Chapter 3: The Cheated Young Man's Poverty

  After listening to the kind advice of his neighbor, Qiao Song Gongzi, Chen Yingliang still chose to act magnanimously and welcomed him with courtesy at the gate, also taking the opportunity to witness with his own eyes the grand procession of a powerful noble's outing in this era.

  The procession of the Lao Chai family was very grand, with twelve neatly dressed servants forming two columns, marching forward to clear the way. Each one had a horizontal sword at his waist and marched in step, head held high and chest out, looking straight ahead as if no one else existed. A young nobleman in white robes rode a tall white horse in the middle of the servants, surrounded by four attendants in colorful clothes who walked alongside him, followed by more than a dozen high-ranking servants marching in formation behind them. The procession was so long that it was impossible to see the end from the front, and its width almost blocked the narrow street, majestic and awe-inspiring.

  Chen Lao San had already knelt down, but Chen Ying Liang didn't move a muscle and instead pulled Chen Lao San up. Although Chen Ying Liang wasn't very familiar with ancient etiquette, he knew that people of the same generation didn't need to kneel when greeting each other. The young master Chai in front of him was considered Chen Ying Liang's future elder brother-in-law in name only, so naturally, Chen Ying Liang was unwilling to kneel before him.

  The young man in white, who was about twenty years old, stopped his horse in front of the Chen family gate. He looked at Chen Yingliang with a steady gaze, and Chen Yingliang also looked back at him without fear. The young man had a handsome face, with fair skin and eyebrows that were like a painting. His two sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, and he exuded a heroic spirit. Judging from his appearance, he was undoubtedly the arrogant young master of the Chai family, as described by the servant.

  Chen Yingliang was sizing up Chai Dashizi at the same time, and Chai Dashizi was also sizing up Chen Yingliang. He found that Chen Yingliang's appearance was better than he had imagined, with a tender face and a decent-looking young man, even if his clothes were shabby. However, Chen Yingliang's calm eyes made Chai Dashizi extremely uncomfortable. In Chen Yingliang's gaze, there was not a hint of the awe and fawning that ordinary people showed when they saw Chai Dashizi - it was as if he was looking at someone of equal status. This was something that Chai Dashizi, who was at an age where he was full of pride and had a deep disdain for his future brother-in-law in his heart, could not accept.

  This was the first meeting between Chen Yingliang and Chai Dagongzi, and as a result of this meeting, both parties looked at each other with some displeasure and failed to leave a good impression on each other - this is what they call "eight characters not in harmony".

  Chai Gongzi silently dismounted his horse in front of Chen Yingliang, and after the servant led away the tall white horse, he slightly bowed to Chen Yingliang, forced a smile, and asked: "Are you Yingliang, my younger brother? It's our first meeting. My father is Chai Jun Gong, Duke of Julu, and the Chai and Chen families have been friends for generations. You can call me Brother Sichang."

  "Brother Sichang, I am Chen Yingliang, paying respects to my elder brother." Chen Yingliang clasped his fists and bowed, imitating the ancients in a gesture of respect towards Chai Gongzi. In his heart, he whispered, "Chai Sichang? Never heard of him, small fry."

  "How dare you not kneel and kowtow, what a big nerve." Chai Gongzi felt increasingly uncomfortable with Chen Yingliang in his heart, and he suppressed the unpleasant thought with difficulty. He said: "Yingliang Xian-di, I came to visit you today, and there are some things I want to discuss with you. This is not a place for conversation, can we go inside your house to talk?"

  "Of course." Chen Yingliang smiled politely and stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture. "Please, Brother Sichang."

  Chai Gongzi nodded, raised his head and entered the dilapidated courtyard of Chen Yingliang's home. He looked around at the surroundings and then glanced at the several crooked earth houses of Chen Yingliang's family. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he stopped in his tracks in the small courtyard, turning to face Chen Yingliang and saying: "Yingliang Xiongdi, I still have to go into the palace to attend to some business later, let's talk here."

  "Please instruct me, Brother Sichang." Chen Yingliang, who had already guessed the intention of Chai Gongzi, nodded.

