Kickbacks

Evening.

Around seven or eight o'clock.

Xu Qing walked out of his home. He was going to the Spring Breeze Pavilion today. According to what Du Luan had told him, the Spring Breeze Pavilion was now under Xu Qing's management and oversight.

Starting today.

Seventy percent of the Spring Breeze Pavilion's net profits were to be handed over to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, with the remaining thirty percent belonging to Xu Qing for his free distribution.

Xu Qing's job was to oversee the Spring Breeze Pavilion and deal with anyone who wanted to cause trouble.

In front of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Xu Qing saw the pavilion filled with candlelight and surrounded by beautiful women. He couldn't help but sigh, thinking how in just a few days, he was now the big boss of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Truly, life was unpredictable.

At this moment.

On the top floor of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Inside a room.

First of all.

Since the Spring Breeze Pavilion had come under the protection of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School and become its property, it had always been managed by the pavilion's proprietor, Hu Gongquan.

"You all need to be careful. Tonight, the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School is sending someone to oversee our Spring Breeze Pavilion. You better have some sense and absolutely do not offend this person."

Hu Gongquan was a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache. He glanced at his trusted confidantes: Sister Chunlan, the madam of the Spring Breeze Pavilion; Lu Xiaoer, the pimp of the Spring Breeze Pavilion; and Wang Dali, the head of the Spring Breeze Pavilion's enforcers.

A total of three people.

These three, along with Hu Gongquan, held the highest positions within the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Besides them.

Lan Xin, the top courtesan of the Spring Breeze Pavilion, also had some influence.

No one else mattered.

"Proprietor."

Lu Xiaoer pouted, saying dismissively, "What disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School? What is he? In my eyes, you are the real boss of the Spring Breeze Pavilion."

"Lu Xiaoer is right."

Sister Chunlan nodded.

"Proprietor, with just one word from you, I can take my men and beat that person up today, letting him know who really calls the shots in the Spring Breeze Pavilion."

Wang Dali, standing at one meter eighty, was indeed burly.

"Shut up!"

Hu Gongquan was startled, his face turning slightly pale. "You ignorant fools, that's a disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. If you dare to offend him, I'll be collecting your corpses tomorrow."

"All of you, restrain yourselves. Also, go find the accountant and have him create some fake accounts for us. You all know yourselves that we've been taking quite a few kickbacks."

"If we get discovered, we'll be stripped bare, if not killed."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"..."

Wang Dali and the others were also startled.

On the first floor of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

"This way, honored sir."

As soon as Xu Qing arrived, a scantily clad courtesan walked over with a fawning smile, took his arm, and said sweetly.

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded and followed her inside. The scene was still familiar. "Where is your proprietor? Have him come out to see me."

"Ah?!"

The scantily clad courtesan was taken aback. She looked at Xu Qing, her gaze and expression filled with surprise. "Sir, what business do you have with our proprietor?"

"Go find someone to notify your proprietor. Tell them that the person sent by the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School has arrived."

Xu Qing looked around and casually sat down on one of the chairs. "Have him come see me immediately."

"This..."

The courtesan was greatly alarmed. She didn't dare to say or ask anything further, quickly stating, "I'll go inform the proprietor right away."

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded gently.

Around them.

Some patrons looked over. Those who were closer had overheard Xu Qing's conversation with the courtesan, so they were sizing Xu Qing up with curious glances.

At the same time.

There were also some voices of discussion.

Not long after.

"Master, you're finally here. Ever since the instructions and news from yesterday were passed to me, I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival here since yesterday."

Hu Gongquan had a fawning expression on his face.

"Are you the manager of the Spring Breeze Pavilion?"

Xu Qing smiled.

"Yes, yes."

Hu Gongquan nodded. "I am the manager of the Spring Breeze Pavilion, Hu Gongquan. Of course, starting today, you are the owner of the Spring Breeze Pavilion. Whatever you say goes. In your eyes, I am nothing, less than nothing."

"Heh heh."

Xu Qing merely chuckled.

"Ah?!"

Suddenly.

Sister Chunlan, the madam, gasped. Her eyes widened, staring blankly at Xu Qing. She had just remembered why he looked so familiar.

"It... it's you!!!"

Sister Chunlan was utterly shocked.

You see.

Just a few days ago.

Xu Qing had visited the Spring Breeze Pavilion, and Sister Chunlan herself had attended to him. However, Xu Qing hadn't spent a single coin, which had angered Sister Chunlan for a long time, making the memory particularly vivid.

It was precisely because of this.

Sister Chunlan recognized Xu Qing.

Therefore.

Sister Chunlan was so shocked.

She thought to herself.

Just a few days ago, this person was a penniless beggar who couldn't afford a single coin, someone who couldn't even pay at a brothel. How embarrassing was that?

Now.

Only a few days had passed.

This beggar, whom Sister Chunlan had scorned, had transformed overnight into an official disciple of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, and had even climbed above them to become their superior.

Shocked.

Extremely shocked.

Flabbergasted.

Utterly flabbergasted.

For a moment.

