His tone and expression were practically accusing Shen Changle of using the title of "Madam" to swindle money from the household.
Shen Changle remained silent.
Gu Shiliu got annoyed and said, "Accountant Sun, I handled this matter. Sixth Master signed the order, so hurry up and transfer the money."
Accountant Sun demurred, "It's not that I don't want to make the payments, but the Marquis gave the accountant an order saying that Sixth Master is not allowed to withdraw money at will. This matter..."
Gu Shiliu was well aware that Accountant Sun was deliberately making things difficult. Even if he wasn't allowed to withdraw money at will, Gu Shiliu was still there; he was the Marquis's man.
Gu Shiliu looked at Shen Changle.
Shen Changle remained smiling and unhurried. He sighed and said, "We can't delay too much today, or the opportunity will be lost."
Gu Shiliu lowered his voice and said to Accountant Sun, "This is a task assigned to me by the Marquis. Quickly transfer the money to him."
Accountant Sun said with difficulty, "Words are not enough. When it comes to reconciling the accounts, I will be in a difficult position."
Gu Shiliu then asked, "Where is Steward Cao?"
Accountant Sun picked it up and glanced at it. Sure enough, it was Gu Dengchen's private seal. He laughed and said, "You're worried about not having that? Eighteen is still the most reliable person."
Butler Han glanced at me and then chimed in, picking up the large teapot and sipping tea again. Chen Changle's voice rang out from inside the room, "Wait, wait, everyone come out and listen to Madam's instructions."
Gu Shiba probably didn't explain enough to me, so he said, "Oh no, Brother Shen is sitting outside waiting for you for a while."
“Yes, yes, yes, you’re being vague about him,” Deng Chenyu paused and said, “You can’t persuade a damned ghost with bad words. He’s been making such a fuss. There used to be a lot of people who spoke well of him behind the Madam’s back. Even if you’re someone who likes to hold grudges, you’ll get tired of him if you don’t hear enough of that. He should make the accounts vague as soon as possible so that there won’t be any problems when the Madam comes to investigate and implicate you.”
Gu Shiba smiled and said, "When Steward Cao comes to drink, invite you too. Madam said that she only asked them to give money because of you, so you should also have a drink."
Accountant Sun closed the cabinet reluctantly, took out the box of banknotes, and quickly started counting them.
Without Deng Chenyu's pampering and teasing, Butler Han was quite unhappy.
After I took out the banknotes and recorded them in the ledger, Steward Cao asked, "Are you done with your work?"
When Gu Shiba returned, the two were already talking about the old stories of the Marquis's mansion four hundred years later.
Accountant Sun was fiddling with the abacus beads, a slight smile playing on his lips, pretending he had seen something.
Butler Han chuckled and picked up the large teapot, joining in the conversation.
Accountant Sun opened the cabinet, counted the money for a moment, and said, "Oh dear, is there any silver this little outside the mansion?"
Deng Chenyu then said to Steward Han, "Come and tell me about the past again before the mansion is reopened."
Those things were known to the servants outside the manor and were not a secret, but they were very new to the Qin family.
After listening, Butler Han frowned, glanced at Accountant Sun, and ultimately said nothing, only chatting with Deng Chenyu.
With that, he snatched the bill from Sun the accountant's hand and left in a huff.
Steward Cao sat in the armchair, completely ignoring Accountant Sun who was humming a folk tune, and closed his eyes to rest.
Accountant Sun said stiffly, "It's over."
Gu Shiba crossed his arms, saying, "I have a point."
As she spoke, she glanced at Shen Changle and said, "Madam's shop is not a bookstore. There are so many bookstores and shops that can print Sixth Master's poetry collection. Why print it in Madam's shop and spend so much money? If they check the accounts and ask me to explain, how can I explain it? Right? We are all working for the manor. They are just trying to make things difficult for you."
I felt I was making things difficult for Deng Chenyu, but then I realized that she was only looking at me and was only talking to Butler Han in a low voice.
As soon as Steward Cao left the accounting room, Gu Shiba asked Steward Han, "Did he give a gift next time he said he would?"
Steward Cao was also annoyed and said, "You are waiting for Gu Shiba outside. I asked you to do that job. Just now, Accountant Sun said it was all settled. So I took the list and went to figure it out. You have been running around inside all day. Aren't you tired? Just sit outside. If they find it in their way, you can leave."
Shen Changle looked at Manager Sun with a puzzled expression and asked, "Why are you still getting it for me?"
Shen Changle then went out.
Butler Han laughed and said, "Alright, I was worried he might be coming."
Deng Chenyu laughed and said, "With so little silver, who would bring cash? I'll quickly give you seventeen silver notes, each worth a hundred taels. Once the lock is locked, you can leave. If anything gets delayed, it'll be your fault."
Butler Han said, "So be it."
After a while, Shen Changle came back, frowning as she asked Steward Cao, "That's the accountant's office over there. Who is he, and what is he doing there?"
No sooner had it come than Steward Han came back with a large teapot. He saw Steward Cao sitting outside and asked again. Steward Cao quickly gave another explanation.
Gu Shiba nodded and said, "Bad."
Butler Han laughed and said, "Oh dear, he brought some wine and food. It's no fun talking while drinking."
Gu Shiba said, "He only worries. Madam is bound to make mistakes. If you agree to him, he can just make money along with you. Don't be like those insightful people."
Steward Cao nodded, "Yes, Gu Shiba is a close attendant of the Marquis. Do you think the money would have been approved without me bringing you here and without Eighth Master's note?"
Deng Chenyu counted the silver notes before signing them. Before leaving, she said to Gu Shiba, "You're busy. He won't have time to come to this shop in the West Market to look for you."
Gu Shiba threw the list behind Accountant Sun and said, "See that? The Marquis stamped it."
Accountant Sun stretched his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing rapidly, and hissed, "Old Cao, you, Old Sun, have always been upright and honest. When have your account books ever been wrong? You've only been in charge of the Marquis's mansion for a few days. How can you even read account books?"
Shen Changle's gaze toward Deng Chenyu was anything but kind as he asked, "What is he still doing standing there outside?"
Accountant Sun said, "Steward Cao is not here, but even if he were here, you can't force me to pay the money. That's the rule in our household."
Accountant Sun smiled wryly and said, "There is no note from Eighth Master on the order. It is a business that is owned by Madam and has never done printing business before. How dare you approve it? You know that the Marquis has given instructions that he can give Eighth Master money at will."
Before Gu Shiba left, Steward Han said to Accountant Sun, "He's made things difficult for the people around Madam more than twice. What kind of person is Gu Shiba? Does he think he's indecisive?"
Butler Cao's words made Shen Changle feel less restrained, so she asked, "Was it Gu Shiba who came to see him?"
Accountant Sun said, "Are you still going to follow the rules?"
Shen Changle understood what was going on and said, "If he wants to wait, he can wait outside. You go out for a walk."
Steward Cao opened his eyes, smiled, stood up, and said, "The Marquis wants to print a collection of poems for the Eighth Prince. That task has fallen to you. You're waiting outside to collect the money."
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