Chapter 17: Is the Young Mistress a Widow?

It was still the accounts room of Tongda Hall.

Compared to the unfamiliarity of yesterday, when they had only met briefly, today the two were evidently much more at ease.

Pei Xueyan poured tea, took a sheet of paper from the account book, and handed it over, saying, “Here, I copied down the arithmetic you wrote last time.”

“Oh?”

Liu Shen took the paper in surprise, scanning it up and down as he muttered, “This is indeed the calculation I wrote that day when figuring out the weight of the Bodhisattva statue, but… why is the paper so crumpled?”

Pei Xueyan’s face stiffened at his words, as though reminded of something, and even her earlobes flushed red. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear to conceal her embarrassment and replied offhandedly, “I copied it down that day, but couldn’t understand the calculations. I was a bit annoyed, so I simply crumpled it up.”

“I see…”

Liu Shen nodded, not taking it to heart, and smiled, “Arithmetic is a profound subject. If you have any questions, young madam, please feel free to ask.”

With the wisdom of a past life, in this field of arithmetic, compared to the knowledge of his time, his abilities were nothing short of overwhelming.

“This… this…” Pei Xueyan came to his side, pointing at the small symbols on the paper representing volume and cube, her eyes full of expectation as she asked, “What do these symbols mean?”

Liu Shen thought back to the physics knowledge from his previous life, opened his mouth, but for a moment couldn’t figure out how to explain concepts like “volume” and “cube” to her.

A moment ago, he had been so confident about teaching arithmetic, but now he was at a loss—not because he didn’t know, but because he didn’t know how to teach it.

After a long silence, Liu Shen finally said, “Young madam, forgive my frankness, but this is a bit too advanced for you right now.”

Pei Xueyan blinked in confusion and asked, “What does ‘too advanced’ mean?”

“It means it’s too difficult…”

The two in the room exchanged a glance and both fell into silence.

Pei Xueyan, deeply struck, expressionless, took an account book and an abacus from the side and placed them before him.

Seeing Liu Shen’s puzzled look, she said flatly, “If you can calculate the accounts in this book within half an hour, I’ll believe what you say.”

Liu Shen knew his earlier words, though true, had been a bit hurtful, so he didn’t refuse. He took the account book and silently began to leaf through it.

Pei Xueyan observed him curiously. Seeing he didn’t use the abacus, and paused only briefly on each page before turning to the next, she thought he was just skimming it first before beginning the calculations.

But the more she watched, the more something seemed off—he was almost through the entire book already.

“You’re… calculating now?”

“I am.”

“And you’re not using the abacus?”

“No need…” This time Liu Shen was wiser and didn’t say anything like “my mental arithmetic is faster than an abacus”—to spare her pride. Instead, he said, “I’m working the abacus in my head…”

“An abacus in your head?” Pei Xueyan laughed, clearly thinking of another meaning, and teased, “Just what kind of abacus are you running in your mind?”

“It’s done.”

“What? What’s done?”

“The calculations are finished.” To avoid hurting her further, Liu Shen even went through the motions of counting on his fingers before saying, “The total sum in this account book is two thousand, seven hundred forty-six taels and eight qian.”

Pei Xueyan blinked in disbelief, as if unable to fathom anyone could calculate so quickly.

She summoned the manager, handed him the account book, and instructed, “Check the totals, and have several assistants help you—make it quick.”

“Yes…” The manager of Tongda Hall, puzzled, assumed there was a problem with the accounts and hurriedly called several clerks to verify the numbers.

Meanwhile, Pei Xueyan sat silent and dazed, as though her confidence had been utterly shaken.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later, the old manager and the clerks finished their calculations and presented the book. “Young madam, the total is two thousand, seven hundred fifty-six taels and seven qian.”

“Wrong! Liu Shen, you made a mistake!” At hearing the manager’s total differ from Liu Shen’s, Pei Xueyan’s eyes shone with new life. “Did you hear that, Liu Shen? You got it wrong!”

It was as if only by proving Liu Shen wrong could she feel less foolish herself.

Liu Shen pursed his lips, took the account book and flipped through it quickly. “With so many people checking at once, mistakes can happen. Why not verify it again?”

The old manager’s face tightened, about to protest, but seeing the young madam’s stern gaze, he quickly took the book and started the calculations over with the clerks.

After quite some time, the old manager, after triple-checking, wiped the sweat from his brow and presented the book once more, saying sheepishly, “The guest was correct. We made a mistake earlier in our haste. After careful calculation, the correct total is indeed two thousand, seven hundred forty-six taels and eight qian.”

“Two thousand, seven hundred forty-six taels and eight qian…”

Hearing this figure, Pei Xueyan covered her mouth, her face filled with disbelief. “Are you certain this is correct?”

“I’m certain.” The old manager, not understanding her astonishment but keenly aware his job was at stake, patted his chest in assurance. “Earlier we rushed and made a slip, but this time I and several clerks have checked and double-checked—there can be no mistake. The total is two thousand, seven hundred forty-six taels and eight qian.”

Pei Xueyan’s gaze shifted back and forth between Liu Shen and the old manager for a long while before finally waving her hand to dismiss them.

Liu Shen sipped his tea leisurely and, seeing the others had left, teased, “Young madam, surely you believe me now?”

“I do…” Pei Xueyan’s expression was complicated, her face showing bruised indignation, yet inwardly she was secretly delighted: This is no mere uncut jade—this is a treasure found by chance.

As if struck by a new idea, her eyes glimmered. “Liu Shen, could you help me with something?”

“You’re too polite, young madam.” Liu Shen smiled. “With one word, you helped resolve the livelihood of Yuan Xiaofei and the Yu siblings—a great favor I won’t forget.”

He paused, then said earnestly, “If there’s anything within my power, just say the word—I’ll do it without hesitation!”

“Good, good, good…” Pei Xueyan repeated thrice to steady her mood, then said, “I’d like your help reviewing the accounts of the Song family’s businesses!”

“Reviewing the Song family’s accounts with you?” Liu Shen frowned in puzzlement. “The Song family has been established in Heyang County for many years, with no shortage of enterprises. Why would you need to personally check the books?”

“Times have changed.” Pei Xueyan’s expression turned sorrowful as she explained, “The Song family’s only son—my late husband—passed away early this year. Now Master Song, old and grieving, is growing weaker by the day. With such a vast family business and no heir, what can be done?”

“You’re a widow?” Liu Shen blurted out the key detail, but instantly regretted it and hurried to explain, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”

“What did you mean, then?” Pei Xueyan shot him a sideways glance, a hint of surprise in her tone. “My husband was bedridden, and the Song family married me to bring good fortune, but I became a widow less than half a year after entering the household. Isn’t this well known throughout the southern city?”

Liu Shen fell silent. He very much wanted to say, I’m just a hired hand at the docks—I’m not from the southern city…