Chapter 39 Frosty Dawn (Nine) Master, I think...

The smile on Manager Sun's face froze instantly.

His calligraphy brush froze in mid-air, a drop of ink trembling on the tip, almost dripping onto the brand-new paper.

"Young lady, you?" He was taken aback, then realized his rudeness and quickly lowered his voice, leaning forward unconsciously. He said awkwardly, "Oh my, my young lady! You're not joking with me, are you? Accounting is traditionally a man's job; there's no reason for a woman to do this."

“It’s not that I’m making excuses, but in this market, any shop of any size would never hire a female accountant! Not to mention that it’s improper for her to show her face in public, there are so many intricacies involved in welcoming guests, checking accounts and reconciling receipts, that’s not something someone of your status, young lady, should be involved in.”

He sized up Ye Mu. Although he didn't know her exact background, judging from her demeanor and speech, she was definitely not from a humble family, which made him feel that the whole thing was absurd.

He rubbed his hands together, speaking earnestly, "Young lady, if you want to supplement your family income, why not consider something else? Taking on some work at the embroidery shop, or doing laundry and mending, would be better than dealing with men like this."

“Manager Sun,” Ye Mu said calmly, “Now that I’m here, I’m not joking with you. I’ve been managing the estate with my mother since I was a child. In the spring, I would check the land taxes, and in the autumn, I would calculate the harvest and profit and loss. I have a thorough understanding of the income and expenditure of money and grain, as well as cost accounting. Later, I assisted in managing some of the shops in the outer courtyard of the mansion, auditing the accounts of various places every month, and checking the accounts receivable and payable. I also personally handled the key aspects of purchasing, inventory, turnover, and interest.

"I dare not say that I have extraordinary talent, but I can manage both the annual income of the estate and the flow of money from the shops, and I am no less capable than any man."

"Since the shopkeeper says he knows all sorts of business owners and has a wide network of connections, surely he can find one or two owners who aren't so bound by conventional wisdom?"

She knew he was in a difficult position, and slowly said, "As for the commission, I can only take 70% of what a regular accountant would get. As you know, a skilled accountant in the market would cost at least eight or nine taels a month, but I only need five taels. If the owner still has doubts, you can give me a test first, or let me try to manage the accounts for a few days. Whether it's true or false, whether it's a mule or a horse, you'll know once you verify it. Please ask the manager to keep an eye on things."

Manager Sun opened his mouth, but looking into Ye Mu's clear and calm eyes, all the words of advice he wanted to say got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say them.

He had been in this line of work for a long time and had met all sorts of people, but this was the first time he had encountered such a bold and audacious woman, yet she seemed to have some basis for her confidence, not just empty words.

After hesitating for a long time, Manager Sun finally sighed and compromised, slowly unfolding the blank pages.

"Young lady, you've really put me in a difficult position."

He shook his head and slowly wrote down a line: "A lady surnamed Ye is skilled in arithmetic and accounting, and seeks a position as an accountant."

"Alright, alright, I'll make a note of it for now. If there really is such an ignorant—no, enlightened—owner, I'll find a way to pass on a message. But please don't get your hopes up too high..."

Ye Mu had expected this, and she had considered other options as well.

For example, with her calligraphy skills and the refinement she gained from her time in the noble family, she could become a female tutor in a wealthy household, instructing young ladies in calligraphy and painting. This job would be both elegant and respectable, and the income would be much higher than copying.

But the thought only flashed through her mind before she extinguished it herself.

Those families who can afford to hire a full-time female tutor are either rich or noble. Most of them have seen the lady of the house at flower banquets and tea parties, and there will definitely be some questions about her. Just thinking about it gives her a headache. She might as well be an accountant in a small shop.

However, accounting is still a male-dominated field nowadays. Behind the counter, those who manipulate abacuses and manage money transactions are all men dressed in long gowns.

Ye Mu wasn't naive either, and then asked, "I wonder what the market rate is for copying documents? I've been thinking of finding some copying work to make ends meet these days."

"Copying documents, well..."

Shopkeeper Sun pulled out another slightly worn book from under the counter, flipped through it quickly, found the corresponding page, and pointed to the densely packed small characters on it. "This job is quite common. It doesn't matter if you're male or female, as long as your handwriting is neat."

"The price is calculated by word count. Copying classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections costs 15 coins per thousand words; if it is a vernacular novel or a collection of miscellaneous notes, it costs 10 coins per thousand words. If it is an official document or notice from the government office, the requirements are higher, and it can reach 20 coins per thousand words. However, that requires a guarantor and a skilled person who is registered with the government office. It is not easy to get a chance."

