Chapter 320: Chapter 235: Serving Hamlet!_3
The further down the list they read, the more panicked he became. Even the names of the two people who had been behind him when he registered had already been called. But by the time they finished reading the entire list, the man still hadn’t heard his own name.
At this moment, he felt his legs shaking and could hardly stand steady.
He had just quit his job at the construction site; if he lost this one too, he would have lost both opportunities. Heading out that morning, he had assured his wife with utter certainty that, no matter what, he could not lose this job.
He hurried forward to the foreman to state his name, but the foreman looked up with a peculiar expression.
"Your name’s not on the list."
"Ah! That’s impossible! Big Brother, you were the one who helped me register yesterday," the man exclaimed in shock, hastily repeating his name and the registration number from the previous day.
"It’s not there. See for yourself."
The foreman held the paper out towards the man. But the man was illiterate; how could he understand any of it?
By then, he was thoroughly confused. He’d clearly completed the registration yesterday, so why wasn’t his name on the list today?
But what could he do? All he could do was speak politely and earnestly plead with the foreman to look more carefully.
"If it’s not there, it’s not there. Now move and stop blocking my work."
The foreman looked annoyed. But the man, swallowing his pride, could only bow before him and continue to plead.
"I definitely registered yesterday! Big Brother, please look again, my name must be on there!"
"Get lost!" The foreman, fed up with the man, shoved him away.
This push sent the unprepared man tumbling to the ground, his reflexive action causing the eggs he was carrying to smash on the floor.
Realizing what had happened, the man scrambled to his knees, his face etched with anguish as he began to pick up the fragments of the shattered eggs.
This commotion immediately drew the attention of the surrounding crowd, and people started looking over to see what was happening.
The foreman realized his actions might have been improper. But he quickly recovered, adopting a righteous air as he pointed at the man and began to chastise him.
"You dare try to bribe me with eggs for a spot? Let me tell you, I am one of Hamlet’s People! I don’t fall for such tricks!"
At his words, the crowd turned their gaze upon the man, their expressions mostly negative.
They were all workers here; no one liked those who tried to use connections or underhanded means, as it harmed everyone else’s interests.
Accusations flew instantly. In contrast, it was the foreman who received the crowd’s praise.
"How could someone act like this?"
"That’s how outsiders are."
"Well done, Foreman Big Brother!"
The foreman hadn’t expected this turn of events. Hearing the flattery from the crowd, he couldn’t help but adopt an even more solemn expression.
"My Lord has said that we must resolutely reject all bribery and corruption! We must severely crack down on using public office for private gain! We must serve the townspeople!"
"Great! Well said!"
More and more onlookers gathered to watch the commotion. They didn’t know the specifics of what had happened, only that the man on the ground had apparently tried to offer a bribe and been refused.
"It’s not true! I didn’t do it!" the man pleaded, clutching the broken eggs, his face a mask of bewilderment and terror. He didn’t understand what he had done wrong; he was only trying to claim what was rightfully his!
The man desperately tried to explain himself, but how could one voice be heard above so many?
"He’s still denying it?"
"People like this should be severely punished."
"Disqualify him, expel him from Hamlet."
In an era with few diversions, daily toil built up immense pressure in people. This farce, therefore, became a source of amusement for the onlookers. Since it didn’t affect their own interests, their comments grew increasingly agitated, freely spewing vitriol.
As the jeering from the growing crowd intensified, the suppressed frenzy seemed on the verge of spiraling out of control. The man couldn’t possibly admit to something he hadn’t done. He hadn’t done it, and he didn’t believe he was in the wrong.
If I can’t withstand this pressure, all my family’s efforts will be for nothing, he thought. Not to mention, I might be branded with a terrible reputation and expelled from Hamlet.
But looking at the twisted, savage faces around him, the foreman’s disdainful gaze, and the mocking smiles...
In that moment, his heart—just like the shattered eggs in his hands—broke.