488: My subordinates are too stubborn; it's giving me a headache.

"When will the housing prices in the Underworld drop? Are we old employees supposed to live in rented houses with our children?"

Thousands of replies followed the post, some wailing in shared misery, others lamenting the days when "one square meter only cost ten thousand."

There were also a few IDs that looked like real estate agents advertising "more cost-effective" properties on the edge of the Eighteen Levels of Hell, only to be thoroughly lambasted by netizens.

Shang Wan Ning finished reading and remained silent for a while.

"Earth God Temple Phase 17..." she repeated softly, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes, "Is that the project touted as 'adjacent to the Underworld School District, enjoying Wangchuan River views'?

"Yes, that's the one." Little Four brought up the project data. "In half a year since its opening, the average price has risen from 48,000 to 82,000. Recently, there have even been rumors of a lottery system, saying that supply and demand have long been imbalanced."

"The 86-square-meter unit You Wu is interested in costs roughly 7.03 million incense points in total."

The Empress rubbed her temples, a look of helplessness on her face.

She knew that housing prices in the Underworld were high, and residences in the core area of Fengdu City had long been speculated to sky-high prices, but she hadn't expected that even a veteran subordinate like You Wu, after saving for so many years, could only afford a toilet.

Star, needless to say, had a WeChat Moments feed as blank as a sheet of paper, and all her forum records were work-related. She probably had no mind to ponder buying a house, dedicating all her efforts to her family and children.

"Little Four," Shang Wan Ning suddenly spoke, "Check Wang Gang's incense points account. What's the balance? Are there any records of large expenditures?"

Data streamed quickly, and Little Four soon replied, "Host, I found it!"

"Wang Gang's account balance is 378,600 points. Of that, 50,000 was a 'special mission allowance' approved by Chen Yu last month. The rest is mostly his accumulated salary and performance bonuses over the years."

"Records of large expenditures are few. Last year, he spent 30,000 on school selection fees for Anan's Underworld Kindergarten, and recently bought over 2,000 worth of children's clothing. All other expenses are daily necessities; he lives quite frugally."

Subsequently, Shang Wan Ning looked up at Little Four and asked directly, "Then how much balance does You Wu's account have?"

Little Four replied, "Five hundred." Seeing the Empress's surprised expression, he added, "Star only gives You Wu five hundred spending money each month, and it's all saved in there."

Shang Wan Ning stroked the cool wall of her teacup. After hearing Little Four's words, her brows furrowed slightly.

[Five hundred points?]

This number was truly beyond her expectation.

Who was You Wu?

He was among the first batch of Ghost Messengers (model workers) in the Underworld, having served her diligently since the Underworld's inception. In terms of seniority, he was second only to You Yu and the Secretary-General.

Over the years, he had dealt with no less than eighty to a hundred ghost tides and pacified countless malevolent spirits. While not having outstanding achievements, he was at least highly meritorious and hardworking.

She never shortchanged meritorious officials in terms of salary and benefits. His basic salary was three times that of ordinary Ghost Messengers, performance bonuses doubled according to mission difficulty, and there were additional allowances for special circumstances, not to mention rewards during holidays and benefits accumulated through merits.

Logically speaking, after several decades, You Wu should have a considerable amount of savings. Even if it wasn't enough to buy a large villa in Fengdu City outright, a thirty percent down payment should be more than enough, right?

How could he be so strapped for cash that he couldn't even afford a toilet?

"Is You Wu really that short on money?" Shang Wan Ning asked with a puzzled expression.

"The benefits I give to Underworld employees shouldn't be harsh on meritorious officials, right? Even if Fengdu City's prices are rising fast, his account balance is too absurd."

Little Four's light orb spun twice beside the light screen, and the data stream paused for a few seconds, as if retrieving more detailed information: "Your Majesty, you don't know, the first batch of Ghost Messengers are different from those recruited later. They are all very stubborn, with top-notch loyalty and aptitude."

"Except for You Lin, that old pervert who occasionally uses his position to visit the mortal realm to see beautiful women, the others don't take any illicit gains."

"You Wu is an exemplary figure among them. He is diligent at work, and after work, he either spends time with his child or tries to earn some extra money. He has some refining skills and occasionally helps shops in the Underworld Market refine magical artifacts, never using his authority for special favors."

Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow: "Just relying on that bit of extra money shouldn't deplete his savings, right? His bonuses over the years should add up to tens of millions of incense points, shouldn't they?"

"It's all because of his family's 'four-legged money-devouring beast'!"

Little Four's light orb suddenly flickered, and he sighed, "Do you know Anan's fate? He was born with a malevolent aura and a weak soul. When he was first found, he almost didn't make it."

"It was entirely thanks to You Wu taking out years of savings to ask Ling Xi for help with his conditioning, and then spending a fortune to buy a Soul-Warming Pearl from Wangchuan to stabilize his life."

"Later, just the school selection fees for Underworld Kindergarten, the tuition for the magic initiation class, plus the regularly replaced soul-protecting talismans and soul-replenishing pills..."

"Which one isn't a money pit? The wedding gifts You Wu and Star received, plus the incense offerings You Yu secretly subsidized from time to time, all went into their child."

Little Four brought up Anan's relevant records, and the light orb projected an image of a delicate and adorable little boy. The child's eyes were smiling, and he looked incredibly healthy and lively.

"Look at how cute Anan is now, looking no different from an ordinary child. In reality, it's all built with money."

"If it weren't for these expenses, You Wu would have long been the Underworld's most eligible bachelor. Why would he need to worry about a house?"

"And," Little Four's tone softened, "You Wu is a person who values his reputation and is very principled."

"He always feels that his difficulties should be borne by himself. Troubling Your Majesty is a minor issue, but if he were to open the door for 'meritorious officials asking for benefits,' it would be difficult to manage later."

"If other Ghost Messengers follow suit later, wouldn't the rules of the Underworld be in chaos? So, even if life was tight, he never mentioned a single 'difficult' word in front of you."

Shang Wan Ning was speechless.

Her subordinate was both loyal and stubborn; something felt off.

Sure enough, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. White-Haired Loli always managed to get a million or so in spending money when she came to her, crying and complaining.

Actually, if he occasionally mentioned his difficulties, she could privately give him some subsidies.

After hearing Little Four talk so much about You Wu, Shang Wan Ning also got a sense of things.

Perhaps among the first batch of Ghost Messengers, You Wu was the one living the most frugally.

But then again, no matter how strapped for cash he was, he was still better off than ordinary Ghost Messengers with official positions.

At least he didn't have to worry about his cultivation, and his child could directly enter "Underworld Primary, Middle, and High School."

She set down her teacup, tapping her finger on the edge of the table.

Her mind replayed You Wu's honest and simple face, and Star's WeChat Moments interface, as blank as a sheet of paper.

These two, one was too stubborn to speak, the other too busy to speak.

They were indeed a perfect match.