Chapter 77: 75. Test (2/3)

75. Test (2/3)

Before long, all three of them had finished their porridge.

Pan Hui went home.

Shen Qingyi went out to punish the wicked and eliminate evil.

Chen An returned to his original spot to sit and wait for the people from Zhenbao Hang to come and audit the accounts.

An hour later.

A stout man with a wealthy appearance walked in from outside.

Manager Liu inside saw him and immediately pulled open the cabinet in front of him, taking out a sandalwood box from within.

He walked quickly toward the man, and with a fawning expression, handed over the sandalwood box in his hand, saying, "Manager Li, long time no see. This is a small token of my appreciation."

"Manager Liu is too polite."

Manager Li smiled as he took the sandalwood box, opened it to look, and the smile on his face grew even wider.

Seeing this, Manager Liu could not help but be delighted, and lowering his posture, he asked, "Manager Li, then this audit of the accounts..."

"It has already been checked, there are no problems at all. Manager Liu is an honest person; after I return, I will certainly convey this and report it truthfully. We must never treat any person who is loyal and devoted to their duties unfairly."

Manager Li patted his chest to guarantee it.

With this, the audit concluded.

Manager Liu chatted with Manager Li for a few more sentences.

Then he glanced toward Chen An, signaling for him to come over.

Chen An stood up and went over.

Seeing him approach, Manager Liu immediately introduced him to Manager Li, saying, "Manager Li, this friend of mine is named Chen An, a newly promoted Second-tier Alchemist who wishes to apply to join Zhenbao Hang. I wonder if there are any spots left for this year?"

The position of alchemist at Zhenbao Hang only released a few spots each year, and many Second-tier Alchemists would break their heads trying to get in without any guarantee of success.

Compared to strength, sometimes connections were more important.

The reason Manager Liu was willing to help Chen An was entirely out of a desire to build a connection.

Once Chen An successfully joined Zhenbao Hang, and since he was the one who had helped Chen An greatly, his days in Zhenbao Hang would be even more comfortable in the future.

Perhaps he would soon be able to leave this godforsaken place of Bamboo Leaf Forest and go to work at Zhenbao Hang.

Manager Li sized Chen An up for a few moments, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Not bad. Alchemist Chen has reached the Second-tier of Alchemy Dao before his temples have turned white; such alchemy talent truly makes me marvel."

"Manager Li is too kind."

Chen An replied with a polite smile.

Manager Li continued, "Alchemist Chen, if you want to join Zhenbao Hang, just having your Alchemy Dao realm break through to the Second-tier is far from enough; you must also meet other requirements."

Chen An: "I ask that Manager Li speak plainly."

Manager Li smiled and said, "Alchemist Chen, the Alchemy Dao realm is just a rank; often it cannot fully reflect an alchemist's strength, such as success rate, alchemy efficiency, alchemy endurance, and so on."

"Therefore, if you want to apply to join Zhenbao Hang, you must demonstrate your abilities in these three aspects; only then can I recommend you."

As he spoke, he added, "How about this: I will provide you with the materials for refining Qi-Condensing Pills. If you can refine 2,000 Qi-Condensing Pills within half a month, that will prove your comprehensive ability in these three aspects is qualified."

"2,000 pills in half a month?"

Chen An thought he had misheard.

The Qi-Condensing Pill was a First-tier pill with high demand and cheap raw materials, making it the top choice for many low-tier alchemists to earn money.

Before he had the Severing Emotion Pill Prescription from the system reward, he had basically relied on refining Qi-Condensing Pills to make a living.

Therefore, he knew very well just how difficult it was to refine 2,000 Qi-Condensing Pills in half a month, which averaged over 133 pills per day.

Moreover, it was currently a special period, and he still had to provide pills to the Logistics Department of the Bamboo Leaf Gang; adding this on top was simply hellish difficulty.

Seeing Chen An's troubled expression, Manager Li smiled and said, "Alchemist Chen, Zhenbao Hang is not that easy to enter. If you cannot do it, then I can only express my regrets."

"Manager Li, I have confidence that I can complete this test."

Chen An smiled and said, thinking that since the other party was providing the alchemical materials, he wouldn't lose anything—at most he would lose time—so why not accept and give it a try?

Upon hearing this, Manager Li smiled and stated that the test would begin tomorrow, with him providing the alchemical materials and Manager Liu providing the Alchemy Room and supervision.

