Chen Ergou returned to Nanjing with one less red thread on his wrist, Wang Hu remained unaware of the change, and Chen Qing was even less likely to notice this detail. Only Cao Jingyan, with her meticulous mind, saw through it at a glance, but she didn't reveal anything, instead taking Chen Ergou to Xuanwu Lake.

  Now Chen Ergou seems to be not purely a poor man, after all, he got the first bucket of gold, a Hummer off-road vehicle given by Chen Yuanshu according to the agreement, and a credit card with a 7-digit amount. Chen Ergou asked Wang Hu to find a peasant house in the suburbs of Nanjing and package it for 4 layers, then directly handed over the card to Chen Qingzhi, because except for Chen Xiangyu's medical treatment, this group of people did not have too much expenditure, Chen Qingzhi did not refuse.

  But at that moment, Chen Ergou handed over a card and got back Chen Qingzhi's life.

  Two people entered the Xuanwu Gate via the Cuihong Dyke to Huanzhou, then headed north along the dyke. Cao Jingjing stopped at Guo Pu Pavilion without resting and hastily took a photo before continuing on her way. Chen Ergou followed closely behind her as they passed through the 300-meter-long Cherry Blossom Corridor of Xuanwu Lake. Chen Ergou suddenly thought of Shi Qingfeng's downward-sloping corridor, which was 81 steps long, and silently followed Cao Jingjing to the Reviewing Stand. This time, Cao Jingjing did not hastily leave but stood still, gazing out at Xuanwu Lake. "During the Song Dynasty's Yuanjia era," she said, "a black dragon appeared twice in the lake, which is why it's called Xuanwu Lake. But I think what they called a 'black dragon' was probably just an alligator. Emperor Wen of Sui once ordered the destruction of Nanjing City, and that was the first time Xuanwu Lake suffered the disaster of being filled in. Ergou, can you imagine a city and a lake being flattened by human force? Sometimes I think about it, and as an individual facing the vast tide of history or the massive machinery of the state, one is really as small as an ant. I don't know whether to feel reverence or resentment."

  Chen Erdou smiled and did not make any comment.

  He believed that her previous sentence about Xuanwu Lake was more or less a setup, and the next sentence was the key. Chen Ergou almost immediately thought of the Fang family and the oppressive atmosphere in Nanjing, and he felt powerless. Cao Jingjian's words were to a large extent encouraging him to open up his heart, and Chen Ergou understood this intention and was grateful. In fact, upon careful reflection on their meetings in Zhangjiashan, Shanghai, and Nanjing, many of her seemingly casual and insignificant words at the time had not left a deep impression on Chen Ergou, but were worth savoring when thought about again.

  She smiled and said, "Historically, this was a place for naval training and inspection, but I couldn't feel the 'masts standing like forests, drums shaking the sky'. Instead, I prefer the folk name, Yinma Tang. During the Ming dynasty, it accidentally became an imperial forbidden area because it stored the Huangce Ku, which held the household registers and tax records of the entire country. It was isolated from the world for over 260 years, and because of this archival miracle, I decided to come to Xuanwu Lake."

  "Did you look these things up before you came, or have you had them stored in your brain for a long time?" Chen Ergou asked curiously.

  "When you're interested in something, go and learn more about it. As you gain a certain amount of knowledge, you'll find that your efforts are halved. Actually, every system of knowledge has a tree-like framework. Apart from grasping the main points and clear connections, there's a small trick: pull out each node. For example, if you want to understand the history of the Song Dynasty, first clarify the important events in each year segment, then list out the key figures one by one - military generals, civil officials, emperors, famous poets, and courtesans. These roles easily form a complete picture, outlining the main points."

  "I personally think that the 24 Histories must be memorized by heart. Forgetting one's own country's history and recklessly discussing the world is a very superficial thing. Reading history can enlighten one's mind, this is a valuable saying. Many emperors, generals, heroes, and treacherous officials spent their entire lives strategizing, but in the end, they only occupy a small section or even just a few dozen words in the historical records. Once you've read through the 24 Histories, you will definitely benefit greatly."

  It is better to teach people how to fish than to give them fish.

