Chapter 106: Account Audit

The next day, the marketplace.

Senior Sister Yuan strolled casually between the stalls, occasionally glancing at the prices of goods in the shops.

She wore a veil over her face; behind the veil, her eyes and brows were hazy and indistinct, making it impossible to discern her true appearance, and even her figure seemed somewhat altered.

As the manager of the marketplace, she actually cared deeply about this duty and came to patrol the market every day.

Partly for leisure, and partly, of course, to see if there were any instances of monopolizing trade or bullying in the market.

Wearing the veil was also to prevent anyone with ulterior motives from recognizing her identity and fabricating things.

Today's market felt a little off to her; it seemed there was something more than usual.

As for where exactly it was off, Senior Sister Yuan couldn't quite figure it out for the moment.

"Golden Armor Talismans! Mystic-grade Golden Armor Talismans!"

"Hand-drawn by Zheng Shidi, the number one talisman artist of ten thousand years!"

"Even if you don't use them, buying them to study and learn is worthwhile!"

Hearing the words "Zheng Shidi," Senior Sister Yuan couldn't help but look toward the source of the shouting.

Beside a somewhat remote stall, Han Qi stood straight, shouting at the top of his lungs with great effort to attract passing customers.

The two lackeys beside him did the same; the three of them, their voices filled with passion, combined to drown out the hawking of others in the market, drawing extreme attention even in the noisy and bustling marketplace.

Let alone the customers, even the other vendors nearby were all looking at the three of them.

A fair number of customers had gathered in front of the trio's stall.

Especially compared to the desolate scene in front of other talisman stalls, the business of Han Qi and his two companions appeared much better.

Senior Sister Yuan finally understood: what was more abundant in today's market was this extremely work-motivated shouting!

She couldn't help but move closer.

The stall of Han Qi and his two companions wasn't entirely filled with mystic-grade talismans drawn by Zheng Fa.

They had somehow acquired some low-value yellow-grade talismans to sell alongside them.

"Buy one mystic-grade talisman, and we'll give you three yellow-grade talismans for free!"

Han Qi shouted to the onlookers.

The surrounding customers whispered quietly for a moment, clearly all somewhat tempted.

"One mystic-grade talisman drawn by Zheng Shidi! And you get three extra yellow-grade talismans!" Seeing their reaction, Han Qi increased his intensity: "If we didn't treat you brothers and sisters as family, we wouldn't offer this price! Once this village is gone, there won't be this shop!"

Whether it was because of Zheng Fa's reputation or because of the three free yellow-grade talismans, a cultivator couldn't resist and bought three mystic-grade talismans.

Han Qi happily put away a spirit stone, and upon looking up, saw Senior Sister Yuan standing right in front of him.

"Does this Xiao Xianzi have anything she desires?" Han Qi greeted enthusiastically: "Take a look, these are all drawn by our Jiushan Sect's most famous genius, Zheng Shidi!"

"Is this your stall?"

"No!" Han Qi shook his head, half explaining and half boasting: "This is Zheng Shidi's stall; otherwise, how could we get Zheng Shidi's talismans?"

"So you are working for him?"

"Of course! This Xiao Xianzi, what talisman do you wish to buy?"

Han Qi answered loudly and even followed up with a question.

"... Working for him so hard? The entire marketplace can hear your shouting!" Looking at Han Qi, whose face still showed a hint of pride, Senior Sister Yuan snorted.

"?" Han Qi felt something was off with these words and carefully sized up Senior Sister Yuan.

Senior Sister Yuan removed her veil.

"Yuan..."

"Shut up!" Putting the veil back on, Senior Sister Yuan frowned at the three of them: "When you three work for me, it's not like this."

"..."

"Selling a book, raising the price without authorization!"

"Doing a task, making excuses and dragging your feet!"

"No major crimes, but constant minor mistakes!"

The more Senior Sister Yuan spoke, the angrier she became.

Han Qi and the other two hung their heads, daring not to speak.

"If you had been like this earlier, I could have... never mind!"

