In the evening, Shang Yuan came as agreed, along with Qin Tongren and Xu Dian. After the "frank and open" talk last time, only these three decided to go to Anhui. Chai Qingguo had returned from Tianjin. The three were not surprised to see Chai Qingguo again; instead, Chai Qingguo felt a bit awkward.

Chen Ke introduced the comrades from the north and south to each other and reported the latest situation. It was the first time Shang Yuan and the others learned about the situation in the south. After listening to the introduction, everyone remained silent. Chen Ke continued to explain his attitude, "This is the situation now. The Shanghai Branch of the People's Party has encountered a major setback. I am preparing to return to Shanghai immediately to rescue the arrested comrades. If Brother Wangshan hasn't changed his mind, I will arrange for them to go to Anhui."

"I won't change my mind. When does Wenqing plan to set off? And what do you plan to do with sister-in-law?" Shang Yuan's thinking was consistently meticulous.

"I plan to leave in three days. As for my wife, I will take her back to Shanghai with me. Then arrange for her to go to Anhui with other comrades."

"I still have to stay in Beijing for a while; the factory matter must have a result." Qin Tongren's arrangement was also quite reasonable.

"If Brother Wenqing needs someone to fight a lawsuit, I can go to Shanghai to help." Xu Dian seemed quite confident in his legal ability.

"That would be greatly appreciated." Chen Ke had a good impression of Xu Dian's enthusiasm but didn't hold much hope for specific lawsuits.

After another discussion, it was finally decided that Shang Yuan and Qin Tongren would stay in Beijing temporarily, and Chen Tianhua would return to Hebei now. Wu Xingchen, Chai Qingguo, Kuroshima Jinichirō, and Xie Mingxian would set off for Shanghai tomorrow. Chen Ke would set off in three days. Xu Dian would go home to handle family affairs and then also set off for Shanghai to meet everyone.

Since the decision had been made, everyone bade farewell one after another. Xie Mingxian was very worldly-wise and took the initiative to move to Wu Xingchen's place with his luggage. Chen Ke didn't want to urge him to stay pretentiously either.

Sending everyone off, Chen Ke came back and closed the door. The huge courtyard felt empty. Since coming to Beijing, this was the first time he lived here so lonely. Chen Ke wasn't a person who loved excitement in the 21st century; he quite liked living alone. On the contrary, after returning to this era, he had to get along with comrades day and night. But people have habits; suddenly being alone again, he felt a bit unaccustomed instead.

After returning to the room, He Ying saw Chen Ke was somewhat depressed and puzzled. He Ying wasn't stupid at all; from these clues, she could tell that Chen Ke had definitely encountered some big event. She wanted to ask but didn't know how to start. At this moment, she heard Chen Ke say, "It's late, let's sleep." He Ying felt a burst of shyness. But unexpectedly, Chen Ke's "let's sleep" really meant literally that; the couple slept in one quilt just like that. Chen Ke fell asleep very quickly.

Smelling the faint masculine scent on Chen Ke, He Ying felt upset and distracted. She wanted to shake Chen Ke awake to ask what happened but couldn't do it. She slowly came out of Chen Ke's quilt, wrapped herself in a quilt, and lay down again. Chen Ke's breathing was so faint that it couldn't be heard at all. He Ying gently touched Chen Ke's face with her hand, feeling continuous breathing from his nostrils. Only then did she relax.

Wrapping her quilt, He Ying couldn't help remembering what her aunt He Qian said before the wedding: "This Chen Ke is by no means a good kind; you have to be careful after getting married." At that time, He Ying didn't have any intuitive understanding of these words. In fact, until now, He Ying couldn't define Chen Ke either. Leaving aside whether Chen Ke himself was good or evil, at least Chen Ke didn't lack any politeness and concern he should have. He even cooked personally, helped her get clothes, and cleaned the table after meals. The men around He Ying were all served by wives or maids and servants. She occasionally heard from the conversations between her mother and visiting ladies that other families were the same. This made Chen Ke look very special instead.

As for the matter of no consummation, He Ying, a virgin girl, had no concept of this either. She just heard that couples would do so, but since it really didn't happen, she didn't feel any regret. Anyway, the days ahead were long; what should come would always come. The only thing He Ying felt dissatisfied with was that Chen Ke didn't discuss anything with her. But to be honest, her father never discussed outside matters with her mother either. This wasn't anything unusual. Thinking for a while, sleepiness came up, and the little girl fell asleep unknowingly.

