Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 14 Strengthening Oneself
Chen Qing also got quite drunk at this drinking session.

Although he is a carefree person, he has not had a good time in the past six months and has been living in fear for a long time.

He also needed to have a drink to vent his frustrations.

Late at night, Mr. Gu, who was only slightly drunk, helped Chen Qing to bed and then left silently.

Young Master Chen slept soundly until the sun was high the next day before he rubbed his temples and got out of bed.

He had just sat up when he heard a familiar voice: "Young master, you're awake?"

Chen Qing rubbed his eyes and saw Xiao Yue in his room, helping to tidy up. When she saw that he had woken up, Xiao Yue quickly said, "I'll go get you some hot water to wash your face and then get you some food."

Chen Qing sat up, exhaling a breath of alcohol, and rubbed his temples. While he was still in a daze, Xiao Yue brought in hot water, placed it in the room, and then ran out in a flash to prepare food.

When she returned, Chen Qing had already put on her coat. The eldest son of the Chen family looked at her bustling about and said with a smile, "Why is Miss Xiaoyue staying in my room so early in the morning?"

"The master sent me here. He said the young master has drunk too much and asked me to stay here and keep watch so nothing happens."

Chen Qing grunted and asked, "Where is Uncle?"

"He went out to visit friends."

"I don't know when I'll be able to come back."

As she spoke, she looked at Chen Qing, her small face furrowed, and sighed in a serious manner: "I heard about what happened to you yesterday, young master."

"That family are all scoundrels, completely unreasonable. They were the ones who bullied the young master first, which is why the county officials arrested them. Now, in front of so many people, they're turning around and saying that the young master bullied them!"

Xiaoyue was so angry that her teeth were itchy.

"How hateful!"

Chen Qing was washing his face at the moment. Upon hearing this, he wiped the water droplets off his face and said with a smile, "You're certainly well-informed."

"Quite a few people saw it."

She looked at Chen Qing and asked, "What does the young master intend to do?"

"Not urgent."

Chen Qing thought for a moment and said quietly, "This matter cannot be rushed; we must deal with it slowly and patiently."

"By the way, Xiaoyue, when does Anrentang pay monthly wages?"

Without hesitation, Xiaoyue replied, "The end of the month."

"Oh."

Young Master Chen picked up his bowl of porridge, took a sip, and mumbled, "Then it won't be long."

"It's only a few days left."

Xiaoyue looked at Chen Qing and blinked: "Why is the young master asking this? Gu Shouyi has already been dismissed from Anrentang by the master."

"I can't receive my monthly allowance anymore."

"It's nothing, just asking casually."

While eating breakfast, Chen Qing asked, "Xiaoyue, does your young lady usually go to the shop?"

"I never went before."

Xiaoyue looked at Chen Qing and answered honestly, "However, in the past two years, the master would occasionally take Miss to meet people, and Miss would go with him to the shops to take a look."

Chen Qing nodded again, and continued eating while chatting with the maid. After finishing his meal, he got up, stretched, and left the room with his hands behind his back, saying, "I'm going out for a walk."

Xiaoyue chased after him in a few steps, and looking at Chen Qing's back, she couldn't help but shout, "Young Master, be careful!"

Chen Qing stopped, turned around to look at her, and asked, "What are you being careful of?"

Xiaoyue looked around and stammered, "Be careful not to get beaten again..."

Upon hearing this, Young Master Chen chuckled and said, "Last time it was because I wasn't on guard. How can I expect to be beaten every day?"

With that, he put his hands behind his back and strode away.

Xiaoyue stood still, and only after Chen Qing had walked far away did she furtively look around before cautiously approaching a wooden pillar to the left of Chen Qing's door.

"Miss, miss, did you see that?"

Her tone was mysterious.

Behind the wooden pillar stood a tall, pretty young lady dressed in emerald green, looking somewhat flustered. It was none other than Gu Pan, the young lady of the Gu family.

Miss Gu's heart was pounding. She glared at Xiaoyue and stomped her foot, saying, "If he wants to leave, he can leave on his own. Why did you yell at him? He almost saw us!"

Xiaoyue looked aggrieved: "I was just afraid that you, Miss, wouldn't have seen what he looked like."

At this point, Xiaoyue smiled and asked, "Miss, do you think the young master is good-looking?"

Miss Gu turned her face away and said to herself, "When choosing a husband, the most important thing is that he has noble character. What does it matter what he looks like?"

Xiaoyue said with a smile, "You must be saying this because the young master is handsome. If the young master were an ugly monster, Miss would not say such a thing."

"Just talk about it."