He glanced at Ye Mu and said, "If the young lady has good handwriting, she could take on some copying of scriptures or storybooks to supplement her daily income. However, this work is mentally and physically exhausting, and the money comes slowly."

Ye Mu quickly calculated in his mind that 15 coins per thousand words, even if he copied 10,000 words, would only amount to 150 coins, which was indeed meager, but it was safe and secure, and he could finish it at home without interfering with taking care of his mother.

"And what about the embroidery?" she asked again.

"Embroidery work is quite complex," Manager Sun said, closing the book and speaking from experience. "It depends on the embroidery workshop, the skill level, and the design. If you entrust it to a large embroidery workshop, they have their own patterns and rules, and they pay by the piece. Embroidering an ordinary handkerchief will only cost five to eight coins; if it's a purse or fan cover, which is more complex, it will cost twenty or thirty coins; if it's a large item like a screen or dress, then it depends on the stitching method and the thread used, and the price will vary wildly, ranging from several hundred coins to several taels of silver."

He paused, then spoke frankly, "However, young lady, this embroidery work requires real skill; both keen eyesight and precise technique are indispensable. Secondly, beginners usually need to provide their own silk thread, so the initial investment is substantial. Moreover, there are too many embroiderers of all sizes in the city, making the competition fierce. Unless one's skills are exceptionally outstanding or one has unique designs, it's difficult to make a lot of money from this."

Ye Mu listened silently, weighing the prices of copying and embroidery in his mind.

Although copying is slow, it requires no capital and is a safe bet; if embroidery is done well, the unit price is higher, but it requires upfront investment and is highly uncertain. She has not specialized in this for many years, so her skills are inevitably rusty.

However, Zijing has very skillful hands, so she can try it out in her spare time.

"Thank you for informing me, Manager Sun."

Ye Mu curtsied and said, “If there are any suitable copying jobs, please take note. My handwriting is decent, so I can send you some samples for your review. Also, I have an older sister who is quite talented in embroidery. I will bring some of her embroidery tomorrow for you to see and perhaps recommend her.”

Seeing that she was flexible in her thinking, not getting bogged down in the unrealistic accounting job, and that her attitude was so sincere, Manager Sun's expression softened considerably. He nodded in agreement, "Alright, this is easy to arrange. Just bring the design and embroidery tomorrow, young lady. As long as the items are good and there are suitable jobs available, I will definitely give you priority."

As dusk deepened, when Ye Mu returned to the small courtyard in Yuqian Lane, wisps of smoke were already rising from the kitchen, carrying a faint aroma of rice. Zijing was sitting on a small stool in the yard picking vegetables. Upon seeing her return, she immediately put down what she was doing and went to greet her.

"Miss is back!" She took the thin cloak draped over Ye Mu's arm and lowered her voice, "Madam is in good spirits today. She even basked in the sun in the courtyard for quite a while this afternoon."

Ye Mu nodded, feeling a little relieved. She walked to the water vat, scooped up a ladle of water to wash her hands, and then picked up the rough earthenware bowl on the table and drank several mouthfuls. Only then did she sit down on the stone bench in the courtyard and recount in detail the events leading up to her trip to the brokerage firm that day.

"Copying storybooks and scriptures? Girl, this is a good job! It doesn't require showing your face, which is perfect for you." She happily calculated, "With your writing speed, copying several thousand words a day shouldn't be a problem. If we calculate it at fifteen coins per thousand words, you can earn fifty or sixty coins."

They now buy their own groceries and cook for themselves, saving more than half the cost of eating out. If they don't eat meat, forty coins a day is enough for rice, grains, and vegetables. If they can take on this copying job, they can really earn enough to cover their daily expenses.

They just can't eat meat.

Even three ounces of pork usually costs twenty coins.

Just as I was thinking of this, a fragrant aroma wafted from the alleyway on the evening breeze. It was the unique smell of that roast chicken shop. After being marinated with secret spices, the chicken was roasted over fruitwood charcoal until it sizzled and dripped with oil. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. The aroma was lingering and persistent, penetrating straight into one's nose.

That shop was very popular. Whenever Ye Mu hurried past the alley, she always saw a long queue. The more people there were, the more fresh roast chickens were put into the oven, one oven after another. The stronger the aroma, the more she craved them.

So she always quickened her pace and ran away from the alley entrance.

