Chapter 86
86 Buying a Pool, Reunion of Old Friends
Li Yu went to the backyard of the shop in town and said to Zhou Jia, who was doing the accounts, “Zhou Jia, I found a pond. Come back with me to take a look. I want to buy it.”
Zhou Jia pulled Li Yu to sit beside him and looked at her dotingly. “It’s fine as long as you like it. I’ll go to Tongzhou City tomorrow to buy it for you as a dowry.”
Li Yu looked at the densely written accounts and frowned. “Aren’t you going to take a look?”
Seeing Li Yu frown, Zhou Jia thought that she was angry. He pulled Li Yu and said, “Alright, alright, I’ll go back with you to take a look.”
Li Yu pointed at the accounts on the table. “I’m not frowning because I’m angry about you not looking at the pond. I just feel that it’s too troublesome for you to record the accounts like this. It’s easy to get confused and it’s not convenient to check the accounts.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu curiously. “What do you know about ledgers? Show me.”
Li Yu took out a piece of white paper and took out a charcoal pen. She drew a cash flow form and pointed at it as she said to Zhou Jia, “This upper half is the year. Below it are two squares of month and day. This is followed by the numbers. Here we have the borrower, creditor, and amount. At the bottom are the sum of a month, loan, and credit.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and smiled proudly. “See if the accounts become simple and clear this way. Also, you can change the way you write the headers. You can use labels like income and expenditures, names, and dates. This way, if there are any problems, there will be a record for tracing the source.”
Zhou Jia looked at the ledger in front of him and then at Li Yu. His heart surged. How could there be such a way to do the accounts? Even an old accountant couldn’t do it. Who was Yu’er’s master?
Seeing Zhou Jia looking at her in a daze, Li Yu smiled reproachfully and said, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
Zhou Jia pulled Li Yu’s hand and said to her with a smile, “Yu’er, what should I do? I don’t think I’m worthy of you anymore. No matter what you do, you’re better than me. I feel a little ashamed of my inferiority.”
Li Yu also smiled and praised him. “There are many places where I’m not as good as you. Look, I didn’t know about wood quality when I was building the house. You also have an academic title. Perhaps you’ll even get an official position in the future. Then, I’ll be an official’s wife. Also, you’re good at trading. You’re also handsome and refined. The only flaw is that you’re too weak. You don’t even have the ability to protect yourself when you encounter something.”
Zhou Jia’s smile disappeared as he listened. He looked at Li Yu with a bitter expression. “Yu’er, why don’t you teach me some self-defense martial arts to prevent me from being bullied?”
Li Yu thought for a while. “There’s a set of fist techniques that’s suitable for you to practice. When the house is fixed, I’ll pull Ah Qing along. The two of you can practice together.”
Zhou Jia pulled Li Yu’s hand and made her sit on the chair. “I’m going to Tongzhou City tomorrow morning. Do you want to buy anything else?”
“See if there are any lotus seeds in the seed shop.”
Zhou Jia kissed Li Yu’s forehead and said gently, “Yu’er, don’t worry. I promise to do it well.”
Li Yu deliberately said fiercely, “Xiao Xi, remember this! Don’t come back if you can’t do it well.”
“Yes, if I can’t do it well, I will kiss you as a punishment.” Zhou Jia picked up a stack of white paper and handed it to Li Yu. “Supervise me as I prepare some paper for the accounts first. Please guide me, madam.”
Li Yu scratched Zhou Jia’s nose. “Now, you’re becoming more and more glib-tongued. In the past, you still looked like a gentleman.”
Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and kissed it, looking aggrieved. “I’ve always been very serious.”
Li Yu looked at him and curled her lips. “Yes! You’ve always been spouting nonsense in all seriousness.” Li Yu smiled and pulled her hand out. She picked up the Bamboo Blade and began to cut the paper.
After the two of them finished making the accounts, they went to help Zhao Cai place the goods, leaving Zhao Cai to look after the shop. When the date was chosen, the Zhouji store in Phoenix Cry Town would open.
The next morning, Zhou Jia left for Tongzhou City. After resting at the inn for a night, he went to buy goods the next morning. When he was done, Zhou Jia went to the garrison office.
