He Ruming looked at his sister He Qian, the brother and sister looked very similar, and they were in the same vein as their mother. When He Qian was a child, He Ruming often took her to play on the street, and at that time, whenever she saw the two of them, as long as they could talk, they would say that the two were brother and sister at first glance. Of course, there are also those who are not long-sighted, and will ask if the two are father and daughter. But He Ruming doesn't feel that way. In his opinion, his younger sister He Qian's personality is more like his own old man. Now that his sister He Qian persuaded her to break off her relationship with the Lian family, in He Ruming's opinion, she was almost exactly the same as his father. There is a faint condescending taste. This is He Ruming's least favorite feeling.

"Big brother, that family matter is categorically no longer acceptable. Now that this has happened, if the Lian family still knows some shame, they should take the initiative to talk to you. Anyway, the dowry hasn't been ordered yet, and this matter has not reached the point of being out of control. ”

Seeing that He Ruming still hadn't made up his mind, He Qian simply made his words clear, "If they don't know what's wrong, they must mention this matter." Big brother, you must refuse this matter. Contracting this disease shows that their son is by no means a good thing. If they mention family affairs again, they will look down on you. Why are the girls in our family so cheap, so they can't find a good family to marry? ”

Hearing that he would be looked down upon, He Ruming was a little uplifted. But after a moment, he frowned again. He Qian knew that He Ruming was worried that he would not be able to rely on the Lian family, and his future official career would definitely be damaged. Just because she knew about this, she was even more angry, "Big brother, to put it bluntly in this officialdom, it's still a matter of making money." If we don't rely on them to connect our families, we don't have any other opportunities. There's a mountain of gold out there, you go dig it. ”

"Outside?" He Ruming asked puzzled.

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

Only then did He Ruming understand that his sister had already hit Chen Ke with her idea. Thinking like this is also a way to make money, but Chen Ke is not an ordinary international student with no background, as far as I know now, he has Yan Fu's support behind him, and it is not so easy to blackmail Chen Ke. "How can I make this Chen Wenqing obediently take out the medicine." He asked his sister.

"Isn't he going to your door now?"

"The honeycomb coal?"

Rotten wood can't be carved! He Qian was really speechless about the sluggishness of her eldest brother's response. After reading Chen Ke's book, although He Qian had not met Chen Ke, she was already sure that Chen Ke could not cooperate with He Ruming for the honeycomb coal matter, and he must have other plans. What Chen Ke's real purpose was, He Qian didn't know very well. If you want to get benefits from Chen Ke, you can't rely on your eldest brother, and it seems that you have to deign to see Chen Ke to know. After determining the train of thought, He Qian said: "Big brother, you leave Chen Ke for lunch, and I'll ask him." ”

"It's inconvenient, isn't it?"

"He is also an overseas student, he can play the piano so well, and according to his eldest brother, he seems to be quite knowledgeable. It should be overseas for many years, and foreign men and women do not shy away from meeting, which is not inconvenient. ”

After He Ruming listened to his sister's prompt, he also felt that Chen Ke was a bit like an object that could be squeezed. But to really squeeze Chen Ke, he didn't have a good way to come up with it right away. Since his sister is willing to come forward, He Ruming feels a lot less pressure.

"That's it."

"What about the family?" He Qian asked. In fact, He Qian's attitude is so firm, not just for He Ying. If the He family is looked down upon, she will also be looked down upon as an unmarried girl in the He family. For the sake of the He family, He Qian must defend the dignity of the family.

"Just do as you say." He Ruming replied.

After the brother and sister finished discussing for the benefit of the family, He Ruming went back to the living room first. I saw Chen Kezheng and Bu Guanshui lying on the table, writing something on the paper.

"When it comes to this note, the insertion. Play this paragraph. Chen Ke said and wrote. He Ruming leaned in to take a look, and he was a little familiar, it was the strange symbols on the scores that came with him when he bought a piano at home. Chen Ke brushed a paragraph and wrote a paragraph, and then used a pen to outline a few key points on it, "This part should be accompanied by a gong." That's about it. ”

Bu Guanshui looked at the dozen or so sheets of paper on the table, each of which was a sheet music played by a different instrument. "Brother Wen Qing, organizing a military band is the same as fighting a war, and each ministry operates in a completely different way."

"It's the same for everything. You can't do it without good cooperation. ”

"Then I'll take these back first and find a military band to rehearse."

