Chapter 26: Secret

  He brothers came to Nanzhuang today, not just to congratulate Chen Erdao.

  Lao Da He learned something related to Chen's future reputation, and he wanted to tell Chen Er privately, selling personal feelings to Chen Er; while his younger brother He Zhen, who had not seen guests for a long time, also thought of going to the relatives' villa to relax.

  He Ti still hadn't had an opportunity to speak with Chen Er alone.

  And his younger brother, along with Chen Qi, Chen Yang and the two brothers, were very enthusiastic.

  Finally, the three of them surprisingly stood up and wanted to go out for a walk.

  "Come back earlier, we'll be having dinner soon." He reminded his brother.

  Chen Er also instructed Chen Qi: "Don't cause trouble, did you hear?"

  Chen Qi is the one who listens to Chen Er's words the most.

  "Got it, Second Brother." Chen Qi replied.

  After the three cousins went out, He Ti saw that Shen Changyu, Chen Er's noble guest, also went out for a walk. Chen Er happened to be free, so he made eye contact with him and said in a low voice: "Second brother, may I have a word with you?"

  He Ti is twenty-five years old this year, with a strong back and waist, outsiders may think he's a rough man. But little do they know, he was born that way, and his personality isn't rough at all. At the age of fourteen, he helped his third uncle with business, compared to his younger brother He Zhen's recklessness, He Ti is indeed the son who brought prosperity to the He family, intelligent and capable.

  Because of his experience in the business world, He Ti was a hundred times more astute. So when he said "Let's take a walk and talk", it was naturally because there were some relatively obscure things he wanted to tell Chen Er, rather than just being mysterious for its own sake.

  Chen Er immediately got up and took He Ti to a small room in the back.

  Behind the main hall, there is a small house used for guests to rest when having a banquet. It's in case the guests get drunk or feel unwell. In the courtyard, two pear trees were planted many years ago. The twisted branches are like a canopy and the green leaves are lush, but they no longer produce fruit.

  Chen Er brought He Ti to a small house and asked him straightforwardly: "What does my younger brother want to tell his older brother?"

  He Ti looked cautiously outside.

  The courtyard was quiet, and the sound of drums and music could still be heard from the main hall in the distance. The only sounds in the courtyard were the chirping of swallows, which had landed on the tips of the pear trees, chattering softly to each other.

  "It's about the Shen family." He Qidi said in a low voice.

  Then he leaned over and whispered something in Chen Er's ear for a long time.

  Chen Er's face was getting uglier and uglier.

  He Qingti spoke up, Chen Er's eyes were warm and gentle, but his gaze was as cold as ice. His hands clenched tightly under his sleeves, trying to calm himself down a bit.

  Shen's family, it is that "one door two jinshi, a clan of three juren" Shen's family in Nanqiaolong.

  Today's noble guest Shen Changyu is a descendant of the Shen family.

  "Is the news really true?" Chen Er asked He Ti in a calm tone after a moment, his deep eyes narrowed and collected, like an ancient well with no ripples, calm but chilly.

  "I don't dare say I'm fully confident, but I've got about 60-70%," He Ti said. "Although it's a matter of the fifth uncle's household, if it gets out, the entire Chen family will be pointed at and criticized. Second brother should make plans ahead of time."

  "I have my own measure," Chen Er said coldly. "Thank you for telling me, brother. But I wonder how many others know about this matter?"

  "...As for me and Manager Zhou, the fabrics that Shen's embroidery shop uses throughout the year are all carefully selected from our store and delivered to them. Either I deliver them personally or Manager Zhou does. This is what the manager of Shen's embroidery shop told Manager Zhou. Manager Zhou is an old employee of our family, both my father and I trust him very much, he knows what is important."

  He knew about it and immediately told me, asking me to have a private talk with my second brother. After all, we still need to investigate to avoid misunderstandings." He Ti said.

  Chen Er's heart was slightly at ease.

  "...Also, I trouble you, younger brother, to keep this matter a secret." Chen Er said, "I will certainly thank you!"

