jdhmnovel Chapter 1267 The government office has connections
Chapter 1267 The government office has connections
Three days later, at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).
Before dawn, the morning mist began to rise.
The government office gates were tightly closed, and although there was a large crowd outside, there was little noise.
A group of acquaintances huddled together, whispering nervously: "I thought there were only a few dozen people applying for community clerk positions, but it seems there are far more than that..."
"There are definitely more than that. There are probably already a hundred people by now, and by dawn, there might be more than two hundred."
"This... I'm starting to panic."
"What's the panic? Good jobs are always fought for! Otherwise, why would everyone be so eager to become an official?"
"That being said, the government is only recruiting ten people this time, which means some of us will definitely be rejected..."
"Pah! Don't say such unlucky things so early in the morning."
"Exactly! Instead of worrying about this, you should think more about how the government will test us today."
At this point, everyone fell silent.
This is what makes them most uncertain.
The government only mentioned today's practical assessment, but didn't specify how it would be conducted.
This feeling was like putting them all on a huge pot, with no regard for whether the firewood underneath was lit or not.
no one knows.
Time slowly passed in anxious waiting.
After autumn arrives, it gets light later.
At dawn, the sky was still a hazy gray when the gates of the government office were opened from the inside. Officials and clerks entered the office one after another, and the crowd at the gate made way for them, their faces even more tense.
At 1:15 AM, Shen Zheng, Yu Shizhang, and Xu Yunyan arrived at the government office. Immediately, a deafening chorus of greetings erupted: "Greetings, Lord Shen! Greetings, Lord Earl! Greetings, Lord Xu!"
Shen Zheng was still holding half a piece of rice cake that she hadn't finished eating.
Seeing the excitement on everyone's faces, she subtly withdrew her hand into her sleeve, stepped onto the stone steps, and asked, "Everyone arrived so early? The exam doesn't start until Chenshi (7-9 AM)."
The crowd seemed surprised that Shen Zheng would acknowledge them, and their enthusiasm only grew stronger upon hearing this, with everyone replying, "We wouldn't dare to be late!"
"Rest assured, Lord Shen, I will wait here quietly and will not disturb you and the other officials while they are on their business!"
Shen Zheng smiled and nodded, then stepped into the government office with Yu Shizhang.
At 3:45 AM, more and more people were waiting outside the government office.
At the end of the street, a carriage slowly came to a stop. The driver craned his neck to look at the government office, then turned and said, "Manager, there are too many people at the government office entrance, so the carriage can only stop here."
"Don't block other people's way, move to the side a bit more," someone in the carriage said.
"Yes." The driver nodded, jumped off the carriage, and pulled it to the corner of the alley.
Inside the carriage, Xue Li took two deep breaths, reached out and smoothed her brand-new cotton clothes, and asked nervously, "Father, Mother, do I look presentable in this?"
"So proper, so proper!" Mr. Xue nodded vigorously in affirmation: "My daughter is the most proper!"
"Oh no..." Xue Li turned to her mother, "Mother, what do you think? Won't people think that I deliberately wore this outfit to curry favor with Lord Shen?"
With a gentle expression, Madam Xue asked with a light laugh, "Was Li'er trying to curry favor with Lord Shen on purpose?"
"Of course not!" Xue Li immediately shook her head: "I just feel that on an occasion like today, one should wear clean and brand-new clothes to show respect! Besides... who is Lord Shen? How could he be pleased by my clothes?"
She paused after saying that.
Oh right...
It's just a set of clothes; why should she imagine so many unfounded things to make things difficult for herself?
Seeing that she had figured it out, Xue's mother stopped talking and instead reached out to straighten her collar, gently encouraging her, "Go on, child."
Xue Li took another deep breath: "Your daughter is gone! You and Father await good news from your daughter!"
She, Xue Li, was determined to get the newspaper clerk position!
She will strive to get closer to Lord Shen step by step through her own abilities and efforts!
Just as she lifted the carriage curtain a crack, Xue's father suddenly called out to her: "Um... Li'er, don't be nervous. Even if you fail the selection, it's okay. I have other ways to let you see Lord Shen often."
"Another method?" Xue Li paused.
"Will I be able to see Lord Shen often?" She lowered the carriage curtain, sat back down, and asked with a face full of curiosity, "Father, do you have connections in the government office? How come I've never heard you mention it before?"
Mr. Xue waved his hand with a smile: "It's nothing to mention."
Xue Li was startled.
Such a big thing is not worth mentioning?
"Who is it?" Her curiosity grew even stronger, and she guessed, "Could it be the clerk from the yamen?"
Father Xue smiled and waved his hand, saying, "No."
"Wow—" Xue Li's curiosity turned into complete admiration: "It's actually the Prefect?"
Father Xue waved his hand again: "No, not exactly."
"Huh?" Xue Li was stunned.
This isn't it, that isn't it either, so where exactly does the Xue family's network of connections lie?
"No need to guess anymore." Xue's mother looked helpless, and after secretly glaring at Xue's father, she said, "Your father has recently become sworn brothers with Liu the bearded chef in charge of the government office. He keeps recommending our restaurant's side dishes to him, saying they're free, delivered every day, and he even wants you to deliver them."
"..."
Mr. Xue's expression stiffened, and he touched his nose, saying, "It's just a little dish, it's not worth much money..."
"..."
Xue Li's expression also stiffened: "Father, is this the 'connections' you mentioned?"
A hint of embarrassment crept into Xue's father's smile: "Lord Shen will eventually have to eat at the public kitchen. You've been delivering side dishes every day, so you'll definitely see him. Um... it's already past 5:45 AM, you should hurry downstairs. Your mother and I still have to go to the shop."
Helpless, Xue Li got off the carriage and headed towards the government office, urged on by her father.
Hundreds of people had already gathered outside the government office, their clothes varied and their expressions different.
Whether it was her imagination or not, Xue Li felt that from the moment she stepped into the crowd, several scrutinizing gazes fell on her.
Examine...
She frowned slightly, and adhering to the principle of "it's better to avoid trouble," she walked towards a corner of the crowd.
"Young lady, please wait!" Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind.
Xue Li was certain that the other person was calling her.
After a moment's thought, she stopped and turned to ask, "Is there something you need, young master?"
The man who called out to her was a man in his early twenties, dressed in a brocade robe and looking quite presentable.
Behind her followed several arrogant scholars, all looking at her as if they were assessing the value of some object.
The leading man stepped forward, raised his chin, and asked, "Young lady, are you also here to participate in the assessment?"
"Exactly." Xue Li nodded, not wanting to say another word, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
But the man had no intention of stopping there, and even made a shocking statement: "May I ask, young lady, how old are you? Where do you live? What kind of business do you run?"