Chapter 83: Lin Fusheng ★★★★, Rewarding the 'Divine Farmer

Huh?

Looking at the two people before him, Lu Yuan froze for a moment, then raised his eyebrows and said:

It's me—who are you?

Unafraid of what these two people were up to, Lu Yuan directly gave his name.

Lin Fusheng also hadn't expected to run into Lu Yuan just then; stunned for a moment, he hurried forward and said:

You're the one who designed the corn thresher, Lu Yuan?

Lu Yuan nodded slightly and said:

Yes.

After confirming, Lin Fusheng solemnly looked at Lu Yuan, nodded, and said:

Hello, I'm Lin Fusheng of the Agriculture Bureau.

Agriculture Bureau?

The Agriculture Bureau is a very powerful place, on par with the Forging Bureau.

Don't let the words 'Agriculture Bureau' fool you into thinking its people just go out to the fields with hoes whenever they have nothing to do.

Just like how 'civil engineering brother' makes one picture a dusty laborer on a construction site.

But that's not the case in reality, especially in the Great Zhou Dynasty, which focuses on industry and agriculture; the status of the Agriculture Bureau is quite extraordinary.

The Agriculture Bureau belongs to the Ministry of Revenue under the Imperial Court, overseeing everything related to agriculture.

For example, the state-run grain shops in every market, as well as the Grain Bureau where Wang Danfeng's mother worked, all fall under the Agriculture Bureau's management.

The Grain Bureau's position within the Agriculture Bureau is like that of the Bing Jia Chang within the Forging Bureau.

In this Great Zhou Dynasty that emphasizes industry and agriculture, even a random position in the Agriculture Bureau is a lucrative sinecure.

Take Wang Danfeng, for instance—she's well-off just because her mother works at the Grain Bureau.

Otherwise, how could she have gotten so plump?

But… why is the Agriculture Bureau looking for me?

Lu Yuan stared at Lin Fusheng oddly and said strangely:

What does the leader want by coming to find me??

Lin Fusheng was about to speak when he saw many people in the courtyard peeking in to look.

Immediately, Lin Fusheng smiled at Lu Yuan and said:

Little Yuan, you're about to go out, right? Let's step outside and talk as we walk.

Lu Yuan blinked, then agreed.

Su Liyan tightly held Lu Yuan's arm; regarding these people who suddenly showed up, Su Liyan remained cautious.

However, it doesn't seem to be a bad thing…

After everyone left the siheyuan, Lin Fusheng also explained his purpose.

After Lu Yuan heard the gist, he wore a strange expression and said:

Me? A second-level clerk?

By the way… what does a second-level clerk do??

Lin Fusheng just said that because Lu Yuan designed the thresher, the Agriculture Bureau also wants to reward him.

Regarding the Agriculture Bureau giving him a reward, it's quite strange.

Normally, one's own department would give a one-time reward; how come there's a cross-departmental reward?

The key is…

A reward shouldn't just be some money and a certificate, right?

How does this let him go straight to work??

Huh?

Isn't this crazy? Giving a reward as a job position??

Lu Yuan, a craftsman of the Forging Bureau, being given an Agriculture Bureau clerk position—does that mean he has to work two jobs?

After a wave of doubt in Lu Yuan's heart, he silently chanted in his mind to open the system.

Huh?

Three and a half stars.

Three and a half stars?!

That's actually not low at all!!

Generally, for a newly acquainted person, unless they had some prior connection, the most would be two and a half stars.

Could it be… this person is also a former colleague of my cheap third granduncle?

Lu Yuan felt a bit strange.

Meanwhile, Lin Fusheng was also thinking about how to explain things to Lu Yuan.

Actually, the clerk position isn't a regular post; it's something Lin Fusheng came up with on a whim.

Originally, Lin Fusheng wanted to privately reward Lu Yuan.

But then he thought it would be better to give Lu Yuan an Agriculture Bureau identity, making him effectively a member of the Bureau.

But Lin Fusheng also knew that Lu Yuan was doing well in the Forging Bureau; such a talent would surely be highly valued there.

They certainly couldn't just quit their Forging Bureau work on a whim.

So he thought to first give Lu Yuan a casual identity, then gradually talk about it and slowly promote him.

Lu Yuan more or less understood; no matter what a second-level clerk does… the ultimate goal is just one thing.

He has to go to work!

This is absolutely not allowed!!

Immediately, Lu Yuan began coughing wildly and said:

"Director, you don't know this, I have a stomach ailment, I can't go to work; you, coming from Bing Jia Chang, would know that I can't even work at the Bing Jia Chang factory now."

Lin Fusheng immediately laughed and waved his hand, saying:

"Xiao Yuan, you've misunderstood; this clerk position is just an idle post, you don't need to go to work at fixed times every day."

