"Young Master Wang's talent is extraordinary, and Chang Le Fang does not wish to miss out on such potential. From my observations these past few days, every time Young Master Wang visits Chang Le Fang, you only play six rounds and win no more than ten taels. This shows you are here for amusement, not because you lack funds. If you are willing to join us at Chang Le Fang, then Chang Le Fang will be your home from now on, and you can play as much as you like! Not only Chang Le Fang, but all the major brothels, taverns, and entertainment venues in Duanjing, you can go wherever you please!"
The black-clothed attendant standing by twitched his eye socket fiercely. *Young Master, isn't this a bit much? Not everyone treats eating, drinking, and entertainment as their primary concern!*
Wang Qingyao was quite tempted, but still asked cautiously, "How would I join?"
"How about being a banker? With Young Master Wang's abilities, becoming a shopkeeper in the future is not out of the question!"
*Tsk, really good at making empty promises.*
However, Wang Qingyao, having died from overwork, was currently resistant to the idea of working. She only wanted to eat, drink, and enjoy the pleasures of the world.
Moreover, even if she were willing, her status would not permit it.
"I can join Chang Le Fang, but I won't work. I'll just take a salary."
Young Master Xiao was taken aback. Despite his extensive experience, he had never encountered such an audacious request.
"What I mean is, I cannot appear in public, but in private, I can be Young Master Xiao's... employee. An employee is similar to a subordinate. If Young Master Xiao has any tasks, I will certainly go through fire and water for you without hesitation."
*Who can't make empty promises?*
Young Master Xiao thought she had guessed his identity and showed a touched expression. "I never imagined Young Master Wang would have the desire to follow me..."
"Of course, you will have to pay me a salary. There should be holidays and benefits during festivals. In the summer, it's best to have air conditioning and cold drink allowances. In winter, there should also be heating allowances. Additionally, there should be appropriate subsidies for clothing and transportation expenses throughout the year, and all expenses incurred while carrying out tasks must be reimbursed... I can only think of this much for now. I'll tell you more when I think of it."
Young Master Xiao: "..."
*Why have I never heard of these expenses before?*
Silently calculating the costs in his mind, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine."
Words are not proof, so Wang Qingyao immediately asked the waiter to bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. She dictated the terms, and Young Master Xiao recorded them one by one.
She set her salary at one hundred taels per month, which was equivalent to approximately two hundred thousand RMB. Young Master Xiao, being wealthy, had no objections.
After both had signed and affixed their thumbprints, Young Master Xiao unfastened the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to her. "You can collect your money from Liyuan Bank yourself each month. If there's anything, I'll have Yuan Bao notify you."
Wang Qingyao looked at the black-clothed attendant in surprise. Why would a man over six feet tall who looked so imposing be named Yuan Bao?
Yuan Bao lowered his head in shame. His master was capricious; what could he do?
However, compared to those named Jinzi, Yinzi, or Tongqian, he thought his own name was much better.
With that thought, he held his head high again.
Young Master Xiao glanced at Wang Qingyao's scrawling signature on the contract. "Your name is Wang Qing?"
"Mm."
"Are you from the Wang family, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"
Young Master Xiao had already had Yuan Bao investigate Wang Qingyao's background.
For people of their status, they would certainly investigate thoroughly before hiring anyone.
However, the previous Wang Qingyao had lived a reclusive life, and the Wang family did not pay much attention to her, so few outsiders had seen her.
Yuan Bao, seeing her enter the Wang residence and considering the attitude of the gatekeeper, assumed she was a distant relative living with the Wang family.
The educational level in Duanjing was higher than in provincial cities, and the Wang family did indeed have disciples who were studying there and living in the mansion.
Wang Qingyao nodded and said earnestly, "I am a maidservant of Assistant Minister Wang's household."
With a "噗" sound, the wine in Young Master Xiao's mouth spurted out.
"You're a woman?" Young Master Xiao's mood was extremely complicated. The talent he had finally discovered was a woman!
It wasn't that he looked down on women, but when it came to getting things done, women were ultimately less convenient than men.
Yuan Bao also looked at Wang Qingyao with surprise several times.
Wang Qingyao became angry. "I just tied up my hair and wore men's clothing. Aren't my feminine features very obvious? Look at my skin, as delicate as a peach blossom, look at my captivating eyes, and," she stood up, chest puffed out, "look at my graceful curves. Are you blind?"
Wang Qingyao's disguise as a man was merely for convenience.
The Great Sheng Dynasty had an open social atmosphere, and the strict separation between men and women was not as severe as in previous dynasties.
Although it was uncommon for women to enter gambling houses, it was not unheard of.
Normally, as long as one wore men's clothing, people would turn a blind eye, and no one would stop them even if they went to a brothel.
Wang Qingyao had always assumed that Young Master Xiao and his servant had seen through her disguise long ago.
Young Master Xiao scrutinized her from head to toe. Her figure was flat, her face and bones were small, and even her skin was not fair and tender. Only her wide, staring eyes held a spark of intelligence.
He said unceremoniously, "Tell me yourself, where are these curves? What's the difference between you and those fourteen or fifteen-year-old boys?"
Wang Qingyao retorted, "I'm seventeen."
"Give me back the jade pendant, and the contract just now is void!"
"Are you discriminating based on gender?"
Young Master Xiao stood up, and Wang Qingyao dropped her chopsticks and darted out with lightning speed.
*Joking! After finally latching onto a powerful figure, how could I let go so easily?*
This Young Master Xiao was clearly no ordinary person, and would be of great use in the future!
Young Master Xiao did not expect her to simply run away and was momentarily stunned.
Yuan Bao made a move to chase, but Young Master Xiao, recalling how she had darted away like a rabbit, couldn't help but chuckle. He said, "Forget it. Go and investigate again to see if she is indeed Assistant Minister Wang's maidservant."
...
Wang Qingyao ran all the way back to the Wang residence.
The courtyard where she lived was called Lengxiang Yuan (Cold Fragrance Courtyard). Judging by the name, it was not a good place.
It was the most secluded courtyard in the Wang residence, receiving no sunlight and only exposed to the cold wind.
Few people visited it, making it both desolate and remote.
Young Master Xiao had said one thing incorrectly.
She gambled not for amusement, and her practice of knowing when to stop was not because she lacked money.
On the contrary, it was precisely because she was desperately short of money.
As the second young lady with little presence in the Wang family, she had no income other than her monthly allowance of five taels.
The servants in the mansion were snobbish. With her status, even a favored senior maidservant of the main branch lived a more glamorous life than her. Not to mention, she had no money to give as tips. Apart from the two maids in Lengxiang Yuan, she couldn't command anyone else.
The meals delivered daily from the kitchen were either leftovers that the masters of various branches didn't want or were cold and insufficient in portion.
No wonder, at seventeen years old, Young Master Xiao thought she was only fourteen or fifteen.
This was the result of long-term malnutrition!
However, even though she was desperately short of money, she understood the rules of gambling.
If she had made a fortune on her first visit using her clairvoyance, she would likely have been blacklisted the very next day.
How could she have ended up like this, earning a little each day, a steady stream, and even attracting a big boss!