Chapter 1439

Chen Mengzhi's marriage was quickly settled, and he prepared to happily marry his wife.

Chen Guanlou gave him two months of marriage leave, telling him not to rush back to work; newlywed life was very important and should be cherished. Newlywed life was very likely the happiest time in a marriage of several decades.

After this stage, life would be full of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, and trivial matters. Happiness would be rare, and troubles would be a pile.

Chen Mengzhi was bubbling with joy, smiling as if it cost nothing.

When he got married, Chen Guanlou sent a gift of money, enough for the young couple to start a happy married life.

Steward Ma also took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with him.

Sure enough, it was for his youngest son's job.

He was really willing to spend.

In the days that followed, he had a few drinks with Steward Ma and stayed at the brothel a few times.

Steward Ma felt the timing was about right and expressed his idea of wanting his youngest son to work in the Heavenly Prison.

"I don't dare to have other ideas, just a clerk's job will do. Master Lou, what do you think?"

Chen Guanlou smiled without smiling. "Steward Ma, you're too polite! With your standing before the Old Lady, if you want to find a good job for your youngest son, just say the word. Why go to the trouble of running to the Heavenly Prison? The Heavenly Prison doesn't have a good reputation."

"Yes, yes, Master Lou is right. This old man has thought about finding a proper job for him in other government offices, but this kid is a wooden club, immature in his work, and easily offends people. It would be one thing if he were just unlucky himself, but if he implicated the Hou Fu, that wouldn't be good. This old man thought that in the Heavenly Prison, one doesn't have to face the superiors of the Ministry of Justice, only the prisoners, so there's no fear of offending anyone. Therefore, I'm begging before Master Lou. I hope Master Lou can make it convenient."

Chen Guanlou said "Oh." "Steward Ma, you're being modest. Your youngest son is at least a child scholar. Working in the Heavenly Prison is a bit of a waste of talent."

"Not a waste, not a waste. He just has a dog's temper; having a proper job is enough. I don't ask for great wealth or high rank, just a place that can restrain him and keep him from messing around."

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "Your youngest son isn't young anymore. Hearing you say this, does he have any bad habits?"

Steward Ma couldn't hide it anymore and said with some embarrassment: "This kid was lured by others and got addicted to gambling. I've beaten him and scolded him, but it didn't do much. Worse, he provoked a jinx of a widow outside; that widow is a formidable one and has him completely wrapped around her finger. As a result, he spends most of his time at the widow's house. His wife at home is making a huge scene. Sigh, I'm at my wit's end, thinking that Master Lou has a good way of disciplining people. If he follows Master Lou, and can improve even a little, it would be smoke rising from our ancestors' graves!"

What a kind father's heart.

Steward Ma, who had standing in the Hou Fu, could only be humble when facing his own son's mess.

Chen Guanlou coughed lightly. "I can discipline him however I want?"

"As long as he's not dead or crippled, Master Lou can discipline him however you like, and this old man will have no complaints!" Steward Ma patted his chest to guarantee he wouldn't pursue it.

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Sometimes I don't know my own strength, so don't regret it!"

"I will never regret it!" Steward Ma guaranteed repeatedly, even offering silver notes.

It wasn't much.

Compared to the deals Chen Guanlou had taken in the past, it was just a fraction, not even a fraction.

But he took it anyway!

He accepted the silver notes. "Alright! Since you insist on sending your youngest son to work in the Heavenly Prison, I'll arrange a job for him. However, I'll say the ugly things first. The prison guards in the Heavenly Prison are all addicted to the five poisons and are all old gamblers. Your son might take to it like a fish to water, so don't blame me when that happens."

"I won't blame you, I won't blame you. This old man has already inquired about these situations. The gambling in the Heavenly Prison is small-scale and won't lead to bankruptcy. Unlike gambling dens, where you can lose all your family assets in one night. If he has to gamble, I can't stop him, so I'd rather have him gamble small in the Heavenly Prison."

With Steward Ma's words, Chen Guanlou felt relieved.

He nodded. "Tomorrow morning, have your youngest son come to the Heavenly Prison. I'll meet him first and tell him the rules."

"Many thanks, Master Lou! I toast you!"

The two were like brothers, drinking until the middle of the night before parting.

Steward Ma went home.

Chen Guanlou stayed at the brothel.

He was one hundred percent certain that the flaws in Steward Ma's youngest son were definitely ten times more serious than what the other party had said. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent so much money to build a relationship with him and specifically send his youngest son to work in the Heavenly Prison.

There must be a huge bomb buried there!

This was the real reason Steward Ma didn't send his youngest son to work in other government offices.

But it didn't matter!

The Heavenly Prison was a mud pit to begin with, with all kinds of people, all of them addicted to the five poisons. Everyone had a pile of bad debts on their backs.

Even if you weren't sure everyone had blood on their hands, one out of three definitely did.

In a place like this, it could handle any bomb!

Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard had to be honest when they came to the Heavenly Prison; a mere steward's youngest son would have to stand straight according to his requirements once he entered.

The next morning!

Chen Guanlou was sitting in the Heavenly Prison's office, having just finished breakfast and picking his teeth, when the gatekeeper came to report that a young man named Ma Jingming was looking for him.

"Invite him in!"

A moment later, the prison guard brought Ma Jingming into the office.

Sure enough, just as Brother Qiang had described: short, sturdy build, facial features quite upright, even handsome. The overall impression was clean and tidy, only a pity he was a bit short, probably at most around 1.63 meters. With slightly higher shoe soles, he could reach 1.65 meters.

Ma Jingming bowed and saluted. "Student Ma Jingming greets Prison Warden!"

Hmm, quite disciplined!

No arrogance of a scholar.

The initial impression was alright, except for being a bit short.

"Ma Jingming, your father wants you to work as a clerk in the Heavenly Prison. What do you think about it yourself?"

Ma Jingming was silent for a moment and said, "I listen to my father."

Chen Guanlou smiled. "Are you listening willingly, or unwillingly?"

"The student thinks there is no difference. If you are worried that the student's heart isn't in it and I can't work properly, there's actually no need. Since the student has come to the Heavenly Prison, I will definitely work properly, not lose face for my family, and even less for you, my lord."

In the end, it was still unwilling.

Chen Guanlou didn't mind.

Not many people who come to work in the Heavenly Prison do so willingly; most are at their wit's end, unable to find a better way out, and have no choice but to run to the Heavenly Prison to work and earn a living.

Back then, if he had had any other choice, he wouldn't have come to the Heavenly Prison either.

Truly liking the job in the Heavenly Prison only happened after working there for several years.

Chen Guanlou knocked on the table. "Alright, since you're here to work, I'll tell you the rules here. First, follow orders. Second, follow orders. Third, follow orders.

I don't care how many ideas, grievances, suggestions, or dissatisfactions you have; I only want you to do as you're told. Do whatever I tell you to do. Work properly, and there will be no shortage of benefits for you. Whatever flaws you have, the Heavenly Prison can accommodate them.

However, if you dare to mess around in the Heavenly Prison, collude inside and out, or do some shady business, I will let you know how fast heads are chopped off in the Heavenly Prison!"