Bai Muhiscus nodded, and took it over to take a look, these shops and Zhuangzi, when their mother was alive, could make a total profit of 30,000 taels a year, and ten years was 300,000 taels, but not to mention profits over the years, the accounts given by the Lu family lost nearly 50,000 taels in total.

As for those inventory collections, excluding those returned by the Lu family, the current market value should be nearly 150,000 taels, which means that the Lu family now owes itself a total of 450,000 taels.

She has asked Lu Qingyun to help her find out the secret property of the Lu family, there are a total of ten shops, five Zhuangzi, and three three-entry houses, and one four-entry house, which are now rented out for people to live in. These industries should make a profit of 20,000 taels a year.

But the silver that Lu swallowed from her mother's dowry shop was basically used to buy these properties, or gave them to Lu Zhaoan, it is naturally not surprising that Lu Zhaoan can rise to prominence, this is simply an official career paved with silver.

Therefore, there should not be much silver in the Lu family's hands, and naturally she can only use her existing property to offset the account at that time, which is her purpose.

"Well, I have to work for everyone, and the mandarin ducks will give you a reward!" Bai Mu Hibiscus put all the accounts aside and commanded quietly.

Those people hurriedly thanked them, their faces were full of smiles, a few of them were the bookkeepers from the Lu family, and the others were the shopkeepers of the largest pawnshops in the capital, and they were all very honored to be appreciated by the county lord.

This Anping county lord is a new upstart, a sudden rise, only a few days after the promotion, who in the capital does not know her name, they did not expect that they would be personally recruited by the county lord to do things, their own master heard that it was the county lord of Anping invited, without saying a word to lend people out.

Bai Mu Hibiscus didn't leave them any longer, waved his hand, and said: "You have worked hard for the past two days, and the county lord still has something to do today, so I won't leave you, magpie, send everyone for me!" ”

Those people were also interested, and after thanking him, he hurriedly left Yiqin Pavilion, and the magpie was only sent to Yiqin Pavilion outside the door and someone else sent it off.

Bai Mujin looked at the person who knelt on the ground, and glanced at Mama Rui, who immediately walked to the courtyard and said, "The county lord has ordered, you have done your best for the first lady all these years, and the county lord is very grateful to you, so I called you here today to reward you heavily!" ”

Those people all looked at Mama Rui in surprise, they had been kneeling for nearly an hour, and their legs were about to be broken, and at this time they said that they were here to reward them, and the ghost didn't believe it!

Mama Rui coughed lightly twice before she said, "If I order the name, go into the hall to receive the reward!" ”

"Zhao Erbao, Qian Fang, Qin Hai, Li Zhong......" Mama Rui shouted the names of ten people, and these people who were called by their names all entered the house tremblingly.

As soon as he entered, he knelt down and begged for mercy without saying a word: "County Lord...... The minions don't know what mistakes they made, and the county lord should give us a clear word! ”

Bai Hibiscus didn't look at them for a moment, and only asked casually, "What's wrong?" When is this palace going to send you down, haven't you heard Mama Rui's words? This palace is going to reward you! ”

What Qin Hai was about to say, he was pushed by Li Zhong with his elbow, and immediately shut up, these people are all headed by Li Zhong, because Li Zhong is Lu Ningxiang's dowry steward, and he has her trust the most.

Li Zhong hurriedly kowtowed and said: "Thank you county master, the minions are just doing their duty, and they don't dare to ask for rewards!" ”

"Steward Lee, right?" Bai Mu Hibiscus glanced at him and asked.

Li Zhong hurriedly responded, and did not dare to look up at Bai Hibiscus, he had already been instructed by the Lu family, and he must be extremely cautious in the face of Bai Hibiscus, and he must not leave a handle for her.

Bai Mujin smiled and asked again: "You said that you are all doing your duty, then you might as well tell this palace what is the duty of you people!" ”

Li Zhong didn't know what she meant, but he still replied without humility or arrogance: "The servants are all the stewards of various shops or Zhuangzi, and their duty is naturally to take care of the industry for the master and fulfill their responsibilities!" ”

Bai Mujin clapped his hands and said appreciatively: "Very good, Steward Li is really a sensible person, and Mama Rui doesn't give you a reward!" ”

Mama Rui didn't say a word, she used the bamboo board that had been prepared a long time ago, crackling and beckoning to Li Zhong's mouth, which was worthy of twenty hits, Li Zhong screamed in pain, but Mama Rui was very fast and accurate, so he couldn't dodge, so he had to bear it.

As soon as Mama Rui stopped, Li Zhong said angrily: "County master, what mistake did the slave make, you want to beat the slave like this?" ”

"What did you do wrong? You said that your duty is to take care of the property for the master, and the four shops you manage, each of them are losing money, and even one of them has closed down before, how do you do your duty? Bai Mujin asked with a smile, not taking Li Zhong's swollen face like a pig's mouth to heart.

