Chapter 233: A New Official's Three Fires

A trace of weariness still clearly lingered on Ruan Fengshan's face.

He held a thick stack of items in his hands, his burly frame standing straight and tall, his gaze like lightning; the pressure of a superior immediately swept across the entire room.

"Everyone should have heard about the recent matters in the Accounting Office."

As Ruan Fengshan spoke, he raised the two thick envelopes in his hand. "What I hold here are the letters of denunciation written by the people from the Accounting Office."

When Ruan Fengshan mentioned the words "letters of denunciation," the shoulders of several people in the room trembled imperceptibly.

"Luan Bao handed these to me last night. However, I haven't read a single one." Ruan Fengshan glanced at the two thick, bulging envelopes in his hand and said in a deep voice: "Zheng Wei, bring the fire basin!"

Zheng Wei immediately flashed out from behind the screen and carried the charcoal basin used to ward off the cold in the back hall to the front of Ruan Fengshan.

The high-quality hollow beast charcoal was burning bright red...

Ruan Fengshan pinched one envelope and extended a corner into the center of the charcoal basin; surrounded by high heat, the corner of the envelope quickly curled into ash, and flames leaped up. Ruan Fengshan waited until the flames spread upward before flipping the envelope over. Once the fire was raging, he threw it into the charcoal basin, and using the rising flames, he burned the other thick, bulging envelope as well.

Watching the paper inside the charcoal basin curl and char into ash, the heavy stones pressing on the hearts of many people were lifted.

There were also quite a few people who revealed expressions of confusion and bewilderment.

But among those present, the most composed person seemed to be Xu Fuxian, who was sitting next to Luan Jingfu.

He sat with an unmoved expression, as if he had completely failed to see Ruan Fengshan burning those letters of denunciation.

In fact, he had already anticipated that Ruan Fengshan would do this.

Just one hour before the meeting this morning, Ruan Fengshan had suddenly ordered the guards surrounding the Backyard Accounting Office to be withdrawn.

Everyone could enter normally. It was just that the two Principals, Wang Dean and Zhu Shicheng, along with their assistants, had been separately detained in the woodshed.

Even Li Jun's corpse, which had been parked in the Main Hall of the Backyard Accounting Office, had just been taken away by Li Jun's family.

Li Jun's body had been kept in the Accounting Office for less than a full day, all told.

These actions all revealed a certain secret direction in how Ruan Fengshan was handling this matter.

It was very clear that Ruan Fengshan did not intend to be petty and punish every single mistake, but rather to let go of the big issues to stabilize people's hearts.

Xu Fuxian greatly admired Ruan Fengshan's mindset and courage; in just a single day, he had been able to cut through the chaos and discern the situation.

Duan Rong sat in the corner, his gaze sweeping over Xu Fuxian's face. He paused slightly; in truth, he did not understand Xu Fuxian. He had recommended Xu Fuxian based solely on the accounts in the ledger, and now it seemed that might have been somewhat narrow-minded... However, when Duan Rong recommended him, his greater consideration was actually to ensure his own timely withdrawal.

At this moment, Ruan Fengshan had already sat back down on the large, wide chair, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he said: "The Escort Agency is so large, the work still has to be done by you all."

"I know that in these past few years, some of you have done some unclean things." As Ruan Fengshan spoke, his gaze swept over Luan Jingfu, whether intentionally or not.

"However, the responsibility does not lie entirely with you!"

"At the very least, half the responsibility lies with me." Ruan Fengshan said with a solemn expression: "In these past few years, I have indeed been negligent in managing many matters of the Escort Agency. Starting from next year, I will no longer delegate the year-end auditing to others; no matter how busy I am, I will check it personally."

"I hope everyone will manage their own affairs and their own people well. I can let bygones be bygones regarding the past, but if I discover anyone else engaging in false reporting or embezzlement, don't blame me for settling old and new accounts together!"

