Aoyama

Chapter 311 Chen Family Business
"So hot, so hot!"

Xiaoman came trotting in from outside Ginkgo Garden, carrying a pot of stir-fried noodles.

Zhang Zheng hurriedly stood up and took the basin from her hand, then turned around and placed it on the stone table in the yard. The moment he put the basin down, they both touched their earlobes because of the burn.

Xiaoman complained, "The servants of the Chen family are too good at changing their attitudes. When I came back to Beijing the day before yesterday, they kept calling me Miss Xiaoman, and were very attentive. Today, when they saw me enter the kitchen, they secretly hid all the meat without even saying hello. If I hadn't been quick-witted, I'm afraid they would have taken away the oil, salt, sauce and vinegar. Sir, why are we staying here? Why don't we go to Qipan Street and buy a small house, so that it will be convenient for you to report to the Governor's Office in the future."

Zhang Zheng said cheerfully, "Yes, there is a small house. A-Xia and I don't have to worry about the Chen family's attitude when we go to see you."

Chen Ji rubbed his chopsticks and said, "Some important person wants me to stay in the Chen family in exchange for a chance for the princess to live."

Zhang Zheng was startled: "Who is it?"

Chen Ji was silent for two breaths: "Secret Service, Feng Wenzheng."

Zhang Zheng suddenly realized. He picked up the noodles and put them into the bowl while curiously asking, "Why does that Feng guy want you to stay at the Chen family? Does he want to bring down the Chen family like he did when he moved to the Liu family?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "I don't know either. He only told me to get the Chen family's smuggling account book... But this man rarely tells the truth, and I don't know if he really wants to get the account book."

He pondered, "This person's words and actions sometimes go in the opposite direction. Only when everything is settled can we see what he really wants to do. I also asked him what he really wanted to do, but he said he had already told me... But I don't know what sentence he was referring to."

At this moment, Zhang Xia suddenly stopped reciting the scriptures and said, "Wen Zheng."

Chen Ji was stunned for a moment: "What happened to Wen Zheng?"

Zhang Xia said softly, "Wenzheng is not a name, but a posthumous title. Looking back at the posthumous title system over thousands of years, 'Wen' is the most beautiful posthumous title, symbolizing being knowledgeable and well-informed; 'Zheng' symbolizes being unwavering in one's principles and being loyal and unyielding. Only those who have made great achievements and established virtues can be given the posthumous title of Wenzheng. The posthumous title of 'Wenzheng' is the highest pursuit of scholars in our dynasty, and it will last until death. Therefore, when he changed his name, he used the posthumous title to express his aspirations."

Xiaoman asked curiously, "Is Mr. Feng a good guy or a bad guy? I heard Zhang Zheng mention him before, saying that he likes killing people..."

Zhang Xia smiled and patted her head: "Those people are very complicated. Let future generations judge them."

At this moment, there was a knock on the door outside Ginkgo Garden.

Xiaoman asked cautiously, "Will the Second Madam come back to attack us again?"

Zhang Xia put down his bowl and chopsticks, smoothed his white arrow coat, and said calmly, "Xiao Man, go open the door. Anyone who comes today must be killed back."

Xiaoman got up and opened the door. With a creak, a middle-aged couple appeared outside the wooden door. Behind the couple were several maids and servants holding "Chen Mansion" lanterns.

He was surrounded by people and was extremely noble.

However, the middle-aged man had a pale face and no beard, and was wearing a simple dark blue Confucian robe. If it weren't for the square scarf on his head, he might have looked more like a simple Taoist priest.

The woman had a very beautiful face. She wore a plain cross-collared dress with a shawl, which was also simple. Her thick hair was only tied up with two wooden hairpins. Even without the contrast of gold, silver or jade, it was still particularly eye-catching.

In other words, if she were to wear gold, silver, and jade, it would be like adding unnecessary details.

Chen Ji hesitated... Who were these two people? He had never seen them before.

Is it Chen Lizun from the first wife, or Chen Lizhi from the second wife? Only these two people are of the same age.

