"I can't wait five years."
"Chen Zhuo, I'm not discussing this with you, I'm informing you. You can join the army, but only after five years!"
Historically, starting next year, the Beiyang warlords will have their first Zhili-Anhui War due to the North-South issue. Although the Zhili clique will win this time, they will still have to face the troubles brought about by the rise of the Fengtian clique. In short, the Beiyang warlords have been constantly fighting for control of the Beiyang government, and the rule of the Beiyang government will end in a few years. Chen Zhuo's joining the Beiyang warlords now will not bring him any benefits at all.
Chen Zhuo clenched his fists tightly but tried his best to restrain himself from exploding. His eyes were bloodshot. "Notify me? What right do you have to notify me? Who are you to me? Why should I listen to you!" Each word of his question seemed to be forced out from between his teeth.
Chen Ke felt that Chen Zhuo's hatred for him was like a string stretched to its limit. If he used the old methods again, the string would likely snap, and all his previous efforts would be in vain.
So Chen Ke took a deep breath, "Yes, I have no right to interfere in your affairs, but what about Mom and Dad? Even if Mom faints from anger over this, are you still going to go?"
Chen Zhuo suddenly fell silent.
A look of pain and inner turmoil flashed across his face.
Before Chen Zhuo could make up his mind, Chen Ke continued, "How about this, you put this matter on hold for now. Come and help me with chores every afternoon after school. If you still insist on your current decision after three months, I will persuade your parents."
Chen Zhuo was stunned. The amount of information in that sentence was too much for him to process immediately.
Chen Ke used to refuse to tell them what he was doing, but now he's asking him to do things for him? Why?
Seeing the confusion and doubt in Chen Zhuo's eyes, Chen Ke remained unfazed. "Or do you want to continue this stalemate with your parents? Or do you want to leave without saying goodbye, just like me?"
"I would never run away with the family's money!" Chen Zhuo retorted instinctively.
Chen Ke, however, sighed knowingly, "So you really did have that plan?"
"you!"
"Alright, Chen Zhuo, it's getting late. Let's end our conversation here tonight. If you agree with my proposal, then come to 38 Nanjing Road to find me tomorrow. If you don't agree... then pretend I didn't say anything."
After finishing his sentence, Chen Ke strode away.
Upon hearing the "click" of the door closing, Chen Zhuo slumped into a chair as if all his strength had been drained.
With a "thud," Chen Zhuo rested his forehead lightly on the table, his eyes vacant, like a statue lost in thought, motionless.
He couldn't understand why Chen Ke would stop him. Wasn't he supposed to be completely indifferent and not care about him? Why would he care about anything?
Was he afraid that he would retaliate against him after gaining military merit and power?
Heh, given Chen Ke's arrogant attitude, even if someone guesses his plan, they probably won't take it to heart.
That was... fear that he... would die on the battlefield?
"Haha...haha..." This idea made Chen Zhuo laugh.
When Zhou Shanhuai finished settling Song Xiaowen downstairs, he heard intermittent laughter coming from the dimly lit living room. He paused, but did not see Chen Ke or Chen Zhuo.
"Chen... Chen Zhuo?" Zhou Shanhuai called out cautiously.
Hearing the sound, Chen Zhuo looked up from the table, but the thought he had just had was so ridiculous that he couldn't stop laughing even after Zhou Shanhuai got down. "Hahaha, Dad, I'm here! Why did you get down... hahaha..."
Zhou Shanhuai's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but look around. He felt even more uncertain. There was no one around, so what was Chen Zhuo laughing about all by himself?
"Where are Chen Zhuo, Chen, and Chen Ke?" Zhou Shanhuai asked as he walked downstairs.
Finally, when they reached the lights in the dining room, Zhou Shanhuai realized that Chen Zhuo seemed to be in a bad mood. Although he didn't know what he was laughing about, his eyes were filled with sadness.
Zhou Shanhuai walked over in a panic, "Chen Zhuo, Chen Zhuo, what's wrong with you?"
Chen Zhuo finally stopped laughing, roughly touched his face, and said in a casual tone, "It's nothing, Dad. I just remembered a really funny joke, I almost couldn't stop laughing. How's Mom? Is she asleep?"
Zhou Shanhuai nodded. "It's nothing, I just haven't recovered yet. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep. Are you really alright? Is it because we objected to you joining the army—"
"Dad," Chen Zhuo interrupted Zhou Shanhuai, "No, that's not true. I acted impulsively just now and said something selfish, which made Mom angry and faint. I'm sorry, Dad. As for me joining the army... let's talk about it later."
"Really?" Zhou Shanhuai was overjoyed, but then seemed to remember something and asked, "Chen Zhuo, did you change your mind on your own, or did you hear... something Chen Ke said that made you change your mind?"
Chen Zhuo began clearing the table of dishes and chopsticks. "They're all there. Chen Ke is right. Now is not the right time. Let's wait a bit longer." At least until Song Xiaowen's opposition becomes less insistent.
“Well, well, well, let’s wait a little longer. Come on, let’s do it together, you and me.” Zhou Shanhuai said, rolling up his sleeves.
"It's okay, Dad. You go and rest. I can manage on my own."
"How long are you going to wash by yourself? It won't take us long if we both do it together. Here, give me all the chopsticks."
······
After a night's rest, the effects of the anesthesia wore off. When Chen Ke finished tidying up and went downstairs, Li Guaizi was already up and sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper.
Chen Ke walked over and glanced at it, then pointed out, "The newspaper is upside down."
Li Guaizi chuckled: "How about it? From a distance, do I look like a sage reading the newspaper in the early morning?"
Chen Ke chuckled and said, "What kind of sir reads a newspaper?"
"Those high-ranking officials, oh right, they're not called high-ranking officials anymore, they should be called government leaders! Right?"
Chen Ke pulled out a chair and sat down at the dining table. He gestured for Li Guaizi to come and eat, and said with certainty, "It seems you've learned a lot on your way to Shanghai. You've even changed how you refer to yourself to 'me'."
Li Guaizi hurriedly came over and sat down at the table, letting out a deep sigh. "Hey, don't even mention it. As soon as I started speaking with that accent, they looked at me like I was a monkey, so I changed it." After saying that, he looked at the breakfast on the table and began to sigh again: "Your life now is probably no different from that of a government leader. Look at this little villa. I was so impressed when I came back yesterday. No wonder it's the place with the most foreigners. This house is really beautiful."
Chen Ke smiled and said, "That's because you haven't seen many Western-style houses. Once you've seen them a lot, they're not all that special."
"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder he's seen the world, he speaks with such confidence!"
Chen Ke: ""
"Eat quickly. I'll take you to the store to familiarize yourself with it later. If there's nothing special, you can stay here and help me run the store."
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