Sister Chunlan couldn't quite process it.

"Chunlan, what are you fussing about?"

Hu Gongquan glared at Sister Chunlan. "Why aren't you quickly calling Lan Xin and the others over? Tonight, they will serve Master well."

"It is the blessing of their past lives that they can serve Master."

"Gulp!"

Sister Chunlan swallowed. Scolded by Hu Gongquan, she quickly snapped back to reality. "Master, there are too many people on the first floor, it's too noisy. Shall we go to a private room upstairs?"

"Alright."

Xu Qing stood up.

"Master, this way please."

Hu Gongquan respectfully led the way for Xu Qing.

In a flash.

Inside a private room on the top floor of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

In the room.

Xu Qing sat down by the bed. Beside him were already two beautiful women, sexy, alluring, and exquisitely beautiful, even exuding a natural fragrance.

Among them.

The beauty on the left, with a foxy face, was Lan Xin, the top courtesan of the Spring Breeze Pavilion. Her beauty was exceptional, her figure alluring, and she possessed the superb skill of playing the flute.

To Xu Qing's right was a beauty with an oval face, possessing a demure and cute demeanor, even giving off the impression of a refined young lady from a scholarly family.

This oval-faced beauty was named Zi Yan.

She was only a little less than the top performer.

Lan Xin peeled grapes for Xu Qing, while Zi Yan massaged his shoulders and feet.

It was truly enjoyable.

"Master."

Hu Gongquan gestured, signaling for the accountant outside to enter. Beside Hu Gongquan, Sister Chunlan, Lu Xiaoer, and Wang Dali all stood with their heads bowed respectfully.

"This is our Spring Breeze Pavilion's ledger. You can review it when you have time."

Hu Gongquan said, "If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

"Mm."

Xu Qing glanced at Lan Xin. Lan Xin paused for a moment before reacting. She looked at Hu Gongquan, then obediently brought the ledger to Xu Qing.

It had to be said.

The ledger was quite thick, detailing the Spring Breeze Pavilion's daily expenses and income. A cursory glance showed no major issues.

However.

In his previous life on Earth, Xu Qing had been the chairman of a listed company, accustomed to all sorts of storms and having dealt with countless accounting books.

Therefore.

After just a few quick glances, Xu Qing could tell that this ledger was fake, and a hastily prepared fake one at that.

"Interesting."

Xu Qing smiled and sat up straighter. He casually tossed the ledger onto the ground and swept his gaze over everyone present. "Hu Gongquan, you have quite the nerve, daring to falsify the accounts."

"How many lives do you think you have!?"

Thump!

Hu Gongquan fell to his knees.

"Master! My dear Master! You can't just say that! I've been diligent and conscientious, how could I possibly do something like falsifying accounts!"

Hu Gongquan cried out, protesting his innocence.

"Heh."

Xu Qing shook his head. He picked up the ledger and said calmly, "The Spring Breeze Pavilion's expenses last month should have been three thousand five hundred and eighty-two taels and eight wen. But you changed it to four thousand one hundred and thirty-seven taels and five wen."

"Last month's total net profit should have been two thousand five hundred and eighty-seven taels and seven wen. But you changed it to two thousand taels and five wen."

"And also."

"The month before last..."

"The month before that..."

At this moment.

Xu Qing spoke word by word. Through this hastily fabricated ledger, due to its rushed nature, many subtle clues were revealed. With these clues, combined with the specific data, Xu Qing had actually calculated the true monthly expenses and income of the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Most importantly.

It was exactly the same as what was recorded in the real ledger.

Not a single wen off.

"This... this... this..."

At this, The accountant's eyes widened. His gaze towards Xu Qing was filled with immense shock. His legs went weak, and he slumped to the ground with a thud.

In addition to him, Sister Chunlan, Wang Dali, Lu Xiaoer, as well as Lan Xin and Zi Yan, were all stunned. Their eyes were filled with awe as they looked at Xu Qing.

"Hu Gongquan, do you have anything else to say?"

Xu Qing asked with a half-smile.

"Master! My dear Master! I was wrong! I was truly wrong!!!"

Hu Gongquan no longer dared to harbor any ulterior motives.

"Tell me."

Xu Qing said calmly, "How much in kickbacks have you all taken over the past year?"

Immediately, Hu Gongquan and the others honestly confessed everything.

The Spring Breeze Pavilion had been operating for a total of three years.

For the first two years, Hu Gongquan and his associates had been relatively honest, not daring to take any kickbacks, or if they did, it was negligible. However, starting from the third year, their greed grew, and they began taking more and more kickbacks.

All in all.

Hu Gongquan and the others had taken kickbacks totaling over ten thousand and eighty taels of silver.

After it was divided up.

Hu Gongquan took the lion's share, taking half the silver, while Sister Chunlan, Lu Xiaoer, and Wang Dali split the remaining half equally among themselves.

"Whatever you ate, you're spitting it all back out," Xu Qing said calmly. "Otherwise, your corpses will be at the bottom of the river tomorrow. There's a river about twenty li west of Qingbei Town."