Chapter 59

He Ruming glared at Chen Ke, feeling an inexplicable displeasure towards this short-haired overseas student. How did he get mixed up with him? He Ruming had this doubt. However, despite his apparent anger, he was actually quite uneasy.

Although He Ruming was a member of the Later Party, he was also part of the Self-Strengthening Movement. The Tianjin Arsenal was part of Li Hongzhang's former Beiyang faction. Yuan Shikai's New Army at Xiaozhan was part of the latter Beiyang faction. There was no shortage of personnel exchanges between the two factions. Therefore, after He Ruming arrived in the capital, he deliberately reached out to the officers of the new army in the capital. Upon learning that someone had fallen ill, he naturally thought of Chen Ke. In those days, many people fell ill, not just those officers. A young man who was quite important to He Ruming also caught this unfortunate disease. This young man's father, Lian Bicheng, was one of the key supporters of He Ruming's visit to the capital. The two families had already arranged a marriage, and the engagement was about to be finalized.

Learning that this young man, who was practically his son-in-law, had fallen ill, He Ruming was furious. However, anger aside, he still had to save him. He Ruming knew that Chen Ke's medicine was toxic, so he was cautious and had Chen Ke treat other officers first. If there were no problems, he would then treat Lian's son. Treating illness was a good thing, but if it turned into a matter of life and death, He Ruming could not afford to take the blame.

The Lian family was also well aware of He Ruming's thoughts. They sent people to observe the entire treatment process. After Chen Ke left, their family doctor stayed to monitor the situation. The medicine's effects were evident; by the next morning, the officers' conditions had significantly improved. Lian's son had already been brought home, and they only administered the medicine to their son in the morning.

He Ruming did not want Chen Ke to be involved in this matter. After all, the Lian family was influential, and Chen Ke might hear some rumors in the future. This kind of illness was embarrassing, and it was best if fewer people knew about it. Moreover, the Lian family was also worried about potential issues, so they deliberately reduced the dosage for the first time. However, problems arose soon after the injection.

It was then that He Ruming called Chen Ke over. He had intended to ask calmly, but his unease made him agitated. If Lian's son really had a problem... He Ruming thought about the consequences and regretted not having Chen Ke treat him personally. However, this self-reflection was quickly replaced by a surge of anger. What kind of fierce medicine did Chen Ke make? Ten officers had no issues, but why did Lian's son have a problem? He Ruming fumed, wondering where Chen Ke's medical ethics were. Was this what it meant to be a doctor?

However, Chen Ke did not see He Ruming's anger as intensely as it was. When Chen Ke entered the living room, He Ruming finally erupted. Chen Ke was actually quite imposing, tall with a square face. However, his eyes were inherited from his mother, bright and large, with long lashes that wouldn't drop a matchstick, and beautifully shaped double eyelids with a slight upturn. When these calm eyes looked at He Ruming, he felt that Chen Ke's gaze was innocent and pure, which only fueled his anger.

Why did Chen Ke look at him with such eyes? Wasn't he in this dangerous situation because he trusted Chen Ke? With Yan Fu's recommendation and Chen Ke's calm and steady demeanor during the promotion of the beehive coal project, He Ruming had gradually gained confidence in Chen Ke. But at this critical moment, Chen Ke had pushed him to the brink. Chen Ke, the quack, had not asked for payment for the medicine, and at the time, He Ruming thought Chen Ke was righteous. Now, he realized that Chen Ke was just avoiding responsibility and leaving himself a way out. However, if someone died, He Ruming would not let Chen Ke off the hook.

Chen Ke, of course, did not know why He Ruming was so angry. There was no time to argue, so he picked up the copy on the table and read it. He suddenly noticed a subtle error. He had written "inject slowly and carefully, observing the patient's reaction," but the word "slowly" was missing from the copy, leaving only "inject carefully."

Chen Ke asked, "Sir He, where is the original manuscript?"

He Ruming grumpily produced the original manuscript. After comparing it, Chen Ke asked, "Why is the word 'slowly' missing?"

Hearing Chen Ke's question, He Ruming leaned in to check carefully and indeed found the word missing. However, he did not think this was the issue and instead believed Chen Ke was trying to shirk responsibility, which only increased his anger. Before he could lash out, Chen Ke interrupted him, "Sir He, the priority now is to save the patient. How much medicine did you inject?"

"Fearing your medicine was toxic, we only used half the dose," He Ruming said angrily.

