Chapter 66

Chen Guanlou transformed into a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties, speaking with an outsider’s accent, surnamed Guan, and contacted County Yamen’s Sun Datou, inviting him to a brothel.

Upon hearing he was referred by Lu Datou, Sun Datou became very enthusiastic. Upon learning Chen wanted to buy a house, he began detailing the prices of various properties and who lived nearby, even offering to arrange a reliable, sharp-minded agent to show him around.

Chen Guanlou thanked him repeatedly but mentioned a difficulty: his household registration documents had been lost on the way to the capital—how should this be handled?

“You’re a friend of Lu Datou’s. I wouldn’t tell this to just anyone. This matter? Hard, it’s hard. Easy, it’s easy.”

“Where’s the difficulty? Where’s the ease?”

As soon as he spoke, a silver ingot slid from his hand into Sun Datou’s.

Sun Datou: …

“Ah, such a practiced hand at slipping silver! He weighed the ingot in his palm and grew even happier. Patting his round, bald head, he let the silver slip effortlessly into his sleeve.”

The entire motion flowed like water—smooth, seamless.

The courtesans attending nearby didn’t catch a single detail; their technique was too refined. Only seasoned handlers of bribes could have spotted the trick.

“For Master Guan, the difficulty isn’t hard, the ease is simple. Tomorrow, at the yamen, I’ll get you a new identity.”

“What do I need to prepare?”

Sun Datou grinned, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.

One word: money!

Chen Guanlou only needed to prepare money. The new identity would be ready in three days.

Seeing this, Chen Guanlou smiled with narrowed eyes—just money? Perfect! He’d feared the man would demand additional documents after taking the silver.

With a legally recognized identity, he now had a real skin wrapped around himself—genuine leather, not some hollow fake like Mister Empty.

With an extra identity, future affairs would be far easier.

That night, host and guest enjoyed themselves thoroughly; the courtesans were pleased too, for Master Guan had been generous with his tips.

Three days later, with his new identity in hand, he bought a small one-yard courtyard in Nancheng’s Well Lane. Most neighbors were merchants from elsewhere in the empire—coming and going, absent for months, perfectly normal. No one questioned it.

From then on, he entered brothels under the alias Master Guan, always summoning the most alluring courtesan, Qingniang.

While he was busy, the dispute between Hou Fu and Inspector Zhang ended.

Hou Fu paid silver; Inspector Zhang gladly accepted the olive branch and turned his attention to Jiang Tu.

Later, Liu Guanshi secretly visited Tianlaomiao again and met Yu Zhaoan. No one knew what they whispered about; Chen Guanlou pretended ignorance, asking not a single word.

After all, even if Hou Fu were exterminated in three generations, it wouldn’t reach his head.

He still went as usual to listen to gossip from Master Du.

Master Du was glad to see him, but each time lamented bitterly: what a pity, why had he become a jailer?

Each time, Chen Guanlou smiled and explained he simply loved money and cared for nothing else. With enough silver, he’d gladly be a corpse-bearer, let alone a jailer—purely the image of a money-grubbing merchant.

“Young man, aim high. Once you’ve earned money, change careers. The money in your hands? It’s not clean.”

“Master, you’re mistaken. It’s not the money that’s dirty—it’s the people. Besides, is the official’s money clean? If we jailers didn’t take bribes, do you think the prisoners would sleep easy? This money? It’s just buying peace of mind, buying convenience—a win-win.”

“What if you encounter a prisoner with no money?” Master Du asked curiously.

“If a truly poor prisoner shows up, all you can do is wish him good fortune,” Chen Guanlou said obliquely. How many dirty tricks, how many bloody scenes—no need to detail them to outsiders; those inside already know.

Master Du snorted twice. “So everyone says jailers’ money is dirty. Admit it!”

“Yes, yes, all dirty. Hearts are dirty too. Here, let me toast you, Master.”

Chen Guanlou didn’t argue. Don’t expect to change someone’s values—agree to differ. Argue endlessly, and neither side convinces the other, only damages the relationship—loss outweighs gain.

After drinking two taels of wine, seeing Master Du in high spirits, he casually asked, “Has Hou Fu been peaceful lately?”

“Outside, peaceful. Inside? Not at all.”

Master Du’s brief words summed up Hou Fu’s current state.

Chen Guanlou wanted precisely to know Hou Fu’s internal affairs. Same surname Chen, and the main household—of course he must pay attention. Among all Chen families, none surpassed Hou Fu in power; Hou Fu was the beacon. All Chen clans had to watch that beacon.

To care about prisoners in jail instead of Hou Fu? That’s putting the cart before the horse. Work and life must not be confused.

“How exactly is it not peaceful? Tell me.”

“The second and first branches are at odds. You know that. This time, the trigger was Young Master Ye of the first branch ruining the Second Young Lady’s plans. She sent people to teach him a lesson and accidentally injured the Second Young Master of Inspector Zhang’s family. In the end, Hou Fu apologized and sent a substantial gift, plus hired a mediator to resolve the matter. The first branch also lent a hand.”

“The first branch helped the second branch avoid disaster?” Chen Guanlou doubted it. Hadn’t the First Young Lady caused such a huge scene before? How could she now help the second branch?

Master Du whispered, “The second branch gave Young Master Ye real benefits. The old matriarch also showed face to the First Young Lady. Once you get benefits, you must contribute. Isn’t that right?”

“So the first and second branches are willing.”

“Willing or not, they can’t keep fighting forever—let outsiders laugh at them.”

Huh? This version differed greatly from what he knew. Liu Guanshi and Yu Zhaoan weren’t mentioned at all. This must be a hidden thread.

“Will the First Young Lady manage the household?” Chen Guanlou asked curiously.

The First Young Lady had staged a scene, gained the Elder Master’s covert support, and with her health improving, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the main line, managing the household was her rightful duty. No one could oppose it. Legally, the matriarch’s eldest daughter-in-law must hold the keys.

The Second Young Lady’s role was merely called “acting manager.”

Master Du sipped his wine, swaying his head. “Wanting to manage the household? Not so easy. Don’t forget the old matriarch still sits above the second branch. Unless she gives the go-ahead, the First Young Lady’s path to control is long and hard.”

“Even if the Elder Master intervenes?”

The Elder Master was the heir to Hou Fu’s title, the true master of the household.

Master Du chuckled. “One word—filial piety—binds the Elder Master’s hands. Besides, the Second Young Lady has managed the household for years, efficiently, orderly inside and out. The First Young Lady has ignored internal affairs for years—how can she manage? Hou Fu’s affairs aren’t settled by a few words. Only slow, steady effort, patiently worn down, yields results. The old matriarch has controlled Hou Fu for decades—her reputation isn’t empty.”