Chapter 405: The Banquet

Privately, Chen Guanlou asked Master Du how much the famous master's calligraphy book was estimated to be worth in the market.

Master Du told him that one or two thousand taels could definitely be sold. The specific amount depends on the ability of the antique shop. If you meet a fellow enthusiast, two or three thousand taels is not a problem.

"Doesn't Xie Changling's inscription count as money?"

"This depends on the time. He is trapped in prison now, and although he has the title of top scholar and has formed his own style, there are not many people who recognize it after all. In the future, when he becomes famous, this calligraphy book will surely be worth a fortune. If you want to send a gift to cater to someone's preferences, there will surely be no shortage of people who spend a lot of money to buy this calligraphy book. Think about it: the calligraphy book article he wrote in the Heavenly Prison today, when it is sent to him as a gift in the future, how precious this sincerity will be. What is called gift-giving? This is called gift-giving; this is the superior means of currying favor."

"Then I have to find a way to let him leave more ink treasures. When he becomes successful in the future, I will specifically sell his ink treasures to those who send gifts and curry favor; I will definitely be able to make a fortune."

Master Du laughed: "Only when it is rare is it precious. When there is a lot, it is Chinese cabbage on the side of the road."

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue twice: "Readers are just pretentious. I can split the account with him 20-80, or at worst 30-70."

"You are so optimistic about his future? You are sure he can turn things around?" Master Du was very curious.

Chen Guanlou giggled and said lightly: "I'm not bragging, but these eyes of mine have never misjudged anyone. Who can rise again, who can succeed—I dare not say I can guess 100%, but 80% or 90% is still there."

"You are awesome!" Master Du smiled: "With this ability, hiding in the Heavenly Prison is actually a bit useful. And it is only a bit useful. If it were used in officialdom, then rising through the ranks would just be a common occurrence."

"Master, don't fool me. I'm still thinking, this gift is quite valuable; sending it to the Marquis Prefecture, will it be inappropriate given my status?"

"There is nothing inappropriate. Everyone knows you are a prison clerk in the Heavenly Prison; fleecing the imprisoned officials is a matter of course. Everyone just thinks you have the ability and know how to cater to others' preferences."

Master Du's words comforted Chen Guanlou.

The market value of the calligraphy book far exceeded his budget, but he did indeed only spend two hundred taels of silver to purchase it. And it was moving from his left hand to his right hand, fitting the budget.

When the banquet arrived, he timed it well, arriving at the Marquis Prefecture neither early nor late. This time he didn't go through the back door; he walked through the side door. It was the gatekeeper Chen Guanxiang, Brother Xiang, who greeted him in person.

Chen Guanlou didn't give a tip, saying loudly: "Between us brothers, we don't pay attention to these things. Let's drink together in a while."

Chen Guanxiang spat: "Drinking with you, I've had eight lifetimes of bad luck. Get further away, don't infect me with your bad luck."

"Nonsense! With my wealth, who doesn't envy me? You are just jealous."

"I'm jealous of you?" Chen Guanxiang's nostrils were toward the sky, looking disdainful: "With that broken job of yours in the Heavenly Prison, compared to me, you aren't even fit to carry my shoes. This job of mine, even if it's just a gatekeeper, if I walk out, even a seventh-rank official wouldn't trade for it."

"Yes, yes, yes, the gatekeeper of the prime minister's mansion is a seventh-rank official, let alone the gatekeeper of the Marquis Prefecture. You are awesome, I can't compare, I admit defeat." Chen Guanlou decisively ended the elementary school-like quarrel; there were too many guests, and he almost became a spectacle.

Chen Guanxiang casually assigned a servant to lead Chen Guanlou to the front courtyard flower hall to drink tea. There were too many guests today, and they were divided into several courtyards to entertain.

Chen Guanlou was placed in the team of the Chen clan. As soon as he walked into the flower hall, good heavens, it was all Chen family members. Including some friends and relatives of the Chen clan, but their status and identity were limited, and they were not qualified to sit at the same table with other noble families and friends, so they were placed with the clansmen.