Miss Gu led Xiaoyue out of Chen Qing's courtyard and asked as they walked, "I overheard you talking there just now, and it seemed like you mentioned me. What did you say to him?"

"Oh." Xiaoyue then remembered and said, "I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it, Miss."

Following behind her young mistress, she said, "The young master said that since he is an outsider, no matter how he manages Anrentang, whether he tries to curry favor or imposes severe punishments, the Gu family members will not feel comfortable."

"So, at this time, Miss, you should visit Anrentang more often."

Xiaoyue tried hard to recall what Chen Qing had just said, and stammered out her reply.

"The young master said that you should go to the shop and pick out a few incompetent workers to kick out, and then pick out a few diligent workers to promote to managers."

"They even said they'd have the young lady manage the accounts, and that she'd give them extra money beyond their monthly allowance..."

She looked distressed: "My son-in-law said a lot, but I can't remember it all."

Xiaoyue's words were too fragmented, and Miss Gu only caught the gist of them. After thinking for a moment, she said softly, "Go find him when he comes back."

"Let him...write it down on paper."

…………

After leaving the Gu family mansion, Chen Qing began to wander around Deqing City. After walking for a while, he stretched his body and started jogging.

He came into this world half a year ago, but for most of those six months he was in a daze, and only a little over a month ago did he finally come to his senses.

However, his health is still not good.

In the past two days, he has gradually felt that his body has recovered a little, so he plans to exercise.

At least... in the future, if I get into a fight with someone, I'll have the ability to protect myself. I won't be beaten up in the street for no reason and have no way to escape.

Or, even if he were to fight an ordinary person like Gu Shouyi, he wouldn't necessarily suffer a loss.

As for the Gu family and Anrentang...

Chen Qing knew very well that the ones who truly harbored malice towards them were not Gu Shouyi's wife, children, or elderly mother, nor even Gu Shouyi himself, but most likely Gu's three nephews.

Therefore, this matter can only be handled slowly, since Gu Shouyi is already in prison and it is estimated that he will not be released for another year or two.

Chen Qing couldn't very well go and beat up Gu Shouyi's entire family at this time.

Of course, he wasn't petty, and this family would never again be begging for food at Anrentang.

If that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dare to cause trouble again, Gu Shouyi can find thugs, and Young Master Chen might be just as capable.

...

In this era, even the prefectural cities weren't very big, and the county towns were even smaller and pitifully small. Chen Qing jogged for a short while and had already explored almost the entire small county town.

As Chen Qing approached the entrance of a teahouse, he glanced inside and spotted a familiar father and daughter.

He walked in with great interest, his hands behind his back. He sat in a corner, ordered a pot of tea, and listened to a storyteller for a while. After the story was finished, he took out about ten copper coins from his sleeve and threw them on the table.

The father and daughter on stage both saw Chen Qing, and then clasped their hands in thanks to the audience.

After the story was finished, Chen Qing was drinking tea when the tall storyteller sat down opposite him. This storyteller, surnamed Yang, looked at Chen Qing and sighed, "Young master, you haven't left Deqing yet?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing looked up at the storyteller and said with a smile, "Sure enough, Mr. Qi saw me being beaten that day and even heard what those people were saying to threaten me."

"I said, there was a figure not far away that looked somewhat familiar."

The storyteller gave a wry smile: "Traveling the world with my daughter, we're already living on tenterhooks, and we dare not offend anyone, so..."

Chen Qing waved his hand: "It's only right that you don't save me."

He asked, "Sir, have you and your daughter settled down in Deqing?"

"Yes, that day the young master gave us money, and with the other rewards, my daughter and I were able to rent a place to live."

"Later, we found this teahouse again."

Chen Qing thought for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Sir, have you ever practiced martial arts?"

Mr. Yang was taken aback, then frowned as he looked at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing said with a smile, "That's right. After being beaten that day, I was determined to learn some skills to protect myself. If that didn't work, it would be good to improve my health."

"I see that you are tall and strong, with a powerful voice, and you have the confidence to travel the world, so I took the liberty of asking you this question."

Mr. Yang looked at his daughter, then at Chen Qing, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded and said, "I have learned some rudimentary kung fu, which can only improve my health."

Young Master Chen laughed and said, "Then it seems I guessed right after all."

"Sir, can you teach me?"

Chen Qing looked at the storyteller and said with a smile, "I'm willing to pay some money."

"Well."

Chen Qing paused, then looked at the young girl from the Yang family beside him, and said, "I've heard some interesting stories that I can tell you, sir."

The storyteller said quietly, "Practicing martial arts is hard work; young master may not be able to endure it."

Chen Qing looked at him calmly: "I am now..."

"I absolutely must strengthen my physique."

(End of this chapter)