Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 48 Gu Chenhui

To settle the "little ones," Chen Qing didn't return to the Gu family compound and rest until nearly evening.

By this time, he had not returned for more than ten days.

Pushing open the door, the room was spotless, and the bedding on the bed was neatly folded.

Clearly, during his absence, the Gu family's servants had been coming over to help him tidy and clean his room.

After resting for a while, Chen Qing came to his desk and casually flipped through the books he hadn't finished reading before going out to provide disaster relief.

This is a historical biography that tells the story of some events in the early years of the founding of this dynasty.

Chen Qing had read the books required for the imperial examinations some time ago. Although he could understand them, he wasn't particularly interested in them. On the contrary, he was quite interested in the historical events in these books.

This world is very similar to another world, as if they were two flowers blooming on the same plant. Both had philosophers of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, but they diverged at certain points in their historical processes, leading to complete chaos in the subsequent eras.

For example, the current dynasty is not any historical dynasty that Chen Qing knows.

The current dynasty is named Qi, and its royal surname is Jiang, but it is not the same as the Jiang Qi of the Spring and Autumn Period.

Emperor Taizu rose from humble beginnings. After establishing the country, he felt that his origins were not good, so he insisted on finding a glorious ancestor for himself. He searched all the way back and found the Jiang Qi of the Spring and Autumn Period.

And that's how Jiang Qi came to be.

In reality, they were two completely unrelated periods and countries.

Chen Qing was reading these history books because the greatest advantage of a time traveler is useless in this era; he has no way of knowing the future.

However, as an ordinary person in modern society who is not a history major, if he were to actually travel to the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, he would at most remember some major historical events, and most of the time, he would be completely clueless.

Just as he was turning the pages, there was a knock at the door: "Young master, young master."

It was Xiaoyue's voice.

Having been in the Gu family for so long, the person Chen Qing was most familiar with was actually this maid of the Gu family. He put down the book in his hand, got up and opened the door for Xiaoyue.

Xiaoyue stood at the door with a food box in her hand. When the door opened, she looked at Chen Qing and said reproachfully, "Master said you were back this morning, but I haven't seen you all day. I've come here seven or eight times today."

Chen Qing smiled and said, "I have some things to take care of, so I'm going out to do them."

"What does Xiaoyue want with me?"

"I haven't seen you for over ten days, so of course I wanted to come and see you."

At this point, Xiaoyue looked up at Chen Qing and said with a smile, "Young Master, you've gotten quite tanned outside."

Chen Qing said with a smile, "I've noticed it too; he's not as handsome as he used to be."

Xiaoyue spat lightly.

"Young master, your skin has gotten thicker too."

She arranged the food in the food box, then looked at Chen Qing and reminded him, "Young Master, please remember to visit my young lady tomorrow. She has been thinking of you a lot lately."

Chen Qing responded and said, "I will visit Miss first thing tomorrow morning."

Xiaoyue pulled Chen Qing to sit down at the table, gesturing for him to eat. Then, standing behind Chen Qing, she smiled and said, "Why are you still calling me 'Miss'? It's so formal."

Chen Qing took a bite of food and mumbled, "Then what should I call you?"

Xiaoyue chuckled softly, "Just call me Miss Pan'er. My young lady will definitely be happy to hear that."

Chen Qing turned to look at Xiaoyue and said with a smile, "Don't give me any random advice."

Xiaoyue sat opposite Chen Qing and said with a smile, "Master came to talk to Miss yesterday. I guarantee that the marriage between Young Master and Miss will be settled."

While eating, Chen Qing chatted with Xiaoyue with a smile. By the time the meal was over, he had managed to get most of what the girl knew.

After he finished his meal and saw Xiaoyue to the door, he said to her seriously, "I will go to find Miss Pan'er first thing tomorrow morning."

Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly, picked up the food box, and skipped away.

...The next morning.

Before Chen Qing, the eldest son of the family, had even gotten up, a carriage had already stopped at the gate of the Gu family compound. After the servants announced the arrival, Master Gu personally came out of his house to greet him.

