Chapter 58

(Votes, please...)

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With the earnest hope of finding a good stepmother for the children, Chen Xiliang set off on his journey, a mix of laughter and tears. But as the boat gradually sailed away from the pier, seeing the children's figures becoming smaller and smaller, farther and farther, his face was filled with deep sorrow.

"They have grown up, and your sister-in-law is taking care of them. You can rest assured," Su Xun consoled him softly.

"Um..." Chen Xiliang took a deep breath, greatly easing his heartache, and smiled: "This journey across thousands of miles, I will not let Yunqi down!"

"Indeed." Song Fu also laughed heartily: "Through a hundred battles in the yellow sand, we will not return until Loulan is broken!"

The cries of apes on both banks did not cease, while the light boat had already passed through countless mountains.

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Leaving aside the three brothers with their grand ambitions, let's talk about the East Gate pier, where the people seeing them off gradually dispersed. Chen Ke and Su Shi were also preparing to go home, tidy up, and then head to the academy.

Erlang, however, pulled Chen Ke aside: "Let them tidy up at home. Stay and talk with me for a while."

"I'm not a date partner," Chen Ke stopped, pointing with his chin in the direction of the Su siblings leaving: "That gentle sister is the one."

"Ah, don't joke about such things in the future," Erlang shook his head and whispered: "It's disrespectful to Ba Niang."

"Who knows, dreaming of 'Ba Niang, Ba Niang' every day..." Chen Ke pinched his voice to mimic him: "I'm worried that during these few months at school, your roommates might hear."

"Don't talk nonsense. That was an unrealistic dream, and now I'm awake," Chen Erlang said bitterly: "I won't talk in my sleep anymore."

"Then, you... I see!" Chen Ke, who was rather blunt in this regard, finally realized: "No wonder you've been like a soulless person lately."

"Last month, when I went home, she made me a pair of shoes," Chen Chen said softly: "I thought, finally, she had changed her mind. (7* Overjoyed, I put them on and found something uncomfortable. When I took it out, it was a small piece of paper with four lines of poetry... 'Men love their new wives, women cherish their former husbands. Life has new and old, the noble and the humble do not surpass each other.'"

"And the last two lines, 'Thank you, Sir, for your private affection, but it is in vain.'" This well-known poem "Yulin Lang" was something Chen Ke could recite from memory since he was eight in his previous life.

"Yes. Thank you, Sir, for your private affection, but it is in vain... This is her clear answer to me." Chen Chen was utterly dejected: "Actually, I knew long ago that Ba Niang didn't like me this way, but I couldn't help it, I couldn't help approaching her, fantasizing about some miracle happening." He gave a bitter smile: "But seeing these lines of poetry, I finally understood that it was impossible. Continuing to pursue her would only make her hate me more, and there would be no miracle."

"The key is your attitude." Chen Ke couldn't forget the plan from that day: "If you want to elope, I'll help you anytime, regardless of whether it offends Uncle Su or not, I'll let you do it!"

"You just want to stir up trouble." Erlang smiled bitterly: "That's not eloping, that's kidnapping a civilian woman!"

"No, I really want to help you." Chen Ke said: "Although you're not as handsome, rich, or talented as that guy, and you're not betrothed to Ba Niang as cousins..."

"Can you stop rubbing salt in my wounds?" Erlang was almost crushed by his words.

"But you're my brother, he's not..." Chen Ke looked at him steadily and said softly: "Just for this, I'll kidnap a civilian woman for you if I have to."

"Heh..." Chen Erlang was both moved and amused, which somewhat alleviated his melancholy. He tightly embraced Sanlang's sturdy shoulders: "Alright, I've given up, so don't stir things up anymore."

"Then I won't bother," Sanlang spread his hands: "Ba Niang treats me like a sister. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't bear to see her in a difficult position."

"That's settled then." Chen Erlang grinned: "Now I need to focus on my studies. In four years, I'll pass the imperial exams, and with my youth and good looks, I'll be sought after by the nobles in the capital!"

"Right, right," Chen Ke was also excited: "That's my dream too. If I can become a prince's son-in-law, I'll have no more desires in life."

"What's the point of being a prince's son-in-law?" Chen Erlang shook his head: "Haven't you seen in the plays how the princesses have bad tempers and make the prince's son-in-law kneel?"

"Heh, I can handle a troublesome woman!" Chen Ke said carelessly: "When the time comes, you'll see me make her bring me water to wash my feet..." He spoke as if he were already a prince's son-in-law.

"Then I'll wait, hahaha..." Chen Erlang laughed heartily: "When the time comes, I'll be content if she brings me a cup of tea."

