Chapter 102: Manager Lai wants his son to be successful, Jia Yucun is two-faced
However, the Lai family had been slaves in the Jia Mansion for generations and were the most trusted. Lai Da, in particular, had been sitting in the position of chief steward for more than ten years.
Even now, although Lai Da was still a servant in name, he was considered half a master in the Rongguo Mansion. Even legitimate sons of the family, such as Jia Lian and Baoyu, had to address him as "Uncle Lai" when they saw him.
Not only that, this Lai Da also built a mansion outside. He worked as a housekeeper in the Rongguo Mansion during the day, and returned home at night to act arrogantly. Behind closed doors, he acted like a master or a mistress!
His only son, Lai Shangrong, was freed from slavery at a young age and was raised like a phoenix by maids, wives, and wet nurses. He was taught to read and write and to pursue a career as an official. In every aspect, he was in no way inferior to the Jia family.
Let’s talk about this afternoon.
Lai Da hurried back to his own residence. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, his only son Lai Shangrong appeared from the side.
"master!"
Lai Shangrong asked impatiently, "Did Jia Yucun agree?"
"Shh!"
Lai Da hurriedly made a gesture to silence the crowd, and then pulled his son into the hall. He then scolded him, "How dare you shout about this deadly business? Are you really tired of living?!"
Lai Shangrong also knew that he had been rash just now, so he bowed his head and admitted his mistake, then looked at Lai Da eagerly.
"Alright, stop messing with me!"
Lai Da sat down in the main seat in the middle and said in a deep voice, "At first Jia Yucun was reluctant, but later I found out his weakness and he softened immediately. He has already agreed to recommend your article."
"real?!"
When Lai Shangrong heard this, he jumped up three feet high with joy, clapped his hands and laughed, "So, my son will soon become a juren, ha...haha..."
"Don't be too happy too soon."
Lai Da shook his head and said, "After all, Jia Yucun is just a 'co-examiner' and cannot make his words final - your essay should at least be passable so that he can recommend it to others."
"Why is that so difficult?"
Lai Shangrong unfolded his folding fan and said nonchalantly, "Didn't I already buy the 'Exam Preparation Book'? By then, I can just find a way to sneak it in and piece together an essay. It shouldn't be a problem."
“That’s where the problem lies.”
Lai Da frowned and said, "According to Jia Yucun, the inspector of the Imperial Examination Hall this time is none other than Sun Shaozong, who is known as the 'divine judge'. This Sun has always been a man who doesn't tolerate any injustice and has rejected Second Madam Lian's suggestion. I'm afraid he will be ruthless and ruin your good fortune!"
"What should I do?"
Lai Shangrong was immediately panicked when he heard this. He folded his folding fan with a snap and paced back and forth like an ant on hot pot. Suddenly he remembered something and said hurriedly, "Isn't Jia Yucun his immediate superior? Let him come forward and put pressure on that guy surnamed Sun..."
"You think I haven't thought of this?"
Lai Da said helplessly: "But I heard from Jia Yucun that he had a quarrel with the man surnamed Sun a few days ago. It's better not to mention him now. If we mention him, the man surnamed Sun will probably be even less willing to help!"
"So, there is no other way?!"
Lai Shangrong was completely deflated, and simply found a chair to lie down on, shouting incoherently: "Forget it, forget it, what's the point of being a juren or not? I don't care anyway, so don't worry about it, Master!"
"Why are you in such a hurry? Let me think about it first!"
Lai Da frowned and pondered for a while, then suddenly stood up and walked out.
Lai Shangrong hurriedly chased after him and asked hopefully, "Master? Master! Are you going to..."
As Lai Da walked out, he said, "I'll go to Second Madam Lian to find out what's going on. She's a very face-conscious person. Since the Sun guy has humiliated her, she will definitely not let it go. In the past few months, she may have found Sun Shaozong's weaknesses!"
——Dividing line——
At the same time, in the Shuntian Prefecture government office and Jia Yucun's courtyard.
"You know me, brother. I have been an official for many years and I have never dared to bend the law for personal gain!"
Jia Yucun said with a righteous face: "Not to mention a lowly servant, even if the eldest and second masters of Rongguo Mansion came forward, I would never commit such a fraud!"
To his words, Sun Shaozong could only respond with "Haha" in his heart - in the past six months, Sun Shaozong alone had heard of more than a dozen examples of his Prime Minister Jia being partial and bending the law for personal gain. It was really a shame that he still had the nerve to brag about himself.
Pah~
Just as he was complaining in his heart, he saw Jia Yucun suddenly slap the coffee table, biting his gums and shaking his beard and said, "Who would have thought that after I politely refused, Lai Da would actually speak rudely and threateningly, saying something like 'The Rongguo Mansion can help you get back on your feet, but it can also step on you'!"
"If these words came from the mouths of the two uncles, it would be fine, but he is just a lowly slave, and he dares to be so arrogant and rude, treating the country's talent recruitment plan as a child's play. This is really intolerable!"
"My dear brother!"
At this point, Jia Yucun stood up and bowed to Sun Shaozong: "I have already strongly rejected that dog slave. I think he will find you out of resentment. When that happens, please control yourself and don't disappoint the emperor's trust and the expectations of scholars!"
Being threatened by Hao Nu, he took revenge in anger.
This reason is reasonable. If it were someone else, Sun Shaozong might believe it.
But as for Jia Yucun...
Sun Shaozong didn't think that this old fox would fight to the death !
The deeper reason was probably because Emperor Guangde would soon be on the throne for ten years, and this subject must not cause any trouble, so Jia Yucun refused that...
etc!
A light bulb suddenly lit up in Sun Shaozong's mind. Considering how cunning Jia Yucun was, who could guarantee that he really rejected Lai Da?
Maybe he agreed to Lai Da first, and then came to me and made a fuss, trying to instigate me to fight to the death with Lai Da so that I could reap the benefits!
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was Jia Yucun's usual style of doing things. Sun Shaozong couldn't help but secretly say "that was a close call" in his heart. He almost got used as a gun by this guy again!
But since he has already seen through my flaw, I might as well take advantage of him...
"This damn bastard!"
Sun Shaozong immediately showed an indignant look on his face, and said bitterly: "When my Sun family was down and out, we were bullied by these dogs and slaves. I never thought that today, they still dare to be so arrogant and rude!"
As he spoke, he patted his chest and promised solemnly: "Don't worry, brother. I didn't agree to it even when Lian's second sister-in-law came forward to ask for it. How much more so for a mere old slave?! If any slave dares to make a fuss in front of me, I will spit him out and vent my anger for you!"
"My dear brother!"
Upon hearing this, Jia Yucun looked at Sun Shaozong emotionally.
“Brother!”
Sun Shaozong also looked at him affectionately, and their eyes met, filled with the word "sincerity"!
