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Several young men spoke one after the other, merely introducing the ingredients and taste of the dish. Although they followed the rules, there was nothing novel about it.

However, one young man seemed more astute. He not only introduced the ingredients but also incorporated a verse of poetry. Lin Yuan was not well-versed in poetry, but she could tell from Xia Zheng’s expression that this young man was more to his liking.

As expected, this young man, named Gao Xuan, smoothly remained.

Because of those two lines of poetry, Xia Zheng took a greater interest in Gao Xuan and even spoke a few more words to him.

Gao Xuan smiled respectfully, carrying a bit of the scholar’s noble air, "To answer the young master, I studied for a few years as a child, but later my family’s circumstances worsened, and I had no choice but to come to the Capital city to find work and earn a living."

That explained it.

No wonder Gao Xuan appeared tall and thin, with arms not as thick as the other young men’s; he was a scholar.

The few young men who hadn’t passed the second test could only pack up and leave, and of course, Lin Yuan kept her promise and gave them a month and a half’s wages.

The young men who could stay were overjoyed. Lin Yuan first instructed them to wait in the backyard, then she accompanied the chosen young women to try on clothes.

Now it was time to test the young women. Since they were all females, Lin Yuan also sent Xia Zheng away. This really frustrated Xia Zheng.

Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, staring at him as if watching a lecher, before finally sending him out.

As their clothes had all been made, Lin Yuan assigned Xia Zheng the task of distributing the clothes to the young men.

Once only Lin Yuan, Yin Xing, and the young women were left in the hall, Lin Yuan finally smiled warmly as she explained the testing process.

"You’ve all worked hard these past few days, and you might be wondering since the young men are responsible for serving the dishes, what will your responsibilities be?"

Indeed, the young women looked puzzled.

Lin Yuan smiled, "It’s simple. I need you to serve dishes, arrange plates, and pour wine, among other service tasks, in the elegant room.

That is to say, while the young men will bring the dishes to the door of the elegant room, you need to carry them inside and set them on the table. Do you understand?"

"Understood." With that explanation, what’s there not to understand?

Since their tasks were such, they didn’t need to be tested like the young men, so there was no need for physical strength tests.

However, Lin Yuan’s requirement was one word: "beauty.

" Whether it was the person or the movements, they needed to be the most beautiful and elegant, ensuring that the guests not only enjoyed the delicious food but also had a satisfying and comfortable dining experience.

Lin Yuan sat herself down at the table while Yin Xing and Shui Xian placed the previously prepared items on it.

The young women curiously looked on, seeing only simple items on the table: a wine cup, a wine pot, and a stack of six plates of different shapes and sizes. Unlike during the young men’s test, these plates were empty.

Watching the young women quietly discuss in the hall, Lin Yuan smiled slightly and said, "The test is very simple.

Each of you will come forward, arrange the six plates on the table in what you think is the most beautiful setup, and pour me a cup of wine.

As long as I find you beautiful and elegant, you will pass. "

It did sound indeed straightforward.

To give everyone a reference, Shui Xian and Yin Xing first showed the six plates to the young women, letting them think in advance about where to place them, and then the test began.

Since there were many participants and Lin Yuan was not particularly familiar with them, she required everyone to state their name during the test. She also had a list prepared, and as the participants performed, Lin Yuan would immediately assign a score to be written beside their names on the list.

Although it was a test of who was most elegant, in reality, the assessment began the moment the young women stepped out of the crowd and walked toward her.

Lin Yuan was not only observing their thoughts but also how they had practiced their postures, walking, standing, and even their smiles during the past month and a half.

Of course, they did not disappoint her, except for the few young women at the end, who looked somewhat fatigued from standing too long; everyone performed well.