"Come on, darling, call me Grandpa," He Ruming said, beaming with joy as he held his granddaughter.

The little one looked at the old man holding her, laughing happily, and reached out to touch He Ruming's face. Although his beard was being tugged, He Ruming was even happier. "Call me Grandpa."

He Ying took her daughter from her father's arms, sat her on her lap, and patiently taught her, "Yueyue, say Grand-pa. Grand-pa."

"Gwan... Gwan-pa," Chen Ke's daughter said, somewhat perfunctorily mimicking the sound while trying to get off her mother's lap.

"It's Grand-pa, not Gwan-pa," He Ying continued patiently.

"Grand... Grand-pa." Seeing she couldn't break free from her mother's embrace, Yueyue's pronunciation was much more correct this time.

"Darling." He Ruming happily took his granddaughter back into his hands, kissing and hugging her.

After the group of adults played with the one-and-a-half-year-old for a while, He Ying looked at her watch. She said to her father, "Dad, it's almost time for Yueyue to sleep. Don't tease her so much."

"Oh," He Ruming replied perfunctorily, still unwilling to put his granddaughter down.

It wasn't until He Ying half-forced her daughter away and carried her into the inner room that she came out softly after a long while.

"Why don't you hire a few wet nurses? Wenqing leaves you two mother and daughter here alone; isn't that a bit too much?" He Ruming said with some dissatisfaction.

"Dad, I'm doing fine raising Yueyue by myself. There's no need to hire anyone else," He Ying said with the pride only a mother could have. After speaking, she quickly poured more tea for her parents. "Dad, Mom, only after having Yueyue did I realize how hard it was for you to raise me. You are so good to me."

"What silly talk. You are my daughter; how could we not be good to you?" He Ruming laughed. This was a genuine smile he had never shown before. He Ying was moved, but also felt a little strange.

He Ruming took a sip of tea and pointed to one of the large boxes. "By the way, there are five thousand taels in there, a gift for you and Yueyue. When you got married, it was in a rush, and our family didn't have time to prepare a decent dowry for you. I brought it all for you this time."

"Dad, this isn't right," He Ying quickly tried to dissuade him.

"Your dad can afford it now. After I got out of prison this time, the people coming to give gifts were as many as the hairs on an ox. These five thousand taels were sent by Lord Yuan Xiangcheng. I am very clear that this money wasn't sent for me. So I brought it for you."

He Ying had always worried about her parents being implicated. Although Chen Ke had analyzed for her many times that the Qing court dared not harm the He family, He Ying only used these reasons to comfort herself when she felt utterly despairing. Usually, thinking of her parents made her heart ache. Hearing her father speak like this, He Ying got up and knelt before her father. "Dad, Mom, I let you and my younger brothers suffer grievances."

He Ruming pulled his daughter up. "Girl, I'm not just saying pretty words. After going to jail this time, your dad really thought things through. You don't know, after I went in, those dog slaves served me very well. According to them, they haven't seen an Imperial Prison decree in many years. You have to have quite the status for that. There are many tricks in that Imperial Prison. As soon as Cixi died, they changed us to a superior room. Except for not being able to go out, it wasn't any worse than our home."

Speaking of this, He Ruming looked at He Ying with a kind gaze. "Yuan Xiangcheng also planned to arrange a position for me in the Ministry of Posts and Communications. I declined it. I am now going to serve in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. That your dad has today's glory is all because you married Wenqing. I am very clear about these things. Girl, this has nothing to do with you. Since I agreed to this marriage, this is fate. Whether fate is good or bad, I accept it."

He Ying didn't know if her old dad had really seen the light or had learned to speak pretty words. Just as she was doubting, He Ruming pointed to several other boxes. "Inside there is the medicine money owed to Wenqing. Since Wenqing started the uprising, I haven't had a chance to collect this medicine money for him. I brought it all for him this time. The bill is also inside; just give it to him when Wenqing comes back."

The family talked for a while longer, and He Ying asked, "How has Aunt been recently?"

He Ruming's expression didn't change at all. "She's alright. But it's not convenient for her to come. I was in a hurry when I came, so I didn't go find her."

He Ying knew that the Sun family probably wouldn't treat Chen Ke as a relative. Hearing her father say this, she could only sigh, "Dad, when you go back, please take my letter to Aunt. I miss her very much."

