I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 2 Xie Men Li Xue
Yunmeng City administers thirteen courtyards, each with three offices. Including the Yunmeng Guard, the patrol team, the towns and government-run businesses within its jurisdiction, there are nearly ten thousand people working for the government.

However, more than 80% of them are non-staff members.

The mark indicating whether it is part of a series or not lies in this bronze flying fish emblem.

Standing in front of Xue Xiang, Jiang Kun, even though his uncle was the deputy director of the Third Division, had not managed to obtain a bronze flying fish baluster.

After all, each flying fish buoy has its own designated spot; you have to pull out the buoy to create a spot.

If Xue Xiang were to spread the word that he was willing to negotiate for this flying fish coin, it would surely be snapped up.

Xue Xiang was certain that Jiang Kun approached him for the flying fish dart.

At this moment, he used resignation as an excuse to deliberately keep Jiang Kun hanging, so that the kid would not continue to use dirty tricks to harm people.

“Well, since you’ve made up your mind, Brother Xue, I’ll help you find someone to make the deal.”

As he spoke, Jiang Kun took out five spirit tablets and handed them to Xue Xiang, saying, "Your family has a heavy burden, and you've been exempted from three months' salary. Take these and use them to tide you over for a while."

Don't refuse. Refusing means you don't consider me a brother.

Xue Xiang feigned a couple of refusals, then accepted the gift. He endured his disgust and chatted with Jiang Kun for a while before Jiang Kun left with light steps.

I'll kill you sooner or later.

Watching Jiang Kun's departing figure, Xue offered a blessing and returned to the public housing.

My three colleagues who shared a room with me were away on business trips, so it was quite peaceful.

He brewed a cup of hot tea, opened the window to let in the lush greenery and white clouds, and began to assess his situation.

There must have been someone behind the database fire.

Xue Xiang also knew that the person behind the scenes was not targeting him; he was merely collateral damage.

It's not hard to guess that the real target of the person behind the scenes is the newly appointed Dean Xie Haiya.

With the database catching fire and the general ledger in disarray, Xie Haiya, as the newly appointed dean, bears a heavy responsibility.

At best, it would result in a complete loss of face and a significant damage to prestige; at worst, it would lead to dismissal and investigation.

Based on the principle that whoever benefits is the mastermind, Xue Xiang's first suspect was Vice President Su Suiran.

"It's troublesome."

Xue Xiang was very annoyed.

He had no intention of getting involved, but he was already caught in the trap.

He had no intention of taking sides, but he naturally ended up in Xie Haiya's camp, which meant he was on the opposite side of the mastermind behind the scenes.

The key point is that Xie Haiya may not appreciate it and may not take the initiative to protect him.

"No, we can't be cannon fodder and die without knowing why. We need to find a powerful patron to support us."

Having made his decision, Xue left the public housing, crossed Qingping, and arrived at Zhiqian Road.

There were several shops there, selling snacks, cooked food, and drinks, catering to the public.

Xue Xiang spent one hundred spirit silk to buy two roast chickens and a jar of bamboo leaf green tea, and then walked straight to the gatehouse.

After drinking with the well-informed doorman, Lao Xie, for almost an hour, Xue Xiang finally obtained detailed information about Xie Haiya.

At three quarters past 5 PM, Xue Xiang rushed to the Plum Blossom Hall to see Xie Haiya, only to be told that Xie Haiya was working and that he should go back first.

Xue Xiang did not return, but stood outside the Plum Blossom Hall waiting, and waited from 3:45 PM to 1:15 PM.

A cold north wind was blowing, and heavy snow began to fall again around 3 PM.

Xue Xiang stood motionless in place until the heavy snow buried him.

His thick cotton-padded coat was slowly soaked with sweat. With only the first level of Qi Refining cultivation, his physical condition was not much different from that of an ordinary person.

He endured the biting cold and stood firm in the wind and snow.

He was confident that Xie Haiya would have to rely on himself to copy the accounts, and he would definitely give him a chance.

"Standing in the snow at Xie's door, trying to create a literary allusion? Alas, I am not a famous scholar, and you are not a madman."

Hearing the sound, Xue Xiang opened his eyes and saw Xie Haiya, wrapped in a snow-white fox fur coat, standing on the steps, staring coldly at him.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Xue Xiang bowed respectfully, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

Xie Haiya waved his hand, "In the past, Master Yinping was renowned throughout the land, and Wang Taikang wished to study under him."

