Chapter 11: Promotion to Steward
Chapter 11: Promotion to Steward
Da Niu’s fifteen boxes of Spirit Fruit only cost three hundred Spirit Coins. But since Da Niu was involved this time, to prevent him from failing the master’s Truth Detection Spell, Lu Hangzhi gave him an extra hundred Spirit Coins so he could report truthfully to his master.
With this extra hundred Spirit Coins, Da Niu’s master should be able to sense his goodwill. Not only would they not trouble Da Niu, but they might even reward him.
Lu Hangzhi had nine hundred Spirit Coins left, which converted to four and a half Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
What should he do with them?
Lu Hangzhi felt like he had suddenly become rich.
Even though four and a half Low-Grade Spirit Stones didn’t sound like much, in reality, one Low-Grade Spirit Stone could buy a dozen First-grade Talismans or one proper Second-grade Talisman at the neighboring Marketplace.
But it was useless!
As soon as he returned to his small room in the Zhu Residence and cast Water Control Art and Revitalization Technique, he received a summons from the young lady.
“Young Lady.”
When he looked up, he saw Zhu Fuqin wearing a faint smile, looking down at him with great interest. Lu Hangzhi was puzzled.
“I heard about what happened today. Even Yao San spoke highly of you. That’s quite interesting.”
Zhu Fuqin cleared up his confusion with a tone of approval.
“…”
“There’s no need to be nervous. You did well. Even though you used the Zhu Residence’s influence, you handled the situation appropriately. I’m not blaming you.”
Zhu Fuqin said with a smile,
“On the contrary, you possess more intelligence and skill than the average commoner, and you have a kindness that many lack.”
Hearing this, Lu Hangzhi understood that Yao San must have clearly seen how many Spirit Coins he secretly gave Da Niu…
Yet he himself had been completely unaware!
Hiss.
This was the true ability of a Cultivator.
Lu Hangzhi felt a sudden wake-up call. The joy and swelling pride from today’s achievements instantly vanished.
Then, Zhu Fuqin finally revealed the reason for summoning him:
“Since you seem to have a talent for business, I’d like you to try managing the affairs of my inner courtyard.”
“Eh?”
Lu Hangzhi was deeply shocked.
“Yao San, explain it to him.”
“Yes.”
Yao San nodded respectfully and began explaining to Lu Hangzhi.
“The resources of our Zhu Residence are divided into three parts. The largest portion is held by the master, managed by the madam. The remaining two parts combined are still less than what the master holds. Of these two, one belongs to the young lady, and the other belongs to Young Master Cheng.”
Lu Hangzhi didn’t dare to be negligent and quietly committed this to memory.
“The resources under the young lady’s control are all within this courtyard: five acres of Spirit Grain Paddy Fields, twenty-seven Spirit Fruit Trees, five medium Spirit Wells, twenty-seven maids, five matrons, and three retainers. Well, and now including you, Lu Hangzhi.”
Yao San deliberately paused at the end, as if realizing that placing Lu Hangzhi among the maids, matrons, or retainers wasn’t quite appropriate.
Lu Hangzhi didn’t mind.
But in his heart, he quickly began calculating.
Twenty-seven Spirit Fruit Trees, three Spirit Wells, five acres of Spirit Grain Paddy Fields… such assets… tsk tsk… truly worthy of an Elder’s daughter.
In Violet Cloud Town, even one Spirit Fruit Tree could support a Cultivator’s cultivation path, enabling them to become a Second-rank Cultivator.
And this was only a small part of the Zhu Residence’s resources!
“The Spirit Grain, Spirit Fruit, and Spirit Spring produced by our Zhu Residence are all of the highest quality, different from the common goods in the market. Hehe, aside from some daily expenses, most are saved up to exchange for Low-Grade Spirit Stones. These Low-Grade Spirit Stones are partly used to pay the retainers, and the rest are pooled as cultivation resources for the young lady.”
Hearing this, Lu Hangzhi gradually understood and interjected, “Does the young lady want me to manage these resources on her behalf and find ways to exchange them for more Low-Grade Spirit Stones?”
“Correct!”
A flicker of surprise passed through Yao San’s eyes as he nodded. “But it’s only temporary. The resources of the inner courtyard’s assets are very important, and this is your first time managing them. I’m afraid you might not be fully capable yet. We’ll try it for one month. If you can exceed last month’s quota by ten percent within that time, you can continue managing them. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, the young lady will revoke your authority at any time, and you’ll return to being a servant.”
“…”
Hearing this, Lu Hangzhi understood. It seemed Yao San was unaware of his hidden identity and the fact that he had already stepped onto the cultivation path. Without any pretence, he stated clearly,
“Since the young lady values Hangzhi, I will naturally do my utmost, even until death.”
Yao San spoke again,
“Last month, the resources submitted to the young lady totaled five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. As long as you can exceed five hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, you’ll have completed the task.”
“Five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones?”
Lu Hangzhi’s brow furrowed slightly.
“What? Is there a problem?” Yao San asked.
“Oh, no, it’s just that I’ve never dealt with such a large amount of wealth before. It’s a bit surprising.”
“It’s fine. As long as you do well, you’ll gradually get used to it,” Yao San said kindly with a smile.
“Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Yao.”
“Hehe.”
Yao San turned to Zhu Fuqin. “If the young lady has no other instructions, may I take my leave?”
“Mm.”
Zhu Fuqin nodded. “Hangzhi, stay. I have a few more words for you.”
Lu Hangzhi remained.
A flicker of surprise passed through Yao San’s eyes but quickly faded as he turned and left.
