Chapter 645: Taking one look, blushing with shame

The Chief Steward really wanted to reach out and knock on Chen Guanlou's head to see if it was filled with bean dregs.

But he didn't dare!

"You are also a member of the Chen family, and the family is proud of you. The Marquis Prefecture's family banquet wouldn't have any luster without you. You returned silently; attending the family banquet is a way to announce to the world that your seclusion has ended and you have returned safely. To take a step back, the Marquis Prefecture's cooks have excellent skills, which you have eaten before. The cooks' ancestors were imperial chefs; you can't eat so many delicacies on weekdays."

The Chief Steward was worthy of being the Chief Steward; look at this art of speaking, lifting people high, "proud of you." Anyone with a slightly stronger vanity, being lifted like this, would sooner or later be sold by the Chief Steward.

However, Chen Guanlou was unmoved.

Was he someone who would change his mind for a few plates of delicacies?

"The money you won from betting last year is still at the Marquis Prefecture. Don't you want to take it back?"

The Chief Steward finally grasped the lifeline.

Praising to the high heavens wasn't as useful as a word about money.

"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten that there is still a large sum of silver at the Marquis Prefecture. Take it back, I must take it back. Fine, I will definitely go to the family banquet."

"Is it confirmed?"

"I will go for the sake of money."

The Chief Steward left satisfied. When he left, he didn't forget to remind him to take a look at the new residence, where everything was prepared, just waiting for him, the master.

Chen Guanlou was tempted.

He stayed at the new residence for two nights, then returned to the small home in the back alley of the Marquis Prefecture.

It wasn't that the new residence wasn't good, nor that the servants weren't serving him satisfactorily, but that having too many people affected his Dao heart. Especially those few beautiful maids, who would drill to his side whenever they had nothing to do, constantly refreshing their presence. He wanted to cultivate quietly for a while, but couldn't avoid being disturbed.

He scolded them, punished them, wasted time and breath with the servants, and was annoyed to death. He thought being a master meant just lying down, but he didn't expect to have to spend time managing. Managing in the Heavenly Prison during the day consumed energy, and returning to the residence at night meant continuing to consume energy doing management work; was he crazy?

Did he still want to cultivate or not!

Living alone was comfortable; after eating, he wiped his mouth and did whatever he wanted. When cultivating, he didn't have to worry about anyone disturbing him.

When the time came, he went to the Marquis Prefecture to attend the family banquet, taking the main entrance.

Originally, he was going to take the side entrance, but Chen Guanxiang, Brother Xiang, saw him and hurriedly grabbed him. "Take the main entrance, take the main entrance, you must take the main entrance!"

Chen Guanlou teased, "The treatment has been upgraded!"

"That's for sure. You are different now; you coming to the Marquis Prefecture is called 'an honored guest at the door', so you should take the main entrance. Haven't seen you for so long; heard from the Chief Steward that you were in seclusion."

"That's right, just came out of seclusion."

"You haven't been to your brother-in-law's house yet, have you."

"What's wrong?" After he returned, he sent word to his eldest sister, Chen Xiaolan. His eldest sister was pregnant again and about to give birth, so she didn't come to visit him.

As for him, he was pondering resting for two days to replenish the flesh he had lost before going to visit his eldest sister.

"The Chief Steward arranged for someone to set up a teahouse for your brother-in-law. With the Marquis Prefecture as a backer, the teahouse business is very good, and they have already hired several waiters. Moreover, the teahouse is registered under your eldest sister's name, counting as your eldest sister's dowry, and has nothing to do with the Su family. The money earned is private money for your eldest sister's couple and doesn't enter the public account. I heard that Mother Su was so angry she lay down for a full half month."

They were all in the same clan; it was one thing for the clan's girls to marry far away, but marrying in the capital, everyone knew the situation of each family clearly.

Everyone had heard of the reputation of that old hag, Mother Su.