Getting up early in the morning, the two had breakfast. Chen Ke said seriously, "Madam, I want to take you back to Shanghai the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow I will visit my father-in-law with you to bid him farewell. Today, you and I will visit a few of my teachers and friends in Beijing and buy some gifts along the way."

Returning home on the third day was a standard etiquette. This was a great etiquette for the bride's family, and many gifts needed to be brought. Chen Ke felt he had to make a big purchase. He Ying's attention was attracted by the word "going to Shanghai." She had heard of Shanghai and only knew it was very, very far away. But she had absolutely no concept of exactly how far. "Where is Shanghai?" she asked.

Chen Ke thought for a while and found a large booklet from his luggage. This was one of the most precious things he brought back from the 21st century. Taobao City sold everything; he saw a map handbook of China for hikers. 16mo fine printing. Chen Ke loved to ride a bicycle for long-distance travel alone; if the mood struck, he would also hike. This booklet was printed very exquisitely. Taking advantage of having money in hand, he simply bought both copies.

One copy was left in Shanghai; he didn't know if it survived when the house was raided. But Qi Huishen was reliable. Since he asked Qi Huishen to keep it carefully along with other things, presumably it should be fine, right? Putting the booklet on the table, Chen Ke lectured his wife on Chinese geography. It was the first time He Ying saw a real map. Such a colorful map covered with dense straight and curved lines was actually the appearance of China; this made He Ying feel very rare. Seeing that rooster-like map of China, she really couldn't believe she lived in such a country. Chen Ke felt something was wrong; the map of China at this time still included Mongolia. Taking out such a map, wouldn't he become a huge traitor? Although Chen Ke couldn't perform the "feat" of expanding territory on the map, he couldn't do splitting the national territory for no reason either. When Chen Ke lectured in Shanghai, he never dared to take out this map booklet. He was afraid of causing misunderstanding among comrades. Fortunately, He Ying didn't understand geography, let alone maps. She didn't press these questions.

Chen Ke pointed out the route from Beijing to Shanghai. This booklet came with a ruler; the exquisite transparent resin ruler made He Ying fondle it admiringly. The two measured the distance, and after conversion, obtained a result of thousands of *li*. This really scared He Ying.

"I came from Shanghai to Tianjin, and from Tianjin to Beijing, thousands of *li* away. And then I married you. A marriage predestined by a thousand *li* of thread; we are destined to be husband and wife." Chen Ke used sweet words.

He Ying's face was red, and she was also very happy. After a while, she asked in a low voice, "Wenqing, you have been so busy recently; what exactly is going on?"

Anyway, this matter couldn't be hidden for long. Chen Ke simply told the truth, "Several of my friends were arrested by foreigners in Shanghai. I have to go back to rescue them. So the wedding matter was also delayed. Saving a life is like putting out a fire; I really have no mood to stay here now."

Hearing this, He Ying just nodded and continued to look at the cities marked on the map. She neither changed her expression greatly and cried, nor anxiously pressed Chen Ke for the truth. Such a style greatly exceeded Chen Ke's expectations.

"Madam, don't you say something?" Chen Ke asked tentatively.

"Going to rescue friends when they are in trouble is also what a real man should do. Besides, you are taking me with you; what do I have to complain about?" He Ying said slowly. "Since we are going on a long journey soon, let's buy more things today."

Hearing this, Chen Ke really felt some respect. Qin Tongren was really accurate in judging people. He insisted that He Ying was a good match at the time, and Chen Ke just listened. At that time, he didn't expect the Shanghai riot to happen, nor did he expect He Ying's attitude to be so open-minded when encountering such a big event.

"Then let's set off," Chen Ke said. He saw He Ying close the map booklet she was looking through with great interest just now and hand it to Chen Ke. Doing things immediately when said, she actually didn't have the slightest meaning of "losing ambition by playing with things." Chen Ke absolutely didn't have such self-restraint when he was seventeen. As long as it was something he liked, he absolutely wouldn't stop until he played with it to the point of darkness after getting it. Chen Ke remembered his mother talking about one of her elementary school teachers back then, who came from a big family, attended the Women's Normal School, and engaged in education all her life. Chen Ke's mother highly esteemed this teacher because this teacher required students to do things like this usually. It seemed the so-called lady from a prominent family was indeed not called in vain.

After packing the map booklet and clothes, there was wind today. Chen Ke took out his sunglasses and put them on himself, then felt it was wrong, and quickly asked He Ying to put them on. Sunglasses were already available on the market in these times. After He Ying put them on, according to Chen Ke's aesthetics, she really looked very good. Obviously, He Ying also liked these lightweight resin glasses very much. She said somewhat awkwardly, "It might not be good if others see it."

