Yi Shuyuan was walking in the city, keeping his eyes on the streets in the city where there might be a demand for writing work.

There are calligraphy and painting stalls, literary shops, ghostwriters of family letters and couplets, etc., and even some fortune-telling stalls where they occasionally stop and pretend to be customers reading other people's writings at the stalls.

To sum it up, Yi Shuyuan feels that although his current handwriting is definitely not that great, it is more than enough.

At this meeting, in front of a calligraphy and painting stall, the shop owner was greeting Yi Shuyuan enthusiastically.

"Sir, you are really discerning. This is the original work of Mr. Yan Qin, a master of calligraphy who is said to have been a favorite of Dayong for three hundred years. I think it is destined for you. If you like it, I will sell it to you for only ten taels of silver.

Got it!"

"Twelve?"

Yi Yongan on the side widened his eyes and shouted, "Selling a broken calligraphy at a sky-high price? It's not even enough to light the stove, this shop really dares to ask for it!"

Yi Shuyuan actually didn't know what kind of famous artist Yan Qin was, but the title given by the store was clear, and he should be a person. As for the copybook in front of him, it was hard to say. He picked up the copybook and looked at it carefully.

While visiting the city to see flowers, Yi Shuyuan also keenly discovered that he had a natural intuition for some appreciation of words. It seemed that it was a gift from his childhood. The lines of the copybook in his hand were indeed somewhat eye-catching.

It has a bright charm, but the strokes are a bit deliberate in many places.

"The shopkeeper was joking, how could Yan Qin's original work only cost ten liang? The characters are still eye-catching, but the vertical folds and hooks are a bit deliberately copied."

The store owner's smile suddenly became awkward, as he secretly met an expert.

"Uh-huh, sir, this word has its merits. If you really like it, just two taels of silver will do it!"

Yi Yongan was a little anxious on the side. He was afraid that his uncle would buy it with a wave of his hand, so he took the opportunity to whisper in Yi Shuyuan's ear.

"Uncle, we didn't bring so much money..."

Yi Shuyuan ignored him at all, put down the copybook, and turned to leave. Yi Yongan quickly followed him. The things these literati play are really expensive.

"Hey, guest, just one tael or eight hundred cents is enough! Five hundred cents is really indispensable——"

Unfortunately, Yi Shuyuan didn't even look back, leaving the vendor shaking his head and sighing.

Unknowingly, the two of them had walked along the main street entering the city and arrived at the center of Yuanjiang County. They could see the county government office and the nearby Yuanjiang County School.

This area is obviously more prosperous, especially now that noon is here, and the fragrance is constantly flowing inside and outside some restaurants. Smelling these fragrances, not to mention that Yi Yongan can't stand it, and Yi Shuyuan can't move because of the smell.

But his focus was mainly on the school. It could be said that he instinctively followed the path he had taken many times in his childhood to get there.

There were also students coming out of the school at the moment. After all, not all the students had brought lunch. Some went home by themselves, while others had family members or servants waiting at the door.

"That's the school. I went to school here when I was a child. My master's surname is Yan, and he is very strict like his surname!"

Yi Shuyuan was a little emotional, but Yi Yongan didn't listen to a word and kept looking at the restaurant not far away.

That is Tongxin Building, one of the two famous buildings in Yuanjiang County, and the other Zuibin Building is outside the Chenghuang Temple. The two floors occupy one corner of the two most prosperous places in the county.

"Gululu~~"

Hearing Yi Yongan's stomach growl, Yi Shuyuan turned around and saw Yi Yongan looking embarrassed.

"Uncle, we've been walking for a long time, it's time to find a place to have a meal..."

Yi Shuyuan looked at the sign of the restaurant diagonally across the street, and Yi Yongan hurriedly approached and said.

“Let’s buy some Tongxinlou buns, they will be delicious!”

Tongxinlou is naturally incomparable to the luxury of Dadian, but it is also a century-old restaurant in Yuanjiang County. Its dishes are reasonably priced and taste good, and it is very famous in Yuanjiang County. The buns, pastries and other food in the building are especially popular among the people.

