Chapter 026

Chapter 26: What Are We Competing On? Losing Money?

Seeing Yu Zhi Yi’s cool face, Du Zi Heng felt uneasy.

As the chancellor’s only son, he never had many friends. Most were polite, arm’s-length friends; he had very few he could really talk to. Before she fell in love, You Bing Yue was one. Later, Yu Zhi Yi was another.

She had helped him, yet last time he blamed her without asking right from wrong. And that was even after You Bing Yue had gone looking for trouble first. He couldn’t get over it and wanted to make up for the hurt he caused.

When Madam Yao took the ledger and soon lifted her brows high, he thought of something and said: “Mother, Zhi Yi only just took over the household. The stewards are all slick old hands. A few mistakes are normal.”

As the young master of the Chancellor’s Manor, he not only studied the classics and the arts, he also had to learn how to manage people. If the water is too clear, there are no fish. Without some benefits, stewards will not work hard for Du Manor. So it is normal for some to have little schemes. As long as they don’t go too far, even Chancellor Du will not chase it down.

He figured Yu Zhi Yi suffered a loss because she didn’t know this, so he meant to speak up for her. He even forgot why he came today.

Madam Yao gave her son a speechless look and said: “You should manage your own shop first.”

Yu Zhi Yi nodded and said: “Mother is right. There is an order to things. Let’s handle the young master’s matter first, and mine can wait.”

[Handle it after he leaves. I don’t want to hear his nonsense.]

Du Zi Heng choked on his words. He was doing this for her good, yet she didn’t appreciate it.

He could only continue: “I want to hand Nan Hua Bookstore to Bing Yue to manage.”

He had begun managing businesses on his own at thirteen. Nan Hua Bookstore was one of his holdings and his favorite, because only the bookstore was filled with the spirit of books. It showed a scholar’s backbone and ideals. He actually had full control to decide this himself, but he knew his mother disliked Bing Yue. To avoid more trouble, he came to get her permission first. He believed in Bing Yue’s ability; she would turn a profit soon. Once his mother saw her ability, she would change her mind, and he would not have to report every little thing in the future.

Madam Yao asked Yu Zhi Yi: “Yi’er, what do you think?”

Yu Zhi Yi kicked the ball back and said: “Mother can decide.”

She did not want to be pulled into matters between those two, so she would not end up like Yu Jiao Jiao, a piece in their romance. She even wanted to advise Madam Yao not to get involved, but she knew that was impossible.

Madam Yao could not bear to see her son stuck. Besides, You Bing Yue had not acted up these days, so she relented and said: “Then we try it for one month. If after one month she cannot create higher profit, do not talk about her ability again.”

“Make it three months,” Du Zi Heng said, “new policies take time.”

Madam Yao said: “Fine, three months.”

Even after getting what he wanted, he didn’t leave. He dragged the topic back to Yu Zhi Yi: “Mother, collecting accounts sounds simple, but there are many twists and turns inside…”

Yu Zhi Yi cut him off and said: “Young master, you worry too much. I think it is simple. I didn’t even go myself. I let Zi Yuan handle it. The stewards cooperated very well. Except for one who knew his guilt was heavy and sent himself to jail, everyone else behaved.”

Du Zi Heng stared: “?”

[Do you even hear yourself?]

Those shopkeepers were as crafty as ghosts. Even he, the young master, had to match wits with them. And she said they behaved?

He was now sure Yu Zhi Yi had been played, and his eyes grew complicated. He wanted to be blunt but worried it would hurt her. She had a strong pride. He wasn’t sure she could take it, so he said gently: “You haven’t dealt with the people below. They may look respectful, but each one has a little plan. You were probably fooled.”

“Honest words sound harsh. I know you may not accept it, but it’s the truth.”

Yu Zhi Yi’s native language was being speechless.

“Young master, maybe look at the ledger before you talk?”

Even Madam Yao was amused by her son’s foolishness and passed him the ledger.

Du Zi Heng’s eyes flew wide: “This…”

He had helped collect accounts before and knew the shops’ income. While there were ups and downs, the total was always around ten thousand taels. Yet Yu Zhi Yi had collected half again as much!

He didn’t want to think the worst, but he still suspected: maybe the numbers were written wrong?

Yu Zhi Yi said: “The silver has already gone to the storeroom. If you don’t believe it, you can go check.”

Du Zi Heng fell silent. Seeing her clear, cool gaze, he dropped the absurd thought, but he still asked, puzzled: “I haven’t heard of any shop being especially hot lately. How did so much more money show up?”

Yu Zhi Yi smiled lightly and said: “Easy. They spit out what they swallowed.”

“I guess they will keep spitting for a few months.”

Madam Yao laughed and said: “Yi’er is a wonder. With one move to scare the rest, you terrified those leeches.”

Du Zi Heng was very curious, but neither his mother nor Yu Zhi Yi planned to explain, so he could only keep itching to know.

Yu Zhi Yi thanked him for his good intentions, then added: “I’ll give you one honest line too: don’t spend big these next few months. If the bookstore loses money, I will not use the manor’s funds to fill your hole.”

Du Zi Heng had only two businesses: the bookstore and a ready-to-wear shop. He thought the clothing shop stank of copper, and though it made good money, he didn’t like it. He only liked the bookstore, even if its profit was only one third of the clothing shop’s.

Honest words did sound harsh. He frowned, clearly unhappy. But remembering he had just said the same sort of thing to her, he didn’t get mad and said: “Don’t worry. Bing Yue is very smart and full of new ideas. She won’t lose money.”

Yu Zhi Yi didn’t argue and said: “Then let me congratulate the young master in advance. I’m sure your earnings will be overflowing by then. Your dividend won’t be small. Don’t forget to buy more gifts for Mother.”

Du Zi Heng felt her words were a bit sarcastic. Yet her smile was sincere, so he couldn’t get angry. He agreed, then went back gloomily to Moon-Viewing Pavilion.

You Bing Yue endured the pain in her organs and came out to meet him, saying: “How did it go?”

Seeing the one he loved, Du Zi Heng felt better and said: “Mother agreed. In a bit I’ll have Du Lin take you to get the seal. You can make decisions on your own.”

Overjoyed, You Bing Yue didn’t care who might be watching. She pressed a kiss to his lips. The servants at Moon-Viewing Pavilion were used to the young master and Miss You being like this, but they still felt shy. Du Lin turned his face away, feeling he couldn’t watch.

You Bing Yue didn’t care at all about others’ reactions. [A bunch of old fossils. They don’t understand new-era love.] Her lips were hot, but her eyes were cold. That gold-digger had dared to say she only relied on men? [Heh. I’ll show that woman what I can do.]

Feeling his beloved’s joy, Du Zi Heng tossed Yu Zhi Yi’s advice out of his mind. Naturally, he didn’t warn You Bing Yue. Of course, even if he had, it likely wouldn’t have mattered.

At Windward Pavilion, Zi Yuan said: “Miss, let’s set up a money-making plan too. We must step on her hard!”

After hearing that You Bing Yue had taken over Nan Hua Bookstore, Zi Yuan had been excited nonstop. She could ignore whether her miss was favored or not, since the miss herself didn’t care, but she would never allow that woman to beat her miss in other areas, especially in making money.

Yu Zhi Yi didn’t get her excitement and said: “Keeping our current model is fine. Why compare with her?”

[Compare what? Compare losing money?]