Chapter 3: Third Uncle

  The birthday banquet of Mr. Chen was held in the Boat Hall of the outer courtyard.

  Chen Jiong and his nephew arrived, the guests were already packed in. Today was his great-grandfather's eightieth birthday, and all the prominent families in Wangxian County had come to celebrate.

  In this way, Fu Rui's longevity banquet, there are always people who want to share in the good fortune.

  The host was Chen Ying, a cousin of the second generation of Jade, and his academic name was Chen Ying. Chen Ying and Chen Qi were brothers from the same house.

  "Second Brother." Chen Jiong stepped forward and exchanged greetings with Chen Er.

  "Has the guest arrived?" Chen Ying was a gentle and refined gentleman, with a bright smile. Among the children of the Zhong family in the Jade Lane, Chen Ersheng was the most handsome and extraordinary. "Please take your seat first, we will start the banquet soon."

  Chen Jiong said, "Let's find a place with my nephew and sit down for some tea."

  On the left side of the boat hall, a stage was set up.

  In this era, there were no formal operas like Peking Opera or Yue Opera. The performances on the stage were also plays, but they were miscellaneous plays, similar to those in the Song Dynasty, including songs and dances, jokes, acrobatics, etc.

  The guests watched with relish, but Chen Jinn felt a slight regret.

  He is not a theatre enthusiast, but he also loves listening to plays. On ordinary days when he has nothing to do, he often goes to the theatre to sit and listen.

  The descendants' Kunqu, the gongs and drums clang, the banners flutter, the beauty on stage throws her water sleeves, turns around and glances back, charming and seductive, hooking people's souls, the lingering singing voice makes one's bones melt.

  Such an opera is memorable.

  The plays of this era have no depth at all and are completely incomparable.

  After a moment, Chen Xuan shifted his gaze and looked at the people in the boat hall.

  The cousins of the Chen family in Jingzhong Lane, except for the relatively handsome Chen Er and the relatively spoiled Chen Qi, left no impression on anyone.

  The whole place is full of strangers.

  A man wearing a dark blue striped vest with a white shirt and black trousers, listlessly called out the name of Chen Xiang.

  Chen Jing felt that this voice was a bit familiar, yet also a bit strange.

  Following the sound and looking around, even Chen Xiang, who was usually calm and composed, was shocked into temporary silence.

  "Third Uncle, you..." Chen Jiong turned his face and saw the man squeezed into the seat next to him, suddenly speechless, unsure of what to say for a long time.

  This man is his third paternal uncle.

  Every year on New Year's Eve, the Chen family holds an ancestral worship ceremony. After the ceremony, everyone gathers for a reunion dinner. Last New Year's Eve was Chen Xing's first time participating in the Chen family's ancestral worship.

  After dinner, everyone chatted and relaxed.

  San Tang Shu had just gotten a new chessboard and took it out to show off.

  That was a jade chessboard, Third Uncle had spent fifty taels of silver to buy it back. The chessboard was indeed very beautiful, anyone who loved playing chess would be tempted after seeing it.

  Since we have a chessboard, let's play another game.

  Third Uncle's chess skills are unbeatable in the Chen family. Everyone lost to him one by one.

  Chen Jiong was watching from the side. Someone made a move, pushing Chen Jiong: "Let's also go and learn from a game..." Probably thinking that Chen Jiong was dull and stupid, only good at reading books, not knowing how to play chess, wanting to see him make a fool of himself, looking for some fun.

  "Come, let's go together, Third Uncle will give you ten sons." Third Uncle chuckled.

  Third Uncle is a very kind person, and all the younger generation like him.

  He wasn't trying to make things difficult for Chen Jing, but rather he had never seen Chen Jing play chess before and was a bit curious about the child's talent. As for the chess skills of the Chen family members, Third Uncle was well aware of them.

  Chen Jiong pushed back but couldn't get out of it, and had no choice but to accompany him in losing a game.

  Soon, he killed Chen Jia's recognized Chess Saint San Shu in a flash, and San Shu and the onlookers were all stunned at that time.

  "Third Uncle, your chess skills are quite impressive." Chen Jinyu said frankly.

  From then on, Third Uncle would pester Chen Jing to play chess with him whenever he had the chance. Every time, Chen Jing would beat him so badly that he would cry out in dismay and accuse Chen Jing of cheating.

