Chapter 10

Qin Xiao learned things quickly and didn’t take too long to roughly understand the so-called secrets of the gods descending to earth. Watermark GG test Watermark GG test

"Qin Xiao, to be honest, you have a real talent for gambling skills," the Gambling God said with a smile, his hands still crossed over his chest. "You can’t be a little jailer all your life. How many silver coins can you earn in a year? At the gambling table, sometimes you can earn in a day what would take you several years here."

Qin Xiao smiled. "Uncle Gambling God, you’re not trying to introduce me to a job at a casino, are you?"

The Gambling God laughed heartily. "I said you were smart. You know, I have three gambling dens in Gui City and several others elsewhere. If it weren’t for that incident last year that forced me to stay here for a few years, I would have already gone to the capital to make big money." He patted Qin Xiao on the shoulder. "In the past six months, you’ve treated me well. We have a connection, so naturally, I want to help you get rich too."

"Uncle Gambling God, I appreciate your kindness, but since you’re here, it won’t do me any good to go to the gambling den."

"Nonsense." The Gambling God frowned immediately. "Even though I’m here, the gambling dens are still mine. If I tell Le Shan, you can go to the gambling den for a year or two to gain some experience. When I get out, we’ll go to the capital together. For now, you can work with Le Shan, and he’ll pay you ten times more than here."

A hint of surprise flashed in Qin Xiao’s eyes, and he forced a smile. "Le Shan is your sworn brother, right? The big boss of the Golden Hook Gambling Den?"

"He’s my sworn brother, but not the big boss of the Golden Hook Gambling Den." The Gambling God pointed to his own chest. "The big boss of the Golden Hook Gambling Den is only one person, and that’s me."

Qin Xiao smiled but didn’t comment.

The Gambling God, displeased, said, "Aren’t you happy? You’re really too arrogant. Others would beg me for such an opportunity, and I wouldn’t even agree. I’m trying to help you, and you’re ungrateful. Forget it, forget it. When I get out, you’ll see how well I’m doing, and then you can make your decision."

Qin Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Gambling God, you seem to have a family."

"Of course." The Gambling God said with a hint of pride. "Have you seen her? She’s a top-notch beauty, virtuous and kind. You won’t find a better woman in all of Xiling." A hint of anger appeared on his face. "Qin Xiao, I’ve asked you several times to speak to the authorities to allow my wife to visit. Have you helped? I’ve been here for almost half a year, and no one from my family has come to visit. This place, the Alpha Prison, is fine in other aspects, but the rule that family members can’t visit is really inhumane. Qin Xiao, this rule needs to change."

"Uncle Gambling God, you really love your wife?"

"Of course." The Gambling God laughed. "You’re young. When you get married, you’ll understand the benefits."

Qin Xiao nodded but didn’t say more. He stood up. "Uncle Gambling God, you can get back to your business. I have some things to do and will come back to talk to you later."

"Go ahead with your business." The Gambling God waved his hand, then added, "Think about it. If you really want to go to the gambling den, just let me know."

Qin Xiao left the cell and returned to the office. An 18-year-old jailer was tidying up in the guard room. Seeing Qin Xiao enter, he immediately smiled and said, "Boss."

He was two years older than Qin Xiao but treated him with great respect.

Qin Xiao managed the Alpha Prison and didn’t do everything himself. Sometimes he would delegate tasks like delivering water and food to his helpers. This jailer, chosen by Qin Xiao, was named Niu Zhi. He was quick and literate, making him a capable assistant to Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao put down the burlap bag and leaned back in a chair. Niu Zhi immediately poured a cup of tea and brought it over. Qin Xiao took it and placed it on the small table, then sat down and silently looked at a thick ledger he had taken from the corner shelf.

Niu Zhi leaned over

(To be continued, please turn the page)

and glanced at it, saying, "Boss, Wen Budao will be sent away in a few days. These past few months, he’s been well taken care of, thanks to you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had such a good life here."

"The Ministry of Justice sent a letter, stating that on the 8th of March, he will be transferred to Fenggan Prefecture. That’s in about three or four days," Qin Xiao mused. "This case will likely be retried, which could take several more months."

Niu Zhi said, "Boss, do you think he’ll be sent back here?"

"Wouldn’t he be?"

"Wen Budao’s case was tried by the Ministry of Justice six months ago, and he was sentenced to a year in prison," Niu Zhi explained. "Now, he’s suddenly being sent to Fenggan Prefecture, which means something has changed."

Qin Xiao asked, "If the case was already decided, what could have changed?"

Niu Zhi lowered his voice. "Boss, we’re just prison guards. We just need to watch the prisoners and don’t need to inquire about their cases. If the Ministry of Justice has reopened the case, it must be because a more powerful authority has gotten involved. We shouldn’t meddle to avoid trouble."

Qin Xiao sighed. "I understand your point. But Wen Budao still doesn’t know that his case has changed. He thinks he’ll be free in another six months if he stays in the Alpha Prison."

"Boss, are you still keeping it from him?" Niu Zhi frowned. "He’s leaving in a few days, and it’s not good to keep it from him any longer." Seeing Qin Xiao’s serious expression, he whispered, "He thinks the expenses for these past few months were paid by Qiao Leshan, but since he entered the Alpha Prison, the Golden Hook Gambling Den hasn’t sent a single silver coin. Instead, you’ve been paying for it."