"Okay." He Ruming smiled and stood up. "I'm going to the restroom."

It was a good while before He Ying saw He Ruming return. What puzzled her slightly was that He Ruming had not only washed his hands but also his face. However, this trace of doubt was interrupted by a low sound coming from her daughter's room next door. He Ying quietly went into the small room where her daughter was sleeping to check on her.

Taking this opportunity, He Ruming leaned into his wife's ear, seeing the strange look on her face, and whispered, "This is a feud between our He family and the Sun family. Absolutely do not let Chen Ke get involved. I can't afford to lose that face."

He Ruming's wife looked at He Ruming with a complex expression. She was only his second wife; not only did she have no blood relation to He Qian, but she was also not He Ying's biological mother. To say she had a deep-seated hatred for the Sun family was really not the case. Moreover, before this trip, He Ruming had already warned her not to talk too much. The only thing He Ruming's wife didn't understand was why He Ruming was so determined not to let Chen Ke intervene in this matter.

He Ruming had not come only to visit his daughter; he was also acting as a messenger. After the People's Party representative issued a declaration that they must overthrow the Manchu Qing and left, the assembly fell into chaos. The southern representatives all wanted Yuan Shikai to give an explanation.

Yuan Shikai was an old fox; he wouldn't fall for this trap. "Gentlemen, this matter concerns the national polity. You are all assembly members. The votes that decide the fate of the world are in your hands; you can propose a vote."

The assembly members were also old foxes; they wouldn't fall for this trap either. Whoever proposed it would be the gravedigger of the Manchu Qing. As long as it wasn't Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang assembly members proposing it, but assembly members of other statuses, Yuan Shikai could permanently shed the title of "rebel." No one was willing to work for Yuan Shikai for free. So the Beiyang people didn't propose it, the assembly members of the southern provinces didn't propose it, and this matter was actually dragged out just like that.

The Beiyang Army was powerful, and the People's Party obviously wouldn't choose Beiyang as their first target for combat. Persimmons are picked where they are soft. The southern provinces surrounding the People's Party would definitely bear the brunt. The assembly members of the southern provinces did put on a show of organizing several liaisons, discussing the formation of a Provinces Allied Army to jointly defeat the People's Party. But this was just a discussion. Leaving aside whether the Allied Army could achieve final victory, if the People's Party fought only one route like in the previous few campaigns, given Jiangxi's geographical location, several provinces would definitely be finished before the People's Party was destroyed. The so-called Allied Army was all about hoping other troops would put in the desperate effort while one hid behind to pick the fruit. And all the provinces knew the thoughts of the other provinces. Such liaisons ended up dying without result.

Some young assembly members also proposed letting Yuan Shikai take the lead in forming a punitive force. Such a childish idea was sneered at by the old slicks. Everyone could see more or less the fishy business between Beiyang and the People's Party. If they foolishly honored Yuan Shikai as the military leader, they wouldn't even know how they died when the time came.

But this matter couldn't be dragged on like this. Finally, an agreement was reached. Whether the Qing court would continue would be voted on and discussed when the formal National Assembly convened in two years. The southern provinces also held the plan of dragging it out as long as possible. Anyway, no matter what, this matter had to be decided by Yuan Shikai himself. None of the southern provinces planned to stick their necks out.

There is no banquet in the world that does not end. Regardless of how satisfied or dissatisfied the representatives were with this assembly, the Constitutional Assembly finally came to a close amidst various thoughts. Yuan Shikai chose the released He Ruming as his envoy. What surprised Yuan Shikai somewhat was that He Ruming was not only unafraid of his prison disaster but seemed full of vitality and drive.

He Ruming himself was actually surprised by his change. People say there is no grief greater than a dead heart. It is very difficult to survive a prison disaster holding on to so much hope. He Ruming had once deeply hated Chen Ke, but later he really thought things through. Even if Chen Ke had really told He Ruming about the rebellion, it would have been absolutely impossible for He Ruming to stand on Chen Ke's side. Everything was heaven's will, a heaven's will that He Ruming could not fight against.

Until he was released, He Ruming was very happy. However, his sister's death allowed all of He Ruming's previously suppressed emotions to suddenly find a target. He Ying married Chen Ke, and no matter how Chen Ke rebelled, he kept He Ying by his side and protected her throughout. He Qian married into the Sun family, yet the Sun family caused He Qian's death.

