Chapter 20

Qiu Jinning’s movements paused. She took a shallow sip. “Father was right. The taste is excellent. Thank you for your concern, Miss Qin. My health has improved considerably.”

She had not originally planned to drink, but her father did not know the inside story and had told her several times to have a taste.

Moreover, this was new wine Qin Chu had brewed with her own hands. For some reason, Qiu Jinning wanted to taste a little of it. Divine Physician Han had said that since she was currently in the early stage of being affected by the gu, drinking wine would not have much effect as long as she sobered up in time.

“Then… be careful.” Qin Chu’s voice trembled slightly, unable to hide her worry.

Her health had improved considerably? Why did Qin Chu not believe that? Didn’t Qiu Jinning still have to meet her every day?

Could it be that Qiu Jinning liked wine? She couldn’t even resist a single cup? Qin Chu had never heard that.

Qiu Jinning nodded lightly, and there was nothing more for the two of them to say.

County Magistrate Qiu, who was sitting beside Qiu Jinning, lowered his brows slightly and looked back and forth between the two of them.

Between his daughter and Eldest Miss Qin… there seemed to be something there.

A few steps away, Eldest Young Master Gu’s expression shifted slightly. Qin Chu and Qiu Jinning did not seem simple. It seemed he had to test them and feel out the Qiu residence’s intentions. He immediately gave a few instructions to his third sister.

Very soon, another wine merchant agreed on the spot to switch to the new wine. Qin Chu’s spirits rose. They began replacing the contracts on the spot, and Steward Qin hurriedly brought out an iron abacus.

“Miss, use this. It calculates faster.”

Qin Chu glanced at the abacus. “I don’t really know how to use an abacus. No need.”

For this kind of simple double conversion, mental math was enough. Why would she need to rely on an abacus?

Besides, she really did not know how to use one very well.

Ever since she had heard her elder brother’s instructions, Gu San had been staring at this side. Vaguely hearing Qin Chu say she did not know how to use an abacus, she immediately stood up and asked, “Eldest Miss Qin, you don’t know how to use an abacus?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?” Qin Chu kept a straight face.

After confirming that Gu San loved making trouble for the original [unauthorized copy]owner, Qin Chu had recently been avoiding her whenever possible. She did not intend to waste time on those meaningless petty arguments.

She was not idle. She had no time to accompany Gu San in a fight every single time.

Was there a problem? The problem was huge!

Gu San seemed to have caught hold of something and raised her voice. “You don’t know how to use an abacus, yet you get full marks in arithmetic every time. Did you cheat?”

County Magistrate Qiu happened to be present. This time, she would expose Cripple Qin’s true face. Someone who dared cheat on the county school’s monthly exam—what right did she have to say that the most important thing in business was “honesty”? Who would believe her?

The scene suddenly went silent. Everyone’s eyes could not help falling on them.

The Qin family’s good-for-nothing Eldest Miss got full marks in arithmetic every time? And now her classmate was questioning whether she cheated in such a setting?

Now there was a good show to watch.

The first small wine merchant who had decided to switch to the new wine was poked again with a folding fan by the person beside him.

“Master, what are your instructions?”

“After this, investigate the relationship between the Qin family and the Gu family.” The brocade-clad young man narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on Qin Chu.

The Qin family’s good-for-nothing Eldest Miss, was she? Although one of her legs was lame, her posture was straight. Her speech and bearing did not seem shallow, and there was also that table-style bookkeeping method. Interesting.

The beer was not bad either. Bringing it back to the palace might win some clever favor. His trip to Jiuqu County this time had not been in vain. Perhaps there would even be an unexpected gain.

Seeing everyone look over, Qin Chu’s expression darkened slightly. “Has Third Miss Gu never heard of something called mental calculation? Besides, I’m not used to using an abacus. No matter how large the numbers are, I can calculate the answer with a pen and a sheet of paper. Is that not allowed?”

She had not gone looking for trouble, but trouble insisted on coming to her. That meant the other party lacked sense.

