I Can Devour Spirits

Zhu Xiaoqi went to Liu’s House to call Duan Rong over.

Duan Rong walked into the backyard hall and immediately sensed that something was amiss; Xiao Zongting sat there with an unpleasant expression.

Xiao Yu was also sitting in a Grandmaster’s Chair below. Upon seeing Duan Rong come in, she only glanced at him, not retreating into the room to avoid him this time.

Xiao Zongting pointed at the chair opposite Xiao Yu and said, ”Sit down, I have something to tell you.”

Duan Rong immediately sat down, giving Xiao Yu a glance. He speculated that this matter must be related to Xiao Yu, as she was willing to sit across from him like this.

Looking at Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, Xiao Zongting sighed, appearing somewhat weary, and said, ”At today’s year-end conference of the Escort Agency, the Shopkeeper assigned the accounting investigation to you two.”

”Accounting investigation? Investigate what?” Duan Rong was baffled.

”Investigate the accounts related to the Escort Agency’s business from January to the twelfth lunar month,” Xiao Zongting explained.

”Investigate the accounts from the account room?” Duan Rong exclaimed, turning to look at Xiao Yu and asked, ”Can you read accounts?”

Xiao Yu glanced at Duan Rong coldly and replied, ”No.”

Duan Rong touched his nose, contemplating silently.

Conducting an accounting investigation is an auditing task, highly professional. Even if the accounts in this world may not be as sophisticated and numerous as those in an advanced commercial civilization from the previous life, it’s not something just anyone can manage.

Isn’t Ruan Fengshan being indiscriminate here?

Internally, Duan Rong complained, then looked up at Xiao Zongting and said, ”Neither of us knows how to read accounts. How do we conduct this investigation?”

Xiao Zongting’s face darkened as he replied, ”How would I know how to investigate? You two handle it yourselves! Report to the back courtyard account room tomorrow morning, and in five days, present the results of the investigation to the Shopkeeper!”

After saying this, Xiao Zongting picked up his tobacco pipe, turned his back, and limped out to smoke in the courtyard.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu sat in the hall, exchanging looks.

Even though Xiao Yu usually restricts Xiao Zongting’s smoking, she could see at this moment that Xiao Zongting was obviously quite upset and did not stop him from smoking.

Duan Rong found the situation curious; how did the mid-year inventory and year-end accounting investigation end up being managed by Xiao Zongting?

Ruan Fengshan might be using Elder Xiao as a pawn.

In fact, Duan Rong immediately guessed Ruan Fengshan’s intentions.

Ruan Fengshan’s personal servant, Zhou An, was originally an important figure within the Escort Agency. You could even say he held a critical position in the power balance of the entire agency.

Because Zhou An exercised Ruan Fengshan’s authority.

However, after Zhou An’s death, Ruan Fengshan’s powers were left vacated, with many matters to attend to, often neglecting affairs of the Escort Agency.

After contemplating, Ruan Fengshan decided to temporarily assign Zhou An’s powers within the Escort Agency to Xiao Zongting.

Firstly, he valued Xiao Zongting’s inherent integrity, and secondly, he had no one else at his disposal. He treated Zhou An generously, yet he could not avoid raising an adversarial house traitor.

Through Zhou An, Ruan Fengshan understood a crucial lesson: No matter how clever and capable the servant, give him the task of hosting and receptions, but never easily delegate the powers within the Escort Agency. People can easily become conceited after tasting power, forgetting their identity. Those from less privileged backgrounds are especially prone to this. Once favored, they can lose their heads.

In reality, Ruan Fengshan fully understood Xiao Zongting’s predicament; yet, isn’t there hardship in anything done? The saying goes: ”Better a dead friend than a dead monk.”

Indeed, Xiao Zongting was filled with frustration; his real adversary was none other than Luan Jingfu.

