Chapter 515: The New Replaces the Old

Qi Qi Wuxiu came in high spirits and left in melancholy.

He still hadn't decided whether to let his disciple Wang Wu switch allegiances, his heart torn between belief and doubt, deeply conflicted.

However, when Wang Wu left, he was quite excited, as if he had found a direction in life, looking eager to try. Had Qi Qi Wuxiu not been present, he might have dropped to his knees on the spot to beg Chen Chen Guanlou to introduce him to an executioner master.

Chen Chen Guanlou had seen many murderers, especially in the Third-Class Grand Prison, where most were those arrested for major and serious cases. But those with an innate bloodthirst were extremely rare—most were shaped by their environment plus certain personality factors. Change the environment, and you get a different life.

Someone like Wang Wu, who gets excited at the sight of blood—he had only seen one or two such people in his life so far. Basically, people like this were born criminals.

Wang Wu was still young now and could still control himself. In a few years, grown up, matured, having honed his skills, Qi Qi Wuxiu would certainly be unable to keep controlling him, and sooner or later he'd cause disaster. If Wang Wu were a principled criminal, it might still be okay. If he had no principles, killing merely to satisfy his bloodthirst—then that would be terrible.

Better to enter the execution room and become an executioner—that's where Wang Wu should go.

After being away for several days, returning to the Heaven Prison again, Chen Chen Guanlou felt a deep sense of familiarity.

He brought some local specialties to distribute to his subordinates.

Everyone appeared extremely warm, even two degrees warmer than before. The Warden Zhang from the neighboring Second-Class prison and Xu Xu Fugui from the Third-Class prison both wore three extra measures of smile on their faces.

After socializing with everyone, Chen Chen Guanlou called Xiao Jin over, closed the door of the official business room, and asked about the situation, "Has anything happened recently?"

Xiao Jin was also all smiles, looking as if he shared in the honor, "Reporting to my lord, as expected, Warden Lei will be transferred away very soon."

"Warden Lei's transfer was only a matter of time—what does that have to do with everyone's reaction?"

"According to news from the Ministry of Justice, after Warden Lei leaves, they can't find a suitable warden candidate for the time being. It's very likely they'll have you, my lord, serve as acting warden."

Hearing this, Chen Chen Guanlou suddenly saw the light.

Back when Sun Sun Daoning had drawn him a pie, he had just listened casually and hadn't taken the matter to heart at all. He hadn't expected Sun Sun Daoning to be quite efficient—after only so few days, Warden Lei was about to leave, and word had been put out that Chen Chen Guanlou would serve as acting warden.

Heh heh, Sun Sun Daoning was building momentum for him.

He understood!

However, after the quarrel at the Imperial Estate yesterday, he didn't know if the other party would change his mind. If this small pie wasn't even willing to be "bestowed," he'd never cooperate with the other party again, never run errands for him.

If you're going to draw pies, you need to have the proper attitude—big pies aren't given, small pies must be.

Warden Lei specifically waited until Chen Chen Guanlou's leave ended and he returned to the Heaven Prison before coming to the prison, just to have a chat with him.

The two took their seats as host and guest.

Warden Lei surveyed the warden's official business room—spacious, bright, all the office supplies were top-grade. Too bad, since taking office he hadn't used it more than a handful of times. During that time, he had also faced collective ostracism from the wardens.

He was extremely irritated.

He had originally planned to squeeze out another half year, but unexpectedly the Ministry of Justice side told him to get lost early, supposedly to make room for Chen Chen Guanlou. If it was about making room, why not let the surnamed Chen formally take office as warden—why insist on an acting arrangement?

Can't figure it out!

"Congratulations, Warden Chen!" Warden Lei spoke first, polite and courteous, though a bit passive-aggressive—at least the face was kept up.

"Same to you, same to you!" Chen Chen Guanlou brushed it off casually, "This time must be a promotion for you, my lord. May I ask which yamen my lord is heading to next? In the future, I may still need to trouble my lord."

Ha ha...

Warden Lei gave an awkward laugh, "The specific yamen hasn't been decided yet, but my tavern has opened for business. When will Warden Chen bring the brothers to patronize my tavern? We're all one family—naturally I won't shortchange you all."

"Definitely, definitely." Chen Chen Guanlou agreed offhandedly, costing him not a single coin.

"The Heaven Prison was fortunate to have you—only then could everything be in perfect order, and I was able to step away with grace. The higher-ups promoting you is only right; clearly they value your abilities."

"Whether I'm promoted or not is entirely up to the higher-ups. Whatever they arrange for me to do, I'll do. I'm merely doing my duty."

"Being able to do your duty is already remarkable. All in all, this past year in the Heaven Prison, we've still had a pleasant cooperation. Let's look out for each other in the future."

Warden Lei didn't put on airs and was actually quite easy to talk to.

Chen Chen Guanlou agreed to everything, mouth full of "inexperienced," "promotion is just rumor," "still hope Warden Lei continues to lead the Heaven Prison in striving for progress." Then again it was "please teach me" this and "please teach me" that—saying the words "please teach me" without ever mentioning any specific content to be taught.

All just face-saving pleasantries.

The two chatted about this and that, never discussing anything serious.

Warden Lei actually wanted to probe indirectly, to find out exactly whose connections Chen Chen Guanlou had used, to have the nerve to break the rules and drive him away in advance. He had been counting on the Altar Explosion Case to make a killing.

Leaving now meant he couldn't even get a sip of soup from the Altar Explosion Case—how could he not feel sullen. What's more, there was still the big corrupt official Jiang Tu locked up inside.

Jiang Tu was also blind to the situation—actually saying that if they wanted money, they should have Chen Chen Guanlou step in. Anyone other than the surnamed Chen came, and he wouldn't pay.

Hmph!

Refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit—serves him right to be taken to the execution room and dealt with.

Don't be fooled by Chen Chen Guanlou sometimes acting like a big mouth, his mouth like a venomous snake smeared with poison, seeming to dare say anything, spilling everything outward.

But when it came to key information, he wouldn't reveal a single bit. Other people's secrets, he always kept locked tight.

He just parried with Warden Lei, stubbornly refusing to reveal whose connections he had used.

Warden Lei wouldn't have dreamed of it even in his sleep—the man's connection was Sun Sun Daoning. That previous leave was to run errands for Vice Minister Sun.

He had assumed the surnamed Chen was relying on his surname and the Hou Fu's backing to drive him away.

Never in a million years would he have imagined that, beyond the Hou Fu, Chen Chen Guanlou had opened up a second channel. And not some Seventh and Eighth Ranks sesame-sized minor official either—but the proper Naishitangtang Third Rank Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, very likely to be addressed as Minister Sun next time they met.

Not a single piece of key information was extracted.

Warden Lei lost patience and decisively ended the meeting, doing his best to maintain dignity.

"This is my last time coming to the Heaven Prison—henceforth the Heaven Prison will be counting on you. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to come ask. My door will always be open for you."

"My lord's kindness leaves me deeply grateful. Since this is my lord's last time coming to the Heaven Prison, how about going down to the prison to check on the situation—consider it a final inspection?"

"No need! The prison is filthy, and I've been unwell lately—I won't go down."

Warden Lei was very superstitious about feng shui, always finding fault with the Heaven Prison's feng shui, saying there was too much inauspicious energy that would affect his own fortune. Yet he overlooked the fact that the Heaven Prison had made him a fortune.

Chen Chen Guanlou led a group of prison guards and personally saw Warden Lei out the main gate of the Heaven Prison. Along the way, he gathered half a box of top-grade office supplies from the official business room and gave them to Warden Lei as a memento.