97. Can’t take it back
"Hey, She Dengke, what are you going to do if you have money?" Liu Quxing asked vaguely while sitting on the edge of the stone mill platform and eating the rolls brought by his master.
"Of course, I want to buy a house for my family first. I want a house with two courtyards. My father, mother, eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law will live in the back courtyard, and my second brother and his wife, and third brother and his wife will live in the front courtyard. They have worked so hard over the years, with the whole family squeezed into one room and sleeping on the floor. It's hard to turn over."
"What about you? Where do you live?"
She Dengke stuffed the last burrito in his hand into his mouth. "I'm staying at the hospital. There's no need to leave a room for me at home... Liu Quxing, what are you going to do with the money?"
Liu Quxing thought for a moment and said, "I want to take my mother out of the Liu family so that she doesn't have to look after the mistress anymore. Every time she comes to give me money and food, she gets looked down upon and often ridiculed when she returns home."
"It's great to have money," She Dengke said with his head down. "Money is like an old god. It can help people realize their dreams."
Liu Quxing suddenly asked, "After you become rich, will you still be an apprentice in the clinic?"
She Dengke was stunned for a moment, and said hesitantly: "Yeah, if you have money, why do you still want to be an apprentice..."
With a snap.
The bamboo stick fell on She Dengke's back, causing a burning pain.
She Dengke turned around and saw that Old Man Yao had walked up to his side. He glared at Liu Quxing and said, "Grandson, you're setting me up again!"
Old Man Yao sneered at the two of them and said, "Alright, if you have money, you won't be an apprentice at my Taiping Medical Clinic, right?"
Liu Quxing quickly jumped down from the millstone and said with a flattering smile, "Master, that was She Dengke's words. It has nothing to do with me. I will definitely study medicine diligently with you in the clinic and be respected like you in the future!"
Old Man Yao sneered, "Why would you wealthy men have to come to my Taiping Clinic and suffer so much?"
She Dengke said in a panic, "Master, please don't misunderstand me. We will definitely stay in the clinic to serve you. We all remember how kind you have been to us over the past two years."
At this time, Liang Gou'er was lying on a straw mat not far away, holding a grass stem in his mouth and swinging his legs. "Five thousand taels of silver, how are you going to divide it? Haha, throughout history, how many brothers have turned against each other, not because of shared hardships, but because of shared wealth."
Liang Maoer raised her hand: "I'm just here to help, I don't care."
Liang Gou'er suddenly sat up, angrily saying, "Apart from Chen Ji, you've been working the hardest these days. Why don't you share the credit?"
Liang Maoer glanced at him and said, "Brother, don't say anything yet. You have no right to speak anyway."
Liang Gou'er: "..."
He opened his mouth for a long time but couldn't say anything. Finally, he simply leaned back, covered his face with his straw hat, and his crossed legs shook faster than anyone else's.
Everyone gradually quieted down and looked at each other, no one dared to speak first.
How should we divide the five thousand taels of silver? Dividing it equally is a good idea, but everyone knows that it is unfair to Chen Ji.
In this silence, Bai Li wanted to step forward and speak, but Prince Jing reached out and pulled him aside.
He looked at the group of young men with great interest. "The world is bustling with people all for profit. Only when faced with true interests can you see a person clearly. Don't say anything for now. Let's see if these friends of yours can stand the test."
Bai Li hesitated for a moment and whispered, "But why test human nature? It's unfair to the person being tested."
Prince Jing was startled, then laughed and said, "Silly child, there is no fairness in this world. You must learn to protect yourself."
As soon as he finished speaking, a carriage slowly stopped outside the kiln factory.
But Zhang Zhuo lifted the curtain of the carriage, grabbed the hem of his official robe and jumped down. After landing, he did not forget to turn around and help Chen Liqin, and then they strode into the kiln factory together.
The two of them came to Prince Jing's side, and Zhang Zhuo bowed: "Your Highness..."
Prince Jing raised his hand to stop them: "Don't bother them with your words yet. Let's see how they divide the money. Sharing money between brothers is always a good show. You two came at the perfect time and happened to catch it."
Zhang Zhuo was surprised: "Sharing the money? What kind of money are they sharing?"
Prince Jing smiled and said, "I'll explain it to you slowly later. By the way, Master Chen, Chen Ji is among them."
At this moment, Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully identifying each person in the crowd. He pulled Chen Liqin aside and asked in a low voice, "Hey, why is your kid here too?"
Chen Liqin hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I knew he was here yesterday and came to pick him up, but he didn't tell me.
I'm leaving."
Zhang Zhuo was surprised and said, "This child is so arrogant. He would rather come to the kiln and do the hard labor than go back to the Chen Mansion with you."
