"Lord Geshe, are you really going to choose him? You can tell at a glance that he's slow-witted, a few strings short. I'm afraid he won't be able to serve you," the steward said.
Qu Zan was looking for a servant mainly to watch the gate. For running the occasional errand, someone simple and guileless was best.
If the boy had too many schemes in his head, Qu Zan would be uneasy instead.
Qu Zan asked Liuwa, "Just take your time listening. Well, are you willing to be a good servant?"
Liuwa hemmed and hawed for a long while. "Will there be black tsampa to eat?"
His words left everyone else speechless.
Qu Zan laughed despite himself. "There'll be things better than black tsampa."
Liuwa's eyes lit up. "I'm willing."
Qu Zan pointed at Liuwa and said, "All right, Liuwa will be my servant from now on."
The steward looked at Liuwa with a complicated expression. This boy looked so dull and foolish. Could he really serve Lord Geshe properly?
The steward said, "Since you've chosen him, my lord, I'll take him to wash up and change his clothes."
"Very good."
Under the envious gazes of the many child laborers, Liuwa followed Qu Zan out through the gate.
The things the abbot had said to him today, both openly and between the lines, had urged him to receive more clients-no, why did "receiving clients" sound so strange?
It should be socializing with benefactors and taking on more of a Geshe's duties.
He couldn't always be running hither and thither. Even if he was slacking off, he had to leave someone at home-
Qu Zan had decided that whenever he was away from the courtyard, he would have Liuwa watch the house.
It would be very convenient for visitors to leave