The atmosphere in the main hall froze, as if suspended like water droplets.
The father-daughter pair, Marquis Jing'an and Zheng Yutan, each extraordinary and ethereal, like exiled immortals, were completely dazzled by the sight of the silver and lost their composure.
After a long moment, they each managed to regain their masks and compose their expressions.
"What is going on here?" Marquis Jing'an cleared his throat and asked Manager Liu.
Manager Liu replied respectfully, "Marquis, the young lady created her own method of abacus calculation, far superior to ordinary methods. Even complex accounts can be calculated clearly and quickly. She sold this method to Zhai Yuxuan for twenty thousand taels. We spent ten days verifying her system—it works perfectly. Our master was greatly pleased and specifically sent me to deliver the money to the young lady."
Marquis Jing'an was completely puzzled. "Abacus calculation?"
"You don't know, Marquis?"
Of course, he didn't. He turned his gaze toward Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian smiled. "Father, it's a powerful method of accounting. I sold both the technique and the tools to Zhai Yuxuan. What I asked for is simply what I deserve."
"Yes, yes, young lady is too modest. The twenty thousand taels are well worth it. Our master said we took advantage of you. From now on, anything you need, Zhai Yuxuan will do their utmost for you," Manager Liu said with a smile.
Zheng Qian's eyes glinted. Her large, bright eyes made the red mole between her brows seem even more vivid. "I actually have a request ready."
"Please, young lady, speak freely."
"These coins weigh two thousand jin. I don't have space to store them—my courtyard isn't large. If I put them in our family treasury, it would require moving things and creating space, causing unnecessary trouble. Better to leave a hundred taels with me and take the rest back to deposit in a bank, giving me nineteen thousand nine hundred taels in banknotes," Zheng Qian said.
Two thousand jin is a tremendous weight—not just silver, any item of that bulk would require dedicated storage.
Marquis Jing'an looked at Zheng Qian. Zheng Yutan suppressed a breath, unable to exhale for a long moment.
Manager Liu laughed. "Our master already thought of this. He knew it would be troublesome to handle so much cash, so we brought the banknotes for your convenience."
He then took out nineteen thousand-tael notes in one-thousand-tael denominations, and nine hundred-tael notes in one-hundred-tael denominations, checking each serial number to ensure they were deposited in Zhai Yuxuan's bank. Even if the bank failed later, the notes could be exchanged there.
Zheng Qian stored the banknotes carefully.
Manager Liu then brought a tray from his assistants, laid a red silk cloth, and counted out twenty silver ingots. "Young lady, here is the hundred taels in cash that you requested."
Zheng Qian nodded.
Her maid, Hong Luan, had been standing at the door, struggling to suppress a smile but failing.
Zheng Qian signaled her to take the tray.
Hong Luan carefully held the tray, straining slightly, veins popping, fearful of dropping it.
Once the delivery was complete, Manager Liu prepared to leave. "Our master says that Young Lady Zheng's contribution cannot be forgotten. When anyone asks about the abacus method, it must be credited to her."
"Thank you," Zheng Qian said with a smile.
The assistants re-covered the boxes with red silk and lifted them again. Each box weighed several hundred jin; they struggled under the weight.
From start to finish, Zheng Qian handled everything decisively, without consulting Marquis Jing'an. He, dazzled by the sight of all that silver, didn't even speak.
"Father, second sister, I shall take my leave," Zheng Qian said, bowing.
As she turned to leave, Marquis Jing'an called out, "Wait."
Zheng Qian paused, looking at him calmly.
The words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.
He had always prided himself on being refined and could never utter worldly words.
Previously, Zheng Qian had been devoted, always putting her father first. Now, she hadn't even said she would leave the banknotes under his care, leaving him unsure how to continue.
"Father, is there something else?" Zheng Qian blinked innocently.
Marquis Jing'an: "…"
Seeing her father silent, Zheng Qian bowed again. "Father, I take my leave."
This time, she quickly left the hall with Hong Luan, heading toward her Huining Courtyard.
