Fang Zheng's Recruitment

Thirteenth place, Cao Ru

Twenty-seventh place, Lu Yue

Third...

As he continued reading, Fang Zheng was completely dumbfounded.

Originally, only four or five people had confidently told him they could pass.

Now suddenly eight people had passed!

Goodness, the passing rate was nearly fifty percent!

What kind of lucky spot had the newspaper office found?!

With each new colleague discovered on the list, the surrounding reporters cheered wildly!

Even those who had failed the exam joined in!

Although they hadn't passed, it didn't matter. Taking the provincial exam three or four times was common!

Now with so many from the newspaper office passing, didn't that mean their own chances of passing next time were greatly increased?

Even those who had given up on the provincial exam felt a fire rekindled in their hearts.

They eagerly waited to try again in three years!

The newspaper office... was truly a place of literary fortune! How could they face their identity as reporters if they didn't give it a try?

Fang Zheng took a deep breath and looked at a successful reporter beside him.

The fellow was still stupidly grinning. Fang Zheng couldn't help but lean down and ask quietly. "What's going on? Why did so many people pass this time?"

"Weren't there only a few people in the office who were confident?"

"Did you not work properly, sneaking out to study instead? Hmm?"

The reporter was startled, looked at Fang Zheng, and quickly explained. "Master Fang! We haven't been lazy at all!"

"It must be... because we put in more effort during interviews."

"You might not know, but we often interview officials. Those fellows sometimes look down on us!"

"They test us first, and only if we can chat knowledgeably will they agree to be interviewed."

"Over time, everyone developed a good knowledge base! And with all the reading we do, the policy essays became particularly smooth. I think that's the main reason."

Fang Zheng suddenly understood.

That must be it! Being a reporter had this unexpected benefit.

The policy essay was perhaps the most important part of the imperial examination, appearing throughout the entire testing process.

Moreover, the policy essay emphasized current affairs, with no strict requirements for format.

Examiners valued solutions to current issues, governing ideas, and the feasibility of strategies.

This type of test, which reflected the candidates' comprehensive abilities, was precisely the reporters' strength!

In a way, they had gotten lucky!

Fang Zheng didn't know what to say. Judging by the current situation, everyone was confident and would definitely participate in the next examination.

Fortunately, he had prepared for this. The lost workforce could be replenished.

The reporters continued cheering, drawing envious glances from the surrounding crowd.

Fang Zheng raised his arm. "Everyone! Everyone! Listen to me."

"Today is a day of great joy for our Banshan Newspaper! A total of eight people have successfully passed!"

"The champion of this examination came from our newspaper!"

"Let's give them a round of applause!!"

The reporters jubilantly applauded, while many failed candidates around them watched coldly.

What are you showing off for!

Only your household passed? If you want to show off, do it at home!

Fang Zheng raised both hands, and the applause immediately stopped. He continued loudly. "Our Banshan Newspaper has always been dedicated to producing talent for the Great Jing Dynasty! To the reporters who passed today, congratulations! You have successfully graduated from our newspaper!"

This statement left the reporters, who were still immersed in joy, feeling lost.

They had just passed the Juren exam and were still happy about it, but the next moment their identity as reporters was revoked?

They had worked at the job for so long that they had developed a sense of honor and emotional attachment. How could they just stop working so abruptly?

Fortunately, Fang Zheng immediately added another sentence.

"No matter where you go, the Banshan Newspaper will always be your home."

"The newspaper's library, cafeteria, and dormitories will always be open to you free of charge!"

The gloom in the reporters' hearts instantly vanished.

"That's not all! That's not all!" Fang Zheng waved his hands repeatedly.

"Every reporter who participated in the examination gets a reward of two taels of silver!"

"Those who passed get fifty taels! Shen Yi gets one hundred taels!"

The watching failed candidates saw Fang Zheng's generosity and felt bitter.

Everyone had come to check the results, but the difference was so great. Even when failing, these people still received silver.

The Banshan Newspaper truly treated its employees well.....

"Alright, you should all go home and share the good news now. The rest of you, return to the newspaper office to work!"

"Remember to collect your silver at the newspaper office. Now, everyone go!"

Fang Zheng smiled and waved to the reporters.

The reporters felt touched and waved back at Fang Zheng, then happily headed home.

A group of failed candidates expressionlessly watched the reporters' procession leave with drums and gongs.

Then they looked at Fang Zheng, who remained mounted on his horse.

They saw Fang Zheng turn to them, smile slightly.

Then he bent down to his saddlebag, pulled out a stack of papers, and threw them forcefully into the air.

Then he rode away on his horse.

Everyone present was startled, watching the papers flying through the air. Suddenly someone shouted loudly. "They're banknotes!!!"

In an instant, the entire scene erupted into chaos.

Hundreds or thousands of people began frantically grabbing the banknotes Fang Zheng had scattered, with some even fighting over them.

But the scramble stopped after a short while.

One of the first to grab a "banknote" shouted. "Stop fighting! Stop fighting! These aren't banknotes!"

Of course they weren't banknotes, but flyers printed with designs similar to banknotes.

On the back were four large characters that read 【Staff Recruitment Notice】.

"Damn! This is so unscrupulous! Printing fake banknotes!"

"Fuck! I'm going to report this to the authorities!!"

"Despicable......" A few bystanders who had been beaten bloody over the banknotes cursed incessantly.

Some were complaining, but others had already turned over the flyers to read the other side.

Looking at the dense information on the flyer, they were momentarily entranced.

【Good news! Good news! The Banshan Newspaper is openly recruiting reporters!】

【Banshan Newspaper, vast as the ocean, gathering masters, luxurious cafeteria, exquisite dormitories!】

【One of the most comprehensive libraries in the capital, free writing supplies, a paradise on earth!】

【Are you still willing to be a failed waste, buried at home studying books?】

【Are you still willing to be pointed at and called a poor scholar every day?】

【Come to the Banshan Newspaper! Learn while you work, get rich while you learn!】

...

【Jinshi and Juren tutors, increase your chances of passing! Opportunities to meet prominent figures from all walks of life!】

【Professional academic training, satisfaction guaranteed!】

【Newspaper address:....... beautiful women abound!】

At this moment, for the first time in Jing Dynasty history, such crude, direct, and blatant flyers appeared!

Many scholars were stimulated to have flushed faces, heaving chests, and heavy breathing.

But no one spoke up.

A few people raised the flyers and loudly condemned. "How the world has declined! I never expected the Banshan Daily to use money and beauty as bait to tempt us!"

"Such a place! Going there would be disgracing our scholarly integrity! What would become of a scholar's dignity and reputation?"

Many joined in agreement.

Suddenly someone called out. "But they produced a champion!"

"Eight people from the Banshan Newspaper passed!" Someone added.

With these words, everyone fell silent.

People quietly tucked the flyers into their robes.......