Chapter 264

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Jiang Changtian wore a sky-blue robe today.

He looked elegant and graceful.

Following the guiding official, they turned this way and that, seemingly going in circles, before finally arriving at a great hall.

Many people were already waiting at the entrance.

The official went in to report.

He waited outside for a while longer.

The wind made his nose turn slightly red.

Then he was finally called inside.

As he entered, others came out.

There were also people waiting behind him.

Minister Lu seemed genuinely busy.

He had managed to cut in line to some extent.

Some of those waiting behind looked at him with unfriendly eyes.

Jiang Changtian found it quite interesting.

This man, widely known as a great corrupt official, a treacherous minister, "Lu Three Corpses," "Lu Five Ghosts," actually gave off the impression of being diligent, as if he was doing real work.

Upon entering, Jiang Changtian discovered that the room was bustling with activity.

There were several desks where people were bent over, handling documents.

And there was another room inside.

Returning home, Mianmian curiously looked at her father's appointment letter.

Had father been promoted another rank just like that?

"Brother, what kind of official is an Imperial Secretary?" Mianmian asked curiously.

Zi.Wiki.Congheng explained, "An Imperial Secretary is a close attendant to the Emperor, an outer court official who can enter and exit the inner palace relatively freely, though they must leave before the gates are locked. Their main job is to handle communications of official business between the Emperor and the Director of the Department of State Affairs."

Jiang Mianmian pondered, thinking it was like being a secretary in the Emperor's secretariat? The Fourth Rank should be at least at the bureau or department level. In the capital, although the rank itself wasn't exceptionally high, being close to the Emperor should make it quite influential.

Father's salary was six hundred shi, which should be annual.

Shi was a unit, meaning about 120 jin (catties).

It should be calculated in grain.

Mianmian did some calculations, using rice as an example, with one jin of rice costing about 3 yuan.

3 yuan * 120 jin * 600 shi = 216,000 yuan.

Father's annual salary was about 216,000 yuan.

A monthly salary of about 18,000 yuan.

A monthly salary of 18,000, a bureau-level official, in the capital, it seemed that without some side income, it wouldn't be enough to support such a large family.

Raising horses, servants, guards, maintaining the residence, social obligations.

Zi Congheng saw Mianmian counting on her fingers and looked up at the sky, exasperated.

Nobody really lived on their official salary alone. Salaries were usually mentioned when the Emperor wanted to punish someone, saying they would be fined a certain number of years or months of salary.

Mianmian returned the appointment letter to her father and said, "Father, we should find ways to earn money, but don't be corrupt. Your job is very risky. They say serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, it's quite difficult."

Jiang Changtian looked at his little daughter's serious expression and couldn't help but smile, "Alright, I'll do as you say. You stay at home and think about what we can do in the capital, how we can make money."

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