Chapter 85

"Master Xu?" The visitor's expression changed from joy to gloom in just three breaths. "May I ask, sir county magistrate, where does this Master Xu come from?"

Who was this bold and reckless person daring to compete with the Wang family of the prefectural city?

Yet the new county magistrate was unafraid. He slowly replied, "He is an outstanding young scholar I discovered in the county, with refined literary talent and astute intelligence. He is exceptionally well-suited to be this official's teacher."

"Is that so?" The visitor raised a document. "But this Master Xu does not seem to wish to accompany you. He hasn't even pressed his seal."

In the Great Yu Dynasty, all documents and contracts required a handprint seal to be validated by the government.

This document only had handwriting, with no seal or red official stamp. Clearly it was not yet in effect.

The new county magistrate's expression fell.

He had not actually recruited Xu Mo, as he was still unsure whether to disturb the brothers. But now it seemed he had no choice.

"Wang Xi, go invite Master Xu. Just say we talked late into the night and overlooked the final step." The new county magistrate spoke coldly.

Wang Xi's scalp tingled. Realizing the county magistrate was serious, he quickly took some clerks to "invite" Xu Mo, who was teaching at the school. Outside the county government office.

Xu Mo, dressed in plain linen robes, grasped a book in one hand and frowned at the scene before him.

"Master Xu is here," the new county magistrate's face creased into smiles on seeing him. "We talked late into the night last night. The more I thought about it, the more I felt you were the most suitable to be Xieyang County's teacher. I'm sure Master Xu would also be willing to seek prosperity for the common people and transformation for the county."

Xu Mo: "..."

Although he was quite clever, this was too much of a test.

Since when was the county magistrate so familiar with him?

"This official's word is ironclad. Master Xu, as long as you press your seal on this document, your affairs will become this official's affairs from now on," the new county magistrate continued his assurances, eyes twitching.

Xu Mo remained silent.

He already roughly knew what this was about, but without knowing the document's contents, the scholarly youth cautiously could not randomly affix his seal.

The new county magistrate was clever enough to hand Xu Mo the document, then pressed his palms together pleadingly. Xu Mo briefly skimmed the contents.

It said he was fair and wise, suited to be Xieyang County's teacher, with 100 taels of silver as an annual salary...

Wait, 100 taels of silver.

Xu Mo was startled, recalling Jiang Sheng's small money box that Fang Heng had emptied. She had seemed a bit depressed these past days. If 100 taels of silver entered the account, she would surely smile again.

He closed the document without further hesitation. "Do you have seal paste?"

Wang Xi's eyes flashed as he promptly presented it.

Xu Mo lightly dipped his thumb and pressed his fingerprint onto the document.

The new county magistrate's face lit up with joy. From his robes he took out the official seal of the Xieyang County magistrate and stamped it with a "crack", completing this bright journey.

The visitor's face had turned black as charcoal.

He had seen refusal, but never such tactful refusal. To actually hire a new teacher right in front of him!

"Bian Wenxuan, you've gone too far!" He directly addressed the new county magistrate by name. "We're relatives!"

Distant by ten thousand miles, in-laws of in-laws and cousins of cousins, relatives unable to weep at each other's funerals.

Bian Wenxuan rolled his eyes. He also began to directly address the other. "Sun Quanzhu, this official already has a teacher. Can't you see?"

"You..." Sun Quanzhu nearly choked. "On what basis does this man qualify?"

His meaning was, on what basis could Xu Mo contend with the Wang family? That was the prefectural city's Wangs, in-laws of the Fengjing Fangs, an absolute great household.

But to Bian Wenxuan's ears, it became what made Xu Mo so outstanding. "Have you ever seen a 12-year-old prodigy, Master Sun? You, Sun Quanzhu, studied for over thirty years to just become a novice student. How can you compare to Master Xu?"

Sun Quanzhu retreated two steps, clutching his chest, rendered entirely speechless.

This man was too unreasonable to communicate with.

"Fine, fine." He ground his teeth. "So you're determined to oppose the Wangs? Don't forget the young Miss Wang your Bian family has!"

Xu Mo sharply raised his eyes.

Bian Wenxuan suppressed his laughter. "I can't help it. Who made Master Xu so outstanding? Next time, send a prodigy or better yet, a successful graduate. I will certainly give the Wangs this face."

Sun Quanzhu: "..."

What successful graduate would abandon his post to become a teacher in some insignificant county! Knowing he had no prospect, Sun Quanzhu said no more. Clutching his chest, he left.

The tense atmosphere outside the county office dissipated into tranquility and joy. The surrounding onlookers were also dispersed.

Under everyone's gaze, Xu Mo looked left and right, then softly sighed.

If it were somewhere else, he would never have agreed to divide his focus as a teacher.

But this was Xieyang County—the city his parents had loved so sincerely, the hometown thousands of miles away that still lingered in their dreams, the land where he and his siblings had reunited.

"I cannot always be Xieyang County's teacher." Xu Mo raised his head and gently said, "But before I leave for the examinations, I will do my utmost for Xieyang County's common folk."

"Also, the allowance in the document cannot be reduced."

Having spoken, Xu Mo calmly took his leave. Though not yet fully grown, he was tall and straight as jade, still a youthful grace yet with dignified composure, talent and aloofness in harmony.

Bian Wenxuan watched in a daze before recovering his wits. He bared his teeth in an awkward grin. "This official is truly brilliant, not only tactfully refusing the Wangs' man, but also successfully recruiting such an outstanding teacher."

Wang Xi opened his mouth slightly. "Everything today was within sir's plans?"

Oh my, since when was sir so clever?

Bian Wenxuan stroked his smooth chin without replying, swaggering with satisfaction back into the county office.

That night.

In the small courtyard.

Jiang Sheng and her four brothers asked in unison, "What? Eldest Brother is going to be Xieyang County's teacher?"

Faced with five pairs of bright eyes, Xu Mo lightly nodded.

Then the courtyard erupted into chaos.

There was joy and worry, disbelief and frank delight.

"Eldest Brother is amazing. He'll be Xieyang County's parent official from now on!" Jiang Sheng did not know the difference between a teacher and magistrate, gazing up admiringly.

Fang Heng was more concerned. "Eldest Brother still needs to take the provincial examinations to become a successful graduate. Being a teacher might hinder his studies, not worth the price."

Chang Yan thought even deeper. "The county magistrate recruiting Eldest Brother in front of the Wangs will likely bring more retaliation."

Only Zheng Ruqian rejoiced unrestrainedly, stamping his feet. "Wonderful, wonderful! We can finally collude between officials and businessmen!"

Second Brother always had a way with words to attract everyone's attention.

Amidst the clamor as the others denounced him, Wen Zhiyun quietly turned away into the silent streets, lost in thought.