Gu San’s face flushed red. “I don’t believe you. You must have cheated. Without an abacus, how could you possibly calculate the answer with just a sheet of paper and a pen?”

At a time like this, she could not feel guilty. The one who should be guilty was Cripple Qin. Who was she trying to bluff?

The reason Gu San did poorly in arithmetic was because calculation was too difficult. If she were allowed to use an abacus during the exam, maybe she could also get full marks.

Everyone in the hall stared at them. They did not believe it either. Mental calculation for small numbers was one thing, but how could large numbers be handled without an abacus? Eldest Miss Qin was boasting too much.

Seeing this, Eldest Young Master Gu stood up with considerable grace, cupped his hands to everyone, and smiled. “My third sister has a straightforward nature. Please excuse her. Matters from the county school should not be argued about here. Otherwise, if someone speaks wildly, it may be difficult to end things properly. Miss Qin need not pay it any mind.”

He was certain Qin Chu was talking big.

“Who are you saying is speaking wildly? Young Master Gu, why not make your words clear? I don’t quite understand.” Qin Chu sneered. Today, she would settle this clearly.

She had a good temper, but why should she indulge these two siblings?

Eldest Young Master Gu could no longer smile. “Miss Qin, this one has already apologized on behalf of my sister.”

If she kept pursuing the matter, she would not know when to advance or retreat. Who was he talking about? Of course he was talking about her. As for who would have difficulty ending things, everyone could see it.

Qin Chu held the brush, her expression unchanged. “Is that so? Saying that I spoke wildly counts as apologizing on her behalf? Young Master Gu, you must be mistaken. You need to say that she was wrong, that she was the one who spoke wildly. Only then does it count as an apology.”

Feeling the cold aura around Qin Chu, Qiu Jinning pursed her lips and looked at County Magistrate Qiu. “Father, the court document.”

The court’s commendation document had already been approved. [unauthorized copy]Announcing it now would be just right.

First, it would shut Gu San and the others’ mouths. Second, it would restore Qin Chu’s name.

County Magistrate Qiu knew what his daughter was reminding him of, but he chose to pretend not to understand. “Oh, I seem to have forgotten to bring it. Next time.”

He also wanted to personally witness Qin Chu’s abilities. He wanted to know why his daughter treated this Eldest Miss Qin differently.

If Eldest Miss Qin wanted to establish herself in the business world, how could it be so easy? If she could not even handle this small trouble, then how could she talk about taking over the family business?

A wise person who took over a family business could bring it to greater heights. A foolish person would only ruin it in her own hands.

He wanted to see whether the Qin family would rise to another level, stop where it was, or even decline in the future.

Master Qin had been shrewd his whole life. This time, daring to hand the family business to his daughter—was it a bold attempt, or was he confident because he already knew what she could do?

However, the Gu family’s intentions were rather obvious this time, County Magistrate Qiu thought.

With the atmosphere pushed to this point, the Gu family could no longer retreat. Seeing that County Magistrate Qiu and his daughter were still watching from the sidelines, seemingly unwilling to interfere, Eldest Young Master Gu relaxed slightly. “Miss Qin, there is no need to be so aggressive. This one can apologize, but I cannot go against my conscience either.”

Meaning, he had apologized, but he could not admit just for the sake of apologizing that Qin Chu had not cheated, nor admit that his sister had been speaking wildly.

He, naturally, was certain Qin Chu was boasting.

Hearing this, Qin Chu smiled. “Since Young Master Gu and your sister are certain that I will have difficulty ending this, then why not let everyone see who exactly will find it hard to end things? Steward Qin, bring paper. Everyone present is a senior in the business world. Why not test me? All talk and no practice is just empty show. Facts speak louder than words, don’t they?”

Steward Qin did not dare say a single word, afraid he would say the wrong thing. Hearing the instruction, he obeyed and quickly went to bring a stack of white paper.

“Then let’s test you. Just don’t cheat,” Gu San said, refusing to show weakness. At a time like this, she could not show weakness.

