"What? She, she's my Ruhua's mother?" Chen Jiye was incredulous. In his memory, Ruhua was short, stout, and ugly, but now she was short, dark, thin, and unkempt, completely different from before.
Ru Hua nodded and smiled, "Ji Ye, you've grown taller and gained a lot of weight."
"Yes, yes, I've grown quite a bit taller than before." Chen Jiye glanced at Ruhua with disdain, then asked Chen Zhancai, "Father, you're back from the imperial examination? How did it go? Did you pass?"
"Stop with this nonsense." Chen Zhancai was furious at his nonchalant attitude. "I'm asking you, weren't you supposed to be a tutor to Wang Qizhang's son? How come you're working as a gatekeeper for him?"
"What? Can't I do it if I want to?"
"You brat, can't you talk to me properly?"
"You don't even speak properly, so why should I speak properly to you!" Chen Jiye snorted coldly, glancing at Chen Zhancai with disdain.
Chen Zhancai's anger surged from his heart and rushed to his head. "You little brat, I think you're asking for a beating!" he said, raising his hand to strike.
Ru Hua quickly stopped him, "Husband, don't get angry, let's talk this out."
Chen Jiye was fearless, his neck stiff, "Come on, hit me, hit me as hard as you want!"
Chen Zhancai realized that his words and actions had indeed been somewhat excessive. He lowered his raised hand and calmed his tone, "Jiye, how are you doing here?"
"That's at least human," Chen Jiye chuckled. "I'm doing quite well here. I spend my days following Wang Ba around the streets, teasing cats and dogs."
"Then why don't you study with them?"
"Old Master Wang Ba is rich. He spends all his time eating, drinking, and having fun. Why would he need to read books?"
Chen Jiye was right. Although Wang Qizhang was a minor official in Qingshui Town, he wielded considerable power and had amassed a fortune through extortion over the years.
Their two sons are even worse than each other; the eldest son is the worst of the worst, the scum of the earth.
The second son was not to be outdone. At just twelve years old, he spent his days leading a vicious dog and causing trouble, taking Chen Jiye to the streets to bully children.
As the saying goes, "If you're near a royal palace, you're sure to grow some rare herbs; if you're near a stinking outhouse, you're sure to grow some dog urine moss; follow good people and you'll become good; follow bad people and you'll become like a ghost or a god."
At first, Chen Jiye was a little reserved, but gradually he got used to it and began to swear constantly, even insulting the blind and mute.
He wanders around the streets all day, bullying honest people.
Chen Zhancai shook his head as he listened, feeling that his son was about to go astray. However, he was too busy taking care of himself to bring his son back to his side. Nevertheless, he tentatively asked, "Jiye, why don't you come home with your father?"
"Go home? What for? Did Dad pass the imperial examination?" Chen Jiye's eyes lit up. "Dad, if you really pass the imperial examination, I'll become a young master, and everyone in Qingshui Town will have to respect me."
Chen Zhancai shook his head and sighed softly, "Don't mention it, Father failed to pass the imperial examination."
Although Chen Jiye was only Wang Ba's study companion, the Wang family provided him with good food and lodging, and he could even walk his birds when he had nothing to do. He had already gotten used to such a carefree and happy life.
He had thought that if his father, Chen Zhancai, passed the imperial examination, he could become sworn brothers with Wang Ba and wouldn't have to be so careful in everything he did, nor would he have to defer to Wang Ba in his words and actions.
Upon hearing the news, Chen Jiye looked utterly disappointed. "Why did you come looking for me if you didn't pass? I'm busy walking the dog!" he said, turning to leave.
Chen Zhancai quickly grabbed him, "Wait, Jiye, I want to see your mother. Could you ask her to come out?"
My mother isn't here.
"If she's not with you, then where did she go?" Chen Zhancai asked, puzzled.
Chen Jiye looked impatient. "Go to the end of this street, turn right, and go to the third door. My mother lives there."
"She rented the apartment herself?"
"How would I know? Why don't you go ask her?" Chen Jiye said, turning and entering the courtyard, closing the gate behind him.
Seeing this, Chen Zhancai gritted his teeth in anger, "This little bastard is really outrageous, daring to disregard his father."
Ru Hua frowned deeply. She hadn't expected Chen Jiye to change so much. "Husband, what should we do now?"
"What else can we do? Let's go find Liu Fengjiao." Following Chen Jiye's directions, Chen Zhancai quickly arrived at the gate of a house.
He stopped pretending and went straight up to knock on the door, "Feng Jiao, open the door quickly."
Footsteps came from inside, and a moment later the door opened, revealing Liu Fengjiao.
Liu Fengjiao, assuming it was Wang Qizhang, greeted him with a smile. Upon seeing Chen Zhancai, her smile froze.
"Zhancai! What are you doing here? What are you doing here?"
Chen Zhancai looked Liu Fengjiao up and down. Seeing her wearing a light yellow dress and with a bright and beautiful face, he couldn't help but feel a little itchy. "Fengjiao, I've come to see you."
"Look at me, what's so interesting about me?"
Chen Zhancai was bewildered by her lukewarm attitude. "Fengjiao, what are you saying? I'm your husband, can't I come to see you?"
Liu Fengjiao has been living a very comfortable life these days. Apart from chatting with Wang Qizhang, she spends all her time doing makeup. If Chen Zhancai hadn't come to see her, she would have forgotten that she is a married woman.
Only then did she realize what was happening, and she hastily forced a stiff smile. "Husband, when did you get back? Was your journey safe?"
"Everything's going smoothly, everything's going very well." Chen Zhancai said, craning his neck to look inside the door. "Fengjiao, what's this place? It looks pretty good. What are you doing here?"
“What can a woman like me do? It was Elder Wang who saw that I was pitiful all by myself, so he let me stay here to look after his yard and do some cleaning.”
Chen Zhancai's eyes lit up with mischief; it seemed he'd have a free place to stay from now on.
He feigned shock.
"What is this? Helping to look after the yard? I didn't realize that a mere elder would own two residences. Take me inside to have a look."
“You can’t go in. This is Elder Wang’s private residence. I can’t let you in without his permission.” Liu Fengjiao stopped Chen Zhancai and changed the subject, “Husband, how did you do on the exam? Did you pass and become a Juren?”
Chen Zhancai shook his head and sighed softly, "Bad luck this year, I failed again."
Upon hearing this, Liu Fengjiao's eyes flashed with disgust. "Husband, now that you haven't passed the imperial examination, what are your plans? Will you continue your studies and prepare for the autumn examination in three years?"
“I want to continue my studies, but you know our family’s situation. My parents can no longer afford to support my education. I plan to rest for a few days first, and then find a place to teach so I can earn money while continuing my studies.”
Hearing this, Liu Fengjiao chuckled inwardly, but said against her will, "My husband has great ambitions. I wish you success in achieving your goals soon."
......
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