Chapter 38: Invitation

  Chen Jiong went to Jing Zhong Xiang to see Chen Qi, but he didn't get to Song He Tang to pay his respects to his paternal great-grandfather.

  The maid said, "Your great-grandfather is taking a nap."

  Chen Jiong didn't stay long, just had the maid pass on a message saying he came to pay his respects. He then went to bid farewell to his second brother and returned to Qi Wan Lane once again.

  His sister-in-law and Qingyun were sorting things out in the east wing.

  Chen Jing was about to return directly to his own small ear chamber, but he heard Qing Yun standing at the door calling him: "Second Master, you're back?"

  "Hmm." Chen Jing replied.

  "Madam has something to say to you..." Qing Yun said.

  Chen Jiong walked towards the main house.

  When she saw him coming in, his sister-in-law put down her work and took out a gift box from the inner room for him.

  "...The Shen family had someone deliver the Dragon Boat Festival gift, saying it was sent by Shen Changyu alone." Sister-in-law handed Chen Jing the gift box and card, her tone both surprised and delighted. "When did you become acquainted with the great talent of the Shen family?"

  Shen Changyu's talent was renowned throughout the two Zhejiang provinces.

  Elder sister-in-law has always hoped that Chen can make friends with fellow students, discuss and learn from each other, and progress together. Having a like-minded friend, when tired of studying, can also relax together, harmless and beneficial.

  But she didn't expect Chen Zhen to get acquainted with Shen Changyu.

  "Last time, Second Brother had a banquet in Nanzhuang, and Shen Changyu also went. I happened to run into Seventh Brother, and Second Brother introduced us. Later, Seventh Brother and I pushed He Zhen to Loushui Lake, and coincidentally met Shen Changyu again." Chen Jing said, "To be honest, I didn't have a private conversation with him, so we don't count as acquaintances. Why did he send me a gift?"

  Li was slightly stunned.

  She took out the letter of apology again and read it.

  Indeed it was given to Chen Jiong and Chen Yang.

  "Since he has shown you respect, you can't be arrogant and dismissive. Later, Qingyun will go to the street and buy some things for you. Tomorrow morning, you personally take them to the Shen family, give them to Shen Changyu as a return gift, and thank him again. If you can get to know him, he might help you out a bit, and it'll be easier for you to make progress in your studies later on." Big sister was still excited, not caring about any potential issues.

  The Shen family of Nanqiao Lane, with "one door and two jinshi, three juren from the same clan", is the most prominent gate in Wangxian.

  Shen Changyu is also a great talent in Jiangnan.

  The county magistrate is also on good terms with the Shen family. Being able to get acquainted with Shen Changyu will greatly increase Chen Jing's chances of success in the imperial examination in the future.

  "Never mind, sister-in-law." Chen Jing thought for a moment and poured cold water on his sister-in-law, saying, "Abnormal things are ominous. A family like the Shen's, with Shen Changyu having such a reputation, it's unlikely they need to associate with me. He's eight or nine years older than me, taking the initiative to give me gifts, it's suspicious. Tell Qing Yun to buy a gift, send someone to deliver it to the Shen's house, and consider it a return gift. I won't go."

  In this time and space, only juniors give gifts to seniors.

  Among peers of equal status, it is also unlikely for them to show courtesy on Dragon Boat Festival. Unless one party has a particularly high status and the other party deliberately tries to curry favor.

  Chen Jiong and Shen Changyu, Chen Jiong should be that person who deliberately tried to curry favor.

  As a result, Shen Changyu was the first to make a concession.

  "...You don't want to go, never mind, I'll ask someone else to return the gift. What you said is right, Shen Changyu's move is indeed strange." Li thought about it and also felt that something was not quite right.

  Chen Jiong's elder brother and Shen Changyu, both were Wàng County scholars, were the leaders of Wàng County literary circle. However, Shen Changyu's reputation was not limited to Wàng County, but throughout Jiangnan.

