Matthew Wakefield arrived in London almost an hour ago.

Now he has come to a shop on the north side of Diagon Alley.

At this moment, he is undergoing an "interview".

A less formal, less serious "interview" ......

However, for Matthew, this experience is more important. So he looks pretty serious.

And on the couch in front of him, sat a thin man, a little bowed, and the rest of his hair was brown. He was wearing a pale blue robe, and he looked a little dusty.

Matthew only knew that the man's surname was "Shafiq".

In addition, he is the manager of the largest bookstore in Diagon Alley, the Blotted Bookstore.

......

"Name?" Shafiq asked, a little tired, glancing at the boy in front of him.

"Matthew Wakefield. Matthew replied quickly.

"Gender...... Oh, it's supposed to be a male ......" Shafiq seemed to be talking to himself: "And what about age?"

"I will be thirteen years old in just over two months. Matthew continued.

"It's a little young...... Shafiq looked at Matthew carefully and muttered, "I'm not strong either, I doubt I can move the bookcase......"

"I have a letter of introduction from Professor Rozier...... "Matthew was unhurried and took out a heavy envelope made of parchment from his pocket.

The back of the envelope has a coat of arms with a capital "H" surrounded by four animals: a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake.

Every Hogwarts student (usually Muggle-born) who is "homeless" and does not want to spend the summer at a friend's house is given a letter of introduction from the Headmaster. to ensure that they can find a "job" in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley during the summer vacation.

Faced with this letter, the manager of the Blotted Bookstore obviously didn't dare to slack off too much, he quickly took the letter, then carefully opened it, and began to read it carefully.

A minute later -

"You're the first in the grade?" he looked up, looking at Matthew in surprise.

"That's right!" Matthew nodded immodestly.

"In addition to studying, you should make more friends...... Shafiq said with some seriousness as he put down the Hogwarts letter.

Generally speaking, only children who are more withdrawn and have few friends will choose to go to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade during the summer vacation to find work...... Normal Muggle-born students are more likely to spend their summers at a friend's house, and most wizarding families welcome such guests.

Matthew didn't explain anything, just nodded: "Okay, I understand, thank you!"

"Then Mr. Wakefield, you have been hired!" Shafiq picked up the quill, took out another piece of parchment, and began to write in very scribbled handwriting, while muttering to himself:

"The offer period starts now and runs until August 31...... During this period, the bookstore will cover all the costs of food and lodging...... At the same time, you are responsible for some odd jobs...... Per week, 2 Galleons and 9 sicos are paid ......."

"Two Galleons?" Matthew couldn't help but frown.

He's not really the kind of kid who doesn't really understand the world.

He knew very well that even the lowest weekly salary for adult wizards in the wizarding world was more than ten Galleons.

And this Mr. Shafiq, who looks quite kind, directly gave himself a salary of less than a quarter of the minimum weekly salary!

Sure enough, the exploitation of child labor is a "fine tradition" inherited by the British Empire for hundreds of years......

Even the wizarding world is no exception.

......

Obviously, Matthew Wakefield couldn't accept the salary.

He cleared his throat and said with a serious face, "Mr. Shafiq, I think I'm worth the price!"

This sentence surprised the manager of the Blotted bookstore.

In previous years, he had also recruited many Hogwarts students to come to the bookstore as temporary workers in the summer...... This is the first time I have met such a "greedy and insufficient" little guy, and he is only a first grade.

If it weren't for the fact that Ms. Rozier's letter of recommendation was on his desk, he might have gotten angry and kicked the little guy out of his bookstore.

"Mr. Wakefield. He said patiently, "You are too young, and two gallons is already a very high price...... If you go to other bookstores, they definitely can't give ......"

"I'll settle the score. Matthew spoke calmly, interrupting Mr. Shafiq.

"Huh?" Shafiq was stunned, and suddenly looked even more surprised: "You're not joking, are you?"

Matthew just spread his hands and didn't answer.

"Okay...... Then I'll test you......" The manager of the Blotted Bookstore took out a ledger from a drawer and asked slowly:

"A copy of Magic Potions and Potions is worth 2 Galleons, 6 Sicos, and 11 Nat...... A copy of The Theory of Magic is worth 3 Galleons, 16 Sico, and 22 Nat...... And a copy of "The Unpredictable: Saving Yourself from Fear" is worth 5 Galleons, 3 Sicos, and 6 Nat...... So how much does it add up?"

Matthew replied almost without thinking, "There are 10 Galleons, 25 Sicos, and 39 Nat...... That is, 11 gold gallons, 9 silver sike, and 10 copper nats. ”

(Note: The exchange rate in the wizarding world is 1 gold galleon = 17 silver sikor, 1 silver sike = 29 copper nat.) ）

"So fast, don't make up a number to fool me!" Mr. Shafiq gave Matthew a suspicious look, then took out a piece of discarded manuscript paper, and counted it with his fingers as he scribbled it.

After about two or three minutes......

"Oh, Merlin's beard ......" Mr. Shafiq looked up in some disbelief, "Son, how did you figure it out?"

"Have you forgotten, sir, that I was the first in the grade. Matthew replied calmly.

Sure enough, as he expected, the wizards' mathematical ability was generally extremely poor, and the strange ratio of gold, silver and copper made it extremely difficult for them to keep accounts......

"Oh, look at my memory. The manager of the Blotted Bookstore laughed and said, "Otherwise, Mr. Wakefield, I doubled your salary, but every night you have to help me settle the day's books......"

"It's tiring to settle accounts...... "Matthew looked a little embarrassed.

"Then ......," Mr. Shafiq gritted his teeth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, "Double it again!"

Quadruple that's 10 Galleons plus 2 Sico's weekly salary, which is slightly higher than the minimum salary for an adult wizard.

Matthew wasn't too greedy either, he nodded:

"Okay, so be it, sir. ”