Early in the morning, Gu Jiu headed to the Furong Yuan to pay her respects.
She arrived quite early, and just as she was approaching the courtyard, she spotted Xie shi in the distance, leading a group of people out.
Gu Jiu stopped in her tracks, slightly surprised. “Where is taitai heading so early in the morning?”
Qing Mei asked, “Guniang, should we follow and see?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Since we’re already here, let’s follow and take a look.”
She was genuinely curious. So early in the morning, and Xie shi was striding out so aggressively, clearly looking to confront someone. Who was going to bear the brunt of this?
At first, she guessed Xie shi might be going to cause trouble for Gu Zhen.
However, when she saw Xie shi heading toward the discussion hall, Gu Jiu suddenly realized the truth.
Xie shi was obviously going to see the eldest madam, Zhang shi, clearly ready to pick a fight.
Inside the discussion hall, the pozi were already lined up neatly, waiting for Zhang shi to give instructions.
At that moment, a little maid burst in, looking flustered. “Taitai, er taitai is here.”
Zhang shi raised an eyebrow. “If she’s here, she’s here. Why the panic? All of you, step aside.”
The pozi quickly moved to the sides, clearing the hall.
Soon, Xie shi arrived with her people.
Zhang shi smiled. “Oh my, what a rare visit. What brings dimei here today?”
Xie shi looked at her with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Naturally, I have something to discuss with dasao.”
“Dimei, please sit,” Zhang shi said, gesturing toward a chair set beside her own.
Xie shi sat down without hesitation.
The maid Shaoyao brought over a bowl of tonic soup. “Taitai, please have something warm for your stomach.”
Zhang shi took the bowl with a smile and began sipping slowly, without asking what Xie shi had come to talk about.
Halfway through the bowl, Zhang shi suddenly looked up at Xie shi and said with a smile, “Look at me, what a forgetful person I am. I nearly forgot dimei was sitting right here. Shaoyao, what’s wrong with you? Hurry and bring a bowl for er taitai.”
“No need,” Xie shi declined. “I thank dasao for your kind offer, but I’m not here for tonic soup.”
Zhang shi handed the bowl back to Shaoyao and dabbed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. “Dimei said you had something to tell me. I’m free now—go ahead. I’m all ears.”
Xie shi smiled faintly and held out her hand. Chun He placed a ledger in it.
She slapped the account book heavily onto the table. “Dasao, please explain this ledger properly.”
Zhang shi raised an eyebrow. “A ledger is just a ledger—what is there to explain?”
Xie shi said angrily, “A simple banquet cost 1800 taels, and our second branch alone bore 1500 taels. Dasao must surely be joking.”
Zhang shi’s expression turned serious as she looked at Xie shi. “When it comes to money matters, I never joke. Is dimei suggesting that there’s something wrong with this ledger?”
“Exactly!” Xie shi said through gritted teeth.
Zhang shi gave a cold sneer. “Then please tell me—what’s wrong with it?”
Xie shi was speechless for a moment. “This ledger is suspiciously odd—who knows where the problems are hidden?”
Zhang shi let out a derisive laugh. “Dimei, are you joking? You can’t even point out what’s wrong, and yet you barge in here making accusations? So now I’m at fault for how my steward made the ledger? If I had known, I’d have just given you a number outright—simple and clear. Then you wouldn’t have to struggle trying to understand the accounts.”
“You—!” Xie shi was so furious she trembled all over. She roared, “There is definitely something wrong with this ledger! How can a simple banquet cost so much?”
Zhang shi snorted. “Since dimei claims there’s a problem, then find it. Let me make this clear: if you can’t find the issue, dimei owes me an apology. Just because your lips can flap doesn’t mean dimei can throw accusations of falsified ledgers so easily.
