He Ruming looked at his younger sister, He Qian. The brother and sister looked very much alike, both inheriting their features from their mother. When He Qian was young, He Ruming often took her out to play on the streets. At that time, anyone who saw the two of them, as long as they could strike up a conversation, would say they looked like brother and sister at first glance. Of course, there were also those with no eyes who would ask if they were father and daughter. But He Ruming didn't feel that way. In his opinion, his sister He Qian's personality was more like their father's. The look on He Qian's face now, as she persuaded him to break off the marriage with the Lian family, seemed almost exactly the same as his father's to He Ruming. Both had a faint sense of condescension. This was the feeling He Ruming disliked the most.

"Brother, that marriage proposal definitely cannot be agreed to anymore. 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 haven't been presented yet, so things haven't reached an unmanageable point."

Seeing that He Ruming still hadn't made up his mind, He Qian simply made it clear. "If they don't know what's good for them and insist on mentioning this matter, Brother, you must reject this matter. Contracting this disease is enough to show that their son is definitely not a good thing. If they mention the marriage again, they are looking down on you. Is our family's girl so cheap that she can't find a good family to marry?"

Hearing that he would be looked down upon, He Ruming roused his spirits a bit. But after a moment, he frowned again. He Qian knew He Ruming was worried that without relying on the Lian family, his future official career would definitely be damaged. Knowing this, she was even more furious. "Brother, to put it plainly, this officialdom is still a matter of spending money. Without relying on the Lian family, it's not like we don't have other opportunities. There is a gold mountain outside; go dig it."

"Outside?" He Ruming asked in confusion.

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

Only then did He Ruming understand that his sister had already set her sights on Chen Ke. Thinking about it, this was indeed a way to make money, but that Chen Ke was not an ordinary foreign student without background. As far as he knew now, he had Yan Fu backing him up. Trying to blackmail Chen Ke wouldn't be that easy. "How can we make this Chen Wenqing obediently take out the medicine?" he asked his sister.

"Isn't he begging at your door right now?"

"That honeycomb briquette?"

*Rotten wood cannot be carved!* He Qian was speechless at her brother's slow reaction. After reading Chen Ke's book, although He Qian hadn't met Chen Ke, she was already certain that Chen Ke couldn't want to cooperate with He Ruming just for the honeycomb briquette matter; he must have other intentions. What Chen Ke's true purpose was, He Qian wasn't too clear about either. To gain benefits from Chen Ke, relying on her brother alone probably wouldn't work. It seemed she had to condescend to meet Chen Ke herself to know. After confirming her train of thought, He Qian said, "Brother, keep Chen Ke for lunch. I'll ask him."

"This isn't convenient, is it?"

"At any rate, he is an overseas student, plays the piano so well, and listening to Brother, he seems to be quite learned. He must have been overseas for many years; foreign men and women don't avoid meeting each other. There is nothing inconvenient about this."

After hearing his sister's hint, He Ruming felt that Chen Ke was indeed a bit like a target that could be squeezed. But to really squeeze Chen Ke, he didn't have a good method he could think of immediately. Since his sister was willing to come forward, He Ruming felt a lot less pressure.

"Let it be so."

"What about the Lian family's matter?" He Qian pressed. 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 girl of the He family, would also be looked down upon. For the He family, He Qian had to defend the family's dignity.

"Just do as you said," He Ruming replied.

After the brother and sister finished discussing for the family's interests, He Ruming returned to the living room first. He saw Chen Ke and Pu Guanshui lying on the table, writing something on paper.

"When getting to this note, insert a symbol. Play such a segment," Chen Ke said while writing. He Ruming leaned over to look; it was somewhat familiar. Those were the strange symbols on the few music scores that came with the piano when the family bought it. Chen Ke wrote a segment with a swishing sound, and then marked a few key points on it with a pen. "This part needs to be accompanied by a gong. That's about it."

Pu Guanshui looked at the dozen sheets of paper on the table; each sheet had a score for different instrument performances. "Brother Wenqing, organizing a military band is just like fighting a war; the operation methods of each department are completely different."

"It's the same for everything. It won't work without good cooperation."

"Then I'll take these back first and find the military band to practice."

