Chapter 30 Maintenance

  April 20th morning was nothing special for Chen family in Qiwan Lane.

  Chen Jiong stepped on the morning dew, went to the Yu Yuan River to fetch water. Because Yang Zhi Zhou had gone to Mingzhou, Chen Jiong finished fetching water and had nothing to do, so he returned home.

  His elder sister-in-law and Qingyun were washing clothes in the courtyard.

  The nephew and niece finished their breakfast and went to school.

  Chen Jing stood aside and helped her sister-in-law wring out the water.

  Today, washing the canopy, my sister-in-law and Qingyun were not strong enough, so Chen Jing volunteered to help. He often helps with household chores that he can handle, such as helping his sister-in-law wring out sheets or quilts, carrying water, sweeping the yard, etc.

  At first, his sister-in-law advised him to focus on his studies and not worry about these trivial matters.

  Chen Jie said: "Always reading books is tiring. Doing some light exercise can loosen up the muscles and bones, which is good for the body. What's the use of studying if one's body is not well?"

  Chen Jiong's parents both died of illness.

  So, his elder sister-in-law attaches great importance to health. Seeing that Chen Jingru is like this, she no longer persuades him later on. Reading books also doesn't fear delaying for a moment. Moreover, with Chen Jingru accompanying them, everyone chats and the home is lively.

  "What interesting things happened in Nanzhuang yesterday?" Big sister and Chen Jing chatted idly, pulled up some household chores, and casually asked a few questions about Nanzhuang. "You came back from visiting relatives pretty early. After coming back, you went to Songhe Hall. Nothing bad happened on the Nanzhuang side, did it?"

  Chen Jing paused for a moment.

  He lowered his eyelids and smiled slightly, but didn't answer.

  He didn't like lying much. Besides, Auntie would soon find out about what happened at Nanzhuang, so there was no point in lying anyway.

  His elder sister-in-law was a clever woman, seeing him like this, and thinking of Chen Er's early return yesterday, something must have happened in the south village. Only, no matter what happened, it should have nothing to do with Chen Jing.

  Chen Jiong is of a steady disposition and will not provoke trouble.

  "Has that scamp gotten into trouble again?" asked his sister-in-law with a smile.

  Every time something goes wrong, it's because of Chen Qi. This realization has deeply penetrated the hearts of every member of the Chen family. When mentioning trouble, Eldest Sister also thinks of Chen Mo Ren first.

  "It's not that serious, anyway." Chen Jiong coughed lightly and said slowly, "That is, Seventh Brother and I pushed He Zhen into the Luoshui Lake and froze him unconscious. Second Brother returned to deal with this matter and appease the He family. Otherwise, the He family would have definitely come knocking on our door by now..."

  With a loud "pa", the canopy in Sister-in-law's hand fell into the water basin, splashing Qingyun who was squatting half-way with water all over her body.

  She stared blankly at Chen Jing, her clear eyes revealing incredulity: "Really?"

  Although she didn't believe it, her eyebrows still showed a few points of disappointment that couldn't be suppressed.

  "....Hmm, it was my idea." Chen Jing replied seriously, "He Jie wasn't bad, I said I would try some medical techniques, and he let me take his pulse. He also told me about his illness from the beginning, the symptoms over the years, and the medication he took, very detailed. His illness, I happened to know how to cure it, so I helped him."

  The elder sister-in-law was speechless.

  She remained still for a long time, her face pale and unattractive, her lips trembling as if she had many things to say.

  She also wanted to scold Chen Jing severely. What Chen Jing said about helping to cure the disease, Dajie didn't listen, because she thought that was just a joke. Chen Jing pushed He Zhen into the water, He Zhen fainted, and Dajie only heard this.

  He Zhen was suffering from a cold, and his sister-in-law knew about it. If he were pushed into the water, would He Zhen still be alive?

  How can this be so stubborn?

  What's to be done when someone is killed?

  But to blame, Li said can not say. Chen Jiong is a boy, his brother is not at home, he followed Li days, Li originally afraid of him timid and fearful. Once something happens to blame him, he will be more weak and timid, like a girl.

