Chapter 261: Sure enough, the hands are very black

"I don't know. I really don't know!"

Qi Wuxiu swore an oath, fearing that Chen Guanlou wouldn't trust him.

"Anyway, there are definitely Grandmasters sitting in the palace; I don't know if other offices have them."

"Do you have confidence in catching that 'dragon crossing the river'?" Chen Guanlou decisively changed the subject; Qi Wuxiu's level was still too low, and he wasn't qualified to come into contact with news at the Grandmaster level.

"As long as the 'dragon crossing the river' is still in the capital, he will fall into the net sooner or later."

"How could a 'dragon crossing the river' have a conflict with a Ninth-Rank warrior? It's unlikely. Could you have been deceived by someone?"

"Impossible!" Qi Wuxiu said firmly. "I can't tell you the specific reason, but the matter is definitely true."

Oh!

Chen Guanlou drank tea without much interest.

Qi Wuxiu was still bragging, taking the opportunity to lure Chen Guanlou to work with him, saying there was a lot of money.

"A lot of money, a lot of work, a lot of trouble—how can that compare to a lot of money, little work, little trouble?" Chen Guanlou blocked all of Qi Wuxiu's persuasion with one sentence.

"The reputation is very bad, so I definitely choose the one with a lot of money and little trouble. Unlike you, busy outside in the middle of the night, not even able to eat a hot meal."

Qi Wuxiu:...

Suddenly felt he was very miserable, as if he had entered the wrong profession. He gave up the idea of continuing to persuade Chen Guanlou to change his profession.

Chen Guanlou decided to keep a low profile for the next period of time—must keep a low profile, not wander outside, hide himself tightly, and prioritize saving his life.

Master Xiao Fan's restaurant opened, and the prison guards of the Jia-type prison all sent gifts to join in the popularity.

Chen Guanlou's new clothes were ready, and he went across the street to get them. It was a pity he didn't see Mrs. Qu, but instead chatted with Boss Qu.

Boss Qu upheld the principle of harmony bringing wealth, greeting everyone with a smiling face, not to mention that Chen Guanlou was also taking care of his business.

He was particularly emotional. "If I hadn't rented this house back then, I wouldn't have had the chance to hook up with the Marquis's Mansion's connections, and there wouldn't be today's situation."

"Boss Qu acts with great atmosphere and righteousness; even without the Marquis's Mansion, there would be the Zhang Mansion or Li Mansion, and sooner or later you would be able to open up the situation in the capital."

Boss Qu was proud in his heart while being humble. "Chen Tou is too kind. When I first came to the capital, I held the determination to burn the boats. Fortunately, my luck was good, I made friends with a few noble people, and finally opened up the situation. It's also thanks to Chen Tou's care that I have had much less trouble."

"Boss Qu is too polite; we are neighbors, helping each other is what should be done."

"Exactly so. Today, Chen Tou must stay; I have already instructed the kitchen to prepare wine and dishes, and I hope Chen Tou will do me the honor."

Chen Guanlou readily agreed.

While drinking, Mrs. Qu appeared to toast.

Boss Qu was tipsy from drinking and took the opportunity to show off. He said that when the house was raided, he happened to pass by and happened to see Fang Shi. Mrs. Qu's maiden name was Fang.

Call it lust at first sight, or love at first sight—in any case, he couldn't forget her after seeing her. He spent money to inquire about the situation and spent money to have Fang Shi's former husband write a divorce letter to cut ties with Fang Shi. Afterward, he spent a large sum of money to pull strings with the Marquis's Mansion and relied on the Marquis's Mansion to fish Fang Shi out.

Mrs. Qu sat on the side, shyly listening to Boss Qu bragging about the past. Her eyes carried affection and gratitude, and her figure was soft and weak, never saying a word from beginning to end. Facing Chen Guanlou's peeking, she acted as if she didn't notice, and her eyes never looked at Chen Guanlou from start to finish.

After Boss Qu finished showing off, Mrs. Qu found an excuse to get up and leave, leaving the wine table to the two men.

