Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 48

By the time Xiao Huan finished handling the day’s work at the Ministry of Revenue and returned home, the sun was already sinking westward.

“Come eat!” his wife, Lady Yang, called from afar.

“Wash your hands first, Father!” Yaqing reminded him.

“I know, I know!”

As Xiao Huan washed his hands, the aroma of food drifted from the dining room.

In the past and now, most of the meals for their family of three were prepared by Madam Xiao. The cook only made food for the servants.

His wife loved cooking, much to her husband and daughter’s delight.

Sometimes Yaqing and Xiao Huan would cook a dish or two themselves, but father and daughter unanimously agreed that Lady Yang’s food was the best in the world.

He hurried through washing and sat down. His wife was ladling soup for him.

“Try it. I made pork-rib soup today to build you up.”

Xiao Huan eagerly took a sip. Warmth traveled from his throat all the way to his heart.

“Ah! My wife’s soup is still the best!”

Xiao Yaqing joined in with the praise.

Madam Xiao covered her mouth and laughed. She had heard that line for years and never tired of it.

“Did everything go smoothly at the Ministry of Revenue today, Father?”

Xiao Yaqing placed a chicken leg in his bowl. Their family had no rule against talking during meals.

They were all busy during the day. Mealtimes were their chance to chat about the household and share interesting news.

“Mm, well enough. Your father returned at the right time.”

Xiao Huan bit into the chicken leg.

“You wouldn’t believe how chaotic the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts used to be! I knew it even when I was Vice Minister of Revenue. Sorting out anything unclear was an enormous ordeal.

“When Guangji appointed me Minister of Revenue, I immediately began worrying. I thought the old accounts alone would take quite some time.

“But guess what happened?”

Xiao Yaqing saw the expectant look on her father’s face and deliberately remained silent.

“Oh, just tell us!” Madam Xiao protested. “You make people guess every time. Can’t you get to the point?”

She did not understand her husband. Whenever he shared gossip, he insisted on making people guess first. Why could he not simply say it?

“Heh. The one who withheld Mingxu’s provisions was Minister Zhao.

“He refused to confess and even handed the account books to the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review and Mingxu. He probably assumed neither man could understand them or uncover anything!”

“How wicked! One is a military official, and the other investigates cases…

“Hurry and tell us what happened next!” Madam Xiao urged.

“After that? Hmph. Mingxu needed less than four days to examine two full years of Ministry accounts!”

“Four days? Didn’t you say those accounts were the hardest to sort out? Could Mingxu, a military man, truly finish so quickly?”

Madam Xiao stared in surprise. Xiao Yaqing also turned toward her father.

“Of course. He used something called the Numerical Bookkeeping Method and made tables. All the Ministry’s incoming and outgoing funds became clear at a glance, and calculations were much faster!

“What once required a whole ledger can now be recorded clearly on a single sheet of paper!

“Eh? Child, why did you drop your chopsticks?”

Xiao Yaqing hurriedly picked them up and wiped them against her handkerchief. Fortunately, they had not fallen to the floor.

Excitement surged through her.

The Numerical Bookkeeping Method? Was it what she thought?

After so many years in this world, had another person from her homeland finally transmigrated here?

When Xiao Yaqing first arrived, this body had been only three years old. The original young lady of the Xiao Mansion had accidentally struck her head and died at that tender age.

When she opened her eyes again, she had become Xiao Yaqing, carrying the twenty-two-year-old soul of a woman from the twenty-first century.

Fortunately, she had been young. When her temperament changed slightly, everyone blamed the injury to her head.

Her parents in this life loved her dearly—which was both fortunate and inconvenient.

They knew everything she ate, drank, learned, and could do.

She also found modern numerals convenient, but had no plausible way to introduce them.

She had not taken over her father’s caravans or managed his ledgers. As long as her parents could understand the existing accounts, there had been no need.

Instead, she pretended to stumble upon wine, alcohol, and similar products to increase the family’s income. The process itself had been interesting.

Privately, she still used modern numerals when calculating, but she never left evidence behind.

“Then where did Mingxu obtain this Numerical Bookkeeping Method?” she asked.

Her mother glared at her.

“Why are you calling him Mingxu? You should call him Elder Brother Mingxu or Elder Brother Cang. Didn’t you like him when you were little?”

Xiao Yaqing was about to object when her father interrupted.

“Mingxu wasn’t the one she liked. It was Guangji! As a child, she even said she would marry him. Ah, if I’d known, I would have arranged a childhood betrothal. Then I could be the imperial father-in-law now! Ha ha ha!”

“Father! We’re discussing something serious!” Xiao Yaqing said, annoyed.

Her heart felt strangely sour.

That was right. They had all been children and had only spent a few years together. Perhaps she was the only one who remembered. He might have forgotten her long ago.

“Right, right. Mingxu said an acquaintance read it in a book called… *Mathematics*. His Majesty has also issued an order.

“The method will be tested in the Zhenbei Army this year. If it succeeds, it can be promoted throughout the government next year!

“Your father thinks it will be extremely useful to the Ministry of Revenue.

“So tomorrow, I want to visit Mingxu and ask whether I can study this… *Mathematics* in advance.”

“I’m coming too!”

Xiao Yaqing was almost certain that whoever taught Mathematics was another transmigrator. As a science student, she was far too familiar with the name.

“Your daughter also wants to learn it!”

Xiao Huan knew his daughter always liked novel things and agreed at once.

“All right! Yaqing can come too!”

“Oh? Then I’ll come as well,” Madam Xiao said. “I can bring Mingxu some things. The last time he visited, he looked far too thin, and his clothes were stiff.

“A household run entirely by men truly can’t manage. Winter is almost here. We’ll bring new cotton tomorrow. Didn’t you say you acquired a batch of spun silk?”

“Hey, I’m going on official business. If you and Yaqing come, won’t it turn into a family visit?” Xiao Huan suddenly realized.

“You conduct your visit, and we’ll conduct ours. What? Do you find your wife and daughter troublesome?”

One sidelong glance from Madam Xiao made him agree immediately.

Xiao Yaqing secretly laughed.

“Still, it’s time we began looking for a match for Qing’er.”

“Mother! You just asked whether Father disliked us, and now you’re the one trying to get rid of me?”

The fire had finally reached her. Xiao Yaqing hurriedly signaled her father for help.

Unfortunately, Xiao Huan had only just placated his wife. He did not dare interfere.

“We don’t dislike you. It’s our fault. On the Southern Border, both of us were so busy we barely touched the ground, while your father’s standards were absurdly high. That delayed my Yaqing’s marriage.

“Now we’re back in the capital! Mother will certainly choose the very best for you!”

Madam Xiao lovingly smoothed her daughter’s temple.

“Why blame only me?” Xiao Huan protested. “Those sorry specimens have accomplished nothing, yet already keep whole crowds of concubines! How could they deserve our Yaqing?”

“Young Master Liang doesn’t have a concubine! He doesn’t even keep a bedchamber maid!”

“He isn’t as tall as I am! He’s dark and skinny, like a ribbonfish!”

“His family made its fortune in seafood!”

“……”

Xiao Yaqing ignored her parents’ bickering and focused on eating.

Tomorrow she would meet someone from her homeland!

The thought made her a little excited.

She wondered whether they would embrace with tears in their eyes.

As long as the other person did not stab her with a spear.