  "That's why I'm not being polite." Chai Gongzi nodded slightly and said directly, "Ying Liang Xian Di, I have two purposes for visiting you today. Firstly, I came to see how you're doing. I heard that two days ago, you tried to hang yourself from a beam because of a momentary lapse in judgment. I'm worried about your situation, so I specifically came to visit you and also to represent my father to express our condolences."

  "Thank you, brother, for your concern. Thank you, Uncle Chai, for your concern. I'm fine now." Chen Yingliang bowed his hands in return, and silently sneered to himself, "Worry about me? You're worried about the reputation of the Chai family, aren't you?"

  "Now that you've recovered, that's the best outcome." Chai Gongzi said hypocritically, and continued: "The second thing is still about Sanmei and you."

  As he said this, Chai Gongzi raised his hand and clapped twice. Immediately, a servant came in from outside the courtyard, carrying a brocade box, and knelt down on one knee in front of Chai Gongzi, holding the box up high with both hands. Chai Gongzi opened the box with a smile, revealing a full box of white silver, and said to Chen Yingliang: "Yingliang Xian-di, have you seen? One hundred taels of white silver."

  "I see." Chen Yingliang nodded.

  "It's fine as long as you've seen it." Chai Gongzi nodded in satisfaction and smiled, saying: "As long as my younger brother is willing, this silver is yours."

  Chen Yingliang sneered and understood what Chai Gongzi meant but was too lazy to speak, so he just smiled without saying a word.

  "You scoundrel, you won't shed tears until you see the coffin!" Chai Gongzi's heart was filled with anger, and he said: "Ying Liang, my younger brother, I'm sure you also understand the purpose of my visit. One hundred taels of silver is enough for you to live a life of luxury and marry a wife, apart from this, I will also give you another compensation."

  "Please go ahead, brother." Chen Yingliang smiled.

  "My father-in-law is currently in Huaiyuan serving as the Emperor's second expedition to Goguryeo, overseeing the transportation of grain and fodder." Chai Gongzi said: "I can write a letter of recommendation for you, go see my father-in-law, he will give you a position, although it won't be very high, but it can also guarantee that you will have no worries about food and clothing in this life."

  "But I have one more condition, you are never allowed to return to this Daxing City again." Chai Gongzi added: "You must do this, otherwise, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life."

  "Are you asking me to leave Daxing? Never to return?" Chen Yingliang was somewhat surprised and asked in doubt: "Why? Why can't I come back to this city of Daxing again?"

  "For the sake of our Chai family's reputation." Master Chai replied frankly, "Although I allowed you to divorce voluntarily, your continued stay in Daxing City still has some hindrance to my Chai family's prestige. Therefore, you must leave Daxing and never come back again."

  Chen Yingliang was furious, thinking that there were still such domineering families in this world? Not only did they regret the marriage due to poverty and love for wealth, but they also forced the person who was jilted to leave the city where they lived and never come back? This is not just bullying, it's basically not treating me as a human being!

  "Master Chai, have mercy!" Chen Lao San suddenly wailed and fell to his knees in front of Master Chai, crying loudly: "You can't do this! The marriage between my young master and the third daughter of the Chai family was personally arranged by the old master and Old Lady Chai back then, and they even exchanged gifts. You can't go back on your word, you can't drive my young master to his death again!"

  Wailing loudly, Chen Lao San repeatedly kowtowed to Chai Gongzi, but unfortunately, Chai Gongzi didn't even bat an eyelid, let alone glance at Chen Lao San, and naturally wouldn't acknowledge his wails and pleas.

  Seeing Chai Gongzi's indifferent expression, Chen Yingliang's anger grew even more. Although Chen Yingliang, who used public funds to buy a kidney machine as office supplies, didn't have the good habit of respecting the elderly and loving the young, he still couldn't accept an old man with white hair kowtowing and begging him, yet being ignored. In his anger, Chen Yingliang gave up his intention to agree to the divorce at once, and while helping Chen Lao San who was crying and shouting nonstop, he coldly said: "Brother Sichang, have you ever heard of a saying?"

  "What did you say?" Chai Gongzi asked in confusion.

