Chapter 60

He Ruming looked at his sister He Qian. The two siblings looked very much alike, both bearing a strong resemblance to their mother. When He Qian was young, He Ruming often took her out to play. Back then, whenever people saw the two, they would always say they looked like siblings. Of course, there were some who, not knowing any better, would ask if they were father and daughter. However, He Ruming didn't feel that way. To him, his sister He Qian's personality was more like their grandfather. Now, as He Qian tried to persuade him to break off the engagement with the Lian family, He Ruming saw a look in her eyes that was almost identical to his father's. There was a subtle air of condescension. This was the feeling He Ruming disliked the most.

"Big Brother, that engagement must be broken off. Now that this has happened, if the Lian family has any sense of shame, they should be the ones to initiate the conversation. Besides, the dowry hasn't been given yet, so the situation isn't beyond repair."

Seeing that He Ruming was still hesitant, He Qian decided to be more direct. "If they don't know their place and still bring up the engagement, Big Brother, you must refuse. Their son's illness clearly shows he's not a good person. If they still mention the engagement, it's a sign of disrespect. How can our family's daughter be so worthless that she can't find a good family to marry into?"

The thought of being disrespected by others did rouse He Ruming's spirit. However, a moment later, he frowned again. He Qian knew that He Ruming was worried that breaking off the engagement with the Lian family would damage his future career prospects. Because of this, she was even more furious. "Big Brother, in the end, politics is all about money. We don't need the Lian family; we have other opportunities. There's a gold mine out there, and you just need to dig."

"Out there?" He Ruming asked, puzzled.

"If you get the medicine, we have some shops in Tianjin. Just selling the medicine could earn us a lot of money."

He Ruming finally understood that his sister had set her sights on Chen Ke. This was indeed a way to make money, but Chen Ke was not an ordinary student. From what he knew, Chen Ke had the support of Yan Fu, making it not so easy to extort him. "How can we make Chen Wenqing give us the medicine?" he asked his sister.

"Isn't he already seeking your help?"

"The coal briquettes?"

He Qian was speechless at her brother's dullness. After reading Chen Ke's book, even though she hadn't met him, she was certain that Chen Ke wouldn't collaborate with He Ruming just for the coal briquettes. He must have other motives. He Qian wasn't sure what Chen Ke's true intentions were, but she knew that relying on her brother wouldn't work. She would have to meet Chen Ke herself to find out. With her plan set, she said, "Big Brother, invite Chen Ke to have lunch, and I'll talk to him."

"That wouldn't be appropriate."

"He's a foreign student and can play the piano so well. According to Big Brother, he's also very learned. After spending years abroad, foreign men and women don't avoid each other, so there's nothing inappropriate about it."

He Ruming, after hearing his sister's reasoning, began to see Chen Ke as someone who could be exploited. However, he couldn't immediately think of a good way to do so. With his sister's willingness to step in, He Ruming felt less pressure.

"Let's do it that way."

"What about the Lian family?" He Qian asked, following up. Her firm stance wasn't just for He Ying. If the He family was disrespected, she, as an unmarried daughter, would also be disrespected. For the sake of the He family, He Qian had to protect the family's dignity.

"Let's do as you say," He Ruming replied.

After discussing the family's interests, He Ruming returned to the living room. He saw Chen Ke and Bu Guanshui bent over a table, writing something on paper.

"At this note, insert a symbol. Play it like this," Chen Ke said as he wrote. He Ruming leaned in to look and recognized the strange symbols from the music sheets that came with the piano they had bought. Chen Ke quickly wrote a section and then circled a few key points with a pen. "This part should be accompanied by a gong. It should be something like this."

Bu Guanshui looked at the dozen or so sheets of paper on the table, each with different instrument scores. "Wenqing, organizing a military band is like leading an army, with each section operating differently."

"Everything is the same. Good cooperation is essential."

"I'll take these back and have the military band practice."

"If you want to save time, it's best to find a foreign military band to help with the rehearsal. Our military band can learn from them, which will be faster."

Hearing this, He Ruming thought Chen Ke was being overly confident. Foreign military bands weren't easy to mobilize. Seeing Bu Guanshui's hesitant expression, He Ruming guessed he felt the same way. But Bu Guanshui continued, "Finding a foreign military band isn't a problem, but this is a parade march for the Beiyang Army. If we rely on a foreign military band, people might mock us for lacking talent in Beiyang."

Hearing this, He Ruming also became dissatisfied with Bu Guanshui, labeling him and Chen Ke as "arrogant."

"If you need help, come to me. But it must be in the morning; I have to lecture at the Imperial University in the afternoon."

"Understood. I will definitely trouble Wenqing."

