Zhao Junchen's residence in the capital is known as "Zhao Mansion". Not to mention how extravagant and luxurious the decoration is, it covers an area of more than 200 acres and is still being expanded. [No pop-up novel website]
Such a large mansion naturally requires a lot of manpower to take care of it.
In fact, in the Zhao Mansion now, there are only ordinary female and male servants, each with about a hundred people. There are also gardeners, cooks, doormen, accountants, guards, stewards and other positions, each with their own duties. There were more than ten people to dozens of people.
Adding all these people together, the total population of Zhao Mansion is probably three to four hundred!
But because Zhao Junchen was busy with many things, only a few of the three to four hundred people could remember their names and faces.
Among them, Su Xiqing, as an ordinary accountant in the Zhao Mansion, left an impression on Zhao Junchen because he followed Zhao Junchen to Lu'an Mansion to provide disaster relief. This was already a big impression on other servants in the Zhao Mansion. A very rare honor.
However, Su Xiqing himself was not satisfied with this.
Everyone has their own ambitions, and the same is true for Su Xiqing. Born as a master in Shaoxing, he feels that his ambitions are not big - he just wants to become an aide and adviser to a high-ranking official in the court, and then be favored by his master. With their attention and trust, you can show your talents and realize your ambitions, nothing more.
Although the accountant can control the amount and flow of some confidential money, and can be regarded as a close confidant in the government, his status and level of attention are not as high as those of the government staff who advise the family and can even participate in political affairs. . After all, it is still far from enough.
It's a pity that Su Xiqing has no personal connections and has never encountered any rare opportunities. Coupled with some slander, he has been in trouble all over the years. Even the most ordinary seventh-grade county magistrate did not look down on him. He finally became a member of Zhao Junchen's family, but he could only hold the position of accountant, leaving Su Xiqing. I felt like I was being overqualified.
Therefore, after being summoned by Zhao Junchen. Before entering Zhao Junchen's study, Su Xiqing felt quite nervous and excited.
Su Xiqing, who got some news from Chu Jiayi, felt that this was her chance!
An opportunity to show off your talents and attract Zhao Junchen’s attention!
However. Perhaps because of running into obstacles in the past few years, Su Xiqing's confidence and arrogance in her youth had long been wiped away.
Now, when Su Xiqing followed Chu Jiayi into the study, she looked up secretly. He saw Zhao Junchen looking at him with bright eyes. Although his expression is plain, he has a dignified and majestic temperament that is intimidating - considering that Zhao Junchen is now the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Minister in charge of the internal transportation warehouse, and the Superintendent of the West Factory. He has a high and powerful position, which is rare in the court. One of several powerful ministers, but he himself was just a declining master that no one wanted to use. Su Xiqing, who was originally full of ideas, suddenly became nervous!
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At the same time, in the study room. Zhao Junchen looked at Su Xiqing in front of him, and a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
Su Xiqing in appearance and temperament. There is really nothing that stands out.
Thin body, pointed mouth, monkey cheeks, rat-whiskered eyes... Putting aside these things for the moment, just looking at Su Xiqing's wandering eyes and nervous expression at this time, but trying to pretend to be calm and composed, one can tell that although this person is eager to express himself, Deep down, there is no self-confidence.
How can a person who has no confidence in himself convince others of his abilities?
"Speaking of which, you have been in the mansion for two or three years, right?" After looking around, seeing Su Xiqing just standing silently in front of him, Zhao Junchen suddenly said: "You are an old man in the mansion, what is my temper? After thinking about it, I have some understanding, so there is no need to be nervous. I want to ask you something, so just tell the truth."
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen speak, Su Xiqing trembled slightly, then remembered that she had not saluted Zhao Junchen, so she hurriedly bowed and said: "Su Xiqing has met the master... Oh, no, Su Xiqing has met the minister." .”
Generally speaking, only those servants in the mansion would call Zhao Junchen "Master". As the accountant in the Zhao Mansion, Su Xiqing only had an employment relationship with the Zhao Mansion, so it was right for him to call Zhao Junchen "Your Excellency". .
Seeing Su Xiqing's panic and even the wrong title, Zhao Junchen secretly shook his head again, frowned slightly and said: "We are all our own people, so there is no need to be polite... I remember that you followed me to Lu'an Mansion for disaster relief, He also reported the accounts, money and food to me in person, and he behaved quite competently and shrewdly at that time, but he was never so flustered, so why are you so out of your mind today?"
Hearing Zhao Junchen's question, Su Xiqing couldn't help but be slightly startled.
Indeed, when Su Xiqing followed Zhao Junchen to Lu'an Mansion, he helped Zhao Junchen take care of the money and food accounts. He was also summoned by Zhao Junchen and asked about the accounts. They had a chance encounter. Now that they meet again, it shouldn't be like this. It’s okay to panic.
