Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 406 Director Lu's Prosperous Business

Qi Tuizhi originally thought that Lu Xingzhou had asked him to report for duty today just to show off.

The process from being a student to becoming an official is lengthy; it's not something you can just assume office on a whim. And to say "tomorrow"—you yourself might not even be able to take office tomorrow.

Even if we assign him a position, it's just to "get acquainted with the place."

I never imagined that after sitting here for just half a day, my official rank would drop... Not only that, but it's also a newly established department.

Is it really that easy to create new positions? Even if Pei Qingyan were your father-in-law, he wouldn't be this diligent, let alone someone who isn't your father-in-law.

Qi Tuizhi was also clever. He knew that this was definitely not something Pei Qingyan did out of personal favor. There must be an exchange of interests between Lu Xingzhou and the Pei family behind it. In order to avoid any complications, he acted so quickly.

What kind of doctor could have an exchange of benefits with the prime minister!
He took a deep breath and performed a proper subordinate's salute: "Then I'll head to the Ministry of Personnel first."

Lu Xingzhou waved his hand dismissively: "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to host the banquet."

Qi Tuizhi laughed: "There's no time like the present, so how about tonight?"

"I'm not free tonight."

Qi Tuizhi was about to say something when a head poked in from outside the door: "Busy?"

Qi Tuizhi turned his head and saw that it was Pei Chuyun.

"So they're openly running to the Six Ministries to find men?" Qi Tuizhi twitched his cheek, not daring to say anything more, and went directly to the Ministry of Personnel to complete the formalities.

Lu Xingzhou looked up from his desk and smiled, "Why are you here? I was supposed to have dinner at your house tonight, what's this half-day difference?"

"Hmph." Pei Chuyun pulled out a stack of documents from behind her: "Pei Chuyun, the newly appointed chief clerk of the Department of Guest Affairs, reporting to Physician Lu."

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

The chief clerk was basically a secretary.

It's a bit more upscale than a personal secretary; it's like a company's chief secretary... But with this relationship, isn't it just a personal mistress?
The Grand Office has such positions, but the Department of Guest Affairs does not... Of course, there is no need to add new positions, as these positions already exist. If you have connections, you can get in directly, and your official rank will be the same as that of the heads of various departments.

Even female officials of the Great Qian Dynasty are not rare... The problem is that Qi Tuizhi is a senior alumnus of the Imperial Academy, while you have only been there for one year and are still far from graduating.

What is Pei Qingyan doing?
Pei Chuyun smiled and said, "Didn't you tell the Prime Minister that there are benefits to Miss Pei taking charge, otherwise there aren't?"

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: "Doesn't Pei Xiang know that I was joking? Would I really bring up unspoken rules with him?"

"But it seems Prime Minister Pei has already accepted your unspoken rules, what should we do?" Pei Chuyun blinked her eyes: "My lord, would you like to give me some pointers on my work?"

Point to that spot, or click on that spot?
Lu Xingzhou suddenly realized that Pei Qingyan valued the current position of the Chief of the Guest House, where there was plenty of merit to be made. He could easily promote his daughter within a year or two.

There's no reason why Qi Tuizhi can ride a boat with the wind while the Pei family can't.
As for whether it's a bit... awkward for my daughter to be someone's secretary, she's already sneaked out to spend the night so many times, does it even matter?
Thinking of this, Lu Xingzhou chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, then you can pick an office space."

Pei Chuyun swayed her hips and moved closer, sitting on the table in front of him. She leaned on the table with one hand and turned to look at him, her posture incredibly alluring: "How about I choose this spot?"

Lu Xingzhou said sternly, "Then we'll talk about it when your father promotes you to a doctor."

Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip: "The door is closed."

Lu Xingzhou said helplessly, "It's drafty."

While saying this, he secretly set up a soundproof barrier and even used the Five Ghosts Moving Technique to lock the door from the inside.

Pei Chuyun watched his series of actions, chuckling to herself. Once he finished, she jumped off the table and ran away, saying, "Dream on."

“I’m so angry…” Lu Xingzhou bent over, supporting the oars.

Pei Chuyun opened the door, turned around and smiled: "There's plenty of time in the future, my lord."

In fact, Pei Chuyun originally wanted to set up a table in front of Lu Xingzhou's house to work, and stop any bitch who dared to come in.

Unfortunately, such advanced secretarial thinking was out of step with the times, and there was no room for such practices in this place; as the chief clerk, she also had her own office. Fortunately, the room next to Lu Xingzhou's, originally reserved for the Right Physician, was currently empty, and Pei Chuyun quickly occupied it.

Even if they are paired with the Right Physician in the future, they shouldn't even think about taking the house away from Miss Pei.

Pei Chuyun looked around her office, wondering how to make a small hidden door in the middle to connect it to Lu Xingzhou's...

Just as she was pondering this, another commotion came from outside, and Sheng Yuanyao's voice called out, "Old Lu, Old Lu, where's the office?" Then someone led her into Lu Xingzhou's room.

