Chapter 34: Utterly Shocked

Qin Yuan’s dowry shops are not in very good locations, scattered across several corners of the West Market, with only one near the stalls, but it’s very small and can’t handle big business.

Gu Shiliu pondered about mentioning this to the Marquis casually when he returned.

Looking at these shops, Qin Yuan was quite satisfied.

Compared to the previous life, it was already much better.

The shop managers inside were all old hands arranged by Mrs. Cui, treating her with utmost respect, yet lacking some loyalty.

Qin Yuan didn’t mind.

After hearing a bit from them, Qin Yuan asked for the years-old account books to browse through.

If Qin Wan had these shops, the dowry matrons would naturally help manage them, not requiring her to come in person to inspect the shops and face the managers.

But Qin Yuan only had two maids growing up together by her side.

Cui Ming and Hong Ye hadn’t been through any hardships, looking young and naive, so she had to handle it all personally.

After browsing the account books, Qin Yuan already had an idea.

She asked Gu Shiliu, "Do you know if Meixiang House is nearby?"

Gu Shiliu was taken aback, "Madam, do you want to eat their pastries?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Gu Shiliu said, "It’s not far, their Furong Cake, mung bean cake, and cloud cake are all quite good. Haven’t been there for some days, don’t know if they have any new products."

Qin Yuan said, "Why don’t you help me make a trip? Select a few popular ones, but Furong Cake is necessary. If you know what the Old Madam likes, even better."

Gu Shiliu enthusiastically agreed.

He had already thought about how to say it to the Marquis to make him happy.

The Marquis grew up in a wealthy environment, fighting in the military as a teenager, and was indifferent to money, very generous and extravagant.

Gu Shiliu wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity.

Once Gu Shiliu left, Qin Yuan heavily put down the account book in her hands, coldly saying to the managers, "Redo these account books, hand them over to the Marquis Mansion in three days, and if I find any flaws again, you won’t need to manage these shops anymore, just go work for the Qin Family."

Seeing their evasive eyes and doubtful expressions, Qin Yuan knew they didn’t believe she’d spotted any tricks in these account books, just thought she was bluffing to scare them.

"Here, here, in these few places, there’s a discrepancy between the total accounts and sub-accounts, small accumulations over time, who knows how much silver has leaked out, can’t even balance the account books, how can I trust you? Do you think the accountant at the Marquis Mansion can’t find out?"

Qin Yuan’s tactic left them utterly shocked.

Few women know abacus, even fewer are good at mental calculation, just with a glance, Qin Yuan spotted the issues in the account books, truly surprising.

Bringing up the Marquis Mansion made them more cautious.

Leading Manager Wu trembled as he stood up, with a trembling hand he picked up the account book, the goatee on his chin shaking uncontrollably, rasping, "We’ll rework the account books, it’s just that so many years’ worth might take some time to check, please grant us a few more days, Marchioness."

The other managers chimed in, smiling, "The issues with recent account books aren’t too big, but the old ones are hard to redo. The record of this year’s transactions is clear, the young clerks were careless, made several transcription errors, but we check carefully during yearly reconciliation, otherwise Mrs. Qin wouldn’t have let us manage the shops all this time."

Qin Yuan drank tea for a while before slowly saying, "Since that’s the case, organize this year’s account books thoroughly first, you’ve settled old ones with the accounting at Qin Mansion, I won’t pursue them further, but from now on, be extremely cautious, don’t make any more mistakes."

Manager Wu hurriedly took the lead in promising, "Rest assured, Madam, it’ll be like that, we quickly handed them over because you urgently needed them, won’t happen again."

After intimidating them, Qin Yuan then asked, "How much money can the shops mobilize now?"

The managers conferred together before finally revealing some numbers.

Combined, it totaled just five hundred taels of silver.

Qin Yuan knew they feared she would withdraw the silver, affecting the shops’ operation, and surely concealed some, but didn’t expect the amount to deviate so far from what she thought.

Five hundred taels of silver could buy only about ten pounds of pepper.

Seeing her frown, Manager Wu asked, "Is there some urgent need for Madam to allocate the silver?"

Qin Yuan didn’t hide from him, "I intend to stockpile some pepper."

Manager Wu hurriedly said, "That stuff is extremely precious, Madam buys it and sells it, but it’s hard to sell, ordinary families wouldn’t use it."

Manager Lin asked, "Madam, did you receive some news?"

The other managers responded, thinking Qin Yuan might have gotten some news since marrying into the Marquis Mansion.

Seeing the hopeful looks on their faces, Qin Yuan casually said, "Not really, a few days ago I dreamed that pepper prices soared in the Capital City, couldn’t buy it anywhere, many affluent families couldn’t use pepper for sacrificial meat, worried about their ancestors blaming them."

Manager Lin was a bit disappointed, smiled a bit, "How can that be an accurate dream? Madam might not know, pepper used to come from the Western Regions, always sold dearly, in recent years, Western merchants bring less and less pepper."

"It was a rarity, and now even more so. Now, roast meat shops have started using other spices as substitutes, or else few customers could afford to eat. But someone has already explored that there are many places producing pepper in the West Fan Country along overseas routes, and is raising capital to sail and bring pepper back, so it’s uncertain whether the price will rise or fall."

Manager Wu also said, "It’s crucial to be careful, Madam buys too much and can’t use it, storing it risks depreciation when market changes, ordinary families wouldn’t touch this, only wealthy families might use it."

Qin Yuan thought for a while, then said, "I dreamt vividly, you might as well help me find out where pepper is sold in larger quantities, scattered purchases with uneven quality make it hard to negotiate a price."

Manager Wu had no choice but to agree.

They all showed disapproval in their eyes.

Qin Yuan noticed it, then said, "I won’t call upon the five hundred taels, allowing you to rotate and restock, but the account books must be redone. If inspections later reveal shop issues, don’t blame me for using the Marquis Mansion’s ties to send you all to the Capital Governor Mansion."

They all breathed a sigh of relief, repeatedly saying they wouldn’t dare.

Manager Lin suddenly said, "I heard there’s a Persian merchant in the West Market whose elderly mother is sick, planning to close shop and return home, I’ll inquire if he has any pepper stored."

Qin Yuan nodded, "Then I’ll trouble you."

Gu Shiliu had already returned with the pastries, carrying several packages, hanging them on his arm, he asked in surprise, "Madam wants to buy pepper?"