CHAPTER 333: CHAPTER 327: CHOOSING THE MIDDLE

Ji Yuan: "...Does Miss not look at the official document she wrote at the back?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at it indifferently and said, "She’s never dealt with official documents before, but it’s not a big deal. We can teach her slowly once she’s by our side."

"Thought is crucial. For her to have such insight shows she’s a clever person, and definitely a kindred spirit worth employing." Zhao Hanzhang paused and then added, "Essential!"

"How many renowned scholars in the world lack her insight," Zhao Hanzhang handed the scroll to Fu Tinghan, "What do you think?"

Fu Tinghan scanned the scroll, nodding, "Indeed."

Zhao Yunxin’s example of an official document was written excellently. Zhao Hanzhang noticed the familiar style and raised an eyebrow, "Yunxin’s document is quite in the style of her brother."

Ji Yuan chuckled and said, "Zhao Kuan is quite adequate as a County Magistrate. Yu Yang is now stable, after all, he’s young, with lively thoughts. He directly retained quite a few merchants passing through Yu Yang. Now, many merchants purchase glassware and paper in Yu Yang, dispersing the ones from Shangcai and Xiping."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind, whether it’s Yu Yang, Shangcai, or Xiping, aren’t they all her territory?

The third son is also a son, as long as he robs fairly and openly, without using shady methods, she, as an old mother, will turn a blind eye,

so Zhao Hanzhang said, "If Chang Ning and County Magistrate Chai have the ability, they can snatch people back."

Ji Yuan: "County Magistrate Chang would be heartbroken hearing this."

Zhao Hanzhang pretended not to hear, seriously reviewing the articles in hand.

In the end, they only selected twelve people, but this was just the first hurdle. Perhaps those cast aside might perform well later and come out again?

The afternoon’s subject was all about legal matters, selected by Ji Yuan and Zhao Hanzhang from cases in various counties under their jurisdiction from the past six months.

If the candidates were County Magistrates, how would they adjudicate?

Really... there were a wide variety of answers.

A person’s incredibly large paper only had a few words, "Such a villain, kill them!"

Three cases, three unified answers.

Zhao Hanzhang almost laughed tears, then under Ji Yuan’s worried gaze, tossed his paper into the second basket, "No matter how he answers later questions, useless!"

Ji Yuan silently breathed a sigh of relief, nodding.

The next day’s exam was on mathematics, which Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan insisted on increasing in volume.

Fu Tinghan personally crafted the questions, asking them to calculate land acreage, taxes, the length of labor segments, and the number of laborers, etc.

The exam lasted two hours, that is, four hours.

These were the simplest questions. Fu Tinghan thought, if they at least had a primary school diploma, they should be able to solve these problems.

But the vast majority of people left the exam with dizzy heads, faces even blanker than yesterday’s.

Even the always confident Zhao Yunxin was silent for a moment, saying to Sun Linghui, "Cousin, I’m still young, can return next year, but you..."

She was somewhat worried, "Won’t you be betrothed next year?"

Sun Linghui was not bothered, "No matter. If I don’t pass this year, I’ll fall ill during the New Year, who knows if Zhao County Governor will issue a Recruitment Order next year?"

Zhao Yunxin turned her eyes and said, "Wait, I’ll ask my brother."

Zhao Kuan knows nothing, moreover, he’s in Yu Yang, asking him is less useful than asking Fan Ying and Chen Si Niang. He replied to his sister, "Aren’t you close with them? They are more favored by Third Sister, so if you need to ask, ask them instead of me."

But they’re friends, how could one ask such things from them?

It’s better to ask my brother, no need to be too formal with family.

Zhao Yunxin didn’t expect her big brother to be so ineffective, grumbling as she folded the letter, becoming increasingly troubled about how to ask Sister Fan Ying.

Just as she was pondering, Zhao Yunying and Sun Linghui rushed in, shouting loudly to Zhao Yunxin sitting by the window, "Yunxin, we got selected!"

Zhao Yunxin’s eyes shone brightly, threw the letter aside, jumped up and asked, "Really?"

Sun Linghui nodded vigorously, "Definitely true, I saw it myself. Our names are on the list."

Zhao Yunxin excitedly spun in circles and finally couldn’t help but hug the two, shouting, "We actually got selected, how did the list come down so quickly, I thought it would take several days more."

Sun Linghui: "I thought so too, but today while Cousin and I were dining in a county restaurant, we heard the government official downstairs beating drums and shouting that the Recruitment List was out. Cousin and I ran to check, and I immediately saw your name on the announcement board, right in the center."

Zhao Yunxin smiled so broadly her eyes squinted, "What about you, Cousin, where is your name?"

Sun Linghui grinned, "I’m above your left."

Beside them, Zhao Yunying said, "She’s first, and you’re eighth. This time, a total of sixteen were selected."

Zhao Yunxin: ...

But she paused briefly before hugging Sun Linghui again, delighted, "Wonderful, now we’re colleagues."

Sun Linghui bowed to her, "Greetings, colleague."

Zhao Yunxin quickly stepped back, also bowing to her, "Greetings, colleague."

With bent waist, the two raised their eyes to glance at each other, instantly laughing together.

Beside them, Zhao Yunying envied them deeply, feeling sour inside, "You two are very lucky."

Zhao Yunxin hesitated and then said, "Sister, why don’t you talk to mother and also take the exam? With your knowledge, you surely would get in too."

Zhao Yunying shook her head, "I’m already married, if I were to take the exams, I should first ask my husband’s family, not mother."

Her mood was somewhat low, "But the Qian Family would not agree."

She sighed, "Because I previously went to the academy, the Qian Family had many objections, but due to the influence of our family, they silently endured. Being able to stay in Xiping to teach at the academy is already quite good, cannot be too greedy."

Zhao Yunxin snorted, "The Qian Family doesn’t need sister to handle chores alone; what harm in coming out to teach and become an official?"

Sun Linghui said, "Life is fleeting; one should live pleasingly. Although serving in office isn’t necessarily joyful, at least it’s something you want to do."

Zhao Yunying gave a wry smile, not as carefree as Sun Linghui, who said she wanted to take office and immediately copied the Recruitment Order, promptly running to Xiping to take the exam.

She lamented, "You’re truly bold!"

The tone encompassed her unspeakable envy.

At this time, Mrs. Wang was also observing Zhao Hanzhang eating noodles with her head down, sighing, "You’re truly bold..."

Zhao Hanzhang looked up and gave her a slight smile.

Mrs. Wang silently watched her. She had great confidence in her daughter but hadn’t expected her to accomplish so much, not only becoming a County Governor but also widely issuing a Recruitment Order. "I heard that even the court knows about your Recruitment Order now."