Chapter 198: A Pure Fool

Niu Yucheng took office on horseback, and within just over ten days, he had recovered his initial investment and even made a small profit, greatly satisfying him.

Privately, he couldn't help but sigh, "The Tianlao is truly wealthy—every payout is at least fifty taels. Nothing like the county yamens, where everyone's a pauper, offering two or five taels, never more than ten. I made the right move—Tianlao is far more comfortable!"

Wan Yuli had previously been implicated due to his concubine's younger brother's involvement in a murder case, and as a result, Fan Yucheng suppressed him, transferring him to guard the storage depot, where he sat on a cold bench for nearly two years, his income sharply declining.

He had long harbored a bitter resentment, a stubborn refusal to yield.

When Fan Yucheng was transferred and Niu Yucheng took over, he knew his chance had come. He spent heavily to bribe Niu Yucheng, demanding only to be reassigned to the Jia-cell prison.

There are no true secrets in the Tianlao.

Over these two years, Chen Guanlou had cultivated a group of subordinates who actively delivered news to him: Wan Yuli was restless.

Chen Guanlou let out a light laugh. "The one who should be most anxious is Fan Yuli."

He arranged for someone to leak the news to Fan Yuli.

Fan Yuli immediately flew into a rage. What? A man who's sat on a cold bench for nearly two years dares to steal my position? Is he looking for death?

If this can be tolerated, nothing can!

Before Niu Yucheng could act, Fan Yuli allied with Xu Fugui and Zhang Yuli of the Yi-cell prison to launch a counterattack against Wan Yuli.

Persuading Xu Fugui and Zhang Yuli was simple.

Fan Yuli has an uncle who now holds a high post above. Niu Yucheng is a clever man—he won't touch Fan Yuli anytime soon. If he doesn't touch Fan Yuli, he must move either the Bing-cell or Yi-cell prison to make room for Wan Yuli.

This directly threatened Xu Fugui's and Zhang Yuli's interests.

The three joined forces to suppress Wan Yuli.

Niu Yucheng is a clever man—he knows exactly how to weigh his choices. His authority as Yucheng rests solely on controlling these three Tianlao prisons, his sole source of income. The logistics branch is protected by too powerful a patron—he can't touch it.

He must take the opinions of these three Yuli seriously. He doesn't want to be sidelined the moment he arrives.

There was no choice—he could only reject Wan Yuli's hefty bribe and sternly rebuke him: "Stop daydreaming. Do your duty. Guarding the storage depot is better than anything else."

Wan Yuli was struck as if by lightning, so enraged he nearly overturned the table on the spot.

How shameless!

Taking money and doing nothing—there's no such rule in this world.

Niu Yucheng understood the rules—he returned Wan Yuli's money. "Mind your own business."

Wan Yuli gritted his teeth. "My lord, are you displeased with me?"

"Don't overthink it. The timing isn't right now. Wait for the future—when the opportunity arises, I'll be the first to think of you." Niu Yucheng offered empty promises without cost.

Wan Yuli refused to accept it!

He had clung to the Tianlao instead of leaving for another livelihood because he hoped one day to rise again. Those who had once kicked him when he was down—he would repay each one in kind.

Just as opportunity lay before him, Niu Yucheng's fear of trouble crushed his plans outright.

How could he not hate? How could he not rage?

Had he not spent the past year cultivating patience, he would have exploded on the spot.

"May I ask, my lord, what must I do for you to help me?"

Niu Yucheng frowned—he was deeply displeased. Such a fool, lacking even basic awareness, dared to expect promotion? Dream on!

"Wan Yuli, I've told you—when the opportunity comes, I'll remember you. Your persistent nagging is utterly unbecoming."

Niu Yucheng might as well have pointed to the door and ordered Wan Yuli to leave.

As a subordinate, how dare you pressure your superior? Do you have no sense of propriety?

No wonder Fan Yucheng suppressed this man—he deserved it!

Wan Yuli clenched his molars, said not a word of farewell, and stormed out, sleeves flaring.

Niu Yucheng erupted in fury, never having seen such a disrespectful, rule-breaking subordinate.

He must teach this man a lesson—make him understand his place.

Unthinkable!

Yet before he could issue orders, Wan Yuli's resignation report arrived first. Niu Yucheng snorted, said nothing, and approved it on the spot.

"Get out, get out, get out! This Tianlao temple is too small for your grand presence."

Wan Yuli turned and left without a single glance back.

The others in the Tianlao hadn't expected Wan Yuli's temper to be so foul—just because Niu Yucheng didn't grant his wish, he openly defied him.

"We never realized Wan Yuli had such a volatile temper."

"The man endured nearly two years—this time, he finally snapped."

"Wan Yuli was delusional—he's been away from the Jia-cell prison for so long, yet still dares to dream of returning."

"Fan Yuli's move was brutal—he drove Wan Yuli out outright."

Xiao Jin and several jailers rushed to Chen Guanlou's side to congratulate him. Wan Yuli, their bitter rival, was finally gone from the Tianlao.

Chen Guanlou was also surprised—Wan Yuli had resigned.

But upon reflection, he understood. Having offended Niu Yucheng, staying would only bring further humiliation. Better to leave decisively and preserve some dignity.

"Enough. Has today's patrol been completed? Any sick inmates?"

"Chen Tou, rest assured—we're heading out now."

The jailers dispersed.

Lu Datou slipped away to find Chen Guanlou for drinks, celebrating Wan Yuli's departure.

"I've always disliked that man—finally gone. But Wan Yuli used to be so good at managing people—why so impulsive now?"

"It's all because he ran out of money," Chen Guanlou replied, reviewing the whole affair. He was certain Wan Yuli had exhausted his funds. The bribe to Niu Yucheng was his last reserve. When Niu Yucheng refused to act, no wonder he flew into a rage.

Lu Datou grinned. "He's been a Yuli for years—how could he run out of money so fast?"

"He earned a lot, but spent even more," Chen Guanlou said casually. "His concubine's younger brother's case reportedly drained his entire fortune."

"That's true. For example, if you asked me for ten taels, I couldn't produce them."

Chen Guanlou snorted. "You'll die in a gambling den someday."

"Born in a gambling den, die in a gambling den—it's a fitting end," Lu Datou said cheerfully. As a gambler, one must have the right mindset.

More than a month had passed since Wang Shuner's case. Chen Guanlou heard new news.

Three days before Wang Shuner's execution, his entire family was poisoned and died in prison—none survived.

Chen Guanlou: …

What deep grudge did Wang Shuner's sect hold against him? They didn't even try to save him—they just poisoned him outright.

All that talk about sparing him from a brutal beheading was nonsense.

With their power, Wang Shuner's sect could rescue people from any local yamen prison as easily as eating or drinking. They dared to raid the heavily guarded execution ground in the capital and escape successfully—local prisons were like open markets to them, entering and leaving at will. Saving someone would be child's play.

Yet they chose poisoning.

There must be an extremely cruel feud behind it.

Wang Shuner was a fool.

A pure fool.