Chapter 277

The jailers had already dispersed.

Chen Guanlou summoned the three squad leaders into the duty room; once the door closed, the noise was shut out.

All three remained silent, unsure how to begin.

Squad Leader Wang smoked his pipe, head bowed, brows drooping—he looked less like a jailer and more like an old farmer.

Squad Leader Wu sipped tea, his eyes darting like a venomous snake, glancing here and there, always calculating his own interests.

Shi Hong still wore his coffin-face expression.

Chen Guanlou watched this scene and suddenly laughed out loud, "What's this? Not one of you is happy for me?"

"Chen Tou… you're joking, Chen Yuli," Wu said, opening his mouth. "This came too suddenly—we haven't yet adjusted to the change in status. But don't worry, we'll all follow you. Whatever you say, we'll do it. We'll give full cooperation."

Chen Guanlou nodded in satisfaction. He didn't care what they truly thought—as long as they put on the right face. He couldn't possibly manage their bodies and their hearts too; that would be too greedy.

He turned to look at Squad Leader Wang.

In the past, Squad Leader Wang had been the most cooperative with him. Today, strangely, he hadn't uttered a word.

"Squad Leader Wang, you haven't spoken a word today. If you have any thoughts, speak freely."

Squad Leader Wang set his pipe down on the table and spoke slowly, "There are now two jail administrators in the Jia-class prison—a thing that never happened before. To be honest, I'm confused. Who should we follow from now on?"

"You'll follow whoever you followed before," Chen Guanlou replied vaguely.

Squad Leader Wang's face grew even more troubled. "So you mean… Little Fan's side remains unchanged?"

Chen Guanlou nodded. "Yes, unchanged. I've already spoken with Little Fan—he won't interfere with the Jia-class prison. He only takes the money. The actual work, I'll handle. I'll take the responsibility. Gentlemen, what do you say?"

Oh!

Squad Leader Wu let out a long, meaningful "Oh."

Shi Hong showed no reaction, as if turned to stone.

Squad Leader Wang pondered for a moment. "You've been promoted, leaving a squad leader position vacant. How will you fill it?"

"For now, I'll hold it myself. In a couple of days, once I've settled on a candidate, I'll announce it officially."

"Will you choose from Xiao Jin and the other four?"

"Possibly," Chen Guanlou replied evasively.

"Have you considered choosing someone from outside?" Squad Leader Wang asked.

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly. "Do you have someone in mind?"

"Heh… no, no, I was just asking out of curiosity," Wang said, laughing it off.

Chen Guanlou turned to the other two. "Do either of you have suggestions? We're colleagues—speak plainly."

Squad Leader Wu asked the question he cared about most: "Will our income be affected?"

One more jail administrator meant one more person splitting the money. The jail administrator took a larger share than any squad leader. Chen Guanlou had convinced Little Fan—no doubt by targeting the money. Perhaps he'd promised to maintain the other's income. If so, wouldn't their own shares shrink in comparison?

"No effect," Chen Guanlou pledged solemnly.

"How can you guarantee that?" Wu asked, curious.

Chen Guanlou lifted his teacup and drank. "I've decided: outside the rules, we'll charge each prisoner an extra ten percent as a sanitation fee. Part of it will go to the laborers, to encourage them to pay more attention to hygiene and disease prevention in the prison. Another part will buy new bedding. I'm certain the imprisoned officials will agree. This income won't go into the public ledger—it'll go into the prison's private account. What do you think?"

"Ten percent isn't much—it should work."

"Will Warden Niu agree?"

"Warden Niu strongly supports this plan and hopes to implement it as soon as possible."

It wasn't so much support as Warden Niu wanting to make one last grab before his transfer. No other prison could match the Jia-class prison for profit—and it was especially safe, with almost no risk, as long as you delivered on your promises and didn't kick away the ladder after climbing it.

Once this chance is gone, it won't come again. Honestly, Warden Niu didn't want to leave the Jia-class prison. But he'd already offended Sun Daoning; better to quit voluntarily and leave quickly than wait to be exposed and dragged down. Besides, he was being promoted—two ranks at once. Even if the next step was a cesspool, he'd jump in. Whoever didn't jump was a coward.

"If Warden Niu supports this plan, we have no objections—we'll carry it out," Wu said first.

Squad Leader Wang and Shi Hong quickly followed, expressing firm support.

Chen Guanlou smiled contentedly. "Excellent! I knew all three of you would back me. The Jia-class prison stays exactly as before. We work together—what I get, you'll get too. But if anyone drags me down, sabotages me behind my back, don't blame me for turning on you."

The first internal meeting ended in harmonious atmosphere.

Lu Datou, seeing him, dared not approach—his eyes and movements radiated caution.

"Come on, I'll buy you a drink."

Lu Datou stood frozen, not daring to move.

Chen Guanlou narrowed his eyes slightly. "You don't like me now, Datou?"

"How could I? I just need time to adjust. Your status changed too fast—I'm still catching up." As he spoke, Lu Datou relaxed, slipping back into his usual cheeky demeanor.

Chen Guanlou put an arm around his shoulder. "Let's go. Tonight, Zui Xiang Lou—I'm treating. Heard they've got new girls, soft enough to squeeze water out of."

"If you're treating, I'll definitely come. But isn't it inappropriate for you to treat me today, since you've just been promoted?"

"Tomorrow's the official banquet. Tonight's just friends drinking."

Lu Datou was suddenly moved, a strange surge of boldness rising in his chest. "Chen Da… Brother Lou, anything you need from now on—just say the word. I'll go through fire and water for you."

"No need for such talk between brothers," Chen Guanlou said, leading Lu Datou out of the prison and straight to Zui Xiang Lou, where they called for the most beautiful courtesans to drink and listen to music.

With his income, he could easily go to a more upscale place—like a painted boat on Zhuque Lake.

But he preferred Zui Xiang Lou. He liked its unpretentious, unarrogant, down-to-earth atmosphere. Those haughty courtesans who played the refined scholar-and-maiden game? Scholars loved them—he didn't. He paid to enjoy himself, to feel like a master. Zui Xiang Lou did this perfectly: every girl was gentle as water, no fancy games, no pretense.

But the real reason was simpler: high officials didn't bother with Zui Xiang Lou, and aristocratic sons rarely came here. The clientele best suited to Zui Xiang Lou were Beijing's middle class—men like him, high-income, or the sixth-rank minor official next door, or the wealthy outsider across the way.

In this environment, everyone felt comfortable and free, able to truly enjoy themselves.

With food and drink flowing, Lu Datou fully let loose.

"Brother, you're my real brother! Brother, I wish you a brilliant future. That damn prison? It'll be yours soon."

Chen Guanlou cut him off with a full cup of wine—when you can't speak well, just shut up.