CHAPTER-12

　　In the bamboo hall, Ruan Zhi listened to a report from a woman in her twenties behind a screen.

　　"The lady has two big maids and two second-class maids. The monthly salary of a big maid is two taels of silver, and the second-class maid is one tael of silver. The monthly salary of the steward in charge of the kitchen is four taels of silver..." The woman talked to Ruan Zhi, and Ruan Zhi corrected her from time to time, and the woman took a brush to write it down on paper.

　　Gu Qingci listened and fell silent.

　　Ruan Zhi gave her a monthly salary of two taels of silver, which was the level of a big maid.

　　Well, it was better than a second-class maid.

　　"My wife, this is the housekeeper who replaced Nanny Qin, Madam Zhao." After listening to the woman's report, Ruan Zhi looked at Gu Qingci and said.

　　She borrowed this person from the Ruan family.

　　Nanny Qin was in poor health, and Ruan Zhi didn't want her to work too hard.

　　With a housekeeper, Ruan Zhi's focus was mainly on the business outside.

　　Gu Qingci greeted Madam Zhao, and Ruan Zhi gave her another account book, which looked newly written and smelled of ink.

　　"I can't read. Madam, can you please tell me what's going on?" Gu Qingci said awkwardly.

　　Ruan Zhi glanced at Gu Qingci and asked Madam Zhao to tell Gu Qingci.

　　"My lord, the total value of yesterday's fine copying is 105 taels. The horse that the lord took away from the Ruan family is 45 taels, the groom is 15 taels, and the cost of building the stable is 3 taels, leaving 42 taels."

　　"The Gu family currently has two shops, a farm, and 30 acres of land. The two shops are not doing well. The rice shop has been in a loss state in the account books in recent months, with a monthly loss of 2 taels of silver. The rouge shop barely has a revenue of 5 taels of silver. The farm and the land are together. There are some people there, and they need to subsidize 2 taels of monthly money every month. There is no profit before the harvest. In addition to Xiuyi Garden, the Gu family has six servants, and a total of 3 taels of monthly money is needed. In addition, the monthly expenditure for raising horses is 1 tael of fodder, and the monthly expenditure for grooms is 1.5 taels..."

　　Madam Zhao calculated the accounts of the Gu family for Gu Qingci.

　　Income and expenditure are addition and subtraction within 100.

　　Gu Qingci burst into tears.

　　Although the number of servants in the Gu family was reduced by half, because Gu Qingci brought a horse back from the Ruan family, the monthly salary for fodder and the groom was a large expense, and the expenditure was no less than when there were twelve people before.

　　The income did not increase, and there would be a deficit every month.

　　Although the original owner had laid off employees, he still maintained the expenses of more than ten people for the sake of face. He tightened the monthly salary, but there would still be a deficit every month. In addition, the Zhang family was embezzling, and the family assets were basically in deficit.

　　She only had a pitiful two taels of monthly salary, which was not enough to cover the deficit.

　　Gu Qingci pouted, so poor!

　　This was calculated without counting the expenses of the people in Ruan Zhi's Xiuyi Garden.

　　"If the master wants to eat at Xiuyi Garden, an additional five taels of silver will be spent every month. The ingredients used for the meals in Xiuyi Garden are all top-notch, and there are account books for purchases, and the master can check. The remaining forty-two taels can last for another three months." Finally, Madam Zhao said another sentence.

　　"You can also not come to Xiuyi Garden for meals. I didn't move the big kitchen, and the cook promoted the rough maid who used to work in the kitchen." Ruan Zhi added lightly.

　　Ruan Zhi does not do business at a loss.

　　If Gu Qingci wants to take advantage of her, he must pay a price.

　　The accounts must be settled clearly, so that Gu Qingci knows how poor he is.

　　Gu Qingci did know.

　　His face fell.

　　Not going to Xiuyi Garden for dinner is impossible!

　　This five taels must be spent.

