Chapter 429: The Power of the Three Characters

Master Du has been very busy lately.

The clan school has been reformed, expanded enrollment, and enlarged. As the oldest instructor in the clan school, he could not shirk his duty—he stepped forward to lead by example and offered the Young Master Chen Guanlou many valuable suggestions.

Seizing this opportunity, he secured a menial position at the clan school for his eldest son, worth thirty taels a year. After receiving confirmation, he hurriedly wrote to his son back home, urging him to arrive in the capital before the New Year—delay would risk losing the post to someone else.

The Chen clan was "overflowing with talent," and there were countless idle young ruffians. Thirty taels a year was an opportunity no penniless man could afford to miss—even a menial job at the clan school was far more respectable than any other.

Master Du feared the respectable post he had fought so hard to secure might be snatched away, and he pressed his son with desperate urgency.

He even set aside a sum of silver, ready to throw it down if he had to bribe his way to protect his son's position.

Chen Guanlou asked curiously, "Master Du, how much silver are you planning to spend to secure the post?"

Master Du held up his fingers.

Chen Guanlou was stunned, disbelieving, "Two hundred taels? You're spending two hundred taels to protect a thirty-tael job—are you mad?"

"You don't understand."

Chen Guanlou: …

He truly didn't understand.

For instance, in his past life, he couldn't fathom why anyone would spend three or forty thousand taels for a job paying only three thousand taels a month—it made no sense.

Chen Guanlou grimaced, unable to look, "It's not even a government post—is it really worth it?"

"Working in the Marquis's household is nearly the same as a government post," Master Du replied.

"Not even close," Chen Guanlou disagreed.

"You're being hypocritical," Master Du scolded bluntly. "You work in the Heavenly Prison—how many times have you secretly benefited from the Marquis's influence? How many advantages have you enjoyed because of the Hou Fu's name? These are only indirect benefits, yet they've made your life in the Heavenly Prison smooth as water, your wealth flowing freely. When my son joins the Hou Fu clan school, though the pay is small, the intangible benefits are beyond price."

"The clan school has no money!" Chen Guanlou warned seriously.

"But it has dignity, prestige, connections, and relationships. These things cannot be bought with silver. With this experience, getting a position at any academy elsewhere won't be hard."

That was exactly Master Du's plan.

Spending one's whole life working in the Hou Fu clan school isn't impossible—but it's unlikely. One must plan for the future. If one day the Marquis no longer needs him—or his son—this credential would make securing a position at a local academy far easier, if not effortless.

In the capital, everything is more valuable, more prestigious.

For the capital is the place where one gains the most insight and wealth in all the land.

Talented scholars from across the realm gather in the capital. Anyone who rises to prominence in its cultural circles possesses real ability—and in the provinces, such a person would be a top-tier talent.

Master Du has taught in the Hou Fu clan school for so many years—he must be a man of talent!

This credential, taken to the provinces, is nothing short of elite status. Getting his son into the Hou Fu clan school is simply a matter of gold-plating his resume.

The Chen clan members were not sensitive to this hidden advantage, for they rarely left the capital and had little sense of how powerful the words "Chen family of the capital" and "Marquis of Pingjiang" truly were in the provinces. The Hou Fu stewards knew—but they never spoke of it.

Master Du was an outsider, so he understood the power of the name "Chen," and the lethal weight of "Marquis of Pingjiang." With his position as an instructor in the Hou Fu clan school, in a small town he might sit as an equal to the local magistrate and become the most respected elder in the region.

He looked at Chen Guanlou, speechless.

"You clearly have no grasp of the Marquis's influence," he muttered, then added, "If you ever travel to the provinces, you'll see how powerful those three words—'Marquis of Pingjiang'—are. They're even more effective than official documents."

Chen Guanlou: …

He had been narrow-minded.

"I'm buried in work at the Heavenly Prison all year—how could I possibly have time to travel?"

Every time he left the capital, it was for urgent business. He rushed through, dared not delay, never had the chance to understand local conditions or build relationships with locals.

Still, he had seen some scenery and witnessed the people's suffering.

Master Du waved his hand. "In short, spending two hundred taels to secure my son's post is worth it. Of course, I hope I won't have to spend a single copper. The Young Master has already promised the position—I hope no one tries to snatch it."

He hoped no one would interfere, yet he prepared for the worst. Two plans, to ensure his son's position was absolutely safe.

Chen Guanlou said, "It's not even a teaching post—just thirty taels a year. Few will fight over it."

"I told you—you still don't understand. The Chen clan won't fight over it, but what about outsiders? The Hou Fu has countless household-born servants without positions—or with positions too humble. Don't you think they'd envy the clan school post? By working there, they can read more books, cultivate themselves, gain knowledge, and use it to leap to higher posts. The Hou Fu prefers to employ household-born servants who've studied."

The vast Hou Fu, with its immense holdings, needed many people to manage affairs.

The Hou Fu had no shortage of servants—but it lacked talented ones. In truth, any noble household lacked men of talent. Yet talented men looked down on being hired guests or doing practical work.

Practical tasks had to be entrusted to household-born servants or clan members.

But among both household-born servants and clan members, the talented were few.

Thus, Master Du's concern was entirely reasonable. The menial post at the clan school would be fought over—and many would fight for it. He had secured the position through the Young Master's influence; others could do the same. He had to be prepared. Two hundred taels was his backup plan.

Chen Guanlou rubbed his chin. He knew little of these matters. His current income made thirty taels insignificant—he simply couldn't grasp the importance of this menial job.

He said plainly, "If you're short on silver, I'll lend you some. Your son is my junior, after all."

"Junior? Nonsense. You should call me Elder Du—we're peers. Your words are disrespectful," Master Du snapped, furious that Chen Guanlou was trying to take advantage.

Chen Guanlou grinned. "Master Du, between us, who's who? We're brothers. Your son is naturally my junior."

"Get out, get out! My son is much older than you—if he'd married early, he could have a son your age." Master Du waved him off in disgust. No respect for elders, always trying to cheat him.