"You are my wife; do you care what others say? I think you look very good wearing them. Let's go." After speaking, Chen Ke took He Ying's hand and went out.

Just out of the door, he saw Shang Yuan stopping at his door with a honeycomb briquette cart following behind. For Shang Yuan sending "bad luck" (*mei* - homophone for coal *mei*) early in the morning, Chen Ke didn't know whether to thank him or what.

Shang Yuan didn't expect Chen Ke to go out so early either. Seeing He Ying without makeup, her long hair combed into a braid, completely dressed like a girl, but wearing beautiful sunglasses, he also felt it was greatly unexpected. Shang Yuan wasn't a pretentious person; he was just slightly stunned and then said, "Wenqing, I just want to invite you to meet someone. By the way, help me move the coal. Since you are up too, let's go together."

Chen Ke knew Shang Yuan wasn't a boring person. Since he invited like this, it should be because he thought it was necessary. Anyway, he didn't have any big things to do, so he agreed readily. The three chatted while walking. This cart of coal from Shang Yuan was sent to his enlightenment teacher. Not only that, but his teacher's stove was also repaired by Shang Yuan personally. A person who could make Shang Yuan respect so much must be remarkable.

His teacher was also a small capital official, living not far away. They arrived at the door quickly. A man about fifty years old came out from inside. Shang Yuan hurried forward to salute, "Teacher Li, I'm here. This is Chen Ke whom I mentioned."

This man surnamed Li was a very ordinary person, that is to say, ordinary appearance, ordinary dress, and ordinary speech. After listening to Shang Yuan's simple introduction of Chen Ke, the man smiled kindly at Chen Ke. "This is Chen Wenqing. I've heard your name for a long time."

"Hello, Teacher Li." Chen Ke also saluted.

"Teacher Li, let's move the coal in before talking," Shang Yuan said.

"Exactly, let's move the coal." After speaking, Chen Ke rolled up his sleeves and started working.

Teacher Li wore a coarse cloth short jacket. He didn't stand on ceremony either; he took out a few wooden boards and started working together. Many hands make light work; more than five hundred pieces of coal were moved quickly. While Shang Yuan and Teacher Li were not at the door, Chen Ke secretly went to pay for the coal. The coal deliverer was a familiar Bannerman. He laughed, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Shang has already paid for the coal." Only then did Chen Ke enter the courtyard.

After everyone washed their hands, they sat down in the main room. Teacher Li's name was Li Hongqi. He sized up Chen Ke and then laughed, "I have read Wenqing's book and heard Wangshan talk about Wenqing's ambition. Meeting you today, I feel that compared with the principles Wenqing wrote, Wenqing's conduct is far different."

Chen Ke wasn't angry either; he wasn't wrong. This book was plagiarized by himself; doing things was his original level. Compared with Marx and those who wrote college textbooks, Chen Ke hadn't reached the level of arrogance to think he could surpass them.

Li Hongqi looked at Chen Ke's indifferent expression and nodded slightly. "Wenqing, Wangshan invited you over this time because he wanted me to enlighten you. I see that Wenqing writes books like a disciple of a famous family. But seeing you do things, you inevitably have some faults of disciples of famous families. The Master said: 'The gentleman stands in awe of three things: he is in awe of the Decree of Heaven, he is in awe of great men, he is in awe of the words of the sages. The mean man does not know the Decree of Heaven and does not stand in awe of it; he is disrespectful to great men; he makes sport of the words of the sages.' Wenqing, even if you are extremely talented, learned, and eloquent, if you only know the how but not the why, it is just gluing the stops and playing the zither (stubbornly sticking to rules), a contemporary Zhao Kuo (armchair strategist)."

This problem had also troubled Chen Ke for a long time. Hearing Li Hongqi point it out with one sentence, he was immediately startled. "Teacher Li, this is exactly my difficulty. Does Teacher Li have any solution?"

Seeing Chen Ke looking at him with burning eyes, Li Hongqi laughed, "Wenqing, don't be anxious. The so-called giving advice is exactly the same as street fortune-telling. I say mine, you listen to yours. To put it vulgarly, it's farting in the crotch—venting from both ends. But since Wangshan came to beg me in every way, I'll reluctantly say it for you to hear."

These words were interesting; Chen Ke, Shang Yuan, and even He Ying couldn't help laughing out loud.

