did they know that Chen Jinshi had been practicing swords and sticks in the martial arts arena all day long, and had neglected his studies for quite some time.
Chen Jichuan fell ill again, catching everyone off guard.
Chen Ying took his pulse, walked out of the room, shook her head at Chen Jinxing, and whispered to him, avoiding Chen Jichuan, "One to three months."
Chen Jinxing's eyebrows drooped and his back bent slightly. In fact, this was already expected.
Chen Jichuan suffered lung damage in his early years, with wounds in his chest and abdomen. While his martial arts career brought him immense honor, it also brought him immense harm. Therefore, Chen Jichuan preferred to have his family remain commoners for generations rather than have his children become martial artists.
Chen Jinxing paused for a moment and comforted Chen Ying, "Mom, we've already made preparations. Everything will proceed as usual, okay?"
Chen Ying nodded: "Okay."
The coffin was prepared last year, so Chen Jichuan should be happy that he can pick up things for another year.
Chen Jinshi hurried back from the outskirts of the city without even having time to change his clothes, and his body was covered in dust from the gravel ground.
"slim Shady--"
He saw her sitting under a tree in the garden in a daze. Every day when he came back, he would see her sitting under the tree with her father. They always had endless things to talk about, one rocking in a rocking chair while the other was doing needlework.
The scene that he used to dislike the most now made him want to see it a few more times, and it would be best if it could stay like that for the rest of his life.
When she heard him calling her, she supported her forehead with her palm and turned her head, her eyes full of fatigue. Chen Jichuan's illness was a big blow to her.
Looking at the dust on his body and the sweat on his forehead, it was not difficult to know what he was doing outside.
She turned her head again, and Chen Jinshi saw the disappointment that flashed across her eyes, and his heart ached.
He squatted in front of her, took her hand and held it against his chest.
She didn't move.
"slim Shady--"
She turned back and looked down at him.
His palm was very big, completely covering her palm, which was not small to begin with.
"I will always be with you, don't be afraid."
She shook her head slightly.
His eyes were firm, he squeezed her hand, and stood up: "I'll go see him."
Chen Ying did not completely give up on Chen Jichuan. She locked herself in the room, boiling medicine and preparing prescriptions day after day. She also called Chen Jinxing over and discussed with him day and night.
Although Chen Jinxing knew that there was little hope, he still did as she instructed.
Until she suddenly thought of some strange prescription and wanted to give it to Chen Jichuan to try, but Chen Jinxing stopped her: "Mom, the most important thing right now is to let father get through this comfortably."
After hearing this, Chen Ying felt a little deflated. This was indeed the fact, so why bother him anymore?
For the rest of his life, Chen Jichuan did whatever he wanted and ate whatever he wanted.
Chen Jinyun has reached the age of being a governor, and Chen Jichuan feels even more headache when looking at her. If he had to say who he treated the most unfairly, it would be his daughter. His late wife died after giving birth to his daughter, which led to him not wanting to visit her for a long time.
Fortunately, Chen Jinxing and Chen Jinshi took good care of her, and Shen Ying also treated her very well. Chen Jinyun had no impression of her biological mother at all, but was very affectionate towards Shen Ying.
But Chen Jichuan didn't have the nerve to ask Chen Ying to help him take care of the child for so long. He felt very guilty about wasting four years of her best years.
"When I'm gone, I'll have Jinxing get married, and other people will take care of the household affairs. Dulan, you can stay in Jinling or go back to Loufan, it's up to you. Don't worry about what the second brother says."
Xie Qingyue was very busy with camp affairs and only recently found the opportunity to come to Jinling to visit his master Chen Jichuan.
Chen Ying didn't even have time to prepare to entertain him, he just came.
Xie Qingyue saw her and bowed: "I have heard from Master that an elder like you has come to the mansion. Qingyue greets Aunt Shen."
Chen Ying was stunned and pulled him up. She was surprised at how strong his arms were, as hard as iron.
She led him to the backyard, chattering along the way: "The general has been ill for some time. It's an unfortunate time for you to come. I was planning to treat you well."
“Aunt Shen, there’s no need to be so polite. I’m late.”
When the two men arrived at Chen Jichuan's door, Chen Jinshi happened to come out. He was much younger than Xie Qingyue, who was two years older than Chen Jinshi.
If it weren't for this relationship, Xie Qingyue would never call Chen Ying aunt. The two of them are almost the same age, and the difference is far from enough to be considered as seniority.
Chen Jinxing frowned and looked at the man who came. He had seen this man when he was a child, but who was his status and why did he call Chen Ying so affectionately.
Xie Qingyue was a whole head taller than Chen Jinxing, with shoulders as broad as iron plates. He had the noble bearing of a noble family and was dressed in brocade clothes. Chen Jinshi disliked him very much.
Xie Qingyue didn't care. He reached out and touched Chen Jinshi's head: "Brother Shi, you have grown so tall."
Chen Jinshi calmly avoided the question and said, "My father just went to bed."
Xie Qingyue was stunned: "It's unfortunate, then I..."
Chen Ying opened the door and invited him in: "General usually doesn't sleep at this time, let's go in quietly."
As she said this, she glared at Chen Jinshi.
As soon as the two of them entered, Chen Jichuan was indeed awake.
Chen Ying went around the room to light the lamps and said, "Why is this room so dark? It's like daytime, but it's nighttime."
Xie Qingyue came to the bedside and looked at his haggard master lying on the bed, feeling sad.
Chen Ying patted his shoulder and signaled him not to look too sad, as everyone had been prepared for this.
Xie Qingyue came back to his senses and smiled at Chen Jichuan: "Master, look, this is a new firearm developed by our Shenjiying."
As he spoke, Chen Ying discovered that he had a musket on his waist.
Chen Jichuan was indeed in the mood, and the two of them chatted for a long time while holding the musket.
They also talked about how powerful that thing was, how far its range was, and how useful it was in warfare.
Chen Ying was not interested in these things, so she pushed the door open and went out. Chen Jinshi, dressed in cloth, was standing at the door waiting for her.
He glanced inside the door and said to her, "He's already so old, yet he calls you so affectionately."
Chen Ying looked at him with a cold face: "Chen Jinshi."
Chen Jinshi shut up and sat down in the outer room with an annoyed look on his face.
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