Li Zhongzhen was reluctant to speak, and as soon as he moved his mouth, he felt pain, but he was instructed by his master, so he naturally couldn't help but defend himself, endured the pain, and said: "The slave's ability is limited, but it can't be blamed on the slave, the business has become more and more difficult to do these years, the wineries, silk villages, and ready-to-wear shops managed by the slaves are very fiercely competitive, and there are several forces behind them that are very strong, where can the slaves be able to grab them!" ”

Bai Mujin nodded, frowned and asked, "So, is this palace wrong to blame you?" ”

Li Zhong was beaten, so he was naturally unconvinced, and when he replied, his attitude was also a little arrogant: "The county lord scolds the slave, and the slave can only suffer, I just hope that the county lord will not continue to misunderstand, and the slave will be grateful!" ”

Bai Mujin nodded, and said with great emotion: "Steward Li is really a loyal person, and he is really a person like his name, but which one is your heart loyal to?" Is it the main palace, is it the first mother, or is it ...... Duchess Ning Guo? ”

Li Zhong was a little apprehensive, but when he thought of having the support of the Lu family behind him, he also had the courage to say: "As long as it is the master, the slaves are loyal, whether it is the county master, the first lady or the princess, they are all the masters of the slaves, and the hearts of the slaves are the same for the masters!" ”

Bai Mujin clapped his hands and said, "Sure enough, it's a talker, you guys?" Are they all of the same mind as Steward Li? ”

Those stewards all looked at Li Zhong's horse, and naturally replied one after another: "The minions are all like this!" ”

"Very good, very good, all of them are loyal and good minions, such good minions, if this palace doesn't reward you, I am really ashamed of my loyalty to you!" Bai Hibiscus gently beckoned his fingers, and saw the magpie bring out two pots of red-hot carbon.

Bai Mu Hibiscus said: "It's just that this palace still doesn't believe in your loyalty, let's do an experiment, who is willing to hold the charcoal in his hand from this charcoal basin, this palace believes in his loyalty, and is willing to reward each of them with ten taels of silver!" ”

The housekeepers in the house had beads of sweat on their foreheads, of course, they were not smoked by charcoal, but frightened, they didn't expect the white hibiscus to look delicate, it was so vicious. That's burning charcoal, hold it in your hand, then won't this hand be wasted?

Seeing that no one answered, Bai Mujin said: "Steward Li, you should be the most loyal, why don't you start with you, don't let this palace down!" ”

Li Zhong looked at the red charcoal, still not blowing up some sparks, where did he have the courage to take it, he looked at Bai Hibiscus, and found that she still had a gentle smile on her face, not at all like a fierce god who wanted to use this torture on people.

Li Zhong gritted his teeth and said, "County Lord, the slaves are loyal, and you still want to torture the servants like this, aren't you afraid that people will say that you are cruel and unkind, and abuse the loyal servants?" ”

As soon as Mama Rui heard this, she didn't wait for Bai Muhibiscus to command, so she went up to catch Li Zhong, and there was a crackling beating, Li Zhong felt that the gums were a little loose, and when Mama Rui stopped, she spit out a mouthful of blood in her mouth, and sure enough, she lost three teeth.

"You...... Why are you hitting me? Li Zhong was almost dying of pain, he had been in charge for so many years, and he was a group of people on weekdays, where he had suffered this kind of suffering and insult, his neck was red with anger.

When Mama Rui heard this, she went up with another board, and Li Zhong suddenly spit out another tooth, but this time he was smart and didn't dare to say a word. A hero doesn't suffer immediate losses, he understands this truth.

Mama Rui said: "In front of the county lord, is there room for you to speak?" Don't ask or answer, your master hasn't taught you this rule? He even questioned me, what a no-eyed person! ”

Those people watched Li Zhong suffer such a big loss, they all bowed their heads and were silent, this county lord didn't reason with them at all, obviously he just wanted to fight, but the identity of the people was there, they were just a group of slaves, where did they dare to argue with the master?

"Li Zhong, are you not convinced? Think this palace is unreasonable and shouldn't have beaten you? Bai asked.

Li Zhong had hidden anger in his eyes, but he still didn't dare to speak out, so he could only say obediently: "The slave doesn't dare, the slave just doesn't know what mistake he has made!" ”

Bai Muhibi smiled and said, "Since you are so curious, this palace can't help but give you a chance, Lu Cai, you tell him what mistake he made!" ”

That Lu Cai had been eating snacks on the sidelines, and he didn't pay attention to Bai Hibiscus attacking Li Zhong at all, and suddenly heard the county lord calling his name, and choked a little, but fortunately, the magpie handed him water in time on the side, so that he didn't choke to death.

After a sharp cough, Lu Cai stood up, arched his hand to Bai Mujian, and said: "The four shops managed by Steward Li have too big mistakes in the accounts, and it is obvious that they have made fake accounts, and they have been greedy for a total of 100,000 taels of silver in the past ten years!" ”

"You are talking nonsense, where are there so many ......" Li Zhong shouted out as soon as he was in a hurry.

Bai Mu Hibiscus glanced at him and asked, "Then how much do you say you are greedy for ink?" ”

"Minions...... The slave has not been greedy for silver, the slave has been framed! Only then did Li Zhong realize that he had said the wrong thing in excitement, and quickly changed his words.

Bai Mujin smiled and said, "It seems that Steward Li doesn't plan to tell the truth, I don't think your master should have told you that the methods of tossing people in this palace are full of tricks, and there are ways to make you tell the truth!" ”