Seeing Chen Zhanshan lower his head and remain silent, Da Bao voiced his concerns.
“Uncle, it’s understandable that you don’t care about him, but I can’t ignore him. The old house and our second branch of the family have only separated but haven’t severed ties. If something happens to him, the responsibility of supporting the elderly will fall on my parents. You should know my grandparents’ temperament. They’re not good at anything else, but they’re good at causing trouble. Only my third uncle can handle them. I don’t want my parents to get involved with them. That would be torture.”
Chen Zhanshan nodded repeatedly at these words, "Dabao, you're right. Those two old folks at home are really beyond our control. So what do you suggest? I'll listen to you."
“Okay, Uncle, then I’ll take him away from here first, so he won’t embarrass himself.”
With that, the two squeezed into the crowd.
At this moment, Chen Zhancai had lost all the pride of a scholar. He knew that as long as he was sent to the government, his life would be completely over. Not to mention his future career, he probably wouldn't even be able to keep his status as a scholar.
He was so anxious that tears streamed down his face as he repeatedly kowtowed to the shopkeeper, pleading, "Shopkeeper, my father is truly the richest man in Anyang, my family is incredibly wealthy! Please don't send me to the authorities, I promise I'll find a way to repay the money, please..."
"Don't give me that. When you were bragging, you didn't think about the consequences. Now you're begging me, but it's too late. Come with me to see the magistrate, or I'll beat you to death." The shopkeeper was about to strike after saying that.
"No, don't hit me." Chen Zhancai curled up, trembling with fear.
Seeing this, Da Bao frowned and shouted, "Stop! Let's talk this out."
The shopkeeper paused, startled by the sudden shout. He quickly looked in the direction of the sound and saw Da Bao and Chen Zhanshan approaching. "Who are you?"
Chen Zhancai was also taken aback. The moment he looked up and saw the people who had come, he scrambled to their feet as if he had seen a savior.
"Big brother, Da Bao, it really is you two! Please save me! Don't let them hand me over to the authorities!"
Seeing his behavior, Chen Zhanshan was both angry and anxious. He really wanted to slap him hard. He gritted his teeth and said sternly, "You good-for-nothing! All those years of schooling have been for nothing. Don't you know how much your family has sacrificed for you? How can you act so recklessly outside? How can you face your parents?"
"Brother, I know I was wrong. Please help me. I will definitely change and never dare to do it again..." Chen Zhancai knelt in front of Chen Zhanshan and swore an oath.
The shopkeeper squinted and carefully examined Chen Zhanshan and Da Bao. Seeing that the two were well-dressed and there was a carriage behind them, his eyes lit up.
It turned out the kid wasn't lying; his family was indeed wealthy. Luckily, they hadn't turned themselves in to the authorities yet. He smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute, "You must be Chen Zhancai's stewards? We've been waiting for you for so long!"
"What butler? Who is the butler?" Chen Zhanshan asked, completely bewildered.
Upon hearing that they weren't servants from Chen Zhancai's household, the shopkeeper glared impatiently, "You know nothing, so why are you meddling in other people's business? Get out of the way!"
After saying that, he reached out and pulled Chen Zhancai up from the ground. "You brat, come with me to see the official right now."
"What official are you talking about? These are my elder brother and my nephew. They have plenty of money. You better let go of me right now, or don't blame me for being impolite." Chen Zhancai had lost his previous weak demeanor and his tone had hardened.
The shopkeeper sneered, "Didn't you say your father, Chen Baiwan, only had you as his son? How come another brother has suddenly appeared? Which of your statements is true?"
"I..." Chen Zhancai was speechless for a moment.
Chen Zhanshan trembled with rage. He glanced at Chen Zhancai, pointed at him, and shouted, "Your father is Chen Baiwan, and you're the only son in the family. You're really something! Your family sold houses and land to support your education, but you're out there swindling and cheating people. You're hopeless!"
Da Bao almost laughed out of anger, "Your family sold grain and land to support your education, hoping you would make something of yourself, but now you've done such an absurd thing! You're a complete spendthrift!"
Chen Zhancai lowered his head and tried to defend himself in a low voice, "I didn't want to do this either, but they kept calling me young master, so I had no choice but to take the opportunity to become a rich young master. They have good wine and food all day long, and when I drink a little, I don't keep my mouth shut. I just say whatever comes to mind!"
The shopkeeper, having overheard the conversation, understood the gist of the matter and waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, stop with the nonsense. Since you know each other, hurry up and settle the money he owes me for the shop, or don't meddle in my business."
"That's right, this swindler owes us sixty taels of silver. If he doesn't pay us back, we'll send him to the authorities." The waiter said, reaching out to pull Chen Zhancai away.
Chen Zhancai quickly hid behind Chen Zhanshan, saying, "Stop it! I'm telling you, this is my own brother. His family is rich, and he won't abandon me."
He grinned at Chen Zhanshan with a fawning smile, "Brother, hurry up and pay the shop bill for me. If they take me to the authorities, my life is over."
"Now you remember I'm your older brother, but it's too late. The letter severing ties clearly states that we are no longer family, so I don't have the spare money to take care of you." Chen Zhanshan refused without any mercy.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately flew into a rage. "Fine, since you won't do anything about it, then I'll have to send him to see the authorities."
Chen Zhancai almost collapsed and said repeatedly, "Wait, wait a minute, Dabao, your uncle doesn't care about me, but you can't abandon your third uncle. If something happens to your third uncle, your grandparents will be worried to death. For your grandparents' sake, please help your third uncle. Your third uncle will repay you even if he has to work like a slave in the future."
Da Bao snorted coldly, "I can help you, but this money is a loan to you, and you have to pay me back later."
"Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely pay you back." Chen Zhancai nodded hurriedly.
Da Bao said expressionlessly, "Fine, since you agree, then write an IOU and sign it."
"This..." Chen Zhancai hesitated. The Chen family had sold everything they could and couldn't sell, and now all that was left were a few thatched houses. If he signed an IOU, how would he repay the money?
He knew this better than anyone else. If there was no IOU and no evidence, he would deny it to the death, and Da Bao would be helpless against him. The IOU must not be written.
Having made up his mind, Chen Zhancai chuckled, "Dabao, we're not outsiders, there's no need for this!"
"Relatives are relatives, and money is money. Even brothers need to keep clear accounts. If you don't write an IOU, I can't settle this debt for you. You'd better watch yourself!" Da Bao said, making a move to leave...
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