Chapter 78: The Chen Family

As the head of the second branch of the family, Chen Qifan naturally had to attend the meeting, let alone the fact that this matter was directly related to him. After hearing the clan elder finish reading his elder brother's letter, looking at the extremely complicated expressions on the faces of those who had previously made things difficult for and criticized him, Chen Qifan truly wanted to burst into hearty laughter, then use his fists to smash and pulverize the faces of these petty people.

After Chen Fengru, the clan elder of the Chen family, finished reading the letter, he swept a glance over those seated and sighed inwardly: if only he had known this day would come, why act as he did in the beginning? If they hadn't bullied the second branch back then, the scene before him now would be one of joyful smiles and universal delight. Now everyone was just awkward, wasn't he?

He let out an almost imperceptible sigh and said, "Everyone, discuss among yourselves who should be sent to assist Yuxuan. We must seize this opportunity well—this is the moment for our Chen family to rise again. Yuxuan is the jewel of our Chen family and also its glory. Even when he was imprisoned, I never doubted that he would make a comeback, and sure enough, it was just as I predicted! His Majesty has heaven-given discernment and would never let a pearl like Yuxuan be covered in dust. Heaven is helping our Chen family!"

Those seated secretly sneered in their hearts: although we truly have wronged the second branch somewhat, treating them harshly for two years, wasn't it you who also agreed to cancel the second branch's monthly allowance? Now you come out pretending to be the big good guy again!

Chen Qishen of the third branch stood up and said, "Uncle, I have something to say!"

Chen Fengru said, "Old Seventh, speak freely, as long as it benefits our Chen family!" The implication was that he should stop stirring up trouble—on ordinary days, this fellow was the one who bullied the second branch the most.

Chen Qishen said, "Elder Brother Yuxuan's letter states clearly that whoever our Chen family sends must be capable. I am a juren by examination and once served as Registrar of Guangchang. I consider myself deeply knowledgeable about the ways of officialdom. If I go to Elder Brother Yuxuan's side, I will surely add wings to a tiger, help him achieve political accomplishments, and assist his official career in advancing further!"

The others cursed inwardly: this isn't the time when you incited us to pressure the clan elder together to cancel the second branch's monthly allowance. If Chen Qiyu learns of what you've done, you can forget about ever becoming an official again in this lifetime!

Chen Qizhi of the fourth branch stood up and sneered, "Seventh Brother, don't forget that Elder Brother Yuxuan's letter also contained another phrase—loyal and reliable! May I ask Seventh Brother, do you consider yourself loyal and reliable? If Elder Brother Yuxuan were to learn of someone's behavior during the year or more since he was imprisoned, it would be hard to guarantee he wouldn't think differently! Your younger brother advises you with one word: Seventh Brother, don't bring humiliation upon yourself!"

Chen Qishen replied with a serious expression, "Ninth Brother, those who accomplish great things do not fuss over trivialities. Elder Brother Yuxuan was once the noble Governor-General of the Five Provinces, and today he is a Governor of one region. His breadth of mind and generosity of spirit—how could you or I compare? My abilities need no elaboration. As for loyalty and reliability, even if I have shortcomings, they stem from my concern for the entire Chen clan! My volunteering this time is also for the sake of the family's future development. When Elder Brother Yuxuan ascends to high position again and promotes me to a prefectural or county chief post, wouldn't our Chen family gain another path forward?"

Chen Qizhi's face flushed red with anger. He plopped down in his seat and turned his head away huffily, refusing to look at Chen Qishen again. He had always found such shameless, despicable people intolerable. The third branch's oppression of the second branch filled him with hatred as well, but he couldn't openly break with them, so he could only secretly help the second branch's household, quietly sending rice, flour, vegetables, oil, and other supplies, worried that his seventy-year-old aunt might suffer any grievance.

Chen Fengru cleared his throat and asked Chen Qifan with a beaming smile, "Old Eighth, Yuxuan is your own dear elder brother. The two of you have been a model of fraternal harmony since childhood, and your words carry the most weight with Yuxuan. Today we're all family sitting together, so speak truthfully—who do you think should go to Fengyang?"

Chen Qifan was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Uncle, since you ask me to speak the truth, I'll say it directly—I think Ninth Brother is the most suitable to go!"

Chen Qifan's words left most of those with guilty consciences silent. Although they most wanted to hear Chen Qifan name themselves or their close relatives, if they were sent to Fengyang by the clan, Chen Qifan would write a letter to Chen Qiyu detailing the various mistreatments the family had inflicted on the second branch over the past two years or more. When Chen Qiyu heard that his family had been treated so poorly, he would certainly send the person back. Even if outsiders learned of it, no one would blame him for being heartless toward his clansmen—after all, some people truly had gone too far.