But at home, she had nowhere to escape; the fragrance spread with the twilight, filling the entire courtyard.

Ye Mu unconsciously pursed his lips, and when he looked up, he saw Zi Jing also quietly swallowing. Their eyes met, and they smiled knowingly at each other.

"And what about your embroidery work?" Ye Mu smiled. "I mentioned to Manager Sun that I'll take the handkerchiefs and the fan cover with the crabapple blossom design that you kept in the box tomorrow. If any embroidery workshop takes a liking to them and gives you some fine work, that will be another source of income."

Zijing was initially delighted, but then a hint of trepidation appeared on her face. "Is my skill really up to par? What if they don't like it..."

"Ah Jing can definitely do it." Ye Mu reached out and gently patted the back of her hand, his tone resolute. "Even if it doesn't work out, we won't lose anything, will we?"

As she spoke, she stood up, and in the manner of a scholar, she bowed to Zijing with a serious expression, saying, "Whether we can eat the roast chicken at the alley entrance in the future depends entirely on Miss Zijing's skillful hands."

Zijing was amused by her, "Girl, please stop teasing me. We're like a lame man riding a blind horse, helping each other along. You copy books and I'll embroider, we'll definitely make a good living, and we won't be afraid of not earning enough for a roast chicken."

It's definitely not something you can earn.

Sun's Pawnshop was closed, locked with a brass lock. Ye Mu went there for several days, but it never opened. She asked the shop assistants on both sides, but they all just shook their heads, not knowing why.

Ye Mu had no choice but to look for work at other brokerage firms, but she was repeatedly turned away. As soon as they heard that she wanted to be an accountant, they waved her away, thinking it was nonsense. They didn't even look at the embroidery, and the words on it were thrown out.

Zijing, on the other hand, received some small jobs at home.

It turned out that the clothes of Zheng Jiaoyu from next door had been blown into their yard by the wind. Zijing noticed that the cuffs were badly unraveling, so she quickly mended them. Zheng Jiaoyu was a scholar and insisted on giving her a thank-you gift, so he gave her five coins.

This was not charity, but rather the highest form of thanks he could offer, as the instructor's salary was meager.

Ye Mu looked at the five copper coins in Zijing's hand and tried to find some humor in the situation, considering it a small gain.

If I can't find a decent job tomorrow, I'll really have to pawn the hairpin.

Perhaps Heaven took pity on him, for Manager Sun opened the door.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Manager Sun said, who was busy wiping the counter. When he saw that it was her, he immediately dropped the rag and greeted her with a bow. "A few days ago, there was a sudden situation. My wife suddenly went into labor and gave birth to twins! I was so panicked that I didn't have time to put up a notice. I'm so sorry that you had to make several trips for nothing!"

So this is what a joyous occasion is.

Ye Mu quickly offered his congratulations, "Congratulations, shopkeeper, on this double blessing! One jade and one tile, what a tremendous fortune!"

"Congratulations to you both!" Manager Sun grinned from ear to ear.

Ye Mu then handed over the prepared letter with both hands, saying, "I made an appointment with the shopkeeper a few days ago to send you this letter for your review."

She had been familiar with the use of the "empty font" since childhood. Her strokes were vigorous, her structure was dignified, and her style was unique, completely lacking the delicate and graceful air of ordinary young ladies' handwriting.

Manager Sun initially glanced at it casually, but his gaze immediately fixed on it. He took it, ran his fingers over the paper, and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, young lady, your handwriting is truly remarkable."

Just then, the curtain was lifted, and a slightly plump man, around forty years old, wearing a dark blue silk robe and a square scarf on his head, walked in. He said in a loud voice, "Manager Sun, about the two people I asked you about last month to copy books, has anything been settled? My shop has just received a new batch of storybooks, and I urgently need people to copy them!"

The visitor was none other than Manager Li of Wenmozhai in the south of the city, who had known Manager Sun for many years.

"What a coincidence, Manager Li, you've come at the perfect time!" Manager Sun handed over the document in his hand. "Take a look at this, it's a document that just arrived, could you please take a look?"

Manager Li took it, initially not paying much attention, but after reading two lines, his expression became serious.

He carefully examined the structure of the characters, the pauses and turns of the strokes, and became more and more amazed. He couldn't help but look around and exclaim, "Whose handwriting is this? This calligraphy is so skillful, with its inner strength and natural elegance. It's truly beautiful! Copying storybooks is a bit of a waste of his talent; he could easily copy scriptures!"