But if the other party was an outsider, Zhang Xia would definitely give some reminders. But now, even Zhang Xia probably didn't expect that Chen Ji couldn't even recognize all of his own family members.

In the night, in the soft light of the lantern, the middle-aged scholar glanced at the stone table and said gently, "Why is the food so simple? Didn't the kitchen of Qinzheng Garden prepare food for Ginkgo Garden?"

Chen Ji stood up calmly and bowed, saying, "I came back late, so I didn't disturb the kitchen again."

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "It's okay. The kitchen has specially prepared stewed Poria cocos with Immortal's wine. There are also ten warm pots stewing Kirin fetus and Xishi tongue. It won't be a big deal to ask them to bring them over...wouldn't you like to invite us in and have a seat?"

Chen Ji bowed and said, "Please come in."

The middle-aged man came to the stone table and took a look into the pottery basin. "It just so happens that I came back late from the government office and only had a bowl of stewed Poria cocos. Can you give me a bowl of this stir-fried noodles?"

Without waiting for Xiaoman to come over, Zhang Xia stood up to serve the noodles and then stood aside.

Only Chen Ji and the middle-aged couple were left sitting at the stone table. The servants and maids were waiting at a distance and did not come near.

The middle-aged man took a bite of the stir-fried noodles and put down his bowl and chopsticks, smiling and saying, "Not bad...Qinggui came back to the capital from Luocheng, but he didn't come to see me. You were imprisoned in the imperial prison, and your friends should have come to find me first. I heard that you were imprisoned in the imperial prison today, so I immediately went to the Imperial Household Department, but when I got there I found out that you had already been released."

The woman smiled and said, "Master, Chen Ji is now an adult and has made great contributions in Guyuan. You can no longer call him Qinggui, but call him by his full name."

Qinggui?

Who is Qinggui?

Chen Ji took two breaths to realize that this was his childhood nickname, and even Chen Liqin had never called him by this nickname. It was strange, where did this middle-aged man come from, and why was he so close to him?

The more Chen Ji listened, the more he felt something was wrong.

He said vaguely, "Thank you for your concern."

The middle-aged man said in a gentle voice, "Don't be polite with me. When your father went to Luo City, I told him to leave you in the capital and I would take care of you, but he refused. Later, he took you to Luo City, but sent you to a medical clinic as an apprentice. I really don't know what to say to him... Why don't you move to the Humble Administrator's Garden? I know you like koi the most, and the pond in the Koi Garden has always been taken care of by someone."

Humble Administrator's Garden?
This is Chen Lizun, the head of the Chen family's first house and the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The woman next to him should be Chen Lizun's legal wife, Liu.

But what is strange is that the Secret Service files record that the first and third branches of the Chen family are not close, and they often quarrel, but the other party treats him so gently?
and many more!

Chen Ji's heart moved, and he replied: "Reporting to the master, Ginkgo Garden is a good place to live. It is close to the side door and is more convenient to go in and out."

Chen Lizun didn't force it: "It's up to you."

Liu asked earnestly, "How are you doing in Luocheng? You haven't written to me in the past three years. Last year, your uncle wanted to stop in Luocheng on his way to Jinling, but the autumn harvest was coming soon, so he finally put official business first."

Chen Ji whispered, "It's okay. I'm living well in Los Angeles."

Liu asked again: "Were you injured in Guyuan?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No injuries."

Liu heaved a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're not injured. Fortunately, you've joined the Yulin Army, which is a leisurely government office. You don't have to worry about any more danger. By the way, I'll ask the owner of Wang's Clothing Shop to come to your house in a few days to tailor a few clothes for you. You see, your clothes are all old..."

As she spoke, she reached out to pull Chen Ji's sleeve, and Chen Ji subconsciously withdrew his left hand.

Liu was stunned for a moment, then smiled to hide her embarrassment: "Wait a few days for the shopkeeper to come, I'll ask the servant to take him to look for you..."

After that, she looked at Zhang Xia who was standing beside her: "This must be Miss Zhang Er, she is really heroic. Your mother and I are old acquaintances. We played polo together when we were young. She played much better than me. I could only follow behind her and eat dust."

