Chapter 103: There is such an absurd thing in the world

"You are not talking nonsense?"

Chen Guanlou stared fixedly at Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin nodded and shook his head repeatedly. "I don't dare to talk nonsense!"

"How do you know the Donggong has a share? Such a secret matter, how can you know?" Chen Guanlou's expression was suspicious; he was half-believing Xiao Jin's words.

Regardless of the era, opening a bank must involve a powerful backer; this is an indisputable fact. He just didn't expect the Donggong to also take a stake. The Crown Prince has plenty of ways to rake in wealth; is there any need to invest in a bank? Thinking about it from another angle, who could ever complain about having too much money? The banking business, money begetting money—what a wonderful trade; the powerful and noble must all be salivating over it. The Crown Prince is also human, and being human means having financial needs and desires.

"The Donggong participating in the share, this matter was poked out by the Sitong Bank itself. If Chen Tou doesn't believe it, you can go to the market and ask around. I really didn't talk nonsense."

"Then tell me, besides the Donggong, which Prince's Mansions have shares."

"The ones I know are the Jin Prince's Mansion and the Qi Prince's Mansion."

Chen Guanlou was silent.

The Prince of Jin and the Prince of Qi, one is the old Emperor's own son, and the other is the old Emperor's own nephew. Both are big figures he cannot afford to offend. Add an Donggong, damn it, could it be that he really has to pay back the money for Jiang Fengyu?

In this world, there is such an absurd thing, the greatest joke in the world!

This money, no matter what, cannot be paid.

If it is paid, he and the prison guards under him will be looked down upon, losing both their inner and outer face. How can he mix in the Heavenly Prison in the future, and where will his majesty be? Not to mention managing accounts, he won't even be able to manage people, and no one will be convinced by him.

After pondering for a while, he ordered Xiao Jin, "Call the brothers under your command, all bring your gear, and follow me to Guanmei Tower for the banquet tonight."

"Really bring gear?"

"Nonsense! If you don't bring gear, how can you talk? Talk with your mouth? Can your mouth talk out a fart!"

Chen Guanlou was furious, his eyes fierce and cold. He had the posture that tonight, if there was a disagreement, he would copy his knife and fight, killing a few people.

Xiao Jin and Qian Fugui were afraid in their hearts!

They were just prison guards, not thugs from a gang. Don't look at prison guards doing the dirtiest work; they really didn't have many opportunities to beat people, and they lacked experience in fighting. On weekdays, they relied on their status and the constraints of the law on disgraced officials to show off their power.

"But..."

"No buts."

"Chen Tou, should we spend money to hire a few thugs? With our group of people, can we fight against the bank's thugs?"

"Chen Tou, the bank's thugs are all professional; when they fight, they don't care about their lives. We, we have no experience!"

Xiao Jin and Qian Fugui, one after another, tried their best to persuade Chen Guanlou to change his mind and not to collide head-on. If a head-on collision couldn't be avoided, professional personnel should be sent out—professional against professional, that would be fair.

Chen Guanlou sneered. "With me here, what are you afraid of! That's it, I have a sense of this matter! In short, everyone bring your gear tonight and follow me to Guanmei Tower for the banquet. Whoever doesn't want to go, spit out the silver you shared, and pay an additional thirty taels."

"Why thirty taels?"

"Can you get back the money that has already been handed over to the public? If you can't get it back, then everyone will share it." Chen Guanlou didn't spoil them.

Once it was said that they had to pay back the debt, the two of them immediately solidified their stance, firmly supporting the decision to bring gear to negotiate with the bank tonight. They absolutely could not let the bank run wild on the head of the Heavenly Prison.

Their own face could be lost, but the face of the Heavenly Prison absolutely could not be lost!

"Firmly defend the dignity of the Heavenly Prison!"

"Defend the Heavenly Prison, starting with me."

After the shift, the prison guards gathered outside the Yamen. They all obediently brought their gear—big knives, daggers, sticks. Everyone tried their best to show the posture of intimidating prisoners on weekdays, being fierce and evil, at least looking very imposing.

Chen Guanlou didn't dislike this bunch of useless prison guards and waved his hand. "Follow me!"

Xiao Jin, the old hand, of course, had to ask a few more questions. "Chen Tou, do we start fighting directly when we arrive?"

"Listen to my command; when I tell you to do it, everyone rush up in a swarm and hit whoever you see."

"No tactics?" Xiao Jin seemed a bit shocked.

Chen Guanlou glanced at him sideways, very disdainful. "What tactics do you need for a group fight? When two armies meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins! Do you think it's two armies facing each other, and you need to make a feint in the east and attack in the west?"

"Feint in the east and attack in the west is good! How about..."

"Get lost! In short, when you arrive at the place, look at my eyes and act; everyone have a bit of insight. After the matter is solved, I will treat everyone to wine at Zui Xiang Lou, and you can order the sisters inside as you please."

Once this was said, the prison guards' fighting spirit soared, roaring to give the bank people a good look. Everyone was definitely not for the sisters in the brothel; everyone just wanted to drink wine. Yes, drinking wine, drinking wine is the big thing.

Arriving at Guanmei Tower, the shop assistant was worthy of being knowledgeable and didn't feel empty at all, welcoming them in. "Gentlemen, Manager Li of the bank has been waiting in the backyard for a long time. Gentlemen, please this way."

The bank is rich; they wrapped up the entire backyard of Guanmei Tower. A group of thugs stood on both sides, each fierce and evil, glaring at the prison guards. Some of them showed contemptuous eyes, obviously looking down on the equipment in the hands of the prison guards.

Chen Guanlou signaled the prison guards not to be impatient and followed him to the pavilion.

A top-grade banquet table was steaming. The tea temperature was just right. Two beautiful and plump maids served on the side.

The prison guards stared at the maids with exposed shoulders and chests, their eyes straight. They had never seen such a scene, each of them like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, so useless.

Chen Guanlou didn't care about them and arched his hands in front of Manager Li, which was considered a greeting, and then sat down directly. "They are all rough people who have never seen the world, not as stylish and elegant as Manager Li, knowing how to enjoy. If there is anything inappropriate, I hope you will forgive me."

Manager Li's eyebrows raised slightly. "I heard long ago that there is a reader in the Heavenly Prison; seeing him today, he is indeed different from ordinary prison guards. I heard that Chen Tou is also from the same family as the Marquis Pingjiang's Mansion."

"I have long been five generations removed; Manager Li doesn't need to care." Chen Guanlou picked up the tea and took a sip. Hmm, at the first drink, the taste was light, and then he felt a unique fragrance of tea leaves remaining on his lips and teeth, making people feel refreshed.

"Good tea!"

"Does Chen Tou understand tea?"

"I don't understand. However, I can still distinguish such good tea. Today, Manager Li has spent money; with such a big formation, wine banquet, and beautiful maids, in a trance, it feels like I have arrived at the Hongmen Banquet."

"Hahaha... Chen Tou really knows how to joke. I heard long ago that Chen Tou has the drinking capacity of a thousand cups without getting drunk; taste the private brew and savor it."

The wine cup was filled. Chen Guanlou picked up the wine cup and just smelled the taste of the wine, but didn't drink it.

"Drinking wine is fine at any time. Why don't we finish the business first, and then call the brothers to drink together, which will be lively. Don't you think so?"

After speaking, Chen Guanlou put down the wine cup and looked at Manager Li with a smile on his lips.

Manager Li first lowered his eyes, then laughed loudly. "Good, then follow Chen Tou's intention and talk about business first." ===== CHAPTER 104 =====