Chapter 220: Lately, I

"Who's your big brother? Name him—I'll see if I know him."

He truly admired the second boss's big brother: manipulating people like pawns, using one to earn money, then rising in rank and wealth; when the pawn became useless or a threat, he turned the tide and crushed it without ever lifting a finger, his hands spotless, not stained with a drop of blood.

Such methods, such cunning—he had to know who this man was.

Lu Datou was intensely curious.

But the second boss said, "I can't tell you."

Lu Datou flew into a rage, "At a time like this, you're still protecting that damn big brother of yours!"

"If you want to know who my big brother is, go get Chen Tou. I'll tell him myself."

"What? Can't you just tell me? I'm brothers with Chen Tou."

The second boss fell silent.

Lu Datou was so furious he wanted to storm into the dungeon and beat the second boss senseless.

It was infuriating!

Discrimination!

Classic discrimination!

"Why won't you tell me? Is there really that much difference between me and Chen Tou?"

"If I tell you, you'll just find it amusing and forget it. But if I tell Chen Tou, he might have a chance to avenge me."

"Pah! Who do you think you are? Why should Chen Tou avenge you?"

The second boss closed his mouth again.

"You—you—you…" Lu Datou gnashed his teeth, "Fine! Don't expect me to tell Chen Tou—he's a busy man, no time for you."

The second boss hesitated for a moment, but ultimately stood firm in his decision.

Lu Datou was just a thug; telling him the big brother's name would bring no benefit. Chen Tou was different: though he'd only met him once, he firmly believed Chen Tou was a man of real ability, clearly far more influential than Lu Datou.

He'd previously begged other jailers to protect Yin Siniang's unborn child, but not one would help—even if he offered silver.

The jailers told him bluntly: they had no reach into the women's wing. Though both were under Tianlaomiao's authority and separated only by a wall, they never interacted; they'd never even set foot there. Besides, the head overseer of the women's prison, Hu Yuli, was a eunuch from the palace—clearly dangerous.

All jailers kept their distance from palace-born men; none dared approach. Everyone knew the women in the female prison were either exiled or reduced to royal slaves; whether ugly or beautiful, none were fit for a lowly jailer to touch.

After all, there were plenty of beautiful courtesans outside—no one was foolish enough to lust after female prisoners and invite trouble. Especially not to protect Yin Siniang's unborn child—that was a massive headache. Not worth the effort! They weren't short on rice money, not even for the second boss's pittance.

What everyone feared as a deadly curse, Chen Tou resolved in just a few days.

What else could that be but ability?

To seek out Lu Datou instead of Chen Tou? Only a madman would do that.

Lu Datou was just a thug—a big thug.

Lu Datou was furious.

But his anger flared fast and faded fast.

At lunch in the canteen, seeing Chen Guanlou, he immediately waved him over: "Come here, sit with me. There's more to the second boss's story—you won't believe it. He's got a sworn brother, and he's an official."

Huh?

Chen Guanlou was startled, "Bandits and officials? Sworn brothers? Why haven't I heard a whisper?"

If true, even if it wasn't written in the records, the gossip would spread through the circles.

Lu Datou glanced around, then whispered, "It's his secret, of course no one hears. He helped him, his wish was fulfilled, and today, in idle chat, he slipped it to me."

He told Chen Guanlou the second boss's story, embellished and exaggerated.

"I guarantee it—the second boss was betrayed by his sworn brother. The man's been promoted now, has steady income, no longer needs a bandit brother to raise funds, and fears exposure. So he went all out: wiped out the whole gang, man and nest."

Chen Guanlou nodded, agreeing with Lu Datou's guess. It wasn't that they deliberately thought the worst—it was human nature. In officialdom, there were no naive fools; those who climbed up were either ruthless, sharp-witted, absurdly lucky, or had a powerful father or father-in-law.

A naive fool in officialdom?

Hah!

A corrupt, ruthless official was normal.

Without doubt, the second boss's downfall was orchestrated by his sworn brother—effortless, eliminating a threat. The method was truly skillful—and truly dark!

"He says he'll only reveal his sworn brother's name if he meets you."

"Why meet me? I'm not curious about his big brother." Chen Guanlou lied—he was as curious as Lu Datou, wondering which official it was; should they ever cross paths, he'd keep far away.

Lu Datou grinned, "Really not curious? From his tone, his big brother's stationed in the capital—exactly which office? You'll have to find out."

Chen Guanlou fell silent for a moment. "Have you ever wondered why he told you this secret? He's about to face execution, his wish is done—why stir up trouble now?"

"What else? He's laying bait—if you ever meet him someday, you might casually avenge him, and he'll laugh in the afterlife."

"He overestimates me. I'm just a lowly jailer—how could I avenge him? Hah!" Chen Guanlou sneered.

Lu Datou asked outright: "Will you go see him? I think the kid's hiding something else. Like when he said he had no money—all held by the boss. That's nonsense. I guarantee he's hidden cash somewhere. Think of a way to make him cough it up. Split it three-seven—I take three, you take seven?"

This was Lu Datou's real goal.

Money that bypasses Tianlaomiao's official accounts—no matter how much—was his own. He was desperate for cash, dreaming of a windfall.

He'd figured it out: the second boss responded only to kindness, trusted only Chen Guanlou. Without Chen Guanlou stepping forward, the money was out of reach.

He pushed, he urged, he pleaded.

Chen Guanlou didn't care—he'd just waste some time.

He grunted, "You've gone broke, haven't you?"

"Chen Tou, my good brother, I'm suffering!" Lu Datou launched into a sob story, making Chen Guanlou feel like vomiting.

"Enough, enough—stop wailing. Let me think."

"What's there to think about? You show up, you're worth ten men. I trust you completely—you'll find a way to squeeze real silver out of him!" Lu Datou was frantic, eager to drag Chen Guanlou straight to the dungeon and pry open the second boss's mouth.