Chapter 125 I Want to Take Leave
Back in Ten Thousand Affairs Hall.
"So why are you still here for work?"
Su Yanjun was unhappy after learning that Liu Sheng was going to participate in the Examination, and even the osmanthus candy Liu Sheng gave her tasted a bit bitter.
"There's a lot to handle when I get back!"
"For example, I still need to tell Yuan Zheng Fang," Liu Sheng counted them one by one, first remembering this important matter.
Su Yanjun nodded, "That's true, it's best to ask for some more benefits!"
Liu Sheng was dumbfounded when she heard this, then nodded vigorously.
It seems Su Yanjun is quite skilled at taking advantage of her aunt's brother-in-law.
But besides Lingtual, I can't think of anything else I want, such is my damn simple preference.
"Also, don't I need to inform the records office? I heard I can take a leave for the Examination? I also heard there will be a subsidy."
Liu Sheng wasn't quite clear about this, as she had never thought she would one day need to take a leave for the Examination.
"To take a leave for the Examination, you first need an Examination permit, proving you've registered for this year's imperial Examination. Why don't you take a half-day leave, and I'll take you to the prefectural yamen's rites office to register and get your Examination permit."
"You seem to know a lot about this," Liu Sheng said.
"Of course, I've already taken who knows how many days of leave for the Examination," Gao Yisheng said proudly, "And this Examination leave is calculated by the day. The fewer days you take, the more subsidy you get, so I always take it every few days. That way, I don't delay my studies and can get as much money as possible."
"However, there's less than a month until the Examination now. Although I don't know your situation, I imagine you haven't studied much since you were admitted to the Weaving Institute. I suggest you don't be greedy for that bit of silver and just take the full leave."
Gao Yisheng's advice was indeed sound. Liu Sheng really needed time to pick up those subjects again.
What's more, if she didn't have to work, it was certainly better not to!
Now, Liu Sheng wasn't short on three Lingtual.
"Come on, come on, you can't delay. I'll wait for you here. You go handle your business first. Then we'll go to the prefectural yamen together, and we can pass by my house on the way so I can get you the books."
Gao Yisheng truly lived up to his reputation as the favorite guest of the aunties and grandmas in Ten Thousand Affairs Hall.
"Warm-hearted and chivalrous in action."
This was their evaluation of him.
Actually, a lot of the time he was just bored sitting around.
In any case, Liu Sheng was urged by him, so she quickly slipped away to find Yuan Zheng Fang first.
Yuan Zheng Fang had agreed with Liu Sheng yesterday that he would hear her reply today, so Liu Sheng had originally thought he would be there.
However, she found the place empty.
Zhao Bo said that Yuan Zheng Fang had left for an important discussion and that if Liu Sheng was convenient, she could wait there and drink tea.
But when asked how long she would have to wait, he replied that the return date was uncertain.
Liu Sheng certainly didn't want to wait any longer; as Gao Yisheng had said, her time couldn't be delayed either.
So she ran to the records office to ask for leave from the grumpy-faced scribe.
"You've been taking too much leave lately. Have you finished your work? Or do you not want to do it anymore?"
Isn't that the truth?
Liu Sheng gave a few perfunctory replies, then returned to Ten Thousand Affairs Hall to find Gao Yisheng.
"Oh, right, I heard my aunt say that Yuan Zheng Fang has been going to the prefectural yamen for discussions recently. Perhaps you'll meet him there," Su Yanjun recalled after hearing what Liu Sheng said. "I don't know what's been going on lately, but I heard the higher-ups are all extremely busy, having discussions every day."
...
As it turned out, Liu Sheng did indeed see Yuan Zheng Fang at the prefectural yamen.
She had just come out of the rites office after registering with Gao Yisheng.
The so-called registration was essentially presenting one's identification to the scribe for a scan. After confirming the identity was correct, they would be asked to go to an adjacent room for a cultivation test.
For Liu Sheng, who had just been tested that morning, this test was naturally stress-free.
If one's cultivation met the requirements, they could be registered in the jade scroll, confirming their participation in the current imperial Examination, and receive an Examination permit. This permit would list information such as name, native place, age, graduating academy, and cultivation Rank.
