Green Mountain-Chapter 651 - 508: Balancing the Books

Jin Zhu left, finishing the lamb noodle soup until not even a drop of broth was left.

Chen Ji sat in a corner of Bianyifang, took out two boxes that Jin Zhu had given him from his bosom, and opened them. Inside were two gleaming green jade rings, one engraved with a longevity peach and the other with a Bodhisattva.

These must be birthday gifts from Yuan Cheng's mother, given by the nobles of the Jing Dynasty.

He recalled Jin Zhu's mention of "friends" and wondered how much truth lay in those words. As for the Imperial Jade Seal, it had little to do with him. By the time Mr. Feng found it, he might already have been far away.

Chen Ji scanned the main hall but did not see Aunt Ping's figure.

He wanted to call over a waiter and ask if Aunt Ping was present, but he hesitated and lowered his hand.

Sending Princess Liyang back to the Jing Dynasty, according to Chen Ji's plan, should have involved killing Si Caogui and then luring out Si Caoding. However, now Si Caogui was nowhere to be found, and Si Caoding remained inactive.

Chen Ji came to Bianyifang today to see if Aunt Ping had any ideas on luring out Si Caoding or whether Si Caogui would return. But remembering Aunt Ping's blood-soaked clothes that day, he dismissed the idea.

Interacting with the Military Intelligence Department is a life-or-death situation. Aunt Ping had already helped him twice; it would be unfair to endanger her again.

He would have to figure it out on his own.

At that moment, a keen-eyed waiter approached as he raised his hand and asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to eat, guest?"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, "No, just the bill."

The waiter responded with a smile, "Two bowls of lamb noodle soup, fifty-six cents, please."

Chen Ji took a piece of broken silver from his sleeve, and the waiter carried it to the counter, where the shopkeeper used a small scale to weigh it and counted out forty-two coins in return for the waiter.

The waiter threaded the forty-two coins onto a hemp string from behind the counter and handed it back to Chen Ji, "Guest, please keep this safe."

Chen Ji stood up and left Bianyifang, squinting against the blinding noon sun.

He walked alone along Chang'an Street towards Fu You Street, and just as he reached the small alley by the Chen Mansion's side gate, he saw Chen Xu waiting by the door in a black Daoist robe.

Chen Ji asked with a hint of confusion, "Is Housekeeper Chen waiting for me?"

Chen Xu clasped his hands in his sleeves and bowed slightly, "Young Master, I'm here to remind you that you needn't use the side gate anymore; you can enter and exit through the main gate."

Chen Ji realized, "So it's about that. However, I'm still a bastard son and am used to taking the side gate; it's closer to Silver Apricot Garden anyway."

Chen Xu smiled and said, "It's only a matter of time before you are included in the genealogy as a legitimate son. It's just taking some days because the clan elders from Lu State need to be invited to the capital for the ceremony. The officials and nobles here in the Imperial Capital are very attentive to other people's family matters. So by using the main gate, it clears up any misunderstandings, and people will respect you more... Of course, since you're the young master now, which gate to use is entirely up to you."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "I'll continue using the side gate."

Chen Xu didn't press further, "Then let me show you around Qingzheng Garden."

The side gate opened, and Chen Xu walked alongside Chen Ji.

In the past, when maids and servants saw him, they would merely nod and pass by. Now, however, they stood at the roadside, the maids curtseying and the servants bowing, respectfully calling him young master.

Chen Xu looked at the Bamboo Garden previously inhabited by Chen Liqin, "Did you know, young master, that the Chen family wasn't always this large? There was no Zhuozheng Garden or Qingzheng Garden before. The Chen family on Fu You Street was just this little Covered Building. In the eleventh year of the Taihe Era, the family fell on hard times and had to sell it to someone else. It wasn't until our ancestor returned to Lu State to focus on scholarship, and Chen Zhongzi, our brilliant descendant, fought his way back to the Imperial Capital, that we bought it back from others. By the time the Chen family bought back this Covered Building, forty-seven springs had passed, and it had changed hands nine times."

