rebirth first official

Gao Zhanming carefully reviewed the books in chronological order.This ledger is just the account of the mansion, which records in detail the expenditures and income of the mansion.Through the account books of the past two years, Gao Zhanming found that there are two main incomes in the mansion, one is the gift from the Duke's Mansion and the Queen Mother in the palace, and occasionally there are money and fees sent by other Gao family's lords. These incomes are There are actually a lot of them during the festivals, but the expenses of the family are really staggering, so it is not enough to support the whole year's life; the other part of the income is the family's land and shop, and the public account book does not record these in detail. For income, there is only a number of income and the name of the shop where the bank is donated.

When Gao Zhanming was reading the accounts, Liu Da also looked at him. Seeing that Gao Zhanming was looking at them very seriously, he couldn't help asking: "Master, when did you learn to read accounts?"

Gao Zhanming responded, "It was taught by others."

Liu Dao: "Is it the second master next door?"

Before Gao Zhanming could react, Liu Da immediately slapped himself, and spat: "Bah, bah, this slave is presumptuous! Please forgive me, young master!"

Gao Zhanming didn't mind, and continued to check the accounts carefully.It's okay if Liu Da misunderstood, but it seems that Gao Huachong is someone he dare not mention. Since he thinks so, he probably won't ask again, and save himself the trouble of trying to explain with excuses.

Liu Da looked at his young master with mixed feelings in his heart.The matter of Gao Zhanming and Gao Huachong back then was actually not a secret. Although Gao Zhanming never mentioned it, the second master of the Duke's Mansion next door was a ostentatious one.For such an unethical thing to happen, it is obvious that both parties are involved, but because the second master in the Duke's mansion next door is rich and powerful, no one has ever criticized him for a word, but they all pointed at Gao Zhanming behind his back, Said that he would do anything to get ahead, even his own cousin.Later, Gao Zhanming and Gao Huachong suddenly had a falling out, but not many people knew the real reason, still no one said Gao Huachong was bad, they all scolded Gao Zhanming for what he had done, and finally got his retribution.In this world, power is justice, and the powerful and powerful will do what is right, while those who are down and out are insidious villains no matter what.

Liu Da secretly sighed in his heart: I only hate that the master left too early, if he was still in the world, the current Gao Zhanming must be the proud son of heaven, so why would he have to endure such humiliation?Fortunately, the young master has come to his senses now, and he has to rely on his own ability to revive the family business.As long as he has this heart, he will definitely achieve something!

Gao Zhanming checked the account quickly.The expenses of the family are indeed extravagant. It seems that those disciples in Zongxue are right. My family is in such a predicament, but they still have to maintain the dignity of the nobility. Those expensive consumables and silks and satins are the main expenses. .These expenses can be cut completely, so that at least a thousand taels of silver can be saved a year.But Liu Da couldn't decide these things, and he had to start with his mother Tang Xue.

Cutting spending is not mentioned, but the income of the government seems to be a big problem.Those relatives support, no matter how much it is, it is a heart, and this part cannot be changed, but the income from the fields and shops is decreasing year by year. This is because a lot of properties have been sold to make a living in the past two years.But even so, the income is too small and too abnormal.Besides, the shop that was sold was even more wrong.

Gao Zhanming pointed to an entry of 500 taels of silver on the account book and asked Liu Da: "This spice shop was sold at the price of 500 taels at the beginning of this year?"

Liu Dao: "Yes. The Xinglong Incense Shop was closed four months ago."

Gao Zhanming shook his head again and again: "Who decided on this idea?" He took out the account books from the previous year, pointed to a few items casually, and said: "The year before last, in order to ease the relationship with the Western countries, the Holy Majesty promulgated a new policy to reduce or exempt customs duties. The spice business has been booming in the past two years. Last year, Xinglong Fragrance Shop recorded more than 800 taels of income. Among our many shops, the profit is considered medium. It stands to reason that unless there is a loss, the shop should not be sold. It’s an idea, and it shouldn’t be sold by any shop! Besides, it’s only sold for 500 taels of silver, and it’s not even a year’s income, so there’s no such thing as a loss-making business!”

Liu Da looked at Gao Zhanming in disbelief.After all, it was the first time for Gao Zhanming to read the accounts, so he was really surprised that he was able to do so clearly.He originally thought that it was a last resort for Gao Zhanming to commit himself to Gao Huachong, but he didn't expect Gao Zhanming to learn the real skills, it seems that he underestimated his young master.