  Cao Jing turned her head and glanced lightly at Chen Erdou, who nodded. This was a man who could lift one and infer three. The gentleness in her eyes was no longer disguised.

  Wén jī tíng, tóng gōu jǐng, wǔ miào zhā, bì xié duò shí, cáo jiǎo jiǎn zǒu mǎ guān huā, děng zǒu chū xuán wǔ hú, chén èr gǒu rěn bù zhù wèn dào: "zhè me jí?"

  Translation:

  Wen Chicken Pavilion, Copper Hook Well, Wu Temple Gate, Evil-Repelling Stone, Cao Jiao Embankment Horse-Racing Flower-Watching, and so on, until they came out of the Xuanwu Lake. Chen Er Dog couldn't help but ask: "So urgent?"

  "I'm used to it."

  Cao Jing's eyes dimmed for a moment, and then she couldn't help but smile mischievously. "For the past year or so, I've been running to scenic spots like this. I climbed Huangshan and Emeishan, among other famous mountains, at a speed about twice as fast as ordinary people. It's an old habit my grandfather taught me when I was young - grasping the main contradiction, emphasizing a swift and decisive victory. So during my student years, whether it was studying or taking exams, even chatting with people, it all felt like small-scale battles to me. I had to concentrate my strength and take down each local enemy one by one."

  In the end, Cao Jingxian imitated her grandfather's gesture of making a speech, Chen Ergou didn't laugh, but she laughed so hard that she held her belly, seeing Chen Ergou standing there stupidly, Cao Jingxian felt a bit embarrassed and glared at him. Chen Ergou immediately cooperated with a silly smile, Cao Jingxian took off the duck tongue cap and put it on Chen Ergou's head fiercely, turned around and walked first, with a knowing smile rising from the corner of her mouth. Chen Ergou held the Nanjing roast duck in his hand, nibbling while chasing after her, Cao Jingxian walked ahead, holding a piece of jade carving that didn't cost Chen Ergou much money, her thumb carefully tracing the not-so-round stone, with a charming and seductive gaze. The treasured granddaughter of the Cao family, who had a heroic demeanor in the eyes of the old man, and the cunning and mysterious younger sister in the eyes of Cao Ye, was now unattainable, making people look up to her with reverence. In the end, stripping away the glory and honor, she was just a woman who had waited 26 years for love.

  Some things come later and may be less likely to hide behind a lute.

  At night, Cao Jingying still didn't let go of Chen Ergou, and took him to the top of Zhijiang Mountain in the suburbs of Nanjing to look at the Yangtze River. They entered the Yu Bei Pavilion on the cliff, where the 14 characters "When I heard about the river's waves, the earth shook, and the mighty torrent was beneath my feet" made Cao Jingying sigh with admiration, saying that it truly had a majestic atmosphere, with six parts of Li Taibai's style. Chen Ergou, who had mastered six of the seven skills of poetry, simply squatted in the pavilion, smoking and gazing out at the Yangtze River. As night fell, the sky and water were bathed in a soft white light, and the rolling river flowed eastward, stretching for thousands of miles. It was truly a magnificent sight, with the moon shining brightly over the vast expanse of water. Chen Ergou's heart suddenly felt expansive and open, and he almost wanted to let out a few loud whoops.

  "If you want to shout, then shout." Cao Qiangying smiled with a hint of cleverness.

  Chen Ergou scratched his head and resisted this temptation.

  "Isn't that so? Once we leave this village, there won't be a shop like this. From now on, I won't bring you to Swallow Cliff anymore." Cao Jing teased.

  "Shh."

  Chen Ergou shook his head, squatted on the ground and leisurely smoked a cigarette. Suddenly he raised his head and asked: "Can I ask a question?"

  "No." Cao Qiao said with a sly smile.

  "Is it because you know what I want to ask and don't want to answer?" Chen Ergou asked with a smile.

  "That's correct." Cao Jing blinked her eyes.

  "You're always like this, I don't dare marry you." Chen Ergou sighed.

  "Then ask." Cao Jingjian, who was crying and laughing, unexpectedly compromised. This didn't seem like her style. This kind of provocative method would have been a minor trick in the past, but when this man said it at this moment, standing at the peak of the surging river, she really couldn't bear to refuse.