After saying this, Bu Guanshui had Chen Ke play "The Soviet March" twice before leaving.

Standing at the door with Chen Ke, watching Bu Guanshui leave, He Ruming said, "Wenqing, my sister heard you play and wants to see how you play the piano. Could you show her?"

"Sure," Chen Ke replied, though he didn't understand what He Ruming was up to, he had no reason to refuse.

Back in the living room, He Ruming called his sister in, and they exchanged greetings. Chen Ke looked at He Qian and couldn't help but glance at He Ruming. The siblings looked very much alike. He Ruming was a handsome man, and He Qian was described as beautiful. She had long braids, typical of young girls, but the silk clothes she wore were hard for Chen Ke to accept. They were in the style popular during the Qing dynasty—fancy and elaborate, with a small collar, a wide top, and a straight skirt. To Chen Ke, they looked like funeral attire, making him feel uncomfortable.

While Chen Ke was observing He Qian, He Qian was also observing Chen Ke. Chen Ke was tall for his time. His clothes, though somewhat worn, were of excellent quality. However, He Qian noticed that Chen Ke's initial admiration quickly turned to indifference after he looked at her clothes. This subtle change made He Qian feel a bit dissatisfied. Everyone who met her always praised her beauty. Chen Ke's initial reaction was no different, but after looking at her clothes, his attitude changed. Was she less important than her clothes?

She glanced down at her clothes, which were very much in the Manchu style. He Qian realized that after reading Chen Ke's book, she could tell he was a revolutionary. Connecting this with his reaction to her clothes, He Qian was now certain of Chen Ke's political leanings.

"What piece would Miss He like to hear?" Chen Ke asked.

He Ruming's face changed. It was impolite to directly ask a woman a question without her brother present.

"Could you play the first piece you played?" He Qian asked, not too concerned.

As expected, Chen Ke didn't look at her again, sitting at the piano and playing. The music was beautiful, but the atmosphere had changed. When He Qian first heard the piece, she was enjoying the music, but now she was observing Chen Ke.

After Chen Ke finished the piece and played a few more, He Qian asked, "Did Mr. Chen study music abroad?"

"I studied chemistry."

"No wonder my brother mentioned that Mr. Chen is planning to do business with coal briquettes in Beijing."

Hearing this, Chen Ke turned to look at He Qian. He suddenly noticed her expression, which was very familiar. It was a determined and serious look, the kind he often saw in negotiations.

Chen Ke smiled. He looked into He Qian's eyes and said, "What does Miss He want to know? Please be direct."

He Ruming watched the two young people, both calm and composed, with a friendly but inscrutable demeanor. At that moment, He Ruming felt they looked very similar.

"Why did Mr. Chen seek my brother's help for this?"

"I need someone reliable and knowledgeable about machinery. I heard that Mr. He has worked in the Tianjin Machinery Bureau for many years and knows many people in this field. I could find someone else, but it would be more convenient to work with someone I know well."

"What benefits will my brother gain from this?" He Qian asked.

He Ruming, who was drinking tea, almost spat it out. His sister was being too direct.

"What does Miss He want?" Chen Ke asked, equally direct.

"How much does Mr. Chen's medicine cost?"

Chen Ke thought for a moment. "If Mr. He can find ten people in ten days, I'll sell him enough medicine for a hundred people. If he can find twenty people, I'll sell him enough for two hundred. In Shanghai, I sell it for twenty taels per person. If Mr. He finds five people I approve, I'll sell it for eighteen taels per person. If he finds ten, it's sixteen taels, and if he finds twenty, it's twelve taels. I guarantee that no other medicine will be sold in the north for three months. Mr. He can sell it for whatever price he wants."

He Ruming knew that even at fifty taels, people desperate for treatment would pay. If he sold enough for two hundred people, he would earn at least three thousand taels, which was the price of a good estate in the area. This deal could make him a fortune. However, the negotiation between Chen Ke and his sister made him feel very uncomfortable. They didn't act like a refined lady and a student but like shrewd businessmen.

"Ten days might be too short," He Qian said.

"Thirteen days at most. I can't wait any longer."

"What does Big Brother think?" He Qian turned to ask.

"Twenty days," He Ruming replied.

"Mr. He, I can wait at most thirteen days," Chen Ke said firmly.

He Ruming looked at Chen Ke, seeing his determination. He frowned but then saw his sister nod slightly. "Thirteen days, then."

After settling the matter, Chen Ke got up to leave. He Ruming didn't try to keep him. After Chen Ke left, he asked He Qian, "What does Chen Ke really want?"

"He already said it," He Qian replied, sitting at the piano and lightly tapping the keys.

"Do you believe him?" He Ruming pressed.

