Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 54 The Embroidered Uniform Guard?
"Then Brother Zhaoming, please stay at my house for the next few days."

Mr. Gu said with a smile, "It's been many years since we've eaten together. Let's take advantage of these few days to get together and have a few meals together."

At this point, he looked at Magistrate Hong and said with a smile, "Your Excellency, please come along and learn from Brother Zhaoming about the ways of being an official."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Hong smiled and said, "Indeed, we should learn from Mr. Zhaoming."

Chen Huan was still in a bad mood. Hearing this, he could only force a smile and shake his head, saying, "It's a misfortune for my family. Please forgive my embarrassment."

Magistrate Hong coughed and said, "It hasn't come to that. Mr. Zhaoming should go back and calm down for a while. Maybe by the end of the year, father and son will be reconciled."

Master Gu, who was standing to the side, turned his gaze around. After thinking for a moment, he said, "In this matter, it was indeed wrong of Chen Qing to offend Brother Zhaoming. Next time Brother Zhaoming sees him, just give him a beating to vent your anger."

Chen Huan grunted: "He has long arms and legs, he just dodges when you hit him, who can hit him?"

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Hong raised an eyebrow slightly.

In this era, "filial sons" would endure beatings without suffering serious injury, as long as their fathers didn't cripple them.

Such evasive behavior as Chen Qing's is rare, at least in scholarly families.

Master Gu sighed: "That child usually seems to be quite well-mannered, but for some reason, he got into a conflict with Brother Zhaoming today."

At this point, he stroked his beard and said, "If Brother Zhaoming is still angry, after returning to Huzhou, simply post a notice to kick Chen Qing out of the Chen family. That way, no matter whether Chen Qing obeys or not, or what he does in the future, it won't implicate Brother Zhaoming."

Upon hearing this, Chen Huan thought about it carefully for a moment, then shook his head and said, "If we do it this way, it would be appropriate for that unfilial son, but it would be unfair to his deceased mother."

At this point, Chen Huan stood up, looked at the sky outside, shook his head and sighed: "I've worked hard for my family for more than ten years, working day and night, and now I'm being held back by my own son."

"What a wicked child."

With that, he walked out with his hands behind his back: "I'll wander around Deqing County and see if I can find him."

After saying this, he stopped and bowed to Master Gu and Magistrate Hong, saying, "Thank you both for your trouble."

Both Gu and Hong hurriedly returned the greeting, saying they dared not accept it. Magistrate Hong asked, "Mr. Zhaoming, would you like me to search with you?"

Chen Huan waved his hand and said, "I have already neglected my duties because of this unfilial son. I cannot let you, my virtuous brother, also neglect your official business."

After saying this, Chen Huan strode away.

Master Gu and Magistrate Hong escorted him all the way to the gate of the Gu family residence, and then watched Chen Huan get into the carriage and leave.

After the carriage had driven away, Magistrate Hong turned to look at Master Gu and sighed, "Chen Qing is very capable and knows how to get along with people. How could he have fallen out with his own father like this?"

"The root cause is probably deep-rooted."

Master Gu said, "If the Chen family hadn't run into trouble, why would Chen Qing have come to my family to find a son-in-law?"

Magistrate Hong glanced at Master Gu, then turned to look at the Gu family compound.

His eyes held a teasing glint, clearly indicating that he had already guessed that Chen Qing was still inside the Gu family compound.

After a while, Magistrate Hong said with a smile, "This young man Chen Dalang is really good. If the Chen family doesn't want him anymore, Brother Gu, you can adopt him as your son."

Upon hearing this, Master Gu did not say much, but simply stepped aside and said, "Your Excellency, let's go inside and continue drinking tea."

"No, I do have something to attend to at my office, and I need to go back to handle official business now."

Master Gu did not insist on keeping him, but said seriously, "I will invite the county magistrate to a banquet another day."

Magistrate Hong did not refuse, but said with a smile, "Official duties are tedious and boring, but I have seen quite a few interesting things today."