  Restricted to this point, Shen Changyu did not get along with Chen Jing's brother. Even if they met at poetry gatherings, it was just a nodding acquaintance. Li had heard Chen Jing's brother say many times that although Shen Changyu was elegant and refined, modest and courteous, he was difficult to get close to, with a proud and aloof personality.

  Before she knew it, Shen Changyu surprisingly gave a salute to the unknown Chen Jing, with an extremely humble attitude.

  This is unreasonable.

  "Madam, isn't the Eighth Young Master of the Wu family's house supposed to be engaged to Miss Shen from the Shen family?" Qingyun suddenly interjected, "If they get married, in the future, our Yangzhong Alley and the Shen family will become relatives. The young master of the Shen family giving gifts to our Second Master is also acceptable..."

  The Eighth Young Master in the house of Old Man Wu is Chen Baichen, the same eighth brother who followed Chen Xuan and Chen Qi to Nanzhuang last time.

  Chen Long is a very lively and cheerful boy.

  "Shen family... alliance through marriage with the Zhong family?" Chen Jing was slightly surprised.

  This is a hierarchical society.

  Although both Chen and Shen are landlords, the social status of the Shen family is obviously much higher than that of the Chen family.

  If Jingzhong Alley also produced a scholar or even a xiucai, the Shen family would be willing to offer some support and form an alliance through marriage, which was also possible. However, none of the young men from Jingzhong Alley had entered school, and they gradually showed signs of decline.

  Marrying into a family of much lower social status than one's own?

  This is even more bizarre than giving Chen Jie a gift.

  "Yes, I didn't know either. Last time when your fourth nephew was one year old, your fifth aunt got excited and let it slip out. Nobody quite believed it, but later the Shen family sent a respectable housekeeper to give gifts for your fourth nephew's birthday, so people started to suspect something; and then later, we heard that Shen Changyu went to Nan Zhuang. It's probably true."

  At that time, Aunt Wu casually mentioned it and then pretended to have misspoken, strongly denying it.

  But Shen's family, who had no relationship with Chen, came to pay their respects, which proved her words.

  Everyone in Jingzhong Lane is guessing about this matter.

  It's just that this has nothing to do with Chen Jiong, he hasn't heard of it.

  "Even if they form an alliance with Jingzhong Alley, it's their business and has nothing to do with us in Qiwan Alley." Chen Jiong smiled and said, "Elder sister, the people of Jingzhong Alley are complicated, let's not get involved."

  "Don't say that." Li sighed, "In Qiwan Lane, it's just you two brothers, not even a cousin or uncle to rely on. You're outnumbered and outmatched. Others can bully you, no one will stand up for you. In Jingzhong Lane, there are many people, they have each other, outsiders who want to bully you will think twice."

  Chen Jiong smiled.

  He knew his sister-in-law's heart.

  Like Qi Wanxiang, it's indeed too thin for people, and Da Shu thought of finding a backing for Chen Xiang.

  But strength and respect are not based on a small population, but on real ability.

  On the side of Jingzhong Lane, let alone others, just between Chen Er and Chen Qi brothers, Chen Xuan felt a bit worried. In the future, if things go wrong, they will fight against each other, and it will involve a large number of people.

  Making friends is easy but keeping them is difficult.

  It's better to keep a distance and maintain a superficial relationship with each other, leaving some boundaries between us.

  "If it weren't for Brother Zhong's favor, Jingzhong Alley wouldn't be dealing with us." Chen Jiong smiled and said, "Everyone is using each other, seeing who has value to be used. If we don't make an effort ourselves, even if we're really being bullied, Jingzhong Alley will just stay far away. Eldest Sister, don't worry about me being bullied, I'm not easy to mess with."

  This remark made Mrs. Li laugh.

  Qingyun also smiled and said: "Madam, from now on we'll rely on Second Master."

  It was just a joke.

  The atmosphere was unusually good, and Li also joked: "From now on, we will all be Second Brother's attendants."

  "Hmm." Chen Jing replied seriously, "Rely on me, I'm the only one you can rely on! From now on, I'll be your backing. Don't be afraid, no one can bully us."

