Zhao Junchen's residence in the capital is known as "Zhao Mansion". Not to mention how extravagant and luxurious the decoration is, it covers an area of more than 200 acres and is still being expanded.
Such a large mansion naturally requires a lot of manpower to take care of it.
In fact, in the Zhao Mansion now, there are only ordinary female and male servants, each with about a hundred people. There are also gardeners, cooks, doormen, accountants, guards, stewards and other positions, each with their own positions.
It ranges from more than ten people to dozens of people.
Adding all these people together, the total population of Zhao Mansion is probably three to four hundred!
But because Zhao Junchen was busy with many things, only a few of the three to four hundred people could remember their names and faces.
Among them, Su Xiqing, as an ordinary accountant in Zhao Mansion, left an impression on Zhao Junchen because he followed Zhao Junchen to Lu'an Mansion to provide disaster relief. This was already a big impression on other servants in Zhao Mansion.
A very rare honor.
However, Su Xiqing himself was not satisfied with this.
Everyone has their own ambitions, and the same is true for Su Xiqing. He was born in a Shaoxing master and felt that his ambitions were not big - he just wanted to become an aide and adviser to a high-ranking official in the court, and then be favored by his master.
With their attention and trust, you can show your talents and realize your ambitions, nothing more.
Although the accountant can control the amount and flow of some confidential money, and can be regarded as a close confidant in the government, his status and the level of attention are compared with those of the government staff who can advise the family and even participate in political affairs.
, after all, it is still far from enough.
It's a pity that Su Xiqing has neither personal connections nor rare opportunities. In addition, due to some slanders, he has encountered obstacles in recent years. Even the most ordinary seventh-grade county magistrate can't look down on him. It's not easy.
She became Zhao Junchen's family member, but could only hold the post of accountant, which made Su Xiqing feel that she was overqualified.
Therefore, after being summoned by Zhao Junchen and before entering Zhao Junchen's study, Su Xiqing felt quite uneasy and excited.
Su Xiqing, who got some news from Chu Jiayi, felt that this was her chance!
An opportunity to show off your talent and attract Zhao Junchen’s attention!
However, perhaps because of the obstacles she encountered in the past few years, Su Xiqing's self-confidence and arrogance when she was young had long been completely wiped out.
Now, when Su Xiqing followed Chu Jiayi into the study, she looked up secretly and saw Zhao Junchen looking at her with bright eyes. Although his expression was dull, he had a dignified and majestic temperament that was intimidating—
- Thinking again that Zhao Junchen is now the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Minister in charge of the internal transportation warehouse, and the Superintendent of the West Factory. He has a high and powerful position. He is one of the few powerful officials in the court, but he himself is just someone who no one wants to use.
Master Xiu, Su Xiqing, who was originally full of thoughts, suddenly became nervous!
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At the same time, in the study, Zhao Junchen looked at Su Xiqing in front of him. A trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
There is really nothing about Su Xiqing's appearance and temperament that makes people shine.
Thin body, sharp mouth, monkey cheeks, rat whiskers and eyes... Putting aside these things, just looking at Su Xiqing's wandering eyes and nervous expression at this time, but trying to pretend to be calm and composed, one can tell that although this person is eager to express himself, but
Deep down, I don't have any confidence.
How can a person who has no confidence in himself convince others of his abilities?
"Speaking of which, you have been in the mansion for two or three years, right?" After looking around, seeing Su Xiqing just standing silently in front of him, Zhao Junchen suddenly said: "You are an old man in the mansion, what is my temper?
After thinking about it, I have some understanding, so there is no need to be nervous. I want to ask you something, so just tell the truth."
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen speak, Su Xiqing trembled slightly, then remembered that she had not saluted Zhao Junchen, so she hurriedly bowed and said: "Su Xiqing has met the master... Oh, no, Su Xiqing has met the minister."
.”
Generally speaking, only those servants in the mansion would call Zhao Junchen "Master". As the accountant in the Zhao Mansion, Su Xiqing only had an employment relationship with the Zhao Mansion, so she should call Zhao Junchen "Your Excellency".
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Seeing Su Xiqing's panic and even the wrong title, Zhao Junchen secretly shook his head again, frowned slightly and said: "We are all our own people, so there is no need to be polite... I remember that you followed me to Lu'an Mansion for disaster relief.
He also reported the accounts, money and food to me in person, and he behaved quite competently and shrewdly at that time, but he was never so flustered. Why are you so out of your mind today?"
Hearing Zhao Junchen's question, Su Xiqing couldn't help but be slightly startled.
Indeed, when Su Xiqing followed Zhao Junchen to Lu'an Mansion, he helped Zhao Junchen take care of the money and food accounts. He was also summoned by Zhao Junchen and asked about the accounts. They had a chance encounter. Now that they meet again, it shouldn't be like this.