Pei Chuyun: "?"

She lost interest in studying it and quickly went to Lu Xingzhou's door to peek in. She saw Sheng Yuanyao sitting at the table she had just sat at, with her hands propped on the table in the exact same way: "Not bad, a small official position, but a pretty big room."

If Pei Chuyun's posture just now only showed charm, then Sheng Yuanyao's posture only showed heroic spirit. They were truly like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with its own unique beauty. Lu Xingzhou was delighted to see them: "Why are you here too? Your official rank is higher than mine. Don't tell me you're here to take a seat, okay?"

"Also?" Sheng Yuanyao's eyebrows shot up: "Did the Pei family's green tea bastards beat you to it again?"

"Knock knock~" Pei Chuyun leaned against the door and knocked twice, her face saying, "Go on, I'm listening."

Sheng Yuanyao couldn't be bothered with her and spat, "You have no shame."

"Oh ho?" Pei Chuyun laughed: "If I'm shameless, then what are you doing here?"

Sheng Yuanyao snorted coldly: "I am a third-rank general, not here in this mere department. I am responsible for the safety and security of the entire Ministry of Rites, the protection and guard of various sacrificial rites, and the safety and protection of foreign envoys."

Lu Xingzhou found it all amusing.

Although that's true, the safety of the other departments of the Ministry of Rites is also under Sheng Yuanyao's responsibility, but what's the big deal... Right now, the department that really needs armed protection is his own Department of Guests, so it doesn't seem like there's any problem with saying that it was set up specifically for the Department of Guests.

"Didn't His Majesty fly into a rage this morning and indefinitely extend your official post?"

“Yes, so we’ve chosen a general who’s guarding a region to do this pointless work.” Sheng Yuanyao said with a grin, “Doctor Lu, we’ll be working together a lot in the future, so please give me your guidance.”

Pei Chuyun was fuming.

What's wrong with this emperor? Does he even know how to do his job?

This silly girl has more free time than I do. She keeps popping in here for no reason. How am I supposed to finish the job of connecting the two offices?

Seeing Sheng Yuanyao's extremely happy and cheerful expression, it was as if being stripped of her position was a reward for her, which was extremely infuriating. Pei Chuyun finally couldn't help but say, "This is a place of great importance, and it's during official business hours. What are these irrelevant military men doing making such a racket here? Guards, throw them out of here!"

Sheng Yuanyao: “?”

Seeing that the two were about to fight, Lu Xingzhou, sweating profusely, stepped between them: "Let's talk this out, let's talk this out..."

Just then, Qi Tuizhi returned, saw the state of the doctor's room, and silently withdrew.

"Hey, Lao Qi, don't go!" Lu Xingzhou felt as if he had been granted a pardon: "Just say what you have to say."

"It's nothing, I just... I just told the magistrate that the formalities are complete and whether I can start work today... Um, just call me if the magistrate needs anything." Qi Tuizhi tried to slip away as if his life depended on it.

Lu Xingzhou grabbed him again: "Wait, do you even know what your job is?"

Qi Tuizhi composed himself, glanced at the two women's unfriendly expressions, and swallowed hard. "The Ministry of Personnel has spoken to me."

"Then you should know that I need to expand trade with many countries, and the manpower in our department is far from enough. Fortunately, although our department has few people, as an important department of the Six Ministries, our territory is not small. We can definitely recruit more people and not make it so deserted."

Qi Tuizhi was taken aback, his desire to run away vanished: "The lord has asked me to be in charge of recruiting people?"

“Well, you used to associate with the Prince of Jin in the capital, so you know countless low-ranking officials and clerks. Go pick some of them… well, you can also help out if anyone from your Lingtian Pavilion wants to. I can’t give you official positions, but I’m qualified to hire clerks and temporary staff.”

"A former Prince of Jin's man, are you not wary of him, sir?"

"I told you yesterday... I only care about their lack of ability, not their background or who they've been associated with. Speaking of which, I think there are quite a few fools among the Prince of Jin's subordinates. You can keep an eye on them. If one person can't handle it, I'll have the other managers help you."

Qi Tuizhi gave him a deep look: "Alright, I'll take care of it right away."

Qi Tuizhi knew perfectly well that Lu Xingzhou didn't know many people, and recruiting would indeed require someone else's help. But since Sheng Yuanyao and Pei Chuyun were there, he didn't let them help with this task and instead entrusted it to himself.

Lu Xingzhou is ambitious; he's unwilling to be merely an appendage of the Pei or Sheng families.

The problem is that he actually trusts himself... Hiring people is a significant power, and he can do a lot of things, whether it's embezzling money from above or below or installing his own people to undermine power, he has plenty of opportunities to do.

Lu Xingzhou didn't seem to care at all.

He wasn't without other people he could use; he also had people on Princess Chaohuang's side...

Is this true recognition and appreciation?
(End of this chapter)