Chapter 18: The Orthodox Move? The Brilliant Move!

"This isn't the main issue..." Pei Xueyan sighed, then continued the conversation from before: "The old master’s health is declining, and with no heir to inherit this vast family business, how could those beneath him not be tempted?"

"In just the past half year, the old master discovered irregularities in the accounts of some industries under his name!"

"Some managers are now hoping for his early passing, so that no one will oversee them, allowing them to seize the Song family’s assets for themselves."

"The old master has been generous to me. Not long ago, he confided in me about this matter, hoping I could establish my authority while he’s still around, and root out those scheming managers."

"This concerns the Song family’s livelihood..."

"But I’ve only been married into the Song family for a year. First, I have no trusted confidants, and second, it’s difficult to convince others to follow me. Some managers have even colluded to deceive me, making it nearly impossible to audit the accounts."

Pei Xueyan’s voice trembled as she reached the painful part, gritting her teeth in anger: "The old master treats me like a daughter, but I am alone and unable to resolve the Song family’s hidden dangers. If only I had someone capable by my side, if only someone would assist me, I wouldn’t have to endure the humiliation from those lazy scoundrels!"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, looking very much like a young wife wronged and with nowhere to turn, stirring a deep sense of pity.

"......"

Liu Shen listened intently to the young mistress’s predicament. Seeing her tearful eyes, his throat tightened, and an inexplicable urge to comfort her welled up inside him.

He quickly dismissed such thoughts, and after pondering, said, "Please don’t be anxious, young mistress. Auditing these accounts is a family matter for the Songs. I’m just an outsider, a dock laborer, so it would be inappropriate for me to interfere."

"If you have such talent, why be a dock worker?" Pei Xueyan chided him with a playful glance. "Come work for the Song family as an accountant. I’ll have the old master pay you the highest salary for accountants in Anqing Prefecture."

"……"

Liu Shen was tempted by her words.

He knew that, given the current atmosphere, if he mentioned his indenture was still held by the Chishui Gang, Pei Xueyan would likely offer to redeem it for him.

But by doing so, he would owe her a tremendous favor—one tied to his own freedom.

Had he not known her predicament, nor that she was a widow, Liu Shen wouldn’t have cared about such a debt and would have agreed without hesitation.

After all, being an accountant for the Song family was a coveted position, far better than toiling at the docks. As for favors, they could be repaid gradually.

But now things were different!

Liu Shen understood Pei Xueyan’s situation; he knew she was a widow. He no longer wished to owe her such a significant debt, nor did he want to be a mere accountant.

In other words, upon learning she was a widow, his ambitions grew wild!

And he was tempted...

After careful consideration, Liu Shen shook his head and refused: "I appreciate your kindness, young mistress, but I too have my difficulties and truly cannot serve as an accountant for the Song family. Please don’t hold it against me."

"You..." Pei Xueyan stared at him in surprise, as if she hadn’t expected such a swift and resolute refusal.

The earlier sense of "a precious jade within my grasp" now felt like a slap to her face, leaving her both flushed and dizzy, her shame nearly bringing her to tears...

"Please don’t be anxious, young mistress. Let me finish," Liu Shen grinned, his words full of implication. "Although I’m just a dock worker, you’ve valued me. Doesn’t that make us friends?"

"Friends..." Pei Xueyan murmured, her delicate brows furrowed, as if she’d caught something in his words but couldn’t quite grasp it.

"Exactly..." Liu Shen nodded and smiled. "It would be improper for an outsider to meddle in the Song family’s affairs, but as your friend, what harm is there in helping you audit some accounts?"

"Quite right, quite right!" Pei Xueyan seemed to understand, raising her brows as she replied, "We’re friends, after all. Since we’re friends, it’s only right to support and help each other."

"Ha ha ha!" The two exchanged glances and laughed together, saying in unison, "Friends!"

The tide turned...

Pei Xueyan’s mood improved greatly, and she grew more convinced of the young man’s cleverness.

Liu Shen glanced around, then asked meaningfully, "This time, you’re auditing accounts at Tongda Hall. Is the manager here the one with issues?"

"I’m not sure." Pei Xueyan saw he was talking business and answered solemnly, "The old master said the manager at Tongda Hall lacks initiative and is easily led astray, so I’m here first to audit his accounts—as a warning, in a way."

Liu Shen nodded thoughtfully and asked, "So, is the manager at Tongda Hall truly at fault, or not?"

"How would I know..." Pei Xueyan pouted, disgruntled. "I’m still auditing, aren’t I? Not everyone is as skilled at arithmetic as you."

Liu Shen felt pleased, raising his brows with a smile, "But someone as skilled as me is now at your disposal, isn’t he?"

What woman doesn’t enjoy hearing such words?

"Indeed~" Pei Xueyan’s face brightened at his reply, lifting her graceful neck as she laughed, "That’s because I have a discerning eye, and happened to spot you—a rare gem in the vast sea."

"Are we just flattering each other now?"

"Can it be called flattery between friends?"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Liu Shen waved his hand with a hearty laugh. "I may not be adept at auditing, but I am skilled at arithmetic. Bring over the unfinished account books from Tongda Hall, and as long as I’m here today, I’ll ensure every account is clear for your review."

"Now that we’re friends, you’re putting me to work."

Pei Xueyan gave him a playful glance, but nevertheless went to fetch the unfinished account books from Tongda Hall, delivering them to him one by one.

Her demeanor suggested she was enjoying herself.

Liu Shen raised his brows with satisfaction. "Earlier, you were the Song family’s young mistress and I was just a dock laborer—our status worlds apart, so it wouldn’t have been right for you to command me."

"And now?"

"Now we’re friends, aren’t we? I’m here to help, and if I can’t be put to use, what’s the point of being friends?"

"Is that so..." Pei Xueyan thought for a moment, her brows drawn, and mumbled, "That does make some sense."

"Of course it does." Liu Shen smiled slyly, then added, "By the way, young mistress, could you pour me some tea?"

Watching the young mistress pour tea for him with a hint of proud defiance, he felt utterly satisfied as he opened the account books and began to calculate in earnest.

With so many types of account books—income, expenses, shop overheads—he couldn’t afford to be careless. So he read with one hand and recorded with the other, ensuring no mistakes.

Meanwhile, Pei Xueyan had already gathered all the unfinished account books. With nothing else to do, she watched Liu Shen bent over his calculations, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

Perhaps the contrast between the burly "dock laborer" and his current persona as a "mathematical prodigy" was too striking. The longer she watched, the more she found him intriguing...

"When he’s focused, he’s actually quite handsome..."

As Pei Xueyan pictured the young man stripped of his scholar’s robe, revealing a strong physique beneath, she couldn’t help but swallow. Even her heartbeat quickened...

"In his long robe, he’s a scholar; out of it, he’s a warrior. He truly fits my heart..."

Her thoughts wandered, and her almond eyes grew hazy with a dreamy allure.

Just then, she heard, "Young mistress, please grind some ink for me."

"......"

Pei Xueyan snapped out of her reverie, relieved to see Liu Shen engrossed in the account books and unaware of her distraction.

Embarrassed by her own fleeting fantasies, she curled her toes, wishing she could burrow through her shoe soles, her ears burning.

She hurried over to grind ink...

Liu Shen glanced at the young mistress preparing ink for him, feeling ever more pleased with how skillfully he’d played his hand...

An accountant for the Song family?

Not even a dog would take that job...