In the backyard of the Jinxiu Pavilion in Pingjiang Prefecture, there is an accounting office.
The air was filled with the smell of fresh ink and tung oil. The originally somewhat messy accounting room was reorganized. Several brand-new account books were neatly placed on the rosewood accounting table. The covers were wrapped in a simple and elegant navy blue silk cloth, with only small characters such as "Flowing water", "silk", "cotton", and "personnel" embroidered with unremarkable silk thread in the lower right corner. Beside it, there is also a newly added small rosewood cabinet with a precise copper lock hanging on it.
Li Molan stood at the table, her fingertips gently brushing over an account book marked with "flowing water". These days, she has been working almost non-stop. On the one hand, she has to deal with the tense situation outside, soothe people's hearts, and join hands with Wang Xiuniang to perform that "filial piety and righteousness" drama well. On the other hand, based on the "information account" idea secretly passed back by Uncle Wang through Ah Fu, combined with some scattered ideas of the second young lady before her departure and the actual situation of the Jinxiu Pavilion, she carried out a sweeping reform of the entire store's account management and information flow at the fastest speed.
This is not only to plug the loopholes of information leakage, but also to deal with the possible more complex and severe situation ahead, and to provide a relatively stable and information-clear rear for the second miss who is far away in Fengqiao Town.
She took a deep breath. The effect of the implementation of the new system was immediate. The daily income and expenditure, material entry and exit, and personnel transfer are all recorded in accordance with the new process, which is clear and understandable. Especially in terms of material management, from the entry of silk threads into the warehouse, their issuance, to the piece-counting by the embroiderers and the verification of the finished products, every link is traceable and the loss is strictly controlled. This was unimaginable in the past. Although the old accounts could roughly match up, there were too many ambiguous areas in the middle where they could be manipulated.
Efficiency has improved, loopholes have been reduced, and control has been enhanced... Nature has also been strengthened.
However, this strengthening of control is like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, inevitably causing ripples, or even waves.
"Sister Mo LAN, the eldest son is here." From the door came the announcement made by a little maidservant in a low voice, with a hint of nervousness.
Li Molan's heart sank slightly. What was destined to come had finally arrived. These days, Shen Yu didn't interfere too much on the surface, but she could sense his increasingly frequent and scrutinizing gaze towards the accounting room. The new rules she implemented, which seemed to be merely technical adjustments, actually touched something.
"Got it. Please wait a moment, Young Master. I'll be there right away." Li Molan straightened her clothes, and her face returned to its usual composed and capable expression. However, deep in her eyes, there was a hint of fatigue and wariness that was hard to detect.
When I met Shen Yu in the front hall, he was holding a cup of tea, looking intently at the half-withered old locust tree in the courtyard outside the window. His expression was far from pleasant.
"Big Brother." Li Molan stepped forward and respectfully bowed.
Shen Yu put down his teacup, turned his head, and his gaze fell on Li Molan, with a look of examination and displeasure. "Molan, I heard that you've been up to quite a few new tricks at the accounting office recently?"
Li Molan understood in her heart, but remained calm on the surface: "Brother is talking about a new method for account management, right?" Yes. A few days ago, there were some mistakes in the shop. Mo LAN thought that perhaps the previous methods were somewhat flawed. So she referred to the practices of some big businesses in the market and tried to make some improvements. This was also to make the entry and exit of the shop clearer, so as not to make more mistakes and let down the second young lady... And your trust, big brother. She skillfully pulled Shen Yu in as well.
Shen Yu frowned slightly, clearly not completely satisfied with this explanation: "Improvement is a good thing." However, I've heard that it's rather complicated? It's just a daily account, a separate account for each household. What else do you need a material requisition sign? Our Jinxiu Pavilion has been doing business for so many years. We have always been using the old methods and have never had any major problems. Why all this trouble?
"Big Brother doesn't know something," Li Molan explained neither humbly nor arrogantly. "As the saying goes, 'A family of a thousand people has one person in charge.'" In the past, when the master was around, no matter how big or small the matter was, it was up to him to make the decision. Now that the second young lady has been entrusted with a critical mission and is leaving the mansion at the same time, the business in the shop is complicated. Without a clear and explicit set of regulations, it is inevitable to make mistakes in the hustle and bustle. This new method may seem cumbersome, but in fact, it can make the rights and responsibilities of each link clear and mutually verify. It can not only improve efficiency, but also avoid omissions and... "Fraud." She emphasized the last two words emphatically.
Shen Yu's expression darkened. He naturally could tell the underlying meaning in Li Molan's words. But as the eldest son of the Shen family, he simply cannot openly oppose "avoiding fraud". He snorted and changed his perspective: "I heard that the new account books are all locked in a new cabinet?" "Even the accountant can't browse through it at will?"
This is the real core! The new accounting system lies not only in the change of recording methods but also in the tightening of information authority! Especially for those "individual accounts" that might involve the fund flow and personnel allocation of the "Dandelion" plan, Li Molan kept them separately, and the keys were only held by her and Wang Xiuniang.
"Big Brother, please understand." Li Molan lowered her eyelids, her tone still respectful. "The accounting office is of great significance, and there are numerous transactions of money and materials. It's always right to be cautious." The general accountant is only responsible for the daily transaction records. The summary and core accounts are jointly verified and kept by me and the chief accountant, Mr. Wang. This is also to ensure clear rights and responsibilities, mutual supervision, and absolute safety.
"Clear rights and responsibilities?" Mutual supervision? Shen Yu's tone carried a hint of mockery. "Mo LAN, do you mean that as the eldest brother, I've become an outsider and can't even keep an eye on the accounts of our own shop?"