At the same time, he required that while Chen An was refining the pills, he must record the entire process with a Recording Stone to prevent cheating.

Chen An had no objections, and as Manager Li was leaving, he even slipped him some Spirit Stones as a token of appreciation.

After Manager Li left, Manager Liu looked at Chen An with a smile and said, "Alchemist Chen, you must pass the test. I am still counting on your support in the future."

"I will do my best."

After saying this, Chen An added, "Manager Liu, how much are the Recording Stones here?"

"Friendship price, 1 Low-grade Spirit Stone."

"Please give me 3 Recording Stones."

"..."

After coming out of Zhenbao Hang.

Chen An went to an undergarment shop in the Market and bought a sexy bodice for each of his three wives and concubines at home as a gift for returning home.

Then, he went to a pastry shop and bought a box of Spirit Cake made from a mixture of Spirit Rice and spirit fruits to take back for his daughter Chen Yuejian to satisfy her cravings.

Carrying the cloth bag containing the three bodices.

And thinking of the three Recording Stones tucked in his chest.

Chen An's pace on the way home could not help but quicken significantly.

Green Willow Alley, at home.

As soon as Chen An pushed open the courtyard gate, his wife and daughter in the house heard the sound and came out to welcome him.

Among them, his daughter Chen Yuejian came running all the way over.

She ran up to Chen An, lifted her chubby little face, opened her two short little arms, and with her eyes sparkling, said, "Daddy, hug!"

"Alright, Daddy will give Xiao Yuejian a hug."

As he spoke, Chen An handed the box containing the Spirit Cake to Chen Yuejian to hold, then scooped her up into his arms with one hand.

Catching the fragrance wafting from the box, Chen Yuejian opened it impatiently; seeing the colorful Spirit Cake inside, she was so tempted that she reached out to grab a piece to eat.

Song Huaying, who had just walked over, saw this and immediately slapped her hand, scolding, "You little girl, you've been playing with flowers and grass in the backyard all day, and now you dare to eat without even washing your hands? Do you want to get a stomachache?"

"Daddy—"

Chen Yuejian looked at Chen An with a wronged expression, drawing out the final "Daddy" for a long time.

Chen An said in a gentle voice, "Be good, Xiao Yuejian, listen to your mother and wait until we go inside to wash your hands before eating."

【You have upheld your wife Song Huaying's authority in front of your daughter; marital affection +1.】

"Husband, what would you like to eat later? I'll go make it for you now."

Gu Xinyue walked up and said.

Looking at her fair, cold, and pretty face, Chen An teased, "Your husband would like to eat Yue later."

Gu Xinyue's face turned red instantly.

Wen Zhiyun, standing to the side, couldn't watch anymore; she reached out and slapped Chen An, glaring at him as she said, "Saying things like that in front of your daughter, what kind of father are you?"

"It was your husband's lack of consideration."

Chen An deeply realized that he lacked experience in taking care of his daughter, and thought about having Wen Zhiyun act as his daughter tonight so he could learn how to be a father.

The daytime passed in the blink of an eye.

After his daughter fell asleep.

Chen An called his three wives and concubines to the room and gave them the bellybands he had bought today.

Song Huaying's was pink.

Gu Xinyue's was blue.

Wen Zhiyun's was red.

Song Huaying liked this gift very much and felt that her husband was quite romantic.

Gu Xinyue's face was a bit red.

Wen Zhiyun rolled her eyes out of habit.

"Alright, it's getting late. Go take a bath and then return to your rooms to rest. Later, your husband will visit your rooms one by one to give you a full-body massage to reward you for your hard work."

"Thank you, Husband, Ying loves you!"

"Thank you, Husband."

"Heh, you definitely have ulterior motives again. I've already bathed, and I'm going to sleep. Don't come disturb me; I need to sleep early to nourish the fetus."

"..."

After the wives and concubines dispersed.

Chen An took out the three Recording Stones he had bought at Zhenbao Hang today, hesitating over whose room to visit first to let them admire his charming words and smiles from his daily life.

In this life, one must learn to leave behind memories of one's youth and record every beautiful moment of one's younger days.

That way, when one is old and useless in the future, one can enjoy the glorious beauty of one's younger self with one's wives and concubines, rather than having only vague memories.

PS: Setting out the bowl, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation votes!