Chapter 2282: Two Young Scholars

Chapter 2282: Two Young Scholars

Among the people applying for work, there were still few who could read and write, and most of them had modest family backgrounds.

Those who genuinely had the ability had definitely joined the queue on the right side.

However, there were two down-and-out young scholars who came to apply for work, one in his early twenties and the other in his fifties.

The younger one had experienced a family tragedy shortly after becoming a young scholar when both his parents passed away. He had been devoted to studying for many years, lacking any life skills. He dismissed the household servants and started everything from scratch. Not long after, his wife couldn't bear the hardship and left him, becoming another man's second wife. She had left behind their two-year-old daughter.

It was impossible for him to continue his studies since he had no money and no time. He needed to provide for his daughter.

Fortunately, he was a young scholar, so he could work as an accountant or copy books to earn a meager living.

However, his daughter was still too young, and he couldn't bring her along while he worked. So, he entrusted her to a neighboring woman to take care of her. Little did he know that one day, when he came home, he would witness the neighbor abusing and scolding his daughter, telling her that her mother didn't want her because she was naughty.

He was furious and scolded the neighbor before kicking her out. Since then, he dared not let anyone else take care of his daughter. Later, after negotiating a reduced wage with his employer, he was allowed to bring his daughter with him.

However, he was sometimes too busy, and one day, while his daughter was sitting obediently near the door, she was almost abducted by human traffickers.

Thankfully, the government had been actively pursuing these traffickers, and after his daughter disappeared for a night, the criminals were arrested, and his daughter was found safe and sound.

After these two incidents, the young scholar was left traumatized and didn't know what to do. Later, someone suggested that he remarry to have a wife at home to manage the household and take care of the child.

However, after going through so much, the young scholar didn't see this as a good solution.

His daughter had grown even quieter, and the slightest noise would frighten her like a startled bird. Just when he was about to compromise, news suddenly came from Zhenglu Academy that they were recruiting workers.

If he could work at the academy, he wouldn't need to worry about kidnappers. His daughter was now four years old, and as long as he gave her a small area to play on her own, safety wouldn't be an issue.

Moreover, the academy was filled with scholars, and while they might have various personalities, they were all educated individuals. Most of them were reasonable and kind-hearted, so he didn't worry about anyone mistreating his daughter.

He had also inquired about the Academy Headmaster, Meng Yunzheng, and even heard about Meng Yunzheng's responses regarding childbirth. If such a person needed to be worried about, he couldn't think of a more suitable place.

So, this time, the young scholar came for the interview with his daughter.

Shu Yu had always been patient with children, especially when she heard about the hardships the child had experienced. She had snacks and sweets sent to the little girl, who thanked her in a timid and careful manner. She smiled and patted the girl's head, then looked up at the young scholar.

"Chang Jiayi, you've been accepted."

Chang Jiayi's knowledge was unquestionable, and as for his character, his attitude towards his daughter had already shown that he had no major issues. As for other matters...

"However, it's our practice to have a three-month probationary period here. If, after three months, your performance isn't satisfactory, we won't hesitate to let you go. Rest assured, you will be paid during these three months. If you manage to stay after three months, your wages will increase."