Stirring Up Trouble

Zhou Kui'er glanced at her father and stepped forward as well. "This servant is willing too."

Zhao Ruxi then said to Zhou Chun, "If you feel this is inappropriate, you can go back and discuss it. You must give me an answer by tomorrow."

Zhou Chun simply hadn't expected that a woman could also work as an accountant, and since it involved his daughter, he wanted to find out more.

Seeing that his daughter was willing, he didn't object anymore. "Since Kui'er has made her choice, I will not interfere further."

Zhao Ruxi looked at the two women. "Being a bookkeeper might affect your marriage prospects in the future. Have you thought it through? If you can't decide right now, that's okay. You can give me your answer tomorrow."

Some men care a lot about whether their wives are out in the public eye, and whether they earn more money or are more capable than them. Therefore, if both of them work as accountants, their options for marriage will be much narrower. She needs to make this clear to both of them.

"I've thought it through, and I'm willing to be the accountant," Yunjin replied before Zhou Kui'er could.

Zhou Kui'er quickly added, "I've thought it through, and I'm willing."

Zhao Ruxi said to Zhou Chun, "Kui'er, this matter isn't urgent. Your family can discuss it tonight, and inform Ma Sheng of the results tomorrow."

"Yes." Zhou Chun bowed.

Zhao Ruxi looked at the other four, about to speak, when Yunjin suddenly knelt on the ground. "This servant begs Your Majesty to bestow a name upon me. My current name is the maid's name given to me by my former master. Now that I have a new master, I cannot keep my old name. Please, Your Majesty, bestow a name upon me."

"What was your original name? You're an accountant now, so you can use your original name."

Yunjin shook her head. "I was sold when I was five years old. I only remember being called Fifth Sister when I was little, but I don't know my surname. Since my parents sold me, I have no connection with them anymore. Whatever name you bestow upon me, Miss, I will be called."

During the training, Zhao Ruxi greatly admired this woman. She was clear-headed, resolute, hardworking, and very clear about what she wanted.

"Would you like to take the surname Zhao?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

Yunjin looked up in surprise, then kowtowed. "Thank you for your kindness, Miss. This servant is willing."

Being bestowed with the surname of one's master was a great honor for a servant. For example, the head steward of a household was often given a surname and named An. Liu Quan, the steward of the Earl of Suiping's Residence, was an exception.

Zhao Ruxi was terrible at naming people, and the thing she found most difficult was naming others. She first gave Yunjin a surname, partly to save herself a character.

She scratched her cheek, thought for a moment, and then said, "The most important thing for an accountant is to be cautious, so you'll be called Zhao Jin."

Zhao Jin was overjoyed and kowtowed to Zhao Ruxi: "This servant thanks Your Majesty for bestowing this name upon me. This servant especially likes this name."

"Alright, get up."

Zhao Ruxi then turned to the others. "If you have no objections to being bookkeepers, you'll follow Steward Zhou first thing tomorrow morning. I'll be giving you special training over the next few days."

Not only were Lady Zhu's account books written in capital Chinese characters, but the format was also not simple or clear enough. When she helped Lady Zhu audit the accounts, she had a terrible headache.

She had discovered that Empress Shengyao had used Arabic numerals, but they hadn't become widespread. Next, she planned to teach these people Arabic numerals and simple modern accounting methods.

She's not an accountant, but she manages her accounts on a mobile app these days. She remembers the format of the ledgers on the app very clearly. Perhaps this format is very basic and simple, far less comprehensive and diverse than modern accounting methods, but at least she can understand it at a glance.

The accountants followed her method in bookkeeping, which made it much easier and more convenient for her to check the accounts later.

Furthermore, finance is the core of a company. Providing special training for the accountant also helps to build a closer relationship and make them more loyal. Therefore, this training is essential.

After explaining these things, Zhao Ruxi left the manor, and Ma Sheng and Zhou Chun followed her back to Beining.

Apart from Ge Wu, all the other craftsmen had agreed to start work in five days, so the house in Beining is still empty.

Zhao Ruxi was exchanging a few words with Zhou Chun when Kang Shilin's servant entered, urging, "Miss, you're back? The old master wants you to come over quickly."

Zhao Ruxi knew that her master must be asking her about Jia Junze. He was impatient, so she didn't dare to delay and left Zhou Chun and the others to go to the painting academy.

"I heard you were bullied by that brat from the Jia Family?" Kang Shilin asked as soon as he entered. "What exactly happened?"

When Gao Weiqiang came to borrow guards, he couldn't repeat Jia Junze's original words in front of Xiao Ruotong. He only vaguely said that Jia Junze wanted to ruin the Earl of Suiping's Residence.

That's why Kang Shilin asked this question.

By this time, most people had arrived. Hearing Kang Shilin's question, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over.

"Isn't that right?" Zhao Ruxi recounted Ge Wu's story in detail. "At the time, Ge Wu and his wife begged me. I felt sorry for them, and I also thought that since they hadn't signed a contract with the Jia Family, it wasn't like I was stealing their craftsman. I also urgently needed a jade craftsman, so I took Ge Wu away."

"Regardless of the reason, I did steal the craftsman he had his eye on. He might have said a few things to me, but that's not all. It's just that what he said..." She lowered her head, "I can't bring myself to say those things."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "He even threatened to ruin my family. That's going too far."

After spending some time together, everyone at the painting academy knew that Zhao Ruxi was extremely generous and never acted coy like a typical young woman. Seeing her face full of shame and indignation, they knew that Jia Junze had not only made harsh remarks but had also humiliated Zhao Ruxi with his words.

During this time, they studied painting with Zhao Ruxi. Although they were not officially teacher and student, they were in fact teacher and student. Moreover, Zhao Ruxi had high emotional intelligence, knew how to speak, and had a good attitude. Everyone in the painting academy, regardless of age, had a very good impression of her, and their relationship became more and more harmonious.

Seeing her being humiliated, they were all furious.

"They've got some nerve, daring to bully my disciple like this! I'll definitely come knocking on their door today!" Kang Shilin threw down his pen and strode out. "Girl, come on, your master will scold him for you."

Zhao Ruxi was moved by her master's protective behavior, but she couldn't let her white-haired master stand up for her like that.

"Master..." Zhao Ruxi pulled him back, "There's no need for us to go to his door and scold him; that would be giving him too much credit. He has parents; if this gets to the ears of the Earl of Zhongqin Earl of Zhongqin, surely he'll discipline his son? If we need to trouble you, sir, to discipline his son for him, the Earl of Zhongqin will have to go to the Emperor to apologize. It was just a few words; there's no need to make such a fuss."