Dugong

Chapter 11 Getting what you want

The sudden explosion of the small table surprised Li Pingan and set off alarm bells in his heart.

How could a guy who flatters and fawns all day long develop such profound skills? Who can tell the depth of his skills among the other eunuchs around him?

You never know for sure which old eunuch, hunched over and smoking at night, might be an unfathomable and powerful man.

"Luckily, our Xiang Xiaorongzi has learned to be low-key. If he had shown off his talent everywhere, he would have gained nothing and become the target of public criticism..."

Li Ping'an is not a fool or a blind man. He knows that he is gifted. However, before his talent is transformed into corresponding strength, it may bring him fatal disaster.

Besides, he only wanted to work in the Shangshenjian, and he didn't have any high or big desires.

Half a year ago, eating white flour buns every day was a life I couldn’t even dream of!
Soon it was Li Ping'an's turn to test. He only used about half of his true energy and left a palm print one and a half inches deep on the copper pillar.

This result is neither high nor low, just above average, which is consistent with what we usually call above average qualifications.

People with superior qualifications are easily noticed and guarded against, while people with mediocre qualifications are easily bullied. Both are just asking for trouble.

Only the upper middle reaches are the most stable.

After everyone finished the test, Li Ping'an secretly calculated and found that the proportion of eunuchs with "above average" qualifications was quite large.

"How much of this is true and how much is false?"

I thought my transformation after entering the palace was incredibly fast, but today I realized that everyone is well versed in the art of survival.

In order to survive, ants must quickly integrate into and adapt to the environment.

"You little brats are much better than in previous years."

Eunuch Chu narrowed his eyes, with a half-smile on his face: "I am old, and I can't sit on this throne for many more years. Eventually, the affairs of the palace will be handed over to you..."

The little table fell to its knees and said, "Long live the ancestors!"

The other eunuchs were startled for a moment, then reacted and hurriedly knelt down, shouting in uneven voices.

"May our ancestors be blessed with good health and happiness!"

"Jie Jie Jie..."

Eunuch Chu glanced at the small table with satisfaction and said with a smile, "We've asked the Imperial Household Department to add a few vacancies. You should serve well, practice martial arts and study hard, and don't let us down!"

This vacancy was naturally not an official vacancy, but rather a miscellaneous job such as gatekeeping, messaging, lighting, and keying.

However, working in the Imperial Household Department, I get to see the emperor every day. Who knows, one day I might catch his eye and rise to prominence.

Civil and military examinations were common ways for eunuchs to get promoted, but it was different in the emperor's mind. Promotion to any official position was a matter of a word from His Majesty.

For example, the eunuch Chu in front of him is not the best in terms of martial arts and knowledge, but he has firmly controlled the Ministry of Internal Affairs for more than 30 years.

The reason is simple, it is all due to the great favor of the Emperor!
"Thank you, ancestors, for your cultivation!"

The eunuchs at the small table took the lead in expressing their gratitude again, and the other eunuchs quickly followed suit.

In just two sentences, the small table became the leader of the crowd, and it really made a name for itself in front of Eunuch Chu.

……

Back to the residence.

Xiao Fangzi asked about the test results, and Li Pingan told him the truth.

"Even if you don't get into the Imperial Kitchen, you can still be assigned to the Imperial Household Department or the Imperial Household Department, and you'll have the chance to see the Emperor in the future."

Xiao Fangzi pondered for a moment and took out a silver note from his sleeve.

"Don't practice for the next few days. Someone may come to assign you an errand at any time. Remember to give the silver to the eunuch who will send you there."

Li Pingan took it and looked at it. It turned out to be a denomination of fifty taels. He couldn't help but be shocked.

"Isn't this too much?"

Before entering the palace, her parents worked hard for half their lives, but the family only saved two strings of copper coins, which they spent all on food during the drought.

Fifty taels of silver notes can buy five or six acres of dry land.

"Not much."

