Chapter 22: Brother-in-law

  "I don't know how to write poetry, nor can I paint." Chen Jiong smiled and said, "I'm not even envious of those famous courtesans who are good at writing poetry, what's the point of learning it?"

  Chen Qi then knew he was teasing himself and glared at him.

  Then he thought for a moment and asked Chen Jie: "The word 'daotie' is very accurate, where did it come from?"

  People of this age like to ask the origin of words and phrases. Chen Jing recalled that last time he said "It's better to govern ten men than one woman" was also asked.

  He just didn't know that Chen Qi would also care about his whereabouts.

  Chen Qi probably really likes the word "reversal" and wants to learn how to use it to deceive people.

  In these small things, Chen Qi is still quite lovely.

  Chen Jiong smiled: "I don't remember." It should be from the Yuan Dynasty's opera, right? It hasn't appeared yet. Specifically, what does Chen Jiong remember clearly? The time and space of his past life, speaking and writing didn't pay attention to these things.

  "Useless indeed." Chen Qi was dissatisfied, "You finally said something decent, but who knows where it came from. You'll be stuck like this for the rest of your life, don't expect to have any great prospects!"

  He said these words, all of which came out casually, just like someone who uses dirty language as a verbal tic. If you take it seriously and think he has ill intentions, then that would be truly unjust to him.

  Chen Jiong and he spent some time together, figured out his temperament, didn't get angry, just smiled, not lightly nor heavily retorted: "You this unlearned and unsophisticated person, do you know what's the point of coming and going? Could it be that you're going to take an exam or something?"

  Chen Qi glared at him again. Although he glared at Chen Jing, when Chen Jing said that he was uneducated and untalented, he didn't get angry, but instead felt that this kid had a sharp tongue, wasn't so dull and lifeless after all, and that was pretty good.

  The two brothers exchanged words, Chen Qi enumerating and falling on Chen Jing, Chen Jing either smiled or retorted with half a sentence, until they arrived at the small courtyard where the boat was moored.

  This small courtyard is called Lushuiting, and a solitary bamboo pavilion was built in the center of the water, hence the name.

  The pond of Lushuiting is not an elliptical pool as Chen Jinnan thought, but a long strip that almost surrounds half of the South Villa.

  The pond is planted with sparse lotus leaves. At this time, the small lotus has just revealed its tip, floating alone on the emerald waves. The pool water is clear and bright, and the sunlight shines brightly, sprinkling on the water surface, reflecting the fine golden light.

  There are several small boats at the entrance, and there are also three or five boats rowing in the middle of the pond.

  Ripples spread across the lake, stirring up wave after wave. In the whirlpools of ripples illuminated by sunlight, the light is shining and soft.

  Chen Qi jumped onto a small boat and shouted at Chen Xuan: "Hurry up, what are you dawdling for?"

  Chen Jiong sighed, what's so fun about this? It's not as good as listening to opera.

  Unable to resist Chen Qi's urging, he had no choice but to follow along.

  As soon as he got on the boat, Chen Qi became restless and said to the oarsman, "Give me the oar, I'll row!"

  "....Young Master Qi, let's just row slowly, don't tire yourself." The servant said with a flattering smile, but in fact he was worried that Chen Qi wouldn't be able to row and would capsize the boat instead.

  This pond looks shallow but is actually very deep.

  The pond is connected to the Jade Garden River outside, and it's not stagnant water, but river water. In mid-April, the river water may be a bit warm on the surface, but extremely cold at the bottom. If you fall in, you'll definitely get sick from the cold. Getting sick from the cold is a small matter, but if you drown, that's a big problem.

  In March and April, it's easiest to drown in the river. Because the water surface is warm, but the bottom of the water is cold enough to penetrate the bone, the heat is uneven, and the calf will cramp, people lose the opportunity to struggle, and can't even climb up.

  The little servant is afraid that Chen Qi will make trouble and fall down, unable to get up. When the time comes, if Chen Qi gets into trouble, this little servant won't be able to live either.