Qin Xiao said, "Money isn’t a big deal, but he considers Qiao Leshan a close friend. If he finds out that Qiao Leshan has ignored him, he’ll be heartbroken."

Niu Zhi sighed. "Boss, I know you value loyalty. That year, when it was raining heavily, he gave you an umbrella as you passed by his gambling den. You’ve always remembered it. When he was sent to prison, you found a way to transfer him to the Alpha Prison and have been taking care of him. For the kindness of an umbrella, you’ve done more than enough."

Qin Xiao looked into Niu Zhi’s eyes and asked, "Do you think there’s something big behind Wen Budao’s transfer to Fenggan Prefecture?"

Niu Zhi glanced at the door, leaned close to Qin Xiao’s ear, and whispered, "Boss, Qiao Leshan and Wen Budao are close friends. When Wen Budao was imprisoned, Qiao Leshan should have done everything to help him. But we haven’t received a single silver coin from Qiao Leshan, which means he doesn’t care how Wen Budao is faring in prison. The Golden Hook Gambling Den is a major gambling den in Gui City. After Wen Budao was imprisoned, Qiao Leshan took control of it, and the business has been thriving. All the profits have gone to Qiao Leshan. If Wen Budao is released, do you think Qiao Leshan’s life will still be good?"

Qin Xiao remained calm and asked, "Are you saying Qiao Leshan doesn’t want Wen Budao to be released?"

"From the day Wen Budao was imprisoned, Qiao Leshan never intended to let him out. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ignored him in prison," Niu Zhi said with a cold laugh. "Boss, think about it. If Wen Budao finds out the truth, will he let Qiao Leshan off? Qiao Leshan must be certain that Wen Budao won’t get out of prison."

"So, you think Qiao Leshan is behind Wen Budao’s transfer to Fenggan Prefecture?"

Niu Zhi smiled mysteriously. "I can’t be sure, but Qiao Leshan is definitely involved somehow."

Qin Xiao was a simple person who believed in repaying kindness, no matter how big or small.

Wen Budao, with his exceptional gambling skills, had carved out a territory in the chaotic Gui City and was once very successful. He once gave Qin Xiao, who was drenched in the rain, an umbrella, perhaps out of a good mood or because he felt sorry for the boy.

But Qin Xiao remembered it well. In fact, when Wen Budao first met Qin Xiao in prison, he didn’t remember giving the umbrella to the young man.

Qin Xiao remembered Wen Budao’s kindness, so after Wen Budao was sentenced and imprisoned, Qin Xiao used his connections to transfer him to the Alpha Prison, where he was well-fed and clothed. However, Wen Budao didn’t know that all this was arranged by Qin Xiao and thought it was due to Qiao Leshan’s efforts.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Justice sent a notice that Wen Budao would be transferred on the 8th of March to Fenggan Prefecture for a retrial. Qin Xiao immediately knew something was amiss. A decided case being retried could only mean that someone was manipulating things behind the scenes.

However, Qin Xiao’s duty was just to guard the prison, and he had no authority to inquire about the case itself.

"Boss, Wen Budao is one thing, but the old beggar in Cell 16 is a problem," Niu Zhi’s voice interrupted Qin Xiao’s thoughts. "This old man drinks every day. The silver he saved is already spent, and he’s now penniless. Should we transfer him out of the Alpha Prison?"

The Alpha Prison had its rules. With silver, one could enjoy the best treatment, but once the money ran out, it was time to leave.

Qin Xiao was very familiar with the old beggar in Cell 16. Two months ago, the old man stole wine from a tavern and, when caught, fought and injured someone with a bench. The police brought him to the station, and the Ministry of Justice sentenced him to five months in prison. Such a prisoner would usually be placed in the C or D cells, but for some reason, the old man demanded to be placed in the Alpha Prison.

A beggar, of course, had no right to enter the Alpha Prison, so no one paid attention at first. But after a few days of the old man’s persistent demands, Qin Xiao heard about it and found it strange. He went to see the beggar, who, upon learning that Qin Xiao was the head of the Alpha Prison, secretly told him about a place where he had hidden silver.

Qin Xiao found it hard to believe. If the old man really had silver, why would he steal wine and end up in prison?

But Gui City was full of all sorts of people, and out of curiosity, Qin Xiao went to the place the old man mentioned and found a wrapped package containing several silver coins. Feeling obligated, Qin Xiao transferred the old man to the Alpha Prison and provided him with food and drink.

For the past two months, the old man didn’t complain about the food but insisted on drinking every day. The silver he had saved was now gone.

"I’ll ask him if he has any more silver." Qin Xiao put away the ledger, left the office, and headed to the right side of the prison. He walked to the end, where Cell 16 was located. Through the bars, he saw a disheveled old man lying on a wooden bed, snoring loudly.

The old man, despite having several silver coins, never thought to change his prison uniform. He spent almost all his money on alcohol.

Although the Alpha Prison had good conditions, it was still a prison, and many prisoners often felt depressed. But this old man was carefree, spending his days drinking and sleeping. Qin Xiao often saw him either drunk and talking to himself or lying in bed, rarely sober. He was more of an old drunkard than a beggar.

------------------------------------------------------

ps: Fellow readers, during the seedling stage, please add the book to your shelf, follow the book circle, and thank you for your support, collection, collection, collection, monthly ticket, monthly ticket!