  "It's just a simple sentence." Chen Yingliang suddenly raised his voice and said loudly: "Don't bully poor young people!"

  Looking at the arrogant Chai Gongzi, Chen Yingliang sneered and said: "You are now rich and powerful, you can despise me, a poor young man, you can think that I am not worthy of your sister, but do you dare to ask yourself, is all this wealth and glory earned by your own efforts? A crow can become a phoenix, an ugly duckling can also become a white swan one day! I'm still young, I have plenty of time and opportunities to make a name for myself! Today you backed out of the engagement, don't regret it in the future!!"

  Chai Gongzi's face suddenly turned extremely ugly, Chen Yingliang smiled again, just wanting to open his mouth and propose a divorce, but someone next to him applauded loudly, shouting: "Good! A classic phrase! Good one, don't bully young poor people! This sentence should be recorded in history books to warn future generations!"

  "What did you say?!" Chai Gongzi, who was already furious and had nowhere to vent his anger, turned his head to look for the person who had applauded. Chen Yingliang and Chen Lao San also turned their heads to follow the sound, but unexpectedly discovered that the person applauding was none other than Qiao Song Gongzi, the good neighbor who had worn patched pants and had helped the Chen family in their time of need, standing at the corner of the courtyard.

  Compared to Chai Gongzi, who was dressed in brocade and finery, Qiao Song Gongzi's coarse linen robe couldn't compare in terms of attire. However, in terms of aura, he didn't lose out to Chai Gongzi at all. Chai Gongzi glared at Qiao Song Gongzi with a dark expression, his fierce gaze almost capable of killing someone. Yet, Qiao Song Gongzi was even more fearless than Chen Yingliang, and he smiled slightly at Chai Gongzi, cupping his hands in greeting: "Chai Gongzi, please don't be offended. I was rash and couldn't help but applaud when I heard Chen Gongzi's witty remark. For disturbing you, I hope you'll forgive me."

  "What kind of person are you?" Chai Gongzi asked with a very unpleasant expression.

  "Mr. Chen's neighbor." Qiao Song pointed in a direction, "Past the third house, the one with a Chinese parasol tree in the courtyard is my humble abode."

  "As expected, another poor wretch." Zhang Gongzi snorted inwardly and scowled even more fiercely, barking: "Since you're not from the Chen family, what business do you have butting in? Scram, don't look for trouble!"

  "Chai Gongzi, don't be so hot-headed." Qiao Song Gongzi smiled and said: "Nowadays Chen Gongzi is indeed a young man in trouble, but wasn't what he just said correct? Don't bully the poor youth. Chai Gongzi often uses his power to oppress people, if this gets out, it won't only harm your reputation, but also the face of Duke Chai."

  Chai Gongzi's face turned iron-green, his fists clenched tightly, and he glared at Qiao Song Gongzi. The family servants brought by Chai Gongzi also immediately stepped forward to surround Qiao Song Gongzi from both sides, their eyes fixed on him like tigers ready to pounce. Chen Yingliang was furious, took a step forward, stood shoulder to shoulder with his good neighbor Qiao Song Gongzi, and asked loudly: "Brother Sichang, what do you mean by this? Are you going to hit my guest?"

  "I'd like to beat you up!" Chai Gongzi muttered to himself, then waved his hand for the servants to retreat before turning to Chen Yingliang with an expressionless face and saying: "I'm too lazy to waste words on you. I only have one question for you now - are you going to call off the engagement or not?"

  "What if I insisted on not agreeing to a divorce?" Chen Yingliang coldly retorted.

  "You're finished!" Chai Gongzi was furious.

  "Chai Gongzi, relying on force to bully the weak is not becoming of you. Do you still want to kill someone and silence them?" Qiao Song Gongzi also couldn't stand Chai Gongzi's attitude, interrupting with a cold laugh: "Perhaps Chai Gongzi has the guts to do such a thing, but this great Sui dynasty is not something that can be covered up by just one person. The annals of history and the mouths of the people will have their own verdict. His Majesty the Emperor will certainly find out about this matter, and when that time comes, let's see how you will account for yourself to the imperial law and public opinion!"

