Kays Translations

Chapter 164: Auditing the Accounts

The morning sun, like a shy young girl, lifted the veil of dawn in the east and slowly revealed a rosy face, scattering golden light. Xiahe Village was only just waking from the morning mist, yet Zhu Ping’an’s home was already bustling.

Today was the day Zhu Ping’an’s family was hosting the flowing banquet. Grandparents and uncles and aunts had all come over to help. Eldest Aunt and Zhu Pingjun also arrived, but Eldest Uncle, who had just returned home the day before, did not come. According to Old Master Zhu, he was at home studying. Eldest Uncle’s absence made Chen feel relieved; it was better that he didn’t come because his presence would only add to her worries.

In the countryside, preparing a flowing banquet was no simple matter. Although the villagers would not sit down to eat until around noon, preparations had begun the day before: ingredients, the venue, tables, chairs, bowls, spoons, chopsticks, and more. When his father returned from town yesterday, he had brought plenty of vegetables and fruit. That afternoon, he had the village butcher slaughter a large fat pig, sold part of it to the butcher, and kept the rest for the banquet. Some of the meat was also shared with the neighbors and Old Master Zhu’s household.

In addition, Big Brother Zhu Pingchuan had gone to the mountains to pick many kinds of mushrooms and wild vegetables, and he also caught several large fat fish, enough to place one on each table. There were also eight wild rabbits, which would be enough to add a meat dish to each table.

Early this morning, Old Master Zhu dressed neatly and led the people from the old house to help, picking vegetables, washing dishes, and so on, staying busy for the entire morning. Although Chen didn’t say much, her eyes showed warmth toward her parents-in-law.

Around nine o’clock, some women familiar with Chen brought fruits and vegetables to add to the dishes. They placed them in the kitchen and then sat down with Chen to chat for a while before rolling up their sleeves to help pick and wash vegetables, doing some of the kitchen work. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Zhu Ping’an went to Shanghe Village early that morning, but his teacher still hadn’t returned. By the time he came home, the yard was already lively. The area had a cook who specialized in village banquets, Liu Dalaba of Shanghe Village, famous throughout the surrounding villages for his fragrant cooking. He and several boys from his family were now bustling around the clay pots, cutting meat and preparing ingredients with practiced efficiency.

Around noon, the villagers gradually arrived at Zhu’s house to take their seats. Half the village was empty. In the countryside, a “banquet” is referred to as “Yan Xi,” meaning both a feast and a meal. Because there were so many people, Zhu Ping’an’s yard couldn’t hold everyone, so they decided to set up the flowing banquet in the open space outside the gate, creating a noisy scene.

“Ah, your second son has really made you proud.”

“Your Zhu family is really blessed this time.”

“He’s only thirteen and already became a xiucai. Truly impressive. Give him a few more years and who knows how far he’ll go.”

Whenever a Zhu family member walked by, the villagers would express envy or jealousy with a sentence or two.

As a result, Chen became the happiest person today, feeling proud and elated, her face glowing all day.

Do not laugh at a farmhouse’s cloudy wine; in a good harvest year, there is chicken and pork enough for guests.

Zhu Ping’an’s flowing banquet was generous, especially with the meat dishes. Fish, pork, rabbit, lamb, and more were prepared in all sorts of ways. Villagers usually splurged on meat only during festivals, and many had gone more than half a month without tasting any. Now the villagers could eat to their hearts’ content, and their endless praise for the banquet left Chen positively radiant.

Old Master Zhu also felt very proud. At this banquet, he sat with the village head and the village elder. Not only that, but the village head and elder also praised Old Master Zhu, which made him so happy that he nearly got drunk.

The banquet lasted until three or four in the afternoon before it finally ended, with everyone in high spirits.

Zhu Ping’an, Old Master Zhu, and his father stood outside the door, seeing off the villagers one by one. Chen greeted the familiar neighbors inside, dividing up the leftover dishes and fresh vegetables, and sending them home with bowls. It was a common practice in the village to give away leftovers at such events, and no one felt slighted; instead, they left happily.

By the time the sun began to set, Zhu Ping’an’s family had finally restored the yard to its usual quiet appearance, as if no banquet had been held at all.

In the evening, Zhu Ping’an took out the book he had borrowed from the Li family last time and neatly copied down the last section that he hadn’t finished copying.

The next day, after breakfast, Zhu Ping’an slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed towards Shanghe Village, intending to return the book to the Li family and borrow two more books.

As soon as he knocked on the door, Uncle Li, the doorman, opened it. He probably became more diligent since Landlord Li returned.

“Young Master Zhu is here to borrow books again! Come in, come in,” Uncle Li said.

Hearing the awkward way Uncle Li addressed him, Zhu Ping’an could only smile bitterly and gesture respectfully before stepping inside.

The study looked very different from usual. When Zhu Ping’an entered, more than a dozen sharp-looking accountants were already inside. They sat at three tables, four or five to each—some working abacuses, some reading account books, others making notes. Everyone had a task, and the rapid clacking of beads filled the room.

Landlord Li sat restlessly to one side, occasionally going over to one of the tables to check their progress.

Zhu Ping’an entered without disturbing anyone. From a distance, he bowed to Landlord Li and took the borrowed book from his bag to indicate that he had come to return it.

Distracted by the audit, Landlord Li merely waved a hand for Zhu Ping’an to make himself at home.

Zhu Ping’an quietly bypassed the accountants working on the abacuses and accounts, went over to the bookshelves, and placed the book back in its place. Then he stood in front of the shelves, looking for the books he wanted to borrow this time.

The Four Books and Five Classics were almost worn out, so this time he planned to borrow some miscellaneous books for a change.

Zhu Ping’an wandered aimlessly along the bookshelves, flipping through the books one by one. He would stop and linger for a while on any book that caught his interest, then move on to the next.

The clattering of abacuses continued from outside, never stopping. The accountants, responsible for auditing the accounts, were exhausted, having been reviewing the books for three consecutive days. Apart from a little sleep at night, they had hardly rested, yet still couldn’t find any problems with the books. With Landlord Li urging them, the accountants were growing more and more fatigued.

As Zhu Ping’an continued browsing, the scheming young girl entered the study with Hua’er, her bun-faced maid, followed by two elderly women.

“Father, have you found the problem?” the young girl asked as soon as she entered.

“Shu’er, why are you here? It’s so hot in the study. It’s much better to stay in your room. I had someone send two more basins of ice to your room,” Landlord Li said, noticing his precious daughter had entered the study, and immediately forgot about the account books.

“Father, I’m not hot. Did you find the problem with the accounts?” Li Shu twisted her body slightly, pouting as she asked.

“Cough, cough, cough, it’s almost done, almost done,” Landlord Li reassured her.

“Almost done, almost done. You said that yesterday, and nothing’s been found yet… And today it’s the same…” Li Shu pouted so hard that it looked like she could tie a bottle with it.

“You all better hurry up with the auditing, it’s not like you’re slow when collecting money!”

Seeing his precious daughter upset, Landlord Li became a bit anxious, turning to urge the accountants at the three tables behind him.

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