Chapter 81 Competing to be a Matchmaker:
"Impossible." Rong Xie shook his head, shaking off the thought.
How could Uncle Wang possibly be Shen Bingsi?
Although Shen Bingsi possesses the art of bone shrinking, allowing her to alter her height and physique at will, a person's temperament will not undergo significant changes. Wang Bo's honest and simple demeanor, and the way he fled in panic after encountering Lu Yinglin, do not seem like something Shen Bingsi could fake.
"..."
Despite thinking this way, Rong Xie couldn't help but look for clues in real life, and sure enough, he actually found some evidence.
Hua Hong Clothing Store removed the brightly colored clothes hanging above its storefront and replaced them with plain-colored fabrics, including several colors that Rong Xie particularly liked. It's hard not to suspect that this was done under someone's secret guidance.
When Rong Xie asked about Uncle Wang, Manager Wang of Lanyuan Villa looked confused. After a while, he realized what was going on and said some ambiguous things, as if he was covering for someone.
Half a month later, Rong Xie officially took office as the garden manager of Lanyuan Villa. He received a list of all the menial servants in the garden and went through each one to identify them.
It's confirmed, there is no such person as Uncle Wang.
A chill ran down Rong Xie's spine.
Unexpectedly, Shen Bingsi really disguised herself as someone else to spy on his life. After spying, she went back and said smugly, as if she would be happy if Rong Xie lived a poor life. How could there be such a despicable person in the world!
Rong Xie grabbed the list of servants in annoyance, a faint blush rising on his face.
When Manager Wang saw Rong Xie's expression, he thought he had been angered by some servant, so he came over and said a few words of comfort: "The servants here are no different from those elsewhere. They all do manual labor and speak a little crudely. Young Master Rong, please don't take it to heart."
Rong Xie came to his senses and looked at Steward Wang with more vigilance. However, on second thought, he couldn't blame Steward Wang. When Shen Bing Si became domineering, few people could go against his wishes.
“Steward Wang, you misunderstand. The servants here are all hardworking and honest, there’s nothing to blame them for. But… if I may ask, did the Grand Secretary agree to hire me as steward because of his relationship with Shen Bing Si?” Rong Xie asked directly.
"Hehe, Young Master Rong, you're overthinking it. You were personally interviewed by our master, and the position of garden manager is such an important one. If our master only considered his relationship with Daoist Shen, he could easily grant you a sinecure as a retainer," Manager Wang said with a smile.
"I see." Rong Xie nodded. If the Prime Minister Wang hired him only because of his friendship with Shen Bingsi, he would have to reconsider how long he could keep this position. Would the Prime Minister Wang still keep him when he found out that he had no contact with Shen Bingsi?
Now, Steward Wang's answer reassured him, and he was determined to seize this opportunity to show Chief Minister Wang that hiring him was the right decision.
“Since there are no other considerations, please treat me as you would any other steward,” Rong Xie bowed slightly to Steward Wang. “Just call me Rong Xie. If there’s anything you need me to do, please let me know.”
"This..." Manager Wang thought for a moment and realized that this was indeed the simplest way to handle it. "Alright."
Over the next period of time, Manager Wang discussed the monthly salary for the position of garden manager with Rong Xie. It was eighteen taels of silver a month, which was much more generous than Rong Xie had expected. Moreover, this was only the initial monthly salary. As time went on and performance improved, the monthly salary would also increase.
Besides, Rong Xie and Lan Yuan Villa are completely independent. He doesn't need to keep his identity documents with them, nor does he need to guard the garden every day. As long as Rong Xie can guarantee that there are no problems in the area he is in charge of, he can come whenever he wants and report to Steward Wang on the last day of each ten-day period.
Rong Xie also had a private room to handle the affairs of the garden. Manager Wang showed Rong Xie the door. It was in a very nice courtyard. There were several banana trees outside the window. The banana leaves were very large, like car covers.
