Chapter 60

  He Ruo Ming stared at his younger sister He Qian, the siblings looked very alike, both of them inherited their mother's appearance. When He Qian was young, He Ruo Ming often took her out to play, and everyone who saw them would say they were obviously siblings. Of course, there were also those who couldn't tell, and would ask if they were father and daughter. But He Ruo Ming didn't feel that way. In his opinion, his younger sister He Qian's personality was more like their grandfather's. Now, as he looked at He Qian's expression after she had finished persuading him to break off the engagement with the Lian family, he felt it was almost identical to their father's. Both of them had a subtle air of superiority. This was the feeling that He Ruo Ming disliked the most.

  "Big brother, that marriage cannot be agreed to again. Now that this has happened, if the Lian family still knows some shame, they should take the initiative to talk to you. Anyway, the betrothal gifts have not been sent yet, and things have not reached an irretrievable point."

  Watching He Ruming still hesitating, He Qian directly brought up the topic, "If they don't know what's good for them, they'll definitely bring it up again. Brother, you must reject this matter. Getting infected with this disease shows that their son is not a good person. If they mention marriage again, it's because they look down on you. How can our family's daughter be so worthless and can't find a good family to marry into?"

  When he heard that he would be looked down upon, He Ruming was slightly invigorated. However, after a moment, he furrowed his brow again. He Qian knew that He Ruming was worried about not being able to get close to the Lian family, which would definitely damage his future official career. Because she knew this, she became even more furious, "Big brother, in the official circle, it's all about spending money. If we don't rely on the Lian family, we're not without other opportunities. There's a mountain of gold outside, go dig it."

  "What's outside?" He Ruoming asked in confusion.

  "If you can get this medicine, we also have some shops in Tianjin, how much money can be made just by selling this medicine?"

  He Ruoming only then understood that his own sister had already set her sights on Chen Ke. Thinking about it, this was indeed a way to make a fortune, but Chen Ke wasn't just an ordinary overseas student without any background. As far as he knew now, Chen Ke had Yan Fu backing him up, so trying to extort money from Chen Ke wouldn't be that easy. "How can we get Chen Wenqing to hand over the medicine obediently?" He asked his sister.

  "He's now begging at your doorstep, isn't he?"

  "What's with the beehive briquette?"

  "Rotting wood can't be carved! He Qian's reaction to her brother is really dull. After reading Chen Ke's book, although she had never met Chen Ke in person, she was certain that Chen Ke wouldn't cooperate with He Ruming just for the sake of the beehive coal matter, he must have other intentions. What Chen Ke's true purpose is, He Qian wasn't quite clear about either. Wanting to gain benefits from Chen Ke by relying on her brother alone probably won't work, it seems like she'll have to lower herself to meet Chen Ke in person to find out. After confirming her thoughts, He Qian said: "Brother, keep Chen Ke for lunch, I'll go ask him."

  "This is inconvenient."

  "After all, he is an overseas student, and his piano skills are so good. And I heard from my brother that he seems to be quite knowledgeable too. It's probably because he has been abroad for many years, and foreign men and women don't avoid meeting each other, there's nothing inconvenient about it."

  He Ruoming felt that Chen Ke was a bit like an object that could be pressed after listening to his sister's hint. However, he really didn't have a good way to press Chen Ke immediately. Since his sister was willing to show up, He Ruoming felt that the pressure had decreased a lot.

  "It will be so."

  "What about the Lian family?" He Qian asked. In fact, He Qian's attitude was so firm, not just for He Ying. If the He family was looked down upon, she, as an unmarried daughter of the He family, would also be looked down upon. For the sake of the He family, He Qian had to defend the family's dignity.

  "Alright, I'll do as you say." He Ruoming replied.

  The two siblings finished discussing for the sake of their family's interests, and He Ruoming returned to the living room first. Only to see Chen Kezheng and Bo Guanshui leaning on the table, writing something on paper.

  "When you get to this note, insert a rest. Play it like this." Chen Ke said as he wrote. He Ming approached and took a look, feeling somewhat familiar with the strange symbols from the sheet music that came with the piano at home. Chen Ke scribbled down a section, then circled several key points with his pen, "This part should be accompanied by cymbals. It's roughly like this."

  Bo watched the dozen or so sheets of paper on the table, each with a different musical instrument's score. "Brother Wenqing, organizing a military band is just like fighting a war, each department runs in completely different ways."

  "It doesn't matter what you do. Without good cooperation, it's no use."

  "Then I'll take these back and have the military band practice them."

