Chapter 956

Xiao Jin came to the office somewhat reluctantly, keeping his head down the whole time, and bowed, "I have seen my lord."

"Don't dare to look at me, feeling guilty?"

Chen Guanlou asked casually in a light tone.

Xiao Jin still kept his head down and said in a low voice, "No!"

"Then lift your head. You're a grown man, talking like a mosquito; didn't you eat? Tell me, why do you want to resign? Do you dislike having too much money, or have you found a new way to get rich? Don't say I'm meddling. You've been with me for so many years, now that you're leaving, I have to ask."

Only then did Xiao Jin lift his head, his complexion not looking very good.

It seemed he had made a great determination and finally spoke, "Many thanks for your concern, my lord. I dare not hide it; I have indeed found a new path outside, so I plan to leave the Heavenly Prison and try a different way of life."

"A path given to you by Xiao Changsheng?" Chen Guanlou asked bluntly.

Xiao Jin didn't deny it and nodded heavily, "Lord Xiao is very righteous!"

Chen Guanlou laughed in anger upon hearing this.

"You trust him? Let me ask you, why does he value you, just because your surname is Xiao and you're from the same clan? Why would he give you a path to help you make money, just because your surname is Xiao?"

Xiao Jin seemed very unconvinced, his face turning red, his eyes bulging, "Do you look down on me that much, my lord? Is that why you chose Chen Quan instead of me when you were selecting prison clerks back then?"

Chen Guanlou was angry, "I chose Chen Quan as a prison clerk not because I looked down on you, but because your performance during that period was too disappointing.

During that time, I repeatedly reminded you and even had Liu She and the others remind you, but what about you? Ask yourself, what were you doing during that time, and did you put your heart into your duties?

Back then, you were merely certain that I would choose you, so you didn't take your duties seriously at all, dealing with them perfunctorily, and spent every day pondering how to cling to the powerful. If you were in my position, how would you choose based on such performance?"

"I just didn't perform well for a period of time. What about before that? For so many years before that, I was loyal to you, my lord, and never slacked off for a single day. Just because of poor performance for a period of time, you completely denied me as a person and let Chen Quan become a prison clerk. Before, they all worked under me. In the blink of an eye, I have to work under them. Have you ever thought about my situation, my lord?"

Chen Guanlou sighed secretly, appearing very regretful, "You have indeed been dwelling on this matter all along."

"I couldn't help but dwell on it." Xiao Jin admitted frankly, "I was so certain, so trusting of you, my lord. I thought you would trust me as always and entrust me with important tasks. I never expected that when the list came out, it would deal me a heavy blow. I became the laughingstock of the entire Heavenly Prison, and even those prisoners were teasing me and laughing at me."

Xiao Jin roared angrily.

Venting all the grievances, injustices, and dissatisfaction of these past few years.

"If I were incompetent and not qualified for the position of prison clerk, I would accept it! If I had a flaw in character and was not fair to my brothers, not worthy of being a prison clerk, I would also accept it. But just because I clung to the powerful and performed poorly for a period of time, you denied me; I am not convinced!"

"Why didn't you say so back then?"

"Would it have been useful to say it? The list had already been announced, the matter was settled; saying it would only be self-humiliating!" Xiao Jin laughed at himself, then added angrily: "What virtue or ability does Chen Quan have to climb above me? Before, he was my little brother, he didn't know anything. He had to ask me for advice on how to do things. It was I who led him to get ahead."

Chen Guanlou rubbed his temples, "Then what about me, what virtue or ability do I have to enter the Heavenly Prison for less than a year and ride on your heads, becoming your squad leader? Do you also resent me?"

Xiao Jin shook his head, "I don't resent you, my lord. You have the surname Chen, and you have the Marquis's mansion backing you. You've also studied, can write and calculate, and can coax your superiors to fight for benefits for everyone. Based on these points, let alone squad leader, even being parachuted in as a prison clerk is justified. But Chen Quan is not qualified; he's not even as good as me, what virtue or ability does he have!"

"Everyone has seen Chen Quan's performance over the past few years. Why do you think he's not qualified? He was willing to spend money to hire teachers to guide him, silently studying reading and writing, and now he can write official documents independently. What about you? After all these years, can you write an official document?"

Xiao Jin didn't make a sound, but his face showed he was unconvinced.

"Over these years, you haven't made the slightest progress, you've been living off your past achievements, your experience, your slipperiness, and your so-called human relationships. Chen Quan was indeed not as good as you at the beginning, but he knew how to work hard in private, burying his head in work to catch up with you. He caught up, and he surpassed you. A few years ago you could be unconvinced, now, on what grounds are you unconvinced?"

"I'm just unconvinced!" Xiao Jin roared, appearing stubborn and obstinate.

Chen Guanlou felt helpless in his heart and waved his hand, "Fine, fine. If you insist on resigning, I will approve it. I only hope you'll be more cautious and not be sold by others. If you're not doing well outside one day, you can still come back; it's not shameful."

The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward, with a touch of sadness.

Xiao Jin raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye and said with a stiff neck, "Many thanks for your fulfillment, my lord! I... I have to go out and fight for it! Otherwise, I won't be reconciled."

"I understand! Go ahead and fight! You just need to remember that the Heavenly Prison is your retreat! If that day really comes, don't feel it's shameful to turn back. Making money, it's not disgraceful! Go wherever you can make money. If the Heavenly Prison can make money, you come back to the Heavenly Prison."

Xiao Jin nodded heavily.

Chen Guanlou approved it decisively; from now on, Xiao Jin was no longer a person of the Heavenly Prison.

He also instructed Qian Fugui, "Make up one month's salary and bonus for Xiao Jin. You guys, if it's appropriate, prepare a banquet for him."

"I'm afraid even if we are willing to prepare a banquet, Xiao Jin himself won't attend," Qian Fugui said in a low voice.

Over these years, everyone's circumstances have been different, and changes have been great; they were long past the intimacy of the past.

Take the conflict between Chen Quan and Xiao Jin, for example; it was completely irreconcilable. Over these past few years, they only maintained a superficial peace. In private, they had no contact at all.

Chen Guanlou didn't force it and simply let Liu She see Xiao Jin off.

Liu She was the one who had changed the least among them, had good relationships with everyone, and belonged to the type of person who was easily satisfied.

He went to see Xiao Jin off, and the two of them found a street stall to have a drink, after which they parted ways.

Xiao Jin was going to pursue his future, mixing with the noble Xiao Changsheng.

The others continued to stay in the Heavenly Prison, eating the public's rice, which was sometimes fragrant and sometimes smelly.

Chen Quan felt a bit guilty and ran to Chen Guanlou, "My lord, if you want to blame someone, blame me."

Chen Guanlou glared at the other party, "Blame you for what? Blame you for performing too well, blame you for working too hard? Don't overthink it! Everyone has their own path, their own way. He made his choice, and we just need to respect it."