　　"I don't need anyone to serve me, so the number of servants can be reduced. The shop and farm are all managed by Madam, can we make more profit?" Gu Qingci looked at Ruan Zhi and said.

　　"Three more of the remaining six people in the Gu family can be dismissed. I will replace the two shopkeepers with capable ones to ensure that profits increase. The manager of the farm also needs to be replaced. Dismissing the original shopkeeper and manager and using the people I brought will require silver to be transferred. The remaining silver you have can only be used for one month. If there is no surplus, I will make up for the deficit in the public, but your wife will write an IOU." Ruan Zhi said.

　　In this way, the Gu family will be completely under Ruan Zhi's control, both in terms of people and finances.

　　If Gu Qingci pressed the private seal, she would have another handle in Ruan Zhi's hands.

　　Once it is known to the outside world, Gu Qingci will be criticized.

　　If she still wants to save face, she must be cautious.

　　"Okay, let's do as the lady says." Gu Qingci nodded without hesitation.

　　Without money, the salted fish life can only be a northwest wind.

　　I hope Ruan Zhi can make her shop's profits several times, woo woo woo.

　　Life in ancient times was not easy.

　　If you want salted fish, you have to hold on to the boss.

　　"Press your private seal here, I will ask someone to do it." Ruan Zhi glanced at Gu Qingci and said.

　　This method is outrageous in any ordinary civilian family.

　　If it were the previous Gu Qingci, he would definitely be furious and feel that his self-esteem was challenged.

　　The current Gu Qingci neatly pressed the seal with her name engraved on it.

　　Seeing that Gu Qingci didn't even look at the content, Ruan Zhi simply took out a few more documents and asked Gu Qingci to press the seal.

　　The purchase of some goods will be relatively preferential with Gu Qingci's status as a noble.

　　After Gu Qingci pressed a few, the maid reported that the shopkeepers who had been notified before were here.

　　Ruan Zhi began to ask several shopkeepers to report the situation.

　　Ruan Zhi's shops were given as a dowry by the Ruan family. There are shops in the county town and outside.

　　Gu Qingci was envious after just listening to the reported accounts.

　　Ruan Zhi's restaurant alone earns hundreds of taels a month!

　　No wonder she is so rich.

　　"Reporting to the madam, this month's profit is 10% less than before. The toll tax used to be 15% out of 100, but it has recently increased to 20% out of 100, and the transaction tax has increased from 3% out of 100 to 5% out of 100. In addition, the court has a new tax item for merchants, called the public construction tax, which takes 2% out of 100 of the profit. There was a war between the southern barbarians and the northern Hu, and some of the imported goods are subject to a security tax, 3% out of 100..." A shopkeeper handed over the account book and reported to Ruan Zhi.

　　Gu Qingci was eating cakes on the side, and he felt something was wrong as he listened.

　　"Why is the tax so high!" Gu Qingci asked. The total tax was 30%, and the income tax was not added.

　　"My lord, commercial taxes have always been high. Recently, the southern barbarians and northern barbarians have repeatedly invaded the border, causing some unrest, so commercial taxes are even higher." said the shopkeeper who had just spoken.

　　"..." Gu Qingci was speechless.

　　Heavy taxes are a measure taken by the court to restrict merchants.

　　Thinking of the small profit of his own shop, and having to pay nearly half of the tax, Gu Qingci's heart was bleeding.

　　"Is there no way to pay less tax?" Gu Qingci asked.

　　"My lord, when transporting goods, if you are lucky, you can invite scholars to accompany you and give them appropriate commissions. In this way, the toll can be exempted. The trusted people are scholars, and the store is placed in their name, so the transaction tax can be exempted." The shopkeeper then answered Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci was silent.

　　Seeing that Gu Qingci was silent, the shopkeeper continued Ruan Zhi's report.

　　After checking the accounts, Ruan Zhi made arrangements for the subsequent development of several stores, including the two stores owned by Gu Qingci. After

　　the arrangements, everyone dispersed. When Ruan Zhi was about to leave, Gu Qingci stood up and stopped Ruan Zhi.