"It's just to inspect the state-owned grain shops in this market, to see if they're secretly selling state grain privately."

"Also to monitor those private grain shops, to see if they're substituting inferior goods for superior ones and selling at high prices."

"The 'second level' means second-level worker; from now on, you'll also receive a second-level worker's stipend each month at the Agriculture Bureau."

Lu Yuan blinked and said:

"The stipend of a second-level worker?"

Lin Fusheng repeatedly nodded and said:

"Yes, but this clerk position doesn't belong to the artisans, so the stipend isn't that high; the second-level worker's stipend is only twelve yuan a month."

Hmm……

Then I definitely can't go!!

Lu Yuan wouldn't even do a forging job that pays over fifty yuan a month, let alone take this clerk job that pays only twelve yuan a month?

An idle post?

What's wrong with an idle post?

But don't you still have to go out for a stroll every day?

For Lu Yuan, assigning himself fixed tasks counts as going to work!

At the Heaven-supporting Guard, having to go once a month, Lu Yuan finds it annoying!

That really can't be helped; that Director Liu was my great-uncle's former superior, and besides, I only have to go one day a month.

So I had no choice but to agree.

But this, what a joke!

This lousy job, Lu Yuan could never possibly go to work at it.

Immediately, Lu Yuan directly said:

"Director Lin, I really can't go; my health really isn't good, and it's deep winter now—sometimes just going out is a struggle……"

Lin Fusheng seemed not to have expected Lu Yuan to refuse this assignment.

This assignment is not just an idle post!

It's also a lucrative post!!

As a clerk, the grain shop people see you and have to make offerings to you.

Basically, as a clerk, when you go in for tea and come out, you can have a small bag of white flour tucked at your waist.

Moreover, this job doesn't fear being reported.

If a clerk wants to check the grain's quality, doesn't he just need to take some home to taste?

Of course, this explanation is a bit far-fetched.

But anyway, the Agriculture Bureau turns a blind eye to this sort of thing.

The state-owned grain shops are managed by the Agriculture Bureau; speaking of which, the state-owned grain shops are so wealthy they don't care.

If a clerk takes a little home, as long as the surrounding neighbors don't see it, there's no problem.

As for private ones, even if reported, it's not a big problem, after all…… the owner of the private grain shop…… is a merchant.

He's not a worker's grandfather, nor a farmer.

Bullying him is just bullying him.

At most, afterwards they'd just remove the clerk's position.

Anyway, this is indeed a lucrative post.

Lin Fusheng truly didn't expect Lu Yuan to not want this lucrative post.

Immediately, Lin Fusheng hurriedly expressed:

"You don't need to go out every day; going occasionally once is enough."

"After all…… if you, as a clerk, went to the grain shop every day, they couldn't stand it……"

Hearing this, Lu Yuan slightly raised his eyebrows, with a strange look, and said:

"What do you mean by 'occasionally'? Would going twice a month work?"

Lin Fusheng blinked and said:

"Sure, Xiao Yuan, since your health isn't good, then going twice a month is fine."

Lu Yuan blinked and then said strangely:

"Then would going once a month work?"

Lin Fusheng was taken aback, then nodded and said:

"Hmm…… okay……"

The next second, Lu Yuan blinked and said:

"Then…… I go once every two or three months…… would that work?"

Lin Fusheng: "……"

The next second, Lin Fusheng looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"Even if you inspect once a year, that's fine."

Oh~~

Lu Yuan understood.

This is a position that gives me money for free; as for why Lin Fusheng would give me money for free.

What else could it be?

Because my buddies are outstanding!

Then this works!

Each month I get twelve kuai for free.

From now on, my wife gets twenty kuai each month, the Heaven-Lifting Guard gets twenty kuai each month, Bing Jia Chang gives a five-kuai monthly living subsidy, and the shop still has one hundred twenty kuai each month.

Adding it all up, I can have one hundred forty-five kuai each month.

The key is, I don't have to do anything for these; just the Heaven-Lifting Guard requires a visit once a month.

Of course, Lin Fusheng's money, though said to be free, is actually not free.

The next second, Lu Yuan looked at Lin Fusheng and grinned, saying:

"Director Lin, I've recently been researching the rice thresher."

Lu Yuan understands the concept of returning a favor.

Huh?

Lin Fusheng stared, then looked at Lu Yuan with a dazed expression and said:

"Rice… rice thresher!!"

Can rice be threshed just like corn???

Threshing rice is much harder than corn; currently, the amount of rice planted in the Great Zhou Dynasty is less than one-fifth that of corn.

But in the end, rice is always the hardest to handle.

The rice pole that farmers now use for threshing is really cumbersome and heavy.

