Chapter 2

Qin Feng, a graduate of a drama school, majored in acting. As an actor, he had to portray a variety of roles, so he needed to be familiar with all aspects of human life. In his view, when large companies recruited employees, academic qualifications were important, but appearance was also crucial. He believed this would be no different in ancient times.

A thought struck him, and he recalled the talented scholar image he had once portrayed, immediately adjusting his demeanor accordingly.

Cai Lin turned around at the sound, spotting Qin Feng, who stood out from the crowd with his unique aura, and her eyes lit up.

"What is your name?" Cai Lin asked as she walked over.

As a drama school student, Qin Feng had studied scripts from the Three Kingdoms period and admired the veteran actors. He had also tried to give himself a courtesy name. When he flipped through ancient books, he learned that the character "峰" (feng) meant peak, and he didn't want to reach his peak so soon. Therefore, he chose the character "进" (jin) to complement it. The character "子" (zi) was a respectful term in ancient times, so he used it as a prefix, combining it to form the courtesy name "子进" (Zi Jin). Zi Jin, Zi Jin, meant "I will keep advancing." When Cai Lin asked, he put it to use, bowing and saying, "I am Qin Feng, courtesy name Zi Jin!"

"Oh, a good name," Cai Lin said, impressed by Qin Feng's courtesy name, which was quite refined. She thought this young man must not be from an ordinary family. She continued, "Where are you from?"

"My family fell on hard times and moved to Beiping County. I have been living alone in Luoyang for the past few years, seeking a livelihood. I heard there were job openings here, so I came to try my luck," Qin Feng replied.

Cai Lin, hearing Qin Feng's well-organized speech, felt he must be educated. An illiterate person couldn't speak so eloquently. A tall and well-built person would also add to the prestige of the household, so she said, "Let's hire this person."

"Everyone, you can leave now," Cai Ping called out.

The crowd sighed, disappointed that they had missed another opportunity to find a job in a noble household. They couldn't help but feel envious and resentful of Qin Feng, who had been hired.

"Follow me," Cai Lin said.

"Please wait a moment, I need to say goodbye to my friends," Qin Feng said, turning back.

"Brother Qin Feng, I never thought you would actually get a job at the Cai household..." Da Niu, who had always dreamed of such a thing, was envious.

"Da Niu, once I settle in, I'll come to find you," Qin Feng said. "Oh, by the way, what month is it now?"

"Brother Qin, it's April," Da Niu said, feeling a bit down as he was about to part ways with Qin Feng after more than a month of companionship.

"Alright, then there are about eleven months left," Qin Feng thought. The Yellow Turban Rebellion would start in March of 184 AD, which was about eleven months away. Qin Feng had been in this era for over a month, and he had been thinking about how to achieve something significant and not waste his time traveling through time. The Yellow Turban Rebellion was a great opportunity for rising, but he lacked money, influence, and reputation. Qin Feng shook his head, realizing that ancient times were different from modern times, with a slower pace. He didn't know what his situation would be in less than a year.

"Brother Qin, what do you mean by eleven months?" Da Niu asked, seeing Qin Feng lost in thought.

Da Niu was a simple and honest person, so Qin Feng said, "Da Niu, you won't understand now. Just live well, and I'll come to find you once I settle in."

...

Cai Household's Office.

"Qin Feng, working in my household is different from others. You will receive 300 coins per month and have one day off each month. You look like you've been on a long journey, and your clothes seem to be from a border tribe. Go with Cai An to wash up and change into new clothes. You will start working in the front courtyard," Cai Lin said, noticing his tattered jeans and odd-looking shirt, which she assumed were from a border tribe.

Qin Feng, seeing her expression, secretly smiled, thinking that his outfit was actually more expensive than her silk clothes in the modern world.

Cai An led him out to change into a set of coarse linen clothes. He then realized that the jobs in the household were divided into different ranks based on clothing. Coarse linen was the third rank, cotton-linen was the second rank, and coarse silk was the first rank. As a newcomer, Qin Feng was in the third rank, responsible for cleaning and manual labor, and not even allowed to serve tea to the masters.

