Chapter 4: There’s Actually Such A Good Thing
Daoist Master Qin said: “Before I came to the temple, Mr. Xuan did not keep account books, so the detailed records only exist for these few years. For those before, I tried to restore some electronic files.”
He gestured to the notebook computer on the table.
In addition, the account books for these few years have also been made into electronic files for storage.
Xuan Xia looked at the pile of things in front of her and remembered the purpose of her visit today—inheriting the Daoist temple.
She pulled herself together, cast aside all those emotions from earlier, reached out and took the topmost one, with the year from three years ago recorded on the cover of the account book.
Lawyer Fang originally wanted to guide and help, but seeing Xuan Xia flip open the account book and also open the electronic files, handling it with complete ease, Lawyer Fang let go of that thought.
Everyone in the house quietly watched Xuan Xia check the accounts.
Xuan Xia appeared skilled on the surface, but in fact, her heart carried some bewilderment and unreality. She actually didn’t know these things, but the her in the dreams did; after dreaming so much, she seemed to naturally know them too.
Moreover, the her in the dreams was not only adept at these, but also handled reading documents and contracts with ease.
……
The temple’s income and expenditure records were very simple when Daoist Master Qin first arrived, with pitifully little revenue, only enough for basic sustenance.
Things like fortune telling and selling plain noodles were only added successively after Daoist Master Qin had been there for a while.
It was also because of these that the Daoist temple began to have revenue.
So fortune telling and selling plain noodles both count as temple revenue, but after deducting the corresponding costs, forty percent of the surplus is paid out as dividends, and the temple retains sixty percent as temple funds.
Simply put, the Daoist temple only started making money after Daoist Master Qin arrived, and has continued to do so.
The surplus from these three years not only repaired the statues inside the temple, but the temple buildings have also undergone varying degrees of maintenance; otherwise, the scene Xuan Xia saw upon arriving would not be like this today.
The income and expenditure items are not complicated, so the speed of checking accounts naturally isn’t slow.
Lawyer Fang also took out the documents; once Xuan Xia finished checking the accounts without issues, they could sign and formally complete the procedures.
Just as Xuan Xia was about to sign, Daoist Master Qin, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly asked a question.
“May I ask what Miss Xuan plans for Changsheng Temple in the future?”
Xuan Xia paused her pen.
Then she heard him say: “When Miss Xuan’s family came earlier to pack up Mr. Xuan’s things, they seemed to want to sell the Daoist temple to the scenic area.”
“Not selling.” Xuan Xia’s voice was firm.
No matter what others thought, she didn’t want to and wouldn’t sell.
Xuan Xia gripped the pen tightly; as she lowered her line of sight, she vaguely saw Daoist Master Qin relax his brows. She didn’t think much of it and quickly signed her name on the last page of the documents.
The pen tip made its final dot, and the temple’s ownership was settled.
“Since Miss Xuan isn’t selling, what are your plans? Maintain the status quo, or…” Daoist Master Qin asked again.
What plans? Xuan Xia truly hadn’t planned specifically yet.
To be honest, she didn’t know how to operate and develop a Daoist temple.
The only good thing was probably that the temple was already located in the scenic area, so there was no worry about visitor flow.
Unfortunately, the scenic area didn’t feature the temple as a selling point; all income relied on side businesses.
At this time, Lawyer Fang seized the opportunity to speak: “If Miss Xuan feels at ease, you can continue to entrust the Daoist temple to Daoist Master Qin to manage.”
“Daoist Master Qin is familiar with everything and needs no adjustment period. Miss Xuan, you’re studying out of town and don’t need to worry about not being able to look after it, right?”
Taking Lawyer Fang’s suggestion, Xuan Xia lowered her eyes and looked at the account book, pondering for a moment before making a decision. “Then let’s maintain the status quo for now.”
“Good.” Daoist Master Qin showed a slight smile.
The few around him also relaxed their expressions, full of joy.
Xuan Xia glanced at them and suddenly thought, “The accounts don’t seem to record any salary expenditures for you, Daoist Master Qin, nor for these few. Since we’re maintaining the status quo, how did my great grandfather settle wages with you all before?”