“And what do you mean ‘just a banquet’? Do you know that 1800 taels for a banquet in the capital, for a household like ours, is already considered extremely frugal? Do you have any idea that in a hou fu, a similar banquet would cost at least 3-4000 taels? Dimei, have you lived in the Northwest so long that you think the capital is as cheap as picking things off the ground?”
Fury burned in Xie shi’s chest. She turned to Chun He and asked, “Are they here yet?”
Chun He anxiously looked toward the door.
“Taitai, Steward Gao is here.”
Gao Sanfu came running, panting heavily. Before he could catch his breath, Xie shi questioned him, “Where’s Ma shiye?”
“Reporting to taitai—Ma shiye had to go to the yamen early this morning for official business.”
Xie shi’s expression stiffened as she stared daggers at Gao Sanfu. Ruined everything, you useless man.
Gao Sanfu lowered his head nervously.
Zhang shi sneered. “Dimei, should I have the account keeper go over the books with you?”
Xie shi gritted her teeth. “No need to trouble dasao. Gao Sanfu, you will do the calculations.”
Gao Sanfu opened his mouth in shock.
Zhang shi chuckled and said immediately, “Prepare a seat, writing materials, and an abacus for Steward Gao so he can settle the accounts.”
“Yes!” The pozi answered and quickly set everything up.
Just then, Gu Jiu walked in. “I heard taitai needs someone who knows accounting. Why don’t I help?”
“You?”
Xie shi frowned, thinking, What is this damn girl doing here? She knows how to calculate accounts?
Zhang shi looked at Gu Jiu curiously. “Xiao Jiu, you know accounting?”
Gu Jiu pressed her lips into a slight smile. “Just a little.”
When she was in the courtyard, Gu Jiu had already understood the whole situation.
She didn’t know whether there was a problem with the account book.
Maybe there was, maybe there wasn’t.
But Gu Jiu believed that Zhang shi would never take the initiative to hand over a problematic account book to Xie shi, nor would she embezzle that little bit of silver. The real worry was that someone below might be making a mess of things.
Seeing how Xie shi was making a big scene, if this went on, the second and main branches of the family might become enemies.
Living under the same roof, it wasn’t necessary to be extremely harmonious, but at the very least, there shouldn’t be enmity.
So Gu Jiu simply stepped forward and offered to check the accounts on Xie shi’s behalf, hoping to resolve the matter quickly.
Zhang shi responded straightforwardly, “Prepare a table and chairs, brush, ink, and abacus for er guniang.”
The pozi took the order and quickly prepared a set.
Xie shi frowned at Gu Jiu. “This has nothing to do with a child like you. Why are you meddling?”
But Zhang shi said, “Dimei, you can’t say that. Gu Jiu is your second branch’s daughter. I wouldn’t worry if she were checking the accounts. What are you so worried about? Surely you’re not suggesting that er yatou would side with our main branch?”
Xie shi kept a stern face. “Dasao, this is our second branch’s matter.”
Zhang shi just smiled. “Fine, I won’t say anything more.”
Gu Jiu also smiled and said, “Taitai needs someone who can do the accounts, and Ma shiye isn’t home. There’s no time to find someone else. I happen to know accounting, and I’m from the second branch—no need to worry. Or does taitai believe Steward Gao can calculate this account book properly?”
Gu Jiu casually picked up the account book from the table and flipped through it.
“Steward Gao, do you understand this account book?”
Gao Sanfu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and replied, “I understand it… a little.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “Steward Gao, just ‘a little’ won’t do.”
Gao Sanfu said nothing and nervously glanced at Xie shi.
Gu Jiu also looked at Xie shi. “What does taitai think? Or do you have someone better in mind?”
Xie shi remained silent, her expression stiff.
Chun He leaned close to her and whispered, “Taitai, why not let er guniang give it a try? She really seems to know how to do the accounts.”
Xie shi gave a slight nod. “Er yatou, do you really know how to do accounting?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I studied it a bit in my free time.”