"Brother Guanshui, if you want to save trouble, it's best to find a foreign military band and let them help rehearse. Our marching band will learn faster. ”

Hearing this, He Ruming felt that Chen Ke's tone was so big. Outside the ** band is not so easy to mobilize. Seeing Bu Guanshui's hesitant face, He Ruming felt that Bu Guanshui also had this idea. Unexpectedly, Bu Guanshui continued: "It's nothing to find a foreign ** band." But after all, this is Beiyang's own military parade song, and I found a foreign ** band, but I am afraid that I will be ridiculed for being ridiculed. ”

Hearing this, He Ruming was also dissatisfied with Bu Guanshui. He immediately added the evaluation of the two young people as "I don't know the sky and the earth is thick".

"If Brother Guanshui is in need, come to me. I must give a lecture in the morning, and I will ask for a lecture in the afternoon at the Kyoto Normal University. ”

"Got it. I'm going to trouble Brother Wen Qing. ”

After speaking, Bu Guanshui asked Chen Ke to play "The Soviets Are Advancing" twice before getting up and leaving.

Standing at the door with Chen Ke, watching Bu Guanshui leave, He Ruming said: "Wen Qing, after listening to the tune you played, I want to see how Wen Qing plays the piano." Can you bother Wenqing? ”

"Yes." Chen Ke didn't understand what He Ruming wanted to do, but there was no reason to refuse.

Back in the living room, He Ruming asked his sister to come in, and everyone greeted him. Chen Ke looked at He Qian, and couldn't help but look at He Ruming next to him, the two brothers and sisters looked quite alike. He Da Handsome Guy is very much like Teacher Chen who has surpassed the realm of equipment, and He Qian's appearance is just described as beautiful. She combed the long braids that are unique to girls, but the silk clothes on her body were very unacceptable to Chen Ke. It was the kind of clothing that was popular in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, that is to say, a bunch of bells and whistles, small collars, voluminous tops, and long skirts were also the kind of nasty straight-leg styles. For this dress, Chen Ke felt very much like a mourning dress. How uncomfortable it is.

When Chen Ke was looking at He Qian, He Qian was also looking at Chen Ke. Chen Ke's size is very high in this era. Although the clothes are a little old-fashioned, from a woman's point of view, the fabric has an excellent luster. However, He Qian noticed that Chen Keben still had some appreciation in his eyes, and soon his attitude immediately became cold. He Qian felt a little dissatisfied with this subtle change. As long as people who have seen themselves, they have always praised He Qian for being quite beautiful. Chen Ke's gaze was no different from others at first, but after looking at his clothes, this attitude changed. Isn't it better to have a dress to attract attention?

couldn't help but look down at his clothes, this set of clothes was already very much like a man's costume, He Qian felt a little understood. After reading Chen Ke's book, He Qian was able to judge that Chen Ke was a revolutionary party, and after contacting Chen Ke's attitude towards his clothes, He Qian was now absolutely able to determine Chen Ke's political leanings.

"I wonder what song Miss He wants to hear?" Chen Ke asked.

He Ruming's face changed when he heard this. How can there be a practice of leaving someone else's brother and asking women directly. This is also too unruly.

"Mr. Chen, can you play the first piece?" He Qian didn't care too much.

As she thought, Chen Ke didn't look at her at all, and sat down at the piano and played. The music is beautiful, but everyone's mood is different. When she first heard this song, He Qian was still enjoying the music, and now she is just observing Chen Ke.

After playing this song and Chen Ke played a few more songs, He Qian asked, "Is Mr. Chen studying music overseas?" ”

"I studied chemistry."

"No wonder I heard my brother say that Mr. Chen wants to do honeycomb coal business in the capital."

When Chen Ke heard this, he turned his head to look at He Qian. He suddenly noticed that He Qian's demeanor was very familiar. It was a very firm and serious expression, and when Chen Ke negotiated with others, his opponents often used this attitude to bargain.

Chen Ke smiled. He looked at He Qian's eyes seriously and said, "I don't know what Miss He has to say." Speak up. ”

He Ruming looked at these two young men, they both had a calm attitude and powerful eyes. Although the look looks kind, it gives people a deep sense of concealment. At this moment, He Ruming only felt that these two people looked very similar.

