The long drums sounded, the market closed and the feasts ended. Cars came and went, and the drunk helped each other home.
Ji Shan and Deng Yuechuan went ahead.
Seeing that the two men had lost their balance, Li Tongxue and Liang Mo helped them into their carriages and personally sent them back one by one to avoid any accidents on the road.
It was time for Zhong Lu to leave. He asked Xu Jiang to carry the county annals to his carriage, then he took out the deed and signed it with her. The deed was printed in the imperial style, in duplicate.
After Xu Jiang signed and sealed the contract, Zhong Lu also took out the official seal and stamped it. He left one copy of the contract to Xu Jiang and took the other copy back to hand in.
After signing the contract, he took out a wooden box and handed it to Xu Jiang, asking her to open it and check and inspect it in person.
Twelve silver cakes were neatly stacked in the wooden box. Each cake had "Two taels of official silver" engraved on the front and a signature on the back, indicating which silver shop had smelted it.
Xu Jiang compiled a total of twelve volumes, each volume costing two taels. The labor cost plus the materials used for copying and annotating was not a high price.
This is the price set by the History Museum. Even if Zhong Lu wanted to give more, he couldn't.
"This job is tedious and tiring, but you do it so well. I can't let you suffer any loss." He took out another purse and handed it to Xu Jiang, which contained some small change.
"It's not a loss, it's not a loss." Xu Jiang pushed it back quickly. "Although the price isn't high, it's in line with the market. How can I ask you to pay more? You've even invited me to a banquet. It's worth it."
As she spoke, she touched the box of official silver and said with a smile, "It is an honor for me to be able to work for the History Museum. After all, I am eating a meal at the official's house."
This gentle flattery was quite satisfying. Zhong Lu put away his purse and said with a smile, "It's easy for Manager Xu to want to eat at the government's table. I'll go back and report to the editor-in-chief and ask him to sign a contract to hire you as an external editor at the History Museum. Although you won't receive the salary of an editor in the museum, you'll be considered a member of our History Museum based on your work and wages."
Xu Jiang asked curiously, "Can we hire external cultivators?"
Seeing Zhong Lu trying to deceive, Du Hui quickly slapped him in the face. He then said to Xu Jiang, "Don't listen to his nonsense. It's just a title, no different from what you have now. It's just to make the scholars who help with the trivial tasks sound good to others."
"Oh - I see." Xu Jiang understood.
Every year, many scholars come to the capital to take the imperial examinations. Among them are many children from poor families who have taken the examinations for many years but have not yet been appointed to official positions. They stay in the capital and always have to find jobs to make a living. However, the History Bureau is short of staff, so they have to look for people outside to do such trivial tasks as restoring local county annals.
Besides bookshops and bookstores, the best candidates were these impoverished scholars, who offered cheap prices and were well-behaved. However, scholars were known for their respectability and their work also required a good reputation, hence the position of historian's assistant.
No wonder the contract is so regular. It seems that it has been compiled outside the history museum for a long time.
"If Manager Xu is interested, I will send you the engagement letter tomorrow." Zhong Lu looked earnest. If he could trap Xu Jiang, he would save a lot of trouble.
Xu Jiang chuckled and said nothing. If she agreed, she would probably have her hair pulled out.
Lou Jing pulled him away, not caring who he was looking for as a scapegoat.
"Hey, why are you pulling me? I'm asking Shopkeeper Xu, what does this have to do with you?"
"It's relevant."
The two of them walked out pulling each other.
Du Hui and Yuan Zuzhi were also on their way out when Xu Jiang called out to them, "Gentlemen, please stay."
She sent Liang Mo out to see someone off, and when only three people were left in the tavern, she whispered to Du Hui, "Sir, does Zhao Xiu still come to your house often to see you?"
Hearing her mention Zhao Xiu, Du Hui was startled and replied, "He hasn't been here much these past few days. I think he's preparing for the Ministry of Rites' assessment."
Yuan Zuzhi said, "Ever since he won the third place in the imperial examination, his reputation in the capital has grown. He has come to my house twice recently. He speaks modestly and cautiously, and his words are meaningful. He is indeed a talented person with great potential."
Xu Jiang's heart sank when she heard him say that. "Has he ever been to your house?"
Yuan Zuzhi nodded, "It is common etiquette for newly minted scholars to thank their examiners."
Du Hui also said: "He has come to my house many times and behaved properly, without doing anything wrong." At first he was very vigilant, but after a while, seeing that he was well-behaved and only asked for advice on writing, he relaxed.
Seeing the two men's interest in talent, Xu Jiang urgently warned them, "Gentlemen, please don't be deceived by him. Although he is talented, he has evil intentions. If possible, it would be best to immediately sever ties with him and draw a clear line."
Hearing this, Du Hui's expression became serious and he asked, "Do you know the inside story?"
"I only know that he harbors evil intentions and is plotting something bad against you."
Xu Jiang then relayed her conversation with Mu Congye to the two men. "Master Mu is his teacher. Even he fears this conspiracy, so you can imagine how dangerous it is. Although he appears humble and submissive in front of you, who knows if he is not a venomous snake waiting for an opportunity to strike? You must be extremely vigilant and careful."
Hearing her say this, Du Hui and Yuan Zuzhi couldn't help but feel worried.
Yuan Zuzhi said: "If this is true, this person's cunning is truly terrifying."
Xu Jiang looked at Du Hui and said, "He's been pestering you, probably because he's after you. You absolutely must not see him again. It's best to pretend you're not familiar with him. Even if we end up falling out, it doesn't matter, as long as we can get rid of him."
"I understand." Du Hui had a bad feeling in his heart. Zhao Xiu had approached him before the imperial examination. If he wanted to draw a clear line between them, it would probably be too late.
He just didn't want to say much to Xu Jiang, fearing that she would worry. Then he reminded her, "Don't get involved in this matter anymore, and don't get involved."
Everyone reminded her of this, but since she knew it, how could she ignore it? However, she agreed with a calm face, "Don't worry, sir, I know what to do."
Yuan Zuzhi and Du Hui looked at each other, then said goodbye to Xu Jiang.
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