Duke Pang extended the invitation, which surprised Zhou Jun.
The latter hesitated for a while and then said to Mr. Pang: "I have never entered school and have no skills. I am just a new servant. Even if I enter the mansion, what can I do for you?"
Pang Gong: "What I need is a slave like you."
"Look at this Bachuan Villa. It has been neglected for so many years and has long been abandoned."
"Most of the servants in my Pang Mansion are old people from Jiangzhou. They have clumsy hands and feet and slow reflexes. They can do some cleaning and cooking, but they are generally unable to do road maintenance and house repairs.
"
"Therefore, I need slaves like you to hire young slaves who are strong and capable of working for the Pang Mansion, and I also need to hire some handymen with craftsmanship and good at repairs."
When Zhou Jun heard this, he realized that this was what he was doing. He was helping people buy slave labels and recommending craftsmen and miscellaneous customers. This was what Nu Yalang did, so it was nothing.
Unexpectedly, Pang Gong's words were not finished yet.
Just listen to Pang Gong continue to say: "In addition to the purchase and hiring of servants in this Bachuan Villa, you also have to help me with the purchase of daily items, the purchase and sale of land, and the management of finances."
Zhou Jun was completely stunned when he heard this.
The things Pang Gong said seem to be what a housekeeper of a wealthy family should do, right?
Generally speaking, the housekeepers of large families are the older slaves in the family who are more reliable in handling affairs; but occasionally, the servants (Xibin) who come from good families will be responsible for these things.
But even if a retainer comes to act for the housekeeper, they are usually old acquaintances who have been dealing with the housekeeper for more than ten years.
It's a bit strange no matter how you think about it, like Pang Gong, letting a Nu Yalang, whom he had just met for a few days, become the secret servant of Pang Mansion and be the steward of Bachuan Garden.
Zhou Jun expressed the doubts in his heart, but Pang Gong smiled and talked about a completely unrelated past event.
When Pang Gong served Queen Zhenshun, relatives of the Jiangzhou Wu family came to surrender.
Two brothers came here, they looked very similar, and even their tone of voice was very similar.
Pang Gong prepared a table of wine and food for the two of them, and while watching them finish eating, he also chatted with them.
Afterwards, Pang Gong returned to the palace to marry Queen Zhenshun, saying that among the two brothers, the eldest brother should be reused, and it was best for the second brother to cut off all contact with her.
Sure enough, between the two brothers, the eldest brother rose to prominence, but the second brother took the reward from Queen Zhenshun, lived in debauchery, swindled and cheated everywhere, and was finally sent to Dali Temple.
Zhou Jun was amazed when he heard this, but Pang Gong said: "Being a servant in the palace, reading people's expressions and identifying human nature are the most important skills of the chamberlains. In critical moments, they can even save their lives."
"Although our family has only dated you a few times, you are an upright young man who is different from popular customs and is different from what is rumored by the outside world. You are a promising talent."
Zhou Jun felt a little embarrassed after hearing Pang Gong's words.
Pang Gong: "You have been walking around Bachuan for the past few days. You should take it as a leisure trip. Please think about the matters raised by our family and don't rush to answer them."
Zhou Jun thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
With the painting of the moon, Zhou Jun took a tour around Jiazhou, Bachuan. While admiring the great rivers and mountains of the Tang Dynasty, he also gradually fell in love with the lake scenery.
At night, Zhou Jun lay on the big bed in the back room of a guest room, staring at the moon outside the window with his eyes open, but what he was thinking about was Pang Gong's proposal during the day.
Hua Yue, who was sleeping in the small room in the outer hall, suddenly said: "When the wind blows, I can hear the house creaking."
"Do you think this house will collapse after we fall asleep?"
Zhou Jun laughed dumbly and said: "It's impossible, just sleep."
There was silence for a while.
Huayue added: "It feels like a dream."
Zhou Jun: "Dreaming?"
