Free Web NovelChapter 195: Chapter 195: Reporting to the National Academy
A warmth spread through Shen Ningning’s heart. She blinked her pretty, big eyes and said earnestly, "Thank you."
She reached out her small hands to take the keys and ledger, asking curiously, "But you’ve invested so much silver. If I’m the boss, what will you be?"
Lu Shaoyuan immediately puffed out his chest with pride. "I’ll be the second boss."
Wuer and the refugees led the chant, "Greetings, Boss and Second Boss!"
Shen Ningning led everyone into the shop and opened the ledger, wanting to see where all the money had been spent.
However, as she looked, the little girl furrowed her cute brows, her chubby face filled with confusion.
"Lu Shaoyuan, why haven’t you written anything in this ledger? You need to write down how much silver you invested initially. Otherwise, how are we supposed to split the profits?"
Lu Shaoyuan’s smile froze. He cleared his throat. "It’s too much trouble. Just consider it a gift from me."
"No," Shen Ningning immediately had someone bring her a brush. "Adults always say that even blood brothers must keep clear accounts. We have to write it down clearly."
"This way, if your mother ever asks, you’ll have an answer for her. She’ll know you’re actually doing something productive and not just messing around," the little girl said as she earnestly put the brush to paper.
"How much did the renovations cost?" Shen Ningning asked.
"Not much. Four hundred taels," Lu Shaoyuan answered honestly.
So, the little girl asked questions and Lu Shaoyuan answered them. Before long, they finally came up with a total.
Shen Ningning stared at the final number on the ledger, her bright black eyes wide.
"One hundred taels? Why is it even less than before?" Wuer exclaimed in shock.
One of the refugee women tapped him lightly. "Look carefully. It’s one thousand taels."
"One thousand taels... H-how long will it take for our Miss to pay that back?" someone worried aloud. Everyone looked at each other in dismay.
Lu Shaoyuan looked at Shen Ningning’s porcelain-like face. She was silent, her long, curly lashes lowered in thought, as if she were seriously calculating the debt in her head.
He couldn’t help but say, "I never expected you to pay me back at all. That’s why I chose the best of everything when I was renovating this place."
He had even expanded the courtyard in the back, building partitioned rooms that could house three people each, all to accommodate the refugees.
Shen Ningning tried to calculate for a long time, but the numbers involved were so large that the little girl’s head started to hurt.
She could only write and calculate with the brush on paper at the same time.
Lu Shaoyuan felt it was too much effort for her. "You really don’t have to pay me back. At worst, just give me the first month’s income after we open. That should be enough, right?"
But Shen Ningning said firmly, "No. I have to calculate it clearly. We can’t have muddled accounts."
Just then, a tall, thin man stepped forward.
"Miss, I... I know how to use an abacus. Why don’t you let me try?"
Shen Ningning looked up at him. The man was one of the refugees she had saved. Everyone called him Uncle Zhong.
He looked to be over forty. At first, his cheeks had been so thin they were sunken, only getting better after he started getting food from Shen Ningning.
"Uncle Zhong, you know how to use an abacus?" Arithmetic was a skill that usually only accountants from wealthy households learned.
Uncle Zhong nodded modestly. "I used to live in Jiangnan and worked as an accountant for a rich merchant."
Lu Shaoyuan was delighted and immediately waved a hand. "Someone, bring him an abacus."
Uncle Zhong immediately said, "Second Boss, could I trouble you for two? It will be faster that way."
Lu Shaoyuan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
When an attendant brought two abacuses, the moment Uncle Zhong’s fingers touched the beads, Shen Ningning felt the timid, hesitant air around him vanish completely.
In its place was a calm and steady confidence.
Uncle Zhong began flicking the beads with both hands simultaneously. His fingertips moved with incredible speed, and he muttered to himself as he calculated.
Everyone watched in astonishment.
Before long, Uncle Zhong finished his calculations. He picked up a brush and fluently wrote down a detailed list of all income and expenditures on the rice paper.
"Boss, Second Boss, based on the one thousand taels of startup costs and assuming an even split of profits, the optimal price for our products should be between two and four taels."
He even mentioned various other expenses like shop maintenance. Not counting the initial investment, the daily operating costs for the shop would be five taels.
Uncle Zhong suggested selling inexpensive items, focusing on small profits and high turnover for a steady return. He estimated that they could recoup the initial capital within half a year.
Shen Ningning listened to all his professional advice, her small mouth agape in amazement.
"Uncle Zhong, you’re incredible," Wuer said, his eyes wide with admiration. "With skills like these, why were you begging with us before? If you had looked for work in the city, people would have been fighting to hire you!"
Lu Shaoyuan added, "You’re just as good as the five accountants my maternal grandfather employs."
Uncle Zhong set down the abacuses, and his smile became timid again. "I fell ill on the road and was abandoned by my master. Without identification papers, I naturally couldn’t enter the city."
Shen Ningning studied the accounts he had prepared.
The little girl pondered for a moment before clapping her hands and making a decision. "This time, we’ll sell hot sweet water. The price will be the same as before: one tael for a large bowl."
Considering the weather was turning colder, the previous iced sugar water was no longer suitable.
’To make money, we have to adapt. In the future, we can’t just sell sweet water; we’ll have to add other things too.’
No one had any objections.
She began assigning duties to everyone. A few of the younger women would handle the work in the kitchen, while the strong, burly men would act as the shop’s Protectors.
The remaining young and clever-looking men were assigned by Shen Ningning to be waiters.
The accountant would be Uncle Zhong, and she assigned Wuer to be his assistant.
As for the steward for the entire shop, Shen Ningning chose a steady-minded older woman whom everyone called Aunt Yun.
With everything settled, they chose an auspicious date and awaited the grand opening.
Lately, Shen Ningning had more important things to do.
She would soon be reporting to the National Academy.
The little girl had previously shared the good news with the mad scholar, who was so happy he couldn’t sleep all night.
He stayed up all night writing a long summary of reading notes for Shen Ningning, reminding her to study hard at the National Academy.
At the end of October, amid the rustling autumn wind, Shen Ningning was escorted to the National Academy by Mo Lingwei.
"Brother, you really didn’t have to make a special trip to see me off. I can report on my own," Shen Ningning said to Mo Lingwei.
Outside the National Academy, there was already a long line of carriages. When the crowd saw the Crown Prince’s carriage, their eyes filled with probing curiosity.
It was only when Mo Lingwei stepped out holding Shen Ningning’s small hand that a flash of understanding appeared in their eyes.
They had long heard that Princess Funing was on excellent terms with the Crown Prince, and now they could see it was true.
"Today is your first day at the National Academy. Of course I had to come and see you off," Mo Lingwei said, glancing at the others.
He then asked, "Should I take you inside? If I put in a special word, they will treat you with even more respect."
Shen Ningning quickly waved her small hands. "That’s not necessary, Brother. You can go back. I’ll go meet my new classmates myself."
Mo Lingwei gave a slight nod, then got back into his carriage and left.
He had just left, and Shen Ningning was about to enter the National Academy when she heard the CLIP-CLOP of horse hooves approaching.
"Ningning." Xie Mingxu, sitting high on his horse, reined to a stop in front of her.
Shen Ningning immediately broke into a radiant smile. "Brother, what are you doing here?"
Xie Mingxu dismounted. "I came especially to see you, and also to bring you something Father asked me to deliver."
