A cold wind blew bleakly.

Chen Ji stepped over the threshold of the back hall of the Chen residence and left with long strides without looking back. Having experienced many things, when Chen Ji looked back at Chen Wenxiao again, he only felt that the other party was just a very small, very small problem, like a small stone on the road. You could kick it away as you passed by, or not.

But Chen Ji held a grudge.

Outside the back hall of the Chen residence, Chen Wenxiao was pressed onto a long bench by a young servant. The young servants hesitated, not daring to strike yet.

Chen Liqin stood on the steps and said in a stern tone: “Hit him! Why aren’t you hitting him?”

The two young servants held their sticks and exchanged glances, then secretly raised their eyes to look towards Liang Shi. Chen Liqin followed their gaze and glanced towards Liang Shi, then rushed forward himself, snatched the stick, and struck fiercely on Chen Wenxiao’s buttocks: “What is ‘ren’?”

Chen Wenxiao only cared about wailing in pain, where could he answer the question? Or perhaps, even without being hit by the stick, he still couldn’t answer.

On the side, Chen Wenzong said in a low voice: “Zi said, mountain nature ren, ren grows all things. Simple and honest, broad-minded, treating people sincerely, willing to help others, this is ren.”

Chen Liqin struck down again with the stick: “What is ‘yi’?”

Chen Wenxiao wailed and cried: “Yi… loyalty above is yi, benevolence below is ren yi!”

Chen Wenzong said on the side: “Zi said, a gentleman seeks guidance from yi, a small person seeks guidance from benefit. Without yi, wealth and nobility are like floating clouds to me. Yi is conscience, it is morality.”

Chen Liqin struck down again with the stick: “What is ‘li’?”

This Lo City assistant prefect ordinarily worked on the river dike, and if a flood came, he would even carry soil sacks to reinforce it himself. His skin was tanned dark black by the sun, and his hands had great strength.

Chen Wenxiao was hit by these three sticks to the point of almost fainting, where could he still care about answering: “Mother, mother save me…”

Before he finished speaking, he heard Chen Wenzong say in a low voice: “Father ci and son xiao, older brother you and younger brother di, ruler ren and minister yi. Husband and wife have distinction, elder and younger orderly, friends have xin, ethics is li.”

Chen Liqin’s expression changed when he heard the five words ‘father ci and son xiao’, then he fiercely struck down with another stick, and didn’t ask the remaining questions.

Chen Wenxiao lay on the long bench and wailed loudly: “Father, there’s something strange about this matter! Chen Ji just came back, Cloud Sheep and Jiao Rabbit just came to the door, it must be that he colluded with these two people.”

Chen Liqin knew that Jiao Rabbit and Cloud Sheep coming this time was to threaten him. This was not a matter Chen Ji could intervene in, so it was naturally unrelated to Chen Ji.

He suddenly became angry: “You still dare to pour dirty water on your own younger brother!”

Liang Shi looked at his fierce expression and quickly walked forward: “Old master…”

Chen Liqin said fiercely: “No one is allowed to plead for this beast today!”

Liang Shi was silent for two seconds, then hurriedly said: “Concubine is not pleading for Wenxiao. Now concubine knows Wenxiao has committed a great wrong and wronged Chen Ji. Later, concubine will certainly compensate him well. Wenxiao, quickly admit your mistake to your father!”

Chen Wenxiao hurriedly cried and wailed: “Father, son knows wrong! Son will not dare again in the future!”

Chen Liqin’s face slightly eased, and the stick in his hand also fell slower: “Chen Ji lost his mother from childhood, which is already unfortunate. How can you, as his older brother, bear to treat him like this? Furthermore, these years you have gambled heavily and developed bad habits. I will punish you with confinement before the imperial examination and not allow you to go out and play alone again!”

Liang Shi promised: “Old master, rest assured, concubine will certainly strictly supervise Wenxiao and absolutely not allow him to leave the residence by half a step. Concubine will definitely be more considerate of Chen Ji, find him the best teacher, find him the best marriage, give him the best to eat, wear, and use, and his monthly allowance will be the same as Wenzong and Wenxiao.”