This Examination permit looked like a thin piece of paper, but its material was special; it couldn't be burned or soaked, nor could ordinary ink be used to write on it. This was to prevent anyone from altering information or impersonating someone else to take the test.
It was said that once, during a fire in an Examination hall, everything was burned away, but the Examination permits remained intact.
Liu Sheng curiously looked at her freshly issued Examination permit when she heard a voice call out, "Miss Liu."
Lately, it seemed only Yuan Zheng Fang called her that.
Sure enough, Yuan Zheng Fang and several middle-aged men stood in front.
You can tell they're officials.
From their bellies, right?
Liu Sheng forced her eyes not to look down and responded, "Yuan Zheng Fang."
Yuan Zheng Fang showed a kindly smile, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me at the Weaving Institute? How did you end up here? Haha, you're truly impatient."
"Come quickly and meet Chen Zhifu, He Tongpan, Ye Tuiguan, and Zhang Zhubu." He raised his hand, beckoning Liu Sheng over.
Liu Sheng couldn't really tell who was who among these middle-aged men, but she still obediently stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully greeted these officials from the prefectural yamen.
Beside Yuan Zheng Fang was another man, thin and small, also wearing a Weaving Institute waist token. Liu Sheng guessed this person was Yuan Zheng Fang's deputy, Liao Yuanpan.
Then, this person also spoke up, "You must be the Liu Sheng that Yuan Zheng Fang spoke of? He said you are a rare talent! My surname is Liao, and I hold the position of Yuanpan in the Weaving Institute. I don't believe we've met before; it's good to make your acquaintance today."
Liu Sheng also bowed to him.
Chen Zhifu and the others were somewhat curious upon hearing Liao Yuanpan's words.
"Who is this young lady?" He Tongpan asked first.
"This is our Weaving Institute's... Liu Sheng." When mentioning Liu Sheng's position, Yuan Zheng Fang still vaguely passed over it. "She is very impressive; the June issue of 'cultivation theory,' the first article is hers."
"That's the article the Emperor praised endlessly, about the analysis of weird objects." Ye Tuiguan, who was in charge of judicial affairs and had considerable research on strange cases, immediately had his eyes light up. "I remember, the name is 'Breadth and Depth: Research on Technical Improvements for weird objects Analysis Instruments.'"
Chen Zhifu and the others instantly understood.
"This is a rare talent! Old Fang, you're not being fair, hiding such a talent when you know that what troubles the Emperor most right now is this very matter..." Chen Zhifu teased.
Yuan Zheng Fang said, "Haha, I'm not hiding her; I'm just letting her focus on her research."
All the Liu Sheng in her mind rolled their eyes.
"Her previous article was also about the analysis of weird objects, and it also received the Emperor's praise."
"Is that so!" Chen Zhifu looked at Liu Sheng with even higher regard.
"I remember now, it was the first article in the February issue of 'cultivation theory,' titled 'Analysis Path of Artifact-type weird objects—Research Based on Li County's Inventory of weird objects.'"
Ye Tuiguan had delved deeply into every article in 'cultivation theory,' knowing them by heart.
"The younger generation is truly formidable!" Ye Tuiguan nodded approvingly at Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng hadn't expected Ye Tuiguan to remember the article titles so clearly, so she quickly said, "I wouldn't dare."
Zhang Zhubu even laughed, "Every single one is a first article, Miss Liu should be called 'First Article Liu' instead."
That name is good, I like it.
Not bad, not bad, this person is also a talent, who was it again?
Based on the order of introduction and their standing, it should be Zhang Zhubu.
The world also chimed in.
"Haha, she's still young, she couldn't possibly be called that, Zhang Zhubu is joking." Yuan Zheng Fang, however, humbly spoke on Liu Sheng's behalf.
Sure enough, that was Zhang Zhubu.
Liu Sheng also had no choice but to humbly say, "Yes, yes, I've only published two articles so far, and only gotten two first articles; I still need to continue working hard."
Suddenly, the entire place fell silent.
Another day of working hard on three chapters, if I keep writing like this, I should be able to take a vacation in *** days!