  "Second Brother, don't worry!" He Ti said, "Our two families, Chen and He, are related by marriage. We share the same honor and shame. Would I recklessly speak out of turn and damage the reputation of the Chen family? Second Brother, you have no need to be concerned about me. Let alone me, even if it were Zhou Zhuanggui, I would dare to vouch for him - he absolutely won't leak anything outside."

  Chen bowed his head and gave He Tie a deep bow: "Thank you, younger brother."

  "Second Brother, this is as it should be, as it should be!" He Qi hurriedly helped Chen Er up and turned around to return the courtesy with a bow.

  The two men exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then the small room fell silent once again.

  Very quiet, the courtyard is eerily still.

  Chen Erl stood in front of the bay window for a long time without moving. He quietly looked at the courtyard, deep in thought, his eyes as sharp as a knife blade.

  Outside the eaves, a gray sparrow flew lightly by, causing the curly branches and leaves to rustle, stirring up the golden sunlight, and Chen Er's eyes also rippled with tiny waves.

  Chen Er finally turned around, smiling at He Ti: "Let's go, it's almost time to start the banquet. We can't keep our guests waiting, that would be rude of us." He had already regained his usual calm and gentle demeanor, with a quiet confidence in his eyes, without any trace of the sinister ferocity from just before.

  He Ti's heart tightened. He was a little afraid of this Chen Er.

  "Yes." He Ti smiled and replied, turning around to open the door for Chen Er.

  Outside, footsteps were heard. Then, someone knocked on the small courtyard door.

  Chen Er came out of the small room and personally went to open the locked courtyard gate.

  The one who came was Chen Ling, the eldest son of Wufang and the eighth-ranking younger brother.

  Because Chen Er and He Ti just mentioned the Shen family and the five houses of the Chen family, suddenly seeing the fifth house's Chen Ling, Chen Er's expression was a bit uncontrollable, gloomy and stern, looking at Chen Ba.

  Chen Ba was startled by Er Ge's words and swallowed the words that had reached his lips, stunned for a moment, unsure of what to say.

  "What's wrong?" Chen Er's emotions flashed by, his voice low and gentle as he asked Chen Ba.

  Chen Ba regained his composure, took two steps back in fear, and then said: "...... I'm here to find Big Brother."

  He Ti took a few steps forward and asked with a smile, "What's up, Eighth Brother? Weren't you just following Mo Ren and Yang earlier? How did you end up running over here by yourself? Where are Mo Ren and the others?"

  He looked back at Chen Baishi behind him.

  He Ti was a bit worried, wondering if his younger brother He Zhen and Chen Mo had gotten into a conflict. That Chen Mo guy was a muddle-headed fool who didn't know what was right or wrong, he was the most stubborn, and he didn't care who he could provoke or not.

  If they make trouble, the weak He Zhen will definitely be at a disadvantage.

  He Ti couldn't help but feel anxious in his heart.

  "Seventh Brother and Eldest Brother took Second Uncle to Luoshui Pavilion. Eldest Brother said that he had read several medical books, knew how to treat illnesses, and wanted to treat Second Uncle's illness, asking me to specially inform Eldest Uncle. Eldest Uncle has a plan in mind; if the treatment is successful, don't forget to pay ten thousand taels of silver for the diagnosis." Chen Ba said.

  Having said that, he himself retreated half a step without leaving any trace.

  He came to spread such unreliable news, and he can't avoid being scolded.

  As expected, after hearing this, Chen Er and He Ti's faces both changed color.

  "What's going on at Lushui Pavilion?" Chen Er shouted in a low voice, "It's heavily humid there..."

  As soon as these words were spoken, He Ti's face turned even uglier.

  He Ti turned his head and asked Chen Er: "Second Brother, that Yang Ji in Qiwan Alley, is he skilled in medicine?"

  Chen Er smiled wryly.

  He Ti knew that Chen Er's answer was "no". He Ti didn't care anymore and quickly ran towards the Loop Water Pavilion.

