Manchu Qing officials were all slick old hands; they wouldn't express their attitude immediately upon encountering anything. When Chen Ke proposed that He Ruming preside over the manufacturing of honeycomb briquettes, He Ruming's immediate reaction wasn't to think that he was about to get rich, but to consider whether Chen Ke doing this was a trap. As the saying goes, "One who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions." Chen Ke had no reason to give such wealth to him for nothing. And Chen Ke's seemingly frank expression and provocative words actually made He Ruming alert.

"Wenqing need not be anxious." A prevaricating smile unique to officials immediately surfaced on He Ruming's face.

As soon as Chen Ke saw this expression, he knew He Ruming would definitely not give his word easily. He could understand this mentality, so he also smiled and said, "This is me being impetuous. Lord He, please forgive me."

"Wenqing didn't come to Beijing this time just for this honeycomb briquette matter, I presume?"

"Ordered by Yan Fu, I came to Beijing to visit a few teachers and seniors."

Hearing this, He Ruming's eyes lit up. "Can Wenqing tell me, to see what I can do for Wenqing?"

What was needed in officialdom was various connections. He Ruming was also newly appointed in Beijing; if he could help Chen Ke, he could also hook up with some new lines on the way. He wouldn't easily let go of such a thing that benefited others without costing himself.

"Mr. Yan asked me to visit Mr. Gu Hongming of the Imperial University of Peking first."

"Haha, Wenqing wrote such thick books; presumably they are written excellently. No need to think, Mr. Gu must like them very much." He Ruming talked about Chen Ke's works for the first time. "I actually haven't had time to read Wenqing's books yet. After receiving Mr. Yan's letter, I was preparing to come to Beijing to take office, but I was terribly busy."

"I wonder what official position Lord He holds now?"

"A fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. Not worth mentioning. By the way, how come I heard Wenqing had some unhappiness with my steward? I wonder what happened."

"It was all a misunderstanding; nothing serious. Lord He need not mind."

"When does Wenqing plan to visit Mr. Gu Hongming?"

"Going this afternoon."

"Can I send a carriage to take Wenqing there?"

"Many thanks, Lord He; I plan to walk there."

"Why is this?"

"Wherever I go, I definitely walk there; it can be considered looking at the local customs and practices of Beijing."

"Listening to Wenqing's accent, could it be that you are not a Beijinger?"

"How is that possible? I haven't been to Beijing before."

"I have been to Beijing before; this place has changed quite a lot in the last year or two," He Ruming laughed. Then he talked about his anecdotes.

Since most roads in Beijing city were dirt roads, thick mud and dust accumulated on the road surface over time. "When sunny, sand is deep enough to bury feet, and fine dust blows on the face; when rainy, mud fills the road, and foul smells steam to the sky." This mud and dust came firstly from the weathering of the road surface itself; secondly from residents dumping garbage indiscriminately; and thirdly from severe sandstorms. "Several times or more than ten times a month, or even the whole month is like this." "Whenever the wind blows, dust and mist fill the sky, blotting out the sun." Unknown how much loess dust and sand fell on Beijing city in a year.

Furthermore, the middle of those main traffic roads was originally the imperial carriage way. Once the emperor came out, yellow earth had to be paved on the carriage way once. Over time, the carriage way gradually rose above the ground. Xia Renhu said in *Jiu Jing Suo Ji* (Miscellaneous Records of Old Beijing): "Before Beijing built macadam roads, there were raised paths in the center of its thoroughfares, less than two *zhang* wide and three or four *chi* high. When it rained, the mud was slippery, and carts often overturned; the situation was very dangerous. Asking the old folks, they said this was originally the imperial carriage way. When the emperor first drove past, yellow earth had to be paved. Originally it was level with the ground. Over time, residents' stove ash also accumulated there. Over time, it became worse, until it formed high ridges."

The raised paths rising above the ground also had the factor of "residents' stove ash also accumulated there." It turned out that the residents of Beijing back then dumped all the garbage swept from their courtyards onto the road surface outside the door. As a result, "stove ash and cinders, broken porcelain and tile debris piled up like mountains." In this way, not only was the road surface of the main traffic roads three or four *chi* above the ground, but even the "street in front of residences was more than a *zhang* higher than the house; people had to go down steps, like falling into a pit or valley." (*Yanjing Zaji* / Miscellaneous Notes on Beijing)

From this, one can imagine what level the street environment of Beijing city in the late Qing dynasty had reached!

