88. Ethics
"make a deal."
The two words are very powerful.
Outside Taiping Medical Clinic, there was a constant flow of traffic and people.
Inside the Taiping Clinic, a skinny and embarrassed apprentice stood behind the counter and agreed on a deal with the powerful prince of the Daning Dynasty.
Before Chen Ji could continue, Bai Li became anxious: "Chen Ji, do you know how hard it is to be exiled to Lingnan? You will be shackled and chained to Lingnan. Less than 30% of prisoners can make it there alive."
Bai Li continued hurriedly, "It's okay for us to be grounded for half a year. Please don't do anything stupid for us."
The prince also hurriedly advised: "That's right, in half a year he will be a brave man again."
Chen Ji remained silent.
Prince Jing stroked the black chess piece in his hand, looked at him calmly and said, "Considering your youth and ignorance, I can give your brother a chance to repent!"
Chen Ji said seriously and frankly: "I am not just doing this for the prince and the princess, I also want to find a way to make money for myself."
Prince Jing smiled and said, "Born into the Chen family, do you still need to find a way to make a living? Your Chen family has been nobles for generations, so why would we need our younger generation to make money? As long as you don't disobey your father, you will have enough food and clothing."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Chen family is too high for me to marry."
Prince Jing suddenly asked, "Are you short of money?"
Is Chen Ji short of money? Of course he is.
The tiger's method of burning money is like water. To ignite the hundreds of fires all over his body, he would probably need tens of thousands of taels of silver.
This number made Chen Ji feel desperate, until the word "cement" appeared in Chen Ji's mind.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Prince Jing smiled and said, "Well, since you insist on doing this, I need to make three rules with you."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"Until the transaction is completed, you are not allowed to set foot in Red Lane or White Lane."
"good!"
"No drinking!"
":good"
“Don’t provoke trouble.”
"good!"
Chen Ji was inside the clinic counter, and Prince Jing was outside the counter. The two of them looked at each other across a chessboard.
The young apprentice in the medical clinic didn't shy away from his gaze.
Prince Jing stared at Chen Ji. "There's no joking in the military, and no matter how strategic a matter is, it's important to remember your promise. If you fail to fulfill it, I will indeed exile you to Lingnan. Young men, be careful not to be clever."
Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I know what I am doing."
At this time, a middle-aged man with a pale face and no beard, dressed in brown cloth, walked into the clinic and said softly, "Your Highness, the three masters of the Liu family, Liu Gun, Liu Mingxian, and Liu Mingli, have arrived at the mansion."
Chen Ji looked up when he heard the sound and subconsciously looked towards the source of the sound.
The middle-aged man was tall and sturdy, and his voice was exceptionally gentle and delicate.
Prince Jing turned and pointed at the Crown Prince and Bai Li, "Feng Daban, have these two hand over all the money they have on them and tell the palace that no one will need to give them money for six months."
The Prince and Bai Li's faces turned dark. Their father was so meticulous in his work that he even remembered to take away all their money.
Now the brother and sister are both penniless.
Prince Jing turned and left, leaving the two paupers in the clinic.
The prince looked at Chen Ji and said seriously, "Chen Ji, I think it's good to be confined to my house for half a year. After half a year, I can go out and play, and you don't have to go to Lingnan."
Bai Li quickly smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes and said, "There's no point in talking any more. Chen Ji, what are you going to do now?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment and asked, "Is there a kiln producing porcelain near Luocheng?"
Bai Li and the prince looked at each other. How would they know this?
Old Man Yao said slowly, "Leave the city and walk ten miles south along the pipeline to Liujiatun, at the foot of Longmen Mountain. There are several porcelain workshops there. However, the kilns in Luocheng only produce crude ceramics to sell to ordinary people. They can't compare to those in Jingdezhen."
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, “No
Well, a kiln should be enough."
After that, he went to the backyard to find Liang Maoer, "Brother Maoer, can you do me a favor and go out with me for half a month? It might be very hard."