It snowed the day before the visit. The snow weighed down the banana leaves, and when the wind came, a whole clump of snow slid off the banana leaves with a "plop" and hit the snow-covered grass, making a loud noise.
The office environment and monthly salary are both satisfactory, and I'm not tied to the Wang family. I can arrange my own time. This ideal job was something Rong Xie wouldn't have dared to dream of half a month ago, but now it has come true.
As the busy day came to an end, a light snow began to fall at dusk. Rong Xie walked back to Zhuli Lane through the snow and picked up his pen to write a second long letter to Shen Yan and the others.
The main content of this long letter was still about the winter management of the villa. Rong Xie added some experience he had learned from Steward Wang, as well as the results he had gained from his own practice in managing the garden. He wrote several more pages and sent them to Huanxue Villa.
Some people at Huanxue Mountain Villa were already getting restless.
As Shen Bingsi predicted, Rong Xie would come back once he had had enough fun outside and realized that life outside was tough.
As for what gave Shen Bingsi such confidence, it comes down to the results of the last inspection trip—Rong Xie's house was rented, and he didn't sell any optoelectronic white orchids at all. When he went out to buy things, he only bought rough things that he would never have glanced at before. How could Rong Xie live like that?
Shen Bingsi couldn't help but thank himself. It was he who created the best living environment for Rong Xie, it was he who couldn't bear to let Rong Xie live in the disciples' quarters, and it was he who spent a lot of money to buy Huanxue Manor. It was he who built Rong Xie's exquisite life that he had become accustomed to.
Habits are a terrible thing. Once Rong Xie discovers that the life he's used to isn't so easily attainable, he'll probably rethink whether he wants the vague "like" or the real life.
Someone like Rong Xie, who values quality of life, should make the right choice soon.
Can "liking" put food on the table? Can "liking" allow Rong Xie to live in a luxurious manor like a royal palace? Can "liking" allow Rong Xie to freely read firsthand ancient books and scriptures? Can "liking" allow Rong Xie to use exquisitely crafted and precious porcelain?
Shen Bingsi, who cannot "like" but cannot "like," is able to. Rong Xie, being such a smart person, naturally knows which one to choose.
With such high hopes for the future, Shen Bingsi waited patiently in the manor for a whole month. By the time the second long letter arrived, the lake in Huanxue Valley had frozen over, but Rong Xie still hadn't returned.
Of course, Shen Bingsi was not mentioned in the second long letter either.
"Bang!"
Shen Bingsi slammed her hand on the desk.
Shen Yan stood by the desk, holding Rong Xie's letter in his hand. He had just read the letter aloud from beginning to end at Shen Bing Si's command.
Shen Bingsi's smile vanished in the time it took to utter a single sentence.
"What? That's all?" Shen Bingsi said angrily. "Bring it here so I can see it!"
Shen Yan placed the letter on the table, which Shen Bingsi snatched away. Shen Bingsi quickly read it from beginning to end; there was nothing, not a single word about him.
How could Rong Xie be so heartless and cruel!
Even if it's a friend who's been cut off, after parting ways, wouldn't you still want to find out how they're doing? Rong Xie actually managed to refrain from asking and didn't mention it at all, as if he really intended to completely forget about him.
No, that's not right.
Shen Bingsi's gaze darkened.
The letter Rong Xie wrote clearly did not reflect the actual situation.
His letter made no mention of his financial difficulties, nor did it complain about not being able to buy suitable goods at the North Gate Market. Rong Xie didn't mention any of the unpleasant facts that Shen Bingsi had witnessed.
What does this show? It shows that Rong Xie is lying, whitewashing the truth, and being hypocritical.
Shen Bingsi slowly put down the letter, waved to Shen Yan, indicating that he could leave.
“Master, this letter…” Shen Yan said, “when can I come and rewrite it?”
He didn't intend to get Rong Xie's handwritten note.
"Let's do it another day."
"When is 'another day'?" Shen Yan insisted.
