Joining the Bureau

Finally, it was Tang Ma, the Z Province branch chief, who came to Pu Bu Ge Sang's rescue. She stood up and gestured: "This way, please."
Qi Gu and Jin Chan then walked towards her. Only then did they see Pu Bu Ge Sang standing on the ground.
Pu Bu Ge Sang's face was full of anger, like an inflated balloon, even smoother than Jin Chan in some ways. He glared at Jin Chan, his eyes filled with killing intent: "What did you say about me over there just now?"
Jin Chan: "...Nothing of the sort, you must have misheard, ha ha ha."
Pu Bu Ge Sang: "In your heart, have I reached the age of deafness?"
Jin Chan was speechless, then suddenly had a flash of wit: "What I meant was that you look very prosperous today, at least enough to reach this number!"
Jin Chan held up a golden claw towards him.
"You wouldn't think I'm the type to be easily bought by money... Four thousand?! Well, that's fine, we're all good friends, how could I take such a small matter to heart? Please, sit down, have some fruit, pastries, drinks?" Pu Bu Ge Sang pointed to the tea table, borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha. The Z Province branch's tea room offered an all-day afternoon tea menu.
Jin Chan breathed a sigh of relief, then consciously looked at Qi Gu to serve him: "Grandmaster, what would you like to order?"
Qi Gu looked at the menu placed before him and blurted out: "Half a roll."
"Wait... Or maybe a whole roll? If I can't finish it, can I get it to go?"
Pu Bu Ge Sang thought to himself that since the Z Province branch had independent finances and didn't use General Bureau funds, he said very generously: "Of course, you can eat at ease. Our chief naturally welcomes you."
Compared to Pu Bu Ge Sang, who had chatted for a long time without getting to the main point, Tang Ma was much more formal and serious. She extended her tanned hand towards Qi Gu, with a proper professional smile: "Hello, Grandmaster Qi. I am Tang Ma, the Z Province branch chief of the Bureau of Anomaly Management. After assessment and the decision of the General Bureau leadership, we believe you have the ability to join the Bureau and contribute to the nation. Regarding our benefits, it's a monthly salary of fifty thousand plus a commission system; the more ghosts you catch, the more you earn. We also offer generous health insurance and accidental death insurance. This is a job that walks the line between life and death. We hope you can make a decision after careful consideration."
Qi Gu only heard eight words: "General Bureau leadership" and "monthly salary of fifty thousand."
Pu Bu Ge Sang? General Bureau leadership? This Bureau of Anomaly Management truly had an unconventional way of employing talent.
Seeing Qi Gu's delayed response, Tang Ma's heart sank, and the corners of her lips tightened slightly.
She knew herself that this offer wasn't very attractive to truly capable grandmasters. After all, they could casually find a wealthy family to read their feng shui and earn millions. Why would they care about this low-paying, life-threatening job at the Bureau of Anomaly Management?
It was well known that not long ago, a small team from the Z Province branch, when they went to a ghost village in An Nan, was completely wiped out, with no survivors, a truly tragic situation.
That small team consisted of elite disciples from major aristocratic sects in Z Province, hailed as outstanding individuals of the new generation, yet they were all annihilated in one mission.
After that incident, all the major aristocratic families felt that Tang Ma had misjudged, leading everyone into a death trap, and reported the matter. Tang Ma underwent a three-month investigation and suspension, and only recently was reinstated under the directive of Director Luan.
Currently, the branch's talent pool was depleted, and manpower was insufficient, also because the major aristocratic families adamantly believed that Tang Ma had caused the deaths of numerous team members and refused to send their disciples anymore.
"You don't need to feel embarrassed if you want to refuse; we won't force you to accept," Tang Ma said.
"Oh? I don't intend to refuse, I'm just thinking that I still have ten variety show episodes to film. If I break the contract, I'll have to pay a lot of money," Qi Gu said, frowning in serious calculation.
Tang Ma was surprised by this answer, her tone wavering: "Really?"
This was the first time since that incident that a team member had so readily agreed to join.
"Of course, but the missions shouldn't be too frequent. They can be high difficulty, but not too trivial," Qi Gu said.
Although willing to contribute to the nation, he still hoped to be able to lie down more often.
Tang Ma had never heard such a request before, and her gaze towards Qi Gu couldn't help but become strange.
This person... was truly special.
But, very good.
The professional smile on Tang Ma's face completely vanished, replaced by a genuine smile: "Welcome to the Bureau. You don't need to break your contract with the film crew. We will even arrange your filming locations and missions to be in the same place. Of course, if the difficulty is too high, and we cannot guarantee the safety of other staff, I will replace all the staff with our own people."
"Good... There's one more question." Qi Gu's almond eyes were full of sincerity.
Tang Ma: "Ask away."
"So, how much longer do I have to wait for the afternoon tea I just ordered?"
Tang Ma was speechless, but could only reply: "...You ordered too much. Auntie might need a bit more time to finish making it."
"Oh, oh." Qi Gu responded twice, his bright eyes intently watching the busy auntie by the window. The level of longing in his gaze was such that if one said he was gazing at his beloved from generations past, others would believe it.
Tang Ma stood up, a little taller than Qi Gu. She said: "I have something else to do. You two can order whatever you like. After you're done, you can go to the Human Resources department to complete your onboarding procedures, and then to the Logistics department to collect your uniform and magical artifacts."