In the Han Dynasty, there were several types of fabrics: linen, silk, plain silk, and refined silk. Linen was the cheapest material for clothing. Silk was a common silk fabric, slightly more expensive than linen. Plain silk was fine and colorful, more expensive and not affordable by ordinary people. Refined silk was the most expensive and the most valuable among fabrics.

"Qin Feng, this bed is where you will sleep at night. It's late, so you can rest now. You will start work early tomorrow," Cai An said, briefly explaining Qin Feng's duties before leaving.

Qin Feng's room was in the front courtyard. He was eager to see the inner courtyard and meet the famous Cai Yan. Seeing no one around, he slipped out of the room.

The Cai household was vast, with dozens of courtyards. The servants were busy with their tasks, and no one paid attention to Qin Feng wandering around.

He didn't know how long he had been walking, but he kept heading deeper inside. He saw a courtyard with frequent activity, which he assumed was the inner courtyard, and he walked over.

"Stop!" Two guards at the gate stopped Qin Feng.

Qin Feng, being a newcomer, was startled but maintained a calm smile. "What's the matter?"

The taller guard, seeing his coarse linen clothes and unfamiliar face, said, "You're new, right? The inner courtyard is not for you to enter."

"Really? Why is that?" Qin Feng asked, puzzled.

"The inner courtyard is only accessible to first-rank managers from outside the family," the shorter guard said disdainfully.

"Go away. Since you're new, we won't punish you. But if you try again, we'll report you to the manager and have you expelled," the taller guard said, shooing him away.

What the heck! The ancient world was so hierarchical. It seemed he wouldn't be able to see Cai Yan for now. Qin Feng turned away, disappointed.

By the time he returned to his room, it was already evening. He met a few ancient colleagues. With his knowledge from a thousand years ahead, he chatted about various topics and told a few jokes, quickly blending in. His colleagues were impressed by his broad knowledge and immediately respected him.

As he was chatting, Cai An walked in. As the manager, the others quickly stood up to greet him. Qin Feng followed suit.

Manager Cai An nodded slightly and said, "Qin Feng, the master is hosting a banquet tonight. The attendant in the front hall is sick, and since you can read, the manager has assigned you to serve in the front hall. You need to prepare now."

Qin Feng, being a newcomer, didn't know what to do, so he asked, "Manager Cai, what do I need to do?"

"Oh, there will be a supervisor to guide you," Cai An said.

Cai An led him to the front hall and handed him over to the supervisor before leaving.

The supervisor in the front hall was named Jiang Chuan. He assigned Qin Feng a simple task: to serve the guests at the last seat on the left.

"Qin Feng, it's your first time, so be careful. But don't worry too much; everyone has a first time. Be observant, and if the guests need anything, provide it promptly. If they drink too much, you must attend to them. A maid will assist you, but you are the main one. If you need anything, just tell her to get it," Jiang Chuan explained in detail.

Everyone has a first time! This phrase sounded so awkward.

Soon, a few maids entered the waiting room.

"Xiao Hong, this is Qin Feng. You two will work together tonight, and you need to cooperate well," Jiang Chuan said.

"Yes, Supervisor Jiang!" Xiao Hong bowed slightly and looked at Qin Feng.

Qin Feng smiled kindly, and Xiao Hong blushed, thinking, "He is so handsome, surpassing all the young masters in the city."

Why is she blushing? Qin Feng was puzzled.

"Please, please," a powerful voice called from the front hall, indicating a person of high status.

Jiang Chuan immediately said, "Everyone, start your tasks and be cautious."

Qin Feng followed Xiao Hong out. The girl had a round, plump bottom.

Two teams of people moved silently, standing behind the seats in order. Supervisor Jiang Chuan personally stood behind the main seat in the center.

Qin Feng, seeing the grandeur of the ancient noble household's banquet, was impressed by the distinguished guests, the careful servants, and the spacious hall with exquisite utensils. He felt a sense of ancient elegance.

He saw an old man with a long beard, kind eyes, and a spirited demeanor, wearing a gray patterned silk robe, exuding a noble air. "This must be Cai Yong," Qin Feng thought, marveling at the famous figure from the Eastern Han Dynasty. He then noticed another guest with a similar robe but a more elaborate hairpin, a long, thin face, and a beard. He wondered who this other distinguished guest could be.