Chapter 58.2

In the library, there was only an elderly man in a gray Zhongshan suit. After Lu Nong explained her purpose, he looked at her with a raised head and said, “You are Lu Nong, the excellent student recommended by Professor Jingliang?”

“Yes, hello, I am Lu Nong,” she replied with a slight smile.

The old man’s tone did not soften at her polite greeting; instead, he looked her up and down with a more serious expression. “You didn’t graduate from a proper library science program. Are you sure you can handle the work at the library?”

Lu Nong had indeed never been exposed to library management, but she was willing to learn. As someone who excelled in studies, she was not afraid of challenges. Getting a job at the Forbidden City was her first step.

“I can give it a try,” Lu Nong said modestly.

“Give it a try?” The old man scoffed. “This is not a place for you to just try. How about this, I will test you. If you pass, you can stay to work. If you don’t, you’ll have to find another job.”

Pei Zheng looked at Lu Nong with concern.

Lu Nong nodded. “Of course, that sounds fine.”

Seeing her agree so readily, the old man raised his eyebrows and walked toward the library with his hands behind his back. “Follow me, and the young man should come along too.”

Lu Nong and Pei Zheng exchanged a glance and followed the old man.

He led them through the vast book collection area, pulling one or more books from different shelves and handing them to Pei Zheng and Lu Nong, amounting to at least twenty or thirty books.

Finally, he took Lu Nong and Pei Zheng out of the collection area, turned to Lu Nong, and said, “Now you need to return these books to their original places. If you can put back two-thirds of them correctly, you can stay. This young man is not allowed to go in.”

Pei Zheng’s eyes widened upon hearing this. It was clear the old man was trying to make things difficult for Lu Nong. With so many books, even placing half of them correctly would be a challenge; two-thirds was simply impossible.

Lu Nong smiled and said, “Okay.”

She took a stack of books back into the collection area, with the old man following behind her.

When Lu Nong placed the first book on its original shelf, the old man appeared indifferent. Even after she placed the second book back, he still looked unimpressed.

However, when Lu Nong returned the third, fourth, fifth, and then the tenth book to their places, the old man’s expression grew serious.

After Lu Nong returned the twentieth, thirtieth, and finally the last book to its proper place, the old man was stunned.

He took off his reading glasses and looked Lu Nong up and down once more. This time, however, his gaze was filled not with disdain but with admiration. Clearing his throat, he said, “You’ve passed my test. You can stay here and work. Please report to work next Monday.”

“Thank you very much,” Lu Nong said as she bowed in gratitude.

Once they returned to the office area, Lu Nong took her leave. “Master Li, I’ll take my leave now.”

Master Li waved his hand and returned to his seat to continue reading the newspaper.

Pei Zheng, who was unaware of the outcome, quietly asked Lu Nong, “How did it go?”

Lu Nong shook her head. “Let’s go.”

Pei Zheng glanced at Master Li and then at Lu Nong, who had already exited the library, and hurried to catch up with her to offer comfort.

“Didn’t pass? It’s okay. There are more than thirty books, and even I can’t remember them all…” Pei Zheng comforted Lu Nong.

“What do you mean, even you can’t remember? Are you saying I’m worse than you?”

Pei Zheng: “…” He really didn’t dare to say that.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself that Lu Nong was upset from being dismissed, so he needed to be understanding!

“I didn’t mean that. I just think that old man was intentionally giving you a hard time. If he doesn’t keep you, there will be a place for you somewhere else. Don’t be disheartened.”

Lu Nong covered her face, her voice muffled as it came through her hands. “I’m already this miserable, and you have nothing to say about it?”

Pei Zheng hissed and thought to himself that something was wrong. Who knows what kind of evil ideas Lu Nong would come up with to torment him when she is in a bad mood.

“…What do you want?”

Lu Nong immediately made a request: “This weekend I’m going to take your Grandma Wu and Xiao Huai to the Great Wall to take pictures. You can help us take pictures and carry the backpack.”

Pei Zheng gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, I promise you!”

Lu Nong immediately uncovered her face, smiling brightly. “That’s great! We can bring along your brothers: one can hold Xiao Huai, another can carry the backpack, and one can take pictures. The last one can assist your Grandma Wu.”

Pei Zheng: “…” Such grand plans!

After returning home, in order to celebrate her successful employment, Lu Nong made a bunch of snacks and prepared a table of delicious dishes with Aunt Wu. She then called Pei Zheng to help while she went upstairs to change clothes.

Pei Zheng was picking vegetables when he curiously asked Aunt Wu, “Grandma Wu, what’s the special occasion today that you made so many dishes?”