"That makes it simpler. Quickly inject the patient with a large amount of physiological saline. According to what you said, the dose was small, so it shouldn't be fatal."

"How much?" He Ruming asked, determined to understand everything clearly after such a minor mistake caused such a big problem.

"Inject 300 milliliters first," Chen Ke said, then detailed the injection site. Seeing He Ruming's unsatisfied expression, Chen Ke asked for paper and pen and wrote down what he had said.

At this point, He Ruming, who knew the gravity of the situation, watched Chen Ke write down the solution, read it himself, and found no issues. He then had the butler deliver it to the patient's house.

The two men sat in silence, and Bu Guanshui, knowing it was not the time to speak, remained quiet. After about half an hour, the butler returned with a smile and said, "Sir, just as the prescription said, the patient is stable."

Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. He Ruming had the butler carefully copy Chen Ke's treatment instructions, ensuring no word was wrong. He then turned to Chen Ke, who looked quite innocent, and did not know what to say. Apologizing to Chen Ke would be embarrassing, so he sat there awkwardly.

Bu Guanshui, being from an official family, was skilled at reading people. Seeing the situation, he said, "Sir He, do you know about the Beiyang Army's autumn maneuvers?"

He Ruming knew that the Beiyang Army was currently conducting autumn maneuvers in Hejian. Hearing Bu Guanshui's question, he nodded, "I know about it."

"Mr. Chen is writing a parade march for the Beiyang Army's autumn maneuvers, but he needs a piano to play it. He can't find one temporarily," Bu Guanshui said politely.

That damn Chen Wenqing! He really knows how to cause trouble. He Ruming cursed inwardly. But then he thought, if what Bu Guanshui said was true, and the parade march could be composed using his piano, it might not be a bad thing. If someone could say a few good words, his name might even reach Yuan Shikai.

"My family does have a piano. If Mr. Bu doesn't mind, you can use it," He Ruming said, following Bu Guanshui's lead.

"That would be greatly appreciated. Can we use it now?"

"The piano is in the women's quarters. Please wait a moment; I'll have my family move it out."

The butler and two servants went to the back yard and, with great effort, moved the piano to the living room. "Brother Wenqing, shall we help?" Bu Guanshui, now quite anxious, asked.

Chen Ke was somewhat surprised. He was not against labor, but Bu Guanshui's willingness to do physical work was impressive. He nodded.

Seeing Chen Ke agree, Bu Guanshui said to He Ruming, "Sir He, we should help too."

"That's too much, let the servants do it," He Ruming said.

"It's now or never," Bu Guanshui urged.

Seeing Bu Guanshui's urgency, He Ruming did not stop him. With the additional help, the piano was quickly moved into the living room. Chen Ke opened the lid and saw a book under it, the last volume of his own series. Was the young lady of the house reading his book? Chen Ke was puzzled but had no time to think about it. He ran his fingers over the keys, and the piano's tuning was acceptable. He played a piece, the opening theme from "Steins;Gate."

It was a rather cold and distant piece, which Chen Ke enjoyed for its far-reaching style. The beautiful melody echoed in the living room, giving a sense of time travel. The piano was bought by He Ruming's father when he was alive, and He Ruming often listened to his sister and daughter play. To him, the piano's sound was nothing special. However, seeing Chen Ke's fingers move in a peculiar way over the long black and white keys, producing such beautiful music, was quite surprising to He Ruming.

After listening, He Ruming was impressed by Chen Ke but also puzzled. Could such a cold and distant piece be a parade march? He did not believe it.

Chen Ke felt his fingers were warmed up. In this era, his body had undergone a significant enhancement. Playing the piano required speed, strength, and control, and his body's improvements were evident. He then played Chopin's "Revolutionary Étude," which he used to prepare for a long time to play. Now, he played it effortlessly. The passionate and stirring piece made Chen Ke feel his blood boil. Music had such power, transcending communication. Even though Chen Ke did not know how Chopin felt when he heard about the Polish uprising and its suppression, the piece's emotional depth still moved him.

As Chen Ke immersed himself in the music, in the back yard, He Qian and He Ying sat by the door of their room, listening to the music from the living room. When Chen Ke finished, He Qian shook her head. He Ying, on the other hand, picked up her embroidery but did not continue. She only did this to avoid her mother's anger if she saw her not doing needlework.

The back door opened, and two young boys tiptoed in, peering into the living room. Soon, a fierce and grand piece began, startling the two young ladies and the two young boys. They did not know that Chen Ke was playing the "Hell March." After the first part, He Ying asked, "Aunt, this piece sounds quite scary."

