Chapter 19: The Bystander Sees Clearly

The accounts for Tongda Hall this year were not particularly numerous. Once Liu Shen had finished calculating the accounts, he handed them over to Pei Xueyan for review and comparison, so she could check for discrepancies, errors, or any concealed or omitted records. In just half a day, the books were immaculate and above reproach.

Pei Xueyan noticed that the accounts, which usually took her several days to audit, were completed within just three or four hours with Liu Shen’s help. She felt an immense sense of relief. Gazing at the pile of ledgers before her, she thought of her own predicament, and an inexplicable sense arose in her heart: as long as this young man was by her side, nothing was insurmountable.

In a moment of daze, Pei Xueyan felt the burden on her shoulders lighten considerably, as if someone had taken half of it away; or rather, as if someone was shouldering it alongside her. This was a sensation she had never experienced since entering the Song household—or even before that. It was light, reassuring, and oddly wondrous.

Pei Xueyan stared at him, murmuring in a voice caught between laughter and tears, “Liu Shen, do you even realize how capable you are?”

“What kind of capability?”

“You alone are worth ten bookkeepers!”

“Ten?” Liu Shen raised an eyebrow at her words, stretched lazily, and countered, “Only ten bookkeepers?”

“Twenty, then…” Pei Xueyan rolled her eyes at him, her expression playful. “Even twenty bookkeepers combined can’t match your speed and accuracy. Happy now?”

“That’s more like it…” Liu Shen grinned contentedly, picked up his teacup and took a sip to moisten his throat, then asked seriously, “Is there any issue with Tongda Hall’s accounts?”

“No issues.” Pei Xueyan’s expression grew solemn as she replied softly, “Manager Hu of Tongda Hall lacks decisiveness. The accounts are fine now, but that doesn’t guarantee there won’t be problems in the future.”

“It’s best to nip things in the bud...” Liu Shen nodded, pondered for a moment, and asked, “Forgive my boldness, but suppose—just suppose—a problem is found in Tongda Hall’s accounts. What would you do, madam?”

“Report it to the authorities, of course…” Pei Xueyan replied righteously, “The master spent decades building this family business. How could we let petty thieves steal it away?”

Seeing Liu Shen deep in thought yet not expressing an opinion, she asked in confusion, “The Song family spends a fortune to employ them, yet they try to bite a piece off the master’s house. Shouldn’t I report them to the authorities and see justice done?”

“You should!”

“Then why do you look so uncertain?”

“…” Liu Shen paused to collect his thoughts, then smiled, “Because I believe you’re right, but not entirely right.”

---

“Oh?” Pei Xueyan responded, surprised and suspicious. “What is your insight?”

“I wouldn’t call it insight…” Liu Shen shook his head. “I only wish to ask you one thing: After reporting a problem to the authorities, do you have anyone under you who can take over as manager?”

“I don’t really have anyone suitable…” Pei Xueyan’s brows knitted, as she seemed to grasp Liu Shen’s meaning; her expression turned grim. “Even if I hire a new manager, it would take time to assess their abilities before they could be trusted.”

“Then it’s not quite appropriate to report issues immediately.” Liu Shen sighed and asked, “Earlier, I heard that Master Song treats you well?”

“Yes…”

“He told you privately that there have been issues with the accounts in recent years, and asked you to establish your authority while he is still around, to weed out those disloyal managers?”

“That’s right…” Pei Xueyan nodded, her brows furrowing as she struggled to fully grasp his implication.

“Those involved are often blinded, while outsiders see clearly. Madam, you are now the one involved.” Liu Shen smiled, shaking his head to remind her. “Master Song has managed this place for many years. Though he is old, he can still detect the disloyalty among his managers. Would he not have prepared a backup plan?”

Pei Xueyan was dumbfounded, frozen in place, as if awakened by his words.

Liu Shen continued, “In my opinion, Master Song’s emphasis on establishing your authority and rooting out the disloyal managers is not about sending them all to prison, but about building your reputation.”

“This… this…” Pei Xueyan felt her scalp tingle. In her anxiety, she grabbed his arm, biting her lip. “Liu Shen, teach me!”

“Don’t be anxious, madam. Let me explain.” Liu Shen smiled, patting her hand to calm her, and then said, “From what I see, Master Song’s real concern is not with the managers, but with you.”

“Think about it: Master Song is elderly, but if he can notice the managers’ issues, he is still sharp. So why doesn’t he deal with it himself, but lets you handle it?”

“Because you entered the Song household only a year ago, you lack authority and struggle to command respect. The master worries that, after he’s gone, you won’t be able to control the people below you. That’s why he’s letting you handle things now, to build your own status.”

“I’m certain that as long as Master Song is alive, the managers won’t cause much trouble. He has likely already recruited replacements ready to step in. What he wants to see now is how you handle this matter, how you assert your authority, how you make the household acknowledge you as its mistress.”

“Otherwise, even if Master Song replaces the disloyal managers, you won’t be able to control the new ones, and sooner or later, the family business will be taken from you.”

“If we look at it a bit more darkly, madam, you could consider this Master Song’s test for you.”

“Do you understand?”

---

Pei Xueyan felt her entire body tremble after hearing this. The hand gripping Liu Shen’s arm unconsciously tightened.

She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath, then opened them, smiling as she nodded. “What should I do to pass the master’s test?”

“It’s quite simple…” Liu Shen, seeing how quickly she regained her composure, patted her hand and smiled. “To assert your authority, it all comes down to eight words.”

“What eight words?”

“Strength and softness combined, kindness and severity together.”

“Strength and softness combined… kindness and severity together…” Pei Xueyan murmured the phrase, pondering how to implement these seemingly simple yet profoundly wise principles.

She thought for a long while before asking, “After rooting out those who covet the Song family’s property, I can’t report them all to the authorities, but I also can’t let them go unpunished, is that right?”

“Madam, you are truly astute.” Liu Shen laughed, seeing that she understood. “Those managers are not a monolithic group. You ought to deal swiftly and harshly with a few troublemakers, even employing some questionable methods so that their families suffer as well.”

“In this way, the other managers with guilty consciences will be frightened and fear ending up the same.”

“That will demonstrate the ‘strength’ and ‘severity’ side of you. Then, you can divide and conquer—suppress some, win over others—thus showing your ‘softness’ and ‘kindness.’ Let your subordinates fear you, but also remember your benevolence.”

Pei Xueyan listened in amazement, secretly delighted, feeling more and more she had found a treasure.

Then, as if struck by a worry, she asked, “People say misfortune shouldn’t befall a culprit’s family. Must I resort to such questionable tactics?”

“Not necessarily…” Liu Shen glanced at her with a teasing smile. “If Master Song could live several more years, you’d have time to slowly assert your authority. But he’s already advanced in age. Do you really have time to do it slowly?”

“…”

“To put it bluntly, if Master Song were to pass away suddenly, with your current approach, you’d be devoured—down to the bone.”

“True!” Pei Xueyan realized, anxiety clouding her face. “What sort of questionable tactics should I use? I have no experience…”

“That’s precisely the advantage…” Liu Shen raised his brow with a knowing smile. “You lack experience, but there’s an elder in the Song family with plenty of experience watching over you.”

“You mean… the master?”