Chen Liqin sighed, "It was my father's fault. After he went to the Taiping Clinic, I asked the housekeeper to send a servant to deliver his monthly salary. Who would have thought that this servant secretly deducted the money, reducing the monthly salary from three taels of silver to three hundred wen, and then simply delayed the payment. I guess he came to the kiln to earn some tuition money?"
Zhang Zhuo looked at Chen Liqin and asked, "Master Chen, how did this servant end up?"
Chen Liqin replied, "He was beaten to death."
Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard and asked again, "Where's the steward? Has he been beaten to death?"
Chen Liqin shook his head: "No, just a slight punishment of ten strokes of the cane."
Zhang Zhuo smiled meaningfully. "Your boy is more resilient than mine. He'd rather endure hardships than go back and suffer this humiliation. Perhaps he's been hanging around in the gambling den because of his bad friends. Take my advice. First, give your boy two hundred taels of silver to calm his nerves. Then, beat your stupid housekeeper to death to vent his anger. I guarantee you'll be able to bring him back."
"Beat the butler to death?" Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in surprise. "Why would it be so? This butler is also an old man from the capital. He has been diligently managing the affairs of the family for over ten years. Even if he has no merits, he has worked hard."
Zhang Zhuo laughed. "During the late emperor's reign, weren't General Hu Guang's contributions great enough? He recaptured Chongli Pass and held off the Jing Dynasty's cavalry for over a decade. His achievements were so great that he dared to wield military power and roar at the court. But what was his final fate? The late emperor first promoted Liu Wencheng to the position of Minister of War, then allowed Liu to cut off General Hu Guang's influence, confiscating his property and exterminating his entire clan. When Liu was denounced as a treacherous prime minister by everyone, the late emperor issued an edict banishing him back to his hometown, and he was immediately praised as a wise ruler."
Chen Liqin's expression changed: "My Lord, please be careful with your words!"
Zhang Zhuo chuckled and said firmly, "You are a gentleman, so you wouldn't go to the eunuch party to accuse me of something bad. You are just too pedantic."
Chen Liqin was displeased at being called pedantic, and said in a more serious tone, "Master Zhang doesn't look like a scholar, but more like a villain."
Zhang Zhuo casually bowed and said nonchalantly, "Thank you very much."
The wind is cold.
Liu Quxing and others' hands were frozen red but they were unaware of it. They kept silent and figured out how to divide the five thousand taels of silver.
Everyone looked at each other, and no one wanted to speak first.
Chen Ji spoke in silence. He looked at Liu Quxing and the others and said with a smile, "I won't be modest with you either. I will take 30% of this money every year, and you can divide the rest."
Take 30%?
Zhang Zhuo subconsciously looked at Chen Liqin. He counted and saw six or seven people in the field. If the Chen family kid wanted to take 30% of the prize, how would the rest be divided?
Chen Liqin frowned and bowed to Prince Jing, saying, "Your Highness, I have failed to educate my son properly. I will definitely bring him back home and discipline him strictly, teaching him to be humble and courteous."
"Ha," Prince Jing laughed out loud, "Don't worry, Lord Chen. Even the money isn't in a hurry, so why are you so anxious?"
Chen Liqin was stunned.
The next moment, She Dengke said in a muffled voice: "No!"
The kiln factory became quiet again. Chen Liqin frowned and looked over, fearing that Chen Ji would fight with others over the division of money, which would be disgraceful.
However, She Dengke suddenly said, "Chen Ji, we all know that without you, there wouldn't be this much money. Although we contributed, it was just two days of freezing and manual labor. You can do this kind of work in the East Market for a few taels of silver and a power stick. You take half, and we'll split the rest. Liu Quxing, what do you think?"
Liu Quxing's face darkened: "What are you looking at me for? It seems like I'm greedy for money!"
She Dengke pressed the issue: "Tell me whether you agree or not!"
Liu Quxing gritted his teeth and said, "I agree! I agree! You big fool, he already said 30%, why don't you just agree? Do you know how much money it would cost to take 20% less?"
She Dengke glared at him and said, "You bastard, you finally spoke out what was on your mind!"
The prince laughed heartily. "Alright, alright. If we all keep it to ourselves, we'll just get sulky over time. Now that we've all spoken our minds out, we can be frank. To be honest, even I'm jealous of this money. Don't let Bai Li treat us to dinner tonight; Chen Ji has to treat us. We'll go to the best private room in Yingxian Tower and order their famous Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. If Chen Ji even frowns, we'll beat him up!"
Liu Quxing said with a sad heart, "Yes, he took so much money. If he dares to frown when treating us, we will beat him up!"
