Chapter 321 Demanding an Official Position the First Word
"Do you think... perhaps the Duke, or his nephew-in-law, could help them find an official position in the court?"
"We don't ask for high positions; we'd be content with just a job that allows us to make a living."
His words were extremely sincere, as if he were just an ordinary elder who was deeply concerned about the future of his children and grandchildren.
But the meaning behind those words was a blatant demand.
The moment he opened his mouth, he demanded an official position.
The flower hall fell silent once again.
All eyes of the Meng family's collateral branches were fixed on Meng Shilan, awaiting her answer.
This is their ultimate purpose in coming here today.
Climb up to the two big trees: the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion and the Yingguo Duke's Mansion.
From then on, he rose rapidly in rank and brought glory to his ancestors.
Meng Shilan picked up the teacup and gently skimmed off the foam with the lid.
She did not answer immediately.
The rising steam from the tea blurred the expression on her face, making it difficult to see clearly.
Time passed, second by second.
Meng De'an's heart also began to pound with anxiety.
Just when he was about to lose his composure.
Meng Shilan finally put down her teacup, making a crisp, light sound.
She raised her head, looked at Meng De'an, and smiled slightly.
That smile was gentle and mild, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
"Seventh Uncle".
"As Seventh Aunt has already said, I am not suited for important positions, let alone matters of the court."
"Shi Lan is probably powerless to help with this."
Meng Shilan's hand holding the teacup paused slightly at the fingertips.
She looked up and her eyes fell on Meng De'an's face, which had frozen instantly.
Seeing her look at him, Meng De'an put on a smile again, but it looked completely out of place.
"However, what Uncle Qi said is true; family members should indeed help each other."
“My niece can’t make the decisions, but she can offer some advice and suggestions.”
Meng Shilan suddenly changed the subject.
The air in the flower hall seemed to stagnate even more.
The sound wasn't loud, but it resonated clearly in everyone's hearts.
Meng De'an chimed in, "Hey! That makes sense. We can't write two 'Meng' characters in one stroke. We're all family helping each other out! We're not outsiders."
"Seventh Uncle is not making things difficult for us; he's just thinking about how to establish the Meng family."
Meng Shilan's eyes flickered slightly before she slowly spoke.
His voice remained soft and gentle, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"I wonder what each of you cousins is good at?"
Meng De'an was taken aback, seemingly not expecting her to ask so directly.
Seeing this, Wang quickly interrupted to speak.
"What you're good at isn't important!"
She has a sharp voice, with a street-smart, feisty edge.
"The important thing is that they are your cousins, descendants of the Meng family!"
"Now that you've established yourself in the capital, shouldn't you help out your own brothers?"
"Besides, with my nephew-in-law's current favor with the emperor, isn't it just a matter of a word to place a few people in the court?"
She spoke quickly and urgently, as if afraid that Meng Shilan would not agree.
Zhou Congxian didn't even lift his eyelids.
He slowly and methodically peeled an orange, carefully removing every last bit of the white pith.
He acted as if the farce unfolding before him had nothing to do with him.
However, the chilling aura emanating from him caused the temperature in the entire flower hall to drop several degrees.
Meng Shilan smiled.
The smile, however, did not reach his eyes.
"Seventh Aunt, you're mistaken."
"My husband's favor with the emperor was earned by him risking his life on the battlefield and by his diligent service before His Majesty."
"It's not meant to be used to assign jobs to the children of the collateral branches of the Meng family."
With each word she spoke, Wang's expression grew increasingly grim.
"These cousins have no special skills, yet they dare to try to get ahead through connections. What about everyone else? What about our maternal grandfather?!"
"Official positions in the imperial court are vital to the nation, and should be held by the most capable."
"If someone has no talent whatsoever and only rises to a position through connections, then occupies that position without doing anything, or even acts recklessly, then they are merely occupying a position without contributing anything, and are parasites on the country."
"Such consequences are something that not only I, but the entire Duke Zhenguo Mansion, cannot bear."
"Seventh Aunt, do you think that makes sense?"
His words were well-reasoned, well-supported, and resounding.
Wang was so choked up that she couldn't speak for a long time, and her face turned as red as a pig's liver.
She was just a sheltered housewife with little knowledge, so how could she possibly win an argument with Meng Shilan?
Meng De'an's face also turned pale and then flushed.
He never expected that his niece, who had been wandering for many years, would be so sharp-tongued and merciless.
He took a deep breath, knowing that if he didn't show some sincerity today, he probably wouldn't get any benefit.
“My niece is right.”
He forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace.
"It was Seventh Uncle who was reckless."
"But we really have no other choice."
He started playing the victim.
"Your cousins, though not exactly pillars of society, have at least had a few years of schooling and know a few characters."
"We don't ask for high-ranking positions or generous salaries. We'd be content to work as clerks in some government office in the capital, or to find some low-ranking military post in some garrison to make a living."
He adopted an extremely humble attitude.
It was as if all they were asking for was a trivial job.
But everyone knows that.
There are no minor officials in the capital.
Behind each of them lies a complex and intertwined network of relationships.
Once you get through that door, you'll have plenty of opportunities to climb the ladder.
This plan was incredibly shrewd.
Meng Shilan picked up the tea, and the rising steam blurred the expression on her face.
The flower hall was eerily quiet.
Meng Ruoshui, who had been keeping her head down, quietly raised her eyes at this moment.
Her gaze swept quickly across Zhou Congxian's face.
Meng Shilan turned her gaze back to Meng De'an.
"Seventh Uncle".
"Since you've put it this way, it would be unreasonable for me to refuse."
Meng De'an and Wang's eyes lit up instantly.
There's a chance!
They knew that blood was thicker than water, and Meng Shilan dared not go too far!
Meng Shilan continued speaking.
"How about this?"
“I happen to own several shops, but I need an accountant.”
"If you don't mind, cousin, you can work as an accountant in the shop first. The monthly salary is set at five taels of silver. If you do well, the salary will be increased later."
Five taels of silver!
Meng Guangping's face twitched a few times.
Accounting office?!
They actually tried to fob them off with a mere accountant!
Meng Shilan seemed oblivious to his change in expression and continued speaking.
"As for my second cousin..."
She paused, her gaze falling on the rather robust-looking young man.
“My husband’s Yanwei camp had a few openings a few days ago.”
Upon hearing this, Meng De'an and Meng Guang'an's eyes immediately lit up like two lanterns!
Zhou Congxian's Yanwei Camp!
That's right under the emperor's nose, the face of the Duke of England's mansion!
Moreover, by following Zhou Congxian's side, how could he not have the opportunity to rise in the future?
"only……"
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