Saying this, Senior Sister Yuan paused; after a long moment, she waved her hand, feeling it was pointless anyway.

She merely felt that the three of them had changed too quickly, making her look unpopular, as if she couldn't compare to Zheng Fa.

Han Qi raised his head and asked earnestly: "Then, Senior Sister Yuan, do you want to buy a talisman?"

"?"

Zheng Fa always felt that Senior Sister Yuan's gaze at him was a bit off.

As soon as he went up to the second floor, he felt that this senior sister kept staring at him; in her gaze, besides a hidden anger, there was actually a rare look of contemplation—rare because Zheng Fa had almost never seen the word "thinking" on her face.

"Senior Sister Yuan? Is there something wrong with Junior Brother's face?"

He couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"It's not you who's wrong, but I'm about to be wrong!" Senior Sister Yuan seemed to snap back to reality, pouting: "You must teach me quickly!"

"Ah?"

"What 'ah'? Didn't Han Qi tell you? Senior Sister Zhang is coming tonight to check the accounts."

"Checking the accounts, I know that." Zheng Fa was stunned: "I've already organized the account books."

For this past month, he had come to the marketplace every day to help Senior Sister Yuan calculate the accounts.

These account books were merely somewhat tedious, but not difficult; Zheng Fa felt he had calculated them quite clearly.

"Is Senior Sister really checking the accounts? She's checking on me!" Senior Sister Yuan looked somewhat dejected: "Senior Sister stopped managing the accounts before, and said I, the market manager, am incompetent, wanting to replace me with someone else."

Zheng Fa couldn't help but nod slightly.

"... Why are you nodding?" Senior Sister Yuan's eyes widened, then she seemed to remember she was asking a favor, softening her tone: "I boasted to Senior Sister that handling these account books is a piece of cake for me!"

"... So?"

Zheng Fa began to understand what Senior Sister Yuan meant.

"So, I didn't tell Senior Sister Zhang about you helping me calculate the accounts... Senior Sister Zhang thinks I'm the one managing all the accounts."

... So I was originally an outsourced worker?

However, Zheng Fa didn't mind much; this job was indeed a bit tiring.

But compared to the reward of five Spirit Stones a month, it seemed very easy.

Han Qi had once told him that when shops in the market hired accountants, earning one Spirit Stone in three months was already considered generous by the Shopkeeper.

A somewhat inapt analogy: a street-sweeping cleaner does indeed work hard, but if the monthly wage were thirty thousand instead of three thousand, let alone feeling tired, one could even develop a sense of professional pride, self-styling oneself a 'City Beautifier'.

In terms of Spirit Stones, Senior Sister Yuan had not only treated him fairly but had given far too much!

Zheng Fa decided to return the favor.

"Then what does Senior Sister mean?"

"Tell me the important numbers in these account books..." Senior Sister Yuan pleaded: "Otherwise, when Senior Sister Zhang asks me later, I'll know nothing and get exposed."

So she wanted to cram for the exam at the last minute.

"That's simple."

Zheng Fa took out several account books, spread them open in front of Senior Sister Yuan, and pointed out some important data from this month to her.

Senior Sister Yuan memorized quickly—for a cultivator, arithmetic might not be their strong suit, but memory is rarely poor.

Zheng Fa's thorough instruction greatly boosted Senior Sister Yuan's confidence; she seemed to feel she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of Senior Sister Zhang this time.

"Alright, leave early later!" She patted Zheng Fa's shoulder and instructed: "So Senior Sister Zhang doesn't see you and get suspicious."

"Afraid I'll see something?"

Senior Sister Zhang's voice came from downstairs.

Zheng Fa felt the muscles in Senior Sister Yuan's hand, which was patting his shoulder, go stiff; it hurt him.

She looked at Zheng Fa urgently, four words written on her face—act according to the situation.

Senior Sister Zhang slowly walked up the stairs.

She glanced at Zheng Fa; there wasn't much surprise in her eyes, but she turned her head to say to Senior Sister Yuan: "Is there anything I shouldn't see?"

