Chapter 548: If you don't take money, how can the people below take money?

Medical Official Mu's nephew was named Mu Qingshan, in his thirties, thin, with a beard, and had the temperament of an old pedant.

He came to the Heavenly Prison to report for duty early in the morning, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, but he strictly followed the rules.

Facing Chen Guanlou, his employer, he bowed slightly, setting the posture of a subordinate.

Medical Official Mu introduced him from the side, inevitably saying a basketful of good words.

Chen Guanlou decisively dismissed Medical Official Mu; he wanted to talk to Mu Qingshan alone.

"How does Mr. Mu view the Heavenly Prison?"

Mu Qingshan opened his mouth and said: "The bottom line and boundary of the national laws."

Oh!

This view coincided with his own. Or perhaps Medical Official Mu had given the other party some pointers in private.

"Can you elaborate?"

Mu Qingshan seemed to have found a stage to display his own talent; at first, he was a bit reserved, but when he started talking about the laws, he was truly eloquent and spoke freely.

Chen Guanlou nodded from time to time, then shook his head. He agreed with some points, reserved his opinion on others, and completely disagreed with a portion.

Of course, the difference in concepts and ideas was mainly because he had awakened his past life's wisdom and had the memories of his previous life. His worldview was influenced by his previous life and was essentially different from the local natives. If it were him before awakening his past life's wisdom, he would certainly have agreed with the other party's view entirely.

"Has Mr. Mu specifically studied the laws?"

"I once ran around for someone for a few days, involving the national laws. Influenced by this matter, I specifically studied them."

"Do you not mind the Heavenly Prison's poor reputation and low status?"

"I work for my employer, not for the Heavenly Prison."

"However, the tasks you are to do all involve Heavenly Prison prisoners and involve the laws."

"I only work for my employer." Mu Qingshan emphasized again. The implication was that he would handle the tasks ordered by his employer well, regardless of whether they involved Heavenly Prison prisoners. He was just a private secretary, not a staff member of the Heavenly Prison. His name wasn't on the Heavenly Prison's staff list, so he couldn't be considered a member of the Heavenly Prison.

Chen Guanlou understood.

Mu Qingshan had the reserve of a scholar, yet knew how to be flexible and didn't do things rigidly. But he also had a bottom line: he wouldn't become a staff member.

His identity was a scholar, a scholar-official, and a private secretary. The only thing he wasn't was a Heavenly Prison person. Apart from official business, he would try his best to draw a line with the Heavenly Prison.

Chen Guanlou pondered for a moment; having a bottom line is good. Working with colleagues who have a bottom line is what makes one feel at ease.

"Three-month probation period. If you do well, after three months you will officially serve as my private secretary. As for the salary, it's a fixed five taels of silver per month, with bonuses calculated separately. For the annual income, ask your uncle; I won't elaborate to you. Anyway, I won't treat you unfairly."

"Thank you, employer!"

"Call me my lord!"

Mu Qingshan was clearly stunned for a moment. Looking at his expression, it seemed he wanted to remind him: a mere sesame official, a mere Jiang Jiang Yucheng, doesn't have the qualifications to be called 'my lord'.

Fortunately, he still had some emotional intelligence and knew whose rice he was eating. He managed to endure the desire to complain, only bowed slightly, didn't call him 'my lord', and just said, "I will strictly follow the old master's instructions." Then he left the office.

Chen Guanlou:...

The other party actually called him 'old master' and refused to call him 'my lord'?

Sure enough, he is a scholar with principles, a bottom line, and knows how to be flexible.

Forget it, forget it, 'old master' is 'old master'. Being an 'old master' at a young age proves he has ability.

Mu Qingshan passed the interview smoothly, and Medical Official Mu was very gratified. After understanding the interview process, Medical Official Mu said deliberately: "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen is a person whose ideas are a bit unrestrained and different from ordinary people. He likes people with ideas, provided they follow his rules and don't mess around. You can be a bit flexible in your work, no need to be rigid. He is also one of the few people in this Heavenly Prison with a bottom line and a conscience. My so-called bottom line is different from what you think. Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's bottom line is limited to the Heavenly Prison."

Mu Qingshan half-understood what 'limited to the Heavenly Prison' meant.

Medical Official Mu could only explain clearly, "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen never asks whether a prisoner has been wronged, whether there is an inside story to the case, or whether they were framed. He only manages the prisoners and sets rules for the prison guards to follow. At the same time, he requires prisoners to pay money according to the rules. Taking money to handle things is a matter of course. He doesn't like using punishments, doesn't like bloody scenes, and is better at convincing people with reason. Those prisoners are quite convinced by him, and the prison guards are also very convinced."

"I understand what Third Uncle means. Without rules, there is no square; Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen doesn't do extra things. Prison guards are only responsible for watching prisoners, not for judging cases; of course, there is no need to ask whether prisoners have been wronged—that is the job of the Ministry of Justice and the Six Shanmen."

"You understood correctly. In short, don't overstep. If other brother units make things difficult for you, don't be cowardly. Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen will stand up for you. He has backing and a background, and is a martial artist; no one would be so foolish as to deliberately find trouble for him."

"I know."

Medical Official Mu asked him again, "Did Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen say how much silver he would pay you a month?"

"He said five taels of silver a month."

"Five taels? This price is considered fair. However, working in the Heavenly Prison, one never relies on the monthly salary to live. Rest assured, as long as you work well, in a year, the income will be far greater than sixty taels. Several hundred taels a year is not a problem, and over a thousand taels is also possible."

Medical Official Mu said the income lightly.

Mu Qingshan's eyeballs shook, as if he had been stimulated.

Five taels a month is enough for his family of five to eat and use, with some savings. He can buy some cloth to make new clothes for his family. Eat meat every three to five days. Life will be greatly improved.

Yet he heard his Third Uncle say that Heavenly Prison people don't rely on monthly salaries to live at all. The annual income is at least several hundred taels, and at most over a thousand taels.

This, this, this...

Is this reasonable? Is this normal?

"Uncle, you aren't lying to me, are you?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Medical Official Mu glanced at him, very proudly. "Otherwise, why would I recommend you to Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen as a private secretary, why would I take the lead and snatch this job for you? You think you are earning sixty taels a year. A mere sixty taels—ask these prison guards in the Heavenly Prison, especially those in the Jia-grade prison, how many of them look at it? Handling a few big cases is more than sixty taels. Follow Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen well, don't disobey him, and even if you offer suggestions, be subtle. The benefits are still to come, and you will know soon."

Mu Qingshan was a bit confused.

Medical Official Mu looked around and whispered to him, "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen just handled a big case. You caught up with it, and there will definitely be a share for you when the bonus is issued. Don't refuse at that time, take the money, and thank Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen well."

Mu Qingshan:...

He just started his job, still in the probation period, and there is a bonus to take?

Is this appropriate?

"You are Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's private secretary; if you don't take money, how can the people below take money? You, you still need to gain more experience, learn more about human relationships. You are a private secretary, which means you are the confidant by Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's side, one of the top ten figures in the Heavenly Prison. Take the money with peace of mind, don't have a burden. This place, the Heavenly Prison, is different from the outside. Once you stay here for a long time, you will understand the essence of it." ===== CHAPTER 549 =====