Liang Maoer smiled innocently, "It's okay, as long as I can contribute, I'm not afraid of hardship."
Chen Ji turned to look at Bai Li and said, "Prince and Princess, please return to the palace and wait for my news. I will be back in half a month at the latest."
The prince raised his eyebrows, "What do you mean? Friends should naturally share happiness and misfortune. Brother Liang Maoer can endure hardships, so why can't we? We will go with you."
Bai Li also said: "Yes, we can also endure hardships."
Chen Ji was amused: "Who would rush to suffer?"
The prince patted his chest and said, "This is the loyalty of the underworld."
She Dengke and Liu Quxing also came to the main hall of the clinic and looked at their master cautiously: "Master, can we go?"
Old Man Yao sneered, "Go ahead. A bunch of poor guys are having fun together. If you all go, I can have some peace and quiet for a few days and save a lot of money on food. Liang Mao'er, carry your brother over too. Otherwise, he'll be a lazy guy staying in the clinic and have to rely on me to cook for him."
Liang Mao'er said shamefacedly, "Okay, Doctor Yao. I will definitely carry him over."
Seeing that things had come to this, Chen Ji smiled and instructed, "Prince and Princess, go back to the palace and change your clothes. Your current clothes are not suitable for work. Also, everyone, remember to bring two sets of clothes with you. We will be away for ten days or half a month. Let's meet at the entrance of the clinic in half an hour."
"OK."
…………
After everyone left, Chen Ji looked at Old Man Yao, who was fiddling with an abacus behind the counter. "Master, you asked Liang Mao'er to bring Liang Gou'er with you because you were worried about our safety?"
Old Man Yao sneered: "Don't be so sentimental, I just don't want to see him in the clinic."
Chen Ji said "oh" and stopped talking.
In the silence between them, Old Man Yao gradually stopped fiddling with his abacus and said calmly, "You should understand that the two things most lacking in practicing the Mountain Jun path are power and money. That's why you're so eager to make money. But you must know that in this world, these two things are the easiest to lead people astray. I hope you won't repeat the mistakes of those who have come before you."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master."
Old Man Yao suddenly said, "The last thing you made caused such a big commotion that the entire main transportation route in Yuzhou is now blocked by the Wansui Army. Only people can enter but not leave. The last incident is not over yet, so what are you going to make this time? Please don't cause trouble again and implicate me, an old man."
Chen Ji thought for a moment and replied, "You'll know once it's made. Don't worry, it's not dangerous this time."
Old Man Yao looked at him for a moment, then, still feeling uneasy, he took out six copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the counter. While interpreting the hexagram, he muttered, "Kun Yuan, auspicious for peace and stability, responding to the boundless earth, carrying all things..."
After saying that, he suddenly looked up and looked at Chen Ji: "What exactly are you going to make?"
Chen Ji smiled and replied, "The front line has already told you that it is something that can replace the glutinous rice mortar."
As he was speaking, he heard footsteps outside the door.
He turned around and saw Bai Li had changed into the coarse cloth clothes that a maid wore when working, and was carrying a cloth bag on her back.
But even these old coarse cloth clothes could not conceal Baili's wealthy temperament.
Because there was a golden hairpin stuck in Baili's hair.
Chen Ji was surprised and said, "Junzi, your clothes don't match the gold hairpin."
Bai Li hurriedly pulled out the golden hairpin, then took out a wooden hairpin from her sleeve and put it on her hair. "Hush, my father confiscated all my silver. I secretly brought this out when my mother wasn't paying attention. I used it to exchange for money. They haven't even noticed it yet."
"Madam Yunfei is smart and careful, how could she not notice it? She is just deliberately letting you off..."
"Ah, really?"
Bai Li was stunned for a moment. "Anyway, I've already brought him out. I thought you'd need money to do anything. In this world, you can't get anywhere without money."
Chen Ji was silent!
Bai Li smiled and said, "Let's go. I've already called an ox cart. Let's take it out of the city."