Shen Bingsi raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, unusually not getting angry, and simply said calmly, "I've copied it. I'll leave it on the table. Come and pick it up yourself tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright." Shen Yan withdrew.
Shen Bingsi decided to go to Lanyuan again.
Of course, he could do nothing and just wait for Rong Xie to come back on his own.
But he couldn't do it. Knowing that his best friend was stubbornly holding on, it was too difficult for him to sit calmly in the villa and wait. Right now, it felt like he was sitting on a thorny bush growing in the desert of the Western Continent. He had to stand up immediately and do something.
For example, directly exposing Rong Xie's stubbornness.
It just so happens that the line he laid earlier has now been in place for a month, and it's time to reel it in. It couldn't be more brilliant.
That afternoon, Shen Bingsi flew away from Huanxue Manor on her sword.
No sooner had he left than Shen Yan informed Rong Xie.
When Rong Xie received the notification, he was giving his end-of-month report at Lan Yuan Villa. The matter was trivial but handled properly, which satisfied Steward Wang. He told Rong Xie to rest for a while in the small hall.
Taking this opportunity, Rong Xie communicated the situation with Shen Yan: After reading the letter, Shen Bing Si seemed very dissatisfied that Rong Xie had not mentioned him, and then flew away on his sword.
“Brother Rong, you must be very careful. The manor lord seems very certain that you are not doing well and wants to bring you back.”
"Okay, I understand," Rong Xie replied calmly.
After putting away the communication stone, Rong Xie continued doing what he was doing.
After Manager Wang finished checking the accounts, he and a group of other managers came in through the side door. The managers immediately surrounded him, showing concern and asking after his long-renowned new colleague.
Rong Xie also stood up from his seat, smiling as he responded to the managers' greetings.
Although the stewards had not yet formally met this colleague, they had heard many legends about him. He was fluent in his conversations with the Prime Minister on his days off, and when showcasing his talents, he boldly claimed to be good at managing the garden. Moreover, they had heard that this new colleague was a disciple of a celestial sect, the kind who cultivated longevity and knew immortal magic.
Now that I have the chance to meet him, I certainly won't let Rong Xie go easily.
Especially the position of steward, which is usually held by young, strong, experienced servants or old women who know how to manage people. I have never seen such a young and handsome young man in this position before, so I can't help but want to take care of him more.
"You just moved to Zhuli Lane? That's a great place. You have good taste."
"You came alone? Is there no one else at home? Have you considered settling down?"
"The household registration documents are all here, so it means we're ready to settle down... Is there a girl you like?"
"What? Not yet? Manager Rong must have high standards."
"Manager Rong is so young and promising, and so handsome. What kind of girl can't he find? It's just that he's been neglecting his studies in the mountains. Don't worry, we old folks have quite a few connections. We'll make sure you find a girl you like, and nothing will get in the way."
"Hiss, speaking of which, there are actually a few daughters of wealthy families looking for sons-in-law. Would you consider marrying into such a family, Manager Rong?"
“Manager Rong is different from us. He has a clean background, lives independently, and owns property in Zhuli Lane. He is more than qualified to marry a young lady from a poor family. Why should he marry into the family?”
The stewards surrounded Rong Xie, chattering amongst themselves. In the blink of an eye, they had already arranged several marriages for him, and even thought about how many children he would have and where they would attend private school.
Rong Xie was a little embarrassed. He had indeed thought about getting married, but his idea of getting married was probably different from what his enthusiastic colleagues were planning. He didn't want to hold a girl back; he just wanted to adopt a homeless child he liked and raise him as his own. His idea was probably hard for his enthusiastic colleagues to understand.
When Rong Xie thought about the astonished looks and barrage of questions from his colleagues after he revealed his thoughts, he felt it wasn't worth it and decided to just laugh it off.
To everyone's surprise, his ambiguous attitude was seen by the stewards as the young man's shyness, which further fueled their urge to matchmake Rong Xie. They didn't say it to his face, but secretly competed to see who could solve this young colleague's personal problem first.
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