The Blessed

Five bookkeepers, within an hour, had finished all account books. After Yuan Shaoqi finished his, he directly handed his account books to him, with confidence on his face like he already had the victory in his hand, the two old ones calculated it again, and the two younger ones also briefed things through and only handed it to him after making sure everything was right.

"The correct number is thirteen thousand four hundred sixty-seven taels of silver and four copper coins. You were all right. But before I employ you, I want to ask you a question. Why would you give up everything in the town come to work here?”

Sweeping over the final number they handed, Ling Jingxuan casually leaned backwards, with a hand resting against an armrest of the chair with his head resting on it, eyes slightly narrowed. Ling Jingpeng who he called here didn’t say anything, but took all their reactions under his eyes and kept it in mind. Because he knew, that his big brother was making demonstrations for him. In the future when he employed people, he had to do it on his own. He still remembered the first time they bought people, he and his second brother both misjudged. So since then, he learned to read people, and swore that he would never make the same mistake.

Hearing that, except Yuan Shaoqi, the other four of them looked at each other, totally having no idea why he asked such a question below the standard. Definitely for money! If it hadn’t been the high salary, who would come to such a place where even birds wouldn’t poop? But, before the master, they would never speak the truth only if he got his head cracked by a door.

"Of course to fill the belly. The condition you offer is quite good. Five taels of silver a month, free accommodations and food, and we can even get a bonus if we do well. Under such a condition, I think no one could say no.”

You know what, someone really got his head cracked by the door!

As Yuan Shaoqi finished his words, the other four all looked at him like looking at a monster. Didn’t he say he is a xiucai? What is wrong with him? How could he say those words in the master’s face?

"Oh? You mean if someone offers you a higher price, you'll leave without hesitation?"

Eyes turning to him, some kind of sharp light flashing across that pair of slightly narrowing eyes, thin lips curved. This Yuan Shaoqi was either really stupid or did it on purpose to show him. His intuition told him that it should be the latter. When one tried to win other’s trust through playing straightforward, he should have some kind of untold purpose.

"Well, personally, I think it's enough to be fed, clothed, and housed, and to have some pocket money. So your supposition won’t hold, unless you are a mean lord. Though your pay is high, you don’t take us as human. If so, I can only find another job.”

Hands crossed, Yuan Shaoqi not only perfectly avoided his probing, but also checkmated him instead. The smile at Ling Jingxuan’s lip corner grew bigger, “You will know whether we are mean masters.”

Apparently he was telling him that he had passed the test. Yuan Shaoqi wasn’t surprised. He only picked his eyebrows as a response. Ling Jingxuan still wore that smile, but in his heart he was a hundred percent sure that this person isn’t simple. But, instead of setting free a tiger back to the mountains, he’d rather lock the tiger in the cage. Sometimes, putting the most dangerous person aside was the most secure. He’d like to what he wanted.

"What about you? Have you decided what to say?"

Ling Jingxuan asked casually as his eyes slowly turned back. Their silent thinking had lowered his assessment of them.

“Childe Ling, allow my straightforwardness, what Mr. Yuan said makes sense. If it were not for the generous conditions, we wouldn’t have come here. People move upwards and water flows downwards. With our seniority, even in the prefecture, we are also the objects that rich people are vying for invitations."

The one who was speaking was that surname Hong from the prefecture, about forty years old, ruddy faced, though having concealed it well, one could still see undisguised pride in his eyes, looking carefully, there was a slice of sarcastic feeling. One just didn’t know whether he was being sarcastic of Ling Jingxuan or not.

"Well, then you can go back to find a better job. My temple is too small for you the big buddha.”

Ling Jingxuan nodded to agree, but refused him. Everyone was surprised. Yuan Shaoqi said that and he could stay, why he got turned down for saying those well-organized reply?

“Why?”

Mr. Hong reflectively blurted out, face sunk. Ling Jingxuan suddenly opened his eyes big, showing shrewdness in the eyes, “Because you questioned me, so I can’t use you. I don’t care how eligible you are, or how capable you are, you have offended the biggest taboo—you can’t tell master from servant.”

A clearly proud man was trying to suppress his true feelings. If he kept him by his side, he was not afraid he might create trouble for him, but now he was looking for someone who could assist Ling Jingpeng. Given his self-important personalities, maybe he would even crawl over Jingpeng, or even his parents’ head? He would never use such kind of people.

"I..."

Mr. Hong was shocked, subconsciously wanting to say something, but as Ling Jingxuan’s sharp eyes swept over, he got frightened and sweated all over.

"Hum! I don't care if I can stay in such a shabby place. You guys better not stay by this kind pf people. Apparently he is doing it on purpose!”

Brimming with the fear in the heart, Mr. Hung got ashamed into anger and left as he flicked his sleeves. Before he left, he still didn’t forget to instigate others. Ling Jingxuan didn’t feel surprised at all, but Ling Jingpeng frowned tightly. At first he thought that person looked steady, never expected…His big brother was right. He was the master. How could he allow them to act so arrogantly?

"If any of you don't want to stay, you can leave with him. You can still get the compensation I promised. No copper coins less.”

Slightly reducing the sharpness in the eyes, Ling Jingxuan automatically ignored Yuan Shaoqi and laid his eyes on the other three.