Chapter 50

(Second update, one more to come, thanks for the support, everyone! Let's keep up the good work and vote more!)

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Although Wang Xian was very interested in the "Little Qinhuai" courtesan's marriage, in front of Lin Jiejie, he still had to put on a righteous gentleman's face and say, "These days, the world is truly in decline; brothels actually send invitations to people's homes."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Lin Qing'er replied indifferently. "In the past, my brother and his classmates often held banquets in brothels, which was considered a refined activity."

"Uh..." Wang Xian glanced at her, unsure if Lin Jiejie was being serious or trying to trick him. He decided to change the subject and picked up a plain invitation, saying, "Speaking of which, there's also an invitation from a scholar."

Lin Qing'er took it and frowned, "This Li Yu is not a good person..." Her face flashed with a hint of anger.

"What's wrong?" Wang Xian asked.

"Nothing, he's the son of an official and has some talent, but his character is corrupt," Lin Qing'er said angrily. "After my brother was imprisoned, he pretended to seek justice for my brother, tricking us out of a lot of money, and even tried to take me as a concubine. Fortunately, my mother firmly refused..."

Although Lin Qing'er was talking about someone else, Wang Xian felt his face burn. This Li Yu's character really matched his own.

"That's strange," Wang Xian coughed dryly and brought the topic back. "Even if I become a clerk, I wouldn't catch the eye of the sons of officials or scholars, right?"

"Yes," Lin Qing'er nodded honestly. "And they're holding a poetry meeting; you can't write poetry."

"Cough, cough..." Wang Xian felt embarrassed, thinking to himself that he had written a poem, which was still hanging in the county magistrate's study. He also understood why the scholars had invited him; they were probably curious to meet a clerk who could write poetry.

Unfortunately, Wang Xian, a mere copyist, dared not attend any poetry meetings. If they asked him to write a poem with a specific rhyme or to engage in a poetry exchange, he would be exposed. So he casually threw the invitation away and forgot about it.

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Wang Xian had developed the habit of waking up early. The next day, he got up before dawn to wash his face and dress. Today, he no longer wore a white shirt. In front of him were a black cap with wings and a neatly folded blue robe... actually, it was a blue robe, and he still couldn't distinguish between blue and green.

After putting on white socks and black boots, he wore a blue robe with a round collar over a white undershirt, tied a black silk sash around his waist, and finally put on the cap. Wang Xian shook his head lightly, and the black wings behind his ears swayed slightly, feeling quite good.

At some point, his mother appeared behind him, looking at him again and again, never tiring of it. In her mind, this blue robe and black cap were the most beautiful attire, as her husband had worn them for over a decade...

However, his mother felt something was missing. After thinking for a while, she suddenly slapped her forehead and quickly returned to the main room, rummaging through the drawers. She came back and tied a jade pendant with a red string to his sash.

His mother stepped back, looked him up and down, and clapped her hands, smiling, "That's more like it!"

"Mother, wearing this is too conspicuous," Wang Xian said. Wearing jade was a privilege of scholars, though wealthy people also did it to appear refined.

"My son is now a clerk; why can't he wear jade?" His mother patted her hands. "This is the engagement gift from your father and me. If you lose it or damage it, you'll have to come and see me with your head."

"Then I'll return it to you," Wang Xian thought, feeling like he was carrying a bomb on his waist.

"Wear it!" His mother said firmly, then kicked him out the door.

In the dim light, Wang Xian arrived at the gate of the yamen. The gatekeepers no longer called him "Erlang" but addressed him as "Clerk," with a more respectful demeanor. Inside the yamen, Wang Xian habitually returned to the household department. A few clerks who had arrived early were chatting. Seeing him at the door, they quickly stood up and greeted him respectfully.

A few days ago, he had been serving them tea and water, but now he was their superior. Wang Xian felt quite uncomfortable and laughed dryly, "No need for formalities; let's still call each other brothers."

"Etiquette cannot be abandoned," they said, refusing. "By the way, why isn't the clerk going to the court session? Why are you here in the office?"

"Oh, I almost forgot about that," Wang Xian remembered that he was now a regular clerk and had to attend the magistrate's court. He bowed to them and hurried to the second hall, fortunately not being late, or he would have been beaten with a stick.

The second hall was already bustling with people. About eight or nine officials in green robes were seated, and about twenty or thirty clerks in blue robes were standing, clearly divided.

Wang Xian's first thought was, who says ancient institutions were streamlined? He could see for himself. In a county with less than 100,000 people, there were forty officials at the department level and ten times as many non-regular staff supported by the government, far from being streamlined.

