The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 441: Contest (4)_1

Chapter 441: Chapter 441: Contest (4)_1

"Mr. Ma, I really can’t help you." Avoidance was no longer an option, so Lou Zheng had no choice but to steel himself and speak up first.

"Lou Zheng, you are the most warm-hearted and upright person in the village. I know that what the Ma Family did in the past was unjust. Haven’t I already apologized to the Lin Family multiple times? You see, we are all villagers, always coming across each other. Surely we can’t let our conflict with the Lin Family turn into a genuine feud, right?" Mr. Ma started pleading vehemently. "Zhou Family used to bully the Lin Family severely, yet the Lin Family forgave them. I assure you, if the Lin Family is willing to accept me as a worker, I will give it my all and will never have divided loyalties. My wife is a hand full, I will never let her cause trouble for the Lin Family."

In order to secure work at the Lin Family, Mr. Ma was willing to sell out the Yan Family.

"Ziyin is quite busy these days, I can’t find a chance to see her. If you are truly inclined, it would be better if you went to her yourself." Lou Zheng reluctantly declined.

"Before even that, I need to be able to enter the Lin Family’s front door. Lou Zheng, can you put in a good word for me, considering our village ties?" Mr. Ma pleaded, trying to appeal to his sense of familiarity.

"I have an entire family relying on me. The young master in the city has a gambling habit and sold off our shop. I am idle at home anyway. I could help the Lin family with their bookkeeping. I do have some experience."

"The Lin Family does not take kindly to the Ma Family. Even my father cannot help you." Lou Zheng was uncomfortable, but Wu Erli had no qualms in bluntly rejecting the request.

"I understand that. But still, I would like to ask Lou Zheng for a favor." Mr. Ma said with a smile.

Seeing his thick skin, Wu Erli and Lou Zheng did not know what to do. They reluctantly agreed to try and talk to Lin Ziyin for him.

"Thank you, Lou Zheng. I’ll wait to hear from you at home." Seeing Lou Zheng finally relent, Mr. Ma flattered him some more.

"Alright, you don’t need to thank me. I am only agreeing to relay a message for you. Whether it works or not, it’ll depend on Ziyin." Lou Zheng replied, a little annoyed.

"Of course. No matter what the result is, I’ll remember your kindness, Lou Zheng." Mr. Ma responded with a smile.

Wu Erli and others around him sneered at his words. With the Ma family’s character, they wouldn’t remember anyone’s kindness. They thought that once Mr. Ma was admitted to the Lin family’s workshop, he would soon forget about Lou Zheng’s help.

However, people didn’t bother to indulge him further in his petty demeanor, shaking their heads and walking away.

Mr. Ma, encouraged by Lou Zheng’s promise, cheerfully returned home. He was not particularly worried about not getting into the Lin Family’s factory. After all, with the expansion of the Lin family’s business, they were definitely in urgent need of shopkeepers and managers. Looking around Shili Village, he knew there were few people as literate and capable in accounting as he was. He scoffed at the thought of Lin Family’s servants surpassing him. In Daqin, there were clear social hierarchies, with the lowest rank given to those who were marked on the forehead as servants. He was certain the Lin Family wouldn’t trust their accounts to mere servants.

After mulling over it for some time, Mr. Ma returned home almost certain of his joyous fate.

"Zhicai, you must be feeling better now that you’ve been out for a few days?" As soon as he got home, he noticed his son Ma Zhicai was back as well.

Ma Zhicai’s face was dark, without a trace of a smile, looking as if everyone owed him money.

"Since you are back, you should concentrate on your studies. I refuse to believe that with your intelligence, you can’t become a Scholar." Mr. Ma’s smiling face turned grim.

"What good is intelligence?" Ma Zhicai retorted with a sneer, "As long as the Lin Family exists, don’t expect me to pass the Scholar examination."