Zhao An appointing his cousin as his office director was undoubtedly for the sake of convenience. As for what kind of convenience, it was perhaps best left unsaid.
Academician Ma likely understood this well. He immediately grasped that the relationship between Wang Wanquan and the Professor was far from ordinary. Consequently, when Wang Wanquan arrived to report for duty the next day, Vice President Ma completely shed his air of superiority from the day before, greeting Wang with an enthusiasm that knew no bounds. Not only did he personally escort Wang to the Principal’s office to check in, but he also made a special trip to the logistics department to bring back Wang’s work uniform.
The work uniform was standard attire for civil clerks—the same kind Zhao An had worn when serving as a temporary ambassador for the Certification Bureau—the only difference being an "Academy" character embroidered on the chest. Other departments had their own distinct characters: the "Brave" and "Strong" emblems for the Inspection Office and the Corinthian Office, and the "Soldier" emblem for the Green Standard Army. To Zhao An’s recollection, the uniforms of the Eight Banners did not feature such individual embroidery.
Chapter 99