Chapter 549: Whether it

The batch of antiques Zhang Wenfu brought to overturn the verdict was packaged and sold by Master Du to the Marquis Prefecture's Heir Chen Guanfu for 7,500 taels.

A small profit of 1,000 taels.

Chen Guanlou's principle is that one must leave a name when doing good deeds.

He knocked on Zhang Wenfu's prison cell door and told the other party, "Your matter is settled; within ten or fifteen days, I guarantee you'll be out. This time I didn't earn a penny; the antiques you brought were all converted and put into it."

"Thank you, Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen! I will keep your kindness in my heart. After I get out, if I become successful in the future, I will definitely repay you."

"Just remember these words. Don't turn your face and refuse to recognize people when the time comes."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen is joking; Zhang is definitely not a person who forgets kindness and forgets righteousness." Zhang Wenfu was absolutely sincere at this moment. As for how long this sincerity could last—a few hours or a few days—no one could say. Anyway, by this time next year, he would have long forgotten it.

Chen Guanlou never took the words of gratitude, thanks, and repayment from released prisoners to heart. Whoever takes them seriously is a fool.

However, he would take the words of threatening him and swearing revenge to heart. Gratitude is ninety-nine percent fake, while revenge is seventy or eighty percent real.

The scrap rate of prison guards is also quite high.

If he weren't a martial artist, he would have died eight hundred years ago, and the grass on his grave would probably be as tall as a person.

"I know, I know, Young Master Zhang is a righteous person. Tomorrow I'll personally send you out of prison."

Things went even faster than Chen Guanlou had estimated; in just three or five days, the Ministry of Justice issued an official document, the Zhang Wenfu case was closed, and he could be released from prison.

Sure enough, when money is in place and the right person is found, the Ministry of Justice, which likes to procrastinate, can also be highly efficient for once.

Chen Guanlou personally took the official document, went down to the Jia-grade prison, and personally said congratulations.

Zhang Wenfu looked pleasantly surprised.

In front of the prison guards, he bowed to Chen Guanlou, very sincerely.

Regardless of whether he repaid the kindness or not, just based on this attitude, this deal was quite worth it. Other corrupt officials wouldn't do this bowing thing; being able to say a word of thanks is already considered being respectful to the virtuous.

"Out of prison, work well, don't enter the palace a second time. The price for the second time is different."

"Is it cheaper than the first time?"

Pfft!

Still wanting to take advantage of the Heavenly Prison.

This thief Zhang Wenfu has learned to be bad.

The prison guards went to notify the Zhang family. Unfortunately, until Zhang Wenfu finished washing and changed into clean clothes, no one came to pick him up.

Chen Guanlou was very generous. "Someone, call a carriage for Young Master Zhang."

The prison guard acknowledged the order and left.

Then, he asked concernedly, "Are you sure you were born to your parents?" No one came to pick him up when he was released from prison; this treatment doesn't look like he was born to them, but more like he was adopted, or born to a foot-washing maid.

Tsk...

In this day and age, children born to foot-washing maids are even lower than illegitimate children born to concubines. A foot-washing maid is the lowest of the low slaves. A concubine, at least, is a commoner.

Since ancient times, children have been valued by their mothers; this is not a lie.

Zhang Wenfu's face turned iron-blue, very embarrassed, and he said sonorously, "Don't worry, Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, I was of course born to my parents. Look at my appearance, I am a typical Zhang family member."

"Could it be that you were adopted? You were originally... when Lady Zhang had no children, she adopted you to her side to raise you, using a concubine's son to fill the role of the legitimate son?"

"Impossible!" Zhang Wenfu broke through directly, his face twisted. "I was born to my mother, absolutely not adopted. Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, stop spouting nonsense and spreading rumors."

"However..." Chen Guanlou looked outside the gate; it was empty, and not a single Zhang family member showed up, not even a servant. "This treatment of yours doesn't look like you were born to them. Moreover, you have a degree. Even if the Zhang family has a deep foundation, they wouldn't be so arrogant as to despise and dislike a scholar, right?"

Anyway, in Zhang Wenfu's generation, there were only four people who had obtained degrees. One jinshi, one juren, and two scholars. With this level, if they despised the juren degree and looked down on the juren Zhang Wenfu, wouldn't that be too arrogant? Since it wasn't despising his degree, it must be despising his background.

Big families have too many dark secrets.

Legitimate, illegitimate, unknown origins, unknown birth mother...

Zhang Wenfu was still struggling. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be that the prison guards were incompetent and didn't deliver the news of my release to the Zhang family."

Chen Guanlou didn't think it was a big deal to watch the show and sighed directly. "Young Master Zhang, you are an adult; you cannot pretend to be confused while knowing the truth. When you go back, observe carefully and ask the old servants in the family about the situation."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, stop spouting nonsense. I am a child born to my parents; this is a fact, no one can distort it."

"Yes, yes, yes, you are of course a child of the Zhang family. Damn it, is everyone slacking off today? Calling a carriage, it's been so long and it still hasn't arrived." Chen Guanlou cursed.

Private Secretary Mu Qingshan reminded him, "There is a temple fair today; carriages in the city are in short supply."

"Ah, is there a temple fair? I've been busy all day and actually forgot about this."

"The new emperor has ascended the throne; to boost public morale and activate the market, Xiangguo Temple has joined other temples and Daoist temples to hold a month-long temple fair."

"I know about this; tomorrow when I have time, I'll go to the temple fair to stroll around. Young Master Zhang probably doesn't have time to stroll; you have many things to do after being released from prison. Hey, the carriage still hasn't arrived. Young Master Zhang, come, come, come, drink a cup of tea first, calm your anger, and wait slowly."

"I'm not angry." Zhang Wenfu tried hard to save face, managing to fool the situation.

"Yes, yes, yes, you are the famous Young Master Zhang, with unparalleled tolerance; you certainly won't be angry. How about this, I'll send someone to notify Young Master Ye. He is your good brother; when he learns the news of your release, he will definitely welcome you."

Zhang Wenfu sat there without saying a word, clearly acquiescing to Chen Guanlou's arrangement.

Chen Guanlou immediately winked at Private Secretary Mu Qingshan, who understood and hurriedly arranged for prison guards to notify Young Master Ye.

Young Master Ye was working in the government office.

The imperial government offices were all on adjacent streets; going from the Heavenly Prison was actually closer than going to the Marquis Prefecture.

The prison guards who ran errands were all quick-handed, flexible-minded, and observant people.

Relying on the skin of a Heavenly Prison guard, and then bluffing a bit, they very smoothly saw Young Master Ye who was on duty and told the other party that Zhang Wenfu had been released and was waiting for him at the Heavenly Prison to pick him up.

Young Master Ye:...

"Released? Waiting for me to pick him up?"

"Exactly! You are Young Master Zhang's good friend; you should welcome him. Young Master Ye, go quickly. If you're late, it will delay things."

Young Master Ye:...

He always felt that this matter was a bit strange, but the prison guard kept chattering in his ear.

Young Master Ye didn't have time to think carefully and was fooled into taking a carriage to the Heavenly Prison.

Good buddies meeting, it's so moving!

Young Master Ye woke up late and finally discovered what was wrong. Zhang Wenfu was released; why didn't the Zhang family come to pick him up? As a friend, even if he wanted to welcome him, it should be arranged after Zhang Wenfu had gone home and settled down. ===== CHAPTER 550 =====