Chen Guanlou was very sensible. As soon as he entered the flower hall, he first paid his respects to the elders, greeted his clansmen brothers, and accepted the gifts of the juniors.

Fortunately, today is not the New Year, so he doesn't need to give red envelopes.

Time flies, and before he knew it, there was a long string of juniors. A few years ago, he was still a little handsome boy, Brother Lou, and in a blink of an eye, a group of bear children popped out and called him uncle when they met.

A group of bear children were like three thousand ducks.

The Chen clan started with military martial arts, so they didn't manage the children strictly, and even liked to see the children release their nature and fight. They said that if you want to be a general, you must know how to fight and compete. The consciousness of fighting must be cultivated from childhood. The family style was indeed very different from that of farming and reading families and official families.

No wonder there were few intermarriages between the two sides. The gap in concepts and family style was too big, making it difficult to integrate, and there were bound to be contradictions everywhere.

Of course, the adults also had a sense of proportion, limiting the children's range of activities to the courtyard, and they couldn't take a step out of the courtyard gate. So as not to collide with the noble guests.

Chen Guanxin twisted and turned to Chen Guanlou, politely shouting: "Brother Guanlou!"

"How is the business?"

Chen Guanxin shook his head: "So-so." Even with the family's support, Chen Guanxin's grocery store could only be said to be able to muddle along, earning enough for food and clothing. If you want to be rich, don't count on it. This business is a long-term one, accumulating little by little. It is far from being as easy and high-income as when he was working in the Heavenly Prison.

He was a person who couldn't sit still, and letting him watch the shop every day made him depressed to death.

With the comparison, he realized more and more that the job in the Heavenly Prison, although it seemed low and dirty, actually had many benefits. In the past, Chen Guanlou was only a squad leader, and with his care, he could eat his fill and never lack money. Now that Chen Guanlou is a prison clerk, if he were still in the Heavenly Prison, wouldn't his income and status be rising steadily?

Regretting not at the beginning.

"Brother Guanlou, can I still go back to the Heavenly Prison to work?"

Chen Guanlou glanced at him: "Just do your business well. Now you are a boss, why are you thinking about the job of a prison clerk in the Heavenly Prison?"

"Brother Guanlou, are you still blaming me? At the beginning, I really didn't mean to let it slip."

"Things have passed, don't mention it." Chen Guanlou picked up the teacup, making it clear that he was sending the guest away.

Chen Guanxin opened his mouth, helpless. He just loved to brag and show off his knowledge; prison clerks in the Heavenly Prison were all like this. It's just that he bragged too much and revealed the accounts of the Jia-grade prison.

If you want to say regret, there is a little bit.

If you want to say resentment, there is also a little bit. Brother Lou is too heartless; everyone is a clan brother, why make such a big fuss over his little mistake.

Today he just happened to meet him and wanted to test Chen Guanlou's attitude. He didn't expect the other party to still be unmoved and unwilling to give him a second chance.

He felt annoyed and resentful in his heart. Seeing the bear children making noise, he roared. The movement he made alarmed the elders, and he was scolded by his father, making his mood even worse. He simply joined a few people to play cards, spending money to eliminate disaster.

I don't know when, Chen Guanxiang touched Chen Guanlou: "Why don't you give Chen Guanxin a second chance? I can see that he wants to go back to the Heavenly Prison to work."

"Then why don't you recommend him to work in the Marquis Prefecture, for example, following behind you to be a gatekeeper, which is easy and has a lot of money, and everyone gives three points of face."

"Pah! I am a gatekeeper, which requires a sharp eye and a clever person who cannot have a different heart. Chen Guanxin, that gambler, I don't want him."

"You don't want him, why should I want him."

"Isn't your Heavenly Prison specifically for collecting rascals? Chen Guanxin is just right."

Chen Guanlou directly returned a middle finger to the other party. ===== CHAPTER 406 =====