Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 2 Three Years Ago and Three Years Later

In the blink of an eye, Chen Qing had been at the Gu family's house for several days.

In the past few days, Mr. Gu did not take him to see Miss Gu, nor did he show him around the family business. He simply had someone deliver meals to him every day and occasionally come to check on him.

Chen Qing knew that this Mr. Gu was probably waiting for his father's reply.

After all, being the eldest son of a family is no joke. Master Gu needs to confirm with Chen Zhaoming before he can accept Chen Qing as his son-in-law.

Chen Qing didn't care much about this. In the past few days, apart from wandering around the county town, he spent most of his time reading books in his room.

Life was quite leisurely.

Over the course of a few days, Chen Qing didn't get to know anyone from the Gu family, but he did become acquainted with the young girl who brought him meals every day. At first, the girl didn't talk, but after they got to know each other, she became more talkative.

That day, the little girl carried a food box to Chen Qing's room, and then stood aside watching Chen Qing eat.

"Young Master Chen, are you truly the eldest son of the Chen family?"

The little girl blinked as she looked at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing put down his chopsticks, looked up at the young girl, and said with a smile, "Do you think I'm a conman who came to the Gu family to freeload?"

"That's not it."

The little girl smiled mischievously: "I'm just curious."

"Why would the eldest son of the Chen family come to our house?"

She looked at Chen Qing and stammered in a questioning tone, "Logically speaking, the young mistress of the Chen family has no right to let you, the eldest son, go out. If Master Chen is not at home, the Chen family... the Chen family should be in charge of you, young master."

The little girl's words were not very fluent. Chen Qing lowered his head and ate a few bites of rice, then looked at her with a smile and asked, "Is it hard to memorize?"

"Yes…"

The little girl uttered a single word, then gasped in surprise, staring wide-eyed at Chen Qing: "Young Master Chen, you...you..."

Chen Qing looked at her with a smile: "You've been staring at me ever since the first day I came to deliver food."

"Besides, a little girl your age wouldn't know who should be in charge at home."

The little girl blushed, lowered her head, and remained silent.

Chen Qing had almost finished eating, so he put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "I suppose it's Miss Gu who's curious about these things."

"So you're the one who came to ask me."

The maidservant lowered her head, stammered for a while, and then sighed, "Yes, it's because Miss is curious."

As she spoke, she looked at Chen Qing and asked, "Young Master Chen, can...can you speak?"

"I'll go back and give you an answer."

Chen Qing was wiping his mouth at the moment. Hearing this, he didn't answer, but looked at the little girl and asked with a smile, "What's your name?"

"I...I am called..."

"My name is Xiaoyue."

"Xiaoyue..."

Chen Qing stroked his chin and asked again, "Is she someone from Miss Gu's side?"

"Yes Yes…"

She answered those two sentences, then realized something was wrong and stamped her foot in annoyance: "Hey, I was the one asking you."

Chen Qing smiled wryly.

"Alright, go ahead and ask."

"I...I already asked."

The little girl looked at Chen Qing.

Young Master Chen thought for a moment, then sat down in a chair and smiled, “You’re right. My father isn’t home, and I’m already an adult. Logically speaking, I should be the one making the decisions at home.”

"However, in this world, most of the time, things don't really work out."

After saying this, Chen Qing closed his eyes, and memories flooded his mind.

Three years ago, his bedridden mother passed away. Since then, Chen Qing's own health has not been very good, and he often needs to take medication.

In addition, since the father only came home occasionally, all the big and small matters at home fell on that aunt's shoulders.

Furthermore, the original Chen Qing was a soft-hearted person, which made him even less likely to be convincing.

About half a year ago, perhaps due to taking too much medicine, or perhaps because someone drugged him, that young master Chen passed away. However, another Chen Qing awakened in this body.

But not completely sober.

Perhaps it was a fierce collision between two souls, because after waking up in this world, Chen Qing has never been able to stay fully conscious and often feels confused and disoriented.

These symptoms only started to disappear gradually over the past month.

"Oh dear." Xiaoyue said to Chen Qing while packing up the food box, "Why do you talk in such a cryptic way?"

"Then let me explain it more clearly."

Chen Qing looked at her and sighed, "After my mother passed away, the concubine in the family took charge. I don't like to talk, so they probably think I'm stupid."