  "Guanshui brother, if you want to save trouble, it's better to find a foreign military band and let them help with the arrangement. Our military band can follow and learn from them, and it will be faster."

  After hearing this, He Ruming felt that Chen Ke's tone was too big. Foreign military bands are not so easy to mobilize. Seeing Bo Guanshui's hesitant expression, He Ruming thought that Bo Guanshui also had the same idea. Unexpectedly, Bo Guanshui continued: "Finding a foreign military band is nothing, but after all, this is the Northern Ocean's own marching tune. If we find a foreign military band, I'm afraid people will laugh at us for having no one in the Northern Ocean."

  After hearing this, He Ruoming was also dissatisfied with Bo Guanshui. He immediately gave the two young people an evaluation of "not knowing the height of heaven and earth".

  "If Brother Guanxu needs anything, just come find me. It must be in the morning, as I have a lecture to give at Beijing University in the afternoon."

  "Got it. I'll definitely come to bother Brother Wenqing."

  After finishing, Bo Guan Shui let Chen Ke play "The Soviet is advancing" twice more before getting up and leaving.

  Standing at the door with Chen Ke, seeing Bo Guan Shui leave, He Ru Ming said: "Wen Qing, my sister wants to see how you play the piano after hearing your tune. Would you be so kind as to oblige?"

  "It's okay." Chen Ke didn't understand what He Ruoming wanted to do, but he also had no reason to refuse.

  Back in the living room, He Ruming invited his sister to come in and everyone exchanged greetings. Chen Ke couldn't help but take another look at He Qian, and then glanced at He Ruming beside her - these siblings looked quite alike. He Da Shuai Ge was very much like a transcendent version of Teacher Chen, while He Qian's appearance could only be described as elegant. She had the long braids typical of young girls, but it was the silk clothes on her body that Chen Ke couldn't accept. It was the kind of attire popular in the Qing dynasty - a bunch of flashy decorations, small collar, wide upper garment, and a long skirt with an unpleasant straight tube style. To Chen Ke, this outfit felt like mourning attire - no matter how he looked at it, it made him uncomfortable.

  When Chen Ke was sizing up He Qian, He Qian was also sizing him up. Chen Ke's height was considered quite tall for this era. Although his clothes looked a bit old-fashioned, from a woman's perspective, the fabric had an excellent sheen. However, He Qian noticed that Chen Ke's gaze at her initially contained some admiration, but his attitude quickly turned cold afterwards. He Qian felt somewhat dissatisfied with this subtle change. Everyone who had seen her before always praised her for being quite pretty. Chen Ke's gaze was no different from others at first, but after sizing up her clothes, his attitude changed. Was she really not as noticeable as a set of clothes?

  She couldn't help but glance down at her own clothes, this outfit was already very similar to the Manchu attire. He Qian felt a little enlightened. After reading Chen Ke's book, He Qian could tell that Chen Ke was a revolutionary, and in connection with Chen Ke's attitude towards his own clothes, He Qian was now absolutely certain of Chen Ke's political inclination.

  "What song does Miss Unknow want to hear?" Chen Ke asked.

  He Ruoming's face changed as soon as he heard it. How could one abandon their brother and directly ask a woman? This was also too unbecoming of propriety.

  "Can Mr. Chen play his first piece?" He Qian didn't mind too much.

  It was just as she had thought, Chen Ke didn't look at her again and started playing the piano. The melody was beautiful, but everyone's mood was different now. When she first heard this piece of music, He Qian was still appreciating it, but now she was only observing Chen Ke.

  After finishing this piece, Chen Ke played a few more pieces, and He Qian asked: "Mr. Chen, what you learned abroad was music, wasn't it?"

  I majored in chemistry.

  "No wonder I heard Brother Jia say that Mr. Chen wants to do a beehive coal business in the capital."

  Chen Ke heard this and turned to look at He Qian. He suddenly noticed that He Qian's expression was very familiar. It was a very determined and serious expression, the kind his opponents would often use when negotiating prices with him.

  Chen Ke smiled. He looked at He Qian's eyes seriously and said: "I don't know what Miss He has to instruct. Please speak directly."

  He Ruoming looked at the two young men, both of whom had a calm demeanor and piercing gazes. Although their expressions seemed friendly, they somehow gave off an air of mystery. In that instant, He Ruoming felt that these two people looked very similar.

  "I don't know why Mr. Chen would find my elder brother to cooperate on this matter."

