"All right, it's getting late. Everyone, go home."
Village Head Tang Leiyue waved a hand. "Come early tomorrow.
"It's nearly the end of the month. If you still can't finish sorting through all those backlogged case files, watch me dock every last bit of your charcoal allowance!"
"Yes, sir!"
The village clerks answered in quick succession.
"Qin Yao, you did well today. Do you live far away?"
Tang Leiyue patted Qin Yao on the shoulder, his expression kindly and gentle.
"This student rented a house in Locust Tree Alley on East Fourth Street. It's not exactly close."
Qin Yao answered honestly.
After all, his residence had already been recorded in the register when he joined the village yamen. There was no fooling anyone.
Tang Leiyue nodded. "Mm, that is indeed quite far. Going back and forth every day wastes a fair bit of time.
"How about... working in my study?
"I'll have someone set up a heated brick bed for you. When it gets late, you can sleep there directly—the charcoal fire will keep it nice and warm!"
Tang Leiyue patted Qin Yao's shoulder again and again, as though he were truly chatting with a close junior.
In truth, the old bastard merely felt that with month's end approaching and the backlog still sizable, he might as well find someone useful and keep him behind for "free overtime."
This old bastard...
Qin Yao cursed inwardly.
Outwardly, however, he scratched his head with some embarrassment. "Thank you for your kindness, Village Head, but I'm afraid today won't work.
"My whole family just moved here, and there are still many loose ends to deal with.
"Please grant me two days. Once things at home have settled down, I'll stay overnight in the study and throw myself wholeheartedly into work."
"Mm... very well."