......
Jiang Changtian wore a sky-blue robe today.
He looked elegant and graceful.
Following the guiding official, they turned this way and that, seemingly going in circles, before finally arriving at a great hall.
Many people were already waiting at the entrance.
The official went in to report.
He waited outside for a while longer.
The wind made his nose turn slightly red.
Then he was finally called inside.
As he entered, others came out.
There were also people waiting behind him.
Minister Lu seemed genuinely busy.
He had managed to cut in line to some extent.
Some of those waiting behind looked at him with unfriendly eyes.
Jiang Changtian found it quite interesting.
This man, widely known as a great corrupt official, a treacherous minister, "Lu Three Corpses," "Lu Five Ghosts," actually gave off the impression of being diligent, as if he was doing real work.
Upon entering, Jiang Changtian discovered that the room was bustling with activity.
There were several desks where people were bent over, handling documents.
And there was another room inside.
Minister Lu was in there.
He was leaning on a soft couch, his big belly protruding, holding a cup of tea.
Seeing Jiang Changtian enter, he smiled warmly and said, "My apologies, after working for too long, my neck doesn't turn well. I'm not intentionally avoiding looking at you, it's just that my neck can only face forward. Some in the court say I'm arrogant, probably because of this."
Jiang Changtian acted as if he was overwhelmed by the honor, nodding repeatedly.
Minister Lu looked at the man before him, personally recommended by the Emperor. He disliked such variables, but he had to deal with tasks assigned by the Emperor.
He could only bring the man closer and give him a few warnings.
Looking at his face, it was indeed as the Emperor had said, somehow familiar, as if he had seen him before.
He didn't feel any warmth, rather a bit of disgust, thinking he looked like a court jester.
Moreover, he was personally recommended by the Emperor, who remembered him.
Minister Lu gave him a few stern words, seeing his apparent lack of understanding, he closed his eyes briefly.
A former rebel, from the countryside, probably caught the Emperor's eye with that face of his.
"Your father and I were once colleagues, yet in the blink of an eye, you've grown so big," Minister Lu mentioned the late former Grand Tutor Jiang.
In official circles, this wasn't a friendly remark, but rather implying, "I'm from your father's generation, you'd better behave yourself."
Jiang Changtian obediently nodded.
Appearing inarticulate.
Looking very much like a handsome but empty-headed person.
In his heart, he thought that Minister Lu wouldn't have called him here just for a warning.
Sure enough, when Minister Lu finally gave him his appointment, he saw the official position and understood that yesterday's visit to the Emperor with his in-laws had indeed been effective.
"Imperial Secretary, Fourth Rank, belonging to the Chancellery, a close attendant to the Emperor, with a salary of six hundred shi."
......
Returning home, Mianmian curiously looked at her father's appointment letter.
Had father been promoted another rank just like that?
"Brother, what kind of official is an Imperial Secretary?" Mianmian asked curiously.
Zi.Wiki.Congheng explained, "An Imperial Secretary is a close attendant to the Emperor, an outer court official who can enter and exit the inner palace relatively freely, though they must leave before the gates are locked. Their main job is to handle communications of official business between the Emperor and the Director of the Department of State Affairs."
Jiang Mianmian pondered, thinking it was like being a secretary in the Emperor's secretariat? The Fourth Rank should be at least at the bureau or department level. In the capital, although the rank itself wasn't exceptionally high, being close to the Emperor should make it quite influential.
Father's salary was six hundred shi, which should be annual.
Shi was a unit, meaning about 120 jin (catties).
It should be calculated in grain.
Mianmian did some calculations, using rice as an example, with one jin of rice costing about 3 yuan.
3 yuan * 120 jin * 600 shi = 216,000 yuan.
Father's annual salary was about 216,000 yuan.
A monthly salary of about 18,000 yuan.
A monthly salary of 18,000, a bureau-level official, in the capital, it seemed that without some side income, it wouldn't be enough to support such a large family.
Raising horses, servants, guards, maintaining the residence, social obligations.
Zi Congheng saw Mianmian counting on her fingers and looked up at the sky, exasperated.
Nobody really lived on their official salary alone. Salaries were usually mentioned when the Emperor wanted to punish someone, saying they would be fined a certain number of years or months of salary.
Mianmian returned the appointment letter to her father and said, "Father, we should find ways to earn money, but don't be corrupt. Your job is very risky. They say serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, it's quite difficult."
Jiang Changtian looked at his little daughter's serious expression and couldn't help but smile, "Alright, I'll do as you say. You stay at home and think about what we can do in the capital, how we can make money."
......