Zhang Xia said politely, "Thank you for the compliment, Auntie. My mother also mentioned you. She said that no matter how good she was at playing polo, she couldn't overshadow you. All those scholars came to see you."

Liu was silent for a moment, without any expression of joy, and only replied softly: "It's all in the past."

Chen Lizun looked at the group, stood up and said to Chen Ji, "Since you and your friends are having a small gathering, your aunt and I won't bother you any more. I have to go to Tanggu tomorrow, and I'll come back to see you when I return to Beijing."

Chen Ji bowed and said, "Sir, take care."

Chen Lizun and Liu turned around and walked out of the door. Servants holding lanterns served them and led them through Xiaoyingzhou and back to the Humble Administrator's Garden.

When Ginkgo Garden became quiet again, Zhang Xia suddenly said, "I know why Mr. Feng wants you to return to the Chen family."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Zhang Zheng and Xiao Man were confused: "Why?"

Zhang Xia said firmly: "He hopes that Chen Ji will return to the Chen family, be adopted into the Chen family's eldest branch, and inherit the Chen family's business."

Xiaoman's eyes widened. "Ah? I haven't heard anyone mention this before. The servants in Qinzheng Garden are all saying that they want to adopt the second wife's illegitimate son Chen Yu to the eldest master, and the second master also often said that he wants to adopt Chen Yu."

Zhang Xia whispered, "As far as I know, the first branch of the Chen family holds 80% of the Chen family's assets, and the second branch has been eyeing it covetously. Naturally, Chen Lizun would like to adopt from the third branch, which is not content with the world."

Xiao Man was puzzled and said, "No wonder the adoption has not really happened after so many years of talk... If the eldest wife likes my son, why hasn't she adopted him in all these years?"

Zhang Xia pondered and said, "I think it was the second branch that was interfering. Maybe when Master Chen Liqin was transferred to Luocheng three years ago, the second branch found a way to get the third branch out."

Xiao Man looked at Chen Ji with sparkling eyes: "Sir, go live in the Humble Administrator's Garden. If you are adopted, you can be included in the family tree, and the future of the Chen family will be yours. To use the words of my aunt, this is a big business with no investment and huge profits."

Zhang Xia smiled and said, "Let your son think about it. After all, even if he is adopted, he will have to wait until Chen Lizun, the head of the Chen family and the head of the first house, dies before your son can have the final say. He will have to be someone else's son for decades. Your son is not the kind of person who will swallow his anger."

Xiao Man rolled her eyes and said, "If we kill them all after the adoption, will the young master be able to inherit the Chen family?"

Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng's expressions changed: "You..."

Before he could finish his words, a meow was heard from inside the room.

Chen Ji turned and looked into the house.

Xiaoman exclaimed, "Forgot about it."

She trotted into the house and brought out a black kitten. Chen Ji was puzzled. This black cat looked like a dark cloud, but he didn't know when it came. "What is this?"

Xiaoman explained: "On the day when the young master was arrested and imprisoned, my second sister gave it to me, saying that keeping it at home would not arouse suspicion."

Chen Ji looked at Zhang Xia, and Zhang Xia explained, "My father said that he was sure that the cat in the queen's arms was Wuyun. Many people know that you have a black cat. If it suddenly disappears, it may arouse suspicion. So he asked me to go to the livestock farm and quickly buy a similar one and send it to you."

Chen Ji said with emotion: "Thank you."

Zhang Xia hummed, stood up and said, "It's getting late, my brother and I will go back to rest..."

She walked to the door and looked back at Chen Ji: "If you can be adopted by the first house, you will be the 'fictitious legitimate son' and can preside over the sacrifices and inherit the family business. If you want to save the princess, this identity will definitely make things easier. Even if you practice cultivation, you will get a lot of help. But you have to be careful. The change of aristocratic families is no less dangerous than the fight for the throne in the royal family. The second house will not give up."

Chen Ji nodded: "I understand."

Zhang Xia sighed, "I don't know how the princess is doing in Jingyang Palace. The Chen family must have placed their trusted followers in the palace as eunuchs. If the Chen family can help, the princess's life in the palace may be better."

(End of this chapter)