Su Xiqing didn't know that when he was in Lu'an Mansion, Zhao Junchen had just arrived in this era, and he had not yet adapted to the new identity and environment, and he had no official aura, so he could still cope with it.
But today, Zhao Junchen has adapted to his status. As the saying goes, "living in the Qi and nourishing the body" is no longer the same as in the past. Although he does not deliberately put on airs at this time, there is something about him when he raises his hands and feet. The aura of being a person who has been above others for a long time is awe-inspiring - after Su Xiqing entered the study just now, Zhao Junchen only took a look at it, which made Su Xiqing feel confused and confused.
However, Su Xiqing was in the middle of the game now and did not understand the reason. After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, Nono did not dare to say anything.
Sighing secretly, Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly, with some disappointment, and asked: "I summoned you to meet this time because I heard that you were once a Shaoxing master and you are also good at this. But is this true?"
After such a period of buffering, and seeing that Zhao Junchen had no intention of blaming him, Su Xiqing finally calmed down a little. In order to save the impression, he quickly replied: "Sir, I am indeed a Shaoxing native, among my ancestors. , although there was once a fellow Jinshi, and he was from a scholarly family, but it has long since declined. Therefore, starting from the villain's great-grandfather, he was forced to make a living and relied on his proficiency in writing and books. From then on, he either served as a master in the local government, or I have been serving as a retainer and aide in an official's mansion for five generations. Although I dare not say that I am proficient in this way now, this way can be regarded as my ancestral profession."
Having said this, a hint of pride and confidence finally flashed across Su Xiqing's expression.
Zhao Junchen raised his eyebrows slightly, a little surprised by Su Xiqing's family background, and asked: "Oh? Since you have such qualifications, why didn't you continue and could only serve as the accountant in my house? Isn't it a derogation of your talents? I'm afraid. ...Is there any deeper reason behind this?"
Unexpectedly, Zhao Junchen would ask such a question. Su Xiqing's expression couldn't help but change, and her expression became even more panicked.
But after hesitating for a moment, Su Xiqing finally decided to tell the truth and said with a wry smile: "Originally, although Master's profession is not very noble, it can be regarded as a good thing for food and drink. Naturally, I want to inherit the ancestral business and continue to work. However, when it comes to my father's generation, But bad luck happened. My father assisted three local officials in succession. However, those three local officials were dismissed from office for various reasons, or were accused and imprisoned. Then there was a rumor that my father was ordered to serve as the master. ', and then no official dared to recruit my father as an aide or master."
"What does that have to do with you?" Zhao Junchen continued to ask.
Su Xiqing gritted her teeth and continued: "After my father retired, he had high hopes for the villain and taught him carefully, hoping to help the villain revitalize the family business. However, after the villain left the army, he just assisted a county magistrate who was not able to do it. Within a month, the county magistrate was dismissed for offending the superior. Coupled with the rumors of my father's "King Master", everyone thought that the same was true for villains, and no one would dare to hire villains as masters from now on. Or a staff member. Although he tried to recommend himself everywhere, he only encountered obstacles everywhere.
In desperation, the villain had no choice but to stay away from his hometown and come to the capital to find a way out. Unexpectedly, there were some fellow countrymen in the capital who knew about this situation. Following what others said, no one even the officials in the capital dared to hire the villain. Helpless, Xiao Xing had no choice but to give up this ancestral profession for the time being. Relying on his proficiency in arithmetic, he found a position as an accountant in your residence. "
Having said this, Su Xiqing looked up at Zhao Junchen cautiously, with a look of fear, fearing that Zhao Junchen would kick him out of the Zhao Mansion because of the rumors about his "killer" - in this era, "hitting the master" is a very important thing. Most officials are still deeply affected by such illusory remarks.
However, to Su Xiqing's surprise, Zhao Junchen didn't care about this, but looked at him with interest.
…………
"It seems that this Su Xiqing is not as useless as he thought. It's just that his fate has been wasted in these years. He has suffered many setbacks and has already lost confidence in himself. Therefore, after seeing him, he will feel a little hope. , that’s why we’re so stuck..."
While thinking about it secretly, Zhao Junchen nodded slightly and finally had some expectations for Su Xiqing.
Next, Zhao Junchen began to ask Su Xiqing some knowledge needed by his staff or master. He saw that Su Xiqing was a little slow at first, but gradually responded fluently. Apparently, he had not lost his ancestral skills.
In response, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but nodded secretly.
However, just knowing these things is far from meeting Zhao Junchen's requirements for his staff.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen changed the subject and asked again: "Do you know the purpose of summoning you this time?"
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ps: Something happened to my family, and there are unforeseen circumstances, but in the end, everything will be fine! Why!
Well, the first update today. (To be continued...)