If there is a wedding event in the county, many people will go to Tongxinlou to customize steamed buns, cakes and other items, not only for the taste but also for luck.

Yi Shuyuan was looking inside the restaurant when he suddenly noticed a middle-aged Confucian scholar walking into Tongxin Building from the direction of the County School, and his eyes followed him subconsciously.

The people in the restaurant greeted the visitors enthusiastically and loudly.

"Hey, it's Mrs. Lian, please hurry up and arrange a private room upstairs for you? There is only one person in the private room upstairs~~~"

The Confucian scholar cupped his hands and said something, then followed the restaurant waiter upstairs.

Yi Shuyuan looked a little lost and wondered where Master Yan was now. After so many years, does he still recognize me?

Then Yi Shuyuan shook his head and smiled. He was just a teenager here at the beginning, but now things have changed, how can he still know each other.

"You go buy some steamed buns, I'll go over there and take a look first."

"Hey, uncle, please don't run around. The alleys in this city are deep and it's easy to get lost!"

"You're still educating me, no matter how old or young you are?"

Yi Shuyuan showed off his elders' aura and joked, but he didn't expect it to actually work. Yi Yong'an said, "I don't dare anymore," and ran towards Tongxin Tower as if running away.

There is a notice posted on the wall outside the county government office over there. Yi Shuyuan saw it just now and walked over to take a look. Maybe it was the wrong time. There were not many people passing by and stopping there, except for Yi Shuyuan who was walking over.

, that is, there are only two people.

When Yi Shuyuan arrived at the notice wall and the two people who had just read the notice had left, he silently read the words above.

"This county is going to compile a new Yuanjiang County Chronicle in the near future, and we need to recruit two writers and writers, who can write neatly..."

Yi Shuyuan read the notice carefully. The requirements and benefits were clearly stated on it. There was also time for the payment to be signed. It had been ten days since it had been posted, but it seemed that the number of people had not been filled yet?

There are only two people, so difficult to recruit?

What Yi Shuyuan didn't know was that Yuanjiang County was a place with a strong literary atmosphere, and it was not a very poor place. Moreover, because it had produced several high-ranking officials, many scholars in the county took it as their mission to obtain official positions.

There are some who are out to make some money, but they would rather write family letters or even copy books for wealthy families than respond to this notice.

The bad thing lies in the word "official". Not only in Yuanjiang County, but also in the Dayong government and the public, and even among scholars, the atmosphere is such that they look down on minor officials.

Those who work as officials are not officials, and they do not receive salary from the court. They are just the county government's own expenses. In the words of Yi Shuyuan's previous life, they are worse than temporary workers. In addition, there is a general chain of contempt, and they have always been considered not to be "ambitious" scholars.

Will do it.

Not to mention that the last signature in the local county chronicle was either the county magistrate or the county magistrate or the chief registrar, which had nothing to do with the civil servants and could not even retain a name.

But Yi Shuyuan doesn't know. His father and master don't talk about these disharmony. Even if he knows, he may not care about it now. He feels that this job seems to be more secure. The salary is based on the number of words, and the copying is also

There was no difference, so I thought of giving it a try, just because I was afraid that I might be in trouble due to my identity.

"Isn't there a very detailed statistics on the ancient environment?"

The feeling of luck was amplified at this moment. Yi Shuyuan was eager to be independent and get rid of the current situation. He looked over at Tongxin Building. His eldest nephew was standing by the steamer outside the building, waiting for a new basket of steamed buns to be cooked. His eyes kept looking at him.

Food for other people in the restaurant.

Well, let's try it! With this thought in his mind, Yi Shuyuan decided to give it a try. After announcing that there was no one around, he went to the officer's desk at a nearby side door to ask.

Naturally, the county government office not only has the main entrance, which is where the drums are beaten and the hall is raised, but the side entrance where most office workers come and go. Yi Shuyuan is still clear about this.

