There are too many female protagonists with deceased husbands in the Qin Dynasty's Past Books.

Jiang Mo felt that his judgment was reasonable. Hu Meier must have some special hobbies that she couldn't tell outsiders, otherwise why would she have treasured everything left behind by this little thief?

Surely he hasn't already secretly fallen for her?

While lost in thought, Jiang Mo suddenly felt his elbow being touched by the person next to him. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't react immediately and subconsciously turned his head to look at the stranger he didn't recognize.

But the other person didn't even look at him.

Instead, they looked straight ahead, bowed along with the other candidates, and said in unison, "Greetings, Second Miss!"

Jiang Mo then realized what was happening and quickly followed suit with a bow.

However, he was still a step too late. While the other candidates had already bowed, he was still standing there dumbfounded, which was quite conspicuous.

Hu Meier's gaze immediately fell on Jiang Mo.

Hmm? It's him again. Could it really be him...?

Seeing that the person whose reaction was out of sync was the same person she had observed through the binoculars several times earlier, Hu Meier's suspicions deepened.

But before she could speak, she suddenly heard a flapping sound of wings:

"Idiot, there's an idiot~"

The red-breasted parrot, which had been preening its feathers, seemed startled by the shouts from the crowd and began to jump around restlessly in its cage.

Then she noticed Jiang Mo's dazed and confused look in the crowd, a beat behind her.

It immediately flapped its wings and cried out, its melodious voice delivering a merciless mockery that made Hu Meier smile involuntarily.

That smile was truly captivating, leaving countless people mesmerized.

No one questioned Jiang Mo's momentary lapse in concentration and slow reaction, as they were all focused on admiring Hu Meier's smiling face and were quite surprised by the parrot's sudden speech.

"You are all talented individuals, and it is truly an honor for the villa to have come here despite the hardships."

Hu Meier handed the light gauze umbrella to Chunlan, took two steps forward, and bowed slightly in return to everyone's greeting. Her demeanor was quite dignified and composed.

Her delicate and charming voice was simply irresistible.

"I am not very talented, but lately I have wanted to help my father but I often find myself unable to do so. Therefore, I am looking for someone who is both wise and brave to help me. So I have set up three questions for you. If there is anything offensive, please forgive me."

Hu Meier is clearly a dramatic character.

When she said, "You are all talents," her beautiful eyes sparkled, revealing the admiration of a girl next door seeing a great hero.

When she mentioned her difficulties, she frowned slightly, showing a pitiful look.

Unbeknownst to them, the emotions in everyone's hearts were stirred by her actions. They felt moved and proud to be appreciated, and they also felt sorry for Hu Meier's pitiful state.

After that conversation, let alone the three test questions.

Even with three hundred exam questions, it's safe to say we'll have to give it our all!

Even though Jiang Mo was on guard, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement in his heart.

A strong thought stirred within me: "To repay your kindness, I would gladly die for you."

This girl is really something...

It has the potential to bring disaster to the country and its people!

Not only does it possess the alluring charm of a Western succubus, it also has the discerning eye of a "Chinese succubus."

I don't know where he learned that.

"Test us properly, we can't just rely on brute force, we don't want those reckless, strong, and crude brutes!"

As Jiang Mo was silently reflecting on his situation, he suddenly heard the parrot in the cage flapping its wings and squawking again, and his expression immediately became subtle.

This sentence sounds familiar...

Wasn't that what I said when I was instructing Chu Yan on how to learn martial arts, telling him to use his brain more?

This parrot really dares to imitate anything and say anything.

Jiang Mo's remark was indeed accurate. After the parrot finished squabbling off the phrases it had stolen from him, it paced back and forth in its cage with an air of superiority, calling out like a boss with his hands behind his back:

"You need to be familiar with the situation inside and outside the manor. You can't be completely clueless, or you'll end up not being able to do anything well and just holding others back."

"This is not good, this is not good..."

What was said casually was taken to heart by the listeners; many candidates' eyes flickered slightly upon hearing it, as if they had grasped something from the parrot's words.

Hu Meier did not stop the red-breasted parrot from talking.

She took in the reactions of the candidates opposite her, smiled slightly, and said, "Please rest well, everyone. We will discuss the exam questions in detail after lunch."

So Jiang Mo went to the kitchen under the steward's guidance.

Along the way, many people were whispering and guessing about the general direction of the exam questions, but Jiang Mo paid no attention to them. Once he arrived at the kitchen, he immediately started eating.

The main point is that he's not enthusiastic about eating, which suggests a problem with his thinking.

But there's always an uninvited guest who likes to show up on their own. Just as Jiang Mo was enjoying his meal, someone casually patted him on the shoulder:

"This brother seems quite confident about the test this afternoon!"

Chapter 26 Crimson Blood Ganoderma

Jiang Mo was surprised that his low-key demeanor would attract attention and turn to look at the person sitting next to him.

