Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Born stubborn, silent admonition...
After Chen Jinshi left, Chen Jinxing came over to pay his respects.
After greeting each other, the two had breakfast together and discussed the preparation of medicine. The preparation of "Jiuzhen Pills" was put on the agenda, and other matters were put on hold for the time being.
Earlier, Chen Ying had sought an opportunity to tell Chen Jichuan about this, but unexpectedly, Chen Jichuan just laughed it off and comforted her, saying, "Even if you want to open your own shop in the future, it's okay to use this secret recipe. Dulan, you have never been an outsider."
Although the name Chen Ying was given to her by Chen Jichuan, Chen Jichuan always liked to call her by her old name "Dulan".
"We're still missing one kind of agarwood. The ones in the mansion's medicine storehouse are not of good enough quality. Jinxing, go get the horse, and we'll look for it in the counter."
Chen Jinxing replied "yes", turned around and went to the stable to get the horse and harness the carriage.
Chen Ying got into the carriage, and Chen Jinxing sat in the front driving the carriage. A wooden sign with the words "Chen's Pharmacy" hung next to the shaft, with gold letters on a black background, shining in the sun.
The shopkeepers of the Chen family's several medicine shops all respected Shen Ying very much. When they saw the carriage coming from afar, someone came forward to set up the horse stools and shouted:
"Boss Shen is here, everyone cheer up."
When Chen Ying first arrived, several of the older shopkeepers were dissatisfied with her, and her position within the Chen family was somewhat awkward. Later, Chen Jichuan suppressed the gossip and simply handed over all the Chen family business to her, and replaced the shopkeepers who had always had ulterior motives.
These shops were originally the property of the Chen family, and after being divided among the eldest branch, they inevitably needed some revamping. Since Chen Jichuan had no medical knowledge and the children were young, he entrusted the entire business to Chen Ying. Most of the current shopkeepers were personally promoted by her. It was only natural for Chen Jinxing to learn some business skills from her.
While chatting on the road, Chen Jinxing said:
"When Am was my age, his medical skills were probably much better than mine."
Chen Ying was not modest and nodded, saying, "You've been reading medical books since you were little, learning theory. I've been traveling around with my family practicing medicine since I was little. I've seen a wide variety of illnesses on the grasslands, and naturally my medical skills are more advanced. Jinxing, there's no need to rush. You're already a leader among the younger generation of the Chen family, and you're very intelligent."
In contrast, Chen Jinshi's talent was not yet apparent, and he spent his days walking cats and dogs, and wielding swords and sticks. Chen Ying was not anxious either, as she always had some confidence in him.
The two of them had quarreled and argued for the past three years, but they had developed a perfect understanding with each other.
Chen Ying knew that no matter what Chen Jinshi said, he cared deeply about her. She didn't care how he treated her; she just did her job. But if he thought of her and showed concern for her, she would feel warm inside. After all, people are emotional.
When the two of them were talking, her voice was gentle and soft, like a warm spring, flowing straight into people's hearts.
Chen Jinxing blushed unconsciously and whispered, "Mom, you're too kind. I still have a lot to learn."
"Um."
As they were talking, they arrived at their destination. Chen Jinxing helped her out of the car, saying, "Mom, be careful."
At the hour of You, the sky turned orange. After a busy whole day, the two finally found the right medicinal herbs and drove back in the carriage.
Chen Ying was sweating. She grew up in Loufan, and the climate in Jinling was too humid for her. She was not used to the sticky feeling all over her body. The only good thing was that her skin, which was originally a little rough, was now becoming more and more tender and smooth.
She fanned herself and complained casually, "How come it's getting hot so quickly? Winter only lasts a few days."
Chen Jinxing was relieved when he heard this: "Mom, we're almost home."
"Um."
When the two returned to the mansion, the first thing Chen Ying asked Chen Xing was, "Is the Second Young Master back?"
Asking was her habit, and it wasn't for any reason.
Chen Xing replied: "Not yet."
She said "hmm" and went back to her room to rest.
Just as he sat down, Chen Xing came back and said, "Miss Shen, the second young master was detained by Mr. Zhang from the academy, and he asked the elders in the family to come and take him away."
Chen Jichuan, who was standing by, heard this and said, "What trouble has this kid gotten himself into again?"
Chen Ying stopped him: "It may not be a disaster. Shi Ge'er hasn't done anything stupid for a long time. Don't worry, I'll go and take a look."