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

Hearing this, He Ruming felt Chen Ke's tone was very big. Foreign military bands weren't so easy to mobilize. Seeing Pu Guanshui's hesitant expression, He Ruming felt Pu Guanshui had the same thought. Unexpectedly, Pu Guanshui continued, "Finding a foreign military band is nothing. But this is the Beiyang's own parade march after all. If we find a foreign military band, I'm afraid people will laugh at my Beiyang for having no one."

Hearing this, He Ruming also became dissatisfied with Pu Guanshui. He immediately labeled the two young men as "not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth."

"If Brother Guanshui needs anything, just come find me. It must be in the morning; I have to lecture at the Imperial University in the afternoon."

"Understood. I will definitely come to trouble Brother Wenqing."

After speaking, Pu Guanshui asked Chen Ke to play "Soviet March" completely twice more before getting up to leave.

Standing at the door with Chen Ke, watching Pu Guanshui leave, He Ruming said, "Wenqing, after hearing the tune you played, my sister wants to see how Wenqing plays the piano. Could I trouble Wenqing?"

"That is possible." Chen Ke didn't understand what He Ruming wanted to do, but he had no reason to refuse.

Returning to the living room, He Ruming asked his sister to come in, and everyone exchanged greetings. Chen Ke sized up He Qian and couldn't help but look at He Ruming beside her. The brother and sister looked quite alike. Handsome Brother He looked very much like Teacher Chen (Edison Chen) who had transcended the realm of equipment, while He Qian's appearance could only be described as beautiful. She wore her hair in that long braid unique to young girls, but Chen Ke really couldn't accept the silk clothes on her body. It was the kind of clothing popular in the Manchu Qing, which meant a pile of gaudy stuff, small collars, wide jackets, and the long skirts were also that annoying straight-tube style. To these clothes, Chen Ke felt they looked very much like mourning clothes. No matter how he looked at it, he felt uncomfortable.

While Chen Ke was sizing up He Qian, He Qian was also sizing up Chen Ke. Chen Ke's height was considered very tall in this era. Although his clothes looked a bit old, from a woman's perspective, the fabric had excellent luster. However, He Qian noticed that Chen Ke initially looked at her with some appreciation, but soon his attitude immediately became cold. He Qian felt a bit dissatisfied with this subtle change. Anyone who had met her always praised He Qian for being quite beautiful. Chen Ke's gaze was no different from others at first, but after sizing up her clothes, his attitude changed. *Could it be that I am not as attention-grabbing as a set of clothes?*

She couldn't help but look down at her own attire. This set of clothes was already very much like Manchu clothing; He Qian felt she understood a bit. After reading Chen Ke's book, He Qian could judge that Chen Ke was a revolutionary. Connecting this with Chen Ke's attitude towards her clothes, He Qian could absolutely confirm Chen Ke's political leaning now.

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

He Ruming's face changed immediately upon hearing this. *Where is the practice of leaving someone's brother aside and asking the woman directly? This is too inconsistent with etiquette.*

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

Sure enough, as she thought, Chen Ke didn't look at her anymore; he sat by the piano and started playing. The music was beautiful, but everyone's state of mind was already different. When she first heard this tune, He Qian was still appreciating the music; now she was just observing Chen Ke.

After finishing this piece, and after Chen Ke played a few more tunes, He Qian asked, "Did Mr. Chen study music overseas?"

"I studied chemistry."

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

Hearing this, Chen Ke turned his head to look at He Qian. He suddenly noticed that He Qian's demeanor was very familiar. That was a very firm and serious expression; when Chen Ke negotiated with people, opponents often used this attitude to bargain.

Chen Ke smiled. He looked seriously into He Qian's eyes and said, "I wonder what advice Miss He has. Please speak frankly."

He Ruming looked at these two young people. Both had steady attitudes and powerful gazes. Although their expressions looked kind, they gave people a feeling of hiding their light under a bushel. In this instant, He Ruming just felt that these two looked very alike.

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

"I need to find hands who are steadfast and willing to work, and who understand machinery. I heard that since Lord He worked in the Tianjin Machinery Bureau for many years, you naturally know many talents in this area. I can also find them through other channels, but it is certainly not as convenient as letting Lord He, who knows the roots and bottom, find them."

"I wonder what benefits my brother will have for doing this matter?" He Qian asked.

