Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 10: Calm Advice

Ning Mansion, it’s late at night.

Ning Cheng was sitting in the study, looking good, with a smile on his face and an occasional sigh.

In my mind, I seemed to recall the poverty I experienced in Hangzhou. After more than ten years of hard study, I had exhausted my family's wealth and had no money left to support myself in taking the imperial examinations.

Fortunately, there was a kind-hearted businessman who, after learning of his situation, generously donated money to support his imperial examination.

Even though he failed the provincial examinations again and again, the Chen family never despised him or looked down on him.

He had a very good relationship with Chen Zhongsheng, and the money for him to take the imperial examination in Peking the following year was given by the Chen family.

Although passing the imperial examination was considered crossing the class barrier, Ning Cheng was unwilling to spend time on socializing at that time, so he did not gain too many benefits from his status as a juren.

Now that I know that Chen Zhongsheng has passed away and his only son has ended up like this, I can't help but sigh.

Just as he was thinking, a servant came over and whispered, "Master, Doctor Zhang is here."

"Please come quickly."

Doctor Zhang was the doctor who diagnosed Chen Ce. He came to Ning Cheng and said solemnly, "Sir Ning, this young man...is in a very serious condition."

Ning Cheng was stunned for a moment.

He just knew that Chen Ce was sick, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent.

"What disease?"

Doctor Zhang said, "He has tuberculosis. He won't live long."

boom!
Ning Cheng stood up suddenly, his face twisted, staring at him and questioning: "Did you check it wrong?"

Doctor Zhang shook his head and said, "That's right. I can't cure this disease. Maybe we can ask the royal doctor to give it a try."

Ning Cheng was just a sixth-rank official. How could he be qualified to have the royal physician come out to diagnose him?

After a moment of silence, Ning Cheng gritted his teeth and asked, "How long can you live?"

Doctor Zhang pondered for a while and said, "Ten years, at most!"

At least he didn't say it, because he could die at any time.

The atmosphere in the study was somewhat silent. Ning Cheng raised his hand feebly and said, "Thank you for your help."

After Doctor Zhang left, Ning Cheng's expression became unpredictable.

There was a knock on the door, and a dignified girl came over and said with a smile: "Dad, what do you want to see me about?"

Ning Cheng looked at his daughter who had just come of age with a complicated expression, and finally shook his head and said, "It's okay, I just wanted to ask where you went today."

Ning Zhijun smiled and said, "I went to attend the literary gathering. Didn't I tell you?"

Ning Cheng said "oh" and then found a random excuse to send her away. He looked at her back and hesitated for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking.

……

The weather is still good today, and the sun has melted the cold a little.

Chen Ce got up early, lit the fire and cooked. Today he was extravagant and had a rich breakfast. He cooked porridge and went to Zhengyang Street to buy a tray of Wuxi soup dumplings.

While I was having breakfast, there was a knock on the door.

Chen Ce went to open the door and saw Ning Cheng. He was surprised and said, "Uncle Ning, you are here."

"Come in and sit down."

"Have you had breakfast yet? You must not have had breakfast this early. I'll go buy you a tray of soup dumplings."

Ning Cheng called out to Chen Ce, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Finally, he couldn't help but speak, and said to Chen Ce: "Cer, you have suffered a lot these years."

Chen Ce shook his head and smiled, "It's OK, it's not hard." Ning Cheng pondered for a while and said, "Uncle has prepared ten acres of good land for you. It's in the eastern suburbs of Beiping, just an incense stick's walk away from you."

"I have prepared another 100 taels of silver for you."

Chen Ce stared at him and saw him standing there with a somewhat ashamed look on his face. He roughly understood what the other party meant.

It's too early for me to be happy.

However, Chen Ce was not too sad. On one side was a well-off official of the Ming Dynasty, and on the other side was a poor man with tuberculosis whose parents had both passed away. It was normal for the two to be unhappy with this marriage.

Chen Ce now understood what the doctor came for yesterday.

"Uncle Ning, wait a moment."

Chen Ce entered the wing room, took out the engagement certificate, handed it to Ning Cheng, and said, "Uncle Ning, I'll give you the engagement certificate, you can handle it yourself."

"I don't want the one hundred taels of silver. It's too much. Our family didn't have that much money when we helped you."

"I took the ten acres of land without hesitation."

Ning Cheng explained, "Cer, all parents in the world are compassionate. I hope you can understand me."

"If there was any possibility that you had this disease, I would never dare to do such a heartless and ungrateful thing."

"I am also a father of a child. As a parent, I certainly don't want my children to live a peaceful and stable life in the future."

Chen Ce hummed. It seemed that his condition was not optimistic. His condition might have worsened again. He hadn't seen a proper doctor for diagnosis for several years.

Originally, he didn't have much hope for this marriage. After all, this sick body shouldn't be harming others.

"I didn't think well enough."

Chen Ce said calmly.

Ning Cheng thought for a moment and said, "You should take this money."

"Maybe you can find a good family to marry and have children, so that you can leave descendants in the world. You still need to live in the future, and you can't live without money."

Although Chen Ce wanted this money very much, one hundred taels of silver was indeed a lot, but as Chen Ce said, their family did not help Ning Cheng that much, and the value of the ten acres of land was enough for an equal exchange.

Chen Ce didn't want to show too much favor to the other party, just a fair exchange would be enough.

If you take too much, you will always be looked down upon. He has self-esteem.

"Okay, Uncle Ning, you don't have to say more. I understand."

Ning Cheng sighed deeply and said to Chen Ce: "If you need anything in the future, just come to me. The door of Ning Mansion is always open to you."

"Ah."

Chen Ce didn't say anything definite, maybe there will be something in the future that he will need Ning Cheng's help.

There is no need for him to be angry. He is not that narrow-minded. After so many years of studying, his way of thinking has changed. He is no longer like a hot-blooded young man who always feels that the other party owes him something and wants to take revenge.

They have done well enough.

Ning Cheng put down the deed for ten acres of land and took away one hundred taels of silver. He did not hurt Chen Ce's self-esteem. Since the other party did not want money, he would not force it, otherwise it would be like giving alms to a beggar.

After Ning Cheng left, Chen Ce sat quietly in the middle hall and ate breakfast.

There will always be one or two people in this world who, even if life is difficult and even if God abandons them, will still face the sun and strive to live on.

It seems that I still have to be self-reliant, earn more money, and go to the hospital for treatment. Maybe a miracle will happen?
Even if the chances are slim, you should still give it a try.

Now he owns ten acres of fertile land in the Ming Dynasty, which can generate a considerable income every year.

At this time, several neighbor ladies came to Chen Ce's yard to congratulate him on his new home. After living together for the past two years, they had developed feelings for each other. The simple-minded neighbors brought Chen Ce whatever pork and fat fish they could afford.

Chen Ce refused and had no choice but to tell them that he would not move for the time being.

(End of this chapter)