“Yao San is my father’s man. At the same time, he maintains good relations with many Cultivator families in Violet Cloud Town. He’s a capable person who is very adaptable.”
The young lady looked at the closed door and said something that seemed abrupt.
Lu Hangzhi was momentarily taken aback, then nodded in agreement.
“Yes, Mr. Yao never acts superior in front of us servants. He’s very approachable.”
“Previously, all the miscellaneous matters in my courtyard were handled by him. He managed everything thoroughly and quite well.”
Hearing the young lady’s suggestive words, Lu Hangzhi couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Taking over someone else’s profitable duties is a tough job. But since the young lady trusts me, I will definitely handle the courtyard’s affairs properly from now on.”
“You’re smart. It’s good that you have this awareness. I was worried you might always regard Yao San as a teacher and good friend. In that case, I’d be very concerned about how much of my resources would remain by next month.”
Zhu Fuqin said with relief.
Lu Hangzhi:
“…”
In just a few simple words, the undercurrents in the courtyard were brought to light. At the same time, the authority to manage the Third Courtyard’s resources was transferred from Yao San to Lu Hangzhi.
Additionally, Lu Hangzhi received a Zhu Residence token from the young lady, which would be useful when dealing with other family factions outside.
“By the way, when you heard Yao San mention five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, your expression was a bit odd. It couldn’t really be because you were scared by that number, could it?”
“A little.”
Lu Hangzhi nodded.
In reality, with his mental calculation and information integration abilities, he had already gathered data on the Spirit Grain Paddy Fields and Spirit Fruit Trees within the Zhu Residence. By combining this with the data he obtained at the Marketplace and the resource ratios provided by Yao San, he quickly arrived at the final figure…
Five acres of Spirit Grain Paddy Fields, harvesting once a month, yielding a thousand jin of Spiritual Grain per acre. At ten Spirit Coins per jin, the Spirit Grain Paddy Fields alone brought a monthly income of fifty thousand Spirit Coins, or two hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Twenty-seven Spirit Fruit Trees, ripening every two days, bearing thirty to thirty-five fruits each. Even calculating based on the minimum of thirty fruits, they could yield at least thirty-six thousand Spirit Coins per month, which was one hundred and eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Five medium Spirit Wells, producing five vats of Spirit Spring per day, equivalent to five hundred bottles of Spirit Spring. Monthly, this amounted to thirty thousand Spirit Coins, or one hundred and fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. After deducting the courtyard’s expenses, it should reach at least five hundred and eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones…
To say that Yao San hadn’t embezzled any would certainly be a lie—a Second-rank Cultivator spending most of his time managing this courtyard, even skimming a small fraction, would far exceed the monthly stipend of an ordinary retainer.
However, without solid evidence, Lu Hangzhi didn’t dare to offend anyone recklessly. That would be impulsive and unwise.
…
When Lu Hangzhi exited the young lady’s room, the maids had already been informed by Mr. Yao San and were quietly waiting in the backyard to hear his instructions.
Lü’e and Cong Fang looked bewildered, both shocked and confused. They even doubted whether the Lu Hangzhi Mr. Yao mentioned was the same Hangzhi they knew.
How could it be?
He had just entered the residence yesterday, and today he was to replace a Second-rank Cultivator in managing one of the Zhu Residence’s courtyards, becoming the young lady’s chief treasurer?
The maids chattered among themselves.
From a distance, Lu Hangzhi heard a few maids teasing Lü’e, saying she was about to become the steward’s wife. He couldn’t help but smile wryly inwardly.
To outsiders, this seemed like a cushy job, but only he knew that obtaining this position meant making a mortal enemy of a Second-rank Cultivator. The slightest misstep could lead to disaster, even losing the young lady’s trust. How could he have time for romance? Even in his dreams, he’d have to count every day carefully.
As he approached the group of maids and matrons, the girls finally stopped their giggling and looked at him with curious eyes, scanning their fellow commoner, Hangzhi.
“I assume you all already know that for the next month, or perhaps longer, you’ll be working under me. I hope that for any matters occurring within the courtyard, you’ll report to me first, and then I’ll inform the young lady. I just risked my life to buy a small gift for nine hundred Spirit Coins from the young lady. I hope all you sisters and matrons will like it.”
A small gift?
The maids’ eyes lit up.
Could such a good thing really happen?
Only the five senior matrons remained very calm, unmoved, like five ancient stones standing motionless to the side.
Lu Hangzhi didn’t mind. He calmly took out three Jade Boxes from his Qiankun Pouch…
Inside were thirty Spirit Fruits, all premium ones from the Zhu Residence, never selling for less than three Spirit Coins each at the Auction House.
The maids were visibly moved.
“Wow!”
“Spirit Fruits!”
“Are these for us? Hey! They look like our Zhu Residence’s Spirit Fruits! That’s great!”
“Long live Steward Lu! Our Lü’e’s Hangzhi is so thoughtful, giving us the Zhu Residence’s premium Spirit Fruits to eat. I’ve always dreamed of taking a bite… hehe…”
“Yeah, yeah. Before, the Spirit Fruits we got each month were always bought from outside by the steward. I only tasted one once during the master’s birthday celebration. It was delicious.”
“At least you’ve tasted one. Sob… I entered the residence after the master’s birthday.”
The maids chattered excitedly, unable to contain their joy.
Just then, Lu Hangzhi announced another decision.
Instantly, even the five matrons who had remained unmoving like ancient wells could no longer maintain their senior composure. They were all visibly moved, their eyes wide like bronze bells.