Chapter 270: The year-end pass that cannot be crossed

Every few days, Chen Guanlou would go down to the prison cells and tell the Meng brothers that Zhao Laosi's brother-in-law had been arrested. A few days later, he would tell them that the brother-in-law's case implicated Zhao Laosi. A few days after that, new news: the Embroidered Uniform Guard had invited Zhao Laosi for tea.

The two Meng brothers knelt on the ground and kowtowed with loud thuds, not even minding that the floor was too hard.

Chen Guanlou gave a light cough and said, "There is no need for this. You paid money. Taking money to get things done is only natural."

However, the two brothers continued to kneel on the ground kowtowing, their mouths hanging open as they babbled, seemingly saying words of gratitude. Then, the second Meng brother slammed his head against the wall, his attitude one of having fulfilled his wish and wanting to end his life right there.

Chen Guanlou hurriedly called out, "What are you doing, what are you doing? I already told you, if you want to die, go die somewhere far away; don't make the prison cell all bloody. It's very hard to clean up, you know. The Heavenly Prison is not the Imperial Prison; in my territory, everyone must be as clean as possible. Alright, that's enough."

After saying this, he left.

He knew very well that the Meng brothers had not given up the desire to die, and he had never thought of stopping the two from seeking death. However, it didn't necessarily have to be a death of broken heads and flowing blood. There are so many ways to die; choosing a clean and decent way shouldn't be hard, right?

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, it had been five days since Zhao Laosi was invited to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and he still hadn't gotten away. Clearly, he was going to suffer a heavy loss, and he might even have to take a trip to the torture chamber.

Chen Guanlou went to work early in the morning, taking the prison guards under him to inspect the cells.

Arriving at the cell door of the two Meng brothers, a prison guard shouted, "Chen Tou, look!"

They were dead!

Both brothers were dead!

There was no blood or broken heads; they had simply torn their clothes into strips, tied them into two ropes, and hung themselves from the cell door. Because the height wasn't enough, both of their feet could touch the ground; as long as they put their feet down, they could live. But in order to die, the two had curled their feet up, refusing to let them touch the ground no matter what. Until they died, both feet remained in a curled position.

The corpses had already stiffened, and the curled feet could not be straightened no matter what.

This scene stung the sensory nerves of everyone present.

How determined must the heart to seek death be for this to happen?

"Why go to such lengths?" Chen Guanlou sighed to himself. "Send someone to the neighboring Imperial Prison to notify them. The prisoners are theirs, and now that they are dead, have them arrange for a medical official to come and examine the bodies, and arrange for laborers to move the corpses. Qian Fugui, organize the bill and send it to the neighboring Imperial Prison later."

Even brothers must settle accounts clearly, let alone two families that aren't brothers. They can only be considered peers. Everyone hopes for their peers to die and would never let the other side take advantage of them for even a single penny.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Niu received the news and said, "It's good that they're dead! Hurry and let the people from the Imperial Prison handle the aftermath; arrange for people to clean it up well, sprinkle some quicklime, and get rid of the bad luck."

"The lord is right; the neighboring Imperial Prison is just bad luck, and even their prisoners are bad luck," Chen Guanlou echoed.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Niu laughed heartily, first praising Chen Guanlou twice, then bringing up the serious business. "After the New Year, I might be transferred to another yamen. Don't worry, I have already submitted a report to the higher-ups to promote you to Prison Clerk. Since you left such a deep impression in front of Magistrate Sun, I imagine things will go very smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guanlou was overjoyed. "Many thanks, my lord! I will never forget your kindness in creating this opportunity for me."

"You've been doing well lately; we all help each other out," Jiang Jiang Yucheng Niu said, his mood excellent. With Chen Guanlou cooperating with him, he had been collecting money until his hands went soft. He used money to pave the way and had already opened up his connections, just waiting for the New Year to pass to leave the Heavenly Prison.

This place, the water is deep. No wonder no one can stay as a Heavenly Jiang Jiang Yucheng for long.

