Chapter 9: The Accountant

Yun Zheng opened the oil paper bag, tore apart half a chicken, and offered the chicken breast meat with both hands to the elder. The elder laughed heartily, accepted it, and began to eat. Yun Zheng then tore off the chicken leg, wrapped it in lotus leaves, and prepared to take it back to Yun Jianqiang. The remaining bits of chicken meat were all given to the impatient little mouse

Upon returning home, I found Yun Er and Yun San talking under the covers, their words indistinct. The sound of barking was quite loud. Yun Zheng first tossed some dry firewood into the hearth and began to cook.

Yun San called out twice to Yun Er, and seeing that no one paid him any attention, he rested his chin on his front paws, yawned, and continued to doze off.

Only after finishing a bowl of wine did Liu Dutu raise his head to look into Yun Zheng's eyes and say: "Did you not notice any discrepancies? We are all rough people, and sometimes it is inevitable that we make mistakes in our accounts. You are a scholar; did you not discover anything amiss?"

Liu Dutu, with a face full of scruffy beard, laughed heartily and gave a heavy slap on the old man's shoulder, saying: "You old dog, what good luck you have, to have such a spirited child come out of your village; your village is bound to prosper."

The total expenditure amounts to fifty-six guan and seven hundred thirty-five wen. The storeroom still contains three tents, eleven hoes, three thousand jin of white lime, four hundred jin of coarse charcoal, eighty jin of bamboo charcoal, as well as two jars of glutinous rice wine, two dan of brown rice, and twenty-five eggs. Liu Dutu, this account only mentions these items. The young man is unaware of the unit prices of these items, hence unable to verify. Please forgive me

Yun Zheng closed the ledger and returned it to Liu Dutu with both hands. The elderly man, filled with joy, seemed somewhat restless. However, Liu Dutu continued to drink from his bowl of wine, oblivious to his surroundings. Yun Zheng remained bent over, patiently waiting for Liu Dutu to speak.

Without waiting for Yun Zheng to refuse, Liu Dutu let out a loud shout, led the constables downstairs, and once again mounted his ridiculous Dian horse, braving the light rain as he disappeared into the green mist.

Yun Er suddenly emerged from under the blanket and jumped onto Yun Zheng's back, desperately using his small arms in an attempt to strangle him. He had genuinely believed that Yun Zheng would go move stones, feeling utterly heartbroken. Who would have thought this guy was just waiting to see him make a fool of himself? It was infuriating.

Yun Zheng filled Liu Dutu's wine bowl with wine and respectfully placed it in front of him, saying: "I only heard the Dutu mention the need to verify this account book, but I did not hear anything about auditing the accounts. If the Dutu requires me to review the accounts again, I will do so with *Tu* and *Shu* right away"

I showed the same ledger to that young man from the Huo family in Guangling Village, and he actually pointed at the ledger and said I had recorded the accounts incorrectly, even offering to help me redo the bookkeeping. Damn it, I've been in this business for two generations, do I not know that three times seven is twenty-one? If I don't record it as three times seven equals twenty-eight, where will the money for my subordinates' drinks come from? Such a ledger, even the county magistrate wouldn't question it. Yet a simpleton who can barely read dares to look down on me. Studying has made him foolish; he should go carry stones in the rain to wake up. Wake up.

As he was about to leave, he looked at Yun Zheng meaningfully and said: "The meal ledger actually has no profit; when you peel back the layers, it amounts to just enough to fill your stomach. Young man, you can eat your fill, and it is only natural to bring some food back for your younger siblings at home. But if your hands get dirty, be careful, for the heavens may strike you down with thunder."

How much strength can Yun Er's little arms possess? Yun Zheng paid no attention, continuing to sit by the fire pit, stirring the vegetable soup in the earthen pot, allowing Yun Er to play around on his body.

Yun Zheng smiled and extended his hands towards Liu Dutu, saying: "Thank you for your guidance, Dutu. Look at these hands of mine; despite chopping wood every day until now, they have never been tainted by even a speck of dirt. I truly hope that when I face my end, these hands will remain as clean as they are now"

Yun Zheng looked at Yun Er strangely and said: "Who said I am going to suffer? If I can't even escape a single labor duty, then all these years in society have been in vain. In the future, refrain from saying such disgusting things."

Elder brother, are you really going to perform labor service? I heard from Aunt Bao and the others that it is very hard. I thought we wouldn't have to do labor service this year, but who knew it would still come. Can you endure it? If it really doesn't work, we can leave. Going to the big city will offer us much broader opportunities. With your skills, it won't be difficult to earn a living.

Yun Zheng continued to cook, taking out a chicken leg from his pocket, skewering it on a branch, and placing it over the fire to heat. He then handed it to Yun Er, saying: "These matters are not for you to consider. Your current task is to grow up quickly. You must not speak such heartless words in the future. A man must always take responsibility. If we leave without a word, what will happen to the elderly? Do you think those officials casually say that if one person is missing, they can just replace it with the old clan leader? We have only just managed to obtain our household registration with great difficulty; leaving now would be considered fleeing. If caught, we would be classified as military households, and the consequences would be even worse."

The freezing rain outside continues to fall at a leisurely pace, yet the chill within the bamboo house seems to have been completely dispelled by the aroma of the rice.

People in their twenties are not as understanding of human relationships and worldly affairs as a small child. Old man, I, Lao Liu, have given you face, and it is this child. This is settled. When you come to work tomorrow, come find me, and the bookkeeping task will be entrusted to him. What is his name? The surname is quite unusual.

Elder brother, I am actually quite content now, truly, it is much better than the life I used to lead. No one has ever been willing to endure hardships for me, only you, elder brother. I know that if it weren't for my burden, you wouldn't have to suffer like this, wouldn't have to move stones, and wouldn't have to struggle for that useless household registration.

Yun Er knew what kind of person Yun Zheng was, muttering a phrase under his breath before starting to gnaw on a chicken leg. One chicken leg was simply not enough for Yun Da, Yun Er, and Yun San. Yun Da only had a small piece, while the rest went into the stomachs of Yun Er and Yun San

Yun Zheng once again clasped his hands and said: "The young man’s surname is Yun, and his given name is Zheng"

Yun Er, holding a yellow dog with concern, said to Yun Zheng

Captain Liu stood up and put on a raincoat, while the other officers also got up and began to prepare to leave. The elderly man earnestly urged them to stay for dinner before departing, but Captain Liu declined, citing the late hour and his concern about not being able to return to Dou Sha Pass in time

Yun Zheng supported the elderly and sent Liu Dutu away before returning to the bamboo house. This time, the atmosphere in the bamboo house was no longer as oppressive as before. Cang Er, Xiao Shu, and three women gathered around, chattering incessantly. Only Xiao Shu looked at the lotus leaf package, drooling.

Liu Dutuo took out a lotus leaf pouch from his bosom, placed it in Yun Zheng's hand, and said with a smile: "An interesting little fellow, not bad. Here is half a chicken, as a reward for you. The emperor does not neglect his hungry soldiers."

Cang Lao wiped the oil from his mouth and said while holding Yun Zheng's hand: "Our village has finally produced a child who can replace the backbone with a pen, good, Grandpa did not misjudge you. Tomorrow, you will go with Grandpa to the Dou Sha Guan construction site, Yun Er will stay here, and the family will keep an eye on him to avoid any mishaps. The labor will last for forty days, and with your early departures and late returns, you won't be able to take care of him."

Yun Zheng once again expressed his gratitude to the elder, worried that Yun Er might encounter an accident at home alone, and hurriedly took his leave to return home