"Wait for me."
Chen Ji returned to the apprentice dormitory, pulled out the loose brick under the bed, took out all his belongings from the hole and put them in his arms before going out.
But just as he reached the door, he saw a fast horse coming from the end of Anxi Street. On the tall horse was a man in a green shirt with his hair flying back. He was truly a handsome and elegant young man.
Chen Ji slowly stopped and watched the other party rein in his horse and stop in front of the clinic.
Chen Wenzong was sitting on his horse, panting and saying, "Chen Ji, come back home with me quickly. Don't be angry with father anymore."
Chen Ji stood at the threshold of the clinic, looking up at his brother on the horse across the threshold: "Brother, you misunderstood. I'm not angry with anyone."
Chen Wenzong tried to persuade him, "Father has already found out the truth. It was one of the steward's servants who embezzled your monthly salary. Mother has now beaten the servant to death to vent her anger on you. Even the steward received ten strokes of the cane."
Chen Ji uttered a sigh, "Poor thing."
Chen Wenzong was puzzled: "Pathetic?"
Chen Ji smiled and said, "I said that boy is very pitiful."
Chen Wenzong couldn't help but say anxiously, "Chen Ji, as the saying goes, a harmonious family brings prosperity. There's no reason for deep hatred within a family. Now that you've turned over a new leaf, I naturally hope you can return home soon. I'll convince father to send you to Donglin Academy. In three years, you can also take the imperial examination. At your age, it's not too late to go to school now."
"Studying? For a science student like me to study the eight-legged essay of the Mingjing, that's really a torture."
However, Chen Ji looked up and gazed at his eldest brother. The other party was sincere at this moment, just like the unpolished gem in the storyteller's stories.
But everyone has their own aspirations.
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Brother, we are leaving the city now. Our friends are waiting for us."
Chen Wenzong jumped off his horse and said sincerely and solemnly, "Chen Ji, although you have little education, you should understand the principles of father-son ethics. There are no parents who are not right in the world. How can you keep being angry with your own father?"
Chen Ji said calmly, "Brother, whether you believe it or not, I really am not angry with anyone. Please go back."
After saying that, he carried his bag, walked around Chen Wenzong, and sat at the end of the ox cart.
Chen Wenzong took two steps forward and said in a more serious tone, "Chen Ji, by doing this, where do you place the principles of father and son?"
At this moment, Bai Li suddenly looked up and said, "You keep talking about moral principles, but does anyone in the Chen Mansion know that Chen Ji was injured by a villain? He had his chest slashed open and his thigh pierced, yet you didn't send anyone to show any concern!"
Chen Wenzong was stunned: "Princess?"
He looked carefully and saw that not only the princess but also the prince was in this simple car.
These two people of noble status were wearing coarse clothes and squeezed on the board of a simple and dilapidated ox cart with their half-brother.
Bai Li sat cross-legged on the cart, straightened his back, and continued, "When Chen Ji was injured, we met at the Embroidery Tower in Baiyi Lane. Did you greet him that day?"
Chen Wenzong was completely silent.
Bai Li persisted, "What you care about is just the moral principles you talk about. You came to the clinic to persuade him because the teachers in the academy taught you that a harmonious family is the key to success, and the classics teach you that the ruler should be the ruler, the minister should be the minister, the father should be the father, and the son should be the son. That's all."
Chen Ji stopped Bai Li and turned to the driver, saying, "Let's go. If we delay any longer, we might not reach Liujiatun until dark."
The ox cart made a squeaking sound as it moved slowly forward.
Chen Wenzong stood there, staring blankly at Chen Ji and others sitting on a dilapidated ox cart in the open air, laughing and playing.
In this cold season, their curious appearance does not seem like they are going to work, but more like they are going for an outing in spring when the flowers have just bloomed.
The prince's teasing voice drifted from afar: "Haha, did you see that? Baili was like an angry little tiger just now. Ah, pinch it gently."
End of this chapter.
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