Spring comes to the desperate place

Chapter 448 Exam Paper

Song Chunlin asked Gu Fengyun uncertainly: "So this matter has something to do with me?"

Gu Fengyun smiled and said, "It doesn't really matter. I just saw you were idle and had nothing to do. If you have time to listen to gossip, why not do something serious, right?"

Yes, what is right? Not right at all.

Song Chunlin didn't want to work at all. Isn't listening to gossip a common human hobby? Why should he pay the price of work just to listen to gossip?

It's totally unreasonable.

But whatever Gu Fengyun said was what it was. He pulled Song Chunlin over and told him about the so-called talent selection that he had discussed with the other two adults.

Song Chunlin was confused at first, but the more he listened, the more he felt that this was just the modern civil service exam!

The ancient imperial examination system selected those who would be the pillars of the country and its people. The rigorous examination alone could make generations of people grow old. The modern civil service examination seems to be easier than the ancient imperial examination. The difference is that if one passes the examination, he can become a leader, while the other can only start from the bottom.

What Gu Fengyun and others were talking about was selecting some low-level staff for various departments, such as yamen runners, doormen, etc. This kind of work does not have high income and low status. In ancient times, there was no five insurances and one fund, and it relied on the recommendation system, and the requirements were also lower.

Generally, these personnel in various government offices will have more or less nepotism. What Gu Fengyun and his team need to do now is to directly cut off this relationship, first improve the entry requirements, and then follow up with welfare benefits later.

Song Chunlin: "If the benefits are reduced instead of being raised, will anyone really be willing to apply?"

Lord Jiang smiled and said, "Young Master Song, don't underestimate these positions. As the saying goes, a seventh-rank official is like a chancellor's door. Although they may not seem impressive overall, they are still sought after by others. There are also people who are willing to pursue the tricks and benefits, even the small profits. This is why they cling to them so tightly."

Lord Xu beside him also stroked his beard and nodded: "Exactly, those people like to place their own spies in places like this, so that the benefits don't flow to outsiders."

This is also the disadvantage of the recommendation system for officials. There is no need for any review or examination. As long as you have reached a certain status and wealth, it will be extremely easy for you to place people there.

That's why they said they wanted to solve the problem fundamentally, which was to cut down on this type of expenditure. This required the support of the Ministry of Revenue. Gu Fengyun had previously worked in the Ministry of Revenue. Although he had left the Ministry now, all the key positions there had been replaced by their own people, so it was just a matter of informing the Ministry of Revenue.

After the expenditure is cut, these people's salaries can only be paid by themselves. Without the support of the government, it won't take long for those people to resign for various reasons.

At that time, Lord Jiang and others can take advantage of the situation to bring up the issue of talent selection. Since it is an insignificant position, it doesn't matter who does it, it's just a matter of whether it's convenient or not. Moreover, the government can also cut down the salary expenditure, and those people will definitely not have much objection.

At this point, Song Chunlin suddenly realized that Gu Fengyun and the others were trying to make a small profit with a big investment. As the saying goes, a thousand-mile dike is destroyed by an ant hole. Don't underestimate a screw, it's so small and insignificant. What if it's just this one that's missing?

The task that Gu Fengyun gave to Song Chunlin was to prepare several test papers.

The poor student pointed at himself in disbelief: "Me? I'm supposed to be doing the test questions?"

Gu Fengyun said as a matter of course: "Of course. If you don't understand, just look it up in a book. You don't need those people to have profound knowledge. Just enough is enough."

Although Lord Jiang and Lord Xu did not understand the meaning of Gu Fengyun's move, since he proposed it, they must have trusted Song Chunlin and gave him this task.

Song Chunlin hesitated and wanted to refuse, but Lord Jiang and Lord Xu had already thanked him in advance. Their compliments and praises made Song Chunlin swallow the words of refusal that were on the tip of his tongue.

After sending the two adults away, Gu Fengyun did not want to keep anyone else. He told Song Chunlin: "There is no rush for the test paper. Give it to me in the spring."

Song Chunlin went back with his head hung all the way. When he arrived at the Marquis' Mansion, Su Fuqing saw that he looked depressed and knew that her husband had given the child another problem.

"What's wrong? Is the task the Marquis has given me difficult to carry out this time?"

Song Chunlin choked up, "Wow, sister-in-law, my brother actually asked me to make several test papers. Is that a job a human can do? One is enough, and he asked me to make several! Several, sister-in-law! Wuuuu, I don't want to do it. Sister-in-law, please help me. I want to go back to the countryside to farm. I really can't..." Song Chunlin's eyes rolled around.

Su Fuqing, who was already familiar with his routine, frowned and said, "Don't go. If the Marquis knows you ran away, he might not even wait for the next year to come and get you back."

Song Chunlin shook his body. Threat! This is a naked threat!

"Da da da..." The young master smiled and repeated the words he heard. His chubby hands did not forget to grab his uncle's clothes, trying to climb onto his uncle.

Song Chunlin helplessly picked up the kid and pinched his round cheeks.

"You little rascal, you think you can arrest me? You're just like your father, tsk."

Counting on his fingers, he found that it was only a few months away from the beginning of spring. Song Chunlin's sense of crisis suddenly increased. After returning to his yard, he dismissed the servants and immersed himself in the space, searching for books about civil service examinations among a pile of books.

Although modern books are good, many of the questions are not suitable for these ancient people. Song Chunlin deleted and picked again and again. He felt that he had never worked so hard when he took the college entrance examination. He stayed up all night for several consecutive nights, but only sorted out a vague outline. It was still a long way to go before he could write the questions.

Su Fu heard that Song Chunlin had been staying in the house for several days and had not come out, and even ate less of the food that was sent to him. While feeling distressed, he could not help but blame Gu Fengyun.

"My Lord, you are such a pusher! If you had done it a few days earlier, Chunlin wouldn't have to be so exhausted. Look, it's already been several days, and he's only eaten a few bites of the food the servants brought him. Alas, you men just don't know the importance of things. If my second brother knew, I'm afraid he would be heartbroken."

Gu Fengyun smiled awkwardly: "That kid is very tough. Besides, I want to keep him at home for the New Year. Otherwise, with his speed, he would have been sitting with Fengyue eating hot pot by now."

Su Fuqing rolled her eyes at her husband for the first time. They were eating hotpot together. Did she think he was stupid? He knew how far the capital was from the border. Even if Song Chunlin traveled day and night, it was impossible for him to reach the border so quickly.