Chapter 37: Spending money to avert disaster

Xu Fugui understood somewhat, looking at Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan with eager eyes, hoping the other party would give more hints. At worst, he would give a sum of silver to honor the one surnamed Fan.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan looked at the obtuse Xu Fugui and gave a cold snort, very disgusted: "Vice Minister Sun is focused on investigating the case, where would he have the heart to ask about the trivial matters of the Heavenly Prison? However, even if he doesn't ask, it doesn't hinder him from mentioning it at a critical moment. If Official Wu loses face, can you all end up well?"

Not well! Definitely not well!

The face of a superior is God, and it must be firmly maintained.

Xu Fugui finally got it this time, "We lowly people have made a mistake and should be punished. I wanted to go to Official Wu to plead guilty in person, but I was afraid of dirtying Official Wu's eyes. This matter still needs Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan to help, I am deeply grateful."

Xu Fugui's idea was very simple: there is no official who doesn't love money. As long as a problem can be solved with money, it's not a big problem. If your life is saved, money will come again. As long as the Heavenly Prison is not empty, prison guards will not be poor.

In the face of life, money is nothing.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan was very satisfied with Xu Fugui's tact, but he still kept a straight face, just giving a hum.

Xu Fugui had to thicken his face, avoid others, and promise a number.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan finally nodded in satisfaction and urged Xu Fugui to hurry.

"Death penalty can be avoided, but living punishment is hard to escape; you'd better be mentally prepared."

"The official means..."

"Someone has to come out to take the blame."

A name instantly popped into Xu Fugui's mind: Zhang Wantong!

Zhang Wantong, relying on his seniority, had never given him face; now that the other party had committed an offense, he naturally had no reason to protect Zhang Wantong.

He immediately indicated he understood, "I will submit the list as soon as possible."

"That's very good!"

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan left.

Xu Fugui sat high in the main seat and began to lecture the prison guards.

"Gathering to gamble and slacking off on duty are not big deals in normal times, and a lecture would pass. But this time, count it as your bad luck, you just happened to run into the muzzle of Sun Daoning's gun. You are unlucky, and I have to suffer along with you. Don't expect the higher-ups to let us off. You all heard Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan's words just now, fifty taels of silver per person, scrape it together within two days. Also, the silver is only to save your lives; whether you can keep the job of a prison guard, it's not up to me."

"Fifty taels, that's our lives!"

"Think it's too much? If you think it's too much, you don't have to pay, and bear the consequences yourself."

"Can't we just collect 'protection money'?"

"Collect, collect, collect, all you know is collecting money. After collecting money to wipe your asses, will you pay out of your own pockets when the salary is issued next month? Do you still want to eat? Don't you know the higher-ups haven't allocated funds for half a year? Don't count on collecting money. That's it, all of you disperse."

The prison guards wailed in their hearts; fifty taels of silver, to be scraped together within two days, was simply life-threatening.

Once Xu Fugui left, everyone began to complain, all complaining about their bad luck in running into Sun Daoning. Although everyone hated Sun Daoning, no one dared to complain openly. They were afraid there might be a traitor among them who would secretly report them and bring disaster upon themselves for nothing.

Lu Datou's face turned green.

He had lost miserably tonight; not only had he lost the silver he borrowed, but he also owed gambling debts.

He was a famous gambling addict, and all his relatives and friends had been borrowed dry; now he could only think of Chen Guanlou.

"Little Chen, you must help me this time! I really have no other way. Who would have thought that when a person is unlucky, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their teeth. First, save this job, at most two months, I will definitely pay you back."

Chen Guanlou smiled bitterly, "Brother Datou, it's not that I don't want to help you, you know my situation. I've only been working in the Heavenly Prison for half a year, and I've saved all my monthly salary, but I can't take out two fifty-tael portions. At most, at most, I can lend you five taels of silver, Brother Datou, please don't think it's too little."

Lu Datou was very disappointed.

On second thought, having five taels of silver now at least solved one-tenth of the funds.

"Good brother, I'll remember this kindness. Give me the silver now, I still have to find a way to get some money from elsewhere."

Chen Guanlou made an excuse that the silver wasn't on him and he would have to bring it tomorrow.

After hearing this, Lu Datou reminded him to bring the silver tomorrow. Then he hurriedly went to the prison cells, clearly intending to find a way to scrape together silver from the prisoners.

Other gambling addicts were the same as Lu Datou, all setting their sights on the prisoners, collectively going out tonight to fleece them and collect benefits.

Chen Guanlou hid in the office to sleep.

For the first time, the office was so quiet and cold.

In two days, every prison guard submitted fifty taels as required. The prison guards of the Jia-block and Yi-block prisons were also unlucky and had to pay money.

For a time, the Heavenly Prison was full of resentment, and many people were secretly cursing Sun Daoning, cursing him for having a son without an anus. Not sleeping in the middle of the night to run to the Heavenly Prison to investigate cases, and also meddling in other people's business, his brain must be sick.

However, the matter was far from over.

The first to be taken down was that guy Zhang Wantong; Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan gave him two choices: either demote himself to be a handyman, or get out of the Heavenly Prison.

Zhang Wantong had always been arrogant and used to enjoying himself; no matter what, he couldn't accept being a handyman. What was a handyman? A cleaner who dumped chamber pots and carried corpses.

He, Zhang Wantong, was at least a figure; leaving the Heavenly Prison didn't mean he wouldn't have a place to mix.

Therefore, he decisively chose to leave the Heavenly Prison.

Five of Zhang Wantong's most loyal disciples chose to follow him out of the Heavenly Prison to venture outside. Only one chose to stay.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan gave special care to the prison guard who chose to abandon Zhang Wantong, not letting the other party be a handyman, and still being a prison guard.

With the departure of Zhang Wantong, the Bing-block prison was cleaned up and replaced with a batch of new faces.

At the same time, the Jia-block and Yi-block prisons also replaced a batch of prison guards.

On this day, Chen Guanlou was called to the office.

This was his second time coming to the office; the last time was his first day reporting for duty. That time it was still Jiang Jiang Yucheng Jiang.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan's attitude was very cordial.

"Little Chen, since you came to the Heavenly Prison, you have always performed very well, never late or leaving early, and never absent from your post. The night Vice Minister Sun raided, you were the only one on duty and diligent, at least saving face for the Heavenly Prison, so it wasn't completely wiped out."

"I don't deserve the official's praise, I am just observing my duties."

"Your greatest merit is observing your duties. You are worthy of being a Chen family member; compared to that bunch of old slickers, you are just different. I heard you have studied?"

"Reporting to the official, I have studied for a few years, it's just a pity I didn't study anything out of it."

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan felt the same way, "This official has also studied for many years and never studied anything out of it. The imperial examination path is difficult! There are so many scholars in the world, how many can climb the hall and enter the room? But, we scholars have high aspirations; even if we can't take the imperial examination, we cannot lose our spirit."

"I will keep the official's teachings in my heart."

"You are very good!" Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan praised Chen Guanlou again, "Although you are forced to engage in this job of a prison guard, you still insist on the integrity of a scholar and have not colluded with other prison guards. This official is very satisfied."

"It's all as it should be." Chen Guanlou maintained his consistent humility and low profile.

Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan laughed, seemingly very satisfied with his performance. After saying so many paving words, it was finally time to serve the meat.

"There is a vacancy in the Jia-block, and considering that the Jia-block prison needs people who can read and write, this official intends to transfer you to the Jia-block prison to be on duty."

Ah?

Chen Guanlou was stunned! ===== CHAPTER 38 =====

Chen Guanlou froze!