Chapter 8: Returning to the Tang Dynasty for a Job Interview (Part 1)

This is truly unbelievable. In later generations, after a young woman wakes up from her morning intoxication, she gets up in a state of great confusion. When she steps outside, she stumbles, but it is thanks to Tang Que's quick reflexes that he manages to support her, preventing her head from hitting the door frame

"Hey, Pang San, if you want to eat steamed buns, hurry home. I heard your little sister-in-law just got married and is fresh out of the oven, still warm and delicious." Sister Lan was nothing like the maids in the inner courtyard; she not only did not fear the predatory gazes of the mountain men, but also held her own in the verbal sparring, all the while wearing a bright smile on her face. It must be said that the patrons were quite taken with this, especially Pang San, who, instead of being angered by Sister Lan's scolding, seemed to actually enjoy it.

To speak frankly, the strikingly beautiful Gao Li's demeanor is indeed quite alluring, especially considering she is situated in such a remote mountain village. The effect is essentially overwhelming, which explains why she has stirred up so much drama among the young men in the village.

Tang Que naturally understood the meaning of the doorman. The short coat he wore on his upper body was a collarless, front-opening garment. Although it was cool to wear in summer, it was regarded by contemporaries as inappropriate attire. While it might be acceptable for ordinary commoners, it was indeed somewhat out of place for a bookish accountant to wear such clothing. Coupled with his linen trousers and the straw sandals on his feet, his outfit truly lacked the appearance of an accountant, which explained the doorman's strange expression.

Before long, the doorman accompanied a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old out, saying, "Sister Lan, this is the one who is applying for the accounting position."

The heavy agricultural work over the past three months had left Tang Que with little inclination to think about matters of the future, yet today, unexpectedly, Sister Lan had stirred up a long-buried memory.

How is it that Madam Li is unwilling to invite me to do the accounts

"What? Are you here to apply for the accountant position?" The doorman, who had been dozing off, looked at Tang Que with a puzzled expression before reluctantly going inside to make the announcement

Tang Cheng, you just came like this, are you not afraid that my sister-in-law Tang will pull you back by your ear?" Gao Lishi was arguing, but the waves in her eyes became even more intense, and her voice turned soft and sweet.

"You really know how to speak, child." As Gao Lishi noticed Tang Que's gaze inadvertently fall on her embroidered shoes, she suddenly recalled the events of that night. After three months of not seeing him, this Tang Cheng before her seemed like a completely different person. From the respectful nod he had just given, to the tone and words he used while speaking, and the calm confidence radiating from him... In short, this Tang Cheng now appeared to be unlike any mountain farmer one would expect, rather... He seemed more like a scholar than the students from the Yuxi County school.

As Tang Que contemplated this, his subordinates swiftly supported the already leaning figure of Sister Lan.

Her scolding made everyone laugh. While Sister Lan covered her mouth with a sweat towel and laughed, she had already scrutinized Tang Que from head to toe, despite his somewhat mismatched attire. She was evidently quite pleased with Tang Que's appearance and the inherent elegance he exuded, raising the hand that held the sweat towel and saying: "Follow me"

Ah... let's go to the study to talk." After Gao Lishi casually replied, she noticed a hint of teasing in Tang Que's smile. Reflecting on her earlier moment of distraction, she began to feel somewhat uncomfortable. Over the past few years, she had become accustomed to being tough on men, and this feeling of discomfort was indeed quite awkward, especially considering that the source of this feeling was a young man whom she regarded as a half-grown child.

The peasant spoke of steamed buns, yet his eyes were fixated on Sister Lan's prominently elevated bosom. Not only him, but nearly all the other peasants were similarly captivated. Tang Que, not inexperienced in matters of romance, naturally understood that the 'steamed buns' mentioned by this man referred to something else. However, upon closer inspection, this girl indeed possessed a certain charm, and her figure was quite ample, no wonder she stirred the passions of the patrons.

It seems that people indeed do not go unnoticed; perhaps it is due to Tang's overly obvious gaze fixated on the high hips of the person, that Lan Jie'er was suddenly tripped as she stepped over the threshold of the second moon gate, and she was about to fall.

Sister Lan wore a double bun on her head, symbolizing her unmarried status, and her well-defined brow indeed marked her as a maiden. However, this only made the hint of charm in her eyes all the more perplexing. Upon her appearance, the onlookers gathered outside the door immediately became restless, and someone among them, with a bashful expression, called out: "Sister Lan, when you asked me to help yesterday afternoon, you promised to treat me to steamed buns. Is that promise still valid?"