"I study Confucianism. The so-called Decree of Heaven is not ghosts and gods. Ghosts and gods are not enough to fear, but the Decree of Heaven has to be revered. According to what Wenqing wrote in the book, the Decree of Heaven is the torrent of history. Wenqing uses words extremely exquisitely, making people can't help but applaud after reading. But why do you act so pedantically? This is the first time I've seen it. Can Wenqing tell me?"

Chen Ke felt quite embarrassed hearing this. *Inheritance of Chinese Culture and the Rise of Materialism*—this book was something he plagiarized. Chen Ke barely knew the complex theoretical knowledge himself, and only knew it; he was a hundred thousand eight thousand *li* away from being able to use it freely. But this was Chen Ke's capital to fool everyone and gain reputation. It was extremely difficult for him to tell the truth. After pondering for a long time, Chen Ke finally mustered up the courage to tell the truth.

Hearing Chen Ke "shyly" explain the truth, Li Hongqi laughed loudly. "I didn't expect Wenqing to be so honest. It seems there is still hope."

Chen Ke felt this Teacher Li really knew how to comfort people, but his words didn't give Chen Ke any sense of comfort at all.

"Wenqing, even if the theory of materialism was plagiarized by you, the part about China inside was definitely written by yourself. Even being able to connect to such an extent is already a great talent. Wenqing need not be disappointed in yourself." Li Hongqi spoke pertinently; Chen Ke felt much better after hearing it.

Just as he was nodding slightly, he heard Li Hongqi sneer, "Does Wenqing know where he was wrong?"

These words were inexplicable; Chen Ke couldn't make heads or tails of it at all.

"Not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personal losses. The so-called joy is just because of one's own gain or loss. As for the matter itself, what joy or sorrow is there to speak of? Wenqing, you tried to secretly stuff coal money to the cart driver today, right? I saw when you moved things, you looked left and right, afraid that you did anything wrong, afraid of making anyone unhappy. If you were an ordinary person, this would be considered quite good. But Wenqing, your ambition is so big; Wangshan told me. Since you have such ambition, you absolutely must not be like this. If dealing with some ordinary people, not making mistakes is enough. If facing heroes of the world, that is precisely what you cannot do; you have to be yourself."

Shang Yuan listened attentively and couldn't help nodding slightly.

Chen Ke felt a bit puzzled. "Please speak more clearly, Teacher Li, okay?"

"Wenqing, I have seen people like you. They think that for any matter, as long as the correct results are gathered in the process, then the final correct goal can be obtained. This is actually completely wrong."

This was the first time Chen Ke heard someone preach like this; it was truly refreshing. "Where is the mistake?" he asked.

"The mistake lies in that you think there is a correct result that can be achieved in the world. A gentleman is in awe of the Decree of Heaven; how can the Decree of Heaven be grasped by you alone? Zhuge Wuhou once sighed, 'Man proposes, God disposes' (*Mou shi zai ren, cheng shi zai tian*). You are even wiser than Zhuge Wuhou; the Decree of Heaven can also be manipulated in your hands. I saw Wenqing write in your book that history spirals upward. To tell you the truth, seeing that passage, I was really joyful and amazed. When I met Wenqing, I was greatly disappointed. The mean man does not know the Decree of Heaven and does not stand in awe of it; he is disrespectful to great men; he makes sport of the words of the sages. Although Wenqing can write the words of sages, your actions happen to be absurd, even more detestable than insulting the words of sages verbally."

Li Hongqi's words were sharp and mean, but Chen Ke had absolutely no feeling of anger or joy. He stared at Li Hongqi with burning eyes and asked solemnly, "This is my own fault. If asked to risk my life, I can do it. But knowing the Decree of Heaven, I am powerless. Teacher Li, where exactly is the problem?"

"The problem lies in one point: Wenqing, you feel you have achieved the correct result. This is completely wrong. You think there is a correct starting point and a correct end point. You only need to start from this starting point and reach the end point. If an ordinary person does this, they certainly won't become foolish and arrogant. But for people like you to do this, it is committing the metaphysical error Wenqing talked about. You must first adhere to your own ideal. The Master said: 'If the Way does not prevail, I will get on a raft and float out to sea.' If there is no such ideal, it naturally won't work. It's just that to practice this ideal, you can only do things according to your correct principles, with a beginning and an end. But as for the specific result, you know the approximate result, but it is impossible to know the accurate result. Therefore, don't do it for the correctness of the result; you have to do it to conform to the principle."

Listening to these words, Chen Ke was truly convinced.