She finished speaking and hurried away, her military boots clicking as she walked quickly into the distance.
Dressed in combat gear, she was clearly going on a mission.
Not long after, Aunt Zhao brought out all the dishes Qi Gu had ordered, filling the entire tea table.
Aunt Zhao carried a bowl of mango sago, her eyes sweeping around. Not seeing Tang Ma, she asked: "Has Chief Tang left?"
Pu Bu Ge Sang: "She probably has another mission, so she left early."
"Is that so?" Aunt Zhao hugged the bowl of mango sago, her eyes downcast, revealing a look of loss.
Tang Ma had always loved her mango sago, ordering a portion every time she passed the first floor.
But ever since her daughter died in the major incident that numerous aristocratic families believed was due to Tang Ma's misjudgment, Tang Ma had stopped coming to her.
Aunt Zhao actually wanted to tell Tang Ma that she trusted her and didn't blame her.
Many people said that Tang Ma was reckless for personal gain, disregarding the lives of her subordinates for her own future, but Aunt Zhao knew that Tang Ma was never such a person.
Aunt Zhao belonged to the type with relatively poor talent. She studied for many years but only learned the basics, fundamentally unable to participate in combat. Therefore, she voluntarily joined the cafeteria of the Bureau of Anomaly Management, taking on logistical work.
She had been in the logistics department for many years, diligently understanding the tastes and preferences of each team member, doing excellent work behind the scenes.
When Tang Ma first joined the Bureau, she was a very lively young girl, with fair skin and a radiant smile. But with each mission, she often faced the departure of her teammates. Sometimes, it was her close friends; sometimes, it was her respected masters and elders; and sometimes, even... her dearest loved ones.
The smiling young girl became less fond of smiling, her long hair was cut short, and her skin turned from fair to wheat-colored. Many things had changed, but Tang Ma still liked her mango sago.
But now... Tang Ma didn't even want to eat the mango sago she made.
When her daughter died, Aunt Zhao, though heartbroken, momentarily resented Tang Ma, the person in charge of commanding that battle. But that was only hatred born of instinct.
She had witnessed Tang Ma's growth step by step, clearly knowing that Tang Ma was absolutely not the kind of girl who would disregard others' lives for achievements.
"Next time, next time then," Aunt Zhao whispered, hugging the bowl of mango sago.
Qi Gu said: "What's wrong?"
Only then did Aunt Zhao realize she had unknowingly shed tears.
Tears fell into the sago, spoiling a portion of the dessert.
"Nothing, nothing, how embarrassing," Aunt Zhao hastily wiped away her tears and turned to return to the kitchen.
The two people and one toad finished all the desserts, and following Tang Ma's instructions, went to the Human Resources department and the Logistics department, quickly receiving the corresponding items. Qi Gu was initially very curious about the high-tech box used to catch ghosts, but was quickly informed that its instruction manual was probably more advanced than himself, and immediately felt that the item was an unnecessary product.
How could it compare to the useful Purple Gold Gourd?
Bringing up this topic, Pu Bu Ge Sang naturally suggested that the scientific research department wanted to borrow his Purple Gold Gourd for research, to see if they could develop a more advanced ghost-catching box.
Qi Gu naturally agreed.
"By the way, where did you get this gourd?" Pu Bu Ge Sang asked casually, "Does that vine still grow gourds now?"
Qi Gu: "...My master left it for me. He said this item would be our Daoist temple's family heirloom from now on, even though our Daoist temple was actually founded by him, and there have only been two generations, including me."
When it came to topics related to his master, Qi Gu became much more talkative, his words flowing freely.
"That iron ring from last time was also given by your master, right? That old man certainly has a lot of good stuff," Pu Bu Ge Sang said with envy in his tone.
He really wanted a similar master.
Jin Chan, however, found a suspicious point: "Grandmaster's master has so many magical artifacts, why is he an ordinary person?"
Qi Gu: "Perhaps it's just a coincidence."
Jin Chan still felt there was a big problem, but seeing that Qi Gu seemed to have his own firm stance, he didn't say anything more.
Pu Bu Ge Sang carried the Purple Gold Gourd: "Then I'll take this gourd back to the Bureau first. Once the research is done, I'll immediately send someone to return it to you."
Qi Gu: "Express delivery is fine too."
Pu Bu Ge Sang honestly said: "Actually, I mainly want to come and see the grand opening of your Daoist temple, and also snag a feast... After all, this counts as a business trip, and the Bureau can cover the travel expenses."
Qi Gu: "...Seriously."
He didn't expect Pu Bu Ge Sang, despite his young age, to be such a master of expense claims. My apologies, my apologies!
Pu Bu Ge Sang said with the tone of an experienced person: "There's a lot to learn here. I'll teach you slowly later."
After that, he walked away with short steps under Qi Gu's admiring gaze. He had only taken two steps when he turned back: "I almost forgot the most important thing."
"What is it?" Qi Gu's attention was piqued by his reminder.
"Do you have Mu Xing Chen's contact information? He promised me two jars of lollipops at Qing Ji Mountain and hasn't delivered yet!" Pu Bu Ge Sang said.
Qi Gu: ...
Qi Gu: "xxxxxxxxxx, this is his phone number. Contact him yourself."