"I wonder why Mr. Chen found my eldest brother to cooperate in this matter?"

"I need to find people who are down-to-earth and mechanical. I heard that since Mr. He has worked in Tianjin Machinery Bureau for many years, he naturally knows a lot of talents in this area. Let me find it through other channels, and I can find it, but it is definitely not as convenient as letting Lord He, who knows the roots, find it. ”

"I don't know what good my brother did this." He Qian asked.

He Ruming was drinking tea, and when he heard this, he almost squirted out the tea in one gulp. My sister is too straightforward.

"So what does Miss He want?" Chen Ke is equally straightforward.

"I don't know how Mr. Chen's medicine is sold?"

Chen Ke thought for a while, "For ten days, if Lord He can find ten people, I will sell the medicine to Lord He for a hundred people." If I can find twenty people, I will sell the medicine to two hundred people. My medicine, sold in Shanghai, is twenty-two or one people. If it is the person who is found by Lord He, I agree with five, and the price of the medicine I give to Lord He is the dose of eighteen taels per person. If you agree with ten people, it is sixteen taels, and if you agree with twenty people, I will give He a dose of twelve taels and one person. And I promise that within three months, there will be absolutely no other drugs coming to the north. I don't interfere with how much Lord He sells. ”

He Ruming knew that not to mention twenty taels, now it was sold for fifty taels, and those who were in a hurry to see a doctor would also give it. If it was a dose of two hundred people, according to what Chen Ke said, he would have to earn more than three thousand taels of silver. In these years, a good manor around Beijing is only two or three thousand taels. Such a deal can be earned. But Chen Ke negotiated with his sister like this, which made He Ruming feel very uncomfortable. Where are the ladies and international students, the two are a pair of heroic businessmen.

"I'm afraid it's too late for ten days." He Qian said.

"Thirteen days at most, I can't wait too long."

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

"Twenty days." He Ruming replied.

"Lord He, I'll wait for thirteen days at most." Chen Ke replied unceremoniously.

He Ruming looked at Chen Ke and saw that he had no intention of backing down, and He Ruming's brows furrowed. But after glancing at my sister, I saw my sister nodding slightly. He Ruming then said: "Then thirteen days." ”

After negotiating the matter, Chen Ke got up and took his leave. He Ruming did not stay. After Chen Ke left, he asked He Qian, "What does this Chen Ke mean?" ”

"He's already said it." He Qian sat down next to the piano and tapped her fingers lightly on the keyboard.

"You trust him?" He Ruming asked.

"So what is the big brother going to do? Do it or you don't. Big brother, you can make up your own mind. After finishing speaking, He Qian tapped on the keyboard, and the piano played a monotonous syllable. After listening to Chen Kefang's fluent playing, He Ruming felt that the sound was really not good.

Back at his residence, Chen Ke saw that everyone was gathering around Chen Tianhua. When I looked at it, it was the blacksmith who sent the custom-made mold. The coal hammer is quite rough and simple, but Chen Ke wants time at this time, whether the outer iron ring is round enough, and whether the tolerance between parts is high enough is not the main point pursued by Chen Ke. At this time, the newly bought crushed coal was already piled up in the atom, Chen Ke and everyone brought masks, knocked the coal into pulverized coal as much as possible, and then mixed it with loess and beat it into honeycomb coal with a coal beater.

After beating twenty pieces of coal, this thing is far less convenient than the coal hammers of later generations, and Chen Ke adopted the simplest mode in order to pursue time. And at the beginning, everyone was not skilled, not only was the coal slow to come out, but also a lot of broken in the middle. Their black hands were on the back of their sweaty heads, and they wiped sweat on their faces, which made their faces even dirtier. Chen Ke asked: "Tianhua, you see that we are working so hard, if we can buy honeycomb coal, everyone would rather buy coal, right?" ”

Chen Tianhua is also tired, knocking coal, and mud is not an easy labor. He lifted the cloth from the crockpot and drank water from the crockpot's mouth. "Not necessarily, people are very cautious about spending money. I can't make a few dollars in the first place, where is the money to spend. ”

"Now we do it ourselves, so the cost of hiring workers is too high, and in the future, the cost of machine production can be as low as burning briquettes." Chen Ke replied confidently.

