Chapter 168

On New Year's Eve, the Bing-sized prison finally starved someone to death.

Fan Jiang Yucheng was satisfied and urged Chen Chen Guanlou to hurry with the Jia-sized prison work.

Chen Chen Guanlou: …

The rumors had already spread; even if the court planned action, they'd have to wait until after the holiday and the new year. Fan Jiang Yucheng was far too eager.

Even more eager was the Bing-sized prison. Damn it, they don't even follow orders!

In the canteen, he caught Lu Lu Datou and whispered, "In such a short time, the Bing-sized prison completed its task—did you cut off their water?"

Starving for three or five days won't kill a person, but cutting off water for three or five days guarantees death. And for someone to die precisely on New Year's Eve? That's no accident—it had to be a brutal method.

Lu Lu Datou glanced around, then pulled Chen Chen Guanlou into a corner to speak.

Today at lunch they had pork belly—the chef finally showed off his decent skills. It's the New Year, eat something good; you can't eat pig feed every day.

Lu Lu Datou ate with grease dripping from his mouth and added, "Cao Fatty clearly has talent, but he hides it. His usual meals are no different from pig feed. All year long, he only bothers to cook a proper meal once—on New Year's Day."

"Having something to eat is already lucky. What exactly are you doing in the Bing-sized prison? Can't you even wait until after the New Year? Why drag out corpses on New Year's Eve?"

"Ask Xu Xu Fugui—he's the one responsible. It's not my business. I'm innocent. Xu Xu Fugui wants to impress, and his in-laws run a grain and oil shop. He wants to ease the prison's burden—you understand. So when he heard they needed to give the prisoners a warning, he jumped at the chance. Right now, he's probably figuring out how to bribe Fan Jiang Yucheng."

"He wants to monopolize the prison's grain supply? Can he even handle it?" Chen Chen Guanlou scoffed. Xu Xu Fugui's father-in-law's size? Trying to swallow the prison's grain business? Pure fantasy.

Lu Lu Datou chuckled, "Even half would be fine! If he can't get half, even thirty or twenty percent is still a business. Grain prices in Jingcheng have risen lately. Experienced people say the drought may continue after spring—prices will climb further. His father-in-law wants to grab the prison's business during this surge—haha, clearly he's made a fortune already."

"Xu Xu Fugui must have invested in his father-in-law's grain business—otherwise he wouldn't be this eager," Chen Chen Guanlou declared. "But his greed is too obvious. We all agreed: wait until after the fifth day of the New Year, after welcoming the God of Wealth, before anyone dies. He goes and pulls this stunt on New Year's Eve—doesn't he find it unlucky? Is he afraid next year won't be bad enough?"

Things always go wrong when someone plays petty tricks and ignores the agreed rules. Always thinking they're the smartest, the most capable, eager to seize the advantage, always wanting to crush others.

Damn it—all of them are bullies within the walls! Masters of internal strife.

Lu Lu Datou felt zero guilt. "People are dead—talking won't bring them back. Better to eat more meat. You haven't touched your bowl—don't like the pork? Let me have it."

"Eat, eat!" Chen Chen Guanlou shoved his bowl forward to Lu Lu Datou. "Didn't anyone in the Bing-sized prison object?"

"Why object? Those scum die anyway—it's just a matter of sooner or later. Dying a few days early saves grain. Chen Tou, you're too soft-hearted. Working in the prison, never have a conscience."

"I'm upholding the bottom line of humanity," Chen Chen Guanlou snorted.

"I don't know what humanity is. I only know I get paid to do my job."

"Aren't you afraid it's unlucky? Won't it ruin your gambling luck?"

"Afraid of what? I'm stuck working in a prison—what luck do I even have? Can anything be unluckier than working in this sunless hell? You think too much. Besides, Xu Xu Fugui's the boss. What choice do I have as a jailer?"

Chen Chen Guanlou had no reply.

He rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "Keep an eye on Xu Xu Fugui for me."

"Watch him for what?"

"Since he's going into the grain business, watch the grain."

"What are you planning?"

"Nothing. Just be prepared."

He wanted to use Xu Xu Fugui's scheme to glimpse the true structure of power among the prison's upper echelons. If Xu Xu Fugui truly secured the grain contract, it meant the upper power structure had shifted—and perhaps some people's positions would change.

These matters weren't worth discussing with Lu Lu Datou.

That night, off duty. New Year's Eve.

He had arranged to spend the night celebrating with Master Du.

Only three of them, yet they prepared a lavish feast.

This year was definitely a fat year—time to splurge. Top-grade yellow wine, fresh wild game brought from the Hou Fu estate, secret seasoning packets stolen from the Hou Fu kitchen. The imperial chef's heir really was something else—the seasoning made the food noticeably richer and more flavorful.

The mediocre old servant suddenly became a master chef.

"Master Du, let me toast you first. This year, our cooperation has been a great success. Next year, let's keep pushing forward and climb another level."

Master Du grinned, teeth showing, and chuckled, "Together, together. I've been scraping by in Jingcheng for years. Every New Year, I feel ashamed—ashamed of my family. All these years, I've sent home less than a hundred taels total, and sometimes I still need support from back home."

But this year, I sent them two hundred taels at once. They wrote back—they can finally rebuild the old family house, add three new brick-and-tile rooms. My youngest son can marry and start a family. My eldest grandson can go to the county school. There's even enough left to exempt my eldest son's family from corvée labor and buy proper gifts for the county magistrates. The rest? All invested in land—prime irrigated fields. Rare, truly rare!"

"Wow, you bought irrigated fields? Master Du, you're amazing! These days, no one sells irrigated fields unless they're starving. Don't let anyone trick you."

"No way! It's family—his husband died, and the clan harassed them. Seeing we're kind-hearted, they decided to sell us the irrigated fields."

"So you've made enemies in your clan?" Chen Chen Guanlou said, and at once thought of the young widow Pan Pan Niangzi—same excuse, same fate. His chest tightened; he drank to drown it.

Master Du laughed heartily. "I've taken precautions. I hold a scholarly title, and I teach at the Hou Fu private academy. The Hou Fu name still carries weight—especially in the countryside. When they hear I'm a tutor for Hou Fu, even the local officials treat me with extra respect."

Besides, the Master just crushed the rebels—he's at his peak. As his private tutor, my status back home has soared. In just these two days, I've received no fewer than three letters from home offering greetings."

A man's name, a tree's shadow. You don't feel it in Jingcheng. But if you go to the provinces, mention your origin—no matter how distant the kinship—your surname is worth more than any letter of introduction. If you do business, you'll make a fortune."

Chen Chen Guanlou smiled. "So if I travel outside after the New Year to trade, I'll get rich?"

"If you really went into trade, you might just strike it rich."