Ye Hui saw her husband throw the troublesome package back and breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t shameful for ancient women to be unable to do needlework. She couldn’t lose face over this. Fortunately, Muo Qi was well-behaved and never asked. The residual information in her brain and the original body’s owner weren’t particularly skilled in needlework. If she learned some basic clothing-making skills to handle such situations, it might not be impossible.
Ma Tilian caught the thrown package and stomped her foot: “I’ll go to the kitchen aunties to alter it. You won’t even lend a hand on such an important day in a person’s life? Some senior brother you are!”
Huangfu Zedu, as a royal family member, had an inherent authority. His eyes narrowed, causing Ma Tilian to shudder. Though she was often bold, she still feared the master and senior brother and didn’t dare say more. She held the package and left, indeed heading towards the kitchen.
“Husband, is Fourth Junior Sister’s marriage arrangement settled? She seems so confident, even preparing her wedding clothes.” Ye Hui raised her eyes questioningly. “Should we also prepare Third Junior Brother’s wedding clothes?”
“Don’t cause trouble, my dear. Nothing is certain yet,” Huangfu Zedu came over and arranged her skirt, covering her feet. Earlier, she had rolled up her skirt for convenience while washing clothes and wore wooden clogs, revealing a pair of crystal-white, lotus-like beautiful feet that attracted secret glances from passersby.
In Yingtang Kingdom, women’s feet being seen was no big deal. Many women exposed their chests and bellies in summer, which was far more serious. But Ye Hui’s feet were truly beautiful and enchanting! Huangfu Zedu didn’t want her to be stared at by a group of lustful men.
“Shishu Ye, please help me with something.”
Just as Ye Hui was about to return to her room, a voice called her. Turning back, she saw Xu Shidi, who managed the account books. He was a distant relative of Qingtian Shishu and seemed to be groomed for the role of managing Tianying Gate’s income and expenses. Unfortunately, he had no mathematical talent, and no amount of teaching helped. Ye Hui had already helped him organize the accounts multiple times.
Xu Shidi placed a stack of papers on the stone table in front of the house and looked up at Ye Hui: “Shishu, could you help me look at these account books? I’ve calculated them many times, but Qingtian Shishu always rejects them, saying the numbers are inaccurate. It’s driving me crazy. Everyone says looking at account books gives you a headache, yet they insist I do this.”
Ye Hui was also feeling a headache. Helping him with the accounts wasn’t impossible, but over time, Xu Shidi would develop laziness, which wasn’t good for his growth. Teaching children required guidance and patience, but she simply didn’t have the patience to be a teacher!
Holding the bill in hand, it was all daily expenses, with a few accounts of incense offerings from pilgrims, the largest amount not exceeding several dozen taels. She swept her eyes over each piece of paper and understood at a glance; this simple math problem she had learned in first grade.
Sitting on a stone bench, she picked up a charcoal pencil and simply made a table, filling in the numbers on the paper, and finally writing remarks and the total.
It took less than ten minutes to complete, very smoothly. She handed the finished accounts to her junior nephew, gently rubbing her temples with two fingers, careful not to hurt his self-esteem, and softly said: “You can follow this method in the future. It’s at most just a hundred or so numbers, very simple.”
“Tables, I know,” the junior nephew said, taking the accounts and looking them over repeatedly, dizzy from the numbers. “My master aunt has been helping me these days, but I get a headache just looking at the calculations.”
Huangfu Zeduan watched coldly and then said: “If you don’t like doing it, you can give up the accounting duties to Master Qingtian. Even though he is your senior, if you are determined not to do it, no one will force you.”
The junior nephew, who was even more afraid of him than his own Master Qingtian, respectfully bowed: “I understand, thank you for the guidance, Master.”
He picked up the pile of scrap paper and accounts organized by Ye Hui, and left satisfied.
From far away, Qin Yuhang and Chu Yu came out of the Laojun Temple, crossing the large square, and happened to meet the junior nephew, who bowed to them. Chu Yu made a sound of surprise, glancing at his stack of papers, and was attracted by the strange table. He reached out and took it, growing more surprised as he looked.
Qin Yuhang smiled proudly: “This accounting method is very convenient, thought up by your master. The senior brother said it was good and implemented it in the army. Recently, it played an important role in managing money and grain in the government offices. It’s convenient and time-saving. The senior brother even plans to submit a memorial to the capital to promote it nationwide.”
Chu Yu’s handsome face, bright as the morning sun, showed a hint of admiration: “I’ve traveled to many places and consider myself knowledgeable, but I’ve never heard of such an accounting method. It can be said to be unique in the world.”
Not having left Yingtang, unaware of the world’s vastness, he had traveled to the Great Qin two years ago, increasing his knowledge along the way. But he didn’t expect that after returning to Yingtang, a small piece of paper would surprise him.
Qin Yuhang laughed: “It was thought up by your master, so of course it’s unique in the world.”
Chu Yu returned the paper and followed Qin Yuhang towards the wooden house, his gaze falling on the elegantly dressed woman, recalling the strange words he heard in the Laojun Temple the previous evening, and slightly furrowing his brow.
Look, I told you the son remembers you. Even if he forgot your appearance, he won’t forget your singing voice.” Huangfu Zeduan’s eyes were smiling, his arm around his wife’s waist as they walked towards their residence.
A thunderous cheer erupted in the square, and everyone was sincerely blessing this family.
The protagonist had left, and it was time for the supporting character to take the stage. Ma Tilian was not one to stay quiet and had something else on her mind.
“Third Senior Brother,” she approached shyly, tugging at his sleeve.
Chu Yu’s handsome and extraordinary face was still immersed in the beautiful song, seemingly unaware of her interruption. “Third Senior Brother,” Ma Tilian called out louder, her naturally loud voice like a muffled thunder. Chu Yu glanced at her, his gaze falling on her clothing, and frowned, “Don’t wear my clothes again.”
Ma Tilian looked hurt, “Didn’t I wear them when we were younger? What’s wrong now?”
Chu Yu seemed impatient, “We’re all grown up now. We need to be mindful of propriety.” She might not care as a woman, but he wasn’t shameless enough to share pants with an unrelated woman.
Ma Tilian pouted, “Then I’ll go back and take them off and return them.”
Chu Yu’s mouth twitched, “No… no need to return them.”
“Third Senior Brother, you’re so kind. I knew you wouldn’t really want them back,” Ma Tilian’s eyes narrowed with joy, and she reached out to tug his sleeve again, but he quickly shook her off. She didn’t mind and suddenly blushed, bashfully asking, “Third Senior Brother, do you still stand by what you said when we were young?”
Chu Yu couldn’t remember what he had said and casually replied, “Yes.”
Ma Tilian jumped up excitedly, “Great! Third Senior Brother, I asked Senior Uncle Qing Tian, and the day after tomorrow is an auspicious day for marriage. Let’s get married, and I’ll bear you several children to live a good life.”
“What did you say?” Chu Yu was shocked, his blue eyes flashing with surprise, “What auspicious day? Who’s marrying you?”
