The next day.
Cheng Yue and the others went to the county town as usual.
Zhang Shaowen was already wearing new clothes. Cheng Yue couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement. Qian Yulan's efficiency was simply amazing.
Cheng Yue clicked her tongue in admiration, and Zhang Shaowen, feeling embarrassed by her gaze, explained, "Aunt Cheng Yue, my mother rushed to make one set yesterday, saying she was afraid of embarrassing you, so she had me wear it first. Today she can make two more sets and give them to Xiao Lin."
Cheng Yue said, "There's no need to rush. Let your mother take her time. Be careful not to damage her eyes in the dark."
Chen Tong chuckled from the side, "Brother Shaowen, my mom doesn't know how to sew clothes herself, so she thinks Auntie is amazing!"
"How dare you tease your mother like that!" Cheng Yue said sternly, but her eyes were full of laughter.
The family chatted and laughed as they arrived at the shop, proceeding with their tasks methodically, waiting for the appointed time to open for business.
Meanwhile, the students of Qingfeng Academy had already left.
Since the academy was not far from Chengze Lake, at Song Zhibai's suggestion, the group decided to walk there.
You can also experience the everyday life and vibrant atmosphere of the city.
Chen Gen's mind was in turmoil. He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep well at all. With his eyes barely open, he yawned and muttered under his breath, "It's too early to go out now..."
"It's already past 7:45 AM, Brother Chen Gen, and you still think it's too early? I don't know how you manage to get up for your morning lessons at 5:00 AM on weekdays?"
Song Zhibai, who was walking at the front, turned around when he heard the sound. Chen Gen immediately chuckled and said, "I didn't sleep well last night!"
Gao Sheng scoffed, "Everyone says that studying hard for years is the hardest thing, but Brother Chen Gen has become more and more well-rounded after studying for these past few years."
Is this mocking his laziness? How ignorant!
Chen Gen puffed out his chest proudly and said, "Being round is a blessing! Some people can eat a lot but don't gain weight, which is a waste of food. Not everyone is as lucky as me!"
Gao Sheng's expression turned strange upon hearing this. Just how thick-skinned was this person?
He admitted that being round-faced wasn't a bad thing, but what right did Chen Gen, a lazy person who spent his family's money and only knew how to eat and drink without any ambition, have to say such things?
Cheng Jun shook his head, not wanting to speak.
Song Zhibai felt contempt, but he couldn't say anything. He could only gently advise, "Today's poetry gathering is not about discussing unimportant topics. Instead, you should spend more time thinking about what poems to write later."
The others echoed, "Exactly, exactly!"
Chen Gen glanced at Gao Sheng and Cheng Jun, becoming even more smug. Wasn't Song Zhibai clearly trying to get him out of a tight spot?
"We're here! Let's get in line!"
Gao Sheng ignored Chen Gen and focused his attention on Cheng Ji's shop in front of him. Luckily, they had arrived early and there was no one in line yet.
Gao Sheng jogged past, and Song Zhibai and Cheng Jun shook their heads and chuckled, following suit.
The others didn't know why they suddenly wanted to buy braised food, but since Song Zhibai had already gone over, they had no choice but to join the queue.
Only Chen Gen's face darkened; this promotion was intentional!
"Uncle, cousins! What are you all doing here?!"
When Cheng Jun's voice came, Chen Gen was very surprised. What was going on?
Wasn't his second uncle's leg already broken? How come he's in the shop?
And what about those two worthless brats?
"Xiao Jun? You guys—" Chen An was interrupted by Chen Gen before he could finish speaking.
"Second Uncle! Don't embarrass yourselves by coming out here. Even if this idiot is working here, it's not your own place. How can the whole family come here?"
If people find out, what will become of the Chen family's reputation? If you do this, you'll ruin my name, and our whole family will have no future! Don't you understand even this simple principle?!
Chen Gen squeezed to the window, getting angrier and angrier as he spoke. He felt utterly humiliated in front of so many classmates.
This second uncle, even with his leg broken, still won't stop causing trouble. No wonder Grandma doesn't like him; he really has no sense of propriety!
The students were all stunned by Chen Gen's words and didn't know what was going on. They had already made a wrong judgment yesterday, so they remained silent today and prepared to wait and see.
"What are you yelling about!" Cheng Jun shoved Chen Gen, and it was hard for him not to take action against Cheng Jun's attitude.
Chen Gen stumbled from the push and almost lost his balance, but Cheng Jun was too big for him to beat, so he had to straighten his clothes and stand up straight.
A gentleman takes his revenge, even after ten years!
Chen Lin clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, and raised them defiantly, saying, "Is this how you talk to your elders? I don't know where all your education has gone. If you talk to my father like that again, I'll teach you a lesson!"
That scoundrel Chen Gen, he was here yesterday, why is he here again today? He's really asking for a beating!
Everyone looked over. Was this the stupid cousin Chen Gen had mentioned? Didn't this seem normal enough?
He speaks clearly and logically, making perfect sense. Compared to him, Chen Gen seems like someone whose brain hasn't fully developed.
Chen An pressed down on Chen Lin's arm and said coldly to Chen Gen, "Don't call me Second Uncle. I don't have a nephew like you!"
The matter of severing ties has only been verbally agreed upon; since it hasn't been finalized yet, it's not appropriate to discuss it further at this time.
Chen Gen angrily said, "How can you be so ungrateful! Does your whole family really think this shop is your own? Why do you insist on staying here and not leaving?"
If someone takes me to the authorities and it gets me implicated, none of you will have an easy time either!
As more and more people gathered, Chen Tong said directly, "Are you sick? This shop belongs to our family!"
Chen Gen laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "This is absolutely hilarious! I know who you are. You've probably never even seen a piece of silver in your life, yet you dare to talk such big words?"
"Did they separate from the family and not get enough to eat? Did they get so hungry they went crazy and developed hysteria?!"
Chen Ning said angrily, "They're ours!"
"Ha! Then show us your evidence! Prove it to us!"
Chen Gen sneered. Since his second uncle's family was so shameless, he would let them lose face. At worst, they would cut off his money when he returned, which wouldn't affect him.
Who do you think you are? What makes you think you can prove it to me?
Cheng Yue was teaching Zhang Shaowen how to butcher chickens and ducks in the backyard. Just as the two of them brought out the braised dishes, they heard Chen Gen going crazy here, and immediately started mocking him.
"Exactly, who are you? I'll prove it to you."
"Does he really think he's something special? A scholar, no less! What a disgrace!"
Seeing that everyone's conversation had turned to scholars, the students in front of them consciously moved further away from Chen Gen, so as not to implicate them!
Chen Gen never expected his usually taciturn second aunt to say such a thing, and he immediately became furious and said:
"If you can't prove it, then you're lying! Your whole family must have had some incredible luck to become shop assistants, yet you dare to claim that the shop belongs to the owner! You have no shame."
Cheng Yue simply gave a calm "Oh," showing no anger whatsoever. "I could say your father isn't your father, so you'd better prove it to me! Don't think that just because you've called him 'Dad' for a few years, he really is your father!"
It was too difficult to pronounce. The onlookers were stunned for a moment, and when they realized what it meant, they suddenly burst into laughter.
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