  "I need to find someone who is down-to-earth, hardworking and knowledgeable about mechanics. I've heard that Mr. He, having worked at the Tianjin Machinery Bureau for many years, naturally knows many people in this field. If I were to search through other channels, I might be able to find someone, but it would definitely not be as convenient as asking Mr. He, who is familiar with everything."

  "He doesn't know what benefits his brother has gained from doing this." He Qian asked.

  He Ruoming was drinking tea and almost spat it out when he heard this. His own sister was also too straightforward, wasn't she?

  "What does Miss He want?" Chen Ke asked bluntly.

  "How is Mr. Chen's medicine selling?"

  Chen Ke thought for a moment, "For a period of ten days, if Lord He can find ten people, I will sell him medicine for one hundred people. If he can find twenty people, I will sell him medicine for two hundred people. My medicine is sold in Shanghai at twenty taels per person. If it's someone Lord He has found and I approve of five people, the price of my medicine will be eighteen taels per person. If I approve of ten people, it will be sixteen taels, and if I approve of twenty people, I will give Lord He twelve taels per person. Moreover, I guarantee that within three months, there will absolutely be no other medicines flowing into the north. As for how much Lord He sells them for, I won't interfere at all."

  He Ruoming knew that, let alone twenty taels, even if they were sold for fifty taels now, those who were anxious to see a doctor would also give in. If it was enough for two hundred people, according to Chen Ke's words, he would make at least three thousand taels of silver. In this era, a good manor around Beijing would cost no more than two or three thousand taels. Such a deal could be profitable. However, the negotiation between Chen Ke and his sister made He Ruoming feel very uncomfortable. What kind of noble lady and overseas student were they? The two were simply a pair of bold merchants.

  "He Qian said, 'Ten days may not be enough.'"

  "At most thirteen days, I can't wait too long."

  "What did Big Brother mean?" He Qian turned her head and asked.

  "It's twenty days," He Ruoming replied.

  "Mr. He, I can wait for at most thirteen days." Chen Ke replied bluntly.

  He Ruming stared at Chen Ke, seeing that he had no intention of backing down, He Ruming's eyebrows furrowed. However, after glancing at his sister, he saw her nod slightly. Only then did He Ruming say: "Alright, thirteen days it is."

  After they had talked things over, Chen Ke stood up to bid farewell. He Ming did not detain him. After Chen Ke left, he asked He Qian, "What does this Chen Ke really mean?"

  "He's already said it." He Qian sat down beside the piano and lightly tapped the keyboard with her fingers.

  "Do you believe him?" He Ruoming asked again.

  "What's Big Brother going to do? Either do it or don't. You decide for yourself, Big Brother." After saying that, He Qian tapped on the keyboard and a monotonous note sounded from the piano. Having heard Chen Ke's fluent playing earlier, He Ruoming felt that this sound was really unpleasant.

  Back at the residence, Chen Ke saw everyone gathered around Chen Tianhua. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the blacksmith had delivered the custom-made molds. The coal briquettes made from the mold were quite rough and simple, but what Chen Ke needed now was time. Whether the outer iron ring was round enough or the tolerance between parts was high enough was no longer a key point for Chen Ke to pursue. At this moment, the furnace had already been loaded with newly purchased coal fragments. Chen Ke and everyone else wore masks, pounding the coal into powder as much as possible, then mixing it with yellow soil, and using the coal briquette machine to shape it into honeycomb coal.

  After finishing twenty blocks of coal, this thing is far less convenient than the coal knockers of later generations. Chen Ke adopted the simplest mode in pursuit of time. Moreover, at first, everyone was not skilled, and not only did they produce coal slowly, but also broke a lot in the middle. Their black hands were on their sweaty foreheads, wiping sweat randomly on their faces, making their faces even dirtier. Chen Ke asked: "Tianhua, do you think we'd rather buy coal if we could buy beehive coal?"

  Chen Tianhua was also tired, digging coal and mixing mud were not easy tasks. He lifted the cloth on top of the vat and took a drink from it. "This is not necessarily true, ordinary people are very cautious when spending money. Originally they didn't earn much money, where would they have money to spend?"

  "Now it's up to us, so the cost of hiring workers is too high. Later, using machines for production will make the cost lower than burning coal balls." Chen Ke replied confidently.

  Chen Ke stood up and began to put wood into the rough stove, yesterday midnight, Chen Ke had already started burning wood in the stove, slowly evaporating the water from the soil. Now the soil has dried up a lot. After Chen Ke lit the wood this time, he placed a piece of honeycomb coal on top, the light smoke from burning wood gradually dispersed, Chen Ke waited for a while and finally said with a smile, "The honeycomb coal is burning."

