Chapter 35 Contract-based Employees (Part 2)

As Lin Wanrong arrived very late, the day's recruitment was nearly over, and it was only then that the two old men found the time to engage in conversation with him.

It turned out that the arrival of these talented scholars was actually Miss Xiao's idea. She deliberately spread the rumor that Miss Xiao of the Xiao family was seeking a husband, creating a sensational effect that attracted these scholars. The arrival of these scholars not only greatly enhanced the reputation of the Xiao family, but also significantly increased their business. In effect, it was like free advertising for the Xiao family, and the results seemed to be quite good so far.

As for how to deal with the influx of talented scholars, the two old men didn't seem to have a clear idea. In fact, it was fortunate that they were considered elders in the Xiao family and knew so much about the inner workings; otherwise, others would never understand that all of this was the result of Miss Xiao's meticulous planning.

Miss Xiao dared to use her own reputation for advertising, a boldness that was not common among ordinary women. The two old men spoke of their admiration for her with utmost respect. However, Lin Wanrong had some disdain in his heart. Making a joke of the whole world was rather disrespectful, and if someone with ulterior motives saw through it, he wondered how this young lady would handle the situation.

The two old men rarely encountered someone as shameless and compatible with their tastes as Lin Wanrong. Chatting with him about various topics made time pass quickly. Seeing Fubo walk in from outside, Lin Wanrong hurriedly stood up and asked, "Fubo, how did it go?"

Fubo sighed, "Well, after my arduous and extraordinary ideological work, the higher-ups finally reluctantly agreed to give you a chance."

The other two old men obviously knew Fubo's ability to exaggerate small matters, so they naturally didn't believe his claim of "arduous and extraordinary ideological work." Lin Wanrong, an expert in this area, simply filtered out Fubo's words.

"I'm grateful to Fubo for your efforts. In the future, I will definitely express my gratitude for your support," said Lin Wanrong insincerely as he bowed to the three old men, then elegantly picked up his book bag.

With Lin Wanrong dictating and Fubo writing, the world's first labor contract of epoch-making significance was born. It stipulated the rights and obligations of both parties and, for the first time, placed two civil entities on equal footing.

Of course, Fubo directly ignored Lin Wanrong's proposal for an eight-hour workday. It was already generous enough not to require him to sell himself into servitude. Expecting to work only eight hours a day was simply too much. How would the other servants manage?

Lin Wanrong was not particularly strict about this point, as working overtime was already a common occurrence for him. On this matter, the two worlds he had experienced were strikingly similar—there was never any overtime pay.

Looking at his own crooked signature, "Lin San," Lin Wanrong was quite satisfied. This unintentionally designed signature had a unique personality, making it impossible for anyone to impersonate.

After the contract was written, Lin Wanrong signed it, and Fubo left for a short while. When he returned, a graceful signature had been added to the contract—Xiao Yushuang.

Who was Xiao Yushuang? Lin Wanrong wondered but did not ask. Entrusted by the Xiao family, Fubo and the other two men also signed the contract as guarantors.

The moment the brush fell, Lin Wanrong's brow furrowed. Old man Wei, you'd better not let me see you again, or there will be consequences.

Lin Wanrong sighed inwardly. From this moment on, he would become an honorable servant within the Xiao family mansion. His aspirations were higher than the sky, yet his fate was thinner than paper—this was the perfect description of his feelings at the moment.

Fortunately, it was only for a year. In order to be an honest and virtuous person, he would endure!

By the time he stepped outside, the sun had set, and there were only a few people scattered about. However, the clamor and occasional cries from the scholars' camp could still be heard. Being one who loved to stir up trouble, Lin Wanrong decided to walk over and take a look since he had nothing better to do.

As he approached, he saw a shabbily dressed young man in his twenties sobbing loudly while another person was trying to console him. "Forget it, Brother Ji Chang, there is plenty of fish in the sea. There's no need to insist on finding a match in the Xiao family. If you didn't make the cut, it just means you and Miss Xiao weren't meant to be. It's better to accept it," the consoling man advised.

The crying young man snorted twice and said, "Brother Qin Guan, it's easy for you to say since you made the cut. I have spent so many years studying poetry, mastering the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, rites, and music. Why was I eliminated? How could Miss Xiao be so blind?"

"Brother Ji Chang, it seems that this has nothing to do with Miss Xiao. Neither you nor I have ever seen her face, so how can we place the blame on her? From what I can tell, Miss Xiao is truly intelligent, talented, and naturally beautiful. She is a woman of exceptional character," Brother Qin Guan praised, looking even more pleased with himself as he noticed the attention from others. Not many scholars passed today's examination, so Qin Guan had every reason to be proud.

"Brother Qin Guan, you were fortunate this afternoon to draw such a simple question that allowed you to pass. Why am I so unlucky? Could it be that the heavens are determined to destroy me, Ji Chang?" he sobbed.

After listening for a while, Lin Wanrong began to understand the situation. One of the gentlemen was named Ji Chang, and the other was named Qin Guan. Qin Guan had passed the examination, while Ji Chang had been eliminated, hence his deep despair.

However, for a grown man to cry so openly after being eliminated seemed rather delicate. Considering his humble background, how could he be so fragile in the face of adversity?

Lin Wanrong considered himself a resilient man and felt a degree of disdain for Ji Chang's weakness. Qin Guan, on the other hand, appeared to have thicker skin and should be more resilient.

Lin Wanrong stepped forward and greeted them, "Greetings to you both."

Qin Guan and Ji Chang eyed Lin Wanrong, noting his plain attire and having just emerged from the group of servants. They both looked down on him, presuming he was uneducated. Even the tearful Ji Chang wiped away his tears, not wanting to appear disgraceful in front of this "illiterate" person.

"What do you want?" Brother Qin Guan snapped open his folding fan and waved it twice, speaking arrogantly.

Despite his ordinary attire, Qin Guan carried the pride of a scholar, looking down on those who hadn't received an education from the bottom of his heart.

Not taking offense, Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "I see that both of you are talented and extraordinary. You must be the scholars here for the Xiao family's examination, right?"

Qin Guan and Ji Chang nodded together, smiling faintly, evidently pleased by Lin Wanrong's flattery.

With an "excited" expression, Lin Wanrong continued, "That's wonderful! I've never been much of a reader myself, but I greatly admire talented scholars like you both. However, I'm curious as to what you were asked during the examination at the Xiao family's residence?"

Ji Chang's face fell, while Qin Guan grew animated. He replied in a restrained manner, "We weren't tested on much, just a few challenging questions and composing a short poem."

Challenging questions? These were likely riddles or brain teasers, not much different from what the servants and scholars faced. However, the task of composing a poem highlighted the cultural differences between the two groups.