"How much money do we have in our house now?" Xiao Man raised his head and frowned at Mr. Bookkeeper.

The other party took out the account book in an orderly manner, and said while walking to the table: "Now there are a total of 100,000 and 600 taels of silver, but there are still a few days to pay the monthly money to the people, as well as the expenses of the kitchen, and there is still a period of time to give the people winter clothes, if Lord Huali can't go to Beijing, the money for making winter clothes for the people has to be deducted from these money, then ......"

As soon as the bookkeeper opened his mouth, he said a lot, although it sounded like there was still a lot of money left, but after he said this, it seemed that there was not much money that could be used now.

Xiao Man frowned and thought about it, took the pen and scratched the paper for a while before raising his head and continuing to ask, "How long is it until the winter coat is issued?" Have you calculated how much it would cost to buy these winter coats locally? ”

According to the prices of the local shops that the little guy visited, as well as the various capital investments of the shops in the early stage, at least 20,000 taels of silver had to be withdrawn from the house, and the store could not make a profit quickly in the early stage, and it would have to be wasted for a long time.

All things considered, after taking away 20,000 taels of silver from the house, it will take at least two or three months to generate income and profits for the house.

Just when Xiao Man's brows were tightly locked, the account room that had been pulling the abacus before finally stopped, he raised his head and said: "Madam, if it is according to the situation of other mansions in Bei'an City, the distribution of winter clothes for the subordinates is basically around October, and it cannot exceed mid-October at the latest, and the quality of this winter clothes is not of the third class, and there are different prices. ”

"You say." Xiao Man nodded, staring at each other intently.

"The cheapest winter clothes cost one dollar of silver for each set, two dollars for each set of medium ones, and the most high-end and warmest one is five dollars." As he spoke, the bookkeeper put down his abacus and continued: "If the lady wants to buy the cotton clothes of the next person locally, then for the county lord's mansion, even if it is to buy the cheapest cotton clothes, it will cost at least two hundred taels of silver. ”

After speaking, the account room glanced at Xiao Man's face extremely carefully, and continued to say cautiously: "Not only winter clothes, but also the rooms where people rest, they also have to raise a fire, and their quilts also have to be replaced with thicker ......."

Added up in bits and pieces, this amount of money is not a small amount.

Although he also receives a monthly salary, but for this money, it can only be said to be a drop in the bucket, if he doesn't open a store, it's fine, but if he opens a store, then this money can't make ends meet at all.

Xiao Man had a terrible headache, she stared at the papers on the table full of messy numbers, and sighed weakly.

"Madame, you... Are you in a hurry? The bookkeeper finally couldn't help but ask.

Xiaoman frowned, put down the brush, got up and said: "I also know that there is not much money left in the house, so I want to open a store to subsidize it, but I didn't expect that the remaining money in the house is not enough to even open a store." ”

Since marrying Lu Li, she has never been so worried about money.

"Madam, why don't we go to the king for help?" A pearl proposes aside.

But soon, this idea was rejected by Xiao Man shaking his head, she said: "Before building greenhouses, raising rabbits, etc., it was all about helping the king again, we encountered difficulties, so it was appropriate to go to him for help, but now we are opening a store to make our own money, this matter has nothing to do with the king, we still don't want to trouble him." ”

According to the king's character, she will definitely help Xiaoman unconditionally, but she has a hurdle in her heart, and she clearly knows that she can't cross this hurdle.

"Madam, if Lord Huali were going to Beijing during this time, maybe we wouldn't be so difficult." The bookkeeper said: "You see, if Lord Huali goes to Shangjing, then he can not only help the people bring back winter clothes and winter quilts, but also collect some money from the shop in Shangjing, so that if Mrs. wants to open a store again, it will be much easier." ”

He said it well, but the matter of this bandit has not been resolved, will Holley go to Beijing?

Xiao Man sighed and said, "It's late, you go back and rest first, the ledger stays here, and I'll think about the rest myself." ”

After speaking, she sat down again and began to write and draw, occasionally taking a few glances at the account book, or drawing through the abacus of the account room, very focused.

Seeing this, Pearl raised her hand and motioned for the account room to leave, she closed the doors and windows of the study, and moved the warm cage in the direction of Xiaoman, so as to make the other party warmer.

When doing these actions, Pearl kept gentle, for fear that the movement she made would disturb Xiaoman's thoughts.

The night is getting thicker, but the sound of the abacus in the study has never stopped, Pearl is lying next to the warm dragon and looking at Xiaoman, at first she can still see the person in front of her, but later, sleepiness hit, she couldn't even open her eyes, let alone look at Xiaoman.

It wasn't until the east lit up and whispered laughter and footsteps sounded outside that Pearl woke up with a frown.

Looking at it again, Xiaoman was still writing and calculating on the desk, and he didn't rest all night!

