Chapter 57 Taking Office with Eight Thousand Patrolmen
Less than half an hour later, Shen Mi came out. Song Hou was still studying by the car. When he saw Shen Mi, he thought she had given up halfway through the exam because it was too difficult, just like he had before. He was about to go up and comfort her, but Bai Xuan held him firmly in place.
Song Hou looked at Bai Xuan with a puzzled expression, only to see him calmly stroking his beard, a smile playing on his lips as if Shen Mi's early appearance was a good thing for him.
“Master, you don’t have to be so happy to see Shen Mi, do you?” Song Hou was about to speak up for Shen Mi when he saw Bai Xuan give him an unpleasant look, as if he were looking at some idiot.
Just as Song Hou was about to step forward to offer some comfort, he saw Shen Mi hop over to him and say in a calm tone, "Master, I've passed."
Song Hou stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "You passed in one go?"
Shen Mi nodded at Song Hou, his eyes shining brightly, as if he were radiating light.
Song Hou's perception of Shen Mi had changed; it had gone from "formidable" to "extremely formidable."
Bai Xuan patted Chen Mi on the shoulder happily and said to her, "I knew you could do it. You can start learning practical courses the day after tomorrow. There's no class tomorrow, so have a good day."
"Um."
As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Xuan looked at Song Hou with a sharp gaze as if asking, "Young Master, when can you take the exam?"
Song Hou was truly disliked by Bai Xuan, but he had to admit that there were differences between people, even among those of the same short-lived species. Song Hou put down the materials in his hand, put away his exam card, and sadly walked towards the exam room.
He ran back halfway there, walked up to Shen Mi, and suddenly stretched out his hand.
As Shen Mi was wondering, he saw Song Hou pat the back of his head and say in a soft voice, "Shen Mi, can I shake your hand? The internet says it brings good luck to others..."
Without hesitation, Shen Mi grasped his hand, briefly transferred his own luck, and then withdrew it.
I wish you good luck on your exam.
"Thanks!"
Song Hou headed towards the exam location, completely satisfied.
Bai Xuan leaned against the wall, watching the two of them without saying a word, as if she was thinking about something.
He simply smiled faintly, looked at Shen Mi, and handed her the phone that she had previously entrusted to him for safekeeping.
"No wonder Jingyuan said you were forgetful; now I see it's true."
Oh right, Shen Mi forgot his phone again.
Fortunately, her master reminded her.
Shen Mi did not stay to wait for Song Hou to finish the exam. He said goodbye to Bai Xuan and left.
On the way, Chen Mi could hardly contain her excitement and couldn't wait to share her joy with others. She first sent a message to Dan Heng, and as for Jing Yuan, she decided to tell him in person.
The setting sun cast its rays upon her back, casting a long, thin, gray shadow that stretched out from her feet, bobbing up and down as if she were dancing with herself with her back to her.
Evening is the last rays of daylight, yet it shines with dazzling brilliance in the transition between light and darkness.
*
The morning light shines through the thin mist, gently scattering across the lake's surface, causing ripples that reflect a shimmering silver landscape.
The peach grove high up still carried the coolness of dew, with a few scattered pink and white petals swaying gently on the branches, like the whispers of spring just awakening.
Shen Mi was holding a watering can, bending over to water the flowers and plants in the yard, muttering to himself as he watered. Finally, he sat on the veranda, staring blankly at the spring scenery in the garden.
Jing Yuan walked out of the room and into the living room, where he saw blue amidst the greenery. He noticed that Shen Mi preferred this light-colored clothing. He had already seen at least three different styles of the same color in pink and white, and now a touch of blue had been added, making it look like a cloud had drifted down from the sky into the house.
Thinking of this, as if he had found some precious artifact, Jing Yuan couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle. After laughing, he found it strange. It wasn't something that was funny, and his threshold for laughter was inexplicably low. But why did he feel so happy just seeing her?
I'm so happy that I can forget all my troubles.
He gently knocked on the glass door connecting to the courtyard, and his tender gaze finally received a response.
Jingyuan pointed to the kitchen, indicating that she could have breakfast.
What are your plans for today?
"No. What's wrong?" Shen Mi took a bite of the fried egg. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a runny yolk like cheese. She gave a thumbs up, praising the chef who made breakfast today.
Jing Yuan understood immediately and returned her a smile.
"Would you like to come with me to the Shence Mansion this afternoon?"
Shen Mi pointed at himself in disbelief, his eyes wide as he asked, "Me? Were you just talking to me?"
“Yes.” Jing Yuan picked up his chopsticks, took a small steamed bun, and placed it into Chen Mi’s bowl with practiced ease. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be my personal driver? I’ll take you to meet him.”
Shen Mi paused in chewing her poached egg, searching her memory for whether she had said those words. After a half-second pause, she said, "I can't do it, and I was just joking when I said it."
Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan looked disappointed, and even lowered his voice. He lowered his eyes and kept stirring the white porridge in the bowl.
