Chapter Thirty-Three: Victory Within Grasp

  In ancient times, people kept accounts by writing down everything, including income and expenses, losses and gains. The records were a jumbled mess, making it hard to make sense of them. Lu Haoshan simplified the process by separating the records into two books: one for income and one for expenses. When the time came to balance the accounts, he would compare the two books, and everything would be clear and transparent, like scallions accompanying tofu.

  Lu Haoshan didn't even use an abacus, simply using mental arithmetic for simple calculations and pen and paper for more complex ones. In ancient times, accounting was done in large characters, which were difficult to modify but also very cumbersome. During the auditing process, Arabic numerals were used instead, which was quick and easy, at a glance. Next to him, Liu Jinzhu saw Lu Haoshan finish checking an account book in no time, and then put down another checked account book, like magic, his eyes wide with amazement.

  This is also too fast, it feels like playing, even the old accountant in the pharmacy doesn't have this speed. Liu Jinzhu wanted to ask Lu Haoshan, but seeing his serious expression, he didn't dare disturb him and hurriedly added tea, poured water, ground ink, and spread paper. Because Chen Zi was a woman, she could only be in the back hall, and to avoid suspicion, when Lu Haoshan worked in the front office, she couldn't follow him, so Liu Jinzhu had to serve as her attendant instead.

  In fact, there is no need to follow, because there are more ears and eyes here. As soon as the account was checked, Zhou Dayuan, the officer in charge of the household registration office, sent someone to quietly listen outside the county magistrate's office several times, sneaking a peek at what the county magistrate was doing.

  "Have you all heard?" Zhou Si asked indifferently.

  Hou San is a bookkeeper in the Hou household and also Zhou Daxin's nephew. Being a family member, there was no one more reliable than him.

  "Uncle, I've taken a look," said Hou San with some disdain. "This county magistrate really loves to show off, thinking he can investigate two years' worth of accounts in just a few days. He's truly overestimating himself. He's forgotten that last year he investigated for ten days and ended up falling ill. Does he think he has what it takes? I listened for half a day in the courtyard and didn't even hear the sound of an abacus, probably just sleeping with the door closed. Yesterday was the same."

  "Did everyone hear that clearly?"

  "Uncle, can't you see through this? I'm handling things, don't you trust me?"

  Zhou Dàyuan finally put his mind at ease, nodded and said: "It turns out that I was overthinking, a young man with a simple mind, just a bit clever, still a young fellow, no, it should be a bookworm. Hmm, tonight can sleep peacefully."

  The abacus is the magic tool for Mr. Accountant to calculate accounts, and the first condition for entering the accounting room is to be able to play a good abacus. Zhou Dàyuan started from a small bookkeeping firm and eventually sat in the position of "God of Wealth". After decades of immersion in the accounting house, Zhou Dàyuan was absolutely a master of mental arithmetic. When he started calculating accounts, the "click click" sound of the abacus was like a beautiful melody that never stopped. Upon hearing this, Lu Haoshan immediately put down his abacus and let out a sigh of relief.

  It seems that Lu Xian didn't deceive himself, he just pretended to be a good official, but he never thought that someone's mental calculation was faster than an abacus. If not, there is still pen calculation. Lu Haoshan came from the future, and the bead calculation had actually lost its effect and exited the stage.

  Zhou Dayuan was delighted, running into a county magistrate like this. What's the use of having a powerful backer? Without any experience in being an official, lacking in human emotions and worldly wisdom, with only one long-time follower by his side, not even a teacher or mentor to assist him, it was as if he had been sent here to make a fortune for himself. Just thinking about the three years of happy times ahead, those stern faces couldn't help but reveal a few hints of a smug smile.

  In fact, Zhou Dàyuan is frugal, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love money. Those silver coins, even if he himself doesn't spend them, can be left for his children and grandchildren. Now putting on a frugal image is just a kind of packaging.