"Madame!" Pearl stood up in fright and said in a panic, "You... How do you ......?"

"Oh, I still haven't settled my business, so I didn't go back to the bedroom." When he said this, Xiao Man still lowered his head to write and draw, and his voice couldn't hide his tiredness and hoarseness.

I saw that the table was full of papers, stacked together, densely packed at a glance, and I couldn't see what was written on it at all.

Looking at Xiaoman again, her hair was already a little messy, and a few hairpin rings had been taken off and put aside, she was covered with a thin blanket, which seemed to be taken from the bedroom, but Jade didn't hear the sound of the other party going out at all, thinking that she slept too dead.

"Madame, you've stayed up all night, and now it's time to go back and rest, right?" Jade rubbed her eyes and asked softly.

But Xiao Man shook his head, "There are still a lot of things to be done, and I have to go out later." ”

As he spoke, Xiao Man sorted out the messy pile of paper on the table, then got up and said, "Go back and change your clothes, Pearl, you can go out with me later, I still have a lot of things to do today." ”

Seeing that Xiao Man had already taken those things and walked out, Pearl didn't care about anything else, so he hurriedly followed and persuaded: "Madam, but you haven't slept all night, and... And the bandit matter isn't over yet, in case you go out-"

Before she finished speaking, Xiao Man, who was walking in front in a hurry, suddenly stopped, so that the pearl, who was only concerned about talking, almost bumped into her.

"You're right." Xiaoman reacted, she touched her chin, frowning and being embarrassed: "But I have to go out to see today's things in person, otherwise the matter of opening the store will have to drag on for a while." ”

Listening to the other party's words, Pearl first nodded, and then was a little surprised: "Madam, have you really decided to open a store?" Money ...... in Naphu."

If she remembered correctly, Mr. Bookkeeper said yesterday that the money left in the house now is only enough for daily expenses, and she can't take out so much money to open a shop for her wife.

"I figured it out last night." Xiao Man walked in the direction of the bedroom as usual, his feet were fast, and his mouth was not idle for a moment, "In the case that Holley does not go to Beijing in the near future, there is also a way to open a store, but there will be restrictions and constraints in many places." ”

It's a big deal to choose a small shop in the middle of nowhere, so the cost can be less, anyway, Xiaoman has already decided, she will open this store no matter what.

After all, this money is enough for the expenses of the house for the time being, but if it takes a long time, her little monthly salary will not be able to support so many people, and she will have to think of ways to make money at that time.

Seeing this, Pearl guessed: "Madam, are you going out to see the shop today?" ”

"Hmm." Xiaoman nodded.

"Then it's good to leave this kind of thing to the next person to do, if you really don't feel at ease, just leave this matter to me, I can definitely -"

Before the words were finished, the two had already arrived at the door of the bedroom, Xiao Man didn't seem to hear what she was saying at all, he opened the door, opened the wardrobe and began to look for clothes, ready to go out.

Seeing this, Pearl couldn't help but be anxious, and hurriedly stepped forward to persuade: "Madam, do you really want to go out?" Aren't you afraid of those bandits? ”

"Don't bother me here, Pearl, you find a little guy to go to the Li Mansion to spread a message, just say that I want to go out, and let Master Li strengthen the guards in the mansion." Xiao Man picked out his clothes and commanded in an orderly manner.

This is the best way she can think of, if she is blindly afraid of the bandits and can't go out, then as long as the bandits are not exterminated for a day, she can't go out to see the shop for a day, so it's too passive.

Pearl on the side was a little hesitant about Xiao Man's orders, she frowned and said, "Madam, is this really feasible?" I'm still a little worried. ”

You know, those bandits' martial arts are very high, and they have always been elusive, and the most important thing is that they are very likely to be staring around the county lord's mansion, if they notice that Xiaoman is going out, then won't they take advantage of this opportunity to attack?

Taking advantage of the other party's words, Xiao Man had already changed her clothes, she walked to the bronze mirror, and while removing the hairpin ring on her head, she said: "Okay, okay, where did you come from such a mother-in-law and mother-in-law." Just do what I say, it's fine. ”

Lu Li said before that the king had begun to suspect Chu Yu now, so he asked Li Lin to set up a lot of guards around the county lord's mansion, and it should be no problem to think about it.

Pearl didn't know any of this, and it was normal for her to be worried.

"Knock knock—"

The door of the bedroom suddenly rang, and Xiao Man waved his hand at the pearl, "Go and see who is coming, what's the matter?" ”

Pearl who held back her stomach and wanted to say had to swallow the words that came to her mouth, took three steps and two steps to the door, opened the door, and looked at the little guy standing at the door, "What's wrong?" ”

"Sister Pearl, the bandits have been caught!"

"Really, where did you hear about it?"