Chen Guanlou then inquired, "Which person in the Marquis's Mansion did you find to help you fish someone out? It must have cost a lot of money."

"I originally wanted to find the Second Master. Later, someone gave me an idea, so I went to find the Second Young Mistress. The Second Young Mistress heard about my situation and said I was affectionate and righteous. She didn't charge much money and helped me fish the person out."

Chen Guanlou understood in his heart and gestured with his fingers.

Boss Qu nodded. "About that much."

Chen Guanlou thought to himself, the Second Young Mistress's hands are indeed as black as ever. Fishing out a female family member, and not even a principal offender, actually cost Boss Qu two thousand taels. This price, if taken to the Heavenly Prison, let alone fishing out one accomplice, would be enough to fish out three or five.

Boss Qu said again, "It's a pity Chen Tou doesn't work in the Jingzhao Prefecture. If you were in the Jingzhao Prefecture, I would have asked you for help with this matter."

Chen Guanlou smiled. "Next time you want to fish someone out, as long as it's not a principal offender, just tell me, and the price is negotiable."

Boss Qu understood the implication and hurriedly leaned over, whispering, "Chen Tou has a way?"

Chen Guanlou looked at him with a half-smile and gave him the bottom line. "Except for the Imperial Household Department and the Court of Judicial Review, for the prisons in the capital, as long as they are worth counting, you come to me, and I will help you hook up the path. The price is all market price. It can only be an accomplice; principal offenders are not included."

Ah?

Boss Qu hurriedly asked, "If I had asked you to come forward to fish out my wife back then, how much money would it have cost?" The nature of a businessman is to care about the price first.

Chen Guanlou picked up his wine cup and said vaguely, "That's hard to say."

He wouldn't tear down the Second Young Mistress's stage in front of outsiders. He couldn't say that starting at five hundred taels, at most one thousand taels would have been enough to fish her out.

He also has the surname Chen, and his elbow can't turn outward. His relationship with Boss Qu wasn't close to that extent either.

Boss Qu, as a shrewd businessman, naturally heard the unspoken words. He spent money to fish someone out through the Marquis's Mansion, which was definitely expensive. But thinking about it, taking this opportunity to make friends with the Marquis's Mansion made everything worth it. It was much stronger than simply spending money to buy a relationship.

He picked up his wine cup. "Chen Tou, I toast you! If there's anything you need in the future, just speak up. I have no other skills, only a few stinking coins."

"Boss Qu is too humble; how many people envy you for having money, a family, and a business."

"Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning!" Boss Qu said with a smile, humble on the lips, but truly happy in his heart. An ordinary commoner being able to open up a situation in this capital is indeed worth bragging about. Returning to his hometown, that would definitely be a treatment of being surrounded by stars. That's the Marquis's Mansion; he was actually able to open up the Marquis's Mansion's connections—saying it out loud, who wouldn't envy him.

"My luck is mainly good; when I was looking for a house back then, I fell in love with this courtyard at first sight." He has always believed that his good luck was all bestowed upon him by this house. If he hadn't rented this house, he wouldn't have been able to hook up with the Marquis's Mansion's connections. Without the Marquis's Mansion's signboard, he wouldn't have been able to open up the situation in the capital and compete with those big cloth merchants.

"Luck is also part of strength. Come, I toast Boss Qu a cup, wishing you a prosperous business."

"Get rich together, everyone get rich together." Boss Qu drank a cup very decisively.

The two chatted for a long time, and Boss Qu finally got drunk, drunk to the point of losing consciousness.

Mrs. Qu brought a servant to serve, dragging Boss Qu back to the room to rest.

Chen Guanlou took the initiative to ask to help, but was refused by Mrs. Qu. "It's getting late, and Chen Tou still has to report for duty early tomorrow morning. Chen Tou, rest early; there are servants at home, so I can manage."

She lowered her head, and her whole body exuded an attitude of keeping people at a distance.

Chen Guanlou pinched his nose, smiled bitterly in his heart, and nodded. "Fine, I'll go back first." ===== CHAPTER 262 =====