Chapter 28: Qinghe Weaving Institute
April, Jinghe Ninth Year, Qinghe Weaving Institute.
Su Yanjun sat bored in the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall, which had been expanded and renovated from the Weaving Institute's gatehouse, and let out a big yawn.
She had just napped on the counter, and her face still bore the marks of the book she had used as a pillow.
Sleepiness in spring, fatigue in autumn, and napping in summer; she felt it was only natural to be sleepy.
She was ready to clock out at You Shi.
As she happily packed her things, she saw a young woman in a green shirt, carrying a large bundle on her back, walk directly from the street into the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall.
Although the young woman was covered in dust from travel, her beauty was undeniable. Her hair was casually tied up high with a jade ring, looking very simple and capable, which didn't quite match her slightly cute face.
"Miss, after Shen Shi, the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall no longer accepts commissions. Please come back after Si Shi tomorrow morning."
The young woman in the green shirt asked with a puzzled expression, "Ten Thousand Affairs Hall? Isn't this the Qinghe Weaving Institute?"
This young woman didn't even know about the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall, so she was clearly from out of town.
Su Yanjun patiently explained, "This is the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall specially set up by the Qinghe Weaving Institute for the public. It is mainly responsible for receiving various civilian commissions. Whether it's searching for people or objects, cold cases or secret affairs, or even malevolent spirits and strange occurrences, we will send specialists to resolve them."
The young woman in the green shirt asked curiously, "Do specialists refer to the Exploration Division?"
Su Yanjun gave a slight sneer, "How busy are the adults of the Exploration Division? Naturally, we wouldn't trouble them with every matter. But if it's confirmed to be a case related to strange occurrences, the Weaving Institute will certainly arrange for the Exploration Division to be dispatched, though the price won't be cheap."
"This still requires a fee? Isn't this an organization under the Weaving Institute? Shouldn't it be funded by the imperial court? Logically, the Qinghe Weaving Institute has a considerable budget each year."
"Oh, Miss, you don't understand this." Su Yanjun, rarely encountering someone who knew nothing, spoke a few more words proudly, "Although the Qinghe Weaving Institute has a lot of money, it has many affairs, employs many people, and also invests heavily in equipment and machinery each year."
"So, that's why we have this Ten Thousand Affairs Hall. It's a non-official organization affiliated with the Qinghe Weaving Institute; the Qinghe Weaving Institute merely provided the venue. It's also to serve the people and earn a little money!" Su Yanjun said the last sentence mysteriously, lowering her voice.
The young woman in the green shirt nodded, not expecting the Qinghe Weaving Institute to be so resourceful, no wonder it could rank among the best.
"In short, our fees depend on the difficulty of your case. If it's easier, we have our own retainers to help you solve your problems. If it's more complex and serious, we also cooperate with the yamen constables and can arrange for Constable master to come, but the price will also be higher."
The young woman in the green shirt immediately understood. This way, many business conflicts between the Weaving Institute and the county yamen could be resolved, and they could earn money together.
"When you come tomorrow morning, tell me your request, and I will connect you with a specialized retainer."
Su Yanjun's subtext was only one sentence: I'm not working overtime.
The young woman in the green shirt shook her head and said, "I'm not here for help. I'm here to take up a post at the Qinghe Weaving Institute. I'd like to ask how to enter the main gate of the Weaving Institute."
Su Yanjun was a little surprised. So this person wasn't a customer after all. She should have said so earlier; it made her ramble on so much.
"To enter the Qinghe Weaving Institute, you must go through the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall. Indeed, newcomers usually don't know this. It's also to prevent idlers from disturbing us. Anyway, if you have something, just find the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall."
The young woman in the green shirt thanked her, then picked up the luggage she had just put down and tried to walk towards the back hall.
Su Yanjun suddenly remembered something: "Wait, is your name Liu Sheng?"
The young woman in the green shirt, who was Liu Sheng, stopped and nodded to Su Yanjun.