It was a well-known fact that Chen Ying held some status in the Chen family's eldest branch. Besides the shopkeepers, the teachers in the academy also recognized her, especially Shi Ge'er, who had made a mistake in the academy before and would admit his mistake as soon as he saw her.
Chen Ying didn't take this as him really yielding to her authority and being submissive in front of her, but rather as the face he gave her when they were away from home. This was a tacit understanding between the two of them, and any right or wrong would be discussed after they returned home.
Thinking of this, Chen Ying was afraid that Chen Jichuan would get angry and not give the child face when he arrived at the academy, so she took the initiative to take the job of picking him up.
Chen Jichuan sighed, "Dulan, you don't have to do this for him. I'll just bring him back and give him a beating."
Chen Ying couldn't explain why, maybe she was thinking about the bed that Chen Jinshi had warmed for her over the years.
He politely declined Chen Jichuan's proposal, packed up, and asked someone to prepare a carriage to go to the academy.
Chen Jinshi looked very dissatisfied at this moment. Mr. Zhang had disliked him for a long time, so he invited the dean to come and seek justice.
"Chen Jinshi, you lost your mother when you were young. I won't bother with you. Just admit your mistakes and that's it."
Chen Jinshi put his hands in front of his chest and snorted, "I'm not wrong, why should I admit it?" He looked unruly.
It turned out that he discovered that there were some errors and omissions in Mr. Zhang's annotations in "Explanations and Commentaries on the Thirteen Classics", but he was too disdainful to quietly tell Mr. Zhang to correct them. Instead, he spent several days in the library collecting complete arguments and was determined to refute them in front of everyone.
How could the teacher in the academy tolerate such a rebuttal from his student? For the sake of his own dignity and face, Mr. Zhang would of course refute him even if it meant his death.
He invited the dean and other teachers to come and judge the case. It was impossible for the dean to offend the teacher for the sake of a student. If he admitted that the student was right and the teacher was wrong, would Mingdao Academy still have the face to continue operating?
Now, several old scholars surrounded Chen Jinshi and tried to reason with him, trying to prove that he was wrong.
Who is Chen Jinshi? It would be harder for him to admit that he was wrong than for Mr. Zhang to die.
The argument continued, and the dean had no choice but to force him: "Since that's the case, I can no longer teach you at Mingdao Academy. Go home and study on your own."
Chen Jinshi was happy to do so and decided to learn it on his own. Just as he was about to agree, his mother hurriedly got off the carriage and waved her hands repeatedly: "No! No!"
Chen Jinshi glared and asked, "Who will go and call Chen Ying?"
"Mr. Wang, please come to my house someday and talk to me if you have anything to say."
Chen Jinshi held her back and frowned, saying, "Amu, there's nothing to say to them."
Shen Ying's eyebrows were raised, but the moment she looked at him, her eyes calmed down, leaving only a cold and fierce look.
Chen Jinshi didn't dare to provoke her, but he trusted her a little, so he let go and let her negotiate.
After Chen Ying figured out the whole story, Chen Jinshi straightened his back. He believed that his mother would not think it was his fault.
Chen Ying pondered for a moment and immediately decided to apologize to Mr. Zhang.
"It's Chen Jinshi... No, I will definitely teach him a lesson when I get back."
"slim Shady--"
Shanzhang Wang had some respect for Shen Yingyuan. Although he did not often see patients, his medical skills were among the best in Jinling.
"Since Miss Shen has said so, we old scholars don't need to bother with a student. I hope Miss Shen will take him back and teach him well. Chen Jinshi, apologize to Mr. Zhang and admit that you were wrong. This matter will be over."
Chen Ying frowned quietly. These old guys were really something. She was willing to take a step back and apologize on his behalf. It would be best if both parties could suppress the matter. But this old guy actually wanted Chen Jinshi to admit that he was wrong. This was probably impossible.
As she expected, Chen Jinshi would make things out of control.
"I'm not wrong! I just can't go to school anymore. There's nothing to say to them. You, take me home!"
Chen Ying remained motionless upon hearing this. She looked at the old scholars calmly. Either the matter would become a big one, with Chen Jinshi being dismissed and Mr. Zhang's reputation damaged; or both sides would take a step back, with her apologizing on Chen Jinshi's behalf and Chen Jinshi refusing to admit his fault.
Chen Jinshi pulled her twice again. He was so angry that he would never pay attention to this stupid woman again!
No matter how angry he was, he would never call her by her name in front of others. Even though he gritted his teeth and called out "Chen Ying" several times, the words he said were still: "Mom, let's go."