Chen Xu did not linger at the Bamboo Garden but instead walked along the path, looking at Chen Ji with a smile, "After that, one by one, our neighbors on Fu You Street left the Imperial Capital's scene of fame and fortune, and the Chen family bought their houses one by one. After one hundred and forty-two years, it became what it is today. According to the old master, the Chen family has 'died' eight times, and each revival was an extraordinary stroke of luck, not easy to come by."

At this point, he walked to Yuanxiang Hall, which used to hold the family discussions of the Chen family's second house: "This Yuanxiang Hall was originally the main building of a Minister of Personnel's residence. Do you know how it came into the hands of the Chen family?"

Chen Ji casually replied, "I'd like to hear the details."

Chen Xu pointed at Yuanxiang Hall, "That Minister of Personnel was known for his caution. He had a famous saying, 'Three Don'ts' - don't touch those above third-rank, don't touch Science and Technology Officials, and don't touch poor students. He was steady in his conduct, neither happy nor angry, earning him the nickname 'Jingfo' among the people. Do you know how this cautious cabinet minister eventually fell? Ironically, he was old and his sons were filial, so they secretly purchased five hundred ceramic figurines meant for royal burials to use for his funeral. As a result, he was accused of treason, leading to the downfall of his family."

Chen Ji was at a loss for words.

Chen Xu continued smiling, "Do you think I'm going to say that his son was stupid? No, buying royal burial ceramic figurines was not a big deal. But this Minister of Personnel didn't recognize his opponent. Because he acted too cautiously and left no room for gossip, even when he toppled political enemies, he didn't eliminate them completely. In the end, they turned against him. The old master values you not only because you are strategic and resourceful, capable of turning danger into safety, but also because you are ruthless, ensuring nothing is left undone."

Chen Xu stood in front of Yuanxiang Hall, reminiscing, "As the old master said, being fearless means having the courage to place the enemy, not oneself, in mortal danger. Our ancestor Chen Zhongzi once wrote in an essay that when our family bought this residence, passersby hurried by without stopping. The plaque inscribed with 'righteous and incorruptible' was shattered by the Jiefan Guard, and a few stray dogs scavenged in the hall, leaving much to lament."

Chen Ji remained impassive, "Did Housekeeper Chen bring me here just to say these things?"

Chen Xu smiled, "Today's meeting with you is for three reasons. First, from now on, you can use the main gate. The clan elders will arrive in the Imperial Capital within three months, and entering the genealogy will just be a formality, so you needn't worry. Second, to tell you the old stories of the Chen family, so you understand that while your previous actions might have gone against the Chen family's interests, the old master didn't hold it against you. Third, to give you a present, which you will see when you return to Silver Apricot Garden. Goodbye."

Chen Ji watched Chen Xu's departing figure, then suspiciously turned back to Silver Apricot Garden.

Arriving in front of Silver Apricot Garden, he rubbed his cheeks before pushing open the door, "Xiao Man..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was stunned.

In the courtyard kneeled a row of middle-aged men, all dressed in silk. Xiao Man sat on a stone bench in front of them, speaking commandingly, "Why didn't you come earlier? Now you know to look for the young master... Oh, the young master is back!"

Xiao Man rose in a panic, her guilty expression leading her to the side room, "I'll go boil some hot water for you, young master."

"Come back."

Xiao Man stopped, standing with her back to Ji Chen, hesitating to turn around.

Ji Chen, in a disgruntled tone, said, "What is going on here?"

Xiao Man looked down at her toes, slowly turned around, and pointed to a middle-aged man with a goatee: "This is the Shopkeeper of the Gufu Building."

She pointed to another person: "This is the steward of Changping Farm."

And then another: "This is the Shopkeeper of Tianbao Pavilion..."

The shopkeepers of Eastern Hua Gate's Gufu Building, Yujing Garden from the Eight Great Hutongs, Changping Farm, Chen's Grain and Oil Store, and the silk shop outside the Drum Tower, along with Tianbao Pavilion which Mrs. Liang promised, all arrived, kneeling neatly.

Ji Chen looked at Xiao Man: "Why are they all kneeling?"