  A man should deliberately cultivate his dignity and authority.

  The woman at home gives him authority and status, he will slowly learn to stand up for himself, yearn for more recognition, and strive harder.

  "He Zhen... did he faint?" Li's voice was soft, without a hint of blame, just inquiry.

  Chen Jing nodded and said: "Sister-in-law, he won't have any trouble, don't worry."

  "Alright, I believe you that he's fine," said Li. "You must remember, no matter what happens with He Zhen, this is not your fault and you didn't intentionally harm him. If the He family dares to come knocking, I'll deal with them."

  Chen Jiong hummed in response.

  Li's clothes were also not washed, wiping the water from her hands, she said to Qingyun: "Go hire a horse carriage, I'll return to Yaojiang. Please, you also pack up, we're leaving now."

  Yaojiang is another county town adjacent to Wang County and also belongs to Mingzhou.

  The Li family was a small landlord household in Yaojiang. If the Chen family is considered a third-rate household in Wangxian, then the Li family would be considered a fourth or fifth-rate household in Yaojiang. The Li family not only had land but also did some small business on the side.

  The elder sister-in-law has eight biological brothers, six paternal half-brothers, and other fraternal relatives, adding up to more than thirty people in total. The elder sister-in-law gets along well with her natal family's brothers.

  Chen Jiong and Chen Qi have harmed He Zhen. The side of Jing Zhong Alley will definitely clear Chen Qi first, and push all the blame onto Chen Jiong's head. The He family and Chen family are relatives by marriage. Once something happens, in order to quell the matter, the Chen family probably won't protect Chen Jiong, but instead hand him over to the He family.

  The elder sister-in-law cannot sit and wait for death, she first takes Chen Jing to Yaojiang to escape.

  If He's family dares to make trouble at Yaojiang, they won't get any benefits.

  "Qingyun, you stay at home and take care of Wen Gong and Wen Rong. No matter what happens, don't be afraid, show some spirit! We are the family of a scholar-official, they wouldn't dare to be presumptuous!" Big sister instructed Qingyun again.

  "Understood, madam!" Qing Yun clenched her fists and her face turned red. "The maid said that the young master of the Meng family was not good-hearted and would harm the second master. Now it has come true. They dare to come and cause trouble, the maid will fight them to the death!"

  Chen Zhang looked at these two women, who didn't panic when they encountered things, and came up with a solution quickly. They had an air of being prepared for anything, which moved and comforted him.

  I'm moved to tears, but also somewhat amused.

  "Qingyun, you're back!" Chen Jing looked at Qingyun turning around to go out and hire a carriage, immediately shouting her down, and then said to Da Sao, "It's nothing, Da Sao, no need to go to Yaojiang. He Zhen's illness is cured from now on, the He family hasn't had time to thank us yet."

  "I know." Eldest sister nodded vaguely, "You follow me to live in Yaojiang for a few days first, it's not like you're avoiding trouble. Because you are a scholar, participating in these disputes and arguments will damage your reputation. Your brother said before, 'A gentleman has things he does and things he doesn't do.'"

  She instead advised Chen Xing.

  She was afraid that Chen Jing would think she was hiding and being cowardly. Big sister strongly told Chen Jing that this was a matter of course, and had nothing to do with cowardice.

  "Sister-in-law......" Chen Jiong felt a bit weak.

  Just then, there was a knock at the door.

  The knock at the door made Li's body tense up slightly.

  The voice was loud, but it wasn't urgent, and didn't sound like someone seeking revenge.

  Li's eyebrows slightly frowned as she glanced at Chen Jing.

  She signaled Qingyun to go and open the door.

  Qingyun Road

  Chen Jiong blocked Qing Yun and smiled: "I'm coming, I'm coming..."

  He quickly stepped forward and opened the courtyard gate.

  He came with two servants behind him.

  He Ti is very tall and strong, with an intimidating presence.

