Chapter 6: The Accountant

In recent days, Su Qianqian had been so busy repairing the house that she barely had time to rest, and the small silver coins flowed out like water. Although her grandmother's treasure chest still held quite a bit of savings, Su Qianqian couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"As the saying goes, you can't starve from eating or dressing, but if you don't keep track, you'll fall into poverty." Su Qianqian sat at the table in the main hall, doing the accounts while muttering to herself, "I really need someone reliable to manage the finances."

With this thought in mind, Su Qianqian had sought out several accountants, but either they found her too troublesome or were so slow-witted they were like wooden dummies, completely lacking in quick thinking.

She pinched her temples, closed the account book, and leaned back in her chair, sighing in exhaustion. "This isn't going to work," she muttered. "Fine, I'll go take a walk in the street to clear my mind. Maybe I'll come up with a good idea."

The street was lively, full of shouting vendors and bustling people. Su Qianqian had intended to just wander and relax, but when she reached a bookstall, she noticed a thin scholar, looking so fragile that he might collapse with a gust of wind. He was crouched in front of the stall, holding an old, worn-out book in one hand and gesturing rapidly with the other.

The bookstall owner, clearly annoyed, said, "Hey, that's not how you're supposed to look at a book! You poor scholar, either buy it or leave!"

The scholar didn't look up, calmly replying, "Hold on. I believe the owner hasn't understood the calculations in this copy of Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art."

The owner widened his eyes in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

"This second section of the book is missing a page," the scholar continued nonchalantly, "and the solutions are missing the derivation steps. How can this book be worth ten taels of silver?"

The bystanders chuckled, and the owner's face turned ashen. "You know so much, yet you're still so poor! You're picky for a beggar!"

Su Qianqian couldn't help but smile and interjected, "Boss, he's actually right. Are you saying even poor people aren't allowed to be knowledgeable?"

The scholar finally looked up, his eyes bright but weary. He looked like a small bamboo shoot planted in the wrong place—his appearance was dusty, but there was a quiet elegance beneath it.

Su Qianqian smiled and asked, "This scholar, it seems you have a deep understanding of mathematics?"

The scholar lowered his head shyly, replying, "I know a little, miss. Please don't make fun of me."

"Make fun of you? I'm not looking down on anyone." Su Qianqian's tone shifted. "Actually, I have a rare mathematical book that has been lost for a long time. Would you be interested in seeing it?"

The scholar hesitated for a moment, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Whether it's true or not, you can find out for yourself." Su Qianqian patted his shoulder. "Come on, the book is at my inn."

The Temptation of a Rare Book

Back at the inn, Su Qianqian dug through her grandmother's treasure chest and pulled out a scroll. The cover was yellowed, and the corners were slightly curled, but it exuded an ancient, weighty aura.

"Here, this is the book I mentioned." Su Qianqian handed it to him, her tone tinged with a bit of pride.

The scholar took the book and gently flipped to the first page. After a moment, he froze. His hands instinctively clenched the scroll, and he murmured, "This… this is The Sea of Calculation and Heavenly Craft?! The manuscript of the ancient Heavenly Craft masters?!"

"Look at you, you're so excited." Su Qianqian crossed her arms and smiled at him. "You like it? If you become my accountant, you can read this book whenever you want, and I'll provide you with food and lodging. How about it?"

The scholar fell silent for a moment, seemingly in deep thought. Eventually, he lowered his head and said slowly, "My name is Du Zhe, courtesy name Tianyou. My family is poor, my parents passed away when I was young, and I was raised by an elderly aunt. In my youth, I worked as a mathematics teacher in my hometown and received some training in financial matters, but due to my family's situation, I couldn't continue my studies."

Su Qianqian nodded. "Du Zhe, although your background isn't prestigious, I can see that you have a true love for learning. In that case, would you be willing to become my accountant? The current accounts are simple, and I'm sure you'll handle them with ease. As the business grows, the accounts will become more complex, and you'll have a chance to truly showcase your abilities."

Du Zhe thought for a moment, a gleam of light in his eyes. Finally, he spoke with determination, "Du Zhe is willing to serve. I will do my best."

"Great!" Su Qianqian clapped the table. "From today on, you are the accountant for Qianyun Inn! Du Zhe, you'll be with me from now on."

A faint smile appeared on Du Zhe's face, and he bowed slightly. "Thank you, Madam, for your kindness."

Su Qianqian instructed Liu Niang to arrange all the necessary staff, and Liu Niang quickly went to the labor hall.

The labor hall, a place where workers gathered, was crowded and noisy.

Liu Niang soon found a foreman and began organizing the inn's staff. From the cooks to the servers to the night guards, she confirmed their reliability and arranged for them to stay in nearby houses. The head cook and herself would stay in the east courtyard, while the other staff would stay in the west courtyard for easier management.

A few days later, Su Qianqian came to check on the arrangements. Seeing that everything was in order, she nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. It seems everything is ready."