As Master Gu watched Magistrate Hong leave, he smiled and said, "Brother Zhaoming has a bright future. This time, the County Magistrate has made a connection with him, which may be of benefit to the County Magistrate in the future."

Magistrate Hong shook his head and said, "If you don't remember my mistake, everything will be fine."

…………

After seeing Chen Huan and Magistrate Hong off, Master Gu returned to the main hall of the Gu family. He sat alone for a while, pondering some things. After a while, he went to his own basement and found Chen Qing eating.

Chen Qing got up to greet him, but Master Gu patted his hand and said, "You eat your food, you don't need to get up."

After saying this, he found a box and sat down, then looked around and said with a smile, "Nephew, do you know how much cash I have stored here?"

"Twenty or thirty thousand, I guess."

Chen Qing looked around and said, "One box, I estimate it's worth around a thousand taels, and there are more than twenty boxes in total."

Master Gu nodded and said, "One box costs one thousand taels."

“However, two of the boxes are gold.” He looked at Chen Qing and continued, “This cash was moved here little by little this year, and I will take it to the capital in a while.”

At this point, Mr. Gu sighed, "It might not even be enough."

"The capital city is a place of right and wrong."

Chen Qing put down his chopsticks and said, "Uncle will only be in the capital for half a year. Even if Uncle finds another son-in-law immediately, it will probably be too late."

"When Uncle leaves, Deqing will only have Miss Pan'er left."

Master Gu looked at him and sighed: "Nephew, you don't plan to stay in Deqing?"

"I used to want to stay in Deqing. No matter what, at least I would have enough to eat and wear and could live a peaceful life."

At this point, Chen Qing shook his head: "But as my uncle saw, he came to my door one after another. If I stay in Deqing, this will be the case forever."

"My second brother, if he ever passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar or a provincial graduate, he might come over and show off."

Chen Qing's gaze hardened.

"So even if you don't take me with you, Uncle, I'll most likely go to the capital on my own, at least to try my luck. If I succeed, then my mother and her two children will suffer my mistreatment in the future."

"What if we can't make it out here..."

Chen Qing said calmly, "That's perfect, it means we're far away from Huzhou Prefecture, and we won't have to put up with their bullying anymore."

Before Master Gu could speak, Chen Qing continued, "There are still about six months from now until the end of the year. During these six months, I will try my best to do things in Deqing. After six months, if you think I can go to the capital to help you, Uncle, we will go together."

"If my uncle is not satisfied after six months, then he can leave on his own, and I will go to the capital alone in the future."

"it is good."

Mr. Gu nodded, agreeing readily.

He looked at Chen Qing and said, "I will still be entrusting Anrentang to you for the next six months."

Chen Qing shook his head and said with a smile, "Let Miss Pan'er manage Anrentang. I'll work with Miss Pan'er on some things."

"correct."

Mentioning Gu Pan reminded Chen Qing of something, and he said, "Miss Pan'er, you noticed that your uncle is going to the city."

Mr. Gu frowned at first, then sighed softly: "You told her?"

Chen Qing shook his head.

"She basically guessed it herself."

"uncle."

Chen Qing said quietly, "This can't be kept from her."

"I know."

Mr. Gu paused for a moment, then continued, "It's just that I haven't found the right time to tell her yet."

After saying this, Master Gu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief: "It's good that Pan'er guessed it. I'll go and have a good talk with her in the next couple of days."

"If she is not suitable to go to the capital at that time..."

Master Gu looked at Chen Qing and sighed, "Eldest son, you must help me persuade her."

Chen Qing nodded in agreement, then asked the question he had been pondering for a long time: "What is Uncle's sworn brother's current situation?"

"In the imperial prison."

"Imperial Prison?"

Chen Qing was stunned, and muttered, "Does this dynasty still have the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Yes, I have."

Master Gu looked at Chen Qing with a strange expression: "However, the proper name should be Yi Luan Si."

"That's what Master Gu explained."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is another name."

(End of this chapter)