“Don’t you know?” Aunt Wu replied cheerfully. “Nong Nong was assigned to the Forbidden City to work in the library. She’s in the library, which is relaxed. I wanted to make a nice meal to celebrate.”

Pei Zheng: “…”

“She said that? That she got a job in the library?”

Aunt Wu nodded. “Yes, indeed! Oh, she also mentioned that an old gentleman made things difficult for her, asking her to return a pile of books to their places, but she managed to put every single one back. That’s just a small trick. Our Nong Nong has had a photographic memory since childhood. She can glance at a room and remember exactly where everything is placed, let alone a few books.”

“Didn’t you go with her? You should know better. Why are you asking me?” Aunt Wu was puzzled.

Once again, he had been deceived.

Pei Zheng clenched his fist and thumped his chest, feeling that one day Lu Nong would drive him crazy.

When Lu Nong changed her clothes and returned to the kitchen, she also brought the now-awake Xiao Huai. What greeted her was Pei Zheng’s intense stare and his accusing eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Nong set Xiao Huai down.

Pei Zheng replied, “Didn’t you say you didn’t pass the test?”

Lu Nong paused for a moment and pretended to recall. “Did I say that?”

“…”

Pei Zheng’s mouth twitched. Yes, Lu Nong had never outright said she had failed. She had only appeared to be calm, though that calmness seemed more like disappointment.

This trickster! If he trusted Lu Nong again, he would be a fool!

Lu Nong said, “Since it was a misunderstanding on your part, you can’t go back on your word.”

Pei Zheng smiled bitterly and said through gritted teeth, “Once I’ve promised, I won’t go back on my word.” He wanted to remember the outcome of being fooled by Lu Nong.

“Good,” Lu Nong nodded in satisfaction.

Later that night, when Pei Ji’an returned home, he was greeted by a table full of sumptuous dishes, resembling a feast for the New Year. He looked at Lu Nong in confusion.

Aunt Wu spoke happily, “Our Nong Nong got a job at the library in the Forbidden City, so we’re celebrating with a nice meal.”

“Celebrating,” Xiao Huai echoed Aunt Wu’s words, becoming increasingly articulate lately.

Lu Nong patted Xiao Huai’s little head, nodding modestly.

“Indeed, this is worth celebrating.” Pei Ji’an scanned the dining table, then walked to the liquor cabinet. He opened it, took out a bottle of low-alcohol wine, and returned to the table. After opening the bottle, he poured a small cup for himself, Aunt Wu, and Lu Nong.

Pei Zheng watched eagerly as Pei Ji’an poured wine. After so many days, it was the first time he dared to meet his father’s gaze, and it was surprising that it was for a cup of wine.

“…” He must have been corrupted by carefree Lu Nong.

He immediately lowered his eyes.

Pei Ji’an picked up the cup of tea in front of Pei Zheng, poured it out, and personally filled it with wine, gently placing it in front of Pei Zheng.

Pei Zheng looked up in disbelief. His father was actually pouring wine for him?

The two, father and son, exchanged glances. Pei Zheng’s eyes turned red, and Pei Ji’an frowned at the sight, his expression stern as he said, “A real man sheds blood and sweat, not tears. You are my son, Pei Ji’an, and I don’t want to see you showing weakness in the future.”

Despite the harsh, unrelenting words, Pei Zheng took them to heart for the first time.

Although Lu Nong disagreed with Pei Ji’an’s words, at this moment, Pei Zheng lacked security the most. A reprimand from his father was more valuable than a thousand comforting words from others because it signified care and that he had not been abandoned.

It was unclear whether Pei Ji’an understood this principle when he spoke to the point.

After scolding Pei Zheng, Pei Ji’an raised his cup and said a few formal words to celebrate Lu Nong’s successful employment. The family clinked their cups together to take a sip of wine.

Just as everyone put down their glasses and began to eat, Aunt Wu suddenly slapped her forehead and said, “Wait a minute, I specially made deer blood soup for my son-in-law today. I’ll go get it right now.”

Pei Ji’an: “…”

Lu Nong: “…” Godmother, you’re so awesome. I tried every possible means to prevent it, but you still made the soup right under my nose.

Pei Zheng: “…” Great, it’s that time again when I have to lower my head.

This time, Pei Zheng pressed his younger brother’s head down as well. The two brothers hunched over their plates, determined to let everyone else at the table know they couldn’t hear anything, so they could eat in peace.

Lu Nong: “…”

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Author’s Note:

Tonight, the bloodline of the deer will rise again!

Pei Zheng: Always believe, always get fooled.