Chapter 660 - Chapter 660: Little Bear’s Use
Chapter 660: Little Bear’s Use
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling perked up and said, “Talents can be nurtured slowly, while one can’t postpone prioritizing their health. Don’t you have two days of rest every ten days? The day after tomorrow will be your rest day, right? Why don’t we go to Little Lotus Seed Mountain to play? We can fly kites.”
Fan Zijin pursed his lips and said, “Not interested.”
However, Qi Haoran waved his hand. “Let’s go and protect Ah Ling and Cousin-in-law. It’s settled.”
Fan Zijin opened his eyes and glanced at them. He frowned, feeling a little displeased. How many matters would be delayed if they went to play for two days?
However, Qi Haoran was swift and decisive. After Imperial Physician Wang’s diagnosis, although Fan Zijin had taken note of it, he was still busy with work and could not find time to recuperate. Ah Ling’s suggestion came at just the right time.
Seeing that the couple was looking at him eagerly, Fan Zijin could only nod in agreement.
In the afternoon, Yanmo and Xiaoting came to report. When Yanmo saw Xiao Ting, he smiled and gestured for him to go first.
Xiao Ting pursed his lips and said, “Please go ahead first. I’ll report to Her Highness later.”
Beaming, Yanmo said to the three masters, “Everyone has been registered. A total of 58 people have passed the three stewards’ preliminary examination. I’ve already gotten someone to investigate their background and see if they’re clean. After confirming the name list, I’ll report to Your Highness again.”
Fan Zijin nodded slightly and looked at Xiao Ting, who pouted and said, “Your Highnesses, only one person signed up with us. He’s already signed the contract.”
Fan Zijin asked curiously, “Who is that person? Why does he want to sign this contract?”
“That person is even a tongsheng and is quite good at settling accounts. Because his family is poor, he has no way out. But still, he wants to take the xiucai or juren examination, so he doesn’t want to sell himself as a slave. I told him that he only needs to sign an employment contract and not sell himself away as a slave, so he decided to give it a try. Teacher tested him seriously and said that he’s quite capable. Although his character isn’t good, he should be of use.”
“Why do you say that he doesn’t have a good character?” Mu Yangling asked curiously.
Fan Zijin said, “Isn’t it obvious? His family doesn’t have any spare capital, but he still wishes to take the Imperial Examination. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s fine if he can rely on himself to accumulate money or find a sponsor, but he wants to take a shortcut through you. A family like ours has always only bought servants and doesn’t hire non-slaves. Though he’s just an assistant shopkeeper and accountant, he has lofty aspirations. Doesn’t that go to show that he is biting off more than he can chew, is scheming, and has a bad character?”
“Erm, this is just your conjecture, right?”
Fan Zijin snorted and said angrily, “You think that I’m scheming, so I’m judging others with my petty heart? Then ask the upright gentleman, Qi Haoran.”
Mu Yangling turned around to look at him. Qi Haoran touched his nose and said, “Zijin is right. Ah Ling, you’re too kind-hearted.”
“You might as well just say that I’m stupid.”
Fan Zijin, who had wanted to speak, clapped his hands. “Good answer.” He turned to look at Qi Haoran. “See, she doesn’t appreciate it. She’s neither truly stupid nor extremely intelligent. Why do you have to keep her so sheltered?”
Annoyed by the two of them, Qi Haoran sat beside Mu Yangling and hugged her shoulders tightly. He said to Fan Zijin, “I’m happy to dote on her. What can you do about it?”
Mu Yangling immediately aimed her gun at Fan Zijin. “That’s right. We’re a loving couple. What can you do about it?”
Made speechless by the two of them, Fan Zijin clutched his chest and shouted, “My heart aches…”
“Then don’t go to the military camp tomorrow. Rest well at home.”
Fan Zijin instantly put down his hand and snorted as he enjoyed the fruits on the table.
Mu Yangling sighed when she saw this. What a good employee of the century. In her previous life, she had seen people who tried to avoid work and skip work. This was the first time she had seen someone who refused to skip work no matter what.
Fan Zijin got someone to arrange for the recruitment and said to Mu Yangling, “Do you want me to help you train the tongsheng you recruited? You can’t just directly put him in the shop, right?”
Mu Yangling agreed without thinking and said, “Alright, I’ll get Xiaoting to bring him over.”
In any case, half of the stewards in her shop came from Fan Zijin, so she was not very good at training stewards in this aspect.
Fan Zijin smiled and asked Yanmo to fetch him.
Qi Haoran helped Mu Yangling into the carriage and rode back side by side with Fan Zijin. When they reached the entrance of the residence, he patted his shoulder and said, “Leave the investigation to me. Help me keep an eye on that Lan Ling.”
Lan Ling was the tongsheng who came to seek employment with Mu Yangling.
Fan Zijin glanced at the carriage that had already entered the residence and nodded. “I know. Don’t worry. There are too many people at my place and it’s messy. You have to help me investigate clearly and not let the spies in. The Ministry of Revenue is still counting on my money to save them.”
“Since today’s recruitment was suddenly announced, those people with ill intentions might not have made it in time.”
“That might not be the case.” Fan Zijin sneered and said, “There are many people monitoring outside our residence. If we can make a last-minute move, how can we know that they can’t?”
Qi Haoran promised that he would definitely investigate thoroughly. Fan Zijin sighed and said, “I hope that the recruitment of talents this time will indeed reduce my burden and not increase my workload.”
Seeing Qi Haoran look at his body with worry in his eyes, Fan Zijin reached out and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m still young. I can slowly recuperate in a few years’ time.”
Qi Haoran lowered his eyes and remained silent.
At this, Fan Zijin waved his hand and rode back home.
Qi Haoran did not say a word in front of Mu Yangling. He only talked about the outing the day after tomorrow and asked her to arrange it so that Zijin could take the chance to relax and recuperate.
Mu Yangling patted her chest and promised to complete the mission.
Fan Zijin was also her friend. Ever since she found out that his health had deteriorated to the point where it was affecting his lifespan, she had been thinking about how to help him recuperate.
First of all, the dishes that he liked to eat at noon every day were replaced with the medicinal cuisine prescribed by Imperial Physician Wang. Although the cook was already working very hard, the medicinal taste in the medicinal cuisine still could not be completely removed.
For the sake of his appetite, the considerate Mu Yangling formulated a strategy of alternating two days of medicinal cuisine with one day of his favorite dishes. Yesterday, Imperial Physician Wang had just checked his pulse and did not see any effect.
Secondly, Mu Yangling asked Qi Haoran to bring Little Bear next door to play with Fan Zijin after he returned. This way, he would be forced to stop working upon returning to the residence. By the time Little Bear fell asleep, Fan Zijin would have lost the mood to work.
From the looks of it, the effect of this strategy was quite good. This was because according to Imperial Physician Wang’s pulse diagnosis, the conclusion he came to was that the duke’s depression seemed to have dissipated quite a bit.
Qi Haoran’s guess was that this was all thanks to the brat, Little Bear. Anyone would be annoyed after having a brat mess around in their study. These feelings of annoyance and joy would naturally dissipate the depression in one’s heart a little.
It couldn’t be helped. His son was so smart and adorable. Although he was a little annoying when he made a fuss, he was still very likable most of the time. At least, Fan Zijin smiled more obviously during the few days when Little Bear was with him, and he appeared visibly happier.
Most importantly, because Little Bear had occupied the time he would otherwise use to work, Fan Zijin had no choice but to hand over more work to his subordinates to squeeze them dry. Therefore, although he was still busy, his working hours had decreased quite a bit.