Xiao Qiao was swayed by his words. If it were just her, she wouldn’t have wanted to accept Fu Tian’s payment.
After spending so long in the zhai zi, everyone—regardless of age or gender—had become straightforward and forthright.
Since she regarded Fu Tian as a friend, helping with a small favor shouldn’t warrant any reward.
But now, this reward concerned the future of the entire zhai zi, and she found it hard not to be tempted.
The people in the zhai zi weren’t born wanting to be bandits. Aside from the chief and the strategist, there were only thirty-two people in total.
Some were children abandoned by their parents, some were women persecuted by the authorities or powerful families, and some, like her, had lost all their loved ones and simply stayed in the zhai zi because they had nowhere else to go.
Everyone lived together merely for a place to belong. If there were another way out, if they didn’t have to be bandits anymore, it would be a tremendous blessing for everyone.
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Qiao finally nodded in agreement. “It may feel like we’re getting something for nothing, but we’ve long planned to find another way to make a living.”
“Young Master Fu really has done us a great favor. From now on, whatever you need, just call for Xiao Qiao and I’ll be there.”
Chang Xi, following behind, nodded vigorously. “Xiao Qiao is right, count me in!”
Fu Tian:
He saw Chang Xi’s honest, simple face echoing the words and almost wanted to laugh. Then, seeing Xiao Qiao’s determined expression, he didn’t refuse them again.
Fu Tian was willing to accept their help, and Xiao Qiao visibly relaxed. The few of them sat together for a while, and after Fu Tian finished his lunch, they all headed to the Shu Fang together.
Zhou Chuanqing saw them to the door. Just as he was about to turn back, he was blocked by Chu Xiangtian, who had been following behind.
Zhou Chuanqing couldn’t figure out what had gotten into him again. “Is there something else?”
Chu Xiangtian glanced at him with narrowed eyes, chin lifted. “Aren’t you good at bookkeeping too? Why aren’t you going to help?”
Zhou Chuanqing flicked his folding fan and laughed, “I’m a proper scholar—how could I work as a bookkeeper?”
With a cold snort, Chu Xiangtian looked at him with disdain. “You eat and drink here for free and even get two taels of silver every month.
Now that the Fu Family has run into trouble, you think it’s right not to help?”
Zhou Chuanqing:”
“Fu Tian still calls you big brother, and this is how you act as an elder?”
“Alright, alright, fine.” Zhou Chuanqing felt his scalp tingle under that stare. He snapped his fan shut and strode after the others. “I’ll go help.”
Only then did Chu Xiangtian look satisfied, falling in at the back as he followed along.
In the Shu Fang, Chang Xi hauled out a large wooden chest. Fu Tian and Xiao Qiao split the account books evenly between them.
Once they’d agreed on the division of labor, they buried themselves in their work.
Zhou Chuanqing, who arrived later, took a small stack from Fu Tian’s pile and found an empty spot to start working as well.
For a while, the only sounds in the Shu Fang were the rustle of turning pages and the tapping of abacus beads.
The three of them worked day and night for three full days. Aside from sleeping at night, even their meals were brought to the Shu Fang by Dai Fu.
Chang Xi and Chu Xiangtian couldn’t help with the bookkeeping, so they organized the messy piles of finished account books for them.
***
On the evening of the third day, after reading through the last account book in his hands, Fu Tian rubbed his sore, swollen wrist and let out a heavy sigh. “Finally, it’s all done.”
“All the problematic ones are piled over there,” Zhou Chuanqing slumped in his chair. After three days of nonstop work, even his usual composure was gone.
He staggered to his feet. “I’m going back to change my clothes first.”
Of the three, Xiao Qiao was the most energetic. She was strong and quick-witted, her fingers flying across the abacus. These three days hadn’t worn her out at all.
Seeing the other two looking utterly drained, she took it upon herself to gather the unproblematic account books back into the chest, put it back in its place, and clapped her hands easily.
“I’ll go change too.”
Fu Tian:
“As expected of someone from the West Mountain Stronghold.”
Chang Xi hurried after Xiao Qiao, leaving just three people in the Shu Fang. Fu Tian told Dai Fu to go notify the kitchen to prepare dinner, then slumped by the table to rub his hands.
“Give me your hand.”
Chu Xiangtian walked over and crouched down in front of him, looking up.
The crouching man’s features were striking—sharp brows, eyes bright as stars, thin lips gently pursed with a hint of a warm curve.
His face was somewhat fierce, but his expression was remarkably gentle.
Fu Tian obediently stretched out his hand and asked in a low voice, “What are you doing?”
Chu Xiangtian took out a jar of ointment from his coat, scooped some out, and rubbed it onto Fu Tian’s hand. “Let me rub it for you. Once it’s massaged in, it won’t hurt anymore.”