He Ruming had also gone to their door to ask about the cause of He Qian's death, but the Sun family closed their doors and refused to see him. He Ruming did his best to launch an investigation himself. The investigation result was that after the Sun family let the court officials who came to arrest He Qian see her corpse, they cremated her. Seeing He Ruming's determination was so firm, the Sun family had to send a letter. The explanation in the letter was that "He Qian died of a serious illness. The Sun family handled He Qian's funeral affairs this way to make it convenient to hide the ashes so they could be buried in the Sun family's ancestral grave later."

Reading this letter, He Ruming concluded that it must have been the Sun family who laid the murderous hand. There was no reason; He Ruming simply believed it firmly. He also swore an oath that he would personally make the entire Sun family die. In order to obtain such power and opportunity, He Ruming began to serve Beiyang with unprecedented determination and will. Acting as Beiyang's envoy to negotiate with Chen Ke was the first task. He Ruming brought his wife and two sons to Anhui together, also to let the flesh and blood reunite once. He never wanted to see Chen Ke again; the chance to see his daughter and granddaughter might very well be this one time.

After stopping in Fengtai County for five days, the People's Party finally notified He Ruming to depart. He Ruming let his wife and sons return to Beijing first. He rushed to Wuhan alone with the reception personnel. Wuhan in winter was extremely damp and cold. However, along the banks of the Yangtze River in Wuhan, where fog rolled, a large number of people were working. They looked thin, but under the surveillance of heavily armed overseers, they started work from early morning.

"What are those people doing?" He Ruming asked.

"Opium addicts," the accompanying reception personnel said with a strong emotion of disgust.

"Why start work so early?"

"If you want them to quit opium, there is only one way. Every day, let them eat their fill and then work, work hard. Tire them out to the point where they don't even have the thought of smoking opium. Only then can this addiction be broken. No other method works." There was not a trace of pity or tolerance in the reception personnel's voice.

He Ruming saw that the group of people worked slightly slower, and immediately overseers stepped forward to scold them. They dug up the thick earth and then carried it away with shoulder poles. Some people were already swaying as they worked, but the overseers still mercilessly urged them to hurry up. He Ruming also didn't care for opium addicts; he laughed, "Look at them like this, what if they die of exhaustion?"

"Can this little bit of work tire someone to death?" The reception personnel sneered. "When Chairman Chen was in Fengtai County, the work he led us to do was much heavier than this, and what we ate was not as good as them. Aren't we all living well now? To quit opium, either quit while alive, or be carried out after dying. There is no third road to walk."

Hearing these cold and ruthless words, He Ruming was not disgusted at all. Instead, because he felt the power within them, He Ruming couldn't help but laugh loudly, feeling a sense of resonance.

The father-in-law and son-in-law hadn't seen each other for a long time. When they met, they looked very enthusiastic. But it was that kind of extremely polite and extremely measured enthusiasm.

"Father-in-law, you've worked hard on the journey. You suffered so much; I apologize to you here." Chen Ke finished speaking and made a deep bow.

"If it weren't for Wenqing winning every battle, I would have died long ago. You working hard to rebel actually saved my life." He Ruming helped Chen Ke up while laughing heartily. "You have taken good care of my He Ying. She told me she learned a lot of new cultural knowledge following you. As a father, I am very happy in my heart. But you should go home often to see the mother and daughter."

As they spoke, the two had already sat down. "I came this time because Yuan Xiangcheng asked me to ask Wenqing. You must already know the result of the assembly. I wonder what plans you have, Wenqing?"

"We can wait for a year or so. The Chinese imperial system has lasted for thousands of years; it is impossible to overthrow it immediately. However, please reply to Mr. Yuan that us not taking the initiative to strike does not mean we won't fight back if others strike at us. Moreover, before the imperial system is overthrown, we will not join any government."

"Yuan Xiangcheng asked me to inform Wenqing that he will not destroy the peace. But Sa Zhenbing's fleet has been patrolling the Yangtze River, and the patrol only goes as far as Nanjing. Please do not overthink it, Wenqing."

"That is natural," Chen Ke laughed.

