Chapter 74: Settlement of Accounts
Zhao Bantou cursed for a few words, and the crowd reluctantly made way for her. Xu Qingying gave Zhao Bantou a grateful look. Zhao Bantou was attentive and ordered his men to hold several soybean oil lamps to escort her. "Miss Xu, don't tire yourself out. Anyway, the money is in your hands and it won't go away. You can do it tomorrow."
"They're also anxious. Getting paid for work is a matter of course. A clearer settlement sooner will put their minds at ease."
"Yes, yes, yes." Zhao Bantou almost nodded and bowed, "Sixth Miss is really kind-hearted. Don't worry, I will send a few brothers to guard her. You can take your time to figure it out-"
"Excuse me, Captain Zhao."
"You're so polite. Why call me squad leader? It seems so awkward. From now on, just call me Lao Zhao. I'll feel more comfortable hearing that..."
Xu Qingying had no idea why Zhao Bantou's attitude changed. It seemed that one had to possess absolute strength at all times to be able to control others.
"I don't dare call you Old Zhao. You're several years older than me. If you don't mind, can I call you Brother Zhao?"
"Ah!" Zhao Bantou's smile became even more flattering. He even glanced at the escort under him as if to show off, and said happily, "Did you hear that? Miss Xu called me big brother!"
Ming Xiaoshuang felt funny when he saw Zhao Bantou's tail about to wag.
He even wanted to remind them: "Brother, do you remember who you are? During the mobilization meeting a few days ago, who was it that kept saying that we couldn't just listen to Miss Xu on everything? We took a big risk in this soap business, so we had to be tough?"
In fact, before entering the city today, Xu Qingying had already asked Qian Zhenniang to help Miao calculate everyone's wages.
In a simple tent, lit by a few soybean oil lamps, Qian Zhenniang was buried in her accounts with a worried look on her face. The tent was littered with scattered rice paper, and the table was in a mess. When she saw someone come in, Qian Zhenniang immediately stood up. Then she saw that it was Xu Qingying and said with a hint of guilt, "Miss Xu, it's my fault that I'm not capable enough. I haven't been able to sort out the accounts even after a whole day."
Miao also came over. "Don't blame her. We were supposed to do it together, but you know, I'm not very good at counting, and both of us are very slow. Look, it took us half a day to finish only one-third of it."
Xu Qingying did not ignore Qian Zhenniang's red and swollen eyes and her hesitant expression, but she chose to remain silent.
Everything that needed to be said was made clear that day. Xu Qingying really wanted to help Qian Zhenniang, but Qian Zhenniang was weak in character. If she couldn't stand up on her own feet, she couldn't keep spending her efforts on her.
"Let me see."
Miao handed the calculated accounts to her. Xu Qingying flipped through the pages one by one, frowning.
Somehow, when Miao saw Xu Qingying frowning, she felt a little scared and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong? Did you make a mistake in the calculation?"
"That's right. It's just...how did you send it?"
"It's just as you said. The basic wage is 20 cents per day. For every 10 pieces more you make, 5 cents will be added. If you don't meet the standard, one cent will be deducted. The first place in each group will receive an additional bonus. After the calculation is done, let the team leader confirm it." Qian Zhenniang's voice became lower and lower because she clearly saw the disapproval on Xu Qingying's face.
Xu Qingying was indeed a little overwhelmed. She was so busy that she didn't remember that the Zhou Dynasty did not have the habit of using Arabic numerals and vertical accounting. Such densely packed Chinese characters, coupled with addition and subtraction, had to be checked one by one, which gave her a headache just looking at it.
How can we achieve high efficiency in this way?
No, at least we have to teach them Arabic numerals, otherwise the account book will be a mess.
It was still early, and in fact, in the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was time to get ready for bed. However, Xu Qingying didn't like to procrastinate, so she decided to gather people to learn numbers. She said to Miao, "Mother, please go and call father and eldest brother, as well as fourth aunt, sister Anping, sister Yinxi, Feng'er, and call Xiaomeizi as well. Children learn quickly and will be able to get the hang of it soon."
Miao was a little dazed by this series of lists, "Ying'er, what are you going to do?"
"Tell them I'm going to teach them the new accounting method. If they can't learn it, I won't involve them in any business with the Third House in the future."
Miao responded and went out to call people, but she felt in her heart that Xu Qingying seemed to be getting more and more powerful, and there was a faint feeling that she was not easy to deal with.
But Qian Zhenniang asked, "Miss, what is the new accounting method?"
"Wait a minute, I'll tell you when everyone is here."
