Chapter 1727

Chen Guanlou tapped the table lightly, saying nothing, just staring at the two Xu brothers.

Xu Baogen and Xu Baoshu both felt anxious. Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen wasn't speaking; what exactly did he mean? Was the pension being given or not? Whether it was given or not, at least give a straight answer. Keeping them hanging like this made people feel exceptionally terrified.

"Chen... Lord Chen, did we say something wrong?"

Chen Guanlou gave a light laugh, "Xu Baogen, I heard that you are planning to sell your daughter for your younger son's position? You haven't sold enough of your father, and now you want to sell your daughter; you're quite good at selling."

Xu Baogen:...

He was shocked!

"My lord, it's all rumors! You must not listen to the random fabrications of those black-hearted, rotten-gutted people outside. No matter how much of a bad person I, Xu Baogen, am, it's impossible for me to sell my father or my daughter. There's a misunderstanding here!"

He raised his voice to cry out his grievances.

He was afraid that if he cried out too slowly, he would be saddled with the crime of selling his father and daughter.

"Is it useful for you to yell at me?" Chen Guanlou picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, "Xu Fugui is gone, and everyone is watching your Xu family. At a time like this, rumors spread that Xu Fugui died during intercourse, and rumors spread that the Xu family wants to sell their daughter to advance their future—do you think this is a good thing?"

Bang!

Chen Guanlou slammed his fist on the table, clearly truly angry.

"Do you really think the Heavenly Prison doesn't want face? Even if the Heavenly Prison wants face, does the Ministry of Justice not want face? Xu Fugui is, after all, an old man of the Heavenly Prison; you trample on his granddaughter like this and still want a pension—do you believe the Six Sects will come directly to your Xu family to arrest people? I'm telling you, if you want money, you must have face. If you don't want face, don't even think about wanting money!"

In dealing with the Xu brothers, Chen Guanlou never intended to discuss things gently and reasonably from the beginning.

Especially since the two brothers arranged for their nephew to take the shift and still wanted to take half the income, he knew what kind of people these two brothers were.

They fear power but do not fear virtue!

Direct intimidation is a hundred times more effective than reasoning.

The two Xu brothers looked at each other, both looking terrified and uneasy.

Xu Baoshu gave a sheepish smile, "My lord, there must be a misunderstanding here. My elder brother couldn't possibly sell his daughter. The marriage is a proper marriage, with the three letters and six rites, not a single one missing."

Chen Guanlou gave a light laugh, "Xu Baoshu, do you think I'm joking with you? Are you worthy?"

Xu Baoshu looked embarrassed, his face turning red from shame.

"I am not discussing or debating with you, and I am certainly not arguing about whether it's a proper marriage or selling a daughter. I am simply notifying you: if you want money, you must have face. If you don't want face, don't even think about wanting money! Xu Baogen, I don't care who your daughter marries. However, since rumors of selling a daughter have appeared outside, and it's at the time of Xu Fugui's passing, I have to ask. You two brothers, get out quickly; don't get in my way."

Chen Guanlou picked up his tea to see them out, not giving the two brothers the slightest bit of face.

The two brothers were anxious!

So anxious they were red in the face.

"My lord, we want the money!" Xu Baoshu was more eager, shouting.

Chen Guanlou raised his eyelids, "Tell me, how do you want it?"

"The eldest niece's marriage is void. Regardless of who she marries, we will seek her opinion beforehand. If she doesn't agree, I, as an uncle, will definitely not sit idly by."

"That's my daughter; when is it your turn as an uncle to make the decision? Marriage is the command of parents and the words of matchmakers; it's none of your business, get out!"

The two brothers started tearing at each other.

Chen Guanlou watched from the sidelines, neither advising nor intervening, just watching the two brothers argue with cold eyes.

Mu Qingshan, that blockhead, stood at the door holding a pile of documents, not knowing whether to enter or not. He listened for a while, understood the cause of the matter, and then interjected, "Prison Clerk Xu's pension is several hundred taels; if you two brothers are really willing to give it up, I would think more highly of you."

"What? What did you say?"

"Several hundred taels?"

"Isn't it a hundred taels?"

Mu Qingshan:...

Seeming to finally realize he had said the wrong thing, he didn't even dare to look at Chen Guanlou, turned around, and ran, as if fleeing for his life.

The two Xu brothers looked toward Chen Guanlou one after another.

"My lord, does my father really have several hundred taels of pension?"

"Dream on!" Chen Guanlou sneered, "It is a fact that Xu Fugui died on a woman's belly; the government has a record. He did not die in the line of duty, nor did he die of a sudden illness while on duty. However, considering he was an old man of the Heavenly Prison, it is possible to give a little more pension."

"How much?"

The two brothers asked in unison.

Chen Guanlou gave a light laugh, "There should be one or two hundred taels; the accounting department knows the specifics of how it's calculated. This official does not inquire about such matters. Have you two brothers decided? What exactly do you want?"

"We want the money!" The two brothers exchanged a glance and said in unison.

Chen Guanlou looked at Xu Baogen with a half-smile, "Not planning for the younger son's future?"

"If we have money, there will always be a future. If the western path doesn't work, we'll take the eastern path." Xu Baogen thought very clearly; the money in his hand was the real thing.

On this point, he learned from his father, Xu Fugui.

No matter how much the family made a scene, no matter how much his mother disliked his father. As long as his father held the money tightly in his hands, the whole family, including his mother, had to please his father and serve him well. That was why his father had the money and the courage to take a beautiful concubine and keep a mistress every now and then.

It's better to have it yourself than for your son to have it!

It's better to have money yourself than for your son to have a future!

He wanted to learn from his father: live his own life well first, then consider the rest.

"Then what about your daughter's marriage?" Chen Guanlou asked again.

Xu Baogen hurriedly promised, "When I go back, I will find a matchmaker to find a suitable marriage for Qiaoniu again. I will definitely make sure no one can say anything!"

"What if your daughter is stubborn and wants to marry a poor and destitute handsome man; what then?" Chen Guanlou's curiosity got the better of him.

"Does my lord mean Second Brother Zhang from Sweet Water Lane?"

It seemed Xu Baogen was still somewhat aware of his daughter's situation.

"That won't do! Aside from his looks, Second Brother Zhang has nothing to offer. My daughter has at least studied for three years, knows how to read and write, and can even do accounts. He is a dog thing who doesn't know a single character and relies on his face to deceive a young girl's feelings. My lord, this kind of man who eats soft rice should be arrested and put in a pig cage!"

"I don't care about your family's affairs. In any case, there must be no bad reputation spreading! Otherwise, the pension..."

Chen Guanlou gave a warning, and the two Xu brothers hurriedly agreed.

They would rather let their daughter be an old maid at home than let Second Brother Zhang succeed! That dog thing, to think he actually alarmed Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen. Thinking he could marry their daughter like this—dream on!

"My lord, when can we get the pension?" Xu Baoshu asked timidly.

Chen Guanlou glanced at him, "After going through all the procedures, you will definitely get it within a month. In half a month, go directly to the accounting department; don't come to bother me if there's nothing else."

"Yes, yes, yes, thank you, my lord! We will come again in half a month!"

"The nephew taking the shift must report within ten days. Otherwise, it will be void after the deadline!"

"My lord, rest assured, he can come to report tomorrow."

"There's no need to be that anxious. Even if he reports tomorrow, there's no position for him. Let him come a few days later."

"Yes, yes, yes!"