Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 59 Yellow Bird
When the servant came back to lead him in, Chen Siyuan saw that he still looked as usual, so he calmed down and walked into Jia She's outer study with his head held high.

In the outer study, Jia She was frowning in thought. Seeing Chen Siyuan come in to greet him, he casually waved his hand and said, "Brother Yuan is here? We are family, please sit down and chat."

"Yes," Chen Siyuan sat down as he was told and began to speak, "I just came back from the Zhejiang Guild Hall. Uncle, you didn't know that the guild hall is now full of wealthy businessmen, it can be said that all the wise men have come here."

Jia She nodded and said, "Rumors have been rising over the past two days. Just now, an old friend sent a letter to inquire about it..." After a pause, Jia She stared at Chen Siyuan and said, "That matter..."

Chen Siyuan bowed and smiled, "I'm glad I've fulfilled my mission. I heard it was my uncle who was interested. Although Master Sun was embarrassed, he finally agreed."

"Oh? Good, good!" Jia She was overjoyed! He looked at Chen Siyuan again, his eyes becoming even more kind.

Waiting half a year for a few thousand taels of silver to earn 50%? How could Jia She have that kind of patience? Now that the momentum has just started, someone is eager to raise the price by 10%. He will hold on to it for a few days, not asking for more, as long as he can make 15% profit, he will sell it immediately!
Suddenly remembering that he had forgotten to order tea, the eldest master, Jia She, immediately scolded him, "Asshole, why didn't you serve tea to Brother Yuan? Hurry up and bring it!"

The doorman immediately responded, and when the fragrant tea was served, Chen Siyuan thanked him. Suddenly, Jia She sighed and said, "I just got the news that Ruhai is not well."

Lin Ruhai was Chen Siyuan's nominal future Taishan. He was stunned and asked in surprise, "How...how can you say that?"

Jia She said, "Lian'er wrote to say that Ruhai died at the hour of Si on the third day of the ninth lunar month. What a pity! Ruhai was only so young." He paused, then continued, "I'll write back in the next two days and have Zhao'er take it back to Suzhou. I'll leave all the arrangements for Ruhai's funeral to Lian'er. Does Yuan'er have anything to say?"

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, even if he was a traitor, even if it was true, he wouldn't dare to say anything now that he was living under someone else's roof. So he bowed and said, "My nephew is still young and can't handle things, so I'll obey my uncle in everything. Brother Lian is a steady hand, and with him in charge, I'm sure everything will be done properly."

Jia She nodded in satisfaction and said, "Brother Yuan, you're right to think so... Yes, since we're all going south, we'll have to pass through Yangzhou. Brother Yuan, do you want to take a letter home?"

Chen Siyuan suddenly smiled bitterly and said, "Uncle... this... my nephew's situation, uncle knows everything. Where is my nephew's home in Yangzhou now?"

Jia She frowned and said, "The eldest son, who was a good man, was forced to leave his hometown. That concubine is really vicious. Even if the fault lies thousands of miles away, your uncle will definitely go to her house and teach her a lesson!"

This was just for show. Chen Siyuan knew Jia She's character very well. If he really believed it, he wouldn't even know how he died one day.

After scolding the Chen family of Yangzhou, Jia She continued, "I have already sent someone to Ping'an Prefecture to deliver a letter this morning. When I get a reply, I will take Yuan Ge'er to the Imperial College and the matter will be settled."

Chen Siyuan hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, uncle."

Jia She waved his hand and stroked his beard as if he had done a great favor, saying, "We are family, so we shouldn't treat each other like this."

The two of them chatted for a while, each with their own thoughts, and then Jia She sent Chen Siyuan back.

After leaving the black oil gate, Chen Siyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself that he was lucky that his trick had not been exposed this time - if he pretended to be a distant relative and tricked the Jia family, he would be killed without a burial place!
He returned to his own courtyard, thinking all the way. As soon as he entered the door, Hongyu handed him a letter.

"Master, a maid brought a letter a while ago, saying it was sent from outside."

Chen Siyuan took it with surprise and asked casually, "Who delivered the letter?"

Hongyu replied, "He said he was the owner of the mutton shop in the back street, and he came to deliver the letter for someone else."