The negotiation between Yuan Shikai and the People's Party had ended. The two were silent for a while before He Ruming asked, "Yuan Xiangcheng wanted me to ask, what does Wenqing plan to do about the southern provinces?"

Chen Ke answered frankly, "Even if I attack the southern provinces, what can I do? They still won't vote if they shouldn't. However, please convey my attitude to the southern provinces for Mr. Yuan. Civil business must still be done. We cannot let the livelihood of the common people suffer because of political estrangement. Please be sure to inform Mr. Yuan of this point."

"I will definitely convey it." He Ruming nodded.

The two were silent again for a good while. Chen Ke suddenly said, "Father-in-law, about Aunt..."

"Wenqing, don't talk about that." He Ruming raised his hand to stop Chen Ke from continuing. "You didn't tell my He Ying about this; I thank you very much. They were aunt and niece in name, but their affection was extremely good. If He Ying knew about this, I'm afraid she couldn't bear it."

"Father-in-law, this matter cannot be kept hidden forever," Chen Ke sighed. "I have no way to speak to Yuan Shikai about this matter now. Even if I said it, Beiyang wouldn't make a move against the Sun family because of me. I'm afraid Yuan Xiangcheng wouldn't dare to act willfully either. And I want to subject the murderer to open punishment."

There was no longer any feigned gentleness in He Ruming's eyes. His sharp gaze stared fixedly at Chen Ke. "He Ying said that before my sister He Qian left, you also tried every way to persuade her. Why didn't you forcibly keep He Qian here with you?"

"Aunt insisted on leaving at the time. I was afraid that if I forcibly kept Aunt, it would instead damage her purity. And I never expected the Sun family to be so frenzied. Father-in-law, every time I think of this, I feel very bad in my heart." This was Chen Ke's honest thought; he absolutely could not accept He Qian dying so obscurely.

The anger on He Ruming's face flashed past. His calm voice contained extreme resentment. "Wenqing, you have done your best. My sister has always had a strong character and never backs down from what she decides. Wenqing, I tell you, this is my He family's business. Since my sister didn't want to stay here with you, it means she didn't count on you to do anything. If you truly feel sad, then help her fulfill her wish to the end. Never ask about this matter again. Can you promise me?"

"Everything will be as Father-in-law commands. If Father-in-law changes his mind in the future, please be sure to inform me," Chen Ke answered very crisply.

After seeing off He Ruming, Chen Ke immediately went to meet with the British representative. The British very considerately proposed a suggestion to Chen Ke. Since the commercial cooperation between the two sides was very good, the British Embassy was willing to endorse providing Chen Ke with a credit line of five hundred thousand pounds at a British bank. However, this line was limited to purchasing British goods. Chen Ke naturally wouldn't let such a good thing slip by. At this time, every tiny bit of extra money had great significance.

As if because the Spring Festival of 1910 was approaching, good news came to Chen Ke in pairs. First, the silk reeling factory equipment ordered from Britain arrived at the base area. The next day, Chen Ke received a telegram from the delegation in the United States; the trial operation was successful. The American side was willing to reach a cooperation agreement with the People's Party. Wang Bin would negotiate the contract with the American side and send a telegram to Chen Ke after signing.

Because the People's Party sent a delegation of considerable size, there were agricultural representatives in the delegation. Under the coordination of the American side, the People's Party agricultural delegation, after investigation, signed a contract to purchase American long-staple cotton seeds. The plan for the People's Party delegation to send students to the United States was also basically finalized. Starting from 1911, the People's Party could send a total of 500 students annually to American industrial colleges or science and engineering majors in comprehensive universities. The American side stated that these schools were absolutely not diploma mills, but a series of American Ivy League universities.

Chen Ke's joy lasted only a very short time. He soon thought that whether it was students studying abroad or equipment, it all required massive amounts of money. The base area did not have sufficient funds now. all money had to be accumulated bit by bit through the hard labor of the masses in the base area.

"Hurry and let the industrial department start copying the silk reeling equipment." Chen Ke issued an order to the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

It was on New Year's Eve of 1910 that Chen Ke received a piece of truly good news. The base area's industrial sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid finally broke into the Japanese market. Japan was not only interested in these commodities in short supply, but they also hoped to import iron farm tools from the base area.

"Half joy, half worry, ah." This was Chen Ke's only comment.