Ruan Fengshan's words left the Gathering Justice Hall in dead silence; those present didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Ruan Fengshan was silent for a while before saying: "Xu Shouxian served as the Chief Accountant for over twenty years; while he certainly had his faults, he has already paid the price. You were all colleagues, so after the meeting ends, find some time to go to his residence and offer a stick of incense."

Upon hearing these words from Ruan Fengshan, Xu Fuxian's lips trembled. He had not expected that Ruan Fengshan would be able to grant his brother this final bit of dignity.

If Ruan Fengshan had not spoken, these people in the Escort Agency, fearing taboos, likely would not have gone to pay their respects.

Ruan Fengshan's tone suddenly softened as he said: "Alright. No matter how difficult this year was, it has already passed! From now on, Xu Fuxian will be responsible for the Accounting Office; you all should cooperate with him well."

The gazes of everyone in the room immediately converged on Xu Fuxian.

On Xu Fuxian's thin face, there was still no expression to be seen. He cupped his hands in front of his chest, turned halfway, and said: "Escort Heads and Principals, the new reporting method will be drafted into a document and issued to you all before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month next year. I ask that you all report accounts according to the items listed in the new method from now on, so as to avoid errors or omissions."

Xu Fuxian's words immediately caused some restlessness in the room.

The so-called "new official's three fires"—this was already starting to burn. A new method, reporting according to listed items—wasn't this cutting off everyone's path to wealth!

"Alright!" Ruan Fengshan suddenly said: "We will see about next year's matters next year. Before the New Year, there is one more thing that needs to be handled right now."

Hearing that there was another matter, everyone in the room immediately quieted down.

"In March of next year, there will be the triennial assessment for the selection of Registered Disciples for the Taiyi Sect. For young people, this is a matter of leaping over the dragon gate!"

"Originally, our Escort Agency had two young people, Luan Bao and Xiao Yu, who were promising seedlings."

"Before the middle of the year, I had already made a promise that their registration fees would be paid from the Escort Agency's accounts. Firstly, it is my sponsorship for the young, and it can be considered adding a bit of good fortune for them. Secondly, Xiao Lao and Mr. Luan have both exhausted their efforts for the Yuanshun Escort Agency, and this is also a small reward from the agency for their many years of hard work."

"However..." Ruan Fengshan said, his tone shifting: "Over these past six months, things have changed somewhat!"

"Escort Duan Rong of the Second Escort Team has performed great meritorious services repeatedly!"

"In the middle of the year, he saved Jing'er from the hands of the Bitter Fate Gang; that is the first. Later, while escorting for the Second Escort Team, his growth speed was such that he contributed much to the team. Sun Huang only applied for a Commendation Order for him to me last month; that is the second. This time, the bad debt incident was like a tumor to the Escort Agency, and this matter was also initially handled by Duan Rong; that is the third."

"Duan Rong has such great merit, he cannot go unrewarded!"

"Moreover, Duan Rong has also achieved the Small Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer, and he is already qualified to participate in the selection for the Taiyi Sect's Registered Disciples."

Following Ruan Fengshan's words, many people in the room turned their gazes toward Duan Rong.

Duan Rong's rise had been far too rapid; many of them had not even reacted yet.

During the promotion assessment in the middle of the year, besides Xiao Zongting, there were four other Escort Team heads present. At that time, Duan Rong, as an Intern Escort, had achieved the Inner Breath Realm Second Layer, which had already made several people look at him with surprise. They did not expect that in just half a year, Duan Rong would break through again, achieving the Small Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer.

It was just that they did not know that Duan Rong had already achieved the Great Success Realm of the Inner Breath Realm Fourth Layer at this time, and had even broken through to Entering Micro.

Regarding the realms of the Inner Breath Realm, he only had the final layer of skin left to reach Great Perfection.

It was just that this layer of skin looked as thin as window paper, yet Duan Rong had been unable to pierce through it!

(End of chapter)