Chen Liqin’s face eased again, and the stick in his hand was raised in mid-air, finally not falling again.

Seeing his father stop, Chen Wenxiao immediately seized the opportunity and climbed up from the long bench: “Father, rest assured, son will certainly reform from now on.”

Chen Wenzong frowned: “Who told you to get up?”

Saying that, he rolled up his sleeve, took the stick from Chen Liqin’s hand, and swung it down fiercely: “What is ‘zhi’?”

Chen Wenxiao wailed: “Ah! Brother, what are you doing?!”

Chen Wenzong asked angrily: “I ask you, what is ‘zhi’? Answer me!”

Just at this time, another young servant ran all the way to catch up: “Old master, Prefect Zhang adult has brought his son and daughter to visit.”

Chen Liqin frowned: “Why is he coming?”

The young servant lowered his head: “This humble one doesn’t know, Zhang adult didn’t say either.”

Chen Liqin raised his hand to stop Chen Wenzong: “Don’t rush to hit him for now, don’t let outsiders see a joke.”

But Chen Wenzong didn’t pay attention, he just continued to swing the stick on his own: “What is ‘xin’?”

Seeing the situation, Chen Liqin sighed in his heart.

He instructed Liang Shi: “I will go to the door to welcome them, don’t let Zhang Zhuo come to the back hall.”

Chen Ji walked along the winding path to the back residence. He returned to Tingquan Courtyard, looked at the tiles and green bricks all over the courtyard, then sat down on the stacked green bricks and began to daze.

Black Cloud lightly jumped onto his knee and meowed: “Feeling better?”

Chen Ji propped up his chin, looked towards the corner of the courtyard, and answered casually: “There’s nothing to feel better or not feel better about. Chen Liqin is the kind of person who is reluctant to be ruthless towards Chen Wenxiao, and Liang Shi is eloquent, so she won’t do anything to Chen Wenxiao. As the saying goes, a misbehaving child has misbehaving parents, but as long as they are willing to be ruthless, Chen Wenxiao wouldn’t be like this either.”

Black Cloud thought for a while: “Then I’ll go and lick all their dim sum later, and then poop on Chen Wenxiao’s pillow!”

Chen Ji said solemnly: “Fierce, fierce!”

“Heh heh heh.”

“Heh heh heh.”

At this time, Black Cloud looked at the messy courtyard: “What about this place? If you clean it yourself, I’m afraid it will take two or three days to clean it up.”

Chen Ji smiled: “No need, someone will come to clean it themselves.”

Black Cloud was startled: “Does the Chen residence still have such good people?”

Chen Ji touched its head: “Rest assured, from now on, we will interact with the Chen family people often, and I will teach them how to be good people.”

In front of the gate of the Chen residence, Chen Liqin cupped his hands and welcomed them: “Zhang adult and I have been neighbors for several years, yet you are still a rare guest at my Chen residence. Why did you think of coming here today?”

Zhang Zhuo smiled and narrowed his eyes: “Chen adult, your words are like a loaded gun. If outsiders hear it, they might think the Lo City yamen is not harmonious. Zhang Zheng, Zhang Xia, quickly present the gifts we brought, lest Chen adult blame our Zhang family for being impolite again.”

Chen Liqin’s beard shook: “Zhang adult, why must you speak sarcastically?”

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily: “Chen adult overthinks, this official did not come to visit you.”

Chen Liqin was startled: “Then Zhang adult, what is your intention in coming here?”

Zhang Zhuo asked curiously: “There’s nothing going on at the yamen today, so I went to Taiping Medical Hall to seek Chen Ji for a game of chess. When I got there, the medical hall was actually locked and sealed. I thought carefully, he has nowhere else to go, so he must have returned to the Chen residence… Has he returned?”

Chen Liqin relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief: “He has returned, he has already settled in the residence.”

Zhang Zhuo said a long “oh” and pulled Chen Liqin’s arm, then walked inside, acting more like the master of the Chen residence: “Let’s go, Chen adult, lead me to find him.”

