CHAPTER 337: CHAPTER 333 TALENT

Zhao Hanzhang made a regretful face, "Is it really so? She is so talented, I truly admire her. I have recently kept her by my side for training, and was even thinking of sending her to Pingyu County as the County Magistrate once she becomes familiar with things."

Sun Zhengyang and Zhao Qi widened their eyes.

Zhao Dong and Aunt Dong, who were sitting without moving, also widened their eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang, seemingly ignoring their reactions, continued to sigh, "I was also thinking, since Pingyu is right next to Yu Yang, Linghui could learn the ways of governance from Brother Kuan, and if her political performance remains stable in the future, she might even advance to the Governor Mansion."

Sun Zhengyang swallowed, looking at Zhao Qi.

Zhao Qi was also greatly moved. In truth, it is better for girls to get married, but if one can be a County Magistrate... delaying marriage for a few years is also feasible...

The couple exchanged a look, both falling silent, beginning to ponder how to deal with their parents upon returning home.

They didn’t want to agree, but the future Zhao Hanzhang laid out was incredibly grand.

In the end, Sun Zhengyang and Zhao Qi did not take Sun Linghui with them, but instead entrusted her to Zhao Dong and his wife, "Let her stay with Yunxin, the two sisters have always been close, they can talk with each other."

They didn’t dare to ask Zhao Hanzhang, as Zhao Hanzhang was her superior.

It was strange, even though Zhao Hanzhang and Sun Linghui were about the same age, likewise junior to the couple, and smiling warmly, just by sitting there, she exuded an aura that made them hesitant to act presumptuously, naturally not daring to ask her for favors regarding Sun Linghui’s care.

Zhao Dong was still a bit dazed, readily agreeing to the siblings’ request to take them out, and lingered at the door for quite a while before returning to himself, "Linghui... is going to be a County Magistrate too?"

Aunt Dong had stars in her eyes and nodded vigorously, "Indeed, our Zhao Family has produced another Lady County Magistrate, this time rightfully so!"

Zhao Dong mulled over it, shaking his head, "She’s not from our Zhao Family, it’ll count when your daughter becomes a County Magistrate."

Aunt Dong: ...

She felt her husband was right.

Thus, the couple placed their focus on Zhao Yunxin.

In an unprecedented turn, the two did not bring up her marriage matter again. Yet, Zhao Yunxin did not feel much better, soon planning with Sun Linghui to move out of Wu Castle and live in the county town.

The reason was: "With busy official duties, the city gate opens and closes at fixed times daily. If we work overtime, we can’t return home, but if we don’t work overtime, we can’t finish all the official duties on time, leading both the Prefectural Governor and our colleagues at the county government to criticize us."

Zhao Dong and Aunt Dong were now deeply concerned about their daughter’s official position and promotion, any obstacles in achieving this goal needed to be eliminated. Thus, they agreed and even offered money to purchase a small yard for her in the county town.

Zhao Yunxin refused because she found a place herself.

Fan Ying, wanting to be closer to her idol, generously invited Zhao Yunxin and Sun Linghui to live at her home, with the excuse that her house was too big and she needed to tidy up a courtyard for leasing.

Zhao Yunxin and Sun Linghui thought that living with colleagues was better since Fan Ying was also part of the Governor Mansion, working in the Household Department as Zhao Hanzhang’s secretary, so the two had frequent interactions with Fan Ying.

After many exchanges, being young girls with similar ambitions to create a career, they naturally had common topics, and thus they became friends.

Zhao Yunxin and Sun Linghui packed their possessions and with their personal maids, they moved into Fan Ying’s home. From then on, their commute to the county office became more convenient, as the three of them exerted effort together, directly rolling the male clerks in the county government into looking expressionless.

In the Wei Jin era, even the most diligent people had a certain carefree demeanor, valuing spontaneous behavior. People like these three, so disciplined and diligent seemed quite out of the ordinary...

Everyone wiped their faces, they did not want to conform, but whether it was affairs at the Governor Mansion or the county government, everything was interrelated.

The documents handled by Zhao Hanzhang were distributed by Sun Linghui to various departments, to be executed according to the text. She inquired twice a day, making a leisurely and procrastinating attitude impossible;

The documents reported from below, Zhao Yunxin would verify, also prompting urgency. If they wanted to work leisurely, they’d be nagged at:

Not in the same lane, mainly managing Yushan Hall and the school, Chen Si Niang was also driven by them to be more diligent, not to mention those who worked with them.

At this point, they finally saw the capability of the three, and no one dared to privately doubt that they entered through connections.

Of course, making them completely convinced was impossible; they believed they were also capable, although they had aptitude, their ability to stay by Zhao Hanzhang’s side was largely because they were women.

Zhao Hanzhang cared not for the undercurrents among her subordinates, she had received two visiting cards, presently happily turning in circles, "Wang Nai and Xie Shi are from the Wang Xie Family, them coming to enlist with me shows my current reputation."

Ji Yuan: "...Congratulations, Miss, yet these two are merely side branches of Wang Xie."

Zhao Hanzhang dismissively waved, "Regardless of whether they are side branches, they have their pride, it’s good that they’re willing to come."

Ji Yuan: "Does Miss intend to use them?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Wait till they pass the exam. I’ll hold another recruitment exam on the fifteenth of next month, and coincidentally, many people have entered the city lately. Maybe among them, there are hidden talents."

Ji Yuan pretended not to hear the latter part to avoid snapping at Miss, he asked, "Miss values these two so much, why not directly recruit them to show importance."

"Who said I valued them?" Zhao Hanzhang looked at Ji Yuan surprisedly, explaining to him, "I value the significance of their choice to represent me, as for whether they are usable, it’s a matter for afterward."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "If it were someone like Wang Yan, no matter how talented, I wouldn’t use them either."

Ji Yuan did not expect her to be so prudent in selecting talent. Generally, encountering someone from the Wang Xie Family wanting to enlist, who wouldn’t enthusiastically welcome it?

Zhao Hanzhang put down the two cards, smilingly explained to Ji Yuan, "I won’t go see them, lest outsiders suspect the fairness of the exam. Mr. Ji, please go meet them, tell them if they’re interested, see them at the exam on the fifteenth of next month."

"This..." Ji Yuan was a bit worried, "Only fear they might be proud and unruly, Miss having them take an exam alongside common folk might be misunderstood as an insult..."

Zhao Hanzhang said seriously, "Sir, do not forget, the Recruitment Order states the desire for people with a common goal for the well-being of the populace. If they cannot work together with common folk, how can they claim to love the people?"

Ji Yuan agreed upon hearing this, promptly took the card to meet Wang Nai and Xie Shi.

Not seeing Zhao Hanzhang, the two were not disappointed. Learning the need for an exam to enter the Governor Mansion, they were not angry, readily agreed, then turned and went to Zhao’s Fortress to ask Zhao Ming for housing.

Knowing the two’s arrival, Zhao Ming quickly greeted them outside the gate and invited them in.