At that time, the bad habit of urinating and defecating everywhere was also prevalent in the capital. According to *Yanjing Zaji*: Since the Jiaqing era, there had been paid public toilets in Beijing city; "those who enter must pay one coin." But people still urinated and defecated openly in the streets, and residents also dumped chamber pots onto the streets. Plus the cow dung and horse urine from passing animal carts, some streets were "full of feces by the wall and full of dirt on the street," and a foul smell permeated the streets and alleys. The Tongrentang in Dashilan was a famous pharmacy back then, with booming business every day, but the front of the door became a place where street people "gathered to urinate and defecate." In the famous Changdian, people could "urinate and defecate at will" behind the big screen wall opposite the Lu Zu Temple back then. Because some street surfaces in Beijing city were extremely filthy, such a "medical prescription" circulated back then: "*Renzhonghuang* (feces), *renzhongbai* (urine), cow urine, puffball, stove center earth, equal parts. Mix evenly with rootless water (rain/snow), dry in the sun, grind into fine powder with a cart wheel, and send it into the nose with the northwest wind to take it; it makes people's desire for fame and fortune disappear naturally." Although its satire was very sharp, it vividly reflected the street environment and city appearance hygiene status of Beijing back then.

At that time, not only was the street environment of Beijing city bad, but the traffic was also chaotic and disorderly. On the main traffic roads in the city, not only were the raised paths higher than the ground, high and narrow, but stalls were also set up on both sides to sell goods. Carts, horses, and pedestrians crowded onto the road together. Once there was a traffic jam, often one couldn't move for half a day. In addition, "In midsummer, there was the game of racing fast carts; noble young masters galloped for pleasure," and "those who couldn't dodge in time were killed on the road instantly." (*Yanjing Zaji*)

The alleys and *hutongs* in the city were also disorderly in comings and goings. "Rickshaw pullers had the habit of regarding yielding as a shame," so they quarreled and cursed, blocking for a long time; neither pedestrians nor carts could move.

The above situation changed quite a bit after the implementation of the "New Deal" in the late Qing dynasty, and factors of modern road administration appeared.

First, to change the situation of "roads not being governed" and the "Street Management Office" being "a mere formality," the Inner and Outer City Works and Patrol Bureau was established, responsible for street management and patrol affairs. In 1905, the Inner City Road Works East and West Bureaus and the Outer City Road Works East and West Bureaus were established, specifically responsible for the construction projects of streets and roads in the capital. Starting from 1904, more than a dozen stone slag road surfaces were built successively. Especially in 1909, for Cixi's funeral, when building roads in the Haidian area, they first filled and leveled with crushed stones, then poured lime water, and then rolled flat with a steam roller. This paving method was called "sawyer's work" at the time. This kind of road surface was flat and solid, receiving unanimous praise from the court and the public. (*Jinghua Bai Er Zhuzhici* / One Hundred and Two Bamboo Branch Poems of the Capital)

When Chen Ke arrived in Beijing, it was already October 1905. Quite a few of the stone slag roads built starting from 1904 had been completed, especially the construction of main roads. The appearance of the capital had improved quite a bit. And the biggest improvement was the establishment of a modern police system. He Ruming was transferred from Tianjin; he praised Yuan Shikai's achievement in establishing the modern police system greatly. In his words, he flattered Yuan Shikai like a flower.

The establishment of police institutions in the late Qing dynasty was the result of the reform and evolution of China's traditional political structure. Its appearance indicated that the old-style *baojia* and constable system could no longer adapt to the needs of social development. "Today, treacherous people fill the markets in all provinces of China, some named 'green skins' (hooligans), some named 'bare sticks' (ruffians)... These people eat without plowing, clothe without weaving, idle about, have no permanent profession, rely on their deceitful tricks, and run amok in the markets... All because there are no patrols coming and going to suppress in the inland cities and towns... Because unworthy gentry often protect them, and runners collude with them... And as for patrol runners and constables, there are actually none. When theft and robbery cases occur, they cannot be prevented beforehand; afterward, only rewards and bonuses are offered. The cost is high, yet it is difficult to solve the case... And the malpractices of runners are accumulated and hard to reverse." It was precisely in view of the accumulated malpractices of the old-style public security system that the establishment of the police system became the general trend. "It is rumored that Governor-General Yuan recently hated deeply that the clerks and runners of various prefectures and counties monopolized public affairs and harassed the people, and intended to recruit four battalions of patrol police to go to nearby prefectures and counties to suppress the locality and handle civil cases concurrently."

The police system showed its unique superiority as soon as it was established. "Guardian of the Crown Prince Yuan selected soldiers from the Patrol Police Battalion to patrol inside and outside the city day and night, cleaning up the streets, questioning treacherous people, changing shifts on time at night, being especially cautious. Petty thieves restrained their tracks because of this; the common people praised it, and there was a style of not closing doors at night." "Tianjin port is a place where people from all directions mix, most difficult to clean up. Since the founding of the patrol police for four years, the current situation has been achieved. Although it is not 'no one picks up lost articles on the road' and 'doors are not closed at night,' thieves have increasingly restrained their tracks in the villages. How can one not know the efficacy of the patrol police?" Not only did Chinese people praise it, but foreign newspapers also evaluated: "After Tianjin was returned, the patrol police were reorganized even more, and the roads were seen to be cleaner; it was truly unexpected. If everywhere in China were like this, why worry about not strengthening itself and becoming a strong country in the world?"

