Chapter 181: Asking for It
“Yes, yes, that’s what we were talking about.
“Yesterday, around this time, their whole family came. Look, this big basket of cowpeas is what they carried. See? They carried such a big basket of cowpeas from so far away, not even minding the effort. They even said they brought it specifically for me. I detest eating cowpeas, I never have since I was little. Anyway, enough about that.
“At this time, if you plant even one or two cowpea plants, wouldn’t any household have more cowpeas than they could eat? The few cowpea plants in our backyard are yielding so much, I’m sick of them. Now this big basket is added. Look how it’s sun-dried, spread everywhere, filling the whole courtyard. How can we possibly eat all this? Sigh, I’ll have to send some to Sister-in-law Yin’s family later.”
“Your brother and sister-in-law are visiting you for the first time, aren’t they? What did they come for?” Wang Yuting, familiar with Mei Jie’s way of chatting, steered the conversation back.
“Isn’t it their first time! What good could they possibly want? They wouldn’t come without a reason! They came to ask me to speak for them. Guess what they want to talk about?
“I’m telling you, it’s a big deal. Our clan is going into the fine cloth business, right? They said the clan discussed it for days. How many silent shares your family will contribute, how many theirs, all with silver, and long-term silver at that!
“My brother and sister-in-law don’t have money, and they’re not smart. They only have what’s in the public fund, not much to divide. So these two felt they were at a disadvantage. They said since I’m working for the Xiucai Scholar, it should count as their family providing someone to serve the Xiucai Scholar. What nerve! To use this to try and get more. Pfft, how can they even say that! They were the ones who kicked me out, I had nowhere to go. Eldest Sister took pity on me and took me in. Pfft!
“But, Old Master Kuan knows my situation best, so he ignored them. Pfft, serves them right!”
“So they came to you, wanting you to speak a few words for them?” Wang Yuting skillfully pulled Mei Jie back.
“You’re so smart! They want me to speak to Eldest Sister, and they want me to go back to Li Family Market to speak to the clan elders. I’m telling you, originally, I thought I’d just say one thing to Eldest Sister, just one sentence. If it worked, it worked. If not, I wouldn’t say more. After all, when I went back to my maiden home, even though my brother and sister-in-law were reluctant, they didn’t kick me out. They did take me in, at least.
“But later, I didn’t want to say another word. Do you know why?”
Mei Jie looked at Wang Yuting with a smile.
“Why?” Wang Yuting leaned in and asked.
“My eldest nephew said that if I’m willing to speak a few words for them, they can get some silent shares, just a little. Otherwise, he said he could go get a task. He said if it works out, he’ll take me back to live with him in my old age!”
“Hmph!” Wang Yuting let out a loud hmph.
“I was so scared when I heard that! I absolutely cannot let him take me away! I’m not going anywhere! Eldest Sister said I should live with her in my old age from now on.” Mei Jie looked terrified.
“Your eldest nephew saying that, he’s just trying to scare you, isn’t he? Didn’t he see you’ve gotten fairer and plumper, and you’re young and beautiful again?” Wang Yuting pursed her lips and clicked her tongue.
“I’m fat? Really fat? I knew it! No wonder my old clothes don’t fit anymore. I thought, how could those clothes, which are almost worn out from washing, shrink? So it turns out I’ve gained weight. How much have I gained?” Mei Jie stood up, twisting her body to look at herself.
“Quite a bit. Gaining weight looks good, makes you look cheerful and prosperous.” Wang Yuting patted Mei Jie’s waist.
“No wonder A Nan told me to only eat half a bowl of rice. I’ve really gained quite a bit!” Mei Jie spun around, pinching the flesh on her waist, looking annoyed.
Li Xiaonan, holding a book, burst out laughing.
………………………………
The next morning, Wan Jing arrived again, hands outstretched, saying that Shi Gun himself had come to deliver the message. Although he wasn’t sweating profusely, Shi Gun’s demeanor showed he was quite anxious.
Li Xiaonan instructed Mei Jie to tell Wang Yuting to cancel the day’s arrangements, and then went to the alley entrance, got into the carriage, and headed to the villa.
Gu Yan and the Crown Prince had already left the villa and gone somewhere unknown.
