Rushing to the gate of the Cai residence, Wang Xian froze again the moment he alighted from the carriage.
The main gate of the Cai mansion was shut tight. Not a soul was in sight, not even a ghost.
Save for two imposing stone lions, there was truly nothing else.
"My lord, you have arrived!"
Seeing Wang Xian's dazed expression, the coachman who had brought him rushed to remind him in a low voice.
"Ah? Oh, here's the fare, no need to find change!"
Tossing a piece of silver to the coachman, Wang Xian finally disembarked from the carriage with a dejected look.
After circling the Cai mansion's gate a few times, he still found no way in.
Just as he began to suspect he had been deceived by Zhe Wanchun, a tea vendor on the street suddenly stopped him.
"Esteemed sir, have you come to seek advancement?"
Hearing the vendor's words, Wang Xian jolted. Did everyone on the street know about such matters now?
"How did you know?"
Though he felt a pang of discomfort at having his intentions exposed, Wang Xian suppressed it and asked directly.
"Heh, what a question! Among the people coming and going here every day, nine out of ten are here for the same reason! You look like it's your first time here, isn't it?"
As he spoke, the vendor poured him a cup of tea.
"That's right, it is my first time. The main gate is closed, could it be..."
Wang Xian spoke while gesturing towards the rear of the residence.
"What are you thinking? The main gate is closed, so it's even more impossible behind there. You've come too early for such matters, and you've come to the wrong place!"
"The wrong place?"
At these words, Wang Xian's eyes widened.
"Precisely. This is Master Cai's residence, and naturally, they wouldn't engage in such business. If you wish to arrange such a thing..."
The vendor chuckled dryly at this point.
Hearing him, Wang Xian immediately understood. He fumbled in his sleeve, retrieved a piece of silver, and handed it to the vendor.
"Do you see that small alley?"
After accepting the silver, the vendor's smile brightened considerably. He bit the coin to confirm its authenticity before pointing to a small alley not far from the Cai mansion's gate.
"I see it!"
"Just follow that alley all the way. At the end of the alley, there's a house with a birdcage hanging over the door. Go there during that specific hour in the afternoon each day. If the cage contains a red-tailed thrush, simply push the door open, and someone will attend to you. If not, you'll have to come back another day!"
Seeing Wang Xian nod, the vendor lowered his voice and instructed him earnestly.
"Thank you for your guidance, young man!"
As Wang Xian spoke, he quickly pulled another ingot of silver from his sleeve, forced it into the vendor's hand, and then turned towards the alley.
Even though it wasn't the appointed time yet, he was eager to verify if the vendor's words were true.
Only when he found the birdcage the vendor had described did Wang Xian finally breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed Zhe Wanchun hadn't lied to him after all.
After carefully confirming the location, he left the alley entrance, looking back repeatedly.
He found a wine shop, ordered a few small dishes, and absentmindedly sipped some wine. After enduring the wait until past noon, he hurried towards the alley entrance.
He had felt a bit apprehensive, wondering if the vendor had tricked him, but the moment he stepped into the alley, his heart settled.
The narrow alley was now crowded with a long queue of people.
Although many were waiting, there was little conversation within the alley. Even the occasional whispers were exchanged between two people huddled together.
While their origins were unknown, judging by their fine attire and fair skin, they appeared to be scholars.
After a good half hour, Wang Xian finally managed to enter the courtyard.
"Esteemed sir, what position do you seek? Do you understand the rules?"
As Wang Xian looked around, a middle-aged man, around forty, dressed in a Shu brocade robe, holding a brush in one hand and flipping through a small booklet in the other, asked casually without even looking up.
"Your subordinate, your subordinate is here for the first time. I wish to seek the position of a prefectural judge. As for the rules..."
The man kept his head down throughout, and Wang Xian couldn't even see his face clearly. Yet, as he spoke, he felt an involuntary sense of inferiority.
"Prefectural judge? Eight hundred taels for the northwest, one thousand taels for Shu and Hebei, two thousand taels for Zhejiang and Fujian, and one thousand five hundred taels for other eastern and southern circuits. If you are unqualified and rejected, the silver will not be refunded!"
After taking a sip of tea with an indifferent air, the man finally looked up and sized up Wang Xian.
"Only two thousand taels for Zhejiang and Fujian?"
Hearing this, Wang Xian began to tremble with excitement.
If that were the case, then the position of prefect wouldn't be prohibitively expensive either?
"Only two thousand taels? Why don't you just tell me how much you're willing to pay?"
At these words, a smile appeared on the man's face. It seemed he had found a fat goose today.
"Your, your subordinate currently has five thousand, no, six thousand taels of silver!"
Swallowing with difficulty, Wang Xian's breathing grew rapid.
He had some savings of his own, plus the five thousand *guan* he had won from the Football Association today. Though the current silver-to-copper exchange rate was somewhat extreme, accumulating six thousand taels of silver was quite feasible.
"Six thousand taels? Let me see what other lucrative posts are available!"
Hearing this, the man immediately began to flip back and forth through the booklet in his hand.
"What is your current seniority?"
The man asked casually while browsing the booklet.
"Your, your subordinate has served two terms as a county magistrate. The Ministry of Personnel's evaluations were one upper-middle and one middle-average!"
"Yuanzhou needs a prefect, and Fuzhou needs a deputy transport commissioner. Which one do you prefer?"
"Your, your subordinate definitely prefers the deputy transport commissioner!"
At this question, Wang Xian almost cried out in joy. He truly was having an incredibly lucky day!