Chapter 350: Let's not play conspiracies, let's play open schemes

"Then how should I play?"

Zhao Mingqiao endured the embarrassment, put away the awkwardness, and for the first time tried to face the opinions of others squarely, asking.

"Play it openly and honestly! Defeat the enemy with open schemes, only then can you win people's hearts and gain support. Only then can your loose organization of like-minded people not become a tool for others' struggle."

"Open and honest, how difficult."

Chen Guanlou immediately gave him chicken blood, "Don't you claim to be the only correct thought? Don't you want to maintain the so-called orthodoxy? What is orthodoxy, open and honest is orthodoxy, bright and upright is orthodoxy.

Your so-called orthodoxy is too narrow, only staring at that identity. I tell you, orthodoxy is the world, is the country, is the rivers and lakes, is the human heart, is the beautiful life, is striving to be strong, is striving to make progress. Instead of poisoning and killing in the dark. I don't even play the trick of poisoning and killing, what are you playing? If you want to kill, kill openly and honestly, kill according to the law!"

Chen Guanlou was righteous, as if he were the embodiment of justice, the sunshine, the direction, and the driving force for progress.

He is quite good at pretending.

However, he puts on a very successful act.

What he said was not entirely nonsense; there was indeed some substance to it.

He also didn't play by double standards.

When he kills, it is entirely due to personal grievances. Although he wears a mask, he kills in a straightforward and upright manner. Hmm, he is very bright and open.

Zhao Mingqiao frowned, drinking his wine in misery.

Chen Guanlou looked at the moon, regretting that he hadn't gone to the brothel to spend the night.

In the middle of the night, acting as a mentor for once, it was quite tiring.

Bang!

The wine cup landed heavily on the tabletop.

Zhao Mingqiao's eyes lit up like light bulbs. "Brother Chen is right. Before, I was too narrow-minded; my vision was too short-sighted. Just as Brother Chen said, I should fix my gaze upon the world, upon the state and its destiny, rather than on some specific person or specific status."

"What do you want to do?"

"His Majesty is muddled and refuses to repent. In that case, it is our duty to act!"

"No. Are you planning to rebel?" Chen Guanlou thought to himself that this step was a bit too large; he should be careful not to pull a muscle. Moreover, he discovered that Zhao Mingqiao's comprehension always found a way to veer in another direction.

Could this be the barrier of the era?

Or was his own ability to express himself not clear enough?

"Not at all! I am a court official; how could I lead a rebellion? Besides, would rebelling make His Majesty mend his ways? It would not!"

"Then what do you want to do?"

Zhao Mingqiao smiled mysteriously. "It is better if Brother Chen does not know! Thank you, Brother Chen, for waking me up tonight. I was on the verge of making a grave mistake. Changing course is exactly the right thing to do. In the future, if we are fortunate enough to succeed, I will surely invite Brother Chen for a drink."

Having said this, he picked up his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and rose to open the door and leave.

When he arrived, he was full of guilt, but when he left, his posture was dashing and heroic, like a great hero about to rush onto the battlefield.

Chen Guanlou watched him leave and prepared to close the courtyard gate.

Unexpectedly, the courtyard gate opposite opened a crack, and behind the door was none other than Mrs. Qu.

Chen Guanlou greeted her, "Still not asleep this late?"

Mrs. Qu hesitated for a moment, and the courtyard gate opened a little wider. "It's hot, I can't sleep. Was the person who just left a friend of Prison Clerk Chen?"

"A tenant who used to rent at Sister Chunxiang's place. He's an official now, with a bright future. I didn't expect him to be so nostalgic, still remembering a nobody like me," Chen Guanlou joked about himself.

Mrs. Qu gave an "oh."

Chen Guanlou asked her, "Has Master Qu not returned yet?"

"This shipment didn't go very smoothly; it was delayed on the road. He'll be back in a few days."

"As long as everyone is safe and sound, that's all that matters. I have to be on duty tomorrow, so I should get some sleep. You should sleep early too."

Mrs. Qu gave an "mm," her thin summer shirt draped over her body, leaving her beautiful curves fully visible.

Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly that Master Qu was truly lucky; Mrs. Qu's figure was absolutely top-tier, so soft that one could squeeze water out of it.

Withdrawing his gaze and suppressing his restless mind, he was the first to close his door.

Mrs. Qu bit her lip, and finally, she silently closed her courtyard gate.

Early in the morning, Sister Chunxiang's house was as lively as a marketplace. A few children had the power of three thousand ducks. Chen Guanlou marveled secretly; Sister Chunxiang was truly amazing. A single woman managed to keep her household in perfect order, while also looking after several children and occasionally going to the Hou Fu to work as a temp.

As the young ladies and gentlemen of the Hou Fu grew older, the Hou Fu became increasingly busy, frequently hosting banquets and parties, inviting familiar families to come over to eat and drink.

In reality, this was all to make plans for the children's marriages.

A young lady's youth cannot be delayed, and a young man's marriage must be planned early. Good young ladies who lack nothing in family background, appearance, or ability are scarce resources; one must plan early and settle things quickly.

By the same token, young men who lack nothing in family background, appearance, character, or ability are also scarce resources; one must keep an eye on them early and make a move quickly. If you're late, they'll be snatched away by someone else.

The capital is huge, the circle is small, and good young men and women of marriageable age are even fewer.

Sister Chunxiang went to the Hou Fu to work as a temp to earn pocket money. She also brought her own daughter along to gain experience, hoping that in a few years, she might be able to handle things on her own. At that time, she would have a word with the Second Young Mistress to secure a long-term job for her daughter in the Hou Fu.

Chen Guanlou was not invited to the Hou Fu's banquets.

However, he did receive several invitations for clan banquets.

Weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, birthdays, funerals...

Every time, if Chen Guanlou had time, he would go; if he didn't, he would still send a gift. In these few years, the gift money he had sent out amounted to a not-insignificant sum.

Chen Xiaolan often complained to him, "When will you get married? At least earn back the money you've sent out in gifts."

Whenever the topic turned to this, Chen Guanlou would crack jokes and brush it off.

After Chen Xiaolan had a son, she was no longer as reclusive as she used to be. She now quite enjoyed moving about in the Hou Fu circle; whenever a family had an event or a banquet, she would attend with her child.

In her words, "Sending a bit of gift money to build connections for the child is worth it. You know the situation of the Su family; they are all poor relatives, and only my father-in-law has any ability. He earns a bit of money, but from time to time, he still has to provide for the poor relatives. When the child grows up, the Su family definitely won't be of any help. We still have to rely on the Chen family side.

The Chen family is my maiden home; it is only natural for me to keep in touch with my own kin. When the child grows up, I don't ask for him to follow the Marquis to do things, but being able to secure a job to make a living would be good. Even if it's just working in the Hou Fu to serve others, it's still better than scraping a living outside."

Besides seeking a future for her son, there was another reason: Chen Xiaolan had Chen Guanlou's financial support, so she was not short of money. She could afford the mere gift money.

Even if Mother-in-law Su scolded her for being a spendthrift, a single mention of the private money given by her brother was enough to shut Mother-in-law Su up.

Sister-in-law Su only hated that she didn't have a brother like Chen Guanlou, who was like a god of wealth, constantly stuffing money into Chen Xiaolan's private treasury as if that money had fallen from the sky.