Su Yanjun slapped her forehead: "After all that talk, you're my new colleague! Let me introduce myself, my name is Su Yanjun."
"Colleague?" Liu Sheng asked in confusion.
"Yes, didn't you know? Miss Liu, you've been assigned to the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall to work with me to receive guests! The Hall Master of Ten Thousand Affairs Hall specifically told me a few days ago that when you arrived, I should help you with the onboarding procedures."
"I didn't receive any news, but I used to work in the Imperial Storage at the Li County Weaving Institute..."
Su Yanjun suddenly understood: "No wonder then. I heard from the Hall Master that you have no Cultivation. The Qinghe Weaving Institute has higher requirements; even for the Imperial Storage, you need at least an Initial Realm Cultivator, and the Imperial Storage is already fully staffed now, so you can't get in."
She even gestured for Liu Sheng to lean closer and whispered, "What's more, a comfortable sinecure like the Imperial Storage, how could an outsider like you, with no background and no connections, get it?"
Liu Sheng understood; it meant everyone there had connections.
"Of course, what you're doing with me now isn't bad either. It's also a specially designated official position, and all you do is receive clients, help connect cases to the appropriate departments, no fieldwork, no writing documents. It's just less money, but these days, a leisurely, respectable, and safe job is hard to find."
Liu Sheng was also very surprised by Su Yanjun's frankness: "Thank you for the reminder, but is it really okay for you to say all this?"
Su Yanjun waved her hand dismissively and said, "No matter, my aunt is Fang Yuanzheng's sister-in-law anyway."
Liu Sheng was silent. Well, another person with connections.
...
Before clocking out, Su Yanjun led Liu Sheng to report to the Qinghe Weaving Institute's case room.
The Qinghe Weaving Institute was indeed much larger than the Li County Weaving Institute; they walked for a long time, turning many corners, before finally arriving.
Upon reaching the case room, Su Yanjun said, "That adult is difficult to talk to, so I won't go in with you."
With that, she pushed Liu Sheng inside and waited outside herself.
The case room was brightly lit, and in the center, a middle-aged scribe was engrossed in documents, with a large, thick jade ledger in front of him. Several other scribes were also busy at their respective desks.
Seeing someone enter, and a strange face at that, he looked up and asked, "Is this someone here to report?"
Liu Sheng nodded and stepped forward, taking out her official certificate, which was made into a metal card, and handed it to the middle-aged scribe.
The middle-aged scribe took the certificate and swiped it over the jade ledger in front of him. Liu Sheng's personal information, such as her name, native place, age, and position, appeared on the surface of the book.
"Confirmed. Liu Sheng, eighteen years old, native of Little Green Garden, formerly Siku of the Imperial Storage at Li County Weaving Institute, now transferred to the Ten Thousand Affairs Hall of Qinghe Weaving Institute, serving as Menshi, enjoying third-tier treatment."
"Menshi?" Liu Sheng was a bit uncomfortable with this title; it sounded far removed from the specialized work she wanted to do.
Moreover, third-tier treatment meant a monthly salary of three Lingtual. She originally had eighth-tier treatment, receiving eight Lingtual monthly. This was a significant downgrade.
Liu Sheng expressed her objection.
The middle-aged scribe said impatiently, "What else do you want? We are already fully staffed, but your Li County Weaving Institute caused such a mess and forced a few people on us. Those Exploration Division members are fine, but there's also one without Cultivation. It's very difficult for us."
The scribes nearby chuckled when they heard this.
"If it weren't for your decent-looking file, you wouldn't even get to be a Menshi. Don't be ungrateful, take it or leave it."
The middle-aged scribe glanced at Liu Sheng's face, and his tone softened a little.
She did look good. The original Menshi, Su something-yan something, also had a good-looking face; otherwise, without Cultivation or ability, even with connections, it wouldn't work.
"This is your token; you can enter and exit the Weaving Institute. Take it if you want to continue working!"
Liu Sheng lowered her eyes, then silently took the token and official certificate, turned, and left.
New map, new atmosphere!
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