Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 38 Pay Back the Money

The teahouse was packed.

Mr. Yang Qi was surrounded by a group of people, reciting the story of the Romance of the Western Chamber, which was written by Young Master Chen, with great intonation.

Mr. Qi tapped the gavel and sighed, “Azure sky, yellow flowers on the ground, the west wind blows fiercely. Wild geese fly south, who has painted the frost-covered forest at dawn? It is always the tears of those who are parting.”

This passage is from the farewell scene at the Long Pavilion in The Romance of the Western Chamber. After the story was told, the audience members around them were all wiping away tears.

In the private room on the second floor, Miss Gu wiped away her tears with an embroidered handkerchief, turned to look at Chen Qing who was eating fruit with Xiaoyue, and sighed: "Young master, did you write this chapter?"

At this time, Miss Gu had been listening to The Story of the Western Wing for many days, but today was the first time she had listened to the story with Chen Qing in the same room, which could be considered their first "date".

Chen Qing was chatting with Xiaoyue when he heard this. He turned around and looked at Miss Gu, and said with a smile, "When I was in Huzhou, I met an old gentleman who sold me his handwritten manuscript. That's the story."

“Now, I’ve copied it down and told Mr. Yang.”

Miss Gu glanced at him and held out her hand, saying, "Let me see the manuscript."

Chen Qing was taken aback, then smiled and said, "I'm in Huzhou Prefecture, how can I carry it with me?"

"I didn't carry it with me."

Miss Gu looked at Chen Qing and asked softly, "Could you possibly stay silent?"

Young Master Chen chuckled and was about to explain when Xiaoyue handed the pastries to Miss Gu, saying with a smile, "People say that Young Master Chen isn't very smart, but it seems the rumors are probably false. Young Master Chen can even memorize such a long storybook; he's really amazing."

Chen Qing asked in surprise, "Where did you hear that I'm not smart?"

Xiaoyue smiled and said, "Anrentang also has businesses in the prefectural city. After you arrived, young master, my family..."

Just as she was about to say "my young lady," Miss Gu coughed lightly. Xiaoyue's eyes darted around, and she quickly changed her words: "I asked the people in the shop to help inquire in the prefectural city."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing chuckled and said, "Whether someone is smart or not has little to do with memorizing texts."

At this moment, Mr. Qi cleared his throat and sang again: "Although we will be a perfect match in the future, how can time not bring sorrow? My mind is like a fool, my heart is like a drunkard. Last night and today, I have lost some weight around my waist."

The crowd below clapped and cheered.

Miss Gu glanced at the storyteller, then at Chen Qing beside her, her gaze shifting: "Young master is dishonest."

Just as Chen Qing was about to speak, he suddenly turned around and saw a voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar coming from outside the private room on the second floor.

"Brother, brother!"

Chen Qing stood up, rubbed his temples, and said helplessly to Miss Gu, "It seems my brother has come looking for us."

Miss Gu was taken aback, then stood up and frowned, saying, "That must be Madam Li, she has also arrived in Deqing."

She looked at Chen Qing and said, "Shall I go with you to see him?"

Chen Qing shook his head and said with a smile, "I'll go out and take a look first."

He got up from the private room on the second floor, pushed open the door and went out. Sure enough, he saw a young man who, led by a waiter, had already gone up to the second floor and was shouting incessantly.

Upon seeing Chen Qing push open the door and walk out, the young men strode forward, patted Chen Qing heavily on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Big brother!"

How are you doing in Deqing?

Chen Sanlang asked with a smile, "Did their family bully you?"

He smiled broadly and patted his chest, saying, "If they bully you, just tell me, and I'll take you to them!"

Although he was the younger brother, he spoke as if he were the older brother.

Chen Qing silently took a step back, tucked his hands into his sleeves, then looked up at Chen Sanlang and said with a smile, "Third brother, what brings you here?"

Chen Che exclaimed "Huh?", looked Chen Qing up and down, and shook his head, saying, "Brother, you seem a little different than before?"

Chen Qing said with a smile, "It is somewhat different now."

Before Chen Che could speak, the door to the private room opened again, and Miss Gu came out with Xiao Yue. She stood behind Chen Qing, looked at Chen Sanlang, then turned to Chen Qing and asked, "Are these your brothers, young master?"

Chen Qing nodded: "My third brother."

Miss Gu nodded silently and said nothing.

Xiaoyue looked at Chen Che and said, "Isn't your family an official family? How come you have no manners at all?"