"Yeah……"
Seeing this, Shen Mi's food suddenly lost its flavor. After struggling for a moment, she relented, "Okay, I'll go with you this afternoon. But I've only passed the theory test so far. It might be another month before I get my Star Chariot driver's license. You won't be without a driver for the next month, will you?"
Jing Yuan nodded. "Yonghai is away on business and won't be back for a while. I need someone to temporarily take over his work."
Hmm, I see. Shen Mi understood, but she still hesitated and said, "Then you have to wait until I finish my exams. Should we find someone beforehand?"
Jing Yuan shook his head: "I don't trust others. Besides, I believe that with your abilities, you should be able to pass the exam soon. Give it a try."
Since Jing Yuan had said that, Shen Mi suddenly felt a heavier burden on her shoulders, but she still had other concerns in her heart...
"Then... I can just follow you, right?" Shen Mi asked softly, still uneasy.
Jing Yuan smiled and nodded: "Just follow me."
"Won't people talk about me behind my back?"
"Cricket? What does 'cricket' mean?"
Shen Mi explained, "It means talking about me behind my back."
"Oh?" Jing Yuan became interested. "What are they saying about you behind your back?"
"They said I got in through connections."
Jingyuan was both amused and exasperated: "Where did you learn these words?"
"Just tell me if the description is vivid or not," Shen Mi interrupted him. What she cared about now wasn't where she learned it, but whether someone would cricket her.
Jingyuan laughed so hard he almost choked on his food.
"Most people in the Shence Mansion are kind. Those who like to gossip and spread rumors behind people's backs are mostly puppets planted in the Shence Mansion by others. They are only trying to indirectly influence you and me. Don't bother with them. They will naturally disappear over time."
"Is that so?" This was the first time Shen Mi had heard Jing Yuan speak of the intricate web of relationships within the Shence Palace, so she was somewhat surprised.
Jing Yuan's smile softened: "Yes, there's no need to worry. Things in this world are like fleeting clouds, and rumors are no exception. They can be easily dismissed."
Shen Mi nodded and accepted the task, considering it a way of repaying Jing Yuan for his help during this time.
"Hey, what about our lunch? Should I cook it now and bring it over?"
"You finally get a day off, how about we go check out a newly opened restaurant together for lunch today? I heard their signature dishes are delicious."
"Okay, okay, when do we leave?"
"Wait a moment." With that, Jing Yuan handed over a temporary pass with Shen Mi's name on it.
"From today onwards, you will accompany me to the Shence Mansion every morning to help me organize some important documents, and in the afternoon you will go to the driving school to practice your driving skills. Is that alright?"
Shen Mi nodded, feeling a little excited. She was actually experiencing the civil service exam she failed in the real world right here.
She carefully touched the wooden nameplate. She didn't know who had carved it, but the two characters, written with such vigorous strokes, seemed somewhat familiar. Shen Mi couldn't remember where she had seen it before.
"By the way, how about I give you eight thousand patrol coins a month?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Mi couldn't help but widen his eyes: "Young Master Duo?"
"What, do you think it's not enough?" Jing Yuan asked with a smile.
“No, no, no,” Shen Mi quickly waved his hand and explained earnestly, “It’s just that the job description you’ve given doesn’t seem too difficult. The reward of eight thousand patrolmen is far too high… and I don’t want to…”
Jing Yuan listened quietly, a hint of a smile already in his eyes, but he still didn't interrupt.
Shen Mi pursed his lips, his expression solemn: "I don't want to accept this unequal reward just because of our special relationship."
After listening to her, Jing Yuan raised the corners of his eyes slightly and said with a smile, "I would like to ask for a lower salary, but the laws of the Immortal Ship Alliance stipulate that even the salary of temporary staff of the Divine Strategy Bureau shall not be lower than eight thousand patrol coins."
“Chen Mi, I have not treated you with special favors, so there is no need for you to be so apprehensive because of me.”
After saying that, Jing Yuan smiled meaningfully.
Shen Mi was stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment. Was the average income level of the people of Xianzhou really that high?
Seeing her dazed expression, Jing Yuan smiled gently, a hint of teasing in his eyes: "Could it be that you have other concerns?"
Shen Mi snapped out of his daze and quickly shook his head, his voice lowered: "No, it's not that... I just didn't expect there to be such a rule."
"Most of the rules in this world are established because of people, and are also followed by people." Jing Yuan said calmly and gently, "You just need to put your mind at ease."
As Shen Mi listened to his words, her cheeks flushed slightly. The expression on Jing Yuan's face after hearing what she said kept flashing through her mind... It turned out she had been overthinking things. She was so annoyed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. She whispered, "I understand."
Jing Yuan looked at her and said softly, "That's right. If anyone ever bullies you in the future, remember to tell me. Although you are only a temporary clerk in the Shence Prefecture, you are actually working alongside me, so there's no need to worry."
Looking at his calm and confident expression, Shen Mi's unease finally dissipated.
She softly replied, "Okay."
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Author's Note: Shen Mi: How wonderful it would be to encounter such a benefactor in the real world! What a pity…
The author is here! The author is here! The author is here! Even though it's only been a day, I've missed you all so much! [Kiss][Kiss][Kiss][Kiss]
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