Monthly Salary: 2 taels [Requesting Recommendation Votes]

In the crowd, Chen Le stared intently at the arena, as if struck by lightning.

One hundred and twenty jin!

Su Yang actually lifted it up?!

That face, flushed red from exertion and dripping with sweat, was more terrifying than a ghost in Chen Le's eyes. The chill that had made him weak outside the pharmacy the day before now felt incredibly real, gripping his heart once more.

It's not my imagination... This kid is really weird!

He watched as Yang Yunxing stepped forward to bestow rewards, listening to the successive showers of honors—"guarding the courtyard," "a reward of five taels of silver," "personal guidance"... Each word felt like a red-hot branding iron, searing his very soul.

He was a guard! He risked his life just to become a reserve soldier!

A reward? He didn't have a single penny!

Personal instruction from the head coach!

That was a path to success he could never even dream of!

It's all over... That bastard stole it all!

A profound sense of loss, resentment, and an almost instinctive fear instantly overwhelmed Chen Le.

He seemed to see a bottomless chasm suddenly appear between himself and Su Yang.

The other party has already risen to the top, while I am still struggling in the mud.

"Why...why..." He gritted his teeth, his fingertips digging into his flesh, but he felt no pain, only a burning, pent-up rage.

A head-on clash?

Go and cause trouble for Su Yang, who is now a bodyguard and is favored by Instructor Yang?

That's pure suicide.

No... I have to report to Manager Fei immediately!

Chen Le suddenly raised his head, his gaze like that of a dog eager to show off its accomplishment, eagerly turning to the side and behind the wooden table. Manager Fei Jianhua was slowly sipping his tea, his face calm, even with a faint, unfathomable smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Yes, Manager Fei!

I'm already in charge of things, and all this "filial piety" hasn't been for nothing!

Su Yang's sudden rise to prominence and unparalleled fame will surely be an eyesore to Steward Fei and ruin his plans!

If I could immediately transform this jealousy and resentment into understanding and catering to Manager Fei's intentions, turning it into a sharper and more proactive weapon...

Then I wouldn't just be a messenger, but a "useful person" who could share my master's burdens!

The moment this thought arose, it immediately overwhelmed simple anger, bringing with it a twisted excitement.

The more the master dislikes Su Yang, the more valuable he becomes!

"Su Yang, do you think you're safe just because you've latched onto Coach Yang's coattails?"

"How could a mere brute like you possibly comprehend Steward Fei's methods? Just you wait..."

Chen Le glanced at Su Yang's back with resentment, his eyes narrowed, and he dared not delay any longer. He turned around and rushed towards the direction where Manager Fei was, almost hunching over.

........

The selection process is over.

Su Yang was led to a temporary hall next to the archery range.

The hall was already lit, and the light was bright.

Seated at the head of the table was a middle-aged man with a lean face and shrewd eyes; he was none other than Ye Jianhong, the head steward of the Huang family's inner quarters. Beside him stood the accountant and a servant carrying a wooden tray.

Upon seeing Su Yang enter, Ye Jianhong put down her teacup, glanced at him, nodded slightly, and said, "Su Yang, you lifted 120 jin today and passed the selection. According to the rules of the manor, you can be freed from your slave status and hired as a guard. This is a favor, and also a sign that you are still capable of being trained."

His tone was calm, yet carried the authority characteristic of a butler.

There are two procedures.

Ye Jianhong gestured, and the accountant immediately stepped forward and gently placed a yellowed old piece of paper on the table in front of Su Yang.

Su Yang's gaze sharpened—it was the indenture that the original owner had pressed his handprint on back then.

The paper was already brittle and old, with his name and the bright red slave mark written on it in a crooked and distorted manner.

"Firstly, the old contracts are cancelled."

Ye Jianhong said, "Since you have earned your future through your own abilities, the manor will return your freedom. You can dispose of this contract as you see fit."

This is a great honor, meaning that the master took the initiative to release the bondage, rather than he redeemed or begged for it.

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat. He reached out and gently stroked the thin piece of paper that had determined his fate. He carefully picked it up, folded it in half, then folded it in half again, and then tore it into four pieces in front of everyone. The shredded paper fluttered down.

"it is good."

A fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of approval crossed Ye Jianhong's eyes. It was decisive and swift, without any lingering attachment, a testament to her unwavering resolve.

"...Secondly, the new contract was established."

The accountant immediately presented a brand-new contract, along with pen, ink, and inkpad.

"This is the employment contract for a bodyguard. The monthly allowance is two taels of silver. Duties, rules, rewards and punishments, and promotion opportunities are all listed here. The contract is for a year. Unless there are any major misconducts, the household will renew the contract. If you seek other employment, you must inform us in advance so that we can part amicably. Please read it carefully. If you have no objections, please sign and affix your seal. From this day forward, you will be a bodyguard employed by the Huang household, and your relationship with the household will be one of employment. You will act in accordance with the contract and be protected by it."

Su Yang stared intently at the screen.

The terms are clear and offer many more protections and rights than a contract of servitude, without imposing harsh long-term restrictions. The most crucial point is the opening sentence: "The contracting party, Su Yang, voluntarily agrees to be employed by the Huang family as a guard, and from this day forward, he/she is severing all ties with the original employer and regains his/her freedom."

A sense of relief, indescribable ease, accompanied by the soft rustling of paper and the distinctive smell of ink, quietly washed over him. The invisible burden he carried was truly lifted by those few strokes and presses of the pen.

This is excellent, as it provides a place to settle down and make a living in the present, without locking down the path to the future.

Without further hesitation, Su Yang picked up his pen and neatly wrote his name, "Su Yang," next to the "employee" column on the contract. The pen tip moved steadily across the paper, showing no sign of haste. He then bent down, dipped his hand in bright red ink, and pressed his thumb firmly onto his name, date, and the seam, leaving three clear and full fingerprints. The red marks stood out prominently on the yellowed hemp paper.

On the other side, the steward of the Huang family had already filled in the words "Huang Family" in the "Employer" column and affixed the family seal. Seeing him put down his pen and affix his seal, he picked up the two copies of the contract and checked the two words "Contract" across the seam to make sure they fit perfectly. After confirming that there were no errors, he handed one of the copies to Su Yang: "Keep this safe. This is your proof."

Fingerprints are left, and the old gives way to the new.

The accountant gave Su Yang one copy of the contract, and Ye Jianhong finally smiled slightly. She then took out five taels of silver, a waist token, and a uniform from a wooden tray carried by a servant beside her and handed them to Su Yang.

"Guard Su, I hope you will work diligently, improve your martial arts, and live up to the expectations of the household and your own hard work." The steward's address of "Guard Su" was the most formal recognition of his abilities.

"Thank you, Steward! Su Yang will certainly do his duty to the best of his ability."

Su Yang accepted it with both hands and bowed respectfully.

..........

Su Yang changed into his brand-new guard uniform, tied his waist token around his waist, and carefully wrapped his old clothes. He hid the five taels of silver close to his body, leaving only some loose copper coins in his pocket, then turned and walked steadily toward the pharmacy.

The setting sun cast a long, slender shadow of him, and the waist token tapped rhythmically with each step, like the beat of a newborn drum. Servants along the way glanced at him, their whispers and stares forming a web, but he seemed oblivious, his mind as clear as a mirror.

The first place we should go is the medicinal cuisine room, where Old Zheng works.

After passing through the corridor, the familiar bitter scent of herbs and plants from the pharmacy could already be smelled.

The door was ajar. Su Yang gently pushed it open and saw Zheng Shanfu with his back to the door, sorting the newly purchased medicinal herbs by the setting sun outside the window.