Fortune Across the World

Chapter 17: Detailed Handover and Leisurely Visit to Yaolu Residence

Lu Shanyi presented Ding Qiyu with a roster of some of the General's Mansion's holdings in Xingcheng. The reason it was only "some" was that the core and confidential aspects were not disclosed to someone of Ding Qiyu's relatively junior position as a Jiancha Shi. After handing over the roster, Lu Shanyi hesitated briefly before asking, "Do you know how to read and write, Qiyu?" Typically, the position of Jiancha Shi required careful selection, but Ding Qiyu was essentially a "connected" individual, endorsed by both the second young master and the third miss, with the general's approval. Lu Shanyi dared not object. Initially, upon hearing that Ding Qiyu was a rural youth, Lu Shanyi didn't have high expectations for her literacy or skills. However, upon meeting her, he sensed an air of scholarly elegance, suggesting she was not illiterate.

Ding Qiyu nodded, "Rest assured, Steward Shan, I am literate." It was the first time anyone doubted her literacy. People often spoke of "ten years of hard study," but Ding Qiyu had studied from age six to twenty-four—eighteen years, long enough for someone to grow into a robust adult.

Relieved, Lu Shanyi realized he had judged correctly. As long as she could read, everything would be manageable. In good spirits, he explained, "Excellent, excellent. Let me give you a brief overview of the General's Mansion's enterprises in Xingcheng."

The role of a Jiancha Shi involved two main tasks: supervision and collection. Supervision entailed visiting various enterprises listed in the roster, while collection involved gathering funds and accounts from these businesses and delivering them to the financial department for auditing and reconciliation. Essentially, the job required basic communication skills and the ability to read the roster and locate the correct businesses.

As Lu Shanyi explained, Ding Qiyu flipped through the roster. The position of Jiancha Shi wasn't an official state role but a post within the General's Mansion and the Lu family, overseeing their private enterprises rather than state-owned ones. Over the years, the Lu family had amassed a diverse range of businesses. Xingcheng, as the Lu family's base, had many businesses belonging to the General's Mansion, alongside those owned by the commercial giant Jiangnan Fu family and some medium and small merchant guilds. The businesses under Ding Qiyu's supervision were ample for understanding the development and technology levels of various industries in Xingcheng.

After Lu Shanyi finished his overview, he handed Ding Qiyu an appointment letter, "This is your appointment as the Jiancha Shi for the General's Mansion in Xingcheng. Bring this on your first inspection to verify your identity with the business managers." He also gave her a small waist token, "This is the Jiancha Shi's waist token for Xingcheng. Bring it on future visits. This token signifies that you are now working for the General's Mansion, under its jurisdiction and protection."

Ding Qiyu nodded, accepting the letter and token. She read through the appointment letter, which clearly outlined her benefits. Seeing the salary amount, she realized that this position was quite lucrative; with this stable income, her mother and Lian'er wouldn't need to work and could enjoy a comfortable life. The letter also allowed for five days off each month, which she could choose freely. Moreover, with no supervision or attendance checks, no one would know how many days she actually took off, making this a truly leisurely position. Confirming the letter's details, she examined the waist token, made of brass with "Jiancha Shi" engraved on the front and a red "Lu" character on the back.

Lu Shanyi, having covered everything, said, "As for inspection times and locations, you can arrange them yourself. Just make sure to collect all accounts by the due date. If there are no further questions, I won't delay your duties."

After answering Ding Qiyu's questions, Lu Shanyi left with Lu Renjiu. Ding Qiyu opened the roster and began planning her "patrol" route, aiming for maximum efficiency based on the detailed business information and maps of Xingcheng and its surroundings included in the roster.