"Yes, sir."

As soon as he finished speaking, two young men in their twenties walked out of the house.

Then, an old man over fifty years old also walked out of the house.

"Are you Qin Zhao?" the old man asked.

Qin Zhao bowed to the old man and said, "Mr. Ye."

Assistant Professor Ye looked him up and down for a moment, then smiled and said, "I know you. The teacher went to participate in the provincial examination and came back to say that this year's provincial examination had produced an excellent essay. The prefect was very pleased and immediately awarded it the first place."

"I've read that article, and it's truly beyond compare."

Qin Zhao: "Sir, you are too kind."

The old man had a kind face and was not at all arrogant. He ushered Qin Zhaolin into his study and poured him a cup of tea. "I have known your village chief for decades. He wrote to me asking me to look after you. But let me tell you, with your reputation as a top scholar, I would be more than happy to have you as my disciple. Why would I need to look after you?"

The entrance requirements for Jiangling Prefecture School were strict. Passing the prefectural examination wasn't enough; one had to have excellent grades, good character, and a good reputation. Consequently, many students sought connections to gain admission.

However, even if you submit a list through connections, you still have to go through an admissions exam, and the screening of students is very strict.

But Qin Zhao shook his head: "I am not here to enter the government school."

Assistant Professor Ye asked, "Then why did you come here..."

Qin Zhao said, "I heard that the Gu Mansion in the city is recruiting teachers for the Mansion School."

Upon hearing this, Assistant Instructor Ye's smile completely faded: "You mean the Gu family who owns the weaving mill? That's true."

He seemed quite resentful about this matter and said coldly, "We did select some students for them earlier, but they were sent back after a few days and suffered a lot of humiliation. His young master has no interest in studying at all. If it weren't for the close relationship between the Gu family and the prefect, why would the prefectural school care about them?"

"Why are you asking this? You don't..."

Qin Zhao: "I wonder if Mr. Ye could introduce me to someone."

The requirements in the Gu family's notice had been lowered from Juren to Xiucai, or students with outstanding academic performance in the prefectural school. However, Qin Zhao's current conditions did not meet this requirement.

So he needed to find an intermediary to introduce him.

"Your conditions are better than most students in the prefectural academy, but..." The old man paused and advised, "But you have to think carefully, this is not an easy job."

Qin Zhao said, "I have thought it through."

The old man was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Well, let's give it a try. I'm free this afternoon, so I'll go with you."

Assistant Professor Ye found a carriage and took Qin Zhao to Gu's house.

The Gu Mansion is located on the main street of the city. There is a plaque hanging in front of the door, and two majestic stone lions squat on both sides of the stone stairs leading to the door. The mansion's luxury can be seen just from the gate.

Compared to this mansion, the government office a few hundred steps away seems a bit shabby.

The carriage stopped in front of the Gu Mansion, and a doorman immediately came forward to greet it. After seeing who was coming, he bowed and said, "Mr. Ye, are you looking for my wife?"

"Yes." Assistant Professor Ye asked, "Is the Madam at home?"

"Yes, please wait a moment, I will go and inform them."

The doorman hurried into the mansion, and the two of them got off the carriage. Qin Zhao asked, "Madam?"

"Mrs. Gu personally selects all of Young Master Gu's husbands," Assistant Instructor Ye said. "Don't worry. Mrs. Gu comes from a family of scholars and treats us scholars with kindness and courtesy."

This can also be seen from the doorman's polite attitude towards them.

It must be that the owner taught him well.

He can teach a servant to be so well-behaved, but he can't teach a child well.