Manager Sun smiled sarcastically and gestured with his eyes to Ye Mu, who was standing to the side with her veil still up, saying, "Manager Li, you've misjudged this time. The one who wrote this is none other than this young lady Ye."

"What?" Manager Li's eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze shifting back and forth between the words and Ye Mu. "Young lady? This calligraphy and painting was actually done by a woman?"

He couldn't help but look down at the characters again, clicking his tongue in amazement. "It doesn't look like it at all! The characters themselves exude a sense of openness and expansiveness, more like the handwriting of a man who has honed his skills in the imperial examinations. It's remarkable, truly remarkable!"

He immediately looked at Ye Mu with newfound respect and asked warmly, "Young lady Ye, my shop is short of people to copy a batch of newly arrived vernacular novels. I wonder if you would be willing to take on the task? It's fifteen coins per thousand words, how about that? If there are any uncommon characters or illustrations, the payment will be extra."

This price is five coins higher than the market price.

Ye Mu made up her mind, suppressed her excitement, and nodded through the veil, saying, "Thank you for your high regard, Manager Li. I am willing to give it a try."

"Good! Very helpful!" Manager Li was overjoyed and immediately took out two brand-new storybooks and a stack of blank manuscript paper from his cloth bag. "Young lady, copy the first two chapters first. I will send someone to pick them up in five days. If your handwriting can maintain this level, you will be in charge of copying the rest of the storybooks!"

The matter was settled.

Watching from the side, Manager Sun's initial skepticism towards Ye Mu's job application for the accountant position faded somewhat; she was indeed a capable woman.

He cupped his hands to Ye Mu and said, "Congratulations, young lady! If there are any good copying jobs in the future, I will definitely think of you first."

The embroidery was also preserved.

From that day on, Ye Mu kept a low profile in the courtyard.

Before dawn, she would sit by the window and begin grinding ink and laying out paper in the dim light. During the day, apart from taking care of her mother and doing simple housework, she spent almost all her time at her desk.

The chivalrous feuds and the joys and sorrows of talented men and beautiful women in traditional Chinese novels unfold vividly under her pen.

To copy a few more pages, she often stayed up late into the night. Her fingers would become sore and numb from holding the pen for so long, and her eyes would often be dry and swollen. But she would only stop occasionally to rub her wrists or apply cold water to her eyes before burying herself back into the text.

Every five days, she would go to Manager Sun's embroidery shop to submit her manuscript and inquire about the embroidery. Manager Sun noticed that her handwriting was consistently neat and tidy, so he no longer looked down on her and hung her name card at the top.

There are also inquiries about the embroidery work of Bauhinia, but no large orders have been received yet, only some sporadic repair work.

More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the four storybooks have been copied.

However, the small wooden box containing the silver coins was visibly running low. Ye Mu counted them again and again, and the remaining copper coins were only enough to support rice and grain for five or six days at most.

The agreement was that payment would be settled after five books were copied, but Ye Mu knew he couldn't wait any longer.

She had already sent the first few books, and then took the fourth book to Wenmozhai.

"Manager Li," Ye Mu stepped forward and gently placed the manuscript on the counter, "the fourth storybook you requested has been copied. Please take a look."

Manager Li looked up in surprise, and when he saw it was her, he smiled and said, "Why did Madam Ye come in person? Leave it to Manager Sun, and I will have my staff fetch it."

"I just happened to be passing by, so I delivered it."

Shopkeeper Li casually opened the scroll and saw that the ink was even and the page was so clean that there wasn't a single mistake. Moreover, this was a collection of chivalrous tales, and the strong, vigorous handwriting made it even more exciting to read. He revealed undisguised satisfaction in his eyes, "Madam Ye's handwriting is indeed fast and good."

Ye Mu's heart skipped a beat.

She knew she had to speak up. "Manager Li, according to the agreement, we would settle the payment after copying five books. However, my family has some urgent needs recently. I wonder if it would be possible to advance part of the payment for the first four books? I'm really sorry to trouble you."

Upon hearing this, Manager Li gave her a second look.

The girl stood in front of the counter, her figure slender, the edge of her veil slightly frayed from washing. Although her face was not clearly visible, her slightly taut jawline revealed the difficulty of asking for help.

He wasn't a mean person, and the previous few stories he'd written had all sold for high prices. After a moment's thought, he laughed heartily, "Of course! Madam Ye did a wonderful job. What's wrong with taking some of her wages in advance?"