Daoist Master Qin said slowly and steadily: “Uncle Zhong and their wages don’t need to be paid by Changsheng Temple; I pay them personally. Of course, you can regard the dividends as their wages.”
The forty percent dividends, evenly divided into four shares; aside from Daoist Master Qin, one share each.
Xuan Xia couldn’t help muttering softly, “That’s not much money.”
But the key point was, “What about you?”
She looked at Daoist Master Qin seriously.
“I took your great grandfather as my master and learned arts from him.”
“???”
No need to pay wages just because of taking a master and learning arts???
Such a good deal actually exists???
Not only no pay, but also helping the temple make money.
Where did her great grandfather find such talent?
Xuan Xia looked at this Daoist Master Qin again, feeling it was like a dream.
Even though his surname was Qin, she suddenly felt the merits outweighed the flaws.
However, she still wasn’t entirely at ease and leaned close to Lawyer Fang to quietly consult whether this was legal, if a contract was needed, and whether she’d have to pay a large sum if he sued her later.
Her question not only made Lawyer Fang laugh, but also brought smiles to everyone else’s faces.
Even Daoist Master Qin curved his eyes slightly.
“If Miss Xuan isn’t at ease, you can have Lawyer Fang draft a contract.”
Xuan Xia looked at him again, her eyes full of surprise.
His expression was so serious; he really wasn’t joking.
And after Daoist Master Qin spoke, not only Lawyer Fang, but even Uncle Zhong beside him nodded in agreement; they all approved drafting a contract for no pay.
Xuan Xia couldn’t help but raise her hand to pinch the back of her neck, tilting her head in thought: they weren’t joking with her, were they?
What followed was even more surreal: this Daoist Master Qin really drafted a contract with Lawyer Fang.
Monthly salary, nominal: one yuan.
Xuan Xia looked at him in a daze, her lips moving.
She already had the impulse to call him “grandpa.”
Although he looked her age outwardly, he was her great grandfather’s disciple, working for free; by seniority, calling him grandpa wasn’t overstepping, right?
Daoist Master Qin thought she was about to say something and looked at her seriously; then the two just stared at each other.
After staring for a while, Xuan Xia silently deleted this ridiculous idea from her mind.
–
With the salary issue resolved, Daoist Master Qin formally introduced the temple’s personnel structure to Xuan Xia, the new property owner.
Mainly introducing the other four.
Uncle Zhong had already been introduced; he was the temple’s chef, responsible for supplying plain noodles.
The earlier Li Xinze who led the way was responsible for assisting Daoist Master Qin.
Of the remaining two, one named Li Fu was responsible for waitering and serving noodles.
He and Li Xinze were very similar from stature to facial features, perfect bodyguard material.
Unfortunately, they followed the wrong master and now ended up doing part-time work in the temple.
The last one, who had just handed water to Xuan Xia, named Lu Changfeng, was responsible for taking orders and handling payments.
Lawyer Fang secretly reintroduced to her: Uncle Zhong was Daoist Master Qin’s butler, Li Xinze and Li Fu were his bodyguards, and that Lu Changfeng was a rehabilitation therapist.
Xuan Xia: “???”
What was Daoist Master Qin’s background?
But just looking at the wheelchair he sat in, it indeed showed considerable wealth; that was the most advanced intelligent wheelchair currently, with AI technology, voice control, adjustable speed, and even said to be able to climb stairs.
Leaving aside this rich person who treated money like dirt and entered the Daoist path, what had the others gone through?
What made them willingly abandon their main jobs to hole up in her Daoist temple doing these tasks?
And doing them all with smiles on their faces?
Was it the allure of money?
Xuan Xia thought to herself, my Daoist temple could be considered a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
Yeah, how could it not be?
“Miss Xuan.” Daoist Master Qin said: “Although maintaining the status quo, the temple currently has no temple master and no other resident Daoist priests, so many things can’t be done.”
The implication was that they needed to recruit people.
Xuan Xia, upon hearing this, naturally said: “Since Daoist Master Qin learned arts from my great grandfather, why not inherit the mantle and become the temple master?”
But unexpectedly, Daoist Master Qin directly refused.
He said: “I’m not suited to be temple master; you still need to hire a more appropriate person for temple master, Miss Xuan.”
Three words immediately popped into Xuan Xia’s mind: Why?