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The alarm bells rang in Li Molan's heart. She knew that the real confrontation was coming. What Shen Yu wants is not only the right to know, but also the right to control! He couldn't tolerate being excluded from the core information, nor could he tolerate the actual control of the shop falling into the hands of an "outsider manager" and an unmarried sister (even though she wasn't)!
"Big brother is too harsh!" Li Molan immediately bowed. "Big Brother is the backbone of the Shen family in the future. In the Jinxiu Pavilion, who would dare to treat you as an outsider?" Just... This account matter is complicated and cumbersome. Big brother, you have devoted yourself to your studies. In the future, you will pursue a career in politics and bring honor to your family. Why should you be distracted by these mundane affairs? If Big Brother wants to know about the situation of the shop, Mo LAN and General Manager Wang should report it to you and your wife regularly and never dare to hide it in the slightest.
Her words seemed like flattery, but in fact, she was drawing a line - you are a scholar and a future official. These commercial and mundane affairs should not be your concern. Just have a general understanding. There is no need to get involved in the core operations.
How could Shen Yu fail to catch this meaning? The displeasure on his face grew even stronger, and he could hardly contain his anger: "Humph!" Nice words! Although I study, I am also a son of the Shen family! My father's bones are still intact and my sister's whereabouts are unknown (he never fully believes in the idea of visiting relatives). With such a huge family business, shouldn't I bother about it? Shouldn't one take a look at the accounts in person to figure out where every sum of money has gone? "!"
He slapped the table hard and the water in the teacup splashed out: "Especially in the past few days!" I heard that for that so-called "cousin", the shop spent another large sum of money and even lost business with Zhang Ji Silk Workshop! Have you told me in detail about these matters? ! Where on earth was that sum of money spent? Why did Zhang Ji's business lose? Could it be that someone has embezzled their own pockets and, under the guise of serving the Shen family, has done some shady deeds? "!"
His voice grew louder and louder, his sharp gaze fixed on Li Molan as if to see through her.
The "filial piety" rhetoric that was spread during the covert battle of public opinion has now become the handle for Shen Yu to question! He clearly didn't believe that reason and was even more resentful about the "unclear" flow of funds and business losses!
Li Molan's heart suddenly rose to her throat. She forced herself to calm down and weighed things up rapidly in her mind. We must never admit to the leak, nor expose the "Dandelion" plan!
"Big brother, calm down!" She took a deep breath and met Shen Yu's gaze. "It's true that I have raised funds for my cousin's wedding and Cheng Yi. I have also reported this to the madam." As for Zhang Ji's business, it was actually a malicious competition from Su Ji, who snatched it away at a price far beyond common sense. After much deliberation, we did not want to get involved in a price war and lose our foundation, so we temporarily gave up. In business competition, there are always winners and losers. A temporary setback is truly out of helplessness. As for what the eldest brother is worried about... "Embezzle for personal gain..."
Li Molan paused for a moment, straighted her back, and a resolute look flashed in her eyes: "Molan has been in the Shen family for many years, trusted by the master and the lady. Now, she has been entrusted by the second young lady. In every word and deed, she always puts the interests of the Shen family first. She dares to swear to the light of day and has no selfishness at all!" All accounts, every transaction in and out, are recorded and verifiable! Just...
She changed the subject: "The new account books have just been put into use. They involve some secrets of the store's operation and the privacy of the customers coming and going. According to the rules, it's really not appropriate to show them to others casually." If Big Brother really doesn't trust Mo LAN and General Manager Wang and insists on checking the accounts himself, then... Mo LAN had nothing to say either. It's just that this matter is of great significance, and Mo LAN dares not act on her own initiative. She still needs... Inform the madam and wait for the second young lady... Make a decision after you come back!
She carried out Liu Shi and Shen Ruoxin as her last shield. At the same time, it also hinted to Shen Yu that if the accounts were forcibly inspected, it would be a sign of distrust towards these elderly people and a challenge to the authority of his mother and sister!
This is almost an ultimatum before breaking off relations!
Shen Yu's face turned ashen and his chest rose and fell violently. He never expected that Li Molan, the seemingly submissive manager on ordinary days, would be so tough! The more she concealed it like this, the stronger the doubt and unease in his heart became! He felt like a fool kept in the dark. How many secrets were still hidden in this family and this shop that he didn't know? !
He suddenly stood up, paced back and forth twice in the hall, and finally stopped in front of Li Molan, with a cold glint in his eyes.
"Ok..." What a clear division of rights and responsibilities! What a pity!" He sneered, "In that case, it's no use saying more!" From today on, all expenditures of the Splendid Pavilion exceeding ten taels of silver must first be signed and sealed by me! For all the keys to the warehouses, apart from you, I also need to have a copy! I'd like to see how your shop can keep running without me, your big brother!
This is a blatant seizure of power! He is going to directly get involved in financial approval and warehouse management!
Li Molan's heart sank to the bottom. The thing she was most worried about still happened! Although Shen Yu may not know the whole truth, he, relying on his status as the eldest son and his instinctive reaction to the boundaries of power being touched, precisely seized the lifeline of the Jinxiu Pavilion!
Once he takes control of the financial approval and the key to the warehouse, not only will many of their secret operations be at a standstill and funds unable to be freely mobilized, but they may also be seized upon by him, which could completely undermine the management system they have painstakingly established!
The new changes within the mansion, due to this system that attempts to bring about order and efficiency, have instead triggered the long-hidden power conflicts, pushing the crisis to a new peak!