Chen Ke stood up and began to fill the rough stove with firewood, which had already begun to burn in the middle of the night, slowly steaming the moisture in the soil. Now the soil has dried up a lot. After Chen Ke lit the firewood this time, he put a piece of honeycomb coal on it, and the light smoke of burning the firewood gradually dissipated, Chen Ke waited for a while, and finally said with a smile, "The honeycomb coal is burning." ”

Pots and pans have been bought, and Chen Ke has not used honeycomb coal since he was eighteen years old, but he has not forgotten how to use it. The blue flame is burning under the pot, and while the fire is hot, the dish is fried in one go. Everyone sat around the table and began to eat.

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

Everyone except Wu Xingchen was stunned when they heard this. Chen Ke was originally going to talk about it later, but after thinking about it just now, he felt that it was better to say it earlier. If you say it later, if you find out first, it won't be clear. I don't know what's going to happen. Anyway, whenever you say it, it will cause problems. Just say it now, but avoid the unexpected.

"Chen Ke, what do you mean by that?" Pang Zi put down his chopsticks with a snap, and he really had a seizure first.

"The Beiyang Army is now training in the river. If we're lucky, we'll be able to see them in action. At that time, everyone could see the reality of the Beiyang Army. Chen Ke said unmoved, "Brother Pang, don't you want to take revenge?" Wouldn't it be nice to be able to see the reality of the Beiyang Army with your own eyes? ”

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

"Know yourself and know your opponent, and you will not be defeated in a hundred battles." Wu Xingchen said in a deep voice.

"What the is invincible!" Pang Zi said angrily, "Just do them one by one." ”

"Brother Pang, you ......"

"What Brother Pang, I'm not your big brother." As soon as Pang Zi heard that Chen Ke had colluded with the Beiyang Army, he felt angry. Just as he was about to have a seizure, Wu Xingchen slapped his palm on the table. shouted loudly: "Pang Laosan, what do you want to do." What do you want to say? You're just talking to Wen Qing like that? How did Uncle Jing teach you back then? ”

Pang Zi seemed to be a little afraid of Wu Xingchen, and when he was yelled at like this, he lost his arrogance.

"Wen Qing, you don't have to be so polite to Pang Zi. You have to scold when you scold, he turned the sky upside down! Wu Xingchen said sternly.

Chen Ke smiled and didn't say anything else, just talked about how to contact the Beiyang Army. Pang Zi wanted to speak a few times in the middle, but was glared at by Wu Xingchen, but he didn't dare to be so presumptuous.

"So, Wen Qing wants to let us go and see when the Beiyang Army holds a military parade?" Wu Xingchen said slowly.

"The parade can best see the reality of the Beiyang Army. And if we're lucky, we'll be able to see real combat exercises in Beiyang, which isn't a big chance. ”

"Brother Pang, haven't you always wanted revenge? If you want to rebel in Hebei, you will definitely not be able to avoid the encirclement and suppression of the Beiyang Army. Moreover, several brothers in Shandong, once everyone makes a big fuss, they can't avoid the Beiyang Army fighting. Now look at the strength of the Beiyang Army, and when you encounter the Beiyang Army in the future, you will also have a preparation. Chen Ke said.

"How many Beiyang Army are conducting exercises?" Wu Xingchen asked.

"It's not all the troops in Beiyang, I heard that more than 20,000 people have been transferred." Chen Ke replied casually.

"Shhh Someone already gasped.

In the year of Gengzi, the six towns of Beiyang had not yet fully formed an army, and the Shandong uprising was suppressed, and the Beiyang army used by Yuan Shikai was less than 10,000. And the Boxer was killed. Listening to Chen Ke's statement, the strength of the Beiyang Army was much stronger than before, and several Shandong heroes were surprised. Even Pang Zi lowered his head and didn't dare to say anything.

"Brother Wu, we have to hurry up the lecture these days. I don't know when I'm going to be asked to rehearse a parade for them. If we have the opportunity to go to the Beiyang exercise, we must know how to defeat the Beiyang Army before we go to see the exercise. ”

After listening to Chen Ke's words, everyone's eyes were focused on Chen Ke's face again.

"I can only tell you the basics, it's all on paper. If you don't understand all this, you will go to the exercise, and everyone will be afraid that you will be frightened by the Beiyang Army. Chen Ke didn't care about the current strength of everyone.

"By the way, we have to send a letter to Shanghai today. Let them bring us something. Well, let Xie Mingxian be in charge of bringing things over. ”