"Do you have any business with the steward?" Vice Steward Pang was somewhat satisfied with Lin Wanrong's performance, but he was not a fool. He naturally knew that this fellow who suddenly appeared and flattered him must have some hidden agenda.
Lin Wanrong gave a thumbs-up to Vice Steward Pang. "It's convenient to talk with intelligent people like you." Glancing around, he whispered, "To be honest, Vice Steward Pang, I originally came for an interview today. Unfortunately, something came up at home, delaying my journey. As you can see, I'm already late. So, I'd like to trouble you, Vice Steward Pang, to be more accommodating and allow me to give it a try."
Vice Steward Pang adopted an official tone. "How can you be so lacking in time awareness? An inch of time is worth an inch of gold, and it's hard to buy an inch of time with an inch of gold. Do you know that? How many people aspire to become household servants in our family? Do you know? How many people want this initial opportunity? Do you know?"
Repeated "Do you know?" made Lin Wanrong furious, but he had to play along. He nodded vigorously. "Steward, your guidance is correct. I hope to have more opportunities in the future to bask in the rain and dew of Vice Steward Pang and listen to your teachings, allowing me to grow more healthily."
After saying this, he felt nauseated in his heart, cursing Vice Steward Pang's ancestors in his mind.
Vice Steward Pang saw that he was an easily teachable person and quite skilled in flattery. He considered Lin Wanrong a potential candidate for cultivation and felt a bit appreciative.
This matter was effortless for Vice Steward Pang, but officials always had the tendency to magnify small matters and downplay significant ones. Vice Steward Pang, being the snob he was, deliberately furrowed his brow. "I see. In the future, I may guide you a bit more, if it's possible. However, I'm in a management position, and this recruitment is handled by the lower ranks. It's a bit chaotic down there, and I can't interfere too much."
Before he could finish, Lin Wanrong's hand flashed with white light, and another couple of silver coins appeared in front of him. Vice Steward Pang's eyes gleamed, and his smile deepened.
Suppressing the urge to hit this pig-headed person, Lin Wanrong said with a half-smile, "Vice Steward Pang, I kindly ask for your assistance."
"Well, I'll give it a try. Wait a moment. Maybe they will still consider you. You can go in now." Vice Steward Pang, showing a "reasonable" attitude, grabbed the silver coins and slipped into the examination room.
Watching his retreating figure, Lin Wanrong spat on the ground. This situation was ridiculous. To become a servant in the Xiao family, he had to beg to be accepted. A low-level servant in the Xiao family earned less than two taels of silver per month, and he had just spent two taels of silver as a bribe. He was essentially losing money to serve someone. This level of degradation made Lin Wanrong disdain himself. After going in, he had to make back his capital tenfold or a hundredfold. He harbored resentment towards Old Man Wei, too. If it weren't for that old man's trap, would he be in this situation?
With the introduction of silver, things went smoothly. Vice Steward Pang returned in a short while, smiling, "Alright, I managed to save some face for you. You can go in now. However, whether you succeed or not depends on yourself. Given the current situation, I can only help you this much."
Given the current situation? To a clever person like Lin Wanrong, he naturally understood the meaning behind his words. For a mere two taels of silver, he could only exchange it for an interview opportunity. If he spent two hundred taels, Vice Steward Pang might even provide him with the interview questions directly.
"Thank you, Vice Steward Pang, for your guidance and care." Lin Wanrong expressed his gratitude with a respectful tone.
Vice Steward Pang, with an official air, nodded and said, "You are clever, and I have high hopes for you. Don't disappoint me."
"Of course, of course." Lin Wanrong said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Oh, by the way, what's your name?" Vice Steward Pang asked.
"I am called Lin San," Lin Wanrong replied.
"Lin San?" Vice Steward Pang's expression changed abruptly. "You are Lin San?"
"Yes." Lin Wanrong was surprised. Am I famous? Why does this guy seem to know me?
Vice Steward Pang's face immediately changed. He quickly took out the two taels of silver hidden in his sleeve, handed them to Lin Wanrong, and said apologetically, "Hehe, I didn't know it was you, sir. Please forgive me for not recognizing you. Please come in, please come in."
Now, Lin Wanrong was dumbfounded. Has this guy's brain gone haywire? Why did he suddenly become so polite? It seemed like he knew me—
Lin Wanrong had a sudden realization. Yes, yes. It must be something that Old Man Wei had instructed before leaving. I heard that this Old Man Wei is a senior servant in the Xiao family, equivalent to a high-ranking executive. From the way he could live by Xuanwu Lake instead of the Xiao family residence, it was clear that Old Man Wei had quite a bit of face in the Xiao family. Taking care of these trivial matters, it was as easy as pie for him.
Lin Wanrong arrogantly credited his achievements to the disappearing Old Man Wei. Damn it, making me waste my breath on flattery for nothing. Lin Wanrong was annoyed. Seeing Vice Steward Pang's obsequious expression, the roles between them had completely reversed.
Reaching out to hit the smiling person was not Lin Wanrong's style. Besides, he had flattered Vice Steward Pang recklessly just now. Although Lin Wanrong had thick skin, he couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed. Without saying much to Vice Steward Pang, he took the silver coins and slipped into the room.
Inside was a registration desk. A servant was sitting at the table, looking impatient. "Name—"
"Lin San," Lin Wanrong replied.
"You are Lin San?" The servant glanced at him, immediately stood up, and his expression improved significantly. With great respect, he said, "Sir Lin, please have a seat."
This Old Wei seems to be quite capable. He has arranged everything meticulously, both high and low. Lin Wanrong's impression of Old Man Wei improved a bit.
Entering a small room, several servant candidates were holding brushes, facing a blank piece of paper, with troubled expressions on their faces. Lin Wanrong took a glance and saw that the paper in front of those guys had some crooked and twisted characters, looking as ugly as crawling earthworms.
"Recite the Three-Character Classic and write a few sentences." A servant handed a brush to Lin Wanrong, took his name tag, looked at it without the same respect as the others, and impatiently said.
"Recite the Three
-Character Classic?" Lin Wanrong drew in a cold breath. Now he finally understood why those people in front had such troubled expressions. These candidates, coming to apply for servants, naturally came from impoverished families with very few people who could read. They might be good at chopping wood on the mountain, but asking them to hold a pen and write was like sending an old mother pig to climb a tree.
"Turn around and recite the Three-Character Classic, then write a few sentences." One candidate handed a brush to Lin Wanrong, took his name tag, and looked at him with impatience.
Lin Wanrong took a deep breath. He finally understood why the candidates in front had such worried expressions. These people applying for servant positions mostly came from poor families with very few literate individuals. While they might be skilled at woodcutting on the mountain, asking them to write with a brush was akin to making an old sow climb a tree.