However, thinking that he was now a deputy department-level official, receiving a government salary, and no longer just a temporary worker, he felt very happy.

People worry about things at their level. Asking Wang Xian, a deputy department-level official, to care about national affairs would be like worrying about trivial matters.

He only wanted to live a good life and show those who looked down on him what he was capable of. What was wrong with that?

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After the court session, Wang Ziyao called Wang Xian over, smiling, "Nephew, there's still some routine business to handle. Follow me to the personnel office."

"Understood," Wang Xian replied respectfully and followed Wang Ziyao to the personnel office, where he filled out his family background and other documents, which would be sent to the Ministry of Personnel for filing. From now on, he would have his own personnel file in the Ministry of Personnel, officially becoming the lowest-ranking member of the official class.

Liu Yuan, the old clerk Wang Xian had met on his first day at the yamen, helped him fill out the forms, his face full of envy, "Younger brother, your good fortune is beyond ordinary. In less than a month, you've surpassed your elder brother."

"I'd rather not have this good fortune if it means being humiliated like Li Sihu," Wang Xian said with a bitter smile.

"Before a great mission, one must endure hardships and toil," Liu Yuan thought, if he could become a clerk, he would be willing to be humiliated a hundred times. "Besides, Li Sheng is not having a good time now. He's been pretending to be sick at home and hasn't reported to Jiangyi yet..."

"Are you done?" Wang Ziyao, waiting in the inner room, called out impatiently.

"Done, done," Liu Yuan said, baring his teeth. "Go in quickly."

Wang Xian nodded and entered the inner room. Wang Ziyao greeted him with a smile, inviting him to sit down and personally made tea, "Nephew, wearing the blue robe must be more comfortable than the white one, right?"

"I haven't felt it yet," Wang Xian replied.

"You will soon," Wang Ziyao said with a smile. "Especially as a clerk in the household department, there are many benefits, which you will experience yourself." He poured a cup of tea for Wang Xian, "Actually, you could have worn the blue robe earlier, but I delayed you for a few days."

"My father told me, Uncle, your intentions were good, and I appreciate it," Wang Xian said.

"Ha ha, no matter what, I must make up for it," Wang Ziyao said with a smile. "Now that you are a clerk, living in the clerk's quarters is not appropriate. Two years ago, when County Magistrate Chen was in charge, he built a row of official residences on the west side of the yamen for us clerks. Although they are not large, they are separate and better than living with a bunch of clerks." He smiled, "I've asked the deputy magistrate for one for you."

"That's not appropriate," Wang Xian knew that clerks usually lived in the clerk's quarters, but most found the conditions poor and rented houses outside. As a new clerk, if he moved into the official residences, wouldn't the other clerks be envious?

"Don't worry about that. The house you'll be staying in was once your father's," Wang Ziyao said with a smile. "No one will say anything."

With Wang Ziyao's firm attitude, Wang Xian had no choice but to take the key and return to his office.

In the household department, the clerk in charge of grain, Xun, was on a tour of the countryside. This year's autumn grain collection was not going smoothly. Apart from Shangxin Township and Sanshan Town, the other five grain districts were lagging behind.

Zhang Sihu was also worried. He was still acting as the clerk, and if he failed this important task, the magistrate might replace him. Seeing Wang Xian enter, Zhang Sihu managed a smile, "Everything is done?"

"Done," Wang Xian nodded.

"Originally, the clerks were assigned by seniority. Although this is rigid, those in higher positions are all experienced," Zhang Hua said. "But before you became a clerk, you only served for half a month, so you probably don't know much about your duties."

"Almost nothing," Wang Xian admitted honestly.

"Simply put, all matters related to the county's finances, grain, population, and land are handled by the household department. Additionally, this department deals with lawsuits involving land, houses, and debts," Zhang Hua sighed. "I should have taught you, but with the autumn grain collection and the heavy workload, I will be going to the countryside tomorrow. I can only explain in detail later."

"What about the household department?" Wang Xian asked.

"You will be in charge," Zhang Hua looked at him. "For less urgent matters, hold them off. For urgent matters, send them to the countryside. The key is to avoid mistakes."

Wang Xian naturally agreed. After leaving Zhang Hua's office, he saw Wu Wei waiting at the door. Seeing him come out, Wu Wei smiled, "Clerk, this way."

Wang Xian smiled at him, "I didn't ask for you, and I feel bad about it."

"That's an honor, and I'm happy to serve you," Wu Wei adjusted his attitude quickly and led Wang Xian into the first room.

As soon as they entered, Wang Xian saw nine clerks in white robes standing there, bowing to him, "Greetings, Clerk!"

This was his office, and these were his subordinates...

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