Chapter 8: Unqualified
Di Tou was immediately greeted with a derisive look.
Mu Di Bai started, "Ho, ho, work is it? Please explain to this Laozhi what in the world he could need a cowardly old man like you for? Do you know how many people are lining up to work under this Laozhi? Hmph, one snort from me and the entire martial world would line up and beg to be my footrest."
"I… I…"
"Just look at yourself, are you even literate? Do you know how to forge? How to make medicine? Are you secretly a tailor? What do you expect to do? Lounge around and count this Laozhi's money for me all day?"
"I… I can't." Pui! Wait what was he saying, sure he might not know how to forge or make medicine, and what was that tailor comment!? But at the very least growing up in the 21st century he was literate!
"I'm literate, and I'm good with numbers."
"Hooh, so you've learned the bare minimum in literacy huh? Still. Not. Qualified."
The three words hammered into Di Tou's heart. Aiyah, to think he'd be getting rejected for low qualifications in this prehistoric society. It was already bad enough that the job market in the 21st century required 10 years work experience for an entry level job, now he couldn't even make it as a miscellaneous worker!? It wasn't like Di Tou was looking down on this old man, but what the hell were these expectations? Was he going to ask about the 4 talents, 6 virtues, and his 8 characters next?
"I… I don't need too much, just a roof over my head and enough to eat my fill. I've read a bit of Sun Tzu's Art of War and Confucian texts, and my mathematical ability is really quite decent."
"The hell is a Sun Tsu? And you might not know this little head, but part of cultivation is the elevation of the mind, your little shopkeeping counting tricks are unnecessary for anyone of a certain level of skill. It's better to give up this idea up little head, for your own good."
Di Tou's face right now could only be described as a what the f*ck face. Where the hell had little head come from, ah? Little head your mother! This Laozhi *Pui* this gentleman didn't remember being so close to you that you could make up nicknames for him! But it seemed like this world wasn't just a form of ancient China, or at the very least was so early that there was no Confucianism and Sun Tsu around. And from the looks of it this Mu Di Bai was a big shot, at the very least, assuming he wasn't just bragging emptily. And when it comes to big shots… There's only one reasonable strategy.
"I, little head, may not be the most talented, but I work hard and don't need much. Just consider me a firefly attracted to the moon, unable to escape your presence great sir! I implore you to take me in, this little kindness can't be considered much for a great man like you surely."
And that strategy is to hug onto that big thigh and never let go!
Shamelessness and pride be dammed. Making sure you can eat your fill is what's important!
In this economy… Haish, I won't go into it further less this become a depressing storyline.
As for Mu Di Bai's response to this shameless thigh-hugging… "HAHAHA, it looks like at the very least, little head, that you have a good pair of eyes on you! Alright, I'll take you in, you can come work for me and help me get some small tasks done while I'm out on chores. That much… That much even a mortal should be able to handle. Hahaha…"
Hehe.
It seems it's true when they say thick skin is an infectious disease. It hadn't even been more than an hour or two, and Di Tou was already getting accustomed to Di Bai's narcissism.
"Hahahaha, yes this lowly mortal will be able to handle your small tasks excellently great sir!"
*Pui*
Just wait till this old man gets his young body back…
Then…
Well there is no then, that didn't change the fact that Di Bai could fly and pull things out of nowhere. It seemed like he'd be stuck following this old man for a while…
Suddenly, Mu Di Bai's expression turned serious. "Alright little head listen up well, we're almost out of the formation, and after that we'll be directly heading to the academy."
"Academy? Are you a teacher?"
With a smug look on his face Di Bai responded, "No."
"A professor?"
"Professor..? Oh, do you mean great teacher? No."
"The vice headmaster!?"
"Better."
"The HEADMASTER?!"
"Hehe, as if that old fart could be compared to me."
"Listen closely little head, this Laozhi is…"