Chen Siyuan frowned secretly, unfolded the letter and glanced at it, only to see a single line of handwriting on it: "Brother Chen, come to Bajiao Hutong as soon as possible! Urgent!"
The crooked handwriting on it made it look like the work of those three good brothers. Chen Siyuan thought to himself, he would rather ask the mutton shop owner to deliver the letter than come to his house in person. Could something have happened?
Chen Siyuan didn't dare to delay, so he told Hongyu a few words and turned to go forward again. He borrowed a horse and rode towards the outer city.

Near noon, Chen Siyuan arrived at the farmhouse where his three good brothers were staying. As soon as he got off his horse, he saw Ma Panlong coming out with a gloomy face.

"Brother Chen is finally here."

Seeing his serious expression, Chen Siyuan said as he tied the reins, "I came here as soon as I got the news. Brother Ma, is there something wrong?"

Ma Panlong led Chen Siyuan inside and whispered, "Flying Tiger had been following that man since morning, and as he walked, he realized someone was also watching him."

"and then?"

"That man was also a martial artist. Feihu clashed with him, and then he was kicked in the chest and hit by a stone in the back."

Chen Siyuan's expression suddenly changed. These days, martial arts weren't about fancy moves; a fight could be won or lost, life or death, in just a few moves.

In his early years, Chen Siyuan had wandered the martial arts world with his master, and had heard and witnessed martial arts competitions. It was so intense that before he could even see clearly, he heard a few crackling sounds, and one man stood up, the other lay down, and the winner was already decided!
So he was injured by a kick in the chest and a stone in the back, which means that Qian Feihu was almost hit in the vitals by a hidden weapon when he was escaping!
Chen Siyuan had a sullen face and said nothing. He lifted the door curtain and went inside. The smell of medicine hit his nose. He saw Qian Feihu shirtless with a white cloth wrapped around his chest. His face was pale and he didn't know how badly he was injured.

Chen Siyuan hurried forward and said with concern: "I'm so tired that my brother got injured. This... I feel so sorry!"

Qian Feihu sneered and said, "It's just a minor injury. That donkey was really ruthless. If I hadn't been careful when I ran, that locust might have hit my back!" He paused and said, "Brother Chen is also a straightforward person. Why act like a child? These minor injuries are nothing. During the battle that day, bullets flew past my face, but I, your brother, never changed my expression!"

Qian Feihu felt that he had suffered a great loss. He gritted his teeth and cursed, "Fuck that thief! Next time I see him, I will give him a good beating!"

Chen Siyuan bowed and said, "Let's not talk about anything else. Let's wait and see." After a pause, he said, "Brother, have you figured out what that man is up to?"

Qian Feihu grinned and said, "Three years ago, I really wouldn't have noticed it. But in the past three years, I met a military expert and received some instruction from him. So, when he attacked, I felt he looked familiar. Only after I came back did I realize that he was using the Six Combinations of Mind and Intention, mixed with Red Fist techniques."

"The mind is in harmony?" Chen Siyuan was confused.

Ma Panlong, standing nearby, explained, "Xinyi Liuhe is also known as Xingyiquan. However, there's only one martial art in the world that incorporates elements of the Red Fist—the Divine Fist Zhang Heiwu."

Zhang Heiwu? Chen Siyuan had heard of this man. It was said that he was the founder of the escort agency and later entered the palace to serve as the prince's tutor. When he ascended to the throne today, he had issued an order to find this man, but he could never find him.

At this time, Qian Feihu said, "Most of Zhang Heiwu's disciples have joined the powerful and wealthy, and few of them are in charge of the escort agency." As he spoke, he looked at Chen Siyuan and said, "That man is very skilled in martial arts. He might be the guard employed by that powerful and wealthy person."

Chen Siyuan nodded, looking thoughtful. Qian Feihu continued, "Yes, my brother asked me to keep an eye on that man. He's been keeping an eye on the young man from Yingshanlang's family these past few days. His name is some idiotic Qin... Qin..."

"Qin Zhong?"

Qian Feihu slapped his thigh and said, "Yes, it's Qin Zhong!"

Chen Siyuan suddenly took a deep breath. Qin Zhong had thugs from the noble family stalking him! This was truly a huge crisis! It was both dangerous and an opportunity!
(End of this chapter)