　　"What's the matter, my wife?" Ruan Zhi asked.

　　"Madam, can I go to the academy?" Gu Qingci said.

　　"My master is a student of the academy, so he can go to the academy naturally." Ruan Zhi said, looking at Gu Qingci's expression with a little scrutiny.

　　What does it mean that you said you didn't want to go to the academy before, but now you want to go?

　　Ruan Zhi was silent for a while and remembered something.

　　The brother of the woman that Gu Qingci wanted to marry was in the academy.

　　There were also a few bad friends.

　　"Madam, I will go to the academy from tomorrow. Madam, if I can pass the exam and let our family's business tax be exempted, can you increase my monthly salary?" Gu Qingci said, looking at Ruan Zhi eagerly.

　　When she heard the shopkeeper's words just now, she was very tempted.

　　Scholars actually have such a good discount.

　　It would be a big loss if you don't take advantage of this bargain.

　　That's all pure silver!

　　"Okay, if my wife can pass the exam to become a scholar, the monthly salary will be increased to ten taels of silver. In addition, I will give my wife a tenth of the exempted commercial taxes." Ruan Zhi said, casually making a condition. I

　　was more suspicious of Gu Qingci's motive for going to the academy.

　　He can't write, can't read account books, is in the Ding class of the academy, and is the last one. Now he says he wants to take the exam to become a scholar?

　　Moreover, the exam will be in a few days.

　　Who is he trying to fool?

　　"Okay, I'll prepare now! Hang your head on the beam, prick your thigh with a needle, and study hard!" Gu Qingci said excitedly, not knowing Ruan Zhi's thoughts.

　　The tenth of the tax saved by Ruan Zhi's shop is not a small amount!

　　Fight for a hundred days, and live

　　a life of salted fish. When you pass the exam to become a scholar and reduce taxes, you can increase your monthly salary and get dividends to live a life of salted fish lying flat!

　　Gu Qingci clenched his fists, full of energy.

　　Ruan Zhi glanced at Gu Qingci, said to Madam Zhao, and went back to Xiuyi Garden.

　　"Master, Madam said that you don't need to stay overnight today, and the food will be sent to Mojinxuan." Madam Zhao said to Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci's face fell when she heard it.

　　Wasn't she allowed to sleep on the small couch where she had just slept all night?

　　I wonder if the food sent here is the same as what she ate at Ruan Zhi's place.

　　"This is the book boy Shimo that Madam arranged for you. He knows some words and is familiar with the academy. He will go to the academy with you." Gu Qingci thought to herself, and Madam Zhao brought a little boy to tell Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci didn't think about it anymore, so she said hello to Shimo and went back to Mojinxuan first.

　　She needed to understand what the original owner's handwriting looked like and what books she studied, and make some preparations.

　　When Gu Qingci arrived at Mojinxuan, she didn't bother to read the Xiaohuang book that she hadn't finished yet. She went to the study room first and found the handwriting of the original owner, as well as some books.

　　Seeing the original owner's dog-crawling handwriting, Gu Qingci felt a little relieved.

　　As for this handwriting, she would definitely be better than this after practicing, and she didn't have to worry about the handwriting problem.

　　Looking at those thread-bound books again, Gu Qingci had a headache. The classical Chinese text was her hypnotic, and the traditional Chinese characters made it even more difficult to read.

　　Sure enough, she started yawning and felt sleepy after reading for a while.

　　"Master, the old lady asks you to go to Jifuyuan." Dongxue's voice woke Gu Qingci up.

　　Gu Qingci suddenly remembered that he still had a mother.

　　Yesterday, I told Xue Sanniang about the conflict between the two of them, and today I haven't told Xue Sanniang about the result of the dream.

　　Gu Qingci woke up and went to Jifuyuan with Dongxue.