The two waited for about half a minute, and then they heard footsteps. Under the moonlight, Miao came over with a group of people. Xu Qingying noticed that there were a few more people, and even Zhao Bantou followed after hearing the sound of the wind.
Xu Qingying found this scene funny no matter how she looked at it.
After the soap-selling incident, the entire exile team is now united and more like a big company.
Zhao Bantou also became more approachable, and the escorts rarely used sticks to treat the exiled prisoners. Everyone was harmonious and focused on making money.
Xu Qingying fully understood a truth: there are only common interests, no different classes.
Zhao Bantou rubbed his head, looking a little awkward as he said, "I heard that Miss Xu is going to give a class? Please don't blame me for coming here uninvited."
Nonsense, Miss Xu is giving a class, wouldn’t he be at a huge loss if he doesn’t come?
Zhao Bantou himself didn't understand why he wanted to follow Xu Qingying around all day long. No matter what Xu Qingying did, he wanted to stare at her. Every time he did so, he gained a lot.
Although he didn't understand why he did something at the time, he could always taste the various deep flavors when he savored it slowly afterwards.
Miss Xu Liu, you are not simple...
Xu Qingying gestured "please" and said with a smile, "Guests are welcome. Please take a seat. The tent is a little shabby though."
Fang Ningmo also came over and said, "Xu Liu, you're such a good guy, why don't you bring me along when you're having fun?"
Xu Qingying pulled her and whispered, "Your sister is still mad at me, and you dare to come here? Aren't you afraid that she'll think you're a traitor?"
Fang Ningmo said with a grin, "Just don't let her find out, okay? Besides, my sister is a complete bookworm. She's reading in her room right now, so she probably won't remember me for a while."
Xu Qingying gave her a thumbs up.
Afterwards, Xu Qingying looked up at the tall man in front of her who filled the tent as soon as he entered.
Liu Dazhuang touched his head and smiled innocently, "Miss Xu, I want to learn too."
Fang Ningmo had also seen Liu Dazhuang and knew that he was just a bit scary because of his strong appearance, but his character was really honest and simple.
During this journey, everyone in the exile team had become familiar with each other, so Fang Ningmo was no longer afraid of him and even joked with him, "Brother Liu, are you planning to give up martial arts and turn to literature?"
Liu Dazhuang blushed under the teasing, but he could still crack a joke. "Ha, I want to learn more and take the imperial examination. What's wrong with that? Is that not okay?"
"Sure, sure." Everyone in the tent laughed.
Xu Meixiao felt a little jealous when she saw so many people surrounding her sister. She ran over and hugged Xu Qingying tightly, looking up and asking, "Sister, what are we going to learn today?"
"Today we're going to learn a simpler accounting method. You can sit next to your sister. Since you're younger, you'll definitely learn faster than them."
"Yeah! Amei got it!" After receiving the praise from her sister, Xu Meixiao felt energized and secretly encouraged herself to surpass these adults.
She would not allow anyone to snatch her sister away!
Xu Qingying greeted everyone, "Everyone, I'm sorry for the poor hospitality. I just saw Zhenniang's accounting method and found that traditional accounting is very time-consuming and prone to errors. Coincidentally, I once saw a book about counting rods in my grandfather's study, and I just came up with some ways to simplify the account books. Our soap business is growing, and we will inevitably have to deal with account books in the future, so I called everyone here--"
Zhao Bantou said bitterly, "Miss Xu, this thing is not difficult, right? Old Zhao is most afraid of nitpicking..."
Liu Dazhuang patted his chest and said, "Captain Zhao, I haven't said anything, what are you afraid of? Don't worry, I'm here, and there will definitely be someone to help you back up!"
"Go away, who would compete with you? After all, I went to school for a year or two, so I can write my own name."
Zhao Bantou's words expressed the anxiety of most people. Except for Xu Huiming, Fang Ningmo and Xu Yinxi, almost everyone else present could not read a single word, so when they heard that they had to learn accounting, they all looked quite worried.
Xu Qingying laughed, taking in everyone's expressions. She could only force them to do something. "Don't worry, everyone. My method is absolutely simple. It requires no academic knowledge, and even a fool can do it. But you still need to practice to become familiar with it. Everyone, sit in rows and each pick up a branch to use as a pen. I'll teach you, and then you can write on the ground."
Everyone hurriedly did as they were told, sat in rows, held wooden sticks, and looked at Xu Qingying eagerly.
"Actually, what I want to teach you is a simple way to write numbers, so that you can write faster."
Xu Qingying took a piece of wood and wrote the numbers from zero to ten again.
