Chapter 5: The Third Master has someone outside!
The study was very empty and not filled with gold, silver and jewelry as Xu Chong had imagined.
Opposite the door is a desk and a chair, and against the left wall are two fully packed bookshelves.
"That's it? Is it that shameful..."
Xu Chong was greatly disappointed. He walked into the house in disbelief and picked up a booklet from the shelf.
"In the third year of Guanghe, Wuzhou was barren for 3,000 miles overnight, and the government and the public called it a punishment from heaven."
This is the opening content, and the following records the details of the disaster, such as the time, location, scope, number of people affected, etc.
"This is the handwriting of the Third Master. Why would he record this?"
Xu Chong frowned and changed to another one.
"In the 33rd year of Guanghe, the Wei River suddenly rose and flooded Yuzhou..."
Next one.
"In the eleventh year of Fengning, a thousand fires fell from the sky, the earth turned over, and the secondary capital was destroyed in an instant..."
'The thirty-ninth year of Fengning...'
'Wankang Six Years...'
Two quarters of an hour later, Xu Chong had flipped through more than forty books, all of which contained records of this kind.
"Why would the Third Master be interested in this kind of thing?"
Xu Chong was puzzled and completely lost interest in the books on the bookshelf.
At this moment, Lao Li's voice came from the door.
"Master, all the account books have been brought here. Do you want to see them now?"
"Well, move in."
Xu Chong nodded.
"Yes Yes."
Old Li's face was covered in sweat. In order to please his new master Xu Chong, he refused to let anyone help him with the account book which was as tall as a person.
"That... young master."
After finishing all this, Lao Li wiped his sweat and hesitated to speak, looking very nervous, "When I was counting just now, I found that most of the jewelry and other valuables were missing for unknown reasons..."
"Um?"
Xu Chong's face darkened: "Someone has dirty hands?"
"No, no, no."
Old Li waved his hands quickly, "If there are thieves who have taken away the valuables, they will definitely flee in a hurry, but there is no one missing in the mansion, and this old servant has already tried to investigate."
"you mean?"
Xu Chong raised his eyebrows.
"It should be the master..."
Old Li said this and glanced at Xu Chong, but didn't finish the second half of the sentence.
The meaning is very clear, Mr. Xu Sanye moved it away before he died.
"What is the value of the missing part?"
"About three thousand taels."
"How much is the remaining property and cash?"
"About, about five hundred taels."
"Is that so..."
Xu Chong pondered for a moment and waved his hand: "I know what I'm doing, you can go down."
Old Li bowed and retreated.
Now that we have discovered the existence of spiritual energy, these external things are relatively less important.
As long as the house deeds, shop deeds, etc. are still there, the Xu family will have a steady flow of money. Even if they don't exploit the people like the Third Master, they will not have to worry about food and clothing.
Xu Chong began to look through the account books.
"On May 30th, the tenth year of Yongtai, the Yipinxiang Rouge Shop in the East Market collected six taels of silver in rent, the Haokelai Wine Shop distributed 180 taels of silver in dividends, and the Liu family in the south of the city presented a pair of Ruyi as filial piety..."
'On June 30, the tenth year of Yongtai, East Market...'
'July of the tenth year of Yongtai...'
It took Xu Chong an hour to finally finish reading the entire account entry until he felt dizzy .
Apart from learning about the Xu family's income, nothing else was discovered.
It can be said that it is extremely clean. Apart from collecting rent and distributing dividends, it is all legitimate business.
Occasionally some businessmen would give gifts, which was considered a little bit close.
"Master San is very cautious. He won't record any illegal activities?"
Xu Chong rubbed his temples, took a short rest, and then looked through the billing part.
"On May 30, the tenth year of Yongtai, the master entertained his colleagues in the county government and took out 290 taels of silver."
"On June 30th of the tenth year of Yongtai, the master went out to visit a friend and took out 400 taels of silver and a pair of auspicious dragon jade pendants."
'July of the tenth year of Yongtai...'
After another hour, Xu Chong was completely speechless.
According to the account books, over the years, whenever there was a large amount of income in the mansion, most of it would be taken away by the Third Master on the same day.
Either entertain colleagues or listen to music in brothels.
Also, when you go out to visit friends, it is understandable that you bring antiques and curios, but why would you bring hundreds of taels of silver?
Is this friend serious?
Combined with the fact that most of his jewelry and valuables suddenly disappeared, Xu Chong instinctively had an idea.
The Third Master has someone outside.
As soon as this thought came to his mind, Xu Chong became certain of it.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain such a huge expense.
Could so-called banquets and music listening cost that much in a small county?
Maybe he even has an illegitimate child.
"No wonder in my original memory, I never saw Third Master have any thoughts of coaxing her. Feelings are not unique."
Xu Chong touched his neck and suddenly felt that his original self was really pitiful.
When he came through, he was hanging on the beam.
In other words, the original body committed suicide by hanging himself.
There is no need to guess the reason. Caught between the people and the Third Master, with loyalty on one side and filial piety on the other, it is difficult to have both.
Thinking about it now, it’s really not worth it.
However, he had no intention of digging deeper and finding the mistress to take back the family property.
He has already taken over the body of the Third Master's son, so it would be too much to bully his mistress.
After leaving the study, Xu Chong thought about it and decided to lock the door again.
Although I haven't discovered any secret, what if there is one?
It was soon time for dinner.
In the huge dining hall, the table was filled with more than a dozen delicious dishes that made Xu Chong drool.
This was a feast that he could never have imagined after traveling through time.
While Xu Chong admonished Lao Li not to be too extravagant, he ate until his stomach was bloated.
Old Li bowed beside him and reported on the affairs of the mansion.
The two maids of the Third Master chose to take the money and leave. They didn't ask for much, just the indenture plus twenty taels, which was within an acceptable range.
In addition, the mourning hall for the Third Master was also built.
All the partners that had business dealings with the Xu family sent valuable gifts as a token of condolence, thus filling the empty treasury again.
Xu Chong understood it after a little thought.
The common people are afraid of corrupt officials, and the powerful are afraid of honest officials. This has been the case since ancient times.
But I can't tolerate any grain of sand in my eyes. Without a legitimate reason, those businessmen dare not even give me gifts.
Paying condolences to the Third Master right now is the only chance to leave a good impression on me.
"Give the order. I don't care what Xu Youan did in the past, and I can't control it."
Xu Chong put down his bowl and chopsticks and said in a deep voice: "But from now on, everyone, please be clean and don't forget what I, the Dianshi, am responsible for."
"Yes, yes, don't worry, sir."
The feeling of being intimidating without being angry made Lao Li naturally change the way he addressed him.
To be honest, he even felt that the pressure of serving Xu Chong was much greater than that of serving Xu Youan.
I get scared at the slightest thing.
At this time, the doorman came to report that Wang Hezhi, the instructor of the county school, had arrived.
"Master is here? Please go to the front hall quickly and I will serve you some good tea."
Despite feeling uncomfortable, Xu Chong immediately stood up and changed his clothes.
After three months of getting along, he had already developed a deep respect for Teacher Wang.
This is partly because Teacher Wang is upright but not pedantic, and he embodies the unity of knowledge and action.
The other part was that Teacher Wang had a very high status, and both the county magistrate and the third master gave him face.
I don’t know why .
Soon, Xu Chong, who had changed into a brocade suit, saw Teacher Wang pacing back and forth in the front hall, looking anxious.
A little old man with white hair and beard.
"I am late, please forgive me, Master."
Xu Chong smiled and bowed as he approached.
The old man looked up, his face immediately filled with anger, and he grabbed Xu Chong's ear.
"You are confused!"