Once outside, Hong Luan could no longer suppress her excitement and laughed openly.
"Young lady! Young lady!" she tried to muffle her squeals.
"Shh, calm down. Don't turn around and freak out. I still need to treat you," Zheng Qian said, smiling.
Hong Luan: "…"
She couldn't understand how her mistress could remain so composed.
Twenty thousand taels!
A few wooden tools and some beads on an abacus had truly earned twenty thousand taels!
With this money, her mistress no longer needed to endure insults at her family home; in the future, even at her marital home, she would have a substantial reserve, immune to the Wens' disdain.
Hong Luan had no desire for the money herself; she was simply overjoyed for her mistress.
She was about to go crazy with happiness.
"Just a small sum," Zheng Qian smiled faintly. "Hong Luan, you'll see in time that money is nothing—you can have as much as you want."
In her mind, she had knowledge of countless things from the future. With just one idea, she could design something and sell it for a huge price. Wealth beyond measure might be possible.
Twenty thousand taels was indeed enormous. For ordinary courtyards in the capital, the value rarely exceeded five hundred taels; even a large ancestral home like the Marquis Jing'an Mansion would be worth around ten thousand taels.
Her mother's third lady was very wealthy, being the richest in Kunzhou; her dowry was thirty thousand taels and twelve shops, which brought monthly income of three to four thousand taels, sufficient for the vast mansion's expenses.
Thus, Zheng Qian's twenty thousand taels made everyone envious.
The ethereal second lady, seeing the money, was stunned.
Zheng Qian knew that the second lady's personal cash couldn't exceed five hundred taels, which explained her shock and envy—her angelic facade nearly tore.
Back in the courtyard, Hong Luan could no longer contain herself and shouted with joy.
Madam Dai and the other two senior maids were startled.
"We have money! Our young lady has money!" Hong Luan shouted, nearly frantic with excitement.
Madam Dai and the others only saw the hundred taels in cash and froze, dumbfounded but happy. "Where did it come from?"
"Mother, it's not just this, not just this!" Hong Luan's face was flushed.
Zheng Qian worried about her blood pressure—good thing she was young, or she might have a fit.
"Mother, Zhai Yuxuan bought my abacus method and gave twenty thousand taels. I only kept a hundred taels in cash; the rest are banknotes," Zheng Qian said. "Keep the banknotes for me."
Madam Dai was speechless.
The other two senior maids were equally shocked and gathered around.
Madam Dai's hands trembled as she took the banknotes and counted them carefully.
After finishing, her hands shook even more.
There were really twenty thousand taels.
"Where did it come from?" maid Cai Yuan asked.
Zheng Qian calmly repeated the story for them.
Only then did they realize that the young lady who had been mocked for ten days had quietly accomplished something tremendous—earning twenty thousand taels from Zhai Yuxuan.
Incredible!
"From now on, Madam Dai, your monthly allowance increases from five taels to ten; Hong Luan, Xiuzhu, Cai Yuan, yours rises from two to five taels; for the two laboring maids, from one to two taels; and the two junior maids, from five hundred copper coins to one tael."
Zheng Qian continued, "Also, everyone receives a bonus in addition to their new allowance. Madam Dai, the five taels you lent last time, take ten back and distribute as you see fit."
Having said that, she hugged her cat and returned to her room.
Outside, the maids' laughter and excitement echoed.
Xiao Zhan looked at Zheng Qian through the cat's eyes.
He had known from the beginning that she would succeed—her abacus method was truly remarkable.
Zhai Yuxuan was a major shop; they needed a more efficient accounting tool. Their master, Prince Ancheng, a young innovator, would definitely purchase it.
By giving wealth to the servants, she ensured their loyalty, as they now knew she was capable and resourceful.
Her life would be easier from now on.
She would no longer sit alone by the river, powerless to cry while ignored by others.
Perhaps… she had truly grown up. Xiao Zhan felt a deep sense of satisfaction, as if he had shared in her victory.