Honestly speaking, Yuan Shikai indeed played quite a big role in the establishment of the police system, and his political achievements were impressive. Starting from 1904, Beijing also gradually introduced the police system. Chen Ke saw police maintaining social order on the street this time. It was just that Chen Ke naturally wouldn't care too much about such things. No matter what these police were like, compared with the police system Chen Ke had seen in the 21st century, they were just childish stuff.

He Ruming said some words of praise of his own. Seeing that Chen Ke just listened attentively without the slightest intention of being moved, he felt this person Chen Ke really didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. The expression on his face became somewhat angry.

Chen Ke saw it and said hurriedly, "Lord He, I have been overseas all along and haven't returned to China for long. I am truly ignorant about domestic affairs; many thanks to Lord He for teaching me."

Hearing this, He Ruming couldn't say anything more. He smiled gently. "So that's how it is." After speaking, he picked up the tea cup. "Two, drink tea."

Chen Ke knew the etiquette of serving tea to see off guests, so he rose to take his leave. The steward saw the two to the door. Watching the two return to the courtyard opposite, the steward felt very surprised. Originally it was just an ordinary courteous meeting; he didn't expect the two could actually talk so deeply with his master. Not until the opposite gate closed did the steward look at the opposite gate a few more times, then turned and returned to his own courtyard.

"Wenqing, why didn't you mention the honeycomb briquette matter first?" Chen Tianhua asked somewhat dissatisfiedly as soon as he returned to the room.

"This wasn't premeditated by me, but something I thought of suddenly," Chen Ke replied.

"Why?" Chen Tianhua was somewhat strange.

"I want to develop our Party members in Beijing; finding others is not as good as finding the Westernization faction. Without a meeting gift, it's extremely difficult to get to know the Westernization faction. This honeycomb briquette is my meeting gift."

"If the honeycomb briquette can be done, I'm afraid those Westernization faction members won't be willing to revolt," Chen Tianhua replied with a slight frown.

Chen Ke looked at Chen Tianhua seriously. "Tianhua, believe me. If the Westernization faction doesn't take up this honeycomb briquette matter, they won't revolt. If this honeycomb briquette matter is really set up, they will revolt instead."

Looking at Chen Tianhua's puzzled expression, Chen Ke took out paper and pen. "Let me explain this matter to you in detail."

While Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua were discussing future development, He Ruming had already called the steward to him, asking him to explain truthfully how exactly he met Chen Ke.

Looking at the master's very serious expression, the steward dared not conceal anything. He narrated the ins and outs of meeting in Tianjin, Chen Ke laughing very rudely, then meeting by chance in Beijing, seeing the arrogant appearance of these two guys, the steward finally couldn't hold back and let the coachman whip Chen Ke once.

The steward was originally somewhat worried that the master would scold him for this. Unexpectedly, after listening, what He Ruming confirmed repeatedly was whether he had seen Chen Ke before. The steward thought over and over again, then said with certainty, "Before meeting at the Tianjin car dealership, I indeed hadn't seen these two people."

"Listen to these two people's accents; where exactly are they from?" He Ruming pursued.

"This... I really couldn't tell where Chen Ke is from. The words he spoke were neither Beijing dialect nor Tianjin dialect. But I have never heard this kind of accent." The steward said with difficulty. "As for that Chen Xingtai, he should be from Hunan; that's correct."

He Ruming recalled today's meeting again; there was nothing else special. But the suggestion about Chen Ke manufacturing honeycomb briquettes greatly exceeded He Ruming's expectations. Chen Ke could cooperate with the British, so presumably, he wasn't an incompetent person. Not to mention getting Yan Fu's recommendation. Hearing the benefits of honeycomb briquettes Chen Ke mentioned, it was also quite tempting. But He Ruming had worked in the Tianjin Machinery Bureau for more than ten years and knew the court's efficiency deeply. If the court were to do this matter, just persuading those lords would take many years. By the time money was obtained and work started, no one knew how long it would take. And the people handling the money would skim off profits... thinking of this, He Ruming only felt somewhat of a headache.

Seeing He Ruming pondering silently, the steward asked, "Do you want me to go inquire about their background?"

He Ruming shook his head gently. "This person's name card says clearly that he cooperates with the British in Shanghai. But this person is obviously a northerner. How did he run to Shanghai? I'm afraid there's a big story in this." He Ruming thought again. "Investigate carefully and clearly."