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Don't worry,
Without frowning, the little monk observed the precept of not touching money. The remaining money can be divided equally among the five of you: the Crown Prince, Princess Baili, Brother Maoer, Senior Brother She, and Senior Brother Liu.
The little monk put his hands together and asked curiously, "After dinner, shall we go to Red Lane?"
Everyone laughed out loud: "You idiot monk!"
…
…
Bai Li looked at Prince Jing with a smile: "We didn't fight as you wished!"
Prince Jing lamented, "I thought I'd see a good show, but they all have pure hearts, which is rare and precious. I only hope that pure hearts will not be turned black by the furnace of the world."
At this point, Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin gradually realized that something was wrong.
Previously, they thought they were dividing the wages of the kiln, but if it was just wages, how could they afford to go to Yingxian Tower and Hongyi Lane?
Zhang Zhuo looked at Prince Jing doubtfully and asked, "Your Highness, how much money are they dividing?"
Prince Jing smiled and explained, "Five thousand taels of silver per year."
Zhang Zhuo subconsciously gasped, "So, the Chen family kid took away 2,500 taels of silver by himself?"
Prince Jing nodded: "That's right."
Zhang Zhuo slowly looked at Chen Liqin and said, "Master Chen, I'm afraid you can't take this kid back with you.
Chen Liqin remained silent.
Zhang Zhuo continued, "The annual expenses of your Chen family are probably not as much as his 2,500 taels of silver. He lives much more comfortably outside than in your Chen Mansion. Ignore what I said before. If you want to bring him back, you can't use money. I'm afraid you have to persuade him with emotion and reason..."
Chen Liqin ignored him, stepped forward, and asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, five thousand taels of silver is a huge sum of money. Where did it come from?"
Prince Jing led the two men to the brick wall and had them strike it with sledgehammers. "They've developed this substance called 'cement,' which sets several times faster than glutinous rice mortar and costs only 20% of it. My palace has purchased the formula and promised to share their annual dividend of 5,000 taels of silver. What do you think, my lords, is this formula worthwhile?"
Zhang Zhuo's eyes gleamed. He rubbed a little cement and asked, "It costs only 20% of glutinous rice mortar, and it solidifies faster than glutinous rice mortar? It's worth it, absolutely worth it! Your Highness, which group of young men did you say made this thing?"
Prince Jing nodded and said, "Exactly. The recipe was thought up by Chen Ji, and they did it together."
Zhang Zhuo suddenly realized: "No wonder when everyone was dividing the money, he asked for 30%, but others asked him for 50%. It turns out that he was the one who invented this thing."
Chen Liqin only then recalled what Chen Ji had said to Prince Jing yesterday about the "carburizing steel technique," and how Prince Jing had tried to stop him from bringing Chen Ji back home...
In the kiln factory, Chen Liqin looked at Chen Ji who was surrounded by the crowd with a complicated expression.
He thought that as long as he dealt with the servants in his house and let Chen Ji vent his anger, and then persuaded him with kind words, he would be able to bring Chen Ji back.
He also thought that if he cut off Chen Ji's money, Chen Ji would go home obediently.
But now, the son he kicked out of the house no longer needs that home.
At this time, Chen Ji and the others bowed to Prince Jing and said, "Your Highness, we have been tired for the past few days. We need to go back and change clothes to celebrate today. So, we'll take our leave now."
Prince Jing waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. You can drink today."
Chen Ji smiled and replied, "Thank you, Your Highness."
After saying this, he hesitated for a moment, then turned and bowed to Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, saying, "Master Zhang, Master Chen, goodbye."
Chen Liqin said nothing.
Zhang Zhuo watched the young men get on the oxcart and sway out of the kiln factory. His eyes flickered, "It seems your boy has hooked up with the prince. If he can become a favorite of Prince Jing, you and I might be able to use him to get close to Prince Jing and grab a piece of the Liu family's Yuzhou pie."
Chen Liqin frowned slightly. "Master Zhang, the Liu family is ruthless. You and I are already living in fear and restraint in Yuzhou. Why should we let a child who has not experienced the world get involved?"
Zhang Zhuo rolled his eyes. "I'm not asking him to charge into battle, why are you so anxious to protect him? If you had taken good care of him earlier, he wouldn't have to call you Master Chen all the time. Why are you pretending to be so rude to me now?"
Chen Liqin's face darkened: "You!"
However, at this moment, Zhang Zhuo suddenly raised his hand to stop Chen Liqin from speaking.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Master Chen, I wonder if Chen Ji has found a matchmaker? My family has a grown-up daughter who is waiting to be married..."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com