  "You...!" Chai Gongzi glared at Qiao Song Gongzi again, but Qiao Song Gongzi showed no fear, coldly smiling back at Chai Gongzi.

  Seeing Zhai Gongzi's arrogant appearance, Chen Yingliang, who was furious, said bluntly: "If Brother Sichang wants to divorce, it's okay. I have only one condition, a very simple condition. As long as Brother Sichang agrees and does it, I will immediately agree to the divorce! And I will leave Daxing immediately and never come back!"

  As soon as Chen Yingliang spoke, Chai Gongzi's face, which had turned iron-gray, relaxed, and he nodded: "What conditions do you want? Say it, from the eighth-grade official position, a thousand taels of silver, is that enough?"

  "Little brother doesn't want to inherit Brother Sichang's official position, nor does he want to inherit Brother Sichang's silver." Chen Yingliang shook his head and smiled: "Very simple conditions. Remember that the most luxurious wine house in Daxing City is Tianxing Building. Almost all the guests in the store are high-ranking officials and celebrities of the time. Little brother dares to ask Brother Sichang to show up, set up a grand banquet in Tianxing Building, and invite dozens or hundreds of high-ranking officials and nobles. The more nobles, the better, but absolutely not less than 100 people."

  "What do you want to do?" Chai Gongzi's face changed slightly.

  "Let's announce the divorce in public!" Chen Yingliang smiled and said: "Please, Brother Sichang, publicly explain the reason for your divorce, as well as the conditions for me to leave Daxing. Then, someone will divide today's events into nine episodes, each day telling a new part of the story without stopping. The audience won't be small, right? After that, I'll publicly agree to the divorce and forever leave this city of Daxing. How about it, Brother Sichang? This condition is quite simple, isn't it?"

  "Good fellow! You're looking for death!" Chai Gongzi was furious, taking a big step forward and kicking Chen Yingliang heavily in the chest. Chen Yingliang, who had some combat skills, instinctively tried to dodge, but unfortunately this body was far inferior to his previous one as a police captain. He was kicked by Chai Gongzi and immediately fell over on his back.

  "Master!" Chen Lao San shouted loudly and rushed over to shield Chen Ying Liang with his frail body.

  "Chai Qi Chang!" Qiao Song also burst into anger, blocking Chai Gongzi and pointing at his nose, shouting: "Do you still have the law of Great Sui in your eyes? Breaking off the engagement first, almost forcing someone to death, and then physically attacking others, it's simply lawless to the extreme! Don't think that just because you're the son of Chai Gongzi, you can do whatever you want. Great Sui still has laws! The world still has justice!"

  "You scoundrel! I've had my eye on you for a long time!" Chai Gongzi found another target to vent his anger, clenched his fist and rushed at Qiao Songzi, shouting, "What are you? How dare you be so presumptuous in front of the Chai family?!"

  "Brother Sichang, our matter is not over yet." Chen Yingliang feared that good neighbor Qiao Song would suffer a loss, so he hurriedly struggled to get up, while strongly suppressing the severe pain in his chest, and loudly asked: "Brother Sichang, you already know the conditions I proposed, now choose whether to accept my conditions or let me marry Chai Niang."

  Chai Gongzi's face turned green and black, and he almost pounced on Chen Yingliang again to tear him apart. Qiao Song Gongzi stepped forward to block Chai Gongzi, preventing him from hurting anyone again.

  "Brother Si Chang, there's no other choice, is there?" Chen Yingliang sneered and said loudly, "Your time is precious, my time is even more precious, don't waste words, you can leave! You also don't need to use silver and official positions to bribe me to divorce, I'm divorcing your sister right now! Listen to her remarry, absolutely no regrets!"

  "What did you say?" Chai Gongzi's face turned from pale to dark, and he shouted at Chen Yingliang: "You dare to repeat it!"

  "I'm divorcing your sister!" Chen Yingliang said loudly: "Your Chai family looks down on me, but I also look down on the girls of your Chai family. So I want to divorce your sister! The engagement between our two families is hereby annulled!"

  "You dare to say this to me!" Chai Gongzi's expression was ferocious, and he said word by word: "You will regret it in the future!"

