The study was very empty and not filled with gold, silver and jewelry as Xu Chong imagined.
Directly opposite the door is a desk and chair, and against the wall on the left are two overstuffed bookshelves.
"That's it? Is it so shameful..."
Xu Chong was greatly disappointed. He walked into the house without believing in evil and took a booklet from the shelf.
"In the third year of Guanghe's reign, Wuzhou was devastated for three thousand miles in one night. The government and the public called it heaven's punishment."
This is the content of the opening chapter, and the following details include the time, location, scope, number of victims, etc. of the disaster.
"It's the third master's handwriting. Why did he record this when he had nothing to do?"
Xu Chong frowned and changed to another book.
‘In the thirty-third year of Guanghe’s reign, the Wei Flood rose and Yuzhou was wiped out...’
Next one.
'In the eleventh year of Fengning, thousands of fires fell from the sky, the earth dragon turned over, and the capital was destroyed...'
‘The thirty-ninth year of Fengning…’
'Wankang six years...'
Two quarters of an hour passed, and Xu Chong flipped through more than forty books, all containing records of this type.
"Why would Third Master be interested in this kind of thing?"
Xu Chong was puzzled and completely lost interest in the books on the bookshelf.
At this moment, Lao Li's voice came from the door.
"Master, all the account books have been retrieved. Do you want to see them now?"
"Well, let's move in."
Xu Chong nodded.
"Yes, yes."
Lao Li was sweating all over his face. In order to please Xu Chong, his new master, he refused to let anyone help him with his account book.
"That... young master."
After finishing his work, Lao Li wiped his sweat and said with a horrified look on his face: "When the old servant just took inventory, he found that most of the valuables such as jewelry and soft items were inexplicably missing..."
"Huh?"
Xu Chong's face darkened: "Someone's hands and feet are unclean?"
"No, no, no."
Lao Li quickly waved his hand, "If a thief steals the property, he will definitely run away in a hurry, but there are many people in the house, and the old servant has also tested it."
"What do you mean?"
Xu Chong raised his eyebrows.
"It should be the master..."
As he spoke, Lao Li glanced at Xu Chong and said nothing else.
The meaning is obvious, Xu Sanye moved away before his death.
“How much is the missing part worth?”
"About three thousand taels."
"How much are the remaining belongings and cash combined?"
"About, about five hundred taels."
"Is this so..."
Xu Chong pondered for a moment and waved his hand: "I know it well, you can go down."
Lao Li bowed and stepped back.
Now that we have discovered the existence of spiritual energy, these external objects are relatively unimportant.
As long as the house deeds, store deeds, etc. are still there, the Xu family will have a steady flow of money flowing in. Even if they don't prey on the people like the third master, they still have no worries about food and clothing.
Xu Chong began to look through the ledger.
'On May 30th of the 10th year of Yongtai, Yipinxiang Rouge Shop in Dongshi collected rent of six taels of cash, and Haokelai Wine Shop distributed one hundred and eighty taels of cash as dividends. The Liu family in the south of the city paid filial piety to a happy couple...'
‘June 30, the 10th year of Yongtai, Dongshi…’
‘July of the 10th year of Yongtai...’
It took an hour, and Xu Chong was so dizzy that he finally finished reading all the entries.
Apart from learning about the Xu family's investment, nothing was discovered.
It can be said that it is extremely clean. Apart from collecting rent, it is also a legitimate business.
Occasionally, some businessmen give gifts, which is a little smooth.
"Third Master is very cautious. Illegal activities will not be accounted for?"
Xu Chong rubbed his temples, and after taking a short rest, he turned to the account section again.
‘On May 30th of the 10th year of Yongtai, I hosted a banquet for my county government colleagues and withdrew two hundred and ninety taels of silver.’
'On June 30, the tenth year of Yongtai, I went out to visit friends and took out four hundred taels of silver and a pair of auspicious dragon and jade pendants.'
‘July of the 10th year of Yongtai...’
Another hour later, Xu Chong was completely speechless.
According to the account books, over the years, whenever there is a large amount of income in the house, most of it will be withdrawn by the third master on the same day.
Either entertain colleagues or listen to music.
And when you go out to visit friends, it’s understandable that you bring antiques and treasures. Why bring a few hundred taels of silver?
Is this friend serious?
Combined with the sudden loss of most of his jewelry and belongings, Xu Chong instinctively came up with an idea.
Mr. San has someone outside.
As soon as this idea appeared, Xu Chong was convinced.
Otherwise, such a large expense cannot be explained at all.
The so-called banquet and listening to music can cost so much in a small county?
Maybe there is an illegitimate child.
"No wonder in the original memory, I have never seen the Third Master thinking of coaxing him. His relationship is not Du Miao'er."
Xu Chong touched his neck and suddenly felt that he was really pitiful.
When he traveled through time, he was hung from the beam.
In other words, the original body hung himself from a beam and died.
There is no need to guess the reason. Caught between the common people and the third master, one side is loyal and the other side is filial, so it is difficult to have both.
Now that I think about it, it’s really not worth it.
However, he had no intention of asking his concubine to take back the family property.
We have already taken away the third master’s son, and it would be too much to bully someone else’s wife.
After leaving the study, Xu Chong thought for a while and locked the door again.
Although I haven’t discovered any secrets, what if there is one?
It won't be long before it's dinner time.
In Nuo Da's dining room, the dining table was filled with more than a dozen dishes that were delicious, delicious and delicious. Xu Chong swallowed his saliva when he saw them.
This is a feast that he could never imagine after traveling through time.
While Xu Chong warned Lao Li not to be too extravagant, he ate until his belly became bloated.
Lao Li stood by and reported on the affairs of the house.
The two maids of the third master chose to take the money and go away. They didn't ask for much. The deed of sale plus twenty taels was within the acceptable range.
In addition, the third master’s mourning hall has also been built.
All partners who had business dealings with the Xu Mansion sent heavy gifts and condolences, filling the empty treasury once again.
Xu Chong understood this after thinking about it for a moment.
The common people are afraid of dog officials, and powerful people are afraid of honest officials. This has been the truth since ancient times.
But he couldn't help it, and without a legitimate name, those businessmen didn't even dare to give gifts.
Right now, offering condolences to Mr. San is the only chance to leave a good impression on myself.
"Go on, I don't care about what Xu Youan did in the past, and I can't control it."
Xu Chong put down his bowls and chopsticks and said in a deep voice: "But from now on, everyone should be cleaner for me. Don't forget that I am in charge of this."
"Yes, yes, sir, don't worry."
The feeling of not being angry and being proud made Lao Li naturally change his title.
To be honest, he even felt that the pressure of serving Xu Chong was much greater than that of serving Xu Youan.
I am always frightened.
At this time, the concierge came to report that Wang Hezhi, the county school's edict, had arrived.
"Master is here? Please go to the front hall quickly. I'll serve you some tea."
Regardless of the discomfort, Xu Chong immediately got up and went to change clothes.
After three months of getting along with him, he already respected Wang Jiayu from the bottom of his heart.
Part of this is because Wang Jiaoyu is upright but not pedantic, and he has the aura of integrating knowledge and action.
The other part is because Wang Jiaoyu's status is very transcendent, and everyone, whether the county magistrate or the third master, gives him face.
I don’t know why.
Soon, Xu Chong, who had changed into brocade, saw Wang Jiaoyu, who was pacing back and forth in the front hall, looking restless.
A little old man with white hair and beard.
"The student is late, please forgive me, Master."
Xu Chong smiled and walked closer.
The little old man raised his head, with an angry look on his face, and grabbed Xu Chong's ear.