Past memories flood in like the tide.
Many things that seemed strange before now have an explanation.
No wonder that during that time, Heir Pei always looked at her with an inquisitive gaze.
He even praised her with the ’Flower Garden Ode’ turnover and asked if she had any requests, saying he would fulfill them.
But in her view, the turnover figures weren’t convincing enough at the time, the timing wasn’t right, so she refused, which surprised him greatly.
At that time, she felt something was wrong but didn’t know what was amiss.
Turns out the answer was here.
He must have thought she had issues, right?
Clearly, Xiao Shiqing cared so much about her, yet she insisted on staying at the Pei Mansion; maybe there was some conspiracy.
But if he suspected her, given his personality, he should have kept her under surveillance and not let her participate in important matters.
Why did he continue to entrust her with responsibilities? Not only that, he rarely questioned her, letting her manage things alone.
If she indeed had issues, she could easily tamper with these affairs.
Qu Fulan couldn’t comprehend it and was about to ask.
Pei Ji’an spoke, "All along, you’ve helped me quite a bit. I’m not one to neglect ties. After the autumn hunt, regardless of winning or losing, I will agree to his conditions. After all, we have been master and servant; let me give you the final fulfillment."
Before, she didn’t know and thus was worried. Now, knowing the truth, she would be pleased to return to Xiao Shiqing.
Moreover, they were childhood sweethearts.
Some people, even after a long separation, once standing together again, seem destined for each other.
After finishing, Heir Pei rose and left. As for what she wanted to say to him, he could guess; it was nothing more than wanting to leave.
After meeting Xiao Shiqing, it was normal for her to make such a request.
"Is the Heir’s intention to give me my contract, letting me leave, correct?" Qu Fulan asked.
Pei Ji’an did not turn back and gave her a faint "Hmm."
Qu Fulan asked again, "If there were no Xiao Shiqing, and I personally asked the Heir to take back my contract, would you fulfill it?"
Pei Ji’an frowned and turned to look at her, "Is there a difference?"
Indeed, in his view, there’s no difference; either way, it’s leaving. But in Qu Fulan’s eyes, the difference was significant.
"Why is there no difference? I am a living person, with independent wishes and thoughts. My stay or departure should be in my own hands, and what I can accomplish alone should not depend on others, then owe them a favor for no reason."
She avoided Xiao Shiqing for so long to not owe him or the Xiao Family any favors.
Otherwise, how would Mrs. Xiao view her? Fearful that no matter what she does in the future, she’d still face resentment?
She avoided it for so long, only to end up back where she started; she acknowledged the plot in frustration.
Still, she disagreed with this development.
"I don’t need anyone to redeem me." She said, and then pulled out her series of notebooks with calculations from the basket on the ground, opened them, and began explaining.
"Heir, since I’ve been working for you, you’ve never asked what I’ve done, what gains or losses occurred. Even though you trust me, I can’t keep it vague forever; I’ve always wanted to report the specifics to you clearly.
This is the daily bookkeeping since I took over ’Flower Garden Ode,’ and the monthly accounts, until today. Here is the total turnover of ’Flower Garden Ode’; Heir, please have a look."
Qu Fulan spoke while swiftly calculating on the abacus, then showed him the final amount displayed.
"The minimum spend at ’Flower Garden Ode’ starts at twenty taels; the daily turnover is around three to four thousand. Over a month, it’s about a hundred thousand taels."
This is the first month’s total, and the second month remained stable at this turnover level, indicating the business is solidly profitable.
Then to the bookstore; the bookstore’s turnover isn’t as good as the restaurant. Except for the first few days after opening with daily sales breaking ten thousand, it stabilized to about a hundred copies sold per day, totaling around one thousand taels daily, accumulating to about thirty thousand taels monthly.
Then to the milk tea shop; the turnover from milk tea pales compared to both the bookstore and restaurant. Each cup of milk tea is fifty coins, selling two hundred cups a day totals ten taels, adding the shop’s other snacks like duck necks and wings, averages to about twenty or thirty taels daily income.
This daily turnover is far below the bookstore and restaurant, yet twenty taels is enough for a farmer to live on for a year, proving the money isn’t insignificant. This update ıs available on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱
After verifying these shop accounts, lastly to the stage play.
The total turnover for the stage play that day was seventy thousand taels.
This is an interesting fact; the stage play’s one-day income equals the bookstore’s two-month income.
Finally, summing all these incomes from various ventures approaches nearly four hundred thousand taels.
This amount may not impress wealthy families, who often spend lavish amounts, and such money wouldn’t be noteworthy to them.
But wealthy families are indifferent because they have vast assets with substantial daily combined incomes.
Yet Qu Fulan has only operated a few stores, and within two months, she has reached this sum; imagining a year’s figures would be eye-opening.
What if she managed more projects?
Sure enough, Pei Ji’an showed a surprised expression.
He indeed hadn’t questioned her activities, only knowing she had business acumen and was making money, without knowing precisely how much she’d earned.
Previously unaware, but now knowing, he was shocked beyond words.
The Pei Family doesn’t lack money, but the army lacked military funds.
Yet he rarely used Pei Family assets; he had personal wealth, essential for supporting the Pei Family Army.
The Pei Family Army has continued its might thanks to private funds.
Having made a name on the battlefield, Pei Ji’an fully understands what this money means and what Qu Fulan’s ability signifies.
While others struggle for military funds and await court support in vain, the Pei Family Army already possesses the most advanced equipment and most prompt supply support...
"Heir, this is what I’ve achieved, representing my capability. Now I use this achievement to exchange for my contract. Water flows downward, people strive for upward progress, no one wants to be a slave forever. I wish to regain my freedom and collaborate differently with you; combine your connections and influence with my capabilities, surely reaching a mutually beneficial outcome; what does the Heir think?"
Displaying her achievements to prove her abilities, letting him know that she’s an irreplaceable talent.
A true talent shouldn’t be treated as a servant but should enjoy equal status as a consultant for mutual benefits.
Otherwise, if still treating someone as a slave but hoping for loyalty, it’s unrealistic.
She exposed her achievements for this purpose; if you have foresight, you’ll value me and agree to my terms.
Otherwise, I can withdraw my abilities anytime, but you might not find an equal replacement so quickly.
If possible, how could those stores have suffered such losses before?
Thus, without her, whose loss is greater is self-evident.
She believed in the Heir’s long-term vision, unlike Pei Lan, who wished to enslave her while demanding loyalty; that’s absurd.