Chen Liqin frowned.

Zhang Zhuo acted as if he didn’t see his expression, and teased with a smile: “Chen adult, he used to have a lot of resentment towards the Chen residence and was unwilling to return, no matter what. Now that he has finally returned, you, as his father, must not be confused again.”

Chen Liqin was slightly angry: “I naturally know how to be a parent, no need for Zhang adult to teach me.”

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard: “Heh, that was me talking too much.”

Chen Liqin led Zhang Zhuo inside the residence. Liang Shi, leading two maidservants, had already been waiting on the road.

She clasped her hands loosely, and performed a ten-thousand blessings salute below her right ribs: “Zhang adult.”

Zhang Zhuo smiled: “Younger sister-in-law, my wife often talks about inviting you to Tuoluosi Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. We should visit each other more often when we have time, don’t just stay cooped up in this Chen residence.”

Liang Shi smiled slightly: “Respectfully follow Zhang adult’s instructions.”

Zhang Zhuo didn’t say much more and pulled Chen Liqin to continue walking inside.

Liang Shi asked curiously: “Old master, where are you going with Zhang adult?”

Chen Liqin explained: “Zhang adult once formed a bond with Chen Ji at Taiping Medical Hall. The two have become forgotten-years chess friends, and he has come to seek Chen Ji for a game of chess to relieve boredom. Madam, go and brew some good tea and send it to where Chen Ji is staying later, don’t neglect Zhang adult.”

Liang Shi’s face changed slightly. She lowered her head and performed another ten-thousand blessings ritual: “Concubine understands, but Chen Ji has just moved in there. I’m afraid there aren’t enough tables and chairs for so many people to sit. Why not have the old master lead Zhang adult to the study, and I will call Chen Ji over.”

Zhang Zhuo seemed to be thinking.

Before he could speak, Zhang Xia on the side suddenly said: “Auntie, no need to trouble. I am familiar with Chen Ji, and it will be more relaxed in his courtyard.”

Liang Shi smiled gently: “Second Miss Zhang, you are a young lady from the boudoir. Going to Chen Ji’s room may be improper.”

Zhang Xia looked up and down at Liang Shi, and smiled gently: “Auntie overthinks. I have my father and elder brother accompanying me. Who would dare to gossip? My father and elder brother will skin them alive.”

Zhang Zheng laughed: “Exactly!”

Just at this time, a wailing sound came from deep within the residence. Zhang Xia looked left and right, seeking the source of the sound: “What is that sound? Is the Chen residence punishing servants today?”

Chen Liqin’s face sank, and he quickly went forward to lead the way: “The servants in the residence committed rules today, so I just told the steward to discipline them well. Zhang adult, this way, please.”

Several people passed through the deep courtyard and arrived in front of Tingquan Courtyard.

Chen Liqin pushed open the door and walked inside, only to see Chen Ji holding Black Cloud, sitting on two stacks of green bricks and dazing.

At this moment, Chen Liqin looked at the ruins-like courtyard and froze in place.

Zhang Zhuo was also shocked. He walked into the courtyard, looked left and right, then quickly took a few steps and pushed open the wooden door of the main room, revealing a messy pile of tables and chairs and benches inside.

He turned his head in shock: “Chen adult, if your Chen residence cannot accommodate an illegitimate son, then adopt him to me! My Zhang residence can accommodate him.”

Chen Liqin opened his mouth, but couldn’t speak for a long time. He slowly looked at Chen Ji, his throat dry: “You…”

Chen Ji hurriedly stood up: “Chen adult, I didn’t expect a distinguished guest to visit. I have been impolite… I will go and clean the courtyard now.”

Chen Liqin supported the door frame and turned his head to stare at Liang Shi for a long time. After much thought, he slowly said: “It must be that the servants in the residence misunderstood the arrangements.”

Liang Shi understood and hurriedly said to the maidservants in a stern voice: “Call the steward here! I clearly arranged Mingquan Courtyard for Chen Ji, why did he lead Chen Ji to Tingquan Courtyard? Does he usually do things like this?”