Fu Tian blinked slowly, watching the bandit chief bow his head. He felt those slightly rough, calloused fingers enveloping his own, kneading the back of his hand.
The soreness and swelling felt just like the emotions in his heart at that moment.
Chu Xiangtian carefully massaged his wrist, for once with no ulterior motive—just properly giving the young master a massage.
Worried that he might use too much force and hurt him, he even reminded him, “If it hurts too much, say something.”
Fu Tian nodded, then remembered Chu Xiangtian couldn’t see, so he murmured, “Mm.”
It took nearly half a quarter of an hour for him to finish massaging both hands. The faint scent of medicine lingered on Fu Tian’s palms.
He flexed his fingers—the stiffness and ache were gone, and he felt much better than before.
“Thank you.” Fu Tian thanked him softly, recalling that last time, when Chu Xiangtian escorted him from the Shu Fang, he must have massaged his hands like this as well.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Fu Tian couldn’t hold back and asked hesitantly, “Why are you so good to me?”
If it was just because he’d helped him once during the kidnapping, then surely he’d already done enough.
“Why does there have to be a reason?” Chu Xiangtian patted his head, grinning broadly. “I just like you, so I’m good to you.”
Fu Tian stared at him in surprise, eyes wide like a startled rabbit, ears pricked high as he tried to figure out if Chu Xiangtian was joking.
Chu Xiangtian laughed at his stunned expression and pinched his cheek between two fingers. “I’m teasing you. Come on, let’s change and go eat.”
Fu Tian was dazed.
“Oh.”
Still a little muddled, Fu Tian obediently followed him out.
Chu Xiangtian glanced back at him, clicking his tongue regretfully in his heart. Looks like it’s still not the right time—even a joke can scare the young master silly.
After changing clothes, they all headed to the main hall for dinner. At Fu Tian’s special request, the kitchen had prepared a lavish spread.
By the time they arrived, the Eight Immortals Table was already covered in dishes.
Fu Tian invited them to sit. The maids stood by with basins and towels, but Xiao Qiao and Chang Xi weren’t used to this kind of scene.
In the zhai zi, there were no dining rules, and having people serve them made them uncomfortable. Fu Tian simply dismissed the servants, and everyone ate and chatted casually.
Most of the conversation revolved around the account books. They’d finished sorting the entire chest, and there were issues with five shops in total. Two were in Shangming Town, and the other three were in towns nearby.
The accounts for Shangming Town were very detailed.
At first, they hadn’t noticed any problems, but when they brought out past years’ records from the storeroom for comparison, they found that in recent years, purchasing expenses had risen abnormally, and the price of grain sales had soared to unreasonable levels.
The Fu Family Rice Shop’s prices were always adjusted according to local market conditions, but any price changes required an official document with the owner’s seal.
When Fu Tian dug out the archived documents from previous years, he found that the price adjustment documents bore Wen Bolì’s personal seal.
From the year the prices changed, the shop’s profits gradually shrank until it finally started losing money.
Such a sudden price hike—there was definitely something fishy going on.
“I’m planning to go to Shangming Town to take a look.” Fu Tian put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.
“I’ll go with you.” Chu Xiangtian, sitting beside him, didn’t hesitate. The young master had just taken over these businesses, so it would be good to have someone to help.
“I’ll go too.” Xiao Qiao thought for a moment. “Nothing on the accounts can get past me.”
With Xiao Qiao volunteering, Chang Xi naturally wanted to go as well. That left only Zhou Chuanqing silent.
Chu Xiangtian and Chang Xi both turned to stare at him, their expressions clearly saying, “Everyone else is going, why aren’t you?”
Zhou Chuanqing:
With a light cough, Zhou Chuanqing said, “Count me in, then.”
Satisfied, Chu Xiangtian and Chang Xi looked away. That settled it: they would rest for a day tomorrow and set out for Shangming Town the day after.
After dinner, Fu Tian went to the main courtyard to see Fu Youqin. During the three days of bookkeeping, aside from hurriedly checking on her at mealtimes, he hadn’t had a proper conversation with her.
Now that Fu Youqin had almost recovered, her spirits were much better, so Fu Tian thought that before leaving for Shangming Town, there were some things he needed to make clear to his mother.
By evening, the cold had set in. Fu Youqin was half-reclining on her bed reading, with Fu Shuyue sitting beside her, chatting as she embroidered.
Fu Tian knocked and entered. Fu Youqin saw him and frowned slightly. “It’s only been three or four days since I last saw you properly, and you’ve already lost weight?”
Fu Shuyue made room for him, and Fu Tian carried over a small stool to sit by the bed, face serious. “I have something I want to discuss with you.”
Fu Youqin pinched his cheek. “Why so formal with your mother?”
Fu Tian pressed his lips together and gave a muffled “Mm,” then slowly said, “I want to take over the family business.”