"We only gave a deposit, as per the usual practice," the manager said, cautiously observing Qin Su's expression, afraid that Qin Su would get angry and fire him.

The Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion values ​​the horse farm highly; there's an extraordinary amount of money to be made there. Firing him would be worse than taking his life.

Qin Su then asked, "Is it the same as the previous deposit?"

The manager nodded; he really couldn't tell whether Qin Su was angry or not, and couldn't fathom it.

I've never heard of a girl being so scheming.

Qin Su didn't speak for a moment. Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, her glossy nails looking especially clean and beautiful.

She wondered where Xue Huai'an got the money after leaving her. Was it the half of the betrothal gifts that were returned? Or did he get it from Chen Yirou?

As far as she knew, Chen Yirou was not favored in the Chen family and her monthly salary was not much. Even if she managed to save a little bit, it probably wouldn't be enough to pay for the foal this time.

As for half of the betrothal gifts, Xue Huai'an hasn't squandered them all in the past two months?

Qin Su was unaware that Xue Huai'an had already colluded with Kang Lin and could afford to contribute some money.

She suddenly spoke up: "Terminate the deal with him."

The manager immediately frowned and said disapprovingly, "Miss, you don't know this. The contract between the two parties was signed a long time ago. If we go back on our word and terminate the transaction now, we will lose money."

"How long until the contract expires?"

The manager's eyes darted around, clearly indicating he had something on his mind, but before he could speak, Qin Su's voice was as cold as a blade, "Think carefully before you speak. Whose side are you on anyway?"

The manager was so frightened that he immediately lowered his head, no longer daring to have any ulterior motives, and honestly said, "There are still two years left."

He originally intended to say five years.

This would mean losing three years' worth of income, and his heart was breaking.

"Show me the contract."

"This..." The manager hesitated.

"Can't I look?" Qin Su looked down at him, and the invisible pressure made the steward feel a chill down his spine.

The steward was very uneasy. He really didn't want to show it to Qin Su, so he quickly said with a forced smile, "It's not that the young lady can't see it, it's just that the contract is really complicated. I don't think the young lady can understand it. You don't need to worry about it. The account book will be sent to the Marquis's residence every six months."

"Moreover, with Butler Hu personally inspecting it, there won't be any problems."

Qin Su stopped stroking the waistband, and her previously upturned lips tightened.

"Lian Tao, go see if Uncle Hu has finished dealing with it. If he has, have him come over."

Lian Tao agreed and left.

The steward asked cautiously, "Is Steward Hu here too?"

It's not patrol time yet, so why did Butler Hu suddenly appear at the manor?

Qin Su responded and said, "The manor next door was falsifying its accounts and ran into some problems, so we came to clean house."

The steward shuddered violently, his mind instantly in turmoil.

He forced a smile. "Is there some kind of misunderstanding?"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his face. He turned his head to look at a servant beside him and gave him a wink.

The servant had probably been with the manager for a long time; he understood with just a glance and quickly turned and left.

A voice suddenly came from behind—

"stop."

The servant's body stiffened instantly.

"Who dares to leave here today? No one is allowed to leave until I see the ledger and the contract."

The servant immediately looked distressed, hunched over slightly, and said aggrievedly, "Miss, I... I really need to pee."

The manager secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Qin Su wouldn't make things difficult for him under these circumstances.

Unexpectedly—"He held it in."

The field fell into a deathly silence.

They all worked at the horse farm; who would dare disobey their master?

Moreover, since he was already feeling guilty, if they really found out something wrong, wouldn't he have to hand him over to the authorities?

But if they don't leave, and the girl notices something's wrong, they'll end up in jail.

"But...but I can't hold it in any longer." The servant's legs trembled, as if he really needed to relieve himself immediately.

The steward also spoke up, "Miss, people have to use the restroom sometimes. No matter how important it is, let them go to the toilet first."

Qin Su retorted, "Are you accusing me?"

"It seems I'm too easygoing, which makes you all think I have no authority."

How could the butler dare to refute this?

Just then, Lian Tao returned, and Qin Su told Lian Tao to take someone to the outhouse, but to keep a close watch and not let anyone escape.

The servant was embarrassed, so he pretended to make a gesture and came back.

Meeting the manager's gaze, he could only shake his head slightly.

They can only hope that Butler Hu and Qin Su won't notice anything wrong.

But if there really wasn't any problem, why would Qin Su suddenly come to the horse farm?

This is really worrying me.

There's not much of a problem with Lao Hu. He used to buy people through human traffickers. If he could get the money back, he would sell them off. If not, he would hand them over to the authorities.

These people would rather be handed over to the authorities than sell their goods, since if others find out they are falsifying accounts, it will be difficult to find buyers in the future.

"What's wrong? Lian Tao just came to ask me to come over." Old Hu looked around and realized that something was wrong, so his expression became serious.

"Did these people upset the girl?" He strode over. He had a sturdy build from his past martial arts training, yet he also possessed the refined elegance of a scholar, making him someone not to be underestimated.

Qin Su's voice softened considerably. "I suspect their books are problematic, and they're colluding with others to take kickbacks."

Old Hu had just opened his mouth when the steward next to him shouted that he was innocent, "Steward Hu, the accounts of this horse farm are sent to the Marquis's residence for your personal review every six months. There can't be any problem! Miss, you have really wronged me."

"I am truly innocent, young lady, please don't listen to others' instigation. I am utterly loyal to the Marquis's mansion and would never do such a disloyal thing."

Old Hu frowned and scolded, "What kind of behavior is this, yelling and shouting? Who told you the girl was instigated by others? If you think there's no problem, then take the ledger."

The steward was intimidated by Old Hu and said timidly, "I'll have someone fetch it right away, but the account books have all been seen by Steward Hu. It seems that you don't trust me, young lady."

He openly and subtly tried to sow discord between Lao Hu and others.

Old Hu sneered, "Stop with those petty tricks. If I were so easily swayed by others, White Tiger Stronghold would have been finished long ago." It certainly wouldn't have become a thorn in the side of the imperial court.

The entire Marquis's mansion was united as one, like an iron barrel, a unity that no one else could match.

Lian Tao dragged the steward to get the account books.

Old Hu took a look first, then whispered to Qin Su, "It seems there's no problem, young lady?"

Qin Su took it, and she knew what was inside without even looking at it.

“If I remember correctly, the Qian family paid seven taels of silver for a top-quality foal to the royal family, but you are charging five taels of silver more for one of those foals.”

Old Hu coughed lightly and whispered to Qin Su, "Didn't we make a profit?"

That's why Lao Hu didn't think there was any problem.

Anyway, they're the ones who make more money, so it's a good deal for them.

The steward also said, "Our foals are all excellent, top-quality horses, so it's normal for them to be a bit more expensive. Miss, are you perhaps confused?"