  "You all know what I want to ask, why don't you give me a straight answer?" Chen Ergou said with a sullen face, just like a hero about to be executed on the guillotine, shouting at the executioner to get it over with.

  Cao Jing leaned against the stone tablet, gazing out at the rolling Yangtze River with Chen Ergou, wondering how many famous figures had passed through its waters. After a pause of half a minute, he spoke slowly: "What makes a man a real husband? What makes him stand tall and proud? This question may seem somewhat empty, but many women haven't thought about it, or have only scratched the surface. As for me, I've seen the rise and fall of many families, and with my own eyes, I've witnessed the dark side of many men who are considered top-notch by women. Moreover, Ergou, before I answer your question, let me ask you one: what is it that successful people rely on to achieve success?"

  Chen Erdou shook his head, success was a distant word, he thought it was within reach, but didn't expect to be knocked back to its original shape so quickly.

  "One life, two fortunes, three bones, four accumulated virtues, five readings."

  "This is what my brother said in jest, but it's roughly true. One person has an unbreakable fate, another has a vague and unclear destiny. If you put them in the first two positions, it's not just empty talk. In reality, those who are successful in business or hold high positions in politics, aside from 60% of them having some exceptional qualities, the remaining 40% seem to me to be no different from ordinary people, they just have good luck and seized one or two big opportunities. Many people even succeed while still being bewildered. If a person can seize three opportunities in their life, they can be very successful. So I'm saying you're not inferior to many of the great figures you admire, it's not intentional flattery, but stating a fact."

  "I understand what you're saying literally, but I don't quite get your underlying meaning." Chen Ergou said with a blush.

  "What I want to say is that in my heart, there is only one standard for a man."

  Ts'ao Chün said: "A drop of water, if it penetrates the stone, is like iron; I am immovable as Mount Tai, my heart unshakeable as a rock."

  "Am I?" Chen Ergou said with a bitter smile.

  Cao Jing squatted down beside him, propping up his cheek with his hand, and this time he didn't answer.

  Chen Ergou lit his second cigarette, and his face never showed great sorrow or joy, because he was a thorough pessimist. He had no family background to nurture his arrogance, nor did he have superior learning to cultivate his orthodox refinement. The reason why he dared to take the initiative to hug Cao Jing that day was just his nature of not wanting to miss any opportunity, which was the same as when he first entered Shanghai and wouldn't let go of a single pretty girl.

  "Second Dog, in my eyes, you have more potential than wealth and nobility, and are more of a real man."

  "Your grandfather wrote 'Chen Fu Sheng' on the tombstone, not 'Chen Fu Gui'. You chose me over Xiao Yao because you were afraid of dragging a clean girl into the mud and thorns with your weak foundation. Wei Duan Gong couldn't escape death, and you won't be able to escape the fate of being cooked like a rabbit or boiled like a dog. One Fang family can suffocate you, and one Qiao Liu dares to boast about playing with all the women in the Wei family. Who can you protect? So you took a step back and let go, maybe feeling very ashamed and sorry for that foolish child who trusted you with her life. But as an outsider, I saw you play Chen Shi Mei in Shanghai, the big villain, and thought you looked more like a man than ever before. Compared to stabbing Zhao Kun Peng or shooting Qiao Liu, which even the wealthy Chen Qing could do, I prefer your gentle care towards Xiao Yao. I'm actually a bit envious of the woman called Shu Xiao Yao, so it's good that you willingly took off the red string your mother tied for you."

  There is much suffering in this world, so much that it cannot be put into words, and that is what hurts people the most.

  Like holding one's breath and swallowing several mouthfuls of hot knife-edged liquor in one gulp.

  "There will definitely be many people who say that I'm blind for liking you." Chen Ergou said to Cao Jingjian with self-deprecation.

  "Others may laugh at me for being blind, but ten or twenty years later, let's see who is right and who is wrong." Cao Jingjian smiled.

  Two people stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing out at the distant horizon of the Yangtze River, with a heroic spirit soaring freely.

  His heart is like a rock, and she isn't either? (Please log in to read the next chapter, support the author, support the genuine version!)