The people in front of him had no intention of backing down, as the old scholar had a very strong sense of self-esteem.
What could Chen Ying do? She knew too well that Chen Jinshi would never admit his mistake.
As he dragged her, she slowly frowned and got on the carriage with him to go home.
The two of them stared at each other in silence in the carriage. After a while, she scolded, "Chen Jinshi, do you know what it means to be expelled from Mingdao Academy?"
Chen Jinshi felt lost, looked out the window, and shrugged nonchalantly: "Chen Ying, I can pass the exam on my own. I promise you, I will stand on the throne before I turn 20. If I can't do it, I will let you command me for the rest of my life, even as your slave."
Chen Ying said, "I never doubted your ability. Even if you passed the exam and became a Jinshi, did you know that every three years there are only two or three hundred people who pass the exam? Which of them will stay in the capital, which will enter the Hanlin Academy, and which will be demoted to the prefectures and counties? They will never be remembered by the higher-ups again in their lifetime. Mingdao Academy has students all over the world and is the best academy in Jinling. What good do you think it will do you to carry such a bad reputation as a dismissed academy?"
Chen Jinshi frowned slightly and turned his head away.
"Amu, I didn't do anything wrong."
He pursed his lips tightly, his neck slightly stiff, a naturally stubborn person. Chen Ying could see some grievance in his back.
She reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. Chen Jinshi didn't expect her touch and flinched slightly, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. He wanted to push her hand away, but he couldn't bear to do so.
It was Am's comfort. She always said that he had grown up and she didn't want to be close to him anymore. She rarely let him into her room and didn't let him sleep in her bed.
She spoke, repeating, "I know, I know, I know you're right."
He opened his mouth, knowing that things had come to this point and there was no point in saying more. He could only take the child back and let him go if he couldn't continue his studies.
She would never blame him for his impulsiveness and ignorance, and similarly, she would not be responsible for his life. She just felt a little regretful.
"It's okay, Chen Jinshi, go home."
She withdrew her hand, and Chen Jinshi felt a sense of emptiness on his shoulders.
She could feel that he was still secretly sulking and angry with her.
She ignored him as the two of them swayed in the narrow carriage.
He turned his head suddenly.
"Chen Ying, no matter who is right or wrong, you will always be on my side, because you are mine..."
Every time she looked at him with such a speechless look, it was like an invisible whip lashing him.
His voice gradually died away. This was her silent admonition to him. He suddenly knew that he should not say anything to her anymore.
That's the end of the story.
Seeing the two men coming back with faces uglier than each other, Chen Jichuan's face immediately darkened: "Chen Jinshi, what trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"
Chen Jinshi ignored him and went back to his room.
Chen Jichuan looked at Chen Ying again, frowned and said, "If I had told you earlier that you shouldn't go, I would have gone instead. Instead, I made you angry again."
Chen Ying sighed helplessly: "It's nothing, General, it's a good thing you didn't go, otherwise I would really be worried that your body couldn't bear it."
Chen Jichuan's face changed, and he looked aggrieved: "Dulan, why do you say that to me?"
She shook her head: "It's not a big deal. Your son was expelled from Mingdao Academy."
"What?!"
She ignored the furious roar behind her. She thought that if Chen Jichuan wanted to beat Chen Jinshi, she would not stop him.
There was a commotion in the backyard for half the night. Chen Ying was too lazy to care about it, but she felt a little sorry for him in her heart. She simply covered herself with the quilt and went to bed early.
Over the next few days, Chen Jinshi proved to be a tough bunch. He had lost his studies, and he had ruined Mr. Zhang's reputation at Mingdao Academy. He spent his days publicizing his expulsion. Far from being a scandal, it was circulated as a testament to his ability to distinguish right from wrong, earning him numerous compliments for his fearlessness of power.
But this person is still sulking with her.
Chen Ying knew that he was angry that she did not stand firmly on his side at the critical moment.
Did she regret it? She did have some regrets. If she had known things would end up like this, she wouldn't have bothered to apologize to that headmaster Wang.
She secretly swore that if he interfered in his affairs again, she would slap him hard twice.
Fortunately, Chen Jinshi's anger didn't last long. Two days later, he came back with a smile and came up to her: "Mom, I have good news for you."
Chen Ying was looking through the information about the shop that Su Lanzhou had inquired for her. Without even looking up, she said, "What's the matter? Tell me."
Chen Jinshi picked up the teacup in front of her and drank it all in one gulp. He was so thirsty after running around outside all day that he completely ignored Chen Ying's turbulent eyes.
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