Just as he reached the government office, he met Shen Wu accompanying a thin and amiable old man with white hair. Zhou Jia looked at the old man happily and quickly walked over to bow. “Grandpa Wen, when did you come to Tongzhou?”
When the old man turned around and saw Zhou Jia, he hugged him happily. The joy of reuniting after a long time made their eyes tear up. “Little Xi’er, why are you here?”
Shen Wu was anxious to bring Doctor Wen to treat his young master. Seeing that Divine Doctor Wen and Zhou Jia addressed each other as master and disciple, he hurriedly smiled and said to Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou, I didn’t expect you to be old friends with Doctor Wen!”
Doctor Wen patted Zhou Jia and said angrily, “Don’t talk about it. He refused to learn medicine from me no matter what. After learning it, he became a dabbler again.” Mr. Wen said to Zhou Jia, “Jiahe, let’s meet again after the old man goes to the general’s residence to visit his young master.”
Zhou Jia bowed and said, “Grandpa Wen, I have brought my fiancée and some villagers to settle down in Tongzhou. I’ll go to the garrison office to buy a few acres of ponds first. When you have seen the young master of the General’s Mansion, I’ll wait for you at the teahouse opposite.”
When Doctor Wen heard this, he said happily, “Alright! Wait for me to come out and look for you. I’ll go and see your little wife.”
When Shen Wu heard this, he said to Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou, go to Secretary Xu about buying the pond. Tell him my name and I promise he will not make things difficult for you. Young Master is still waiting for Doctor Wen in the General’s Mansion!”
Zhou Jia thanked Shen Wu and sent Doctor Wen onto the carriage. He watched the carriage leave before turning around and entering the garrison office.
Zhou Jia found Secretary Xu, who had come to Phoenix Cry Village that day, and asked him, “Secretary Xu, I want to ask if the remaining wastelands and ponds in Phoenix Cry Village are for sale?”
Secretary Xu pondered for a moment and said, “You have to ask General’s personal guard, Shen Wu, to know.”
Zhou Jia said, “I met Shen Wu at the garrison office just now. Brother Shen told me to look for you.”
Secretary Xu immediately became polite. He pulled out a chair and said to Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou, wait a moment. I’ll go get the fish scale book and see how many wastelands and ponds are left.”
Zhou Jia nodded in agreement. Secretary Xu took out the fish scale book from the cabinet. After reading it, he said to Zhou Jia, “There are still more than 800 acres of wasteland, 300 acres of pond, and 200 acres of sloping land. Do you want all of them?”
Zhou Jia said, “Mr. Xu, I want them all.”
Secretary Xu smiled and said, “Mr. Zhou, you’re really lucky. The general just decided to sell all of that piece of land yesterday. You’re here today. There are many people who want that piece of wasteland. If those big families in the city find out, hehe!”
Zhou Jia stuffed a red envelope into Secretary Xu’s hand and said with a smile, “It’s a small token of respect.”
Secretary Xu pinched the red seal and knew that there were banknotes inside. He said happily to Zhou Jia, “Mr. Zhou is too polite.”
Secretary Xu took out the title deed and said to Zhou Jia, “That piece of wasteland is a total of 500 taels of silver, 100 taels of silver for the pond, and 100 taels of silver for the slope. Coupled with the contract tax, it’s a total of 750 taels of silver. For the first three years, you won’t have to pay taxes. Three years later, you’ll be charged according to the taxes of the mountains. 10% for each acre of pond.”
“Mr. Xu, please record the title deeds of the land and the pond under my fiancée’s name.” Zhou Jia took out a banknote and handed it to Secretary Xu.
After Secretary Xu finished writing the title deed and handed it to Zhou Jia, he smiled and said, “Mr. Zhou is really a loyal person. Not bad, not bad.”
Zhou Jia took the title deed and put it into his bag. He cupped his hands at Secretary Xu and said, “Mr. Xu, if you don’t mind, please come to Phoenix Village to play if you have the time.”
“Of course, of course. Take care, Mr. Zhou.” Secretary Xu sent Zhou Jia to the door and took out the red seal. He opened it and smiled in satisfaction when he saw a banknote containing ten taels.