Lu Yuan then nodded and said:

"Yes, its speed is the same as the corn thresher."

After saying that, Lu Yuan looked at the shocked Lin Fusheng and smiled, saying:

"However, this thing is still under research; Director Lin, you also know that the New Year is coming up soon, and the household is busy.

I estimate we'll need another two or three months before we can produce it; once it's done, I'll show it to you, Director Lin."

Recently, Lu Yuan hasn't felt like tinkering with these things.

The banquet is now over, and there's nothing else going on.

I guess I'll just have fun for a few months before talking about anything else.

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, Lin Fusheng nodded, his face full of excitement, and said:

"Good… good!! Lu Yuan, you're really a talent!!"

"Rest assured, once your rice thresher research is done, our Agriculture Bureau—no, our Agriculture Bureau will surely reward you handsomely!!"

Lin Fusheng really didn't expect Lu Yuan to be so open-hearted!!

This is actually the first time I've sought out Lu Yuan!!

Lin Fusheng was still thinking that, since today was the first time he'd met Lu Yuan, he'd first give him a position to make contact gradually, then see if Lu Yuan could do something for the Agriculture Bureau as well.

As it turned out, I didn't expect that today, upon coming here, I'd give Lu Yuan a small gift.

With a clang, Lu Yuan then gave me a big gift in return.

This is truly too open-hearted!!

But thinking about it, this is exactly what a person of great talent would do!!

Only someone with great talent could act like this!!

Others know so much more; they wouldn't care about just one or two things!!

Instantly, Lin Fusheng's gaze toward Lu Yuan changed, feeling as if he were looking at his own beloved grandson.

Lin Fusheng's admiring gaze made Lu Yuan feel all tingly.

Lu Yuan felt goosebumps rise all over him, and then hurriedly said:

"Um, Director Lin, you see, my wife and I want to go to the department store to buy some New Year goods, what about you?"

After coming to his senses, Lin Fusheng firmly patted Lu Yuan's shoulder and said:

"Hey, why keep calling me Director? From now on call me Grandpa; we're all one family.

When the wages are paid in a few days, remember to come to the Agriculture Bureau to collect your money; Grandpa will count you in this month!

By the way, come pick up your work certificate from the Agriculture Bureau."

Lu Yuan: "……"

How come I feel like everyone wants to be my grandpa?

Don't let it end up that the entire Imperial City becomes my grandpas……

After Lin Fusheng finished speaking, and after chattering on a few more sentences, he then left in high spirits.

After Lin Fusheng walked away, Lu Yuan turned back and saw his wife looking at him with a face full of admiration.

This little appearance almost made me lose myself in her gaze.

"Brother~~~ How… how amazing are you…… Brother, you're not an immortal, are you??"

At this moment, Su Liyan tightly embraced Lu Yuan, expressing her feelings from the heart.

Seeing Su Liyan's appearance, Lu Yuan couldn't help but smile proudly and say:

"What's this? Brother has many more impressive traits; tonight I'll let you know just how much more impressive Brother can be!"

Su Liyan startled, then she could hardly wait to press her whole body against Lu Yuan, blushing and saying:

"Brother~~"

……

At this moment, Lin Fusheng was returning to the Agriculture Bureau with that previous deputy.

Lin Fusheng now understood what it meant to feel refreshed upon encountering happy events.

"No wonder, no wonder I said back then that our Agriculture Bureau should also commend Lu Yuan; that Old Xu's face fell more than anyone's, hahahaha."

Lin Fusheng laughed loudly and unrestrainedly on horseback, drawing many sideways glances from passersby.

Opening his mouth so wide in the dead of winter, he isn't afraid of letting the wind in!

The middle-aged man beside him also kept nodding and said:

"This Lu Yuan is not only talented, but also straightforward in his work; we didn't expect that on our first meeting we could get him to do anything for us, yet he just opened his mouth and gave it, truly unexpected."

Lin Fusheng seriously nodded and praised, saying:

"This is what true talent looks like; Lu Yuan surely knows many things, not afraid that after researching this there'll be nothing left, naturally he won't be stingy!"

"In his mind, there are probably many strange and wonderful powerful things~"

Having said that, Lin Fusheng again sighed emotionally and said:

"He really is a talent; back then Lu Yuan was looking at agricultural books; who knows, now all the people of our Great Zhou Dynasty might be able to eat white flour~"

…………

At the same time, Lu Yuan brought Su Liyan into the department store.

At this moment, he heard a long-unheard system sound.

【Ding, congratulations Lin Fusheng's star rating changed from ★★★☆ to ★★★★】

【Reward host 《Divine Farmer》】

Hearing that sound, Lu Yuan slightly raised his eyebrow.

Yo.

Turns out I still have a system?

I almost forgot about it.

(End of chapter)