“A month ago, she wrote a letter to my father, and my family asked me to come here.”

"what?"

Xiaoyue was somewhat surprised: "You're so obedient?"

"no way."

Chen Qing was very carefree and said with a smile, "I don't care about those things."

For the period from six months ago until a month ago, he was still somewhat dazed and unable to fully wake up. At that time, he was unable to leave the Chen family and was afraid of dying again.

In addition, he also wanted to leave the Chen family as soon as possible, so he gave in to that concubine's wish.

After all, his father, who was an official in another place, didn't seem to be on his side. At least in recent years, he had never sent Chen Qing a single letter.

Looking back now, a month ago, the two souls were mostly intertwined, and the one who truly made this decision was not necessarily the current Chen Qing.

But no matter what, Chen Qing eventually left the Chen family.

These past few days at the Gu family's house have been far more comfortable than the six months I spent at the Chen family's house.

At least, I don't have to live in fear every day anymore.

Xiaoyue found it very strange. Although she was young, she knew that the difference between a merchant's son-in-law and a nobleman's eldest son was like heaven and earth.

However, since they weren't very familiar with each other, after packing up the food box, she glanced at Chen Qing and then turned and left.

They arrived at the backyard, where Xiaoyue placed the food box in the kitchen. Then she went to a small courtyard, stood at the doorway, and giggled as she looked towards the room, saying, "Miss..."

"The son-in-law doesn't seem to be a fool."

…………

"Good nephew."

In the side hall of the Gu family, when Master Gu saw Chen Qing walking towards him, he actually got up to greet him.

Chen Qing first bowed respectfully, then looked at Master Gu and noticed that he seemed to be holding a letter in his hand. He asked with some curiosity, "Uncle, how come my father has already replied after only a few days?"

"No no."

Master Gu gestured for Chen Qing to sit down. After Chen Qing sat down, he looked at Chen Qing and shook his head, saying, "Brother Zhaoming is thousands of miles away. It has only been four or five days. There is no way he could have replied. However, Brother Zhaoming and I have not corresponded for some time. In order not to be rash, the previous letters were sent to the Chen family in the prefectural city by someone."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing glanced at the letter in Master Gu's hand and said with a smile, "I understand. This letter is a reply from my aunt, the head of my household, to my uncle."

"Ah."

Holding the letter in his hand, Master Gu looked at Chen Qing and asked, "Nephew, would you like to take a look?"

"My nephew can guess."

Chen Qing reached out and poured a cup of tea for Master Gu, and said with a smile, "It's nothing more than first confirming my identity, then telling my uncle that it is indeed me who has come to marry into the Chen family, and finally saying that I will pass on my uncle's letter to my father."

Master Gu was somewhat surprised. He looked at Chen Qing and said in surprise, "It's really strange. The contents of this letter are exactly the same as what my nephew said."

Chen Qing said calmly, "That's not hard to guess."

Master Gu thought for a moment, then nodded slightly: "It's not that hard to guess, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask my nephew."

Chen Qing poured himself a cup of tea.

"Just ask, Uncle."

"What exactly happened to the Chen family? How did things get so chaotic?"

Master Gu frowned and said, "She's just a woman, yet she opened and read the head of the family's private letters, and she even kicked you, the eldest son of the family, out of the house."

"After my mother passed away, I fell seriously ill and was in a daze. I didn't remember many things from before. In addition, my father was an official in another place, so in recent years, all the big and small matters in the family were naturally decided by that concubine."

Chen Qing said softly, "Moreover, I heard that this concubine's family prospered a few years ago. Three years ago, my father seemed to have encountered some trouble, and her family also lent a helping hand."

As he spoke, he looked at Master Gu and said, "The marriage agreement between my family and your uncle's family seems to be related to this matter. Uncle, I am also very curious about it."

"My father was promoted just two years ago. What major event happened three years ago that could have made him so embarrassed?"

Upon hearing this, Master Gu first frowned, then looked up at Chen Qing and shook his head slightly.

"I can't say."

Chen Qing didn't press further, but simply smiled.

"Alright, then I won't ask anymore. Uncle, now that my identity has been confirmed, when will you arrange for me to meet Miss Gu?"

(End of this chapter)