Xiao Man quickly said, "I didn't make them kneel, it was Chen Xu who had them come and kneel. As soon as they entered, they fell down on their knees, giving me quite a scare. Little monk, isn't that right!"

The little monk beside them chanted "Amitabha Buddha": "Yes. But when they tried to get up, Miss Xiao Man wouldn't let them."

Xiao Man pinched the flesh on his waist and said through gritted teeth, "Did I ask you to say so much?"

She turned to Ji Chen: "Master, these people were the ones who helped Mrs. Liang take over your properties back then. If Chen Xu hadn't given the word, they wouldn't even be willing to see you. We must not let them off easily!"

At this moment, the Shopkeeper of the Gufu Building kneeled forward with a box in front of him: "Master, I've brought the account books of the Gufu Building for your verification."

Ji Chen stepped past him and sat on the stone stool in the courtyard: "You can stand and speak, no need to remain kneeling."

The shopkeepers looked at each other, unsure if Ji Chen was sincere or not, and quietly glanced over at Xiao Man.

Xiao Man angrily retorted, "The master told you to stand up, why are you looking at me? Are you trying to frame me?"

The shopkeepers quickly stood up.

Ji Chen casually asked, "What did Chen Xu say to you all?"

The shopkeepers hurriedly replied, "Chief Steward Chen sent someone to tell us that from now on, the Chen family is under your care."

Ji Chen paused: "That simple?"

The shopkeepers stayed silent.

Ji Chen pointed at the Shopkeeper of the Gufu Building and inquired, "How much silver has the Gufu Building made over these years, and how much is left in the accounts?"

The Shopkeeper of the Gufu Building wore a bitter expression: "To answer the landlord, the Gufu Building has been struggling over the years and hasn't made much silver."

Ji Chen frowned slightly.

Xiao Man, with hands on her hips, sternly declared: "Nonsense, the Gufu Building has always done good business. How could it not have made much silver?"

The Shopkeeper complained: "You may not know, the business at Gufu Building was indeed good originally, but the accounts from those years were taken away by Lady... Liang. Later, when the Bianyifang Restaurant opened on Chessboard Street, business at other inns and restaurants in the inner city became difficult. They all drew their trade there. If you don't believe me, you can visit the Gufu Building sometime. Except for a few regular customers, everyone else has gone to Bianyifang."

Ji Chen was stunned, didn't expect that Aunt Ping and her people took the business.

The steward of Changping Farm said: "Our farm actually had some surplus each year, about 1,200 taels of silver, but last year's profit was also taken away by Mrs. Liang."

Ji Chen turned to the Shopkeeper of Tianbao Pavilion: "Tianbao Pavilion should be profitable, right?"

The Shopkeeper of Tianbao Pavilion hurriedly replied: "Master, Tianbao Pavilion is profitable, but after Mrs. Liang promised to give it to you, she would withdraw all the silver from the accounts every month. Now Tianbao Pavilion doesn't even have the funds to purchase inventory and still owes money to the palace artisan. Today we came hoping the master could send some silver to our accounts..."

Ji Chen's expression darkened: "How much do you need?"

The Shopkeeper of Tianbao Pavilion cautiously checked his expression: "Five thousand taels... Three thousand taels would suffice for now."

Ji Chen sighed lightly, even after leaving, Mrs. Liang left him with these obstacles.

He looked at all the shopkeepers: "Is it the same for all of you?"

The shopkeepers nodded one after another.

Ji Chen pondered in silence, neither interested in inns, farms, silk shops, grain and oil stores, nor jewelry stores. The silver being taken away had become a fact, and it's likely that Chen Liqin took it to Jinling, making it difficult to recover.

"Wait," Xiao Man suddenly turned to Ji Chen: "Master, there is still one person missing. Mrs. Liang originally promised to give Baoxiang Bookstore to you as well, but the bookstore's Shopkeeper didn't come today."

Ji Chen felt a sudden thought: "Why didn't he come?"

The Shopkeeper of the Gufu Building quietly muttered beside him: "His side hasn't had any silver taken, but he hasn't made much profit in these years either. He's been squeezed out by Wenyuan Bookstore and probably thinks there's no need to come, waiting to be driven out instead."