  "You'll regret this in the future!" Chen Yingliang coldly sneered, enduring the severe pain in his chest as he loudly declared: "Mark my words, within three years, I will make the Chai family regret their choice today!"

  Zhai Gongzi gritted his teeth and glared at Chen Yingliang for a long time, then suddenly turned around and walked away, shouting: "Chen, you just wait and see!"

  "I'll see it through to the end!" Chen Yingliang replied loudly.

  When he heard Chen Yingliang's words, Chai Gongzi unconsciously stopped in his tracks and wanted to turn back, but then felt that continuing to quarrel with Chen Yingliang would be beneath him and also damage his family's reputation. He gritted his teeth and walked away with his head held high. The armed servants brought by Chai Gongzi quickly followed, each of them giving Chen Yingliang a stern look as they left the courtyard. Chen Yingliang remained unflappable, meeting their gaze with a cold stare.

  "Brother, I'm really convinced by you." It wasn't until everyone from the Chai family had left that Qiao Song turned to Chen Yingliang and gave a thumbs up with a smile: "Unyielding in the face of power, uncorrupted by wealth and rank, being able to achieve this is truly a rare feat in this world."

  "Brother Qiao is overpraising me, I'm ashamed and dare not accept it." Chen Yingliang forced a smile and said: "I didn't want things to become like this either, but he was too arrogant."

  Qiao Song Gongzi nodded and smiled, saying: "However, my brother, this Chai Gongzi doesn't seem like a broad-minded person. You provoked him so much today, you'd better be on your guard against his revenge in the future."

  Chen Yingliang also nodded, and it was clear that the young master Chai was not someone to be trifled with. Since he had gotten into this situation with him, he would definitely not let things slide, and Chen Yingliang needed to think of a way to deal with his possible revenge. After glancing at the extraordinary demeanor of Qiao Song, Chen Yingliang suddenly remembered the important matter of going to curry favor with Li Yuan, and hastily took the opportunity to ask Qiao Song: "Brother, you are older and more knowledgeable than me, can you tell me, do you know this person Li Yuan?"

  "Li Yuan?!" Qiao Song was taken aback, just about to say that there were many people with this name, but then suddenly thought of someone for some reason and blurted out: "Brother Xian asked, is it Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang from the former Zhou dynasty? The Li Yuan who currently holds the position of Weiwei Shaoying?"

  Chen Yingliang didn't know what position Li Shimin's father held now, but hearing the word "Tang" was enough. So Chen Yingliang quickly nodded and said: "Right, right, it's him, Duke Xian of Tang, Li Yuan."

  "Xian Di asked what Tang Guo Gong was doing?" Qiao Song Gongzi's expression became somewhat strange.

  "I'd like to ask where he lives now." Chen Yingliang replied.

  Qiao Song's expression became even more peculiar, and after a long while, he replied: "Tang Gong is currently in Huaiyuan, overseeing the supply of grain for the Emperor's second expedition against Goguryeo."

  "In Huaiyuan, for Emperor Yang of Sui's second expedition to conquer the north, who was in charge of grain and fodder?" Chen Yingliang first felt a surge of joy upon learning Li Yuan's whereabouts, but then suddenly froze, exclaiming: "This, I seem to have heard it once before!"

  "Chai Gongzi just said that." Qiao Song Gongzi said expressionlessly: "He said his father-in-law, is in Huaiyuan for the Emperor's personal expedition to Goguryeo, preparing grain and fodder, wanted to recommend you to Tang Guo Gong's command to seek a position, but younger brother you immediately refused."

  "What?" Chen Yingliang was shocked and pointed in the direction that Chai Gongzi had left, exclaiming: "The one who just left, Chai Shichang, is he not the son-in-law of Tang Emperor Li Yuan?"

  "Xichang is the courtesy name of that Chai Gongzi." Qiao Song Gongzi's answer completely shattered Chen Yingliang's last hope, "His name is Chai Shao, he married the third daughter of Tang Guogong last year, and you, my virtuous younger brother, are also acquainted with him, how could you not even know this?"

  In an instant, Chen Yingliang had already rushed out to chase after Chai Gongzi.