Liu Da sighed and said: "My lord said, why not? I also persuaded my wife that this shop should be kept, but that time coincided with the New Year, there were many banquets and gatherings, and the queen mother invited all the ladies to enter the palace to appreciate Hua, although Ma'am is not the Madam, she is the Empress Dowager's sister-in-law after all, so she has received extra favors and is also invited. Madam said that she must buy some decent new clothes and jewelry, otherwise she might neglect the Empress Dowager. Since the Bank of China wasn't enough, she asked her uncle to sell the incense shop. I can't persuade you."

Liu Da said again: "My lord, you don't know. In the past, my wife always said that my lord should study with peace of mind, and we are not allowed to bother my lord with mundane things like money, so I dare not discuss these things with my lord. If I knew this earlier, I would I have come to beg the Lord to lobby my wife a long time ago."

Gao Zhanming frowned.According to Liu Da's words, his mother Tang Xue was really short-sighted.What is the fear of neglecting the Queen Mother, in fact, it is nothing more than fear of losing face in front of those imperial wives.But now that their family is in such a situation, can a few gorgeous clothes save face?It will only make people laugh even harder behind their backs.

Liu Da said angrily: "Madam doesn't know the dangers in the world. I know those ideas are definitely not made by Madam herself, but by her uncle. It's only because Madam's ears are too soft! Master, since you are interested in taking care of things now, you can Do go and persuade Madam!"

Uncle?Gao Zhanming said calmly, "That's natural. Let's finish reconciling the accounts first. There are still many things in the accounts that make me suspicious. Here are only the account books of the public. You can also take the detailed account books of the land business. Come and show me."

Liu Dawei wondered: "The mansion doesn't have those tents."

Gao Zhanming was surprised and said: "No? How could there be no?" According to common sense, all store books should be at least in duplicate. One copy is kept in the hands of the shopkeeper, and the other is handed over to the owner for inspection. If the relationship is more complicated, It is necessary to copy more books.The Gao family is the head of the family, how could it not even have an account book? !

Liu Daman said with resentment: "I'm not uncle!" After he yelled this sentence, he realized that his voice was getting louder, so he hurriedly looked out, lest someone might hear someone listening to him through the wall.Fortunately, Gao Zhanming had already asked Yinhe to drive away everyone around him, and no one was obedient outside.Liu Da lowered his voice and said: "Madam has long been coaxed by uncle, so he can say whatever he wants. Madam said that there are too many idlers in the family, and she is afraid that the account book will be stolen. She also said that there is nothing to check about the account book. I don’t understand, so since the year before last, the account books from outside are no longer sent to the mansion.”

Gao Zhanming felt a headache after hearing such absurd words.It seems that this uncle is quite tricky!He said: "Uncle is the chief shopkeeper."

Liu Dao: "That's right, my uncle has already covered the sky with one hand for matters outside the residence."

Gao Zhanming closed the account book and put it aside, said: "I want to see my uncle."

Liu Da hurriedly said: "It just so happens that my uncle is at the mansion today. I have already forgotten about checking the accounts as soon as I came back. He came a little earlier than my grandfather, so he should still be in Madam's room now."

"Oh?" Gao Zhanming raised his eyebrows.What a coincidence.He got up and said, "Then I'll go now!"

Gao Zhanming did what he said, and immediately walked to the courtyard where Tang Xue lived.There were two maidservants guarding outside the courtyard, and when they saw Gao Zhanming coming, they saluted him and wanted to enter to announce.Gao Zhanming stopped them, and asked in a low voice, "Mother and uncle are talking inside?"

The maid hurriedly replied: "Yes."

Gao Zhanming said: "I have something to ask my uncle, you all go down and get two pots of good tea."

The two maids did not dare to disobey Gao Zhanming, they bowed and withdrew.

Gao Zhanming walked into the yard lightly.There were no other servants guarding and serving outside the house. It seemed that Tang Xue and that uncle were talking privately about themselves, which distracted everyone.Gao Zhanming didn't knock on the door immediately and went in, but came quietly outside to eavesdrop on the conversation in the room.

A man's voice came from the room, it should be his good uncle.I only heard the man say: "Sister, your mansion is declining day by day. I came today, and those servants outside saw me and went away as if they hadn't seen me. Poor brother-in-law who went Morning, leave you helpless. They don't take me seriously, but they don't take you seriously! I can't imagine how those slaves neglected you, the master, when I was not around. female!"

Tang Xuedao: "Ganer, what can I do in this situation?"

Tang Qiandao: "Sister, you are too weak to be bullied by them. Let me tell you, how could one or two young slaves have such courage if they were not instructed? There must be someone above to support them! I told you a long time ago that Liu Da, the family steward of your family, is not a good person, all the slaves in the house are taught by him, and the slaves don't know how to be polite, but in fact, he intends to give sister you a bad reputation!"