Chen Guanxiang revealing Chen Xiaolan's news was nothing more than to curry favor with Chen Guanlou and, by the way, sell a favor in front of the Chief Steward.

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly, and his heart was indeed happy. He had also thought about preparing a dowry for his eldest sister again, adding two storefronts. But his eldest sister didn't agree.

Furthermore, such matters were best handled by elders going to discuss with the old couple of the Su family, needing to invite the clan elders. Chen Xiaolan didn't want Chen Guanlou to owe favors to the clan, and she didn't want to stimulate Mother Su, so she let it go.

Chen Guanlou simply used money to subsidize Chen Xiaolan.

This time, he fought to a draw with Master Qi, the world was shaken, and his status, position, and reputation were long since different from before. Thus, the Chief Steward logically prepared a teahouse for Chen Xiaolan, counting as a dowry. Hindered by the reputation Chen Guanlou had fought for, and hindered by the Marquis Prefecture, the Su family could only pinch their noses and acknowledge it, no matter how unhappy they were.

Mother Su scolded the Su brother-in-law for eating soft rice, but the Su brother-in-law didn't care at all; he was even smug about it.

He had the ability to eat soft rice; others wanted to eat it but couldn't. Go be envious.

The Chief Steward was worthy of being the Chief Steward of the Marquis Prefecture; he did things thoroughly, considering every aspect. Considering the Su family's housework, adding a dowry only added a teahouse, which wasn't too excessive and didn't have the suspicion of using power to oppress others.

If Chen Guanlou had operated it himself, it definitely wouldn't have been so thorough. Eight or nine out of ten times, there would have been friction with the Su family.

"I must toast the Chief Steward a glass of wine later to thank him for his thoroughness."

"Let's have a drink later when you're free here." Chen Guanxiang laughed.

Chen Guanlou patted his shoulder. "Sure! Let's have a drink when you're free."

Another guest arrived, and Chen Guanxiang immediately arranged for the gatekeeper to welcome the guest. He personally led Chen Guanlou into the front courtyard flower hall.

Just sat down and hadn't drunk tea yet, someone came from the inner courtyard to invite him; the old lady learned he had arrived and wanted to see him.

Chen Guanlou then got up and went to the inner courtyard.

Entering the inner courtyard, looking at a glance, it was all young ladies.

It was called a family banquet, but actually, many guests were invited. In the garden, flowers were clustered, as if all the young ladies waiting to be married in the capital had come to the Marquis Prefecture today; it was beautiful and breathtaking, nearly dazzling his eyes.

He didn't have the consciousness of "do not look at what is improper"; he scanned the young ladies in the garden generously.

The young ladies were also very bold, giggling, whispering, pursing their lips and smiling, or covering their mouths and stealing smiles, or smiling shyly. Seeing his gaze didn't dodge, the young ladies boldly sized him up. Taking one look, they blushed. Taking two looks, their ears turned red. Taking three looks, their whole bodies were likely red.

Chen Guanlou looked down and examined himself; today he was dressed quite decently, in a cyan straight-collared robe, his hair combed neatly, inserted with a jade hairpin. Pretending to be a rich man, he tied a jade pendant at his waist, worth several hundred taels of silver. He was just missing a folding fan. Holding a folding fan in this weather was very appropriate. It was a pity; he forgot this when he went out.

With this attire, paired with a face more handsome than Pan An, no wonder the young ladies blushed with shame.

Hehe!

He was quite smug inside.

It wasn't his first time coming to the backyard of the Marquis Prefecture; looking at this route, it seemed like he was deliberately led through the garden to appear in front of many young ladies.

What was this for?

Could it be urging marriage again?

When did his marriage matter attract so much attention?

The Chief Steward was incompetent; he didn't convey his meaning properly.

It was also possible that those in power had been in power for too long and had forgotten how to respect others' wishes, with only one thought in their brains: I am doing this for your own good! ===== CHAPTER 646 =====