Chapter 955: The Final Ultimatum

“Xu Fugui, do you still want to keep doing this?”

An hour later, Chen Guanlou finally met Xu Fugui. The man arrived late, looking energetic and thoroughly satisfied.

Xu Fugui panicked at once. “My lord, don’t scare me like that! I can’t handle fright!”

Chen Guanlou let out a cold laugh. “While you were away, I inspected the Bing-character large and small cells. The situation is terrible.”

“I can’t help it. Conditions are what they are—we have to make do. They’re all prisoners anyway. If their luck runs out and they die in the cells, isn’t that normal?”

“Are you blaming me for meddling?”

“I would never dare!”

“Xu Fugui, set aside the cell problems for now. How many times have I warned you about the Bing-character large and small cells’ accounts? You’ve only grown worse. Do you really think I won’t deal with you?”

“I’m innocent! Over the past two years, the Bing-character large and small cells have suffered one disaster after another. Though crowded, the income is extremely limited, and we’re constantly burdened with extra expenses. I’ve strained every nerve just to avoid a deficit—that’s all I could do! You won’t even praise me, yet you question me?”

Chen Guanlou laughed bitterly.

Clearly, they’d grown wings and treated his words like wind through their ears.

He slammed his fist on the table, startling Xu Fugui, who suddenly remembered his superior was a ninth-rank martialist.

He grew uneasy, his eyes darting around. “M-my lord, the accounting issue… it’s mainly because expenses are too high. I’ve told Qian the accountant many times to slow down. He promised not to report me—why did he go back on his word?”

“Don’t slander Qian Fugui—he didn’t report you. Your accounts are murky, and you always delay submitting them. Do you think I’m blind? What happens in the Tianlaomiao, from top to bottom, is there anything I don’t know? Anything you can hide?” Chen Guanlou’s fury burned, his tone growing colder.

Xu Fugui dared not retort, lowering his head in silence.

Chen Guanlou issued his final ultimatum: “You have one month to sort out your accounts and make up the missing funds. If the accounts are still flawed after a month, you won’t be fit to serve as jailer anymore. Let the capable take your place!”

Xu Fugui was stunned, anger giving him courage to ask: “Are you trying to kick me out to make room for Lu Datou?”

“Nonsense!” Chen Guanlou suddenly understood exactly how Sun Daoning felt at times—words failed him.

“Is your attitude on duty, and your murky accounts, not enough reason to fire you?”

“My lord, my father and yours were…”

“Don’t mention my dead old man! If it weren’t for our years of friendship, do you think I’d waste time talking to you? I’d have fired you outright, recorded it in the Ministry of Justice, made it official. I’m speaking to you now to give you a chance. Damn it, Xu Fugui, do you even have a brain? If you don’t want this job, get out!”

Xu Fugui stood dumbfounded, unable to speak.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. He shouted loudly: “My lord, I know I’m wrong! Thank you for giving me another chance! But I’m broke—I’m truly in dire straits!”

Chen Guanlou’s heart jolted at the sudden yell.

He sneered in disgust. “Get out, get out, figure it out yourself. Don’t even think about touching the Bing-character large and small cells’ funds. Don’t try to rob Peter to pay Paul. Figure out where the money went—and get it back the same way it disappeared.”

“Borrow from someone! And don’t even think you can rely on old ties to get through this. I’m warning you: either get out, or repay every single coin missing from the accounts. Only two choices—pick one!”

He roughly shoved the weeping Xu Fugui out of the office and assigned Mu Qingshan to watch him.

“Xu Fugui’s slippery. You’re rigid—perfect for keeping an eye on him.”

Mu Qingshan pointed at himself, unwilling to admit he was rigid.

He simply had more principles than most.

“My lord, if you know Xu Fugui is slippery, why assign me to watch him? Aren’t you worried he’ll bully me?”

Chen Guanlou snorted, eyes full of disdain. “If he bullies you, don’t you know how to report it? You’re always quick to complain—why suddenly silent? If he bullies you, tell your uncle. Let your uncle cut off the Bing-character large and small cells’ medicine. Xu Fugui will kneel right away.”

Though each jail had a monthly quota for deaths, too many deaths hurt everyone’s income—especially bonuses.

Right now, the jail guards relied entirely on bonuses to survive.

The court's meager salary barely covered the basics.

Besides, people eat grains and suffer headaches and fevers. Seeing Mu the Physician for treatment and medicine costs nothing—all charged to the public account, saving a fortune.

One reason common folk fall into poverty is medical expenses.

In any era, any dynasty, illness costs money.

Falling into poverty overnight is no joke.

In the Tianlaomiao, every guard knew: never offend the pharmacy staff, never offend Mu the Physician.

Finding a physician willing to treat and medicate guards for free was a stroke of great fortune.

Other offices’ physicians wouldn’t treat the lowest-ranking yamen staff. If you wanted treatment, pay up! Free? Dream on!

Mu the Physician was a good man.

Though Mu Qingshan was blunt, clueless about social graces, and quick to offend, no one in the Tianlaomiao ever set traps for him. All because of Mu the Physician.

Even Chen Guanlou, as jail warden, didn’t command this kind of respect.

So reporting to Mu the Physician was a killing blow.

Xu Fugui couldn’t withstand the fury of over a hundred guards—so he dared not openly bully Mu Qingshan.

Mu Qingshan took his assignment, muttering disdainfully: “I told you long ago—Xu Fugui was a problem. You ignored it. Now look: you spoiled him until he became a disaster, and now I have to clean up your mess.”

Chen Guanlou heard this and laughed bitterly.

He pointed at the door. “You. Get out of here right now. As my private secretary, you don’t help your master—you just gossip all day. Do you think I won’t dock your bonus this month?”

Mu Qingshan silently grumbled inside and quickly left the office.

Chen Guanlou rubbed his temples, his mood sour.

Then Chen Quan came to tell him Xiao Jin wanted to resign.

Chen Guanlou was momentarily stunned—but then realized it was inevitable.

“Are you sure? Why didn’t he come see me himself? Did you ask why he’s quitting?”

“I asked. He refused to explain. Probably has something to do with Xiao Changsheng.”

“He’s still in contact with Xiao Changsheng?” Chen Guanlou asked. “Xiao Changsheng is so careless.”