Chapter 43

The financial prowess of the Yangyuan Marquis Manor was no joke. Just by mentioning their name, three to five scholars came knocking on their door, but it seemed like they had all conspired to be equally stubborn.

"I am a scholar who just passed the provincial examination last year. Many wealthy young masters have sought me out to be their tutor, but I have declined them all."

"We are all scholars who passed the same examination, but I was the only one in my county to succeed. Even the county magistrate personally came to invite me to be his advisor."

"I teach at the best academy in the capital, and most of the students who pass the imperial examinations come from our academy. When it comes to teaching children, you need a professional tutor."

"Cut the nonsense! We all passed the same examination. You've only been a tutor for a little over a year. What does it have to do with you if students from your academy passed in previous years?"

"How is it not my business? Many of the students who will pass next year will surely be my disciples!"

"Bragging!"

"Who's bragging? How can you call a scholar's words bragging?"

"..."

Xu Wan sat above them, watching their endless bickering. She tapped the table and said, "Esteemed scholars, could we get to the point... Are you willing to come to our manor to teach our children?"

"That depends on how much sincerity your manor shows. I'm quite comfortable at Hanlin Academy."

"Exactly. If we were to take up an official post, it would be quite prestigious."

"If it weren't for your steward's earnest invitation, we wouldn't have come at all. Private tutors rarely gain any fame, and when a student succeeds, it's their own glory."

Two others remained on the fence, but like the first three, they were waiting to see what the manor had to offer.

Cui Zhi frowned and whispered, "Madam, why are these people like this? I thought scholars were supposed to have integrity and disdain money."

Xu Wan chuckled and replied, "People need food to survive, and they have emotions and desires. They have families to support too."

As fellow workers, she understood their feelings. As long as the money was right, everything else could be negotiated.

She straightened up and said, "Gentlemen, our manor offers a monthly salary of one hundred taels for private tutors, with a three-year contract."

"One hundred taels for three years? That's a bit low..."

"One hundred taels per month for three years! Are you deaf?"

"What? One hundred taels a month??"

"One hundred taels a month???"

The scholars were stunned. They started counting on their fingers: one hundred taels a month, one thousand two hundred taels a year, three thousand six hundred taels in three years...

Good heavens!

If they could earn that much, they'd never have to worry about money again!

One scholar, still in disbelief, turned to his companion and asked, "How... how much do you earn at Hanlin Academy? Do tutors really make this much now?"

"Eight... eight taels... And other academies are worse, four or five taels is considered high..."

The scholars were shocked!

They all exclaimed in unison, "I'll take the job!"

"Let me do it! I have experience in passing the examination. I'll ensure the young master passes before he comes of age!"

"Me! I have teaching experience at Hanlin Academy. With me, it's impossible for the students not to pass!"

"You only have one year of teaching experience..."

"That's still better than you, a scholar with no job!"

The five of them started arguing again, each vying for the position.

Xu Wan sighed inwardly, thinking how useful money could be.

One hundred taels was equivalent to about a hundred thousand dollars in modern terms. If someone had offered her that much to be a tutor back when she was working, she would have fought tooth and nail for it too.

"Our manor is only hiring two tutors. Please write a resume detailing your academic and examination experiences, and we will make a selection based on that," Xu Wan instructed. "Cui Zhi, please take them to the side hall to write."

"Yes, Madam."

"Oh, and one more thing," Xu Wan added with a smile, "Our Yangyuan Marquis Manor has good relations with the Ministry of Rites. If anyone falsifies their resume, don't say we didn't warn you."

The scholars exchanged glances, some looking guilty as they bent over to write, while others nodded approvingly at Xu Wan.

This was for the best. Otherwise, with such a high salary, people might be tempted to fabricate their credentials.

But once they left, Cui Zhi grew anxious. She whispered, "Madam, we don't actually have connections in the Ministry of Rites..."

Not only did they lack connections there, but the manor had been so detached from worldly affairs for so long that they hardly interacted with other families. Even if they wanted to ask someone for a favor, they wouldn't know who to turn to.

Xu Wan raised an eyebrow and asked, "If we were familiar with the Ministry of Rites, could they really help us verify all the scholars' examination records?"

Cui Zhi: "..." Couldn't they?

So Madam was bluffing???

Xu Wan thought that perhaps they could, but setting aside whether this would count as leaking confidential information, the scholars came from various regions, and checking all the records would be a massive undertaking.

She smiled and said, "A resume doesn't just show a person's experiences. It also reveals their writing style, logical thinking, and even their approach to studying. These things can't be faked."

"Can Madam really discern all that?" Cui Zhi asked.

Xu Wan shook her head honestly. "I might not be able to see everything myself. I'll need Baili Xi to help me review them."

"Then I'll have them write their resumes and wait for our notification. If we decide to hire them, we'll send them a letter of appointment, and they can come to the manor to sign the contract."

"That sounds good."

Cui Zhi smiled. "I'll make the arrangements."

As Cui Zhi headed to the side hall, Xu Wan got up and went to the main study to inform Baili Xi.

The two children were already there, sitting neatly in the study.

Baili Xi seemed much more energetic while teaching, vividly recounting historical anecdotes, occasionally stroking his beard, clearly in a good mood.

Zong Wenxiu was listening attentively, taking notes from time to time.

As for Zong Jincheng, that mischievous boy seemed lively, holding a brush and doodling on paper, appearing as if he wasn't paying attention, but his eyes never strayed.

He was multitasking but not missing the lesson.

Xu Wan sighed. Such a clever child was both enviable and exasperating.

In the room, Baili Xi said, "Alright, that's all for today's lesson. Please write down what you learned yesterday, and I'll collect it afterward."

With that, he yawned, propped his head on his hand, and closed his eyes for a quick nap.

Xu Wan thought that Baili Xi had indeed been overworked lately. Since the little troublemaker had started studying seriously, he always had endless questions. While the boy's boundless energy was no issue, it had visibly aged Baili Xi. This was one of the reasons she wanted to hire two more private tutors.

Just as she was pondering how to have the two new tutors assist Baili Xi in educating Zong Jincheng, she saw the little troublemaker, who was supposed to be quietly writing, tiptoeing toward the lectern with a brush in hand—Nôv(el)B\\jnn

His eyes were fixed on Baili Xi's graying beard.

Xu Wan: "!!!"

Good heavens, the brush was dripping with red ink!!!