Chapter 131: Lao Jiu is a calculating person. If mother can help, then...

As a mother, Xiu Yu naturally knew her children's personalities intimately. Her fifth son, Yinqi, was the ultimate peacemaker. From a young age, he was solely interested in his own interests, whether it was his eldest brother or the crown prince, or what happened to his second brother. He had no interest in even hearing gossip. As for the ninth son, Yin'er, he was much more lively than Yinqi, and his appearance, like Xiu Yu's, became increasingly striking as he grew older, truly handsome and elegant. Furthermore, Yin'er had another major advantage: his memory was practically the best of all Xuanye's sons. His excellent memory and arithmetic skills gave him a first-rate ability to calculate money.

At night, Xuanye ordered to set up camp on the spot. Yinzhen sat next to Xiu Yu, looking at the account book in his hand by candlelight.

Xiu Yu knew what had captured the attention of her ninth son. She placed the freshly heated milk tea next to Yinzhen and said with a smile, "What's the matter? Is there something wrong with the accounts in Mother's shop?"

Yinzhen looked up at Xiuyu and said with a smile, "Mother is so astute, how could there be any problem with the shop's accounts? I was just bored, so I practiced my arithmetic."

Xiu Yu snorted softly, "From what I can see, you're just itching to find some trouble so you can show off how capable our Ninth Prince is!"

"That's not the case." Yinzhen swung the account book in front of Xiuyu and said, "Mother, look at this page. It's probably unlikely that their purchases are completely flawless. But from your perspective, mother, if you let your people earn a few more silver coins, as long as they're not greedy and don't make any major mistakes with the ingredients or their interactions with others, then mother will turn a blind eye, right?"

Xiu Yu was, of course, fully aware of her family's accounts. She naturally didn't need to look at the page Yinzhen showed her. As for what Yinzhen said, it was indeed what she had been thinking. "Not bad, not only do you know how to count money, you even have some ideas about how to deal with your subordinates."

Yinzhen smiled and said, "Mother is an expert. If my son is like my fifth brother and has no interest in making money, then Mother will be worried! Who will take over all your family property in the future?"

Xiu Yu was both angry and amused. She raised her hand and gently poked Yin'er on the forehead, saying, "All the money Mother earns is due to her own ability. In the future, this money will be donated to temples or used to help the poor. It will not fall into your hands! If you like to make money, find a way to earn it yourself!"

Hearing Xiu Yu say this, Yinzhen made an exaggerated expression of shock, but of course, he was just teasing his mother. "Don't worry, mother. I'm not some spoiled brat from the Eight Banners. I want to accomplish things myself. That's the only way to feel a sense of accomplishment. This is what you taught me when I was little. But..."

Xiu Yu was originally somewhat relieved, but when she heard Yinzhen say "but", she asked, "but what?"

Yinzhen said frankly: "If my son needs your help in the future, it would be great if you could lend a hand."

"You!" Xiu Yu smiled, but a wave of worry washed over her. Her own Ninth Prince was clever and intelligent, sure to be a skilled worker in the future. Currently, thanks to her intervention, Ninth Prince and Eighth Prince had little contact, and there had been no confrontations between them and Fourth Prince. However, she could also see that Ninth Prince and Yinzhen simply didn't mesh; it was not their nature to become close friends. What would the future hold...she was truly worried.