He turned around, took out a string of coins from the counter, and counted out another two hundred coins in loose change, pushing them in front of Ye Mu. "Four books, ninety thousand words, at fifteen coins per thousand words, that's exactly one thousand five hundred coins. Please count them."

1,500 coins!

A heavy stack of one string of cash and five hundred loose coins lay before her. This was the first time in her life that Ye Mu had earned money with her own hands. She could almost hear her heart pounding. She forced herself to remain calm and gave a deep bow. "Thank you for your understanding, Manager Li."

"Keep up the good work!" Manager Li waved his hand. "Don't rush the rest of the manuscript. Take it slow and don't strain your eyes."

Stepping out of the Wenmozhai, the warm sunlight enveloped Ye Mu, and the heavy copper coins tucked into his robes gave him a sense of security.

Instead of rushing home, she went straight to a familiar fabric shop.

With the arrival of the Beginning of Winter, the north wind is starting to blow, and old coats are no longer enough to keep out the new chill. It's time to prepare winter clothes.

She chose indigo coarse cotton to make clothes for her mother, apricot yellow cotton for Zijing and herself, and weighed out three catties of new cotton wadding. Watching the shop assistant carefully bundle the cloth and cotton wadding, she ended up spending nearly five hundred coins.

On her way home, she silently calculated her expenses for the next half month. She needed to set aside 600 coins for firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Although her mother's illness had improved considerably, she still needed to set aside 150 coins for her mother's tonic medicine. She would save 200 coins for rent, and then continue saving until she had about 50 coins left for spending money.

My pace slowed down without me realizing it.

The aroma of roasted chicken from the alleyway stall wafted over again on the evening breeze. A whole roasted chicken cost sixty coins, which she couldn't afford, but half a chicken cost thirty coins, allowing them to indulge once in a while.

Ah Jing was also thinking about eating; that girl had been munching on vegetable roots with her for a long time.

Ye Mu returned to the courtyard, put down the cloth, and walked out towards the alley entrance when she suddenly heard a faint meow from the base of the wall.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a emaciated kitten curled up under the ruins. Its hind legs were torn and bleeding, and its fur was matted with blood. It tried to move, but only let out more pitiful cries.

Ye Mu felt as if something had clenched his heart tightly.

She glanced at the kitten, then at the nearby roast chicken shop. Without much hesitation, she knelt down, took a clean handkerchief from her waist, carefully wrapped the almost weightless kitten in her arms, and turned straight towards Baohetang.

As Dr. Zhao cleaned the wound, the kitten trembled incessantly in Ye Mu's palm. He cleaned the wound, applied medicine, bandaged it, and finally wrapped it with several herbal remedies. "It should have cost fifty coins..."

The old doctor glanced at her faded sleeves and said, "Since we're neighbors, I'll give you forty coins."

Ye Mu thanked him.

Back in the courtyard, Zijing was about to pour out the rice water when she saw the fluffy cat and was startled. After Ye Mu explained the whole story in a few words, she quickly put down the earthenware bowl, wiped her hands on her apron, and took the cat with a smile. "You're so kind, young lady. We have winter clothes now, and we've saved a little life. The roast chicken is available every day, so what's the big deal if we delay our first meat dish for a few days?"

She found a broken basket, lined it with old cotton, and settled the kitten under the pomegranate tree. Just as Ye Mu bent down to feed it water, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Ye Mu straightened up, rubbed his aching back, and went to open the door.

The wooden door creaked open, and she looked up at the person who appeared. He was wearing a black kasaya, and his features were as handsome as distant mountains after the rain. His figure was like a lone pine tree on a cold cliff, standing alone outside the mortal world.

Ye Mu was taken aback, wondering how he had found this place.

But Ye Mu's strength, which she had been maintaining for days, crumbled the moment she saw him. All the emotions of running around, exhaustion, financial difficulties, heartache, and embarrassment surged into her heart, and Ye Mu's nose tingled.

She didn't want to cry at all.

But for some reason, the moment she met his gaze, tears streamed down her face.

She didn't cry when she was kicked out of the Marquis's mansion, she didn't cry when she couldn't find a house, she didn't cry when life was bitter, and she didn't cry when she was exhausted from copying storybooks.

Whenever Ye Mu saw him, she couldn't help but want to cry.

She clutched his monk's robe and wailed, "Master, Master, I...I really want to eat meat..."

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Author's Note: Thank you for reading and adding to your favorites! More to come in the next chapter! [Keep it up!]