  In the county magistrate's office, Lu Haoshan was constantly copying and calculating, one by one account book was opened, checked, and then put down again. On those white papers, more and more data were recorded. The faster Lu Haoshan worked, the more solemn his face became.

  For five consecutive days, Lu Haoshan almost lived in the office. When he was hungry, he would eat something casually, and when he was thirsty, he would drink water. He only slept for a while when his eyes couldn't stay open anymore. Anyway, others thought he was pretending, but Lu Haoshan didn't think so. Finally, on the fifth night, Lu Haoshan threw down his pen, picked up a stack of papers filled with Arabic numerals and handed them over to Liu Jinzhu for safekeeping, saying "I'm going back to sleep, don't wake me up before I wake up" and then went straight back to sleep.

  Lu Haoshan slept for almost a whole day after lying down, and only then did he get up with a satisfied heart.

  "Young master, you scared the maid to death!" Chen Zhiyi said with a hand on her chest as if she was still frightened: "You slept for so long before waking up, if you didn't get out of bed, the maid would have had to find a doctor."

  Lu Haoshan suddenly hugged Chen Zhi's slender waist and said, "Hehe, what are you afraid of? This official has great fortune and a long life, what is there to be afraid of? I didn't expect my Zhi'er to care so much about this official."

  "Young master, what are you saying? I am young master's person when I'm alive and young master's ghost when I die. How can I not care about young master?" Chen Zi said with a pout.

  "How much did I sleep?"

  "The young master has been sleeping for almost a whole day, and the maid is afraid that the young master will go hungry, so she wants to wake him up. Wait a moment, I'll ask Aunt Xi to keep the food warm in the pot, and I'll go get it."

  "Not urgent" Lu Haoshan looked at the pitch-black sky outside and asked curiously, "Zi'er, what day is today?"

  "On the thirteenth of the first month, young master, after another two hours, it will be the fourteenth of the first month."

  He actually slept for that long, Lu Haoshan thought to himself that this sleep was really sweet, nodded and smiled: "It's good, there's still time to spend a great Lantern Festival."

  Chen Zhi thought Lu Haoshan was saying that after completing the task, he could take some time off to watch the Lantern Festival. She hurriedly smiled and said: "Young master, people are not made of iron, no matter how busy official business is, they must also take care of their bodies. You wait a moment, I'll go get the food."

  Lu Haoshan stopped him again: "Wait a minute."

  "Anything else, sir?"

  "I've been sleeping all day and haven't even washed up yet, first help me carry a basin of water in, oh, my body doesn't feel well either, have someone send a bathtub in, let's take a good bath first."

  Chen Zhi suddenly realized and said: "Yes, young master, please wait a moment, I'll go prepare it right away."

  After Chen Zhi left, Lu Haoshan opened his mouth and called out: "Jin Zhu."

  Liu Jinzhu, who was outside the door of "Shan Ge", came in immediately and said softly: "What are your orders?"

  "Did you hear what I just said?"

  Liu Jinzhu nodded and said: "Got it, Shan Ge wants to have a good Lantern Festival."

  "Do you know what's going on?" Lu Haoshan deliberately didn't make it clear, testing the tacit understanding between the two.

  "I know," said Liu Jinzhu, nodding his head. "I'll arrange for Shan Ge to meet with Zhou tomorrow. Since Shan Ge is in such a relaxed mood after checking the accounts, he must be confident and ready to take action against Zhou. Isn't that right, Shan Ge?"

  Having been with Lu Haoshan for so long, Liu Jinchu was also familiar with many of Lu Haoshan's habits. For example, when he was hesitant and indecisive, he would be very anxious and restless. However, when he had made up his mind to do something or was confident in his plan, he would become relaxed and self-assured. When Lu Haoshan checked the account book, others thought it was just for show, but Liu Jinchu knew that Lu Haoshan, who was good at creating miracles, must have found something, which was why he was so calm and composed.

  "Great." Lu Haoshan patted his shoulder and said, "Go."