  Even so, he still had to find Chen Xuan next time.

  Chen Jing felt that San Shu had a bit of masochism.

  Jokes aside, Third Uncle is a very good person, without the dignity of an elder, nor frivolous, but very approachable. His chess skills are considered superb among ordinary people, unfortunately he met Chen Jing.

  Third Uncle has a broad mind and a stout body, with a kind face and good eyes.

  But now, what Chen Jing sees is...?

  "Third Uncle, you... this is diarrhea, right?" Chen Jing paused for a moment, composed himself, and carefully examined Third Uncle's facial expression before speaking.

  The third uncle sitting next to Chen Jing had a waxen complexion, was thin and frail, with a faint stench on his body. He had lost a lot of weight.

  Half a month ago, Chen Jing was still playing chess with him. Half a month later, a relatively liked elder suddenly became so thin and haggard that Chen Jing felt shocked and heartbroken.

  "Yes." San Shu was out of breath and frowned, "When does the banquet start? I came specifically to celebrate Lao Ye's birthday..."

  As he spoke, his stomach growled loudly.

  He let out a cry of alarm, clutched his belly and quickly got up to run. Perhaps it was too late, he had already soiled his pants, and Chen Jing faintly smelled the stench of feces.

  He had just sat down and then he had to rush off again, which shows that his diarrhea was very severe.

  Chen Jing gazed in the direction of Third Uncle's departure, her brow slightly furrowed.

  About a quarter of an hour later, Third Uncle changed into a long gown and, supported by a young servant, slowly made his way over to this side. He found a nearby spot to sit down.

  "Wen Gong, you sit down yourself, I'll go to Third Uncle's place." Chen Jing said to his nephew beside him.

  His nephew was not afraid of people, nodded and said.

  Chen Jiong got up and moved over to Third Uncle's side.

  Third Uncle forced a smile at Chen Jing, looking somewhat embarrassed.

  "Third Uncle, let me take your pulse," said Chen Jing. "I've read a few medical books before and learned some skills."

  "Hmph, you're quite capable, aren't you?" Third Uncle spoke with a lack of energy, yet still stretched out his hand for Chen Jing to take his pulse.

  He was probably just teasing the kid.

  Chen Jiong felt his pulse carefully.

  Just then, his great-grandfather came in.

  The birthday celebration officially begins.

  Third Uncle and his brothers need to stand in front and take turns kowtowing to Old Master.

  Third Uncle patted Chen Jing's shoulder lightly and withdrew his hand: "Let's catch up later, Third Uncle has to go first..."

  As he stood up, his stomach growled again. He painfully pinched his buttocks, as if enduring a surging force.

  It's just a moment ago.

  Third Uncle endured the pain of wanting to have diarrhea and slowly walked over to his brother's side, waiting to kowtow to Old Master.

  "Is Lao San all right?"

  "Third brother, is your illness not yet better?"

  "Third brother, if you're not feeling well, go back first and we'll kowtow to Father next time..."

  Third Uncle's brothers took turns speaking a few words each.

  Chen Jing didn't know about Third Uncle's illness. This matter had nothing to do with Chen Jing and the others at Qi Wan Lane, nor did anyone specially go to inform them.

  But others in the Chen family of Jiangzhong Lane knew.

  Lao San had diarrhea for over a month and saw three doctors but none of them were effective, causing him to lose weight drastically. Seeing him struggling to stand there, everyone was worried.

  The old man also took several glances at Third Uncle.

  "It's nothing..." San Shu gritted his teeth and replied with a single sentence.

  After the sons' generation has taken their places, the grandsons and great-grandsons also come forward to line up behind the sons.

  Chen Jiong did not belong to the Chen family of Jingzhong Alley, but he also had the surname Chen. So, he was very sensible and didn't push forward, instead leading his nephew Chen Wenkang to line up at the end of the grandson generation.

  His position was just right to see Third Uncle.

  He saw it several times, Third Uncle exerted himself and shifted his body uncomfortably.

  Third Uncle was holding back from farting.

  Everyone stood up, lit the incense burner, and formally celebrated the old man's birthday.

  The elder brother went up first, knelt down and kowtowed to his uncle, threw bricks to attract jade, and said some ordinary birthday wishes: "Wishing Father a bright future, longevity and prosperity, family harmony..."