  Mrs. Li thought that at home, there were only her, Qingyun and Chen Jing, not even a small servant or family member, how could they compete with He Ti's strong man? They should have left earlier, gone to Yaojiang, Mrs. Li would not be afraid of anything then.

  She was at a loss what to do, but seeing He Ti make a deep bow to Chen Jing.

  He ti's bow was very deep, almost to the ground.

  Three bows in a row, He Ti stood up and said: "Thank you, my cousin! Thank you for your wonderful skills that brought Qing Qu back to life. Qing Qu has woken up and his condition is improving. Please, my cousin, come to my humble abode again to take his pulse and re-examine him."

  He Ti's words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, exploding in the ears of Li Shi and Qing Yun, stunning them both, leaving them momentarily bewildered and forgetting how to react, standing there in a daze.

  All around is quiet.

  Mr. Li felt as if everything before his eyes was an illusion.

  She stared blankly, incredulous, at He Ti and Chen Jing.

  Qing Yun was just as shocked as Li Shi, staring at Chen Jing with a gaze that could bore holes into him.

  "Alright, I'll go now." Chen Jing replied to He Ti.

  He turned around and said to his sister-in-law and Qingyun, "Sister-in-law, I'm going to the He's house for a follow-up examination. After finishing, I'll come back as soon as possible to study..."

  Having said that, he made a gesture of invitation and asked He Ti to return first.

  He nodded and also gave a courtesy bow to Li's wife, calling out "Sister-in-law".

  Li was shocked back to his senses.

  "Wait!" she shouted at Chen Xing.

  Chen Jiong turned his head and looked at Li Shi.

  Li's eyes were dim and uncertain, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. There were many things to say, but none of them could be summed up in one sentence. Li slightly opened her cherry lips, then stopped again. In the end, she only said: "Please give my regards to Third Uncle and Third Aunt, and ask how they're doing."

  "Yes." Chen Jing replied.

  Chen Jing and He proposed to leave, the courtyard gate was closed by Chen Jing with a backhand, making a soft "thud" sound, Li Shi and Qing Yun finally came back to their senses.

  The two of them exchanged a glance, and saw the shock and confusion in each other's eyes.

  "Madam, isn't Young Master He suffering from internal injury and cold? Even after wearing warm clothing on a sweltering day, all the doctors were at a loss for what to do?" Qing Yun's voice trembled. "Second Master... Second Master, he... cured Young Master He?"

  Judging from He Tian's respectful and grateful attitude, he was indeed cured.

  Just now, He Ti's words made Li so shocked that she was thrown into the clouds, and there is still a lingering effect until now.

  "It's probably all right." After a moment, Li replied to Qingyun.

  "..." Qing Yun gently shook her head, "When did Second Master learn medicine? Last time, he even cured the Third Elder of Jingzhong Alley, using only one type of Plantain Lily. Until now, people in Jingzhong Alley still talk about it, saying that Second Master is lucky and his medical skills are just a coincidence..."

  Li fell silent.

  Qing Yun saw Mrs. Li not speaking and asked again: "Madam, is the second master really good at medicine?"

  Li said helplessly: "I'm with you all day long. If I knew, wouldn't I tell you?"

  Qing Yun didn't dare ask again.

  Li returned to the house, slowly sitting down in a chair. She felt that this morning had been thrilling and frightening. From worrying and being afraid to now feeling puzzled and shocked, she was a bit exhausted and powerless.

  What's wrong with that child?

  Since being beaten by Chen Qi during last year's Mid-Autumn Festival, Ceng seems to have changed a lot.

  He is still taciturn, but this silence is a kind of calmness and tranquility, rather than the former wooden stiffness. The former Chen Yang was very respectful to Li, but lacked a bit of closeness; now Chen Yang is more empathetic. He is still respectful to Li, with a few points of intimacy in his respect, treating Li like family.

  Because all of these changes have been for the better.

  The better a person becomes, the more relieved their family is. This relief makes them overlook that these changes shouldn't have happened and forget to think about why they did happen.

  So, Li didn't feel right until this moment.