Xiao Fangzi explained: "The eunuchs who deliver messages are all confidants of the eunuch in charge. If you give them money, they won't say bad things when they report back, so they won't have to do a hard job." The implication is that giving money may not necessarily bring benefits, but not giving money will definitely bring disaster.

Xiao Yuanzi also took out a few silver notes, with denominations ranging from five taels to ten taels.

"This money can be used to give to colleagues. It can quickly build relationships and prevent others from making things difficult for you while you're working."

Li Ping'an held the hundred taels of silver in his hand, suppressed the urge to run home overnight to buy land, and said with a bow.

"Thank you both for your advice, if you have any requests, please let me know."

There is no free bread in the world, and there is no free money.

Xiao Fangzi said bluntly: "Xiao Anzi, when you are on duty, listen more to the news about His Majesty, especially his preferences in food, clothing, and orders."

Li Pingan nodded and agreed: "I remember it, what if I can't hear it?"

"Then this silver will be considered as a gift from Eunuch An!"

I waited for three days.

The eunuch who came to summon Li Ping'an came to his residence and handed him a pass to the imperial kitchen.

"From now on, you will be on duty in the Imperial Kitchen. The specific tasks will be arranged by Chief Sun himself tomorrow."

Li Ping'an was overjoyed that he was actually assigned to the Imperial Kitchen. He quickly took the token and stuffed back fifty taels of silver.

"Thank you for the trip, father-in-law."

He had been thinking about embezzling the banknotes these days. Even if he didn't embezzle all of them, he could at least give him a few taels less.

Save the money and find an opportunity to send it back home so that my parents can also eat white flour buns.

In the end, he did as Xiao Fangzi said and presented fifty taels of silver notes. One reason was that he was afraid of getting a big loss for a small gain, and the other was that he had to listen to advice to survive in the palace.

What the seniors said may not be entirely correct, but it can help you avoid many traps!

The eunuch who summoned the message skillfully put the banknote into his sleeve and said with satisfaction, "You are a person who knows the rules. We will say a few good words for you in front of Master Sun."

Li Ping'an sent the eunuch away and returned to his room to carefully examine the bronze token.

It is the size of a palm, feels heavy in the hand, and is covered with cloud patterns.

The front is engraved with the three big characters "Imperial Kitchen", and the back is engraved with the words "Eunuch Department, Shangshanjian, No. 367", and there are also small characters such as "Hang this card when entering and leaving, those who do not have the card will be punished, and those who lend it will be punished the same as those who borrow it."

Li Pingan murmured to himself: "With this brand, our family will have endless white flour steamed buns to eat, as well as all kinds of delicious dishes, delicacies from land and sea..."

The desire to eat enough and the fear of hunger have long been deeply engraved in his bones.

Nothing in the world is more important than eating white flour steamed buns. Those who have not experienced the pain of being on the verge of starvation and have not seen their sister starve to death in front of their own eyes have no right to despise Li Ping'an.

The next morning.

Li Ping'an finished washing up early, and without waiting for Xiao Fangzi and the other two to wake up, he put on his badge and rushed to the imperial kitchen.

The task of fetching water has been passed on to the newcomer, Xiao Zhenzi.

This guy was much smarter than Li Ping'an when he first arrived. The next day he rushed to fetch water and sweep the floor, and also took on the chores of washing clothes and folding quilts.

He spoke in a pleasant manner, which made the three seniors happy and they were willing to teach him how to read and write.

"Everyone in this palace is talented!"

Li Ping'an came to the outside of the imperial kitchen and underwent six rigorous inspections. He was allowed to enter only after repeated confirmation that he was not carrying any poisonous substances.

After passing through several courtyards, we finally arrived at the main office.

After the doorman reported the matter, Li Ping'an followed the rules taught by Eunuch Xu, bowed his head and knelt to enter the house, and knelt down and kowtowed about ten feet away.

"Xiao Anzi pays homage to the steward eunuch!"

"Get up."

Eunuch Sun sipped his tea slowly, looked him up and down, and asked in a shrill voice.

"What is your relationship with Eunuch Rong?"

(End of this chapter)