He Ruming was drinking tea; hearing this, he almost spat out the tea. *My sister is too blunt, isn't she?*

"Then what does Miss He want?" Chen Ke was equally blunt.

"I wonder how Mr. Chen's medicine is sold?"

Chen Ke thought for a moment. "With a ten-day limit, if Lord He can find ten people, I will sell Lord He medicine for one hundred people. If you can find twenty people, I will sell Lord He medicine for two hundred people. My medicine sells for twenty taels per person in Shanghai. If the people Lord He finds, I approve of five, the medicine price I give Lord He is the dosage for eighteen taels per person. If I approve of ten people, it's sixteen taels. If I approve of twenty people, I will give Lord He the dosage for twelve taels per person. Moreover, I guarantee that within three months, absolutely no other medicine will flow to the north. How much money Lord He sells it for, I will not interfere at all."

He Ruming knew that let alone twenty taels, even if he sold it for fifty taels now, those anxious to see a doctor would pay. If it was a dosage for two hundred people, according to what Chen Ke said, he would earn more than three thousand taels of silver at the very least. In these years, a good manor around Beijing was only a price of two or three thousand taels. Such a deal could earn that much. But such a negotiation between Chen Ke and his sister made He Ruming feel very uncomfortable. *Where are the lady from a prominent family and the foreign student? The two are simply a pair of bold merchants.*

"I'm afraid ten days is not enough time," He Qian said.

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

"Then what is Brother's meaning?" He Qian turned her head and asked.

"Twenty days," He Ruming replied.

"Lord He, I will wait at most thirteen days," Chen Ke replied unceremoniously.

He Ruming looked at Chen Ke, seeing that he had no intention of backing down, He Ruming frowned. But glancing at his sister, he saw his sister nod slightly. Only then did He Ruming say, "Then let it be thirteen days."

After settling the matter, Chen Ke got up to take his leave. He Ruming didn't ask him to stay. After Chen Ke left, he asked He Qian, "What exactly does this Chen Ke mean?"

"He already said it," He Qian sat by the piano, her fingers gently tapping the keys.

"You believe him?" He Ruming pressed.

"Then what does Brother plan to do? Either do it or don't do it. Brother, you make up your own mind." After speaking, He Qian struck the keyboard, and the piano played a monotonous note. Listening to Chen Ke's fluent playing just now, He Ruming felt this sound was really unpleasant.

Returning to his residence, Chen Ke saw everyone surrounding Chen Tianhua. Going over to look, it turned out the blacksmith had delivered the custom-made mold. The briquette maker was made quite roughly and simply, but what Chen Ke wanted at this time was time; whether the outer iron ring was round enough and whether the tolerance between parts was high enough were no longer the main points Chen Ke pursued. At this time, the courtyard was already piled with newly bought crushed coal. Chen Ke and everyone put on masks, broke the coal into coal powder as much as possible, then mixed it with loess, and used the briquette maker to beat it into honeycomb briquettes.

After making twenty briquettes, this thing was far less convenient than the briquette makers of later generations. To pursue time, Chen Ke adopted the simplest mode. Moreover, everyone was unskilled at the beginning; not only was the coal production slow, but quite a few were broken in the middle. Their black hands wiped the sweat on their sweaty foreheads and faces indiscriminately, making their faces even dirtier. Chen Ke asked, "Tianhua, look at how much effort we spent. If they can buy honeycomb briquettes, people would rather buy coal, right?"

Chen Tianhua was also tired; breaking coal and mixing mud was not easy labor. He lifted the cloth on the earthen jar and drank a bellyful of water from the mouth of the jar. "That may not be so. The common people are very cautious about spending money. They don't earn much money in the first place; where is the money to spend?"

"Now we are doing it ourselves, so the cost of hiring workers is too high. In the future, using machines for production, the cost can be lower than burning coal balls," Chen Ke replied confidently.

Chen Ke stood up and started filling the rough stove with firewood. Yesterday at midnight, Chen Ke had already started burning firewood in the stove to slowly evaporate the moisture in the clay. Now the clay was much drier. After Chen Ke lit the firewood this time, he put a honeycomb briquette on top. The light smoke from burning firewood gradually dispersed. Chen Ke waited for a while, and finally said with a smile on his face, "The honeycomb briquette is burning."