Qin Chu did not even glance at her and only looked toward the crowd. “Which senior is willing to instruct me?”

Inside the hall, it was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. No one answered.

Children fighting—these old hands getting involved was inappropriate. Besides, the Qin family was the richest in the county, and the Gu family was related to the county magistrate by marriage. Offending either side would not be worth it.

At this moment, the brocade-clad young man beside the small wine ​read the original at bailiantales.com​merchant snapped open his folding fan and stood. “This Zhou Er is unworthy, but let me take the lead and experience Eldest Miss Qin’s abilities.”

He was very curious just how capable the person who had thought of such an ingenious method as table-style bookkeeping really was.

“Please enlighten me.” Seeing someone respond, Qin Chu dipped her brush in ink and prepared seriously.

“What is one hundred twenty-four plus three hundred eighty-five?”

Qin Chu’s brush tip trembled. She had thought it would be something difficult. This kind of addition and subtraction was far too simple. After a brief thought, she said, “Five hundred and nine.”

She did not even need to use the brush.

Seeing her answer so quickly, everyone looked toward the brocade-clad young man who called himself Zhou Er.

Zhou Er shook his folding fan. “Why are you looking at me? The one holding the abacus, calculate whether it is right.” He had only casually spoken some numbers. How would he know whether it was right?

Steward Qin, who was holding the abacus, froze for a moment, then hurriedly lowered his head and worked the abacus. “It is five hundred and nine.”

When everyone heard this, they all looked at Qin Chu sideways. Eldest Miss Qin had some quick wit. In the blink [bailiantales.com]of an eye, she could think of the answer.

However, were they sure this Zhou Er was not planted there to help her?

Eldest Young Master Gu had the same thought. He immediately walked over and took the abacus from Steward Qin. “This Brother Zhou’s question is too simple. Miss Qin, listen carefully. Four hundred eighty-six dan of rice are sold to three people. Each dan of rice costs one hundred seventy wen. How much must each person pay?”

Qin Chu lifted her brush. As she wrote out the vertical calculation, she quickly answered, “Four hundred eighty-six dan divided among three people is one hundred sixty-two dan each. Each dan is one hundred seventy wen, so that is twenty-seven thousand five hundred forty wen. One thousand wen equals one tael of silver, so that is twenty-seven taels and five hundred forty wen.”

By the time she finished speaking, Eldest Young Master Gu’s abacus was still clicking. Only a step later did it stop.

Everyone looked up at the abacus. “How much? Was she right?”

Eldest Young Master Gu held the abacus, his hands trembling slightly.

She was actually right!

Faster than him using the abacus. This was impossible!

“Elder Brother, did she get it right? Say something!” Gu San was anxious. She wished she could snatch the [unauthorized copy]abacus over and personally make Qin Chu look bad.

Eldest Young Master Gu’s face was dark. His lips were pressed tightly into a line, and he still said nothing.

Everyone present was used to moving in business circles. Their ability to read expressions was naturally not poor. Seeing Eldest Young Master Gu’s expression, they knew Qin Chu had calculated correctly again.

For a moment, everyone’s expressions varied. They all said the Qin family had no worthy successor, that both son and daughter were good-for-nothings. But what now?

Eldest Miss Qin’s skill in arithmetic was so high that perhaps no one present could match her.

Gu San also reacted, and her expression instantly turned ugly. The question had been randomly asked by her elder brother, and the answer had also been verified by her elder brother with the abacus. Qin Chu could not have cheated. But how was this possible?

This result was even harder to accept than apologizing aloud herself.

Having watched enough of the drama, County Magistrate Qiu stood up at the right moment and said clearly, “Some days ago, this official selected several students skilled in arithmetic from the county school to help count the storeroom inventory. Qin Chu, a student of Class C, not only completed the task the fastest, but also independently created a table-style bookkeeping method. This method is simple and useful. The court intends to promote its use and has issued a commendation document for this, granting Qin Chu the scholarly rank of xiucai. Qin Chu, receive the document.”