Two police officers were on duty at the side door and had already noticed the people coming.

Yi Shuyuan followed all the etiquette and saluted the two officials with a smile.

"Two gentlemen, I would like to apply for the position of civil servant who compiles the county annals. I don't know who to look for?"

Although Yi Shuyuan was dressed simply, he looked calm and dignified. The two officials did not dare to neglect him and returned the greetings one after another.

"Sir, since you have applied for civil service, we should take you to see the Registrar. We haven't asked you for your name yet?"

"Uh, I'm...Yi Shuyuan!"

After Yi Shuyuan hesitated, he still used his real name.

"Mr. Yi, please come this way!"

The police officers are actually a little bit arrogant to the people across from them, and some of them will even deliberately make some vicious looks to look at others.

But I respect others as much as I respect others. Facing Yi Shuyuan, his sincerity did not seem to be hypocritical, and the attitude of the two of them was also very peaceful, or they even had some good feelings. After all, scholars generally looked down on people like them.

Some people show respect but reveal contempt in their eyes. If we say that in the eyes of scholars, officials are despised, those who wield swords and sticks must be ranked behind civil servants.

One person continued to be on duty, and the other took Yi Shuyuan into the county government office, walked through the courtyard and through the door for a while, and then came to the outside of a house.

"Lord Registrar, there is someone applying for the position of a clerk who compiles county annals."

"Bring him in."

"yes!"

After answering, the messenger looked at Yi Shuyuan and stretched out his hand.

"Please."

Yi Shuyuan cupped his hands, adjusted his mentality, and walked in with the officials one after another. A short-bearded man who looked to be in his forties was sitting in front of the public case. He was not wearing official robes, just ordinary clothes.

After hearing Yi Shuyuan's footsteps, the chief clerk raised his head. The first time he saw Yi Shuyuan, he was surprised. This man was described as handsome and his manners were quite dignified. He actually came to apply for a civil servant position?

But Yi Shuyuan doesn't know what others think. He is just calm on the surface, but he is very nervous in his heart. Will he check his household registration when he opens his mouth? Although his identity in Xihe Village is more complicated, it should not be a problem if he proves that he is a local.

Is it big? Or do you want to test my knowledge?

"You want to apply for a civil service job?"

When he heard the question, Yi Shuyuan, who was thinking wildly, quickly responded seriously.

"Exactly!"

The head clerk nodded and stood up. He took a piece of paper from the table and pushed it to the other side of the desk. He also took a hanging langhao pen from the pen holder and handed it to Yi Shuyuan.

"Write a few words and let me have a look."

There was no problem with writing. Yi Shuyuan took the pen with a sigh of relief. He held the pen in his sleeve with one hand and dipped some ink into the table and inkstone. He was about to start writing but hesitated.

Are civil servants considered civil servants? There are quite a lot of people applying, right? I just wrote some neat designations but they were rejected!

Thinking like this, Yi Shuyuan seemed to have a flash of inspiration in his mind, and the previous scenes of the calligraphy and painting stalls emerged one by one. Can I understand the true meaning of it? The trajectory of the words became more and more obvious in my mind at this moment, as if it could really be achieved by putting pen to paper.

.

The next moment, Yi Shuyuan started writing, using full ink and smooth writing. The handwriting was not sloppy but seemed a bit ethereal and comfortable. It was precisely to erase the defects copied from the copybook before, and it was not so sloppy.

With Yi Shuyuan's high concentration of energy, the words he wrote borrowed meaning from Yan Qin but were completely different. He was so proud that he forgot about it!

When the song "Hoeing" came down, Yi Shuyuan's written skills were at the peak of his current life. Even he himself was shocked, thinking to himself, could it be that I am really a fucking genius?

Originally it was just a test of writing skills, but as Yi Shuyuan stroked his strokes, even the discerning clerk beside him widened his eyes, and the bookkeeper's mouth opened slightly.

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Chapter completed!