Chapter 401: On Snowy Days, Hot Pot Is Best

It snowed in Jingcheng!

This year's first snow came earlier than last year's.

Chen Guanlou stepped on the thin layer of snow, crunching underfoot.

In his past life, he was born in the south and studied and worked there, rarely seeing snow.

In this life, Jingcheng lies in the northern region, and it snows every year. He had seen heavy snowflakes, light snowflakes, and icicles; after several years, his curiosity about snow had faded, yet he still longed for hot pot on snowy days.

When he left home in the morning, he gave Chunxiang Sister a string of copper coins and asked her to prepare wine, dishes, and various spices. When he returned from work, he could simply start cooking and eat hot pot right away.

Who would he eat with?

He could invite Master Du to visit his home, or invite Qi Wuxiu. But he wasn't sure if Qi Wuxiu had time. That fellow Lu Datou was busy gambling and probably wouldn't waste time on food and drink.

By the time he arrived at the Tianlaomiao, the courtyard snow had already been cleared by the laborers, and a layer of rice straw had been laid down to prevent slipping.

The jailers all held steaming cups of tea to warm their bellies.

As soon as Chen Guanlou entered, a sharp jailer immediately refilled his teacup with hot tea, letting it cool slightly before drinking.

"My lord, Master Tian's son has come to deliver silver." reported a jailer.

Master Tian's son was a filial son; whenever his father was imprisoned in the Tianlaomiao, he feared his father would suffer, and without being urged, he would come punctually and reliably to deliver silver—and strive to speak with his father.

Father and son looked very much alike, except that Master Tian's son had clearer eyes and a less complex, less deep mind.

Since Master Tian's son came voluntarily to deliver silver, Chen Guanlou naturally greeted him, invited him into the office, and served him a cup of guest tea.

"It's snowing—was the road hard to travel? Master Tian, your filial piety is admirable, braving such weather. But two or three days later would've been fine; our Tianlaomiao follows rules, unlike the neighboring Zhaoju."

"Thank you, Jailor Chen, for your kindness. But whenever I think of my father suffering inside, while I sit at home warming myself with tea, I feel deep shame."

"Your father's imprisonment has nothing to do with you—why should you feel ashamed?"

"Everything my father did was for the family, for us, his unworthy descendants." Master Tian's son, though grown old, sniffled like a child.

Chen Guanlou watched coldly. "I've heard you've been running connections and smoothing paths to rescue your father. Has there been any progress?"

Master Tian shook his head, looking dejected. "Many of my father's students are also trying, but there's been no progress. My father's case may be…"

"Did your father make an enemy?"

"I don't know. I teach at the academy; I don't understand court politics. Have you heard anything, Jailor Chen?"

"In court circles, having political rivals is normal. You can ask your father later—he might point you in the right direction. Such a big matter shouldn't be left to you running blindly. Finding connections hinges on finding the right person, don't you agree?"

"Thank you for your advice, Jailor Chen."

After finishing his tea and ending the small talk, a jailer led Master Tian's son down into the Tianlaomiao to see his father.

Chen Guanlou quietly ordered two sharp jailers to follow and listen to what the father and son discussed.

Xiao Jin suggested, "My lord, since you dislike Master Tian, why not give him a beating to make him behave?"

Chen Guanlou snorted. "Master Tian is a premium client. Treat premium clients with courtesy—distinguish them from other imprisoned officials, make him a standard, a model. Let every imprisoned official know that in the Jia-class cells, as long as the silver is paid, everything is negotiable. We jailers can't grant freedom, but we can offer service."

"So you mean, don't trouble Master Tian?"

"If he doesn't cause trouble, don't trouble him. My disposition isn't that narrow."

Xiao Jin nodded, understanding, then added, "Master Tian's son is truly filial—always comes in person to deliver silver. Other imprisoned officials usually send their household stewards; family visits are rare."

"In the Tianlaomiao, once you've been here, no one wants to come again. As long as the silver arrives, no need to fuss over details."

"You're right, my lord."

Normally, on snowy days like this, people stayed home, preferring to lie in bed.

But today was an exception.

Master Ye, along with two or three close friends, came to visit Zhang Wenfu.

Zhang Wenfu, the unlucky one, still had no verdict and would likely spend the New Year in the Tianlaomiao. Last time, Chen Guanlou ordered the Jia-class cells closed; Zhang Wenfu suffered terribly, lying bedridden for half a month before slowly recovering. He'd lost weight, his pampered habits were cured, and he no longer complained about the filth—he sat comfortably on the ground, chewing on rice straw roots.

Yet he sometimes stared blankly, as if his soul had left his body.

Chen Guanlou once worried the boy had been broken, turned stupid. After several conversations, seeing his logic was clear and his speech coherent, he finally relaxed. At least he wasn't dumb.

Master Ye despised the filth of the Tianlaomiao but couldn't abandon his close friend Zhang Wenfu. He agonized for a long time, and today, with snow falling, perhaps remembering the good days they'd spent together in the mountain temple, and with money arriving from home, he felt confident enough to suddenly invite two or three friends, bringing wine and food, to visit Zhang Wenfu and celebrate this year's first snow.

When Zhang Wenfu saw his friends, he initially held his emotions in check, trying to appear enlightened, elevated, no longer the weakling he once was. But as they chatted, when Master Ye mentioned last year's first snow, when they'd roamed freely in the mountain temple, Zhang Wenfu couldn't hold back—he burst into tears, nose and eyes streaming.

Master Ye pulled out a fresh handkerchief his maid had prepared, embroidered with a red plum blossom, and handed it to Zhang Wenfu to wipe his tears and snot. "Brother Zhang, don't grieve too much. I'm sure next year's first snow, we'll meet outside, discussing poetry and Dao, how delightful."

Zhang Wenfu wiped his nose, nodding, utterly unrefined.

Master Ye couldn't bear it. He thought: This is inhumane! A refined gentleman of the world, reduced to a crude commoner.

The Tianlaomiao is no place for humans.

Tragic!

Pitiful!

No matter what, he would never be thrown into the great prison. If he ever committed a crime and was exposed, the Hou Fu would protect him—he'd never be locked up.

Thank heaven and earth, he had the Hou Fu as his backing. He wouldn't suffer like Zhang Wenfu.

He regretted coming to visit the Tianlaomiao today. Zhang Wenfu was no longer the noble gentleman he remembered.

"Brother Zhang, what does your family say about your case?"

"No progress yet."

"So much time has passed—why no progress at all? Alas, I'm powerless and can't help."

"Brother Ye, please don't say that. You coming to see me is more than enough."

"Brother Zhang, be patient. The Hou Fu's heir is returning to Jingcheng soon—I'll ask my brother-in-law to help you."

"Chen Guanfu will help me?" Zhang Wenfu dared not hope.

Master Ye puffed up his chest. "If all else fails, I'll beg my cousin. She and the heir are one; surely the heir won't be so heartless."