Simultaneous travel: City, infinite evolution

Chapter 238 Heartless, Unrighteous, and Unmerciful
"Everyone, please observe carefully. This Yi Xiaochuan has fair skin and a rosy complexion."

The clothes were made of the finest materials and cost a fortune; they could probably feed a farming family for a month.

It's clear that Yi Xiaochuan lives a life of luxury, with plenty of meat and fish, living a carefree and extravagant life.

"On the other hand, Gao Yao has dark skin, calloused hands, and a weathered face."

He's dressed nicely now because he met me.

The first time I saw him, he was disheveled, his hair was unkempt, and his clothes were patched and torn; he was working as a cook in a restaurant.

“Yes, I recognize him,” a bystander suddenly said. “I’ve eaten at the restaurant where he works and met him once.”

This chef's food was truly delicious! All the dishes were new and unfamiliar to me, making it an unforgettable experience.

"I also testify that I once saw this homeless man from Gaoyao on the street."

Oh dear, that was a terrible sight.

"Since everyone recognizes them, things are easier to discuss."

Chen Hong smiled.

"As Yi Xiaochuan just said, Gao Yao is his good brother and his family."

Yet their lives were so drastically different, like worlds apart.

"Then may I ask you, Yi Xiaochuan, while you were enjoying wine and meat, your good brother was suffering from hunger and cold?"

Is this how you treat your good brother?
Is this how you treat your only family member?

Yi Xiaochuan was so intimidated by Chen Hong's words and imposing manner that he was speechless for a moment.

"Do you all think that such a person is heartless and ungrateful?"

The onlookers were abuzz with discussion.

"Yeah, that Yi Xiaochuan is a real scoundrel. He eats lavishly while his brothers go hungry and cold, and he doesn't even try to help them out."

"I saw it with my own eyes: Gao Yao was picking up discarded vegetable leaves and stale steamed buns on the streets of Xianyang and eating them."

If it weren't for my culinary skills, which allowed me to become a chef in a restaurant, I probably would have starved or frozen to death on the streets long ago.

"At that time, Yi Xiaochuan was nowhere to be found. Brother? Family?"

"Truly heartless, the world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts have lost their former virtues."

The people of Qin have always valued brotherhood highly.

Qi said that he has no clothes, and the same robe with his son.

Brothers are those you can rely on on the battlefield.

In the eyes of people in this era, brothers are like hands and feet, while women are like clothes.

Brothers are more important than one's own woman; they are the foundation for mutual help and survival.

In their eyes, treating their brothers with ruthlessness and ingratitude is utterly heinous and inhuman.

Even Fusu, who was always kind and forgiving, couldn't help but frown.

Seeing the crowd's outrage, Yi Xiaochuan, fearing misunderstanding, quickly explained:
"No, that's not the case."

"You don't know, there's a reason for all of this."

"Gao Yao and I are separated due to some uncontrollable factors."

I have no idea where Gao Yao is.
I don't even know if he's still alive.

I want to help him, but I can't.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions softened slightly.

"You say you don't know Gao Yao's whereabouts, then I ask you, since you came to Qin, where have you been? What have you been doing?"

"I've been learning martial arts at my sworn brother's house for three years, what? That's not good enough?"

Yi Xiaochuan spoke with righteous indignation.

Chen Hong smiled again.

Yi Xiaochuan was a little nervous. His answer should be fine, without any loopholes, so why was he laughing again?
"why are you laughing?"

"Look at you, strong and agile, you're clearly a skilled martial artist."

As the saying goes: "The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts."

To develop such strength and physical prowess within three years, one can only imagine the amount of meat, bone broth, and even rare and precious ingredients consumed.

To be able to train an expert like you in such a short time.

Your sworn brother comes from a wealthy or aristocratic family.

Such a person must have extensive connections and friends everywhere in the world.

Why don't you ask a friend to inquire about the whereabouts of your good brother Gao Yao?
Is it because they lack the ability?
Or did they never even consider their good brother in distress?
Or perhaps, having enjoyed wealth and privilege in the home of your sworn brother from a powerful family, and received instruction from a wise man, you've come to genuinely disown your former, impoverished brothers?

Upon hearing this, the onlookers immediately cast disdainful glances at Yi Xiaochuan.

Those burly men and chivalrous heroes from Guanzhong glared angrily at Yi Xiaochuan.

After gaining wealth and status, they forget the brothers who once shared joys and sorrows.

This is an extremely unjust act, a blatant act of a despicable person, and the kind of person that the wandering knights of Guanzhong despise the most.

The group of wandering knights in Guanzhong originally developed from the wandering monks of the Mohist school. Those who were out there in the world valued loyalty above all else.

When they see injustice on the road, they readily draw their swords and fight to the death.

In their eyes, Yi Xiaochuan was already synonymous with scum.

Gao Yao looked at Yi Xiaochuan with disappointment: "Xiaochuan, did you never even think of coming to find me?"

"No, Gao Yao, let me explain."

"You don't need to explain anymore. Ever since I came here, I've been wandering around, searching for your whereabouts."

Otherwise, with my culinary skills, I could find a place to eat anywhere, why would I be struggling so much?

"What about you?"

"what have you done?"