Tang Xuedao: "After all, he has served Yuan Qing since childhood. When Yuan Qing was alive, he trusted him very much and entrusted him with all the affairs of the house. When Yuan Qing passed away, he also took care of the funeral. He He has been in charge of things for more than 20 years, and he is an old man in the house, how can I make things difficult for him?"

Tang Qiandao: "Sister! You are too kind, but also too weak! It is because you tolerate him so much that he becomes more and more confident! Yes, Liu Da was brought from Gao's mansion by his brother-in-law. He is from the Gao family The number one Gao family in the world, you have raised children for them, but they don't care about you orphans and widows at all. Over the years, they spend money like water and dominate the situation, but you orphans and widows live in such poverty Days, don't you have any resentment in your heart? How long has it been since you bought new jewelry?"

Tang Xue just sighed.

Tang Qiandao: "Sister, don't hesitate anymore. Once brother-in-law is gone, their Gao family will no longer have your mother and son in their hearts. When our Tang family is in trouble, An Guogong or the queen mother, whoever can move a little finger can save you." We, but they watched the Tang family being stripped of their titles. Don’t you understand their cruelty? It’s our Tang family that really loves you! If I hadn’t been taking care of the business outside the house for you all these years I'm afraid that that little bit of earning has already been exploited by others. In this way, Liu Da has made things difficult for me time and time again, implying that I will give him benefits, otherwise he will spread rumors and slander me for stealing the profits from outside! Such a person, Sister, how can you tolerate him?!"

Tang Xue hesitated: "But if we withdraw him, who should take care of the house's chores?"

Tang Gan hurriedly said: "Sister, don't worry, I have always cared about the matter between you and Minger the most. I have already thought about it. I will recommend someone to you. It is one of my cousins. He married Mrs. Wu last year. Tang Long's daughter, so she is also a member of our Tang family. He is the best at managing things since he was a child, and he will definitely be able to take care of your mother and child's life properly."

Gao Zhanming was covered in cold sweat outside.During the previous month of recuperation, in order to understand his situation, he had secretly read the family tree.For ordinary families, there is often only the paternal line in the family tree.However, the Gao family is not an ordinary family.Gao Zhanming's father, Gao Yuanqing, was the legitimate son of the Gao family, with a very high status. The wife he married was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu'an family. The Gao family attached great importance to the background of their in-laws, so the family tree of the Tang family was also kept in the house.Gao Zhanming has an excellent memory, and he has memorized the genealogy of both parents after reading it a few times. He is very clear about the relatives in the family.

He didn't go in hastily, but eavesdropped outside the house because he didn't know which uncle this uncle was. He heard Tang Xue calling that person Gan'er, so he knew that this good uncle was Tang Gan.

Tang Gan was born to a maidservant of Marquis Wu'an's family. The maidservant's status was too low to have the right to raise an heir. Therefore, Tang Gan was handed over to Marquis Wu'an's wife, Tang Xue's biological mother, to raise him after birth.Therefore, although Tang Gan is Tang Xue's half-brother, but because he grew up with Tang Xue since childhood, the relationship between the two is very close.

Since Gao Yuanqing passed away too early, although the Tang family was related by marriage to the Gao family, without their son-in-law, the relationship would not be very strong.Gao Zhanming had heard about the Tang family when he was a civil servant. Seven or eight years ago, the Marquis of Wu'an got closer to the same traitor and angered the Holy One, so the emperor cut off the title of Marquis Wu'an in a fit of anger. That's it.Tang Gan was originally a concubine, and he was idle and not doing his job. After the downfall of Marquis Wu'an, Tang Gan had nowhere to go, so he went to his sister to find an errand. With his sharp tongue and Tang Xue's trust in him, he finally turned out to be Climbed to the position of the chief shopkeeper, taking all of Gao Zhanming's business in his hands.

Gao Zhanming had also worked in the business world back then. Tang Gan’s remarks just now were full of one-sided lies, saying that there was a slave who was unreasonable to him, but he didn’t say which slave was in the yard; that Liu Da threatened him. When asking him for money, he didn't say the time and place, it was all based on his mouth.What's even more frightening is that Tang Xue actually accepted everything he said!How weak and stupid is his mother? !It seems that their family will be reduced to such an embarrassing situation today. Gao Yuanqing's early death is part of the reason, and Tang Xue's incompetence is also a big reason!

Gao Zhanming couldn't listen anymore.He took a deep breath, straightened his chest, and knocked hard on the door.He must take a good look at his good uncle for a while, it seems that the first step to turn around is to start with this uncle!