  "Hmm......" Before Da Tang Bo could finish speaking, everyone heard a long and loud fart.

  Then the whole cabin was filled with a foul smell.

  Then there was a loud crash, and someone fell to the ground.

  "Third Uncle!" someone shouted loudly.

  Third Uncle finally couldn't hold it in and had a bowel movement on the spot, causing him to faint.

  In addition to Chen's family members, there were also guests in the hall.

  For a moment, everyone was in an uproar, covering their mouths and noses, frowning as they tried to get out.

  This banquet was utterly destroyed.

  San Shu's son, Chen Lin, whose generation name was Yu and was fourth in line, rushed forward, shouting: "Father, Father!"

  "What are you staring at? Carry Lao San back!" The old man yelled in anger, seeing everyone in a state of confusion and disarray.

  Now that it's come to this, what's more important, the person or the longevity celebration? These young whippersnappers are actually hesitating and can't make a decision! This is very disappointing for the old master.

  Chen Lin hastily agreed and hurriedly carried his father back and forth.

  Someone followed along with them.

  Chen Jing thought for a moment and followed the people from the third house together.

  Chen Qi had been keeping an eye on Chen Jing, looking for an opportunity to avenge the grudge from earlier at the door.

  Chen Qi saw Chen Jiong following the people from the third house, and in the boat hall, the people from the first house were already arranging for the guests to move elsewhere. Since there was nothing for Chen Qi to do, he called out to Chen Qi and Chen Kun, who usually followed him, to go together to the third house to take a look at the excitement.

  Chen Qi and Chen Kun are twins, 14 years old this year, both children of the fourth house, usually very close to Chen Qi. The fourth uncle of the fourth house was a spendthrift in his early years, squandering money without restraint. Later, when the fourth uncle helped the eldest uncle handle household chores, he dared to embezzle public funds and was beaten severely after being reported. From then on, he was not allowed to participate in ancestral worship ceremonies.

  The children of the fourth house were also shorter than one head and had to work hard to curry favor with the eldest son Chen Qi, who was liked by the old master.

  Chen Qi is tenth in the generation of those with the character "Yu" in their name, and Chen Kun is eleventh.

  The three brothers soon arrived at the third house.

  Not just Chen Qi and Chen Shi, Chen Eleven came, but also other brothers and uncles.

  Outside the third uncle's bedroom, the eaves were packed with people.

  Chen Qi's eyes scanned the room, and he saw that Second Uncle, Fifth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, Third Brother, Sixth Brother, Eighth Brother, and Ninth Brother were all present. There were also two doctors, one of whom was named Xu Yi, who often visited the Chen family and had exceptional medical skills.

  Chen Jiong was also there, standing behind Second Uncle, completely unnoticeable.

  Third Uncle was carried away by Chen Four Brothers to clean up and change clothes.

  Soon, Chen Si brothers carried Third Uncle out and put him on the bed.

  "...Today, I ruined the old man's birthday banquet. If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn't have gone. It's also because of my filial piety that things turned out this way." Third Uncle said to his brothers and nephews, blaming himself.

  Second Uncle comforted him: "Your filial piety is not wrong. You have been ill for a long time, and it was our fault that we didn't visit you often enough. Now don't think too much about the birthday banquet, your elder brother will take care of everything. The old master said that as long as you recover from your illness, that's the greatest filial piety, and it's also his only wish for this year's birthday."

  The old man said this just to shut up the Chen family and make them dare not say any complaining words.

  "Compared to messing up the birthday banquet, today's scandal of Third Uncle will spread throughout Wang County and be even more humiliating." Chen Qi thought to himself.

  Those guests, when they go out, will definitely be gossiping about others. Who doesn't like talking about other people's business?

  Fortunately, Third Uncle never cared about these things anyway.

  Chen San Shu, in the past was a self-reliant and independent person who didn't care about others' opinions, otherwise he wouldn't have gone to pester his nephew every day just because Chen Jing knew how to play chess.

  "Mr. Xu, please make a diagnosis." Second Uncle said, then looked at Xu Yi and let him come forward to diagnose, while also glancing at the crowd.

  The people in the house immediately fell silent.

  Xu Yidao stepped forward and felt his pulse.

  Mr. Chen's illness is a tough one, Xu Yi silently lamented in his heart.