Ning Yan spent only a few days calculating all of the Lu family's accounts over the years and came to the conclusion that in less than five years, Xiao Bao's mother had taken nearly 200,000 taels of silver from the Lu family.
This single account alone is enough to give you an idea of just how wealthy the Lu family is.
But she didn't tell Xiaobao about it, she only mentioned it to the old lady.
After all, if she didn't produce something truly valuable, the old lady would have to teach her every day. She wondered whether she should spend every day with the old lady or with Xiao Bao. Anyone would choose the latter.
Lu Chengwen's eyes lit up: "If Madam has such abilities, why didn't you say so sooner? Why don't you come with me to settle accounts tomorrow?"
Every month, a stack of account books would be delivered. He used to calculate them with great care because they all represented money.
But now he feels it's a waste of his time. If his wife helps him with the accounts, he won't have those worries.
Ning Yan wasn't interested in the money, but she was interested in Lu Chengwen's wealth, so she nodded.
"You really agreed?"
"Xiao Bao has to go to class every day, and I'm bored, so I'll keep you company while we do some accounting."
Lu Chengwen's face darkened, while Xiao Bao chuckled.
The next day, after paying her respects to the old lady in her courtyard, Ning Yan was pulled to the study by Lu Chengwen.
Good heavens, the Lu family's business has shrunk considerably due to the drought, especially since many of their businesses were transferred out when they left Yuncheng. Yet, there are still hundreds of account books on Lu Chengwen's desk.
"Does this seem like a lot? This is only a part of it. The accounts from each shop are sent over at different times, otherwise your husband would really be exhausted by these accounts."
Ning Yan didn't stand on ceremony and sat down behind the desk, picked up the top ledger, and started reading.
This is an account book for a restaurant, specifically a restaurant in Yuecheng. Despite the severe drought, the restaurant's business has not been affected at all. On the contrary, the purchase price of some items has increased, and the restaurant's selling price has also increased accordingly, resulting in even greater profits.
Ning Yan turned the pages of the thick ledger with her left hand and made notes with her right, finishing the ledger in no time.
He wrote down the numbers, placed the ledger he had finished reading on his left, picked up another one on his right, and continued reading.
Lu Chengwen was truly shocked. "Madam, is that all?"
The accountant had already calculated the accounts once, but the amount calculated by the lady differed from the accountant's, so he quickly picked up the account book and calculated it again.
As it turned out, the lady's calculations were correct!
Looking up, I saw four account books already placed to the left of the lady!
Good heavens, if he counts one book, his wife can count five!
He picked up the ledgers again and checked them; the amounts were all the same.
Immediately afterwards, a piece of paper was handed to him: "The accounts of Hongxiu Cloth Shop match, but the manager embezzled 783 taels from them."
He jumped to his feet: "How much?"
"783 taels!"
Lu Chengwen's face changed, turning a frighteningly dark color.
Running such a large business, didn't he know that his subordinates would profit from it? Of course he did.
However, for a small cloth shop to embezzle more than seven hundred taels of silver is far too high!
Fortunately, the other five shops were all fine, so his anger subsided a bit.
"The other shops also embezzled, but it was only thirty or fifty taels, so I didn't say anything." For a shop with a profit of over a thousand taels, being embezzled by only thirty or fifty taels is really not much. If it earns an extra four or five hundred taels a year, the shopkeeper can live comfortably.
Lu Chengwen: ...
He silently got up and ordered someone to bring out all the accounts of the Red Embroidery Cloth Shop for the past six months, then piled them on Ning Yan's right side.
Ning Yan looked up: "How many years has this fabric shop been in business?"
"Nine years. However, this manager was replaced six months ago."
No wonder there are only five ledgers.
Ning Yan finished calculating the accounts in her hand and placed them on her left. Then she focused on looking at the account books of the Red Embroidery Cloth Shop.
This time, her speed was noticeably increased.
Even at that speed, she could still find problems in the accounts and copy them down on paper.
After finishing the five accounts, Xu Ning handed the paper to Lu Chengwen, saying, "This is an old accountant who is very good at balancing accounts. Unfortunately, he cheated you."
Lu Chengwen glanced at it, and then his anger surged!
In just six months, this Manager Hong embezzled 4,129 taels of silver from him.
How much silver does the entire embroidery shop earn?
"Madam, you keep the plan, I'll go deal with that Manager Hong."
Ning Yan hummed in agreement. "Go ahead." She didn't care how to handle it.
Even without him here, she can calculate these accounts much faster.
In the old lady's courtyard.
A servant came in to report, "Madam, the lady went to the study to help the master check the accounts. I heard that she just found some problems. The master has left the manor with his men."
They brought not servants, but the carefully trained guards of the manor.
The old lady nodded. To be honest, Ning Shi was really good at accounting, which was good because it could help her eldest son.
...
Ning Yan followed Lu around for a whole month, sorting out all the accounts and learning some things that couldn't be said aloud.
Lu Chengwen was about to hand over the new accounts to her, but Ning Yan promptly made her escape. She just wanted to learn about the Lu family's business and didn't want to confine herself to the study.
Moreover, the Chinese New Year is just around the corner.
Xiao Bao had a two-week annual leave, seven days before the New Year and eight days after. Ning Yan took Xiao Bao out for walks every day, and the little guy was very happy, playing so much that he didn't want to leave.
On New Year's Eve, the other two families brought their entire extended families to celebrate the holiday. Ning Yan felt a headache coming on; the second family was truly prolific, having produced far too many children.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Ning Yan returned to her parents' home in Xiaoyu Village with her son, Xiao Bao. Of course, Lu also accompanied her; it was a matter of his wife's reputation, and he had to go along.
The Ning family members felt somewhat uncomfortable being in the same room as Lu Chengwen.
Ning Song, however, was bolder because of the famine relief system.
As luck would have it, Lu Chengwen explained his plans in Ningsong.
"Little sister, I'm planning to join the army."
The entire Ning family was shocked. After all, Ning Song had never told his family anything before. The family was doing well, with plenty of food and drink, and they even planned to buy dozens of acres of land this year. Why would he suddenly want to join the army?
"Song, what were you thinking? How could you join the army? It's too dangerous!"
Grandpa Ning tried to persuade him earnestly, and if his grandson-in-law hadn't been there, he would have already started beating him up.
Ning Song glanced at his brother-in-law, then looked at his younger sister, "Little sister, you know I'm very strong."
I felt it was a waste not to join the army with all my strength.
The main reason is that soldiers have to walk all day long. When fighting, they have to march quickly, and when not fighting, they have to run for training, so they can walk every day.
If he stays at home, he sometimes doesn't walk much at all in a day, so it's a pity that he doesn't get the reward.
Furthermore, with the system around, he'd definitely be safe, so he wanted to give it a try. (End of Chapter)
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