  "What nonsense!" Chen Qi was unhappy and went forward to grab Xiao Er's oars. "I, young master, like to take on hardship!"

  That young man didn't know what to do, looked at Chen Jing and hoped that Chen Jing would help persuade.

  Chen Jie sat on one side, just smiling and not speaking.

  Anyway, he will swim, and even if the boat capsizes, nothing will happen.

  That little fellow couldn't escape, and had no choice but to hand over the pair of sculls to Chen Qi.

  Chen Qi's first rowing, at the beginning did not know how to lead, the boat was rowed in the center of the lake for several laps. Later, the young servant taught him, he slowly grasped it, and the small boat was actually rowed forward by him.

  "You learn things pretty quickly." Chen Jing said, watching Chen Qi rowing the boat.

  "...you just know!" Chen Qi said with a bad tone, but felt a bit pleased in his heart.

  "Awesome." Chen Jing said casually.

  Chen Qi was somewhat embarrassed by his praise and did not counterattack this time.

  He rowed very fast and soon overtook the boat in front of him.

  And the boat in front of them were Chen Shi and Chen Shiyi brothers.

  They saw that the boat was being rowed by Chen Mo, who was showing off his skills in front of his home, while Chen Xiang sat like a master. The two brothers were so surprised that their jaws dropped.

  "Seventh Brother somehow got deceived by the Central Plains!" Chen Shi was very unwilling.

  In the past, Chen Qi always brought Chen Shi and Chen Shiyi with him, so they naturally couldn't do without their benefits. The main house had money, and the old master loved Chen Qi the most, Chen Qi was the richest among the Chen family children. Following Chen Qi, even if he only revealed a little from his fingers, it was enough for Chen Shi and Chen Shiyi to eat and drink.

  Moreover, all the servants in the house fawned on Chen Qi. Following Chen Qi, Chen Shi and Chen Shiyi could also pretend to be mighty.

  Chen Shi and Chen Shiyi were only fourteen years old, immature in mind. Their father, Mr. Chen Si, was punished for embezzling public funds and was not allowed to participate in ancestral worship, having no status in the family. He instigated the children to fawn on Chen Qi. Therefore, these two children could not distinguish whether what they did was right or wrong, only knowing that after fawning on Chen Qi, they had a good life.

  Anyone who blocks their way is an enemy.

  Now Chen Qi took only Chen Xing with him and left the other two behind. Naturally, Chen Xing became the enemy of these two brothers.

  "Go and investigate." Chen said in a serious tone, "Chen Yang and Ding Ran are definitely plotting something behind our backs. Since they're so poor on Seventh Alley, he's trying to curry favor with Seventh Brother, he must be extorting money from him!"

  He spoke with righteous indignation, completely forgetting that he was also trying to curry favor with Seventh Brother for this very purpose.

  A fourteen-year-old child has a very narrow view of things.

  "Hmm!" Another fourteen-year-old Chen Shi completely agreed with his brother's words.

  The two brothers watched as Chen Qi and Chen Jing's boat sailed away, gritting their teeth in anger.

  Two people whispered to each other, thinking of ways to deal with Chen Jing.

  ***

  Lianhuating has two mooring places for boats.

  Chen Qi rowed the boat to the westernmost dock, so he didn't need to row back.

  Rowing a boat is indeed not very interesting, after rowing for a while, Chen Qi got bored and pulled Chen Xuan ashore to go to the Lotus Washing Pavilion to listen to Su Shang's daughter play the piano.

  Chen Jiong followed him.

  After listening for a while, Chen Qi was again dissatisfied with the girl's playing, which he thought was inferior to Xiwen's and unpleasant to hear, and wanted to leave.

  Following this hyperactive youth, Chen Jing felt his own hyperactivity was about to erupt. In the end, he couldn't help but say, "I'm going back to listen to the opera! You play by yourself."

  He ignored Chen Qi and walked back by himself.

  Although it was her first time back in Nanzhuang, Chen Xing had a good sense of direction and after walking around for a while, she knew that heading towards the southeast corner would lead her back.