The steward was just about to leave, but He Ruming stopped him. "By the way, where were the books Mr. Yan Fu sent last time put when moving house? Find them for me and send them to the study."

Hearing this, the steward was slightly stunned. "Master, Fourth Miss and the Eldest Miss are reading that set of books now."

"Uh? How would they think of reading such books?"

"Fourth Miss saw they were books sent by Mr. Yan Fu, and you hadn't read them, so she took them first. Later, Miss was also reading them."

"Understood, you may go down." He Ruming sent the steward away. He walked toward the back courtyard himself. He didn't enter the main room but went to the wing room. As soon as he entered, he saw two young women sitting at the table; they were indeed the two girls Chen Ke had seen. A stack of books was on the table. The older one was flipping through them listlessly. The younger one held a piece of embroidery and was busy at the table. Seeing He Ruming enter, the younger one stood up hurriedly. "Daddy, you're here. Has that guest left?"

"Left." Seeing his daughter, He Ruming immediately had a smile on his face.

"He left, so I can play the piano, right?"

He Ruming's daughter was named He Ying; she was the eldest daughter, with two younger brothers below her.

"We are about to eat lunch; what piano are you playing? Your brothers are still reading books right now. Talk about it in the afternoon." Although he refused his daughter's request, the feeling of love for his daughter in He Ruming's tone couldn't be covered up no matter what.

"But Auntie played yesterday." He Ying felt it was unfair, and there was some grievance in her tone. The auntie she mentioned was He Qian beside her. He Qian was He Ruming's fourth sister, the youngest. After He Ruming's parents passed away, she lived with her elder brother He Ruming.

Seeing his daughter acting like a spoiled child, He Ruming also couldn't hold up somewhat. "You are about to get married soon; finish the embroidery quickly. Otherwise, if your mother yells at you, I won't care."

Hearing this, He Ying sat back on the stool, lowered her head, and picked up the embroidery, but refused to continue working. Seeing his daughter like this, He Ruming also felt it was inappropriate. He whispered, "Your mother is going out this afternoon. Before she comes back, you can play the piano, but you must finish today's embroidery."

Just as He Ruming finished speaking, He Ying's face immediately lit up. "Many thanks, Daddy." After speaking, she picked up the needle and continued embroidering quickly.

Seeing He Ruming finish explaining the daughter's matters, He Qian put down the book and looked up asking, "Big Brother looking for me, what instructions do you have?"

"I want to read these books. Lend them to me first."

"Why did Big Brother think of reading books by the Revolutionary Party?" He Qian laughed.

"What?" Hearing this, He Ruming was shocked.

"This is a rebel's book; doesn't Big Brother know?"

Yan Fu was actually entangled with rebels? He Ruming couldn't believe this fact no matter what. However, in these years, whether it was the Royalist Party like Kang Youwei who hoped for the Guangxu Emperor's restoration, or those guys shouting for constitutionalism, they could actually all be classified as rebels. They all opposed the Old Buddha who was actually in power now. Since the Gengzi Incident when the Old Buddha declared war on all nations, the court had actually struggled to move a step. He Ruming's political views were quite conservative; although he was of the Westernization faction, he leaned toward the Empress Dowager's faction. In his view, whether it was the Emperor's faction or those constitutionalists "playing new policies," or the more radical Revolutionary Party, they were all birds of a feather—guys who couldn't accomplish anything but were good at spoiling things. In comparison, although Cixi made many mistakes, she was still much more mature politically.

Seeing He Ruming's solemn expression, He Qian laughed, "Big Brother, the person who wrote this book is quite clever. With those people in the court, they absolutely won't see that he is a rebel. I'm afraid they will even cite him as support."

Looking at his sister He Qian's appearance of commenting on court politics, He Ruming felt quite regretful. He Qian was more like He Ruming's father, quick-witted and intelligent. He Ruming had three brothers but only this one sister. When Old Master He was alive, he doted on her immensely and simply didn't raise He Qian as a woman. Whatever He Qian wanted to learn, Old Master He would teach He Qian. After He Qian read books, her judgments on the court were basically never wrong. He Ruming firmly believed that if He Qian were a man, with the two siblings joining forces, He Ruming's achievements would probably be much higher than now.

"How is the book written?" He Ruming didn't doubt his sister's eyes.

"Excellent. After I read it, many things suddenly became clear." Speaking to this point, He Qian suddenly asked, "I wonder what relationship the author has with today's guest?"

Facing his intelligent sister, He Ruming didn't want to hide anything either. "The one who came today is the author of this book."

He Ruming also wanted to hear his sister's opinion. Most importantly, He Ruming didn't really want to read all these dozen thick books once. Since He Qian had read them, letting He Qian explain the content of the books to him was a very convenient thing.