  Pots, bowls, and basins have all been bought. Chen Ke hasn't used beehive coal since he was eighteen years old, but he still remembers how to use it. The blue flame burns under the pot, taking advantage of the strong fire to stir-fry the dishes quickly. Everyone gathers around the table to start eating.

  "I got in touch with the Beiyang Army yesterday." Chen Ke said calmly.

  Everyone except Wu Xingchen was stunned by these words. Chen Ke had originally planned to mention this matter later, but he thought about it just now and felt that it's better to say it earlier. If he said it later, who knows if everyone would have already found out, then it would be hard to explain. Who knows what kind of trouble would arise. Anyway, no matter when he says it, there will always be problems. It's better to just say it now and avoid unpredictable consequences.

  "Chen Ke, what do you mean by this?" Pang Zi slammed down his chopsticks, and he was indeed the first to lose his temper.

  "The Beiyang Army is currently training in Hejian. If we're lucky, we can see them perform maneuvers. At that time, everyone will be able to see the strengths and weaknesses of the Beiyang Army." Chen Ke said calmly, "Brother Pang, aren't you seeking revenge? Isn't it good to get a glimpse of the Beiyang Army's true situation?"

  "You!" Pang Zi was so angry that he couldn't speak for a moment.

  "Know yourself and know your enemy, win a hundred battles without danger." Wu Xingchen said in a low voice.

  "What the heck is going on here!" Pang Zi said furiously, "Can't you just take care of them one by one?"

  "Brother Pang, you..."

  "What's wrong, Brother Pang? I'm not your older brother." As soon as Pong Zhi heard that Chen Ke and the Beiyang Army were colluding, he felt like he was about to explode. Just as he was about to erupt, Wu Xingchen slapped his palm on the table and shouted loudly: "Pang Laosan, what do you want to do? What do you want to say? You dare speak to Wencheng like this? How did Uncle Jing teach you back then?"

  Pang Zi seemed a bit afraid of Wu Xingchen and was suddenly intimidated by his loud shout.

  "Wen Qing, you don't have to be so polite to Pang Zhu. If you need to scold him, then just do it, he's already acting out of line!" Wu Xingchen said sternly.

  Chen Ke smiled and didn't say anything else, just telling them about the situation with contacting the Beiyang Army. Pang Zicheng wanted to speak up several times in between, but was glared at by Wu Xingchen and didn't dare be so presumptuous.

  "So you're saying that the literary youth wants us to go and watch when the Beiyang Army holds a military parade?" Wu Xingchen said slowly.

  "The military review is the best way to see the strengths and weaknesses of the Beiyang Army. And if we're lucky, we might even get to see a real combat drill by the Beiyang Army, an opportunity that doesn't come often."

  "Brother Pang, aren't you always seeking revenge? If you want to start a rebellion in Hebei, you can't avoid the encirclement and suppression of the Beiyang Army. Moreover, several brothers from Shandong, once things get out of hand, will also have to fight against the Beiyang Army. Now take a look at the strength of the Beiyang Army, so that in the future when we encounter them again, we'll be prepared." Chen Ke said.

  "How many Beiyang troops are participating in the exercise?" Wu Xingchen asked.

  "Not all of Beiyang's forces, I heard that more than 20,000 people were dispatched." Chen Kersui replied casually.

  "Ah!" Someone had already gasped in a breath of cold air.

  In the year of Gengzi, the Beiyang Six Towns had not yet fully formed an army. When suppressing the Shandong uprising, the Beiyang military force mobilized by Yuan Shikai was less than 10,000. The Boxers were killed like falling flowers and flowing water. According to Chen Ke's account, the actual strength of the Beiyang Army was much stronger than before, which shocked several good men from Shandong. Even Pang Zhi lowered his head and didn't dare to speak.

  "Brother Wu, we must hurry up with our lectures these few days. I don't know when I'll be taken away to help them rehearse the military parade. If there's a chance to go watch the Beiyang Army's exercises, we must figure out how to defeat the Beiyang Army before we go."

  Everyone's eyes focused on Chen Ke's face again after hearing his words.

  "I can only tell you the basics, it's all just talk on paper. If you don't understand these things, go watch the exercises, and you'll probably be scared off by the Beiyang Army." Chen Ke was nonchalant in his evaluation of everyone's current abilities.

  "Right, we also need to send a message to Shanghai today. Let them transport some things for us. Hmm, let Xie Mingxian be in charge of bringing the stuff over."

  The 60th