She had looked at the account book. It wasn’t single-entry bookkeeping, nor was it double-entry—it was an even more complicated system.
Anyone unfamiliar with it would get a headache just from looking at it.
But this account book posed no problem for Gu Jiu.
She might be average in other areas, but she’d always been excellent at math.
Xie shi said, “Since you can do it, then sit down. You and Steward Gao calculate it together. We’ll compare your results afterward.”
Gu Jiu smiled and nodded. “Taitai can rest assured.”
Then she turned to Steward Gao. “Do you have any objections, Steward Gao?”
Steward Gao shook his head repeatedly. “With er guniang here, I’ve got no problems at all.”
“That’s good.”
Gu Jiu sat down first, had the account book placed in front of her, and picked up the abacus, starting to work.
No one in the room spoke. Only the clattering sound of the abacus echoed through the space.
So fast!
Everyone’s eyes widened, staring at Gu Jiu’s hands.
Her hands moved so quickly, it seemed as if she didn’t even need to think—yet she calculated the figures with precision.
In everyone’s eyes, there were only two hands left—one flipping pages, one flying across the abacus.
Zhang shi raised her eyebrows with a smile. This Xiao Jiu… she hadn’t expected her to have such skill. Where had she learned it?
Zhang shi glanced at Xie shi.
Xie shi had never given Gu Jiu any responsibility over the household, yet Gu Jiu had somehow taught herself accounting. How must Xie shi be feeling now? Surely not very pleasant.
In fact, Xie shi wasn’t just feeling unpleasant—she was in disbelief.
She narrowed her eyes and stared at Gu Jiu’s hand on the abacus. Was this really Gu Jiu?
That skill, that posture—even an old accountant couldn’t compare.
How did she have such ability? When did she learn this?
It wasn’t just Xie shi who was shocked—even Qing Mei and the other maids were surprised.
They had no idea Gu Jiu had this talent hidden.
But their surprise only lasted a moment.
Their young lady had even learned medicine—accounting was no big deal.
With that thought, Qing Mei and the others quickly calmed down, even feeling proud.
The abacus stopped clattering, and everyone came back to their senses.
Gu Jiu closed the account book, picked up a brush, and wrote out the numbers on a blank sheet, then compiled them into a final figure.
She turned to the two taitai and said, “The accounts are clear.”
“How much?” Xie shi asked anxiously.
Gu Jiu smiled. “Let’s wait for Steward Gao to finish and then compare our results.”
Zhang shi nodded repeatedly. “Er yatou is thoughtful. Steward Gao, get to it.”
Gu Jiu placed the account book in front of Gao Sanfu. “I’ll trouble you, Steward Gao.”
Gao Sanfu quickly waved his hand. “Er guniang is too polite.”
Then, he opened the account book and picked up the abacus to start calculating.
Gao Sanfu’s accounting had no elegance to it. He moved the beads only once after quite a while. Compared to Gu Jiu’s quick and graceful accounting, he was utterly lacking.
The maids and pozi whispered among themselves—only through comparison does one see the difference.
Next to Gu Jiu, Gao Sanfu came off as utterly incompetent.
Even Xie shi frowned, clearly displeased with him.
Why hadn’t she noticed before that Gao Sanfu was this slow at accounting? He was practically like a turtle.
The turtle-like Gao Sanfu went about his calculations methodically and slowly.
Maids brought three cups of tea and placed them in front of Zhang shi, Xie shi, and Gu Jiu respectively.
Gu Jiu picked up her cup and took a sip.
Zhang shi looked at her and asked, “Xiao Jiu, do you want to double-check your figures?”
Gu Jiu replied with a smile, “I thank bomu for your concern, but that won’t be necessary.”
Zhang shi chuckled, “Seems like you’re confident.”
“My calculations shouldn’t be wrong,” Gu Jiu said with self-assurance. This confidence came from her faith in her own ability.
Zhang shi started to chat casually with Gu Jiu.
