Chapter 500: Not For Nothing
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The group responded with sneers and cynicism. “Your kind words won’t change anything now!”
“We’ve all put in the effort to assist you in transcribing the announcements, and soon we’ll have to help post them as well. Yet, our remuneration is uneven.
Is that fair?”
Poxed Face Wang understood their concerns and quickly added, “My friends, please assist me. Once I’ve earned the two taels of silver, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
One of them was more open to negotiation. “That’s better.”
However, there were others who remained skeptical. “He’s offering to treat us to a meal, but what kind of meal do you think he has in mind?”
“You still don’t know him. He’s rather miserly. I can tell.”
“He mentioned treating us to a meal. Maybe it’s one of those street vendors with simple food and vegetables. A bowl of rice per person might only cost around ten copper coins.”
The rest of the group concurred. “True, we can’t be sure what he means.” “Poxed Face Wang, tell us the details of this meal.”
Poxed Face Wang reluctantly agreed. “How about I treat everyone to a meal at Sanzhen Restaurant?”
Yet, some remained persistent. “Fine, a meal at Sanzhen Restaurant is alright, but what’s your budget for this meal?”
“Are you willing to spend half a tael of silver or a full tael of silver?”
Poxed Face Wang, faced with the colleagues who had set down their pens, gritted his teeth as he consented. “Don’t worry. I guarantee that this meal will be worth a full tael of silver. I promise you’ll eat to your heart’s content.”
However, someone put forward a suggestion, saying, “In my opinion, we should just divide it equally among us!”
“We have 16 people on our side. Including Governor Su and Mr. Chen, we have 18 people in total. It shouldn’t be too much for 18 people to share two taels of silver, right?”
The others quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes, yes! Let’s divide the two taels of silver among all of us. After all, it’s an additional reward, and without our assistance, you wouldn’t be able to earn it on your own.”
But Poxed Face Wang couldn’t agree to this proposal.
He became visibly agitated, and his face and neck turned red. “This is going too far!”
“Do you know why I can write so quickly and neatly?”
“It’s because I’ve been practicing calligraphy since I was three years old!”
“Until I was 23 years old, I got married and had children. But before that, I never stopped practicing calligraphy.”
Someone chuckled, saying, “Poxed Face Wang, you’re exaggerating!”
“You’ve been practicing calligraphy for 20 years, and you still write every day without a break. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Take a look at the announcement written by Mr. Chen. Why don’t you compete with him?”
Poxed Face Wang stood his ground, saying, “That’s my business! I have no intention of competing with Mr. Chen.”
“Who is Mr. Chen? He’s Governor Su’s assistant! How can he compare to us?”
“But today, I want to make it clear that the reason my handwriting is faster and better than yours is because I practiced calligraphy for twenty years. I also want to emphasize that it’s through hard work and dedication that one reaps rewards. Therefore, I didn’t earn these two taels of silver for nothing!”
However, none of his colleagues were swayed by Poxed Face Wang’s arguments.
“Don’t lecture us with your highfalutin logic. There’s only one issue at hand you need all of our assistance to secure that reward. We’re simply asking you to share the reward and treat us to a meal. It’s not too much to ask.”
Poxed Face Wang, growing increasingly frustrated, retorted, “Fine then.. Since no one is willing to help and some are even willing to forgo the half-month’s salary, I won’t continue the transcription!”
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