A dignified middle-aged man in a blue robe stepped out of the carriage. Upon seeing him, Master Gu smiled, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Brother Zhaoming, you've come so quickly, covering nearly a hundred miles."

The distance from Deqing to Huzhou City is about 80 li, which is not considered close in this era.

After getting out of the car, Chen Huan first looked up at the plaque of the Gu family compound, then at Master Gu, before bowing in return and forcing a smile: "Brother Chenglong."

In this era, the word "brother" was a polite term and did not necessarily represent age. For example, Master Gu was actually older than Chen Huan, but he still addressed Chen Huan as Brother Zhaoming.

This polite form of address is actually one-way; Master Gu calls him "Brother Zhaoming," but Chen Zhaoming cannot respond with "Brother Gu."

Instead, one should address the other person as "brother".

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Huan looked behind Master Gu but didn't see his eldest son. He frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased.

"Brother Chenglong, what about that rebellious son?"

Logically, since Chen Huan has arrived, Chen Qing, as his son, should naturally come out to greet him; this is already impolite.

Master Gu noticed Chen Huan's mood and said with a smile, "Chen Qing probably doesn't know that Brother Zhaoming is here yet. I'll send someone to find him right away. Brother Zhaoming, please come in quickly, let's talk in the main hall."

Chen Huan thought for a moment, then agreed and followed behind Master Gu into the main hall of the Gu family. A moment later, a servant of the Gu family served tea, and the two of them took their seats.

After taking his seat, Chen Huan looked at Master Gu and sighed, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh at this embarrassing thing in the family, Brother Chenglong."

With a smile, Master Gu shook his head and said, "Every family has its own troubles and difficulties. But Brother Zhaoming, don't worry. I have paid hush money to everyone who was present that day. No one dares to spread this story."

Chen Huan was silent for a moment, then looked at Master Gu and said, "In any case, it is still a misfortune for my Chen family. Brother Chenglong, I left my post and rushed back to Huzhou just to tell you about this."

Chen Zhaoming took a deep breath, looked at Master Gu, and said quietly, "That unfilial son, I still want to take him home. This marriage... let's just call it off."

"I will try my best to give Brother Chenglong the compensation he deserves."

Upon hearing this, Master Gu's expression changed, and he asked, "What do you mean by this, Brother Zhaoming?"

"This year is the year the Ministry of Personnel will conduct performance evaluations."

Chen Huan paused for a moment, then continued, "Brother Chenglong should also know that I have been planning this matter for a long time. Next year, I may be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue as an assistant minister."

He paused, then continued, "Many people are eyeing this position. If anyone in the court finds out at this juncture, especially those who also covet this position, my decision to have my eldest son marry into the family will surely lead to attacks against me."

"Losing this position in the Ministry of Revenue would be a small matter, but losing my current position would be a much bigger problem."

Master Gu frowned, then took a sip of tea.

"Now Brother Zhaoming has remembered this matter. Why didn't you consider these things when you sent Chen Qing to Deqing?"

"At that time..."

Chen Huan sighed: "To be honest, Brother Gu, my son has never been very smart, especially after his mother passed away. He became even more abnormal and seemed a bit mentally challenged."

“I suspect that he…that’s why he sent him to Deqing, so that he would be financially secure for the rest of his life.”

Master Gu's face turned cold, and he sneered, "So, Brother Zhaoming, you originally planned to send over a fool."

Chen Huan remained silent for a moment, but did not deny it. Instead, he continued, "Now, that rebellious son can no longer be called stupid. I cannot let him continue to marry into the family and give the court officials something to talk about."

"Brother Chenglong, rest assured, after I take that rebellious son back, I can have Sanlang come over and be paired with your daughter."

Master Gu sipped his tea, then looked at Chen Huan: "Brother Zhaoming, didn't you hear what your young mistress said?"

The richest man in Deqing took a sip of tea and continued, "The Gu family..."

"We no longer plan to take Chen Qing as a son-in-law,"

(End of this chapter)