Xu Huiming immediately saw the key point. "Hey, it's just like drawing a picture. Simple is simple, but how do you write it when it's over ten?"
"Just pile up the numbers. For example, 'one hundred'... there's a one in front and two zeros at the end. I'll read one, and everyone writes it down with me. You can practice it after class."
Fang Ningmo tried it out. Although her handwriting was a little crooked, as Xu Qingying had said, once you master it, you'll be able to write very quickly. She couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "Wow, it's true! This way of writing is much faster than before. I just have to get used to these eleven numbers."
Xu Meixiao said a little nervously: "Wait for me, wait for me, I haven't written it yet!"
It’s over, someone else comes to compete for favor.
She is no longer her sister's favorite child. Her sister is so smart, why is she so stupid?
Xu Meixiao was so angry that she could hang a bottle of oil on her lips. She was determined to work harder and harder, and she said, "Sister, please test me a few more times. I will definitely pass this time!"
Xu Qingying touched Xu Meixiao and said with a smile, "Don't worry, practice drawing numbers first."
Zhao Bantou slapped his thigh and said, "Don't tell me, just draw it as a picture. It's simple, just a horizontal line -"
Someone interjected: "3 looks like an ear!"
Seeing everyone's heated discussion, Xu Qingying couldn't help but think of the shorthand number notation used by kindergarten children. She clapped her hands and said, "I'll teach you a simple way to remember numbers: 1 looks like a brush, 2 looks like a duckling, 3 is an ear, 4 is a small flag, 5 is a scale hook, 6 is a whistle, 7 is a sickle, 8 is a gourd, 9 is a rice spoon, and 10 is a brush and an egg."
Someone immediately shouted, "Speak slower!"
"Say it again, what was it? It's over, I didn't remember it!"
Xu Meixiao looked at the numbers in front of her and repeated them confidently: "1 looks like a brush, 2 looks like a duckling, 3 is an ear, 4 is a small flag, 5 is a scale hook, 6 is a whistle, 7 is a sickle, 8 is a gourd, 9 is a rice spoon, and 10 is a brush and an egg! Everyone, look at what my sister wrote in front. Wow, it looks just like it. I already know it after just reading it once!"
Xu Meixiao patted her head, feeling somewhat smug: "Little Meizi is so smart!"
Everyone burst into laughter at Xu Meixiao's cute appearance, and the shadow over their heads was swept away. Their enthusiasm for learning was unprecedentedly high.
"Hey, hey, hey, can you take a look at what I wrote? Is it correct? It's so crooked, it's really hard to write."
"It's not easy to write, but once you get used to it, it's definitely faster than handwriting. This way, you can sort out the accounts more quickly."
"That's it! I forgot again! How do you write eight? Oh, gourd gourd! Look at my head!"
Taking advantage of everyone's enthusiasm for learning, Xu Qingying took out the account book again and pointed it out to Qian Zhenniang point by point. "Your accounts are too detailed, which will take a lot of time. And you don't need to calculate everyone's accounts one by one first. Make a table first, and divide them into small groups of three and large groups of nine. When the time comes, just give the wages directly to the group leader, and he will sign and receive the wages."
Feng Er came over and asked, "Then how can we ensure that the team leader is not greedy?"
"After the work points are calculated, announce them to them. Everyone should remember their wages and ask the team leader for them. Continuing with the wage calculation..." Xu Qingying paused, "First, list all the names in a row and circle each person, representing a basic wage of 40 wen for two days. Then, deduct the amount reported by each team leader that didn't meet the standard. This way, the calculation will be quick."
Fang Ningmo asked curiously, "Why do we have to list them vertically? Nowadays, account books are all arranged horizontally."
"Because people's eyes read more efficiently vertically, especially when it comes to numbers. If you don't believe me, try it and see if it's faster to read horizontally or vertically."
Fang Ningmo was eager to try it out, obviously wanting to verify it himself.
Feng Er said happily, "This is a good idea. This way, even people who can't read can keep account books. Don't worry, young lady. I will definitely familiarize myself with these numbers as soon as possible and sort out the account books."
"Not as soon as possible, but we have to figure it out tonight." When Xu Qingying said this, she finally understood why her leader loved to make empty promises in the past. She never expected that one day she would also invest capital and say the same thing. She couldn't help but find it a little funny.
Sure enough, when the position changes, the people will also change?
"Everyone, please work a little overtime to sort out the accounts tonight. These people have seen that we've sold out of soap, and if we don't settle their wages right away, they'll have something to worry about. Besides, our second batch of soap is about to go into production, and if the employees waver, there will be a series of adverse reactions. So, I have to thank you all for your hard work tonight!"
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