It was the same courtyard, the same flower hall, the same two servants. On the long desk were neatly arranged cut Xuan paper, brand new account books, a whole box of sharpened charcoal pencils, and a tightly sealed brass cylinder.
Li Xiaonan unscrewed the cylinder. Inside was a roll of the same transparent thin bamboo paper as last time, filled with numbers and symbols.
Li Xiaonan used a paperweight to flatten the thin bamboo paper, then buried her head in organizing it.
After three or four busy days, before Li Xiaonan could catch her breath, the third roll of transparent thin bamboo paper arrived.
Li Xiaonan spent the whole day organizing, until the sun set. She stood by the window, twisting and turning to stretch her neck and shoulders, thinking about the amounts involved in those accounts. Sigh, truly mountains of gold and seas of silver!
Li Xiaonan turned around and walked to the flower hall entrance. She looked at the two servants standing on either side and asked, “Does the Young Lord come to look at these? When will he come?”
“Replying to the Girl, the Young Lord and the Crown Prince came here first upon their return. The Crown Prince gave instructions that unless the Girl summons them, the two of us are not allowed to cross the threshold. When the Girl is not here, no one is allowed to cross the threshold,” the servant on the left replied with his hands clasped.
Li Xiaonan made an “oh” sound and turned back. She picked up a piece of Xuan paper, thought for a moment, then selected a delicate goat-hair brush from the brush rack on the other end of the long desk. She moved the inkstone, ground the ink, and wrote a few lines. After the ink dried, she folded it twice and placed it under the account book with a paperweight.
When Gu Yan accompanied the Crown Prince back to the villa, night had already fallen.
The two entered the flower hall one after the other. The Crown Prince moved the paperweight from the account book and looked at the four characters, “For the Young Lord’s Eyes Only,” written on the casually folded Xuan paper. He picked it up and handed it to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan unfolded it, scanned it quickly, handed the paper to the Crown Prince, and smiled, “She’s worried about Niu Cheqian.”
The Crown Prince took it, glanced at it, and smiled, “This hairpin flower calligraphy is indeed very good. It’s sufficient for copying scriptures.”
After reading the few lines, the Crown Prince smiled, “Is this her speculation, or did you mention it to her?”
“I didn’t mention it. I also didn’t expect Niu Cheqian to be chosen to organize the general accounts,” Gu Yan smiled.
“She said these accounts would require five or six accountants. Yang Qishan investigated and said there were a total of seven people?” The Crown Prince handed the paper to Gu Yan.
“Yes, we’ve apprehended five.” Gu Yan paused, then looked at the Crown Prince, “Why not let her look at the accounts from the Inspection Office for the past six months?”
“Niu Cheqian used the excuse of being a picky sleeper, saying he wouldn’t sleep well with a different bed, so they let him go back to sleep. Other than sleeping, he’s been in the accounting room at the Silk Guild. I’ve been worried they’d make a move at the Silk Guild, where we can’t station many people. If we knew when Niu Cheqian would finish the accounts, it would be much easier.
“If they’re going to make a move, it will definitely be after the accounts are finished. Within a day or two, we can keep an eye on them.”
“Yes.” The Crown Prince nodded, “When do you plan to cast the net?”
“When these accounts are reconciled, the accountants Yang Qishan is escorting should also arrive. We’ll first net the Silk Guild. Preferably before they make a move to eliminate Niu Cheqian,” Gu Yan smiled.
“Yes, it’s about time to cast the net. Hurry up and find the silver, and give it to them to use, so he doesn’t keep nagging me like he’s chanting spells every day. It’s truly a headache,” the Crown Prince said helplessly, pointing at Wen Bin standing under the lantern outside the flower hall.
Gu Yan chuckled.
………………………………
The next morning, there was a reply letter from Gu Yan on the long desk, and a large, half-human-height box placed beside it.
Li Xiaonan opened the box and gasped at the sight of the account books filling it to the brim.
She really knew how to find trouble for herself!
Li Xiaonan moved her departure time for the villa forward by fifteen minutes. She left for the Prince’s Estate villa before dawn and returned from the villa after dark.
After half a month of hard work, she received another roll of numerical symbols. After verifying one sheet of transparent bamboo paper, Li Xiaonan left another note for Gu Yan.
Niu Cheqian had already verified accounts from six months ago.