"While I was searching for you everywhere, were you comfortably studying under a master and living a carefree life in some noble family?"

"Have you ever thought about me?"

Are you worried about my situation?

Yi Xiaochuan was speechless because he really didn't.

He didn't even think about Gao Yao, who might be suffering somewhere in the world.

Chen Hong continued, "You may not know this, but Gao Yao's younger sister, Gao Lan, is Yi Xiaochuan's betrothed."

"But what he did was not only turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to his down-on-his-luck brother-in-law, but also to his unfaithful and heartless wife."

"What? This Yi Xiaochuan is too wicked."

"I originally thought they were just good brothers, but I didn't expect there was this other relationship. This is like family members becoming even closer."

"Looking at it this way, Yi Xiaochuan is even worse. What a piece of trash he is."

"And what did he do to his fiancée?"

The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, and Yi Xiaochuan could no longer contain himself.

His face flushed red, he yelled at Chen Hong, "You're talking nonsense!"

"Gao Lan is just my girlfriend. When did she become my betrothed?"

Chen Hong immediately looked at Gao Yao, "Listen to this, listen to this."

"Yi Xiaochuan never considered your sister as his betrothed, and he never intended to marry your sister Gao Lan."

Gao Yao was stunned. He could disregard himself, but his sister Gao Lan was a sacred place and a taboo subject that he could never touch.

Gao Yao immediately grabbed Yi Xiaochuan by the collar in a fit of rage.

"You bastard!"

"You never even considered marrying your sister?"

"Then why did you still try to flirt with her?"

"Gao Yao, let me explain, please let me explain!"

"Explain your ass! Go to hell!"

Gao Yao angrily punched Yi Xiaochuan in the eye, giving him a dark circle under his eye.

He added another punch, making it symmetrical.

"Good fight!"

"Good fight!"

The crowd cheered and raised their arms in encouragement.

Chen Hong continued, "This Yi Xiaochuan, after he got a fiancée Gao Lan..."

He also flirts with women everywhere, seducing young and beautiful girls.

He flirted with them but never married them, making those women give themselves to him, be infatuated with him, and wait for him in vain.

He didn't marry his fiancée; he just played around.

He deceived her feelings and wronged his wife; don't you think he's heartless?

"That's right, it's truly inhumane."

"I bother!"

"Shameless scoundrel, unrighteous and immoral."

Yi Xiaochuan, whose face was swollen like a pig's head, angrily pointed at Chen Hong: "You're talking nonsense."

"When have I ever made those girls give themselves to me, become infatuated with me, or wait for me in vain?"

"That's a mutual affection, a willingness to release stress together, isn't it?"
I didn't do anything against the woman's will, okay?

Yi Xiaochuan's explanation only made things worse, as it angered those around him.

"I'm so angry!"

"Such a despicable person, who has no remorse, I'll tear your face apart."

"Go on!"

"beat him!"

"beat him!"

The onlookers swarmed forward and began punching and kicking Yi Xiaochuan.

Chen Hong looked at Prince Fusu.

"What do you think of this young master?"

Fusu sighed, "They are indeed heartless, ungrateful, and cruel people. I was just meddling in their business."

“Ah, that’s a misconception.” Chen Hong waved his hand. “Young master is unaware of the details.”

"To speak out for someone who has been wronged is an act of benevolence; what is wrong with that?"

"Oh?" Fusu's eyes lit up. "Does the young master also understand the Confucian principles of benevolence and forgiveness?"

"I know a little bit."

"Then, young master, could you explain to me the principles of benevolence and forgiveness?"

Seeing Fusu's expectant eyes, Chen Hong shook his head.

“I see that you have already done enough on this path.”

"On the contrary, it is even worse. It would be better to learn more about Legalism to balance things out."

"Legalism?" Fusu's eyes showed a hint of dissatisfaction. "It's a bit too harsh."

"Oh?" Chen Hong looked at Fusu with some surprise.

In the Qin Dynasty, the Legalists governed the world, yet some dared to say that the Legalists were bad?
Chen Hong carefully examined Fusu, and the more he looked, the more familiar he seemed.

At this moment, Chen Hong noticed a middle-aged man with a beard, handsome appearance, and a charming older man standing next to him.

Upon closer inspection, it looked even more familiar.

Chen Hong thought carefully, "Hey, isn't this Meng Tian?"

"Then isn't this young man in Confucian robes Prince Fusu?"
That pedantic, self-destructive fellow? And the virtuous Fusu, whom everyone compared to Huhai?

Chen Hong laughed, never expecting to encounter Fusu and Meng Tian in Xianyang so soon.

"Why is the young master laughing?" Fusu asked Chen Hong in confusion.

Meng Tian stood to the side, expressionless, but he had been observing Chen Hong since the beginning, as if trying to see through what kind of person Chen Hong really was.

"What does the young master think of the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty now?"

Chen Hong did not answer, but instead asked a question in return.

Fusu frowned in thought, but ultimately followed his heart and answered truthfully:

"The laws of Qin are numerous and strict, the legal system is rigorous, power is centralized in the court, Qin maintains its unity, and the country is rich and strong."

It played a crucial role in the Qin Dynasty's unification of China, which is excellent.

(End of this chapter)