"What do you plan to do? Either do it or don't. You decide."

He Qian tapped the keys, and the piano played a single, monotonous note. After hearing Chen Ke's fluent playing, He Ruming found the sound unpleasant.

Back at their residence, Chen Ke saw everyone gathered around Chen Tianhua. The blacksmith had delivered the custom-made mold. The coal briquette maker was simple and rough, but Chen Ke needed time. The outer iron ring and the precision of the parts were not his main concerns. The mold was filled with newly bought coal dust, and Chen Ke and the others, wearing masks, mixed it with yellow clay and made the coal briquettes.

After making twenty briquettes, Chen Ke, using the simplest method to save time, found the process slow and inefficient. They were all dirty from the work, and their faces were smudged with sweat. Chen Ke asked, "Tianhua, if we could buy coal briquettes, wouldn't everyone prefer to buy them?"

Chen Tianhua, tired from the labor, lifted the cloth covering the water jar and drank. "Not necessarily. People are very cautious with money. They don't have much to spend."

"Right now, we're doing it ourselves, so the labor costs are high. But with machine production, the cost will be lower than burning coal," Chen Ke said confidently.

Chen Ke stood up and started adding wood to the rough stove. Last night, he had started burning wood to dry the soil. Now, the soil was mostly dry. Chen Ke lit the wood and placed a coal briquette on top. As the smoke from the burning wood dissipated, he smiled and said, "The coal briquette is burning."

They had bought pots and pans, and Chen Ke, who hadn't used coal briquettes since he was eighteen, still remembered how to use them. The blue flames burned under the pot, and he quickly cooked the vegetables. Everyone gathered around the table to eat.

"I made contact with the Beiyang Army yesterday," Chen Ke said calmly.

Everyone except Wu Xingchen was stunned. Chen Ke had planned to mention this later but decided it was better to do so now. If he waited, and they found out first, it could cause problems. No matter when he told them, it would create issues, so he might as well be direct.

"Chen Ke, what do you mean?" Pang Zi slammed his chopsticks down, reacting first.

"The Beiyang Army is training in Hejian. If we're lucky, we might even see their drills. Then we can see the strength of the Beiyang Army," Chen Ke said, unperturbed. "Pang, don't you want to take revenge? Seeing the Beiyang Army's strength would be helpful, wouldn't it?"

"You!" Pang Zi was too angry to speak.

"Know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles," Wu Xingchen said solemnly.

"What the hell, a hundred battles!" Pang Zi said angrily, "Why not just take them out one by one?"

"Pang, you—"

"Don't call me 'Pang.' I'm not your brother," Pang Zi said, furious at Chen Ke's connection with the Beiyang Army. Just as he was about to lash out, Wu Xingchen slapped the table and shouted, "Pang, what are you doing? How can you talk to Wenqing like that? What did Uncle Jing teach you?"

Pang Zi, who seemed to fear Wu Xingchen, immediately lost his nerve.

"Wenqing, you don't have to be so polite with Pang. Scold him if you need to," Wu Xingchen said sternly.

Chen Ke smiled but didn't say more, only explaining how he had made contact with the Beiyang Army. Pang Zi tried to interrupt a few times but was silenced by Wu Xingchen's glare.

"So, Wenqing wants us to see the Beiyang Army's parade?" Wu Xingchen asked slowly.

"The parade is the best way to see the Beiyang Army's strength. If we're lucky, we might even see a real combat drill, which is a rare opportunity."

"Pang, don't you want to take revenge? If you want to rebel in Hebei, you'll have to deal with the Beiyang Army. The same goes for our brothers in Shandong. Seeing the Beiyang Army's strength now will help us prepare for the future," Chen Ke said.

"How many Beiyang soldiers are training?" Wu Xingchen asked.

"Not the entire Beiyang Army, but I heard they've mobilized over twenty thousand," Chen Ke said casually.

"Whoa!" Someone sucked in a breath.

During the Boxer Rebellion, the Beiyang Army, not fully formed, had fewer than ten thousand soldiers to suppress the uprising in Shandong. The Boxers were crushed. Hearing Chen Ke's account, the Shandong rebels were shocked. Even Pang Zi lowered his head, silent.

"Wu, we need to focus on our lectures. I don't know when I'll be called to help with the parade. If we have a chance to see the Beiyang Army's drills, we need to be prepared to understand how to defeat them."

Everyone's attention returned to Chen Ke.

"I can only teach you the basics, theoretical knowledge. If you don't understand these, the drills might scare you," Chen Ke said, evaluating their current abilities.

"Right, we need to send a message to Shanghai today. They should send us some supplies. Let's have Xie Mingxian bring them."

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