Chapter 19: Mrs. Lu

Chen Xin tapped her fingers on the table, pondered for a moment, and asked, “Do you know where we can find someone who is good at bookkeeping?”

Although Xian Xiaoxiao was capable, she lacked political acumen. Chen Xin needed someone sharp to compliment her. Xian Xiaoxiao was just starting to mature.

In ancient times, the most corrupt were often stewards and accountants, due to their excessive cunning.

Now, Chen Xin needed someone sharp and skilled at bookkeeping, preferably someone morally upright and intelligent.

Upon hearing this, Xian Xiaoxiao hesitated and said, “Well, there is someone, but…”

After running a stall in Wuding Town for a few years, Xian Xiaoxiao had heard some gossip. There was indeed someone skilled at bookkeeping, and she had worked as an accountant. However, she had resigned five years ago and since then, no one could persuade her to work again.

Seeing her hesitation, Chen Xin raised her eyebrows and smiled lightly, “What’s the problem? Tell me.”

Xian Xiaoxiao nodded and continued, “There’s a person named Mrs. Lu who lives behind Xihua Pavilion in Pulu Alley. Actually, Mrs. Lu is not that old, only in her forties. Many people in town respect her because she is knowledgeable and skilled at bookkeeping. However, she is too rigid. She dares to criticize the bosses if they do something wrong, but she has never taken a penny for herself. The bosses won’t fire her because of her talent and loyalty. However, a few years ago, Mrs. Lu’s father fell ill with a strange illness. Despite consulting many doctors, they couldn’t cure him. So she resigned and went home to take care of her father. Over the years, some people have tried to persuade her to return to work, but the condition is that someone must cure her father. In return, she doesn’t need a salary for the rest of her life as long as she has food and shelter.”

The information inside made Chen Xin’s eyes light up. Just when she was nodding off, she encountered someone handing her a pillow, which was quite timely.

“Well, let’s go visit this Miss now.”

She said to Xian Xiaoxiao, getting up and smoothing out imaginary wrinkles as she walked out.

She was pressed for time.

—

“Is this the place?”

In front of them was a crowded and chaotic alley, with vendors pushing carts of goods, men washing clothes in buckets in front of their doors, and couples arguing loudly. It was a bustling scene.

“Well, this is Pulu Alley, but I don’t know which house Mrs. Lu lives in. Boss, should I go ask?” Xian Xiaoxiao said somewhat embarrassedly.

Chen Xin nodded. “Go ahead.”

Meanwhile, a few little girls playing nearby looked curiously at Chen Xin and Chao Feng at the entrance of the alley. Their innocent faces were full of curiosity. Suddenly, a little girl in a yellow dress with twin buns dropped the mud in her hands and ran towards Chen Xin with her short legs.

Chen Xin looked at the little person running towards her and asked in a crisp voice, “Big sister, are you a hero?”

Huh? Chen Xin was also curious. Why did she look like a hero? She asked, “Little sister, what does a hero look like?”

Chen Xin felt that the little girl’s eyes immediately lit up like light bulbs, and she excitedly gestured, “Heroes ride big horses across the world, help others when they see injustice, big sister has such a beautiful white horse, although there’s no knife or sword… Oh, I know, you must have hidden them. It’s a sword, right?”

She glanced at Chen Xin’s back but didn’t see any weapons there. She seemed a little disappointed, and then suddenly shouted.

Chen Xin suddenly realized and smoothed Chao Feng’s mane, smiling, “Sister is not a hero, she’s here to find someone.”

“But Sister Xiao Ju said so.” The little girl clearly didn’t believe it.

At this moment, Xian Xiaoxiao came back. She didn’t know how there was a child here talking to the boss while she was away for a while. She said to Chen Xin, “Boss, Mrs. Lu’s house is the third one on the right at the end of the alley.”

“I know where Mrs. Lu’s house is. Let me take you there.” Hearing that Chen Xin and the others were here to find Mrs. Lu, the little girl who had just spoken quickly said and ran inside.

Watching the enthusiastic little girl ahead, Chen Xin smiled and turned around. “Let’s go.”

“Bang bang bang—”

“Sister Xiao Ju, Sister Xiao Ju, a hero is looking for Mrs. Lu, open the door quickly.” A crisp voice called out loudly.

“Sister Xiao Ju…”

“Coming.” The slow voice of a woman came from inside the door.