Chapter 410: Someone Put a Sack on Him

Master Du was put in a sack and hit on the head.

Fortunately, the person who did it didn't dare to beat him to death, saving his life.

The incident happened in the evening of the banquet day.

Chen Guanlou got the news and rushed to Master Du's house for the first time.

The doctor was applying medicine to Master Du, and Master Du was calling out "ouch ouch," asking the doctor to be lighter.

"Can't be light, you endure it yourself." The doctor is an acquaintance, and his speech was not polite.

Chen Guanlou hurriedly stepped forward: "How is it, is the injury serious? Is it okay?"

The doctor told him that it was a skin trauma, didn't hurt the bones, and there might be symptoms such as dizziness and vomiting later, so don't worry too much, rest for a few days and it will be fine.

This is a concussion!

Chen Guanlou's anger value soared, asking Master Du: "Did you see the person who did it?"

Master Du shook his head: "I drank wine and went home, took a shortcut through a small alley, and suddenly a sack was put on my head. Then there were a few sticks hitting my body. Then those people ran away."

"More than one person?"

Master Du nodded: "At least two."

"Is the injury on the body serious?"

Master Du rolled up his sleeves: "It's okay, it's all skin trauma."

Chen Guanlou pursed his lips, his face was straight, and he looked very gloomy.

Master Du comforted him instead: "I'm fine, I'll be fine after resting for a few days. Brother Lou, you must not mess around. Besides, I don't know who did it, you can't wrongly accuse people indiscriminately."

"I can roughly guess who did it. Master, you should raise your injury well, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter."

"What are you going to do? I said I'm fine." Master Du was afraid that Chen Guanlou would mess around. The two had known each other for many years, and he didn't know exactly how much ability Chen Guanlou had, but he had long guessed in his heart that Chen Guanlou had many secrets privately. These secrets were the guarantee that the two had been doing antique business for so many years without any accidents.

The huge profit of the antique business, coupled with Chen Guanlou's source of goods, had long been envied and jealous by countless people. For so many years, the two had been safe and sound, which was certainly due to the Marquis Prefecture's signboard, but privately Chen Guanlou must have done many preventive measures and exerted necessary means to deter certain people who were ready to move.

Master Du never asked, he just hid his suspicion and speculation in his heart.

Now that he was put in a sack, thinking about it, it must have been caused by the antique business. It was this day again, and he could guess that it must have been someone from the Chen clan who did it.

Master Du didn't want Chen Guanlou to turn against his clansmen because of himself. Originally, his reputation in the clan was not very good, and many people scolded Chen Guanlou for eating alone and having a weird temperament. If he turned against his clansmen because of him, Chen Guanlou's situation in the clan would be even more difficult.

In this day and age, no one can survive independently from the clan.

This is a world where the weak eat the strong, but the clan also protects the clansmen from being bullied by outsiders.

If Chen Guanlou left the clan, the jackals and tigers outside would swarm up. Even if Chen Guanlou really had great ability, the power of an individual is ultimately limited. Maybe even the job in the Heavenly Prison couldn't be kept, and all the business and making big money would become empty.

They had been sailing smoothly all these years; to be fair, to a certain extent, they had certainly benefited from the light of the Hou Fu and the Chen clan.

The reason Chen Guanlou could monopolize the antique and calligraphy trade in the Heavenly Prison was also because his surname was Chen—the Chen of the Hou Fu.

If his surname weren't Chen, but Zhang, Wang, or Ma, let's see which disgraced official would even bother with him.

Therefore, Master Du tried his best to persuade Chen Guanlou, "My injuries are not serious; I'll be fine after resting for a few days. The important thing is that harmony brings wealth."

Chen Guanlou tugged at the corner of his mouth and smiled, "Master, you were beaten after being bagged, yet you still talk about harmony bringing wealth. In daily life, you haven't provoked anyone."

"I understand what you want to say. But right now..." Master Du hesitated for a moment, "Your reputation is more important. Actually, I had intended to advise you: if it really comes to it, just take someone on as a partner. If the Hou Fu thinks well of it, then cooperate with the Hou Fu. It's just that this way, our share of the profits will certainly be less. Less is less, but at least your safety will be guaranteed."

"I have no intention of taking on another partner. Master, don't worry; I have a sense of proportion in how I do things. After all these years, you still don't trust me? When have I ever acted recklessly?"

He always acted according to a plan.

Master Du sighed, "Your biggest flaw is your stubbornness; you refuse to listen to advice, and you are more headstrong than anyone. Forget it, forget it. In short, absolutely do not act recklessly, and absolutely do not try to avenge me. These minor injuries of mine are of no consequence. I'll just take this opportunity to rest for a few days.

When you have time, associate more with the brothers in the clan you get along with. Only when there is friendship will everyone speak up for you when things happen. Don't think that just because you don't cause trouble, trouble won't come knocking at your door.

This thing called a clan is sometimes a place that reasons, and sometimes it's just a place where the many bully the few and rely on their influence. You are weak and isolated, so absolutely do not be headstrong; when you need to yield, you must yield. Suffering a small loss to protect yourself is not shameful. We must look at the long term; what harm is there in giving way a little?"

Chen Guanlou was left between laughter and tears, "Master, what kind of person do you take me for? Am I the type of person who rushes in and starts fighting without a second thought?"

Master Du snorted, "You still deny it. Today at the Hou Fu banquet, you kicked Chen Guanqing flying at the slightest disagreement; everyone saw it. During the banquet, you were the center of conversation, and everyone said that because you've been in the Heavenly Prison for so long, your temper has become violent and you resort to hitting people at every turn. Bringing that Heavenly Prison style into the clan is inappropriate."

"That was because Chen Guanqing's face was ugly and disgusted me, so I kicked him away. Later, when so many people came to talk to me about antique business, did you see me lose my temper or hit anyone? You are all biased."

"The problem right now is that the bias already exists; in everyone's eyes, you are a person with a very bad temper who resorts to violence at the slightest disagreement. Tell me what to do about it. If you act recklessly, it will be even more detrimental to your reputation. In the future, whenever something happens in the clan, you will definitely suffer. You must find a way to reverse this situation."

"I am quite kind-hearted."

"You are only kind to people you are familiar with." Master Du pointed out the core of the problem. This point made the clansmen particularly dissatisfied.

Chen Guanlou would rather cooperate with people of other surnames and let them make money than bring his own brothers along to make money. In the eyes of many, this is eating inside and out, being ungrateful, and needing a lesson.

Influenced by his past life, Chen Guanlou had no concept of a clan, which made him appear out of place in the Chen clan. Everyone else kept the clan on their lips and their brothers by their side.

Only Chen Guanlou; one could basically never hear him mention how the clan is, or how his brothers are. It all depended on whether they were pleasing to the eye. If he found someone pleasing, he would take them to get rich. If he found someone displeasing, let alone a clan brother, even a blood brother would be treated with indifference. Fortunately, he had no blood brothers, so there was no way to verify this point.

Fueled by the alcohol, everyone vented their dissatisfaction at the banquet, and his performance was also cold. He showed absolutely no embarrassment or shame at being accused.

It was just too damn excessive.

Does he even have the surname Chen? Does he have the family at heart at all?