It's okay to panic.
Su Xiqing didn't know that when he was in Lu'an Mansion, Zhao Junchen had just arrived in this era, and he had not yet adapted to the new identity and environment, and he had no official aura, so he could still cope with it easily.
But today, Zhao Junchen has adapted to his status and identity. As the saying goes, "living in the qi and nourishing the body" is already different from the past. Although he does not deliberately put on airs at this time, there is something about his movements.
The aura of being a person who has been above others for a long time is awe-inspiring - after Su Xiqing entered the study just now, Zhao Junchen only took a look at it, causing Su Xiqing to be in a dilemma and panicked inexplicably.
However, Su Xiqing was in the middle of the game now and did not understand the reason. After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, Nono did not dare to say anything.
Sighing secretly, Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly, with some disappointment, and asked again: "I summoned you to meet this time because I heard that you were once a Shaoxing master and you are also good at this. But is this the case?"
After such a period of buffering, and seeing that Zhao Junchen had no intention of blaming him, Su Xiqing finally calmed down a little. In order to save the impression, he quickly replied: "Sir, I am indeed from Shaoxing. Among my ancestors, I am from Shaoxing."
, although there was once a fellow Jinshi who was from a scholarly family, but it has long since declined. Therefore, starting from my great-grandfather, he was forced to make a living and relied on his proficiency in writing and books. From then on, he either served as a master in the local government or as a scholar.
I have been serving as a retainer and aide in an official's mansion for five generations. Although I dare not say that I am proficient in this way now, this way can be regarded as my ancestral career."
Having said this, a hint of pride and confidence finally flashed across Su Xiqing's expression.
Zhao Junchen raised his eyebrows slightly, a little surprised by Su Xiqing's family background, and asked: "Oh? Since you have such qualifications, why didn't you continue and could only serve as the accountant in my house? Isn't it a derogation of your talents? I'm afraid.
...Is there any deeper reason behind this?"
Unexpectedly, Zhao Junchen would ask such a question. Su Xiqing's expression couldn't help but change, and she looked even more panicked.
But after hesitating for a moment, Su Xiqing finally decided to tell the truth and said with a wry smile: "Originally, although Master's profession is not very noble, it can be regarded as a good thing for food and drink. Naturally, I want to inherit the ancestral business and continue to work. However, when it comes to my father's generation,
But bad luck happened. My father assisted three local officials in succession. However, due to various reasons, those three local officials were dismissed from office or imprisoned for various reasons. Then there was a rumor that my father was ordered to serve as the master.
', and then no official dared to recruit my father as an aide or master."
"What does that have to do with you?" Zhao Junchen continued to ask.
Su Xiqing gritted her teeth and continued: "After my father retired, he had high hopes for the villain and taught him carefully. He wanted to help the villain revitalize the family business. However, after the villain left the army, he just assisted a county magistrate.
Within a month, the county magistrate was dismissed for offending the superior. Coupled with the rumors of my father's "King Master", everyone thought that the same was true for villains, and no one would dare to hire villains as masters from now on.
Or a staff member. Although he recommended himself everywhere, he only encountered obstacles everywhere.
In desperation, the villain had no choice but to stay away from his hometown and come to the capital to find a way out. However, he did not expect that some fellow villagers in the capital knew about this situation. Following what others said, no one even the officials in the capital dared to hire the villain.
I had no choice but to give up this ancestral profession for the time being, and relying on my proficiency in arithmetic, I found a position as an accountant in your residence."
Having said this, Su Xiqing looked up at Zhao Junchen cautiously, with a look of fear, fearing that Zhao Junchen would kick him out of the Zhao Mansion because of the rumors about his "killer" - in this era, the "killer"
Most officials are still very affected by such illusory remarks.
However, to Su Xiqing's surprise, Zhao Junchen didn't care about this, but looked at him with interest.
…………
"It seems that this Su Xiqing is not as useless as he thought. It's just that his fate has been wasted in these years. He has suffered many setbacks and has already lost confidence in himself. Therefore, after seeing himself, he will feel a little hopeful.
, that’s why we’re so stuck..."
While thinking about it secretly, Zhao Junchen nodded slightly and finally had some expectations for Su Xiqing.
Next, Zhao Junchen began to ask Su Xiqing some knowledge needed by his staff or master. He saw that Su Xiqing was a little slow at first, but gradually he responded fluently. Apparently, he had not lost his ancestral skills.
In response, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but nodded secretly.
However, just knowing these things is far from meeting Zhao Junchen's requirements for his staff.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen changed the topic and asked again: "Do you know the purpose of summoning you this time?"
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PS: Something happened to my family, and there are unforeseen circumstances, but in the end everything will be fine! Hey!