Pots, pans, and ladles were all bought. Chen Ke hadn't used honeycomb briquettes since he was eighteen, but he hadn't forgotten how to use them. Blue flames were burning under the pot. Taking advantage of the strong fire, he stir-fried the dishes in one go. Everyone gathered around the table and started eating.

"I made a connection with the Beiyang Army yesterday," Chen Ke said calmly.

Everyone except Wu Xingchen was stunned hearing this. Chen Ke originally planned to say this later, but after thinking about it just now, he felt it was better to say it earlier. If he said it later, in case everyone discovered it first, it wouldn't be easy to explain. Who knew what trouble would arise. Anyway, saying it anytime would cause problems. It was better to say it directly now to avoid unpredictable things.

"Chen Ke, what do you mean by this?" Pang Zi slammed his chopsticks down with a *pa*; sure enough, he flared up first.

"The Beiyang Army is currently drilling in Hejian. If we are lucky, we can see their drill with our own eyes. At that time, everyone can see the actual situation of the Beiyang Army," Chen Ke said unmoved. "Brother Pang, don't you want revenge? Isn't it good to see the actual situation of the Beiyang Army with your own eyes?"

"You!" Pang Zi was speechless with anger for a moment.

"Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat," Wu Xingchen said in a deep voice.

"What the fuck 'hundred battles with no danger'! Just kill them one by one and it'll be fine," Pang Zi said angrily.

"Brother Pang, you..."

"What 'Brother Pang,' I'm not your big brother." Hearing Chen Ke had collusion with the Beiyang Army, Pang Zi felt angry. Just as he was about to flare up, Wu Xingchen slapped the table with a *pa*. He shouted sternly, "Pang the Third, what do you want to do? What do you want to say? Is this how you talk to Wenqing? How did Uncle Jing teach you back then?"

Pang Zi seemed somewhat afraid of Wu Xingchen. Being roared at like this, his arrogance immediately disappeared.

"Wenqing, you don't need to be so polite to Pang Zi. Scold him when you should; has he turned the sky upside down!" Wu Xingchen said severely.

Chen Ke smiled and didn't say anything else, just explaining how he contacted the Beiyang Army. Pang Zi wanted to speak several times in the middle, but stared at by Wu Xingchen, he didn't dare to be so presumptuous.

"So, Wenqing wants to let us go see when the Beiyang Army holds the parade?" Wu Xingchen said slowly.

"The parade can best show the actual situation of the Beiyang Army. And if we are lucky, we can also see the Beiyang's real combat exercises. This opportunity is rare."

"Brother Pang, haven't you always wanted revenge? If you want to rebel in Hebei, you definitely can't avoid the encirclement and suppression of the Beiyang Army. And the brothers from Shandong, once everyone makes a big scene, they also can't avoid fighting the Beiyang Army. Look at the strength of the Beiyang Army now; if we encounter the Beiyang Army in the future, we will also have preparation," Chen Ke said.

"How many Beiyang troops are drilling?" Wu Xingchen asked.

"Not all of Beiyang's forces; I heard more than twenty thousand were transferred," Chen Ke answered casually.

"*Sss!*" Someone already sucked in a breath of cold air.

In the Gengzi year, the Beiyang Six Towns hadn't fully formed yet. To suppress the Shandong uprising, the Beiyang Army force Yuan Shikai used was less than ten thousand. And the Boxers were beaten to pieces. Hearing Chen Ke's statement, the strength of the Beiyang Army was much stronger than before, and the Shandong heroes were greatly shocked. Even Pang Zi lowered his head and dared not make a sound.

"Brother Wu, we have to grasp the time to lecture these days. I don't know when I will be taken to help them rehearse the parade music. If there is a chance to go see the Beiyang exercises, we must know how to defeat the Beiyang Army before going to see the exercises."

Hearing Chen Ke's statement, everyone's gaze focused on Chen Ke's face again.

"I can only tell everyone the basic things; it's all armchair strategy. If these are not understood, going to see the exercises, I'm afraid everyone will be scared by the Beiyang Army." Chen Ke commented on everyone's current strength indifferently.

"By the way, we have to send a letter to Shanghai today. Let them ship some things to us. Hmm, let Xie Mingxian be responsible for bringing the things over."