Whenever Mr. Yinping gave a lecture, Wang Taikang would dress in bright clothes, wear a flower wreath, and talk eloquently.

When others discussed Wang Taikang's behavior with Mr. Yinping, Mr. Yinping only replied with three words.

Do you know what those three words are?

"I wish to show off." The former Xue Xiang was not well-educated, but he was still somewhat literate and knew this allusion.

"Yes, Wang Taikang is unconventional, just to attract Mr. Yinping's attention."

Xie Haiya practically pointed his finger at Xue Xiang and said outright that he was following Wang Taikang's methods.

Xue Xiang remained unfazed. "Your Excellency's insight is truly remarkable; I admire it greatly."

"May I ask, Your Excellency, what became of Mr. Yinping and Wang Taikang afterward?"

Xie Haiya was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Later in the story, Wang Taikang became Master Yinping's chief disciple and made great contributions to the development of Yinping's teachings.

"You're quite clever; come in and talk."

Xie Haiya turned and walked inside.

Xue Xiang shook off the snow covering his body and entered the Plum Blossom Hall, where the roaring fire made the room warm and cozy.

"Tell me, what brings you here?"

Xie Haiya sat down on the recliner by the stove.

Xue Xiang bowed and said, "This humble servant has come only to beg for my life."

The Chief Justice must be fully aware of the details surrounding the fire at the archives.

If I were to actually copy the master ledger, I would deeply offend the person who set this up.

Without Your Excellency's protection, I would surely die without a burial place.

Xie Haiya remained silent for a few moments. "Let's finish transcribing the accounts first. Starting tomorrow, you and your men will be transcribing the accounts in the Plum Blossom Hall."

"As ordered!"

Xue Xiang was overjoyed; his life was temporarily safe.

When I came out of the Plum Blossom Hall, it was already 11:45 PM.

The wind blew and the snow fell heavily, everything was white, and the ground was slippery. Xue Xiang carefully descended Jiufen Mountain.

Jiufen Mountain is located in the heart of Yunmeng City, surrounded by bustling city centers on both sides, and is also a core area of ​​power.

Even though it was late at night, there were still coachmen waiting for customers. Xue Xiang dared not save any more money and hired a horse-drawn carriage. Half an incense stick later, he returned home to Niuma Lane.

As soon as he appeared outside the door, two pretty figures, one tall and one short, quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Upon first meeting, Xue Xiang felt a sudden sense of disorientation.

That tall woman was unbelievably beautiful. She was over 1.7 meters tall with thick, dark hair. Even though she wore a wide skirt, it couldn't hide her stunning figure.

With her eyebrows like wisps of smoke and her eyes like pools of autumn water, even Xue Xiang, who was used to the bombardment of extreme beauty filters on Douyin, felt a sense of suffocation at this moment.

"Lang Jun."

The tall woman walked up to him and gently brushed the snowflakes off his shoulder.

Xue Xiang was dumbfounded. He had been to clubs and had been close to TikTok influencers in his previous life, but he had never seen such a stunning beauty.
His mind almost went blank, but soon, a flood of memories came rushing back.

The tall girl was named Liu Mei, and she was twenty-three years old. She was sold to the Xue family when she was eight.

She shared joys and sorrows with the Xue family. Xue's mother treated her very well, and Xue Xiang and his four siblings had long regarded her as their own older sister.

"Sister Mei."

Xue Xiangqiang composed himself, picked up the short little girl in his arms. This was her younger sister, Xue Shi, who was only eight years old.

Lifting the heavy curtain, Xue Xiangcai entered the main room, where a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of meat rushed towards him.

On the stove in the center of the main room, braised chicken with mushrooms was simmering. A beautiful middle-aged woman carrying a bowl of red rice walked to Xue Xiang's side and gently wiped the snowflakes off his body.

“Mother, why aren’t you resting yet? As a public servant, I don’t have time to myself. You don’t need to wait for me in the future.”

Xue Xiang himself didn't realize that his feelings for the three people in front of him were as natural and flowing as a stream.

"My lord, let's eat first."

Liu Mei then brought out four steaming hot side dishes.

When Xue Xiang glanced at Liu Mei's face again, he felt as if he were in a dream.

As memories and emotions from his ex-girlfriend washed over him repeatedly, Xue Xiang's infatuation with Liu Mei quickly faded.

As the food was served, Xiao Shi stared intently at the chicken in the pot, her throat bobbing as she swallowed repeatedly.

During the new book period, I will write 4,000 words per day, from 8 am to 6 pm.

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(End of this chapter)