Chen Guanlou was looking forward to promotion and wealth; he spent this year's Spring Festival exceptionally happily. He prepared a generous gift for his eldest sister and sent it over, plugging the mouth of Mother Su's nagging. He gave a Spring Festival gift to Master Du and also sent one to the Hou Fu.

The Master took good care of him, and he knew what was good for him. Even though the Master was not in the capital, the gift still had to be sent. He went through the back door and told the gatekeeper to specify that it was for the First Branch.

As for the Second Branch, he didn't provoke them and had no contact with them, so it wouldn't be appropriate to send a New Year gift or not. He simply pretended not to know.

Sister Chunxiang had helped him a lot on normal days, so she also received a New Year gift. When Sister Chunxiang received the gift, she smiled until her eyes disappeared, happily accepting it and keeping him for a meal.

Shopkeeper Qu across the way had made money this year and prepared a token of appreciation for every neighbor. The gift wasn't valuable, but it was the thought that counted.

Chen Guanlou returned a gift, which consisted of the traditional few items: pastries, five jin of pork, and a pot of wine.

Mrs. Qu received him.

Chen Guanlou asked casually, "Shopkeeper Qu must be very busy lately."

"Busy settling accounts at the end of the year; it is a bit busier than usual. Isn't Chen Tou busy for the New Year?"

"Busy! Everyone is busy! The Heavenly Prison also has to celebrate the New Year, and there are many things to do. That's right, I still have to rush back to the Heavenly Prison to do some finishing work. No more chatting, farewell!"

Chen Guanlou left decisively; Mrs. Qu personally saw him out the door and didn't take her eyes off him until he entered his courtyard gate.

Normally, during the New Year, all major yamens only seek peace. The imperial court wouldn't open major cases to arrest people at this time either. The old Emperor also had to pay attention to auspiciousness and wouldn't arrest people and throw them into prison during the New Year.

No matter what happens, wait until after the New Year to talk about it.

The Heavenly Prison torture chamber sealed its blades on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month and wouldn't open them again until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Lu Datou complained, "At least torture a few more, get some money to have a good New Year."

"You didn't lose all your New Year money gambling, did you?"

"No, not to that extent." Lu Datou turned his head guiltily, avoiding Chen Guanlou's pressing gaze.

Chen Guanlou kicked him. "Sooner or later, you'll die at the gambling table. What are you going to do for the New Year?"

"Hehe..." Lu Datou could only laugh awkwardly; he didn't know what to do either. Everyone knew he was a gambling addict, and no one was willing to lend him money during the New Year. Even the banks outside weren't willing to lend money to a gambler during the New Year, finding it bad luck. If he wanted to borrow money, he would have to wait until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

In this way, it was equivalent to forcing him to his death.

The tigress at home had already started to show her power. Last night, the couple had just had a fight. The New Year gift for the child's teacher hadn't been prepared either. Oh my, there are too many places to spend money.

Chen Guanlou snorted coldly and turned to leave.

"Chen Tou, Chen Tou..."

Lu Datou called out hurriedly. The only person he could count on now was Chen Guanlou.

Chen Guanlou said to him, "From now on, I will only lend money to your wife; don't even think about getting a single penny from my hands."

"Don't be like that! I'm a grown man, and I don't even have a copper coin on me; how embarrassing."

Serves you right!

Chen Guanlou's face fell, and he used his eyes to intimidate him. "Don't follow me. If you still want to be brothers, behave yourself during the New Year."

That evening, he went to the Lu family and left ten taels of silver with Lu's wife to cover New Year expenses.

Lu's wife was both grateful and at a loss. "We can't pay it back."

"As for paying back the money, there is no need for you to worry, sister-in-law. I will ask Brother Datou for it myself. I have already spoken to the accounting office; from now on, on the day the money is issued every month, I will have them deduct a portion of Brother Datou's money, and you can go collect this money yourself."

"This, can this work?" Lu's wife was a bit panicked. Don't look at her as a sturdy, shrewish woman; in fact, she had never dealt with the yamen. She naturally harbored fear toward the yamen.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, everything has been arranged. The day after the money is issued, you can just take your household registration card and go collect it directly."

"Thank you, thank you!"