Hua Yue: "Just a month ago, I was locked in a slave car bound for Chang'an. I didn't even dare to dream of living such a life."
Zhou Jun: "Life has its ups and downs, and blessings and misfortunes depend on each other. The only way is to cherish the moment."
Hua Yue hummed softly, and after a while, she added, "I was at the door of the house today and saw you going in to look for Pang Gong."
Zhou Jun: "Exactly."
Huayue: "Yuping went to the back room to clean up, and everyone else was busy with their own things."
Zhou Jun asked: "What's wrong?"
Huayue: "Your horse is tied to the tree in front of the house. In the sack is the food you bought this morning. There are also copper coins in the dirty clothes you changed out of."
Hearing this, Zhou Jun was slightly startled.
Huayue: "At that time, I only need to slowly exit the door and untie the horse's reins, and then I can leave Chang'an."
Zhou Jun: "But you didn't leave, why?"
Huayue was silent for a long time, and finally said only three words: "I don't know."
Zhou Jun was silent for a moment when he heard these three words.
Then, Zhou Jun said: "In another month, the silk merchants in Chang'an City will form a caravan and prepare to travel far."
"If you are willing, I can place you in the caravan and follow them westward."
"In about three to five months, you can go back to eating a lot."
Huayue heard Zhou Jun's words and fell silent again.
After a long time, she finally answered with one word: "Okay."
The next day, Zhou Jun had breakfast with Pang Gong and told him that he planned to talk to his parents about yesterday's proposal first. After getting the answer, he would come to Bachuan immediately.
After Pang Gong agreed, Zhou Jun said goodbye to Hua Yue for a while, then rode back to his home in Chang'an.
Seeing that Zhou Jun had not returned all night, Luo Sanniang, who was originally planning to get angry, quickly called out Zhou Dinghai after hearing the former's explanation.
The couple had different expressions after hearing Pang Gong's suggestion.
Luo Sanniang was both intolerable and worried.
What is unbearable is that if Jun'er becomes a guest of the Pang Mansion, he will have to travel between Bachuan and Chang'an, and there will be fewer days to go home in the future.
The worry is that Jun'er used to be taken care of by his parents, and suddenly he has to work as a servant in a wealthy family. What if something goes wrong, or he makes a mistake, and he is punished?
But Zhou Dinghai and his wife had completely different views.
He thought Zhou Jun should agree to the job immediately.
Who is Pang Zhonghe?
A third-grade official, an uncle with a different surname from the Wu family, and a popular figure around the saint in the past.
If you can follow this man, even if you are just a guest, there will probably be a large number of people in Chang'an City trying to steal his head.
Moreover, there are also unknown values in this Nu Yalang's circle.
Zhou Dinghai said to Zhou Jun: "Those of us who are slaves are actually divided into three, six, and nine grades."
"The worst-performing toothsmiths are the private toothsmiths. These people have no official title and are engaged in business in border towns and villages. Occasionally, they will sell their loved ones for a little. It can be said that they are precarious."
"No matter how good the teeth are, they are practicing teeth. Having an official post means you are recognized by the government. As long as you abide by the laws when doing things, you will still have a bad reputation, but at least your life will not be in danger."
"The next higher level of Yalang is the Makuya. This type of Yalang is recognized by the wealthy families, and as the Muke, they become their exclusive Yalang, responsible for the sale and purchase of the slaves of the wealthy families.
Management and training.”
"Jun'er, if you agree to Pang Gong, then you will officially get rid of the identity of Xingya and become a Muya."
"What's more, Pang Gong also handed over all the daily affairs and financial management of Bachuan Villa to you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you must seize it!"
After communicating with his parents and unifying their opinions, Zhou Jun took a change of clothes and personal items from home and came to Bachuan Villa again.
Seeing Zhou Jun coming to him in a hurry, Pang Gong laughed loudly and handed him a Pang Mansion Talisman made of pure copper, officially accepting him as his guest.