He Qian did not answer, as it was the first time she heard such a piece, and she was equally shocked. She had already asked who was using the piano, and it was Chen Ke, whom her brother He Ruming had mentioned before. Listening to Chen Ke play three pieces with different styles, she was curious about how he played. However, in those days, girls could not appear in public without permission. He Qian, who was treated like a boy by her grandfather, still had limits. Without his permission, she could not meet strangers. Now, with her brother He Ruming, she was not as free as she was with her father.

Chen Ke started playing again, this time in segments, which was confusing. No matter how good the piece, playing it this way would lose interest. He Qian, who did not like this domineering style, was even more disinterested.

Soon, He Ruming returned to the back yard, sent his two sons back to their rooms to study, and then went to his own room. After a while, he came out. He Qian knew her sister-in-law was not a woman of great insight, only adhering to proper conduct. Her brother He Ruming did not often discuss matters with his wife. For important matters, he would talk to her. Indeed, He Ruming called He Qian to the main house. He Qian noticed her brother's glance at He Ying, filled with guilt.

What was going on? He Qian was puzzled.

Entering the main house with her brother, He Ruming recounted the events. Hearing about Lian's son falling ill, He Qian frowned, feeling the urge to spit. She finally understood her brother's earlier look. After He Ruming finished his story, he sighed. He Qian knew what was troubling him. After some thought, she had an idea. "Brother, the Lian family is influential. Their son causing such a scandal, and since you introduced Chen Ke to cure him, I doubt the Lian family will want to continue the engagement."

He Ruming nodded but said nothing.

Seeing her brother's silence, He Qian frowned and probed, "Brother, are you afraid that not marrying into the Lian family will cause them to make things difficult for you?"

Caught in his thoughts, He Ruming blushed.

He Qian's frown deepened, "Brother, there's always a reason. Our daughter, whether a princess or pampered, does not deserve to be mistreated by the Lian family. You love He Ying so much, but why do you act differently when it comes to your position?"

"I will definitely not let He Ying marry that unfilial son of the Lian family. That's non-negotiable. But..."

He Qian looked at her brother with a disappointed gaze. He Ying's birth had a secret. He Ruming's current wife was not He Ying's biological mother but a second wife. When He Ying was born, her mother died in childbirth, and the child was saved. In Tianjin, such a child was considered a curse and should be given away. However, He Ruming refused to give his daughter away, quickly married a second wife, and did not allow the family to mention the incident. He Ying always thought her stepmother was her biological mother.

The stepmother did not treat He Ying warmly, but as an aunt, He Qian had a close relationship with her two-year-younger niece. He Qian occasionally heard her grandfather privately complain that, in terms of knowledge, appearance, and social skills, the first daughter-in-law was far superior to the second. However, with a child considered a curse, He Ruming's prospects for a good marriage were slim.

As a woman, He Qian admired her brother's actions. She did not expect that He Ruming, who had made such sacrifices for his daughter, would be so hesitant when it came to his position. He Qian knew her brother had it tough. After the Tianjin Arsenal collapsed, He Ruming's career was cut off. It was difficult to find a job, and he had to navigate the bureaucracy. Losing his prospects because of this scandal would not make him happy.

"Brother, I have something to say that might not be pleasant. Don't be angry."

"Go ahead."

"Look at Chen Ke in the living room. He's only twenty-five, but from what you said, he can always find connections and resources. Even a fifth-rank official like you has to seek his help. Why is that?"

He Ruming had never thought about Chen Ke from this angle. After some thought, he said, "He's a returnee. You know, returnees have it easy these days."

Hearing this, He Qian was disappointed. Her brother still did not understand the issue. Had the events of the Boxer Rebellion eroded his resolve? He Qian suppressed her frustration and continued, "I see that Chen Ke never asks for help."

"He doesn't ask for help, but he still came to me for the beehive coal project," He Ruming retorted, feeling angry at his sister's praise of Chen Ke.

"He came to you because you have what he needs," He Qian tried to enlighten her brother.

"Hmm." Hearing this, He Ruming felt better.

"As long as you have your strengths, others will come to you when they need help. Chen Ke makes medicine, composes music, and writes books, all by himself. You were once a prominent figure in the Tianjin Arsenal with many old connections. Why do you care so much about the Lian family? If you owe them, you can repay them later. Why should He Ying suffer?"

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End of Chapter 59