Xie shi, on the other hand, remained silent the entire time.
After a long while, Gao Sanfu finally finished.
Zhang shi quickly asked, “Steward Gao, have you finished calculating the account book?”
Gao Sanfu nodded.
Xie shi asked directly, “What’s the total?”
Gao Sanfu hesitated before answering, “The total is 1,892 taels. Of that, the public household covers 300 taels. The second branch still needs to pay 1,592 taels.”
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Xie shi exploded with anger, nearly smashing her teacup.
Gao Sanfu looked completely baffled.
Zhang shi lowered her head, laughing. “If that’s the case, then the accounting office underreported by 92 taels. According to Steward Gao’s figures, dimei, your branch still owes an extra 92 taels.”
Xie shi was fuming. “Gao Sanfu’s calculations are rubbish. There must be a mistake!”
Zhang shi smiled and asked, “Er yatou, what’s your total?”
Gu Jiu handed over two detailed ledgers—one to Zhang shi, and the other to Xie shi.
“The total I calculated differs from Steward Gao’s. The actual amount is 1,792 taels—100 less than his, and 8 less than the accounting office’s figures. After deducting the public household’s share of 300 taels, the second branch only needs to pay 1,492 taels.”
Gu Jiu’s detailed records were clear and easy to follow.
Much better than Gao Sanfu just blurting out a single number.
Finally, Xie shi looked pleased.
“See, I told dasao your account book had issues. The accounting office even overcalculated by 8 taels.”
Zhang shi was annoyed by Xie shi’s smug attitude and directly jabbed, “Then why not mention how, according to Gao Sanfu’s calculation, the accounting office actually underreported by 2 taels?”
Xie shi’s expression instantly darkened.
Ignoring her, Zhang shi instructed a maid, “Go summon Steward Wu from the accounting office and tell him there’s an error in the account book. Have him bring his team to do a full reconciliation.”
The little maid nodded and left.
But Xie shi wasn’t about to let it go. “Dasao, your account book has problems. What do you say about that?”
Zhang shi sneered, “Let’s wait until the accounting office staff arrive before jumping to conclusions. Don’t worry, dimei, if there’s really a mistake, they’ll make the necessary corrections. They won’t overcharge your branch even by a single tael—nor will they undercharge.”
Xie shi was furious. “You still haven’t explained how a mere banquet cost this much. Do you think I’m a fool?”
Zhang shi snorted. “Once the accounting office arrives, they’ll bring the itemised receipts. When you check them yourself, you’ll see exactly where the money went.”
After a pause, she added, “Besides, the breakdown er yatou provided is already very clear. It spells out exactly where every tael was spent. Do you really not understand it?”
“You—”
Just as Xie shi was about to retort, there was noise at the door—Steward Wu had arrived with his team.
Zhang shi immediately instructed him to recalculate everything.
Whether it was 92 taels or 8 taels, the bottom line was clear: the account book had issues.
Even Steward Wu hadn’t expected such a glaring oversight.
He began checking the records with his staff.
Time ticked by in silence.
After half an hour, the audit was complete.
Zhang shi asked, “Well? Any problems with the accounts?”
Steward Wu respectfully replied, “Reporting to taitai, the audit is complete. Er guniang’s figures are correct. The total expenditure was 1,792 taels—8 less than the original.”
Zhang shi looked at Gu Jiu, clearly impressed.
Quick and accurate accounting—truly remarkable.
Xie shi immediately got emotional. “See? I told you the account book had issues! Dasao, what do you have to say now?”
Zhang shi faced her directly. “You’re right. The account book did have issues. The accounting office overestimated by 8 taels. Your branch only owes 1,492 taels—not 1,500.”
“I apologise for the mistake—it was my failure in oversight.”
Xie shi smiled—though halfway through, she found herself unable to keep smiling.
“1,492 taels, dimei. Time to pay up.”
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