Chen Qishen leaped up from his seat and made a deep bow to Chen Qifan with clasped hands: "Eighth Brother, all past wrongs were Seventh Brother's fault. Seventh Brother apologizes to you here. In a moment, I'll also go kowtow to Aunt to make amends! After all, we share the same ancestor—we are close kin. What happened before was just brothers quarreling. Your elder brother truly knows he was wrong now. Eighth Brother, won't you give your elder brother a chance to mend his ways?"

Chen Qifan lowered his head and said nothing. Chen Qishen turned and bowed to Chen Fengru: "Uncle, you are after all the clan elder. You can't just watch a juren like me waste away the second half of his life, can you? Every additional official our Chen family produces widens our future path by one measure and adds fortune and virtue for our descendants. Please speak to Eighth Brother on my behalf. As for Third Brother, once I get there, I'll offer him a grand apology!"

Chen Fengru stroked his beard and pondered. As the clan elder of a family of over a hundred people, he had to consider everything comprehensively. Since Chen Qiyu had been imprisoned, the several Chen family members who held official posts had been successively dismissed and sent home. Among the next generation of the Chens, only a few government students had emerged, and their talents were all mediocre—it was likely impossible for another jinshi to appear. If not for Chen Qiyu's miraculous resurgence, the Chen family might well have declined into ruin. Now that Chen Qiyu had made his comeback, this large clan had only this single official. Without fellow clansmen in officialdom to support one another, one always stood somewhat alone. Those classmates, fellow examination candidates, and examination patrons were all people who flattered the powerful and trampled the weak—when trouble came, only close kin would truly help with all their hearts.

Having thought this through, Chen Fengru made up his mind and spoke: "Old Eighth, Old Seventh makes a valid point. Although he was bewitched before and did many wrong things, that was also because of the pent-up frustration of being suddenly dismissed from office. Since he now acknowledges his mistakes and apologizes, I think we should give him a chance. Otherwise, word spreading abroad would damage Yuxuan's reputation. Here's what we'll do: the second branch's monthly allowance will be doubled starting this month, the family business will still be managed by Old Eighth, and when we elders pass into the earth, the position of clan elder will belong to the second branch! Does anyone have any objections?"

Having said this, he swept his gaze around with a stern look. Ordinarily, Chen Fengru commanded considerable authority within the clan—he was simply wise for a lifetime but muddled for a moment, having made a misjudgment in Chen Qiyu's case. Although he hadn't openly mistreated the second branch, he had tacitly approved many measures directed against them. But after all, the authority accumulated over many years still held sway. His final words carried added weight, and even if others had opinions, they dared not raise them.

Chen Qishen clapped his hands and said, "Who would dare disobey the clan elder's words? I fully agree!"

The others also tacitly accepted Chen Fengru's decision. Circumstances were stronger than people—in the future, they would still need to rely on basking in the second branch's reflected glory.

Seeing no one voice opposition, Chen Fengru nodded with satisfaction and said, "Old Eighth, here's what I think: let Old Seventh and Old Ninth go to Fengyang together. Old Seventh is tactful, Old Ninth is upright and forthright—Yuxuan will employ them according to their abilities. Our Chen clan gains another measure of hope. What do you think?"

Although Chen Qifan felt extreme disgust and aversion toward Chen Qishen, being part of a large clan, he still had to consider the family's overall interests. If he insisted on preventing Chen Qishen from going to Fengyang, although he would likely get his way in the end, it would harm the unity of the entire clan and might also damage his elder brother's reputation. He didn't want a single stain to fall upon his brother again.

With this thought, Chen Qifan straightened up, glanced at Chen Qishen, and then spoke: "How would your nephew dare disobey the clan elder's words? We are all kin connected by blood. For the glory of the Chen clan, I will not pursue past matters further. I only hope that all you uncles and brothers will reflect on your past words and deeds when you return home. We are close kin—when trouble arises, should we not bear it together rather than complain, avoid responsibility, or even use petty tricks to vent our anger? Is that what a family should do?"

Everyone seated, except Chen Qizhi, lowered their heads in silence—whether from guilt or disdain, no one could tell.

Chen Qifan continued, "Today, before all you uncles and brothers, I speak plainly on behalf of the second branch: if anything disgraceful happens again, the second branch will voluntarily leave the Chen family. Even if we have to beg for food, we will never set foot in the Chen household again!"

Everyone looked up at Chen Qifan in astonishment. Chen Fengru hurriedly forced a smile and said, "That's going too far, that's going too far! We all share the same ancestor—why must it come to this? What happened before was all misunderstanding. It's enough that family members have talked things through thoroughly! Alright then, I'll write a letter to Yuxuan right away. Old Seventh and Old Ninth, select twenty capable men from the clan as escorts, take five hundred taels of gold, and once you've packed, hurry off to Fengyang! The world is not peaceful—be sure to exercise caution on the road! That will be all!"