  Ever since Chen Zhang went to Beijing for the imperial examination and disappeared two years ago, life in Qi Wan Alley has become increasingly difficult. Chen Yang had studied some medical books and heard that the He family was offering a reward of 10,000 taels of white silver to anyone who could cure He Zhen's illness, so he got an idea and wanted to earn that money, and He Ti was able to understand.

  But you can't make fun of He Zhen's life!

  He Zhen's body was extremely weak, and any slight carelessness would be fatal.

  He Zhen was He Ti's only brother, and He Ti cared more about He Zhen than his parents. Hearing such nonsense, he became both angry and anxious. If something happened to He Zhen, killing Chen Yang would be of no use!

  Chen Yang's life can't be exchanged for He Zhen's life!

  He ti stepped quickly and ran towards Shui Ting.

  Chen Er scolded Chen Ba behind his back: "You good-for-nothing, you're also making a fuss? A doctor holds life and death in his hands, is that something to play with? If something happens to Shui Qu, what will you do?"

  Chen Ba cried with a sad face: "This is the idea of Seventh Brother and Central Brother, I was originally unwilling..."

  "You're still talking back!" Chen Er scolded, "I'll deal with you later!"

  Having said that, he also quickly followed He Ti towards Lian Shui Hu.

  "Treating illness is fake. The youngest one saw the curved water and was afraid of the cold, thinking of tricking him into going to the lake, teasing him, fearing it's true." Chen Er sighed secretly in his heart. He knew his younger brother best, usually coming up with ways to trick his brothers for fun, without knowing what is serious or not.

  Chen Mozi saw He Zhen was afraid of the cold, so he pushed him into the lake. He Zhen must have been even more afraid of the cold and struggled. Chen Mozi liked to play pranks in this cruel way.

  He Zhen's illness has become like this, will he return today or never come back?

  Chen Er also had a headache.

  If something happens in Nanzhuang, the responsibility will be on Chen Er's shoulders. He hosted a banquet and instead caused trouble, which is his incompetence, Grandfather will be disappointed when he finds out.

  Chen Er's heart grew more murderous at this thought.

  Chen Mo, this time you've really crossed the line, Chen Er will have to teach him a good lesson.

  He quickly ran up to catch He Ti, both brothers had a gloomy face, worried and angry.

  Chen Er and He Ti arrived at Xun Shui Pavilion, where several figures were already present.

  Shen Changyu and Hu Zhen were also present.

  They were helping to lift He Zhen from the small boat, who had fainted and fallen unconscious.

  He Zhen's face turned white as paper, his whole body was soaked from head to toe, and he fainted.

  He Ti's head buzzed, and his legs went soft. Although the weather was sunny and warm, He Ti still felt a chill behind him. The pale He Zhen lay on the ground, eyes tightly closed, and fainted.

  "Will he wake up again?"

  Every time his brother fell ill, even in the most critical moments, He Ti would ask himself this question in his heart. At that time, what He Ti worried about most was whether he could wake up again or not.

  "Cousin." Chen Er whispered in his ear.

  He Ti suddenly woke up, finding himself standing still for a moment, not daring to take another step forward. He came back to his senses, rushed to He Zhen's side, picked him up and shouted: "Second brother, second brother!"

  He Zhen's whole body was icy cold, and he lay limply in his brother's arms, as if he had exhausted his last breath, fainting away.

  "Second brother......" He Ti was both worried and frightened, yet also outraged, his eyes instantly turning red.

  He gently handed He Zhen over to Chen Er, suddenly turned around, lifted his foot and kicked Chen Xuan's body.

  He Tie didn't know martial arts. He was tall and sturdy, outsiders thought he was a martial artist, but in fact he couldn't do any boxing or kicking skills. He was furious, the anger in his heart, he couldn't bear it anymore, wanted to drag Chen Jing into the lake and drown him!

  His leg strength is powerful, but it's neither fast nor sharp.

  Chen Jiong's arms and waist were sore from exhaustion, but when He Ti kicked the ball over, he still managed to lightly dodge it.

  He was so angry that he thoroughly enraged Heiti.