Xu Shouxian has served as an accountant for Yuan Shun Escort Agency for decades, effectively sharing a lifetime of work. Luan Jingfu, however, only came a few years ago, and for some reason, Xu Shouxian has grown increasingly close to him over the past two years, making Xiao Zongting apprehensive.

With this inventory and subsequent accounting investigation, he’s unexpectedly become the inspector of Xu Shouxian!

Wouldn’t Xu Shouxian completely side with Luan Jingfu, collaborating with him, and constantly oppose Xiao Zongting? How could he continue to serve as the Chief Tutor?

Within the hall, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu discussed the details of the accounting investigation carefully. After a few exchanges, Duan Rong realized Xiao Yu was completely inexperienced in this regard.

However, Xiao Yu seemed quite enthusiastic, eager to tackle the accounting investigation.

Duan Rong shook his head inwardly.

It seemed that tomorrow they’d have to proceed cautiously, watching and learning as they go.

Duan Rong chatted a bit more superficially with Xiao Yu before taking his leave from Xiao Zongting’s courtyard and returning to Liu’s House.

Back courtyard account room, East Section.

Usually, only Xu Shouxian and Li Jun occupied the East Section. But today, Xu Shouxian’s confidants, Wang De’an and Zhu Shicheng, were present as well.

The four gathered for a brief discussion about tomorrow’s accounting investigation.

”Forget about the two young ones, our accounts are so meticulously done; who could possibly find anything here?” Zhu Shicheng said ingratiatingly to Xu Shouxian.

Xu Shouxian replied, ”Shicheng is right!”

As he spoke, Xu Shouxian glanced beside him at Li Jun, saying, ”The structure of our accounts was originally designed by Li Jun. Like a Matryoshka doll, to trace one account, you must search through different entries in over a dozen account books. These entries correspond to more than a dozen other entries. With two to three layers involved, forget two kids; even I, an old accountant, would be dizzy.”

Wang De’an laughed, ”Brother Li Jun truly is a genius in calculation and planning. After handling these accounts for the past two years, I’m truly in awe of this account system’s structure. Chief Accountant Xu, with your sharp vision, knowing how to employ talent! Brother Li Jun is still so young, yet you entrusted him with such an important task. Such courage is rare for most people.”

Xu Shouxian said, ”Enough of the flattery. Let’s discuss tomorrow’s specific arrangements.”

At these words, Wang De’an’s face turned red.

Zhu Shicheng chuckled, glancing sideways at Wang De’an; he was too obvious with his flattery.

Xu Shouxian saw their expressions clearly, where Zhu Shicheng didn’t realize Xu Shouxian valued Wang De’an’s sincerity.

For leaders with strong control desires and heavy suspicion, as long as you can complete the tasks assigned, more straightforward fellows, who might seem a bit foolish at first, often get promoted and entrusted with more responsibilities.

The next morning, after breakfast, Duan Rong went to Xiao Zongting’s courtyard, and then, together with Xiao Yu, proceeded to the back courtyard account room.

The two entered the main hall of the back courtyard account room.

Xiao Yu, being strikingly beautiful, immediately drew the attention of the apprentice accountants, who all turned to look at her brightly.

At this moment, a young man stood up from a chair in the corner by the hall door, smiling, ”You two have come early.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu turned to look at the man. He slightly clasped his hands and said, ”Come with me.”

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were clearly unfamiliar with this person; they seldom dealt with those from the account room. Duan Rong asked, ”Where to?”

The man replied, ”Regarding the accounting investigation, arrangements have been made by Chief Accountant Xu. Vice-Chief Accountant Wang De’an will liaise with you both. I’ll take you to meet him now; whatever assistance you need, feel free to request from him.”

Duan Rong touched his nose; although the Shopkeeper had personally appointed them for the investigation, he and Xiao Yu were ultimately still just Escort Masters, not even Leaders.

It wouldn’t be appropriate for Chief Accountant Xu himself to host them, assigning Wang De’an as Vice-Chief Accountant was already quite a high-level reception, showing considerable respect.