He looks like a pretty clever young man.

Her clothes weren't particularly luxurious, but they were clean and tidy, much more pleasing to the eye than Jiang Mo's tattered clothes covered in patches.

He had a very familiar and friendly smile on his face.

Jiang Mo vaguely remembered this person. When the steward was selecting servants and asking them about their skills, this guy seemed to talk a lot.

What does it mean to be well-read, knowledgeable in astronomy and geography...?

He sounds like a cultured person, but I imagine he's only had a few years of schooling. If he were truly capable, he would be better off seeking a future in the Seven Kingdoms or studying among the various schools of thought than working as a servant here.

However, Jiang Mo understood.

When it comes to job hunting, a little embellishment is always necessary; otherwise, how can you fill up your resume to the brim? Regardless of whether your skills meet the job requirements, just get in first.

Even Jiang Mo, when discussing his own abilities, would never tell the truth.

However, he did the opposite, not exaggerating at all, but instead concealing his core abilities.

When asked about his skills, Jiang Mo simply replied that he was very fast on his feet.

He seemed quite honest and simple.

This was, of course, Jiang Mo deliberately concealing his true abilities, hoping to impress Hu Meier by performing exceptionally well. Even so, he still passed the initial screening.

After all, boasting always carries some exaggeration, but practical demonstrations are much more authentic.

Without activating the internal energy technique "Riding the Wind and Embracing the Moon" or using any lightness skills, Jiang Mo simply strolled around at a pace similar to a leisurely walk after a meal. The speed he displayed was less than one-tenth or one-twelfth of his true ability, but it was enough to amaze the person in charge.

Jiang Mo also conducted research.

Fire Rain Manor is so big that running back and forth between the front and back yards is quite a distance, so one or two servants with excellent stamina are always needed to run back and forth to deliver messages.

This is called accurately responding to job requirements.

Returning to the present, in his plan to infiltrate the manor under a false identity, Jiang Mo has consistently adhered to the principle of keeping a low profile, which naturally means he must continue to conceal his true abilities.

Faced with this sudden attempt to strike up a conversation, he simply gave a sheepish smile:

"What confidence do I have? I wouldn't dare to dream of working under the Second Miss. I'd be perfectly content just to be a servant in the manor!"

After giving that vague answer, Jiang Mo continued to eat.

He completely displayed the appearance of a peasant with no ambition and little drive.

"Hey, brother, you're mistaken. Since the Second Miss didn't specify a target, it means that everyone has a chance. Why should you belittle yourself?"

The man spoke in a refined manner, but Jiang Mo remained focused on eating.

Seeing Jiang Mo's unmoved expression, the man cursed inwardly, but still patiently continued to persuade him:

"Even if one person's strength is weak, if we cooperate with each other, we can still have considerable competitiveness."

"cooperate?"

Upon hearing a word that surprised him, Jiang Mo finally put down his bowl, turned to look at the person who had come to persuade him, and said in a simple and honest voice:

"Wasn't the plan to select only one person? Why are you even cooperating?"

"Brother, your words are a bit simplistic. After all, there are three questions in the exam. No one can be good at everything. Naturally, there are opportunities to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses."

Seeing that Jiang Mo finally reacted, the man's spirits lifted.

He glanced around and, seeing that not many people were paying attention, lowered his voice and pointed towards the kitchen door:

"Brother, look over there, that person who went out..."

Looking in the direction the other person was pointing, Jiang Mo did indeed see a candidate sneaking out of the door, seemingly following someone from inside the villa towards a corner.

"Those people all have connections within the manor."

"As for the situation inside and outside the manor, and the Second Miss's preferences, how could we, as unrelated outsiders, possibly compare with them? Without cooperation and mutual assistance, we certainly wouldn't have any competitiveness whatsoever..."

I must say, this guy's words were indeed very persuasive.

Anyone with a modicum of ambition, upon seeing this situation, even if they originally didn't want to compete, would likely agree to cooperate out of resentment.

Even if they can't be selected, it's good to make it harder for those with connections.

Unfortunately, this guy picked the wrong person.

Jiang Mo remained skeptical about Hu Meier's sudden offer of favor and decided to continue observing the situation before deciding whether to actually complete the three tests.

For example, those three test questions were unremarkable, and many people passed them.

It wouldn't be a problem if Jiang Mo mingled in the crowd and quietly took up a spot.

But if those three test questions focus on lightness skills, lock picking, and thieving skills, and Jiang Mo still tries to get them, wouldn't that be like admitting defeat and walking into a trap?

So, faced with the person next to him trying to persuade him, Jiang Mo just shook his head sheepishly.

"Brother, you should go find someone else. I don't have any special skills and can't help you. I might even hold you back."

"Don't you have any ambition at all?"