The two brothers, lost in their daydreams, walked back home, their laughter carrying away their worries and the love in their young hearts.

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Back home, Chen Ke saw Li Jian and sat down in the official hat chair to drink some water: "I thought you were drunk."

"I wish I could get drunk, but dare I?" Li Jian's face was red, his eyes full of anxiety: "Ancestor, there are only seven days left until the purchase day. The other day, the magistrate sent someone to ask, and I could only stall..."

"Just keep stalling," Chen Ke smiled: "At this point, why be afraid of him?"

"You're fearless like a newborn calf, but I don't have that courage..." Li Jian smiled bitterly and then lowered his voice, looking hopefully at Chen Ke: "Sanlang, we should agree to Boss Bi's offer..."

"No way!" Chen Ke shook his head decisively: "I, Chen Sanlang, can be soft or hard, but I won't back down!"

"Do you think I want to give up Huang Jiao?" Li Jian's eyes were filled with tears: "That's like taking my life!" He wiped his tears with a handkerchief: "But if we offend the magistrate and the Cheng family, we'll suffer more than death... Weighing the options, it's better to give up Huang Jiao and live in peace."

This conversation had a background. Last month, Li Jian suddenly received an invitation to meet at Laifulu, signed by 'Xiaohuashanren.' Li Jian knew this was the pseudonym of the state-owned wine merchant, Bi Mingjun, who was trying to appear cultured.

Li Jian didn't dare to be careless and hurried to the meeting. After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, Bi Mingjun casually asked, "I heard that Mr. Li is in trouble?"

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Li Jian had already been suspicious of Bi Mingjun. He was startled: "Sir, you've heard about it too?"

"Meizhou is such a small place, how can anything be hidden?" Bi Mingjun said nonchalantly: "Don't forget, my cousin is someone's wife."

By mentioning his connection to the Cheng family, it seemed he was preparing to bully Li Jian. Li Jian asked cautiously: "What advice do you have, Sir?"

"Not advice, but as the president of the Meizhou wine industry association, I must do my best to help."

"Thank you, Sir, for your kindness," Li Jian politely declined: "But this involves the government, and you can't help much."

"Underestimating me, are you? I must help!" Bi Mingjun slapped his chest, revealing his true intentions: "Come with me to the government office, transfer the winery to my name, and I'll take all the responsibility!"

His words were grand, but Li Jian's heart turned cold, with only four words in his mind—'taking advantage of the weak'!

"Don't misunderstand, my business is large, why would I take over your small winery?" Seeing Li Jian's pale face, Bi Mingjun quickly clarified: "I'm just standing up for justice. Don't worry, the transfer is temporary, at most a year or two, and then you can transfer it back."

'But I won't have a choice then!' Li Jian shouted in his mind. These people were relentlessly pursuing Huang Jiao wine. How could they let go? But on the surface, he didn't dare offend Bi Mingjun and said carefully: "Sir, I appreciate your kindness, but the winery isn't just mine, and I can't make the decision alone."

"How can you not decide, you own seventy percent!" Bi Mingjun's words revealed his long-standing intentions.

"Sir, you don't know... Without the special yeast, we can't make Huang Jiao. The yeast is bought from one of the shareholders."

"You mean only 'Chen Chen' can make the yeast?" Bi Mingjun realized: "No wonder... No matter how we tried to replicate it, we couldn't make a similar orange wine. It turns out we needed a special yeast."

"Sorry, I can't tell you." Li Jian shook his head: "In short, this isn't my decision alone, I need to discuss it."

"Alright, discuss it..." Bi Mingjun said helplessly: "Do you have three days? No more delays!"

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When Li Jian told Chen Ke about this, his reaction was the same as today, feeling immense anger and firmly refusing to back down.

As he had said to Bi Mingjun, Li Jian couldn't make the decision alone. With Chen Ke's firm stance, the matter dragged on for a month. During this time, Bi Mingjun issued an ultimatum, and Li Jian managed to get an extension until now. Now, it was either reject or accept, and there could be no more delays.

"Don't worry too much." Seeing Li Jian's ashen face, Chen Ke had to console him: "I have a plan. On September 18th, just follow my arrangements, and I guarantee everything will be fine, and then it will be business as usual."

"Really?" Li Jian was skeptical: "Even if you use your ultimate move, it will be a fight to the death. How can it be business as usual?"

"If you don't believe me, come closer..." Chen Ke beckoned, and Li Jian leaned in. Chen Ke whispered his plan to him.

Li Jian's expressions were vivid, alternating between surprise, joy, fear, and laughter.

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Pitifully begging for recommendations... Also, this book refuses tragedy.

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