  Chen Qi still hoped that Chen Jing would get lost and come back to ask for his help. As a result, he saw that Chen Jing had already found the way back, so he followed him and said: "I'll go listen to the opera too. Nan Zhuang often comes here, it's quite boring."

  On the other side of the courtyard, the play had already started a long time ago.

  Chen Er handed over the matter to the person in charge beside him and sat down with Shen Changyu and others.

  The guests who came were mostly Chen Er's friends, a bit older, with an average age of 26 or 27, and they all had their own families. Chen Jing and Chen Qi were like children in front of them, and it wasn't good for them to squeeze forward.

  Chen Jing found a corner and sat down, with Chen Qi sitting next to him.

  On stage, they performed a variety play.

  Some hilarious performances, everyone watched with great interest, but Chen Jing found it boring. His eyes turned around privately and saw two people coming in at the door.

  They were two men.

  One was tall and stout, wearing a dark purple gold-embroidered straight robe, looking very majestic; the other was of medium build, extremely thin, and dressed in a rather strange attire.

  That thin little man had a thick fur hat on his head.

  "It's only in winter that I wear this kind of fur hat."

  In April, everyone changed into single-layer clothing, but the thin man was still wearing a fur hat and a quilted straight gown.

  It's now noon, the weather is fine and a bit warm. The guest who wears a fur hat and a down-filled straight robe attracts everyone's attention, with many people pointing fingers at him.

  Everyone can see that he is ill.

  "Who's that?" Chen Jing asked Chen Qi.

  Chen Qi was enjoying the comic play in the variety show, when Chen Xuan pushed him. Irritated, he looked over and said, "It's those two brothers from the He family."

  "Second Brother's friend?" Chen Jiong asked again.

  He's home?

  The last time I went to San Shu's place, it seemed like I heard someone say "He Family's Second Master", could it be that He family?

  Chen Qi stared back in shock, looking at Chen Jing: "What's wrong with you? Don't you recognize your own cousin from Third Aunt's family? Although we don't meet often, we do exchange greetings during holidays..."

  Seven turns and eight bends, no aunt.

  Chen Jinn's father was an only child and had no brothers or sisters.

  Three Aunts refer to those in Jingzhong Alley.

  His great-grandfather had six sons and three daughters.

  Not to mention the aunts who got married away, even the uncles, aunts and cousins in Jingzhong Alley, Chen Xing couldn't tell them apart.

  "He... " Chen Jing pointed at the cousin wearing a fur hat and asked Chen Qi, "What's wrong with him?"

  "He's ill." Chen Qi said, then turned his head to watch the play. He didn't have a good impression of He Jia's cousin and his tone was full of disgust, too lazy to say more. Chen Jing asked, and Chen Qi simply said one sentence, then didn't mention it again.

  "It's not an illness, it's a collision with evil." Someone suddenly said behind Chen Jing.

  Chen Jiong turned around and saw a fifteen-year-old boy, wearing a cyan straight robe, with a white and tender complexion, looking at the pink balls, it was Chen Lin, the eighth younger brother of the fifth house, whose courtesy name was Xuan Shang.

  Chen Ba Chen Ling is the eldest son of the five houses, his parents are more fond of him, and he lives a happy life, so he is like a normal 15-year-old boy, lively and kind-hearted.

  "Xuan Shang." Chen Jiong called out to him, "What evil have you contracted?"

  Chen Ba glanced at Chen Qi.

  He was afraid Chen Qi wouldn't like him being too talkative.

  Chen Qi didn't react at all and continued watching the show, laughing out loud at the performance on stage.

  Chen Ba lowered his voice and began telling Chen Jing about the past of that sickly cousin from the He family.

  Chen Ba just opened his mouth and said: "Yang and his brother don't remember him, he is the second cousin of San Gu's family, named He Zhen, word Shui Qu, these years didn't come to our house much. That guy was possessed by an evil spirit..."

  "What a scourge!" Chen Qi suddenly turned his head, interrupting Chen Ba's words. "He was punished for his evil deeds, that inhuman thing, he deserved it!"