"..." Senior Sister Yuan gave a dry laugh, then suddenly said with quick wit: "I was afraid Senior Sister would see Zheng Shidi coming to play. This place is after all where the market's account books are kept; ordinary people shouldn't be coming in..."

Senior Sister Zhang looked deeply at Senior Sister Yuan, her gaze flicking toward Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa sighed inwardly, but still nodded under Senior Sister Yuan's anxious gaze.

"Are the account books organized?" Senior Sister Zhang didn't pursue the matter further, simply asking Senior Sister Yuan.

"Senior Sister, you're here a bit early," Senior Sister Yuan muttered, then claimed credit: "But I have already finished organizing the account books!"

Having spoken, she carried over the account books Zheng Fa had organized and placed them before Senior Sister Zhang.

Senior Sister Zhang lowered her head, flipping through page by page at incredible speed.

Senior Sister Yuan, standing aside, stole glances at the expression on her face.

"Well done." After looking through a few books, Senior Sister Zhang put them down, nodded to Senior Sister Yuan, and spoke with a gentle expression.

Joy appeared on Senior Sister Yuan's face.

"What is the market's income for this month?"

"One thousand two hundred and thirty-six Spirit Stones."

Senior Sister Yuan spoke with a pleased expression, her face showing the joy of having guessed the question correctly.

"How much is the rent?"

"Rent is nine hundred and fifty-five Spirit Stones; of which stall rent is two hundred and thirty, market rent is two hundred and seventy, and large shop rent is four hundred and fifty-five."

Senior Sister Yuan answered fluently, her voice growing more and more confident.

Zheng Fa was also thinking inwardly about the meaning of these figures.

There are roughly six or seven hundred stalls in the market, about a hundred small shops, and the large shops opened by various great sects number at least a dozen.

But the bulk of the rent actually comes from those large shops.

For a general stall, like the one Zheng Fa currently occupies, it costs roughly one Spirit Stone every three months.

But a shop averages two or three Spirit Stones a month.

The rent for large shops is even more expensive.

The market's income includes not only rent but also transaction taxes; the tax rates for various goods differ—but compared to shop rent, these are a minor portion.

Senior Sister Zhang nodded slightly, seeming quite satisfied: "You have put your heart into this."

A smile of pride naturally appeared on Senior Sister Yuan's face.

"How does the market's income compare to last month?" Senior Sister Zhang asked again.

"Ah?"

Senior Sister Yuan turned her head blankly to look at Zheng Fa.

Oh no, I didn't review last month's data!

"You speak."

Senior Sister Zhang pointed at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment and said: "Last month, the market's income was one thousand two hundred and ninety-five Spirit Stones; this month, the market's income has dropped by about half a percent."

Senior Sister Zhang said nothing, simply watching the two of them silently, while Senior Sister Yuan's face was full of shame.

"From now on, you will manage the market." She suddenly pointed at Zheng Fa and said.

Hearing that Zhang Shijie wanted to promote him, Zheng Fa's first thought was—refuse!

She's joking, right? Zhang Shijie acts on impulse, without considering consequences.

How can a Foundation Establishment Layer Two cultivator make the disciples of the market obey him?

Yuan Shijie pouted her lips and gently lowered her head.

Since Zheng Fa arrived, it seemed everyone liked him more.

Han Qi and the other two became more diligent.

Zhang Shijie also clearly trusted Zheng Fa more this time.

Although she knew she herself had been lazy.

She also knew Zheng Fa possessed extraordinary talent; in truth, she was willing to care for him a bit more.

But being outshone by Zheng Fa twice in one day still left her feeling somewhat disappointed.

This junior brother Zheng... could it be he practices the Charm Art?

"Zhang Shijie, actually, all this data was told to me by Yuan Shijie when we chatted before." She suddenly heard Zheng Fa's voice, jerked her head up, and saw Zheng Fa saying to Zhang Shijie: "Yuan Shijie was merely being tested by you, Zhang Shijie, and was too nervous to remember."

Yuan Shijie looked at Zheng Fa, feeling that this face, which was not particularly handsome to begin with, became more and more attractive the longer she looked...