Before she could even express her gratitude, a creaking sound of the door came from behind the wall in front of her. Upon hearing the sound, Sister Lan hurriedly stepped away from Tang Que and took two steps forward.

At that time, Tang Que had a goldfish by his side, so he did not behave like others. Moreover, his delicate appearance was highly deceptive, which led the young woman to become closer to him. Later, after the incident of the goldfish leaving for France, Tang Que, who had fallen into a nihilistic despair, seduced the young woman into bed after a night of drinking. It was that night that made Tang Que realize something very important: although they were both women, the differences between women were still too significant. The saying that all women are the same after the lights go out is purely nonsense. Later, after the incident of the goldfish leaving for France, Tang Que, who had fallen into a nihilistic despair, seduced the young woman into bed after a night of drinking. It was that night that made Tang Que realize something very important: although they were both women, the differences between women were still too significant. The saying that all women are the same after the lights go out is purely nonsense.

Gao Lishi's approach can largely be disregarded by later generations, especially by Tang Que, who has experienced some office ambiguities. Not only did he not display any expression of infatuation on his face, but his voice also remained unchanged, still characterized by a faintly cheerful and clear tone. "Madam Li pays for the labor, and I provide the effort to earn money; this is nothing out of the ordinary. Why would my mother pull my ear?"

Tang Que supported Sister Lan with one hand on her arm, while the other hand reached out to hold her waist. This girl truly had a fine figure; touching her felt like encountering smooth, tender skin that seemed to exude moisture. "Watch your step."

"Madam, it is indeed the notice he posted." The person stepping out from behind the screen in the main hall was the venomous widow, Lady Li of the Gao family. Her hairstyle and makeup were not much different from that night, but she had changed into a summer silver mud skirt that appeared more luxurious. "Tang Cheng... when did you learn arithmetic?"

Due to the lack of capable men in the manor to handle external affairs, Lan Jie'er, as a close maid of the Gao Li family, often had to interact with the men of the manor. She was no longer the kind of woman who blushed at the sight of a man. However, today, for some unknown reason, as she looked at Tang Que, who was so close that she could hear his breath and feel the warmth of his hands, and listened to his gentle words of advice, Lan Jie'er inexplicably felt her face flush slightly.

It is now the months of May and June, and the weather is quite hot. The light blue dress worn by Lan Jie'er is very thin; although it does not leave her completely exposed, it clings to her body, revealing her voluptuous figure in its entirety. Especially when she turns her back to Tang Que, her already full hips become even more pronounced with movement, creating a subtle sway that is truly captivating.

Suddenly realizing this, the impact on Gao Lishi can only be described as a tsunami. After being regarded as an alternative by others for more than ten years, suddenly there is someone who completely views her as a normal person. Regardless, this feeling of being moved is immense and profoundly shocking

Tang Que followed behind Lan Jie'er, observing the scene before him, and he couldn't help but recall a colleague from the Public and Library Department in a later era. This female colleague was a young married woman; while her appearance was not particularly striking, her figure was undeniably alluring, especially her perfectly shaped voluptuous hips, which sparked the imagination. In summer, when she wore a fitted standard pencil skirt, she became even more captivating, enticing the male colleagues in the office to accompany her outside, often willing to lag a couple of steps behind, simply to catch a glimpse of the gentle sway of her hips.

As Gao Lishi walked, her waist suddenly softened by three parts, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes had already cast a wave of allure towards Tang Cheng. Seeing his wife deploy her seductive tactics, Lan Jie'er, who was following behind the two, cast a worried glance at Tang Que.

Tang Que smiled and nodded in greeting, "It is not important when I learned accounting; what matters is that I can assist you with the accounts."

His question left Gao Lishi at a loss for words; she certainly could not expose her own shortcomings by discussing matters concerning men. Tang Que's inquiry rendered Gao Lishi, who had initially prepared to see him suffer, speechless. However, after the initial frustration, an inexplicable emotion surged within Gao Lishi. After all, the implication of Tang Que's earlier words was unmistakably that he regarded her as a normal woman, rather than the demonized widow portrayed by others. Reflecting on Tang Que's behavior during that time, Gao Lishi was suddenly overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of joy. From the very first moment he saw her, Tang Que had shown no signs of fear or disgust, neither in his words nor in his gaze.