Chapter 192
Lu Gu carefully examined the red deed stamped with the official seal. Over the past two years, he had followed Shen Xuanqing in studying the Three Character Classic and had since learned many characters. However, due to his pregnancy and later caring for the child, he hadn’t reviewed his books much in the past year. Some slightly more complex characters now only felt vaguely familiar at a glance, and he couldn’t recall how to read them. The only name on the deed he recognized firmly was Shen Xuanqing’s.
[The Three Character Classic (三字经, Sānzìjīng) is a foundational Chinese Confucian text written in triplets of characters for easy memorization, covering topics like morality, history, education, and philosophy, traditionally used to teach children basic literacy and Confucian values.]
A single thin sheet of paper represented a plot of land. His eyes crinkled with a smile as he turned to look at the property deed in Shen Yan’s hand beside him.
Shen Xuanqing took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "The official permits have all been processed. Once everything over there is tidied up, we can open for business."
Wei Lanxiang couldn’t read, but the sight of the red official seals on those papers reassured her that their family’s business was legitimate, filling her heart with joy.
The imperial court imposed regulations on shops. Shen Xuanqing had reported that the shop would be used for selling meat, hence obtaining the permit for a butcher’s shop. If they wished to engage in other businesses in the future, they would need to apply for separate permits.
Shen Yaoqing took his son from Ji Qiyue’s arms and sat down, holding the child. He said cheerfully, "A butcher’s shop is relatively simple, unlike other stores. We just need a sturdy chopping block and a few wooden racks for hanging meat. Most of the tall tables at home are either occupied or worn out. Why don’t we go see Uncle Mutou tomorrow and have him make us a solid new table?"
Uncle Mutou was the old carpenter from the neighboring village.
"Mm, that’s only natural. Chopping meat and bones requires heavy force, better to have a new one made," Shen Xuanqing nodded, then added, "Aside from tables, chairs, and stoves, we’ll also need to buy a few account books. From now on, we’re running a proper business. Keeping accounts and paying taxes mustn’t be neglected."
Bookkeeping wasn’t difficult. Both he and Shen Yaoqing were literate and knew arithmetic. Moreover, theirs was a small-scale business, so there was no need to spend money hiring an accountant.
Some rural folks were unwilling to pay for their children’s education, saying that since they were all digging in the dirt, there was no need to study those fancy classical texts. But now, the benefits of literacy were evident - it saved them labor costs. Plus, with these deeds and permits in hand, they could understand what was written on them, preventing others from pulling any tricks.
"Here." Lu Gu handed the land deed to Shen Xuanqing. Hearing about bookkeeping reminded him of how his mother had taught him basic counting and arithmetic when he was little. Though he only grasped the rudiments, fortunately, their family’s Erqing was skilled in everything.
He recalled once seeing the shopkeeper at the embroidery workshop using an abacus while keeping accounts. The memory of that day was still vivid, the sharp clatter of the beads sounded incredibly efficient. Without thinking, he asked, "We’ll buy account books, but what about the abacus?"
Shen Xuanqing took the land deed and the property deed from Shen Yan, stacking them together with the two permits. Hearing this, he chuckled and said, "I was just thinking ours is a small business, but now that you mention it, we really should buy an abacus. Once the account books start filling up with entries, mental calculations won’t be enough, we’ll need an abacus."
Lu Gu’s smile widened. It pleased him to know his words had been useful.
Shen Xuanqing finished the tea in his bowl and stood up to return to his room to store the deeds. Unexpectedly, as soon as he rose, he heard little Lingjun crying from inside, the child had woken up.
Lu Gu moved even faster than him, hurrying into the room to pick up little Lingjun, who had been napping for half the afternoon.
With Lu Gu handling the soothing, Shen Xuanqing wasn’t in a rush. He opened a chest and rummaged through the bottom, pulling out an old wooden box. The box wasn’t large, just the right size to lay a sheet of paper flat inside.
When he opened the old box, he saw several land deeds inside - the three contracts for the dry and paddy fields purchased from Old Man Lu and the Zhang family, as well as the land and property deeds for the new house, totaling five sheets.
He took them out, intending to neatly stack them with today’s four documents, but at the very bottom, he unexpectedly spotted Lu Gu’s deed of sale.
Shen Xuanqing’s hand paused. He had given this deed to Lu Gu two years prior, but Lu Gu had nowhere safe to keep it and had placed it back.
Back then, during the fight with the Lu family, he had been furious and impulsive, buying Lu Gu outright and drawing up this deed of sale. The black-and-white terms were crystal clear - Lu Daxiang and Du Hehua wouldn’t dare play tricks with it.
Later, on one hand, they were busy hunting and farming, rarely going to Yuqing Prefecture except to stamp the land deeds or sell fox pelts. On the other hand, he loathed the Lu family. Keeping the deed was also a precaution, if the Lu family ever dared to come demanding Lu Gu back or trying to claim kinship, this lifetime sale contract would shut them up. Lu Gu had been sold to their family and no longer had any ties to the Lu family.
Even the red marriage certificate between Lu Gu and Lu Wen back then had been kept by Wei Lanxiang. Lu Wen’s name and origin were clearly written on it. If Lu Wen ever caused trouble, that single document would be enough to land him in serious hot water.
As a rural hunter and farmer, Shen Xuanqing lacked the capital and connections to contend with the Li family. He could only think of ways to keep an ace up his sleeve.
Lu Gu, having soothed little Lingjun, noticed Shen Xuanqing standing motionless and asked curiously, "What’s wrong?"
As he spoke, he glanced at the paper in Shen Xuanqing’s hand, it was his deed of sale. After learning to read, he had carefully examined it once. To him, Shen Xuanqing was someone trustworthy and reliable. Though the deed had placed him in servitude, stripping him of even a household registration, he didn’t mind much. Besides, Shen Xuanqing had explained the reasons for keeping the deed and marriage certificate, so he harbored no resentment.
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