At this moment, Chen Sanlang only glanced at Miss Gu and was stunned on the spot, somewhat dumbfounded. It wasn't until Xiaoyue said those words that he came back to his senses and hurriedly waved his hand: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding."

"It's just that my elder brother doesn't value etiquette," Chen Qing said with a smile. "But what if I did value it?"

Chen Che felt somewhat embarrassed. He first looked at Miss Gu and her servant, then thought that since his mother wasn't here, he gritted his teeth, took two steps back, and bowed deeply.

"Brother."

Miss Gu then slowly nodded and asked, "Has Madam Li arrived?"

Chen Che stood up and scratched his head: "My mother... my mother is now focused on the family."

"Well."

Miss Gu hesitated for a moment, then reached out and tugged at Chen Qing's sleeve: "Let's go back."

Chen Qing glanced at her, then looked down at her hand that was tugging at his sleeve, knowing that it was meant for Chen Che to see, but he still nodded and smiled: "Okay, let's go back."

…………

Inside the Gu family mansion, after Chen Qing and the others returned, they quickly arrived at the main hall. The eldest son of the Chen family looked at Madam Li, who was already seated, and simply nodded slightly: "Auntie has arrived."

Seeing this, Madam Li couldn't help but feel annoyed.

This kid's got too big for his britches!

Miss Gu glanced at her father, then at Chen Qing, and gave a slight bow to Madam Li: "Greetings, Madam Li."

Just as Madam Li was about to speak, Master Gu, who was standing to the side, smiled at Chen Qing and said, "Nephew, please sit down."

After Chen Qing sat down, Miss Gu stood behind her father again, took a deep breath, and remained silent.

Master Gu took a sip of tea, then said with a smile, "Just now, I chatted with Madam Li for a while. Madam Li's idea is that if my nephew does not marry into the family, then the marriage agreement will be nullified."

She said she could make the decision.

At this point, Master Gu's gaze fell on Chen Qing, who was also drinking tea, his expression calm, and he did not speak.

Mr. Gu looked back at his daughter's expression, and at this moment, Miss Gu's face showed anger.

Mr. Gu calmly said, "Marriage requires the consent of both parties. Now that the Chen family wants to annul the engagement, my Gu family has no objection. So, please, Madam Li..."

At this point, he stood up, looked at Madam Li, extended his right hand, and said calmly, "Pay back the money."

Madam Li was suddenly stunned.

She actually knew about this.

Three years ago, a major incident occurred in the capital, involving many high-ranking officials and even extending from the capital to the local areas. Although her husband, Chen Zhaoming, was not deeply involved, he was still implicated.

At that time, Chen Zhaoming's matter could be considered a major or minor issue, and the decision rested entirely with the imperial envoy. If the envoy were ruthless, the entire Chen family would be destroyed immediately.

Master Gu's "sworn brother" was also imprisoned because of this violent upheaval.

His sworn brother was too deeply involved to be saved by money, but there was still room for maneuver in Chen Zhaoming's case. Therefore, three years ago, the Chen family spent a huge sum of money and finally managed to persuade the imperial envoy. With just a few strokes of the pen, Chen Zhaoming was extricated from the matter and was not implicated.

What's the cost?

Nearly 100,000 taels of silver!
The Chen family could never come up with this money, and even Master Gu couldn't possibly come up with it all by himself. Master Gu contributed about half of it, the Chen family paid some out of their own pocket, and the rest was raised by Madam Li's family.

It is precisely for this reason that Madam Li's influence in the Chen family has grown stronger in recent years. Not only does Chen Zhaoming himself turn a blind eye to her, but even members of the Chen family dare not say much to her.

Back then, Master Gu paid a heavy price to win back a son from the Chen family. Now that he wants to change the marriage, he can rightfully demand that the Chen family return the money they spent back then.

Besides the money, there was also a great deal of human kindness involved.

Mrs. Li sat in the chair, remaining silent for a long time.

Her family used to be impoverished, but although they have made a fortune in the capital in recent years, she can no longer be considered a member of the Li family.

Three years ago, her family was only able to pay money to get her released because she had begged them so much. Now, expecting them to pay another 50,000 taels of silver to help her with this ridiculous thing is out of the question.

The Chen family would probably have to sell all their assets to come up with the money!

Seeing that she didn't speak, Mr. Gu frowned slightly.

"Is the Chen family trying to renege on their debt?"

(End of this chapter)