Chapter 276: Holding an Enlarged Meeting of the Jia-character Prison

For the enlarged meeting, over a hundred prison guards filled the open space of the Jia-character prison, making it airtight.

Several squad leaders sat against the wall, all feeling uncomfortable inside.

Chen Guanlou had the shallowest seniority and was the youngest, yet he bypassed everyone and quietly was promoted to Prison Clerk, fiercely pressing down on everyone's heads.

Although Chen Guanlou had pressed everyone before, their status was the same, and there was no one higher or lower. Everyone still held a psychological advantage: I have more seniority than him; he just relies on having read two more years of books and knowing how to handle things.

In terms of tone and psychology, they were completely undefeated.

At this moment, the sky had fallen.

The psychological advantage was gone.

He was already a proper Prison Clerk, rightfully pressing down on them. From now on, everyone would have to honestly call him Prison Clerk Chen, instead of calling him Chen Tou or Little Chen indiscriminately.

Heh!

Wu Bantou Wu was the first to laugh. "Young people really have drive."

Wu Bantou Wang knocked his pipe against the wall to knock out the clogged ash, wrapped it with new tobacco leaves, but didn't light it, only saying, "I am convinced by him being Prison Clerk. At least there aren't so many messy things."

Hmm?

Wu Bantou Wu turned his head and glanced. "You really are open-minded."

Wu Bantou Wang half-drooped his eyes. "With Prison Clerk Chen's temperament, if there is something, he will carry it himself and won't look for us to be the scapegoats. Just for this point, isn't it better than before? And Prison Clerk Chen certainly won't find various reasons to randomly apportion tasks and won't take money from everyone's pockets."

Wu Bantou Wu pinched his chin and pondered for a moment. "Don't forget Prison Clerk Fan is still here."

"Prison Clerk Fan doesn't manage things and doesn't recognize money. Don't you hope for a managing Prison Clerk who can carry the burden?" Wu Bantou Wang asked rhetorically.

Wu Bantou Wu didn't make a sound, but he was still unconvinced inside. It was just one sentence: Why?

They were all old-timers who hadn't been promoted, yet the youngest and least senior guy had been promoted and was openly riding on everyone's heads. It would be strange if he could figure it out. He wasn't as broad-minded as Wu Bantou Wang.

Shi Hong had been wearing a coffin face all day, his expression arrogant, looking like a stranger shouldn't approach.

Wu Bantou Wu saw his appearance and immediately laughed. "Hong Tou, what are you thinking about, so absorbed?"

"Nothing!"

"You too; your cousin is Prison Clerk Fan's favorite concubine. If you had just worked a little harder, maybe you would be the Prison Clerk."

Shi Hong didn't take the bait.

Having been a squad leader for a few years, he had at least made some progress. He could distinguish that Wu Bantou Wu was teasing him and naturally wouldn't take the other party's words seriously.

"A county magistrate is not as good as the current manager." Shi Hong muttered.

Oh my! Wu Bantou Wu was very surprised; he didn't expect Shi Hong to be able to say such philosophical words. He was extremely curious. "Studying? You've made progress!"

Shi Hong snorted, his nostrils facing the sky, not wanting to pay attention to the other party.

Wu Bantou Wu sneered twice and muttered to himself: A blockhead!

Wu Bantou Wang whispered a point to Wu Bantou Wu. "Be quiet."

Wu Bantou Wu made a disdainful expression but still closed his mouth.

The prison guards had different expressions—some happy, some bewildered, some confused, some excited, some curious, and so on.

The most excited group was Chen Guanlou's old base; a group of people had been in a state of excitement since they learned the news early in the morning.

Especially the four people who had initially followed Chen Guanlou: Xiao Jin, Qian Fugui, Chen Quan, and Liu She.

These four were Chen Guanlou's veterans, thugs, and confidants.

Now that their boss had been promoted, they were following him to the heavens. Would the vacant squad leader position be chosen from the four of them?

The four looked at each other, and sparks of competition suddenly appeared in their eyes.

None of them thought they were worse than the others; all four wanted to compete for the squad leader position.

The four communicated with their eyes and quickly reached a tacit understanding: fair competition, no dirty tricks allowed. If anyone played dirty behind people's backs, don't blame everyone for uniting to squeeze them out.

Xiao Jin blinked his eyes: Old Qian, who do you think has the most hope?

Qian Fugui touched his fat face and chuckled. He had been helping the boss manage the accounts; in terms of opportunity, it must be him.

Xiao Jin: Heh!

He completely disagreed with Qian Fugui's idea; it was completely self-righteous. In the boss's words: excessive self-awareness, no sense of self.

In terms of relationship, he and the boss were the closest. In terms of importance, the most important tasks were all handed to him by the boss; this was trust. This trust was something no one else had. As for the squad leader position, who else could it be but him? As for Chen Quan and Liu She, they posed no threat at all.

While everyone was letting their imaginations run wild, Chen Guanlou arrived late.

Instantly, the noisy prison became quiet.

Chen Guanlou stood at the office door, looking at the sea of heads. The already dim prison was now like being surrounded by pieces of dark red rags, and the dim light revealed a touch of red, a touch of dried blood red. It was oppressive and revealed a sense of heat.

The prison guards' uniforms were dark red, seemingly to make it easier to cover up after being stained with blood.

"Everyone is here, right?"

Xiao Jin stood out first. "Reporting to Prison Clerk Chen, everyone has arrived."

"Very good!"

Xiao Jin held his head high and chest out as he returned to the ranks. Qian Fugui secretly complained: He's showing off again. At the same time, he was annoyed: why was his reaction half a beat slower, why wasn't he the first to stand out?

Chen Guanlou coughed lightly. "Everyone must already know that thanks to Prison Warden Niu's promotion, I have officially been promoted to Prison Clerk today, and my duty is to manage the Jia-character prison together with Prison Clerk Fan."

"Applaud!" Xiao Jin once again took the lead. He was worthy of being an old hand; he could do surface work better than anyone. Once he took the lead, everyone followed suit and applauded, even the most unwilling Wu Bantou Wu and Shi Hong followed suit with clap-clap-clap.

If anyone dared to sing a different tune now, they would just have to wait to be given a hard time in the future. Who told the other party to be promoted? A higher official presses down on the lower one. Even if they were unwilling, they had to do the surface work.

Chen Guanlou specifically swept his eyes over Xiao Jin: This old hand, he led the atmosphere very well today, reward!

Xiao Jin caught Chen Guanlou's gaze and became even more spirited, listening to the boss's speech with full concentration, ensuring he didn't miss a single word.

Other prison guards: He's showing off again.

Qian Fugui was disgusted and absolutely refused to admit he was convinced by the other party's reaction speed. He only blamed himself for not being quick enough, always half a beat slow.

Chen Quan and Liu She, this pair, had absolutely no competitive power. It looked like they had been eliminated in advance.

Chen Guanlou continued to hold the meeting. "Holding this meeting is, first, for everyone to meet and get to know each other again. Second, it is to give everyone a reassurance: everything remains as it was. I am a newcomer to this job as Prison Clerk, and there are still many things I don't understand. I hope everyone can give me face and try to cooperate with me. If you give me face, I naturally won't treat you unfairly. Tomorrow, at Guanmei Tower, arrange for those on duty, and everyone else go. No one is allowed to send gift money; just bring your mouths. Whoever sends gift money, I will turn my face!"

Boom!

The prison guards were boiling! ===== CHAPTER 277 =====