　　When Gu Qingci arrived at Jifuyuan, Xue Sanniang was sitting in the hall.

　　"You go out first, I'll talk to my daughter for a while, you don't have to serve me!" Xue Sanniang said to the tall and strong old woman next to her. She was the maid sent by Ruan Zhi to take care of Xue Sanniang.

　　The old woman bowed to Xue Sanniang and went out.

　　As soon as the person left, Xue Sanniang began to wipe the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

　　"Aci, what kind of magic potion did that woman feed you that you actually let her be the housekeeper. If you let a woman of merchant origin be the housekeeper, you will be looked down upon if you go out. Look, she actually let that old woman control me and not let me go out. How rude! Aci, you are a Chiwu, the dignified Marquis of Jian'an, your great-grandmother was a princess, your great-grandfather was..." Xue Sanniang spoke like a machine gun and could not be controlled.

　　The corners of Gu Qingci's mouth twitched and his face became hot.

　　A low-ranking title that cannot even be exempted from taxes expressed the feeling of being a royal relative.

　　Xue Sanniang has been completely stratified. She is so proud of her nobility. If she shows off in front of Ruan Zhi, is she asking for her life to be too long?

　　Xue Sanniang's behavior made Gu Qingci feel like there was a sharp blade hanging on his head, which would hit his forehead if it fell.

　　"Mother, what Azhi did is right. I dreamed of father last night, and he told me that if mother does not live in the manor, she cannot leave Jifuyuan. Mother, you don't want to watch me suffer a bloody disaster and die early, and the old send off the young, right?" Gu Qingci said with a trembling voice and fear on his face.

　　"Aci, aren't you going to take a concubine?" Xue Sanniang paused, looked at Gu Qingci, and asked with trembling lips.

　　"No concubine. What's the point of taking a concubine when my life is about to end?" Gu Qingci shook his head.

　　"Aci, I don't want to live in the manor, I want to go to Mingxia Temple, pray for you there, and find a monk to perform a ritual for your father." Xue Sanniang was silent for a while, and then said to Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci thought about it, whether going to the manor or the temple, it would be a good thing for Xue Sanniang to leave temporarily.

　　"Okay, then let the servants prepare and send mother to Mingxia Temple tomorrow." Gu Qingci nodded in response.

　　Gu Qingci saw Xue Sanniang's dejected expression, and thought for a while, the other party is the mother of this body after all.

　　"Mother, this is ten taels of silver, take it." Gu Qingci gave Xue Sanniang the largest denomination of silver note on him.

　　This was also the reward from Ruan Zhi to Gu Qingci.

　　Xue Sanniang wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and said a few words to Gu Qingci.

　　Gu Qingci left Jifuyuan and asked Dongxue to report to Ruan Zhi that Xue Sanniang was leaving.

　　In the afternoon, the maid brought the meal to Mo Jinxuan.

　　The dishes were not bad, but Gu Qingci always felt that eating alone was not as delicious as eating at Ruan Zhi's place.

　　In the evening, Gu Qingci practiced calligraphy, imitated the original owner's handwriting, and read some difficult classical Chinese for a while. He felt sleepy, washed up, and went to sleep on his hard bed. After

　　Gu Qingci fell asleep, Gu Qingci's book boy Shi Mo went to Xiuyi Garden from the small door, holding a few pieces of paper in his hand.

　　"Except for meeting the old lady in the afternoon, the master has been reading and writing. He yawned while writing and has fallen asleep now." Shi Mo reported to Ruan Zhi through the curtain.

　　Going to bed so early, is this what she called "hanging one's head on the beam and piercing one's thigh with a needle"?

　　Ruan Zhi looked at the newly written brush calligraphy in her hand. There were typos, and the strokes were written like a child who had just learned to write. There was no pen tip, and the structure was strange. The handwriting was no different from the straw bag in her memory.

　　"Take it and burn it." Ruan Zhi narrowed her eyes and threw the papers to Lian Rui with disgust.