  Li and Qingyun smiled again.

  Now no one really bullies them, so these words are just a joke, without any real feeling. After finishing speaking, Li Shi and Qing Yun listened to it and forgot about it.

  Chen Jie saw Li's family busy with the wedding preparations and helped write the gift list.

  Qingyun was grinding ink on the side.

  A gentle breeze blows under the eaves, rustling the leaves; outside the window, the sun shines brightly, illuminating the interior. The elder sister's smile is pure and elegant, her eyebrows quiet and serene, with a warm and gentle demeanor. Although she doesn't wear makeup, her skin is like white jade, radiant with a soft glow, and in her gaze, there is a natural charm.

  Chen Jiong felt delighted and joyful.

  Simple family, strong kinship, simple world, a little ideal, a little pressure, years are like an old cellar wine, mellow and fragrant, intoxicating.

  Chen Jie likes his current life and also likes his current family.

  ***

  The next day, Li had someone prepare a gift and Chen Cen wrote a card. He asked the shop assistants to help him deliver it to the Shen's house. It wasn't delivered inside, but was handed over to the little servant at the gate.

  Because it was a seasonal gift for Shen Changyu, the servants did not dare to embezzle it privately and hurriedly sent it to Shen Changyu's study.

  Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, and there are many people who come to give gifts to Shen Changyu. When the gifts arrive, they are all sent to the gatehouse, and Shen Changyu rarely looks at them himself. He just instructs that if someone from the Chen family comes to give a gift, it should be directly handed over to the study.

  Thus, Chen Jing's reply and gift were delivered to Shen Changyu.

  He wrote a letter to Chen Jing, inviting Chen Jing to visit the Shen family on Dragon Boat Festival. In Chen Jing's reply, he declined Shen Changyu's invitation because he had to send his sister-in-law back to her hometown in Yaojiang County.

  Shen Changyu got the reply, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed.

  His fingers tapped lightly on the rosewood desk, seemingly in distress.

  "Go and call Sixth Master over." Shen Changyu instructed his study servant after a moment of stunned silence.

  The book boy went away at the sound.

  In a moment, a man wearing a dark green silk damask gown with a straight skirt and a floral pattern walked in after knocking on the door of the study.

  "Fourth brother, are you calling me?" The newcomer was the sixth son of the Shen family, named Lin, also known as Changqing. He and Shen Changyu were born to the same mother and were the closest brothers to Shen Changyu.

  "Sit." Shen Changyu raised his hand slightly.

  Shen Liu sat down in the armchair beside the desk.

  "......Fourth brother, what's wrong?" Shen Liu asked.

  "After Dragon Boat Festival, you help me with one thing. Go to Qiwan Lane and personally invite Chen Yang and others to come home as guests." Shen Changyu said.

  "Why must I go myself? Didn't you already send him an invitation, asking him to come to our home tomorrow as a guest. Did he refuse Fourth Brother?" Shen Liu furrowed his brow.

  Shen Changyu nodded slightly and nodded.

  Shen Liu's face didn't look too good, and he coldly snorted: "Fourth Brother is of such a high status, giving him an invitation letter is already showing great respect, yet he doesn't even know how to appreciate it! If I were to say, forget about it!"

  "This is not the time to be stubborn." Shen Changyu also slightly frowned, "He's a bit of a genius. Last time he treated He Zhen's illness, I saw it with my own eyes. Thirteen Sister has been ill for five months, if we drag on any longer, her life will be in danger. Chen Yang is a member of the Chen family, for the sake of the family's reputation, he will also keep the secret. Asking him to come and treat Thirteen Sister's illness is the most appropriate thing to do."

  Shen Liu glanced at Shen Changyu.

  The words reached his lips, he hesitated for a moment and swallowed them back. But still feeling unresigned, Shen Liu finally blurted out: "Fourth brother, Sanmei might not be ill..."

  "Don't talk nonsense!" Shen Changyu rebuked sternly.

  Shen Liu swallowed his words.