Ye Chongming had been worried that after Ye Yaming got married, she would focus solely on her household and be unwilling to manage the Ye family affairs. Now that Ye Yaming was willing to take charge, he couldn’t be happier.

Moreover, Ye Chongming was aware of Ye Yaming’s account auditing. She had previously requested the past six months’ account books to review, felt there were some issues, and then asked him for older ledgers, even examining the accounts of the past five years.

He asked, “Could there be problems with those accounts?”

Ye Chongming didn’t believe there could be any issues with the accountants under his management.

He had employed his sons and grandsons. Regardless of Ye Hongchang and Ye Jiaxing’s character, they were originally from the eldest branch, and most of the Ye family’s wealth belonged to them. They had no reason to falsify accounts.

Ye Hongsheng didn’t manage accounts, only tea production; Ye Hongrong had only begun managing the teahouses in the past two years. Ye Chongming was very wary of this unreliable youngest son and scrutinized his accounts strictly. Even if Ye Hongrong had such intentions, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to falsify accounts.

As for the several accountants, since these people had signed labor contracts—equivalent to being employed by the Ye family rather than having their fates controlled by the family—he had always been cautious with them, reviewing the accounts every month.

Under his vigilance, he believed these accountants wouldn’t dare tamper with the accounts.

Ye Yaming said, “There are some issues.”

Ye Chongming widened his eyes in disbelief.

But since Ye Yaming was reliable in handling matters, Ye Chongming quickly accepted the reality and asked with a serious expression, “What kind of issues? Are they serious? Whose accounts have problems?”

Despite softening her tone, Ye Yaming smiled and said, “The problems aren’t serious, just some minor issues, and it’s not just one person. But when small problems accumulate month after month, do you think the issue becomes significant or not?”

Ye Chongming frowned.

After quite a while, he finally said, “I know about those problems you mentioned. Since I was old enough to understand, your great-grandfather taught me to read account books, saying that only if you understand the accounts yourself can you avoid being fooled.”

Ye Yaming was surprised, “Then why didn’t you deal with them if you knew about it?”

Ye Chongming sighed, “I have reprimanded them. But with so many accounts, it’s inevitable to miscalculate a bit. Besides, problems don’t occur frequently—just once or twice a year—and they’re not major. It’s not appropriate to punish them, so I’ve just summoned them for a scolding and let it go.”

Ye Yaming raised an eyebrow, “Not frequently? Once or twice a year? Who told you that?”

“Wen Tao, of course. He’s the one examining the accounts.”

Seeing Ye Yaming remain silent, Ye Chongming continued, “I know you’re bound to say I’m indulging them. But they’re all veteran accountants who can be trusted. If we dismiss or sell them, who will manage the accounts? Would newly hired accountants not make mistakes?”

“Are they taking advantage of this point, which is why they continue to make small errors?” Ye Yaming asked.

Ye Chongming sighed, nodding helplessly, “Water too clear has no fish; a person too scrutinizing has no followers. If we want servants who make no mistakes at all, then we’d have no one to employ. I have no choice in this matter.”

After sighing, he fixed his gaze on Ye Yaming, “What do you plan to do with them?”

Ye Yaming smiled, “I do have a good solution. But please allow me to keep it a secret for now, and see which ones are making intentional errors and which ones are making unintentional errors. Unintentional errors are understandable. For those making intentional errors, they’re likely falsifying accounts with embezzlement in mind. Such people absolutely cannot be kept in the household.”

Ye Chongming now genuinely admired Ye Yaming’s capability in handling matters. He often remarked to Old Lady Ye that despite living his entire life and experiencing sixty years of events, he was still not as capable as Ye Yaming, a young lady who hadn’t experienced much. Could the difference between intelligence and its lack be so vast?

Therefore, since Ye Yaming had said so, he allowed her to proceed as she wished.

He nodded, “Very well, do as you see fit.”

Upon returning to her courtyard, Ye Yaming instructed Zan’er, “Spread the word that I’ve hired Mr. Jiang to audit the accounts recently.”

Mr. Jiang, whose full name was Jiang Huan, was formerly an accountant at a restaurant. When the restaurant’s old owner passed away and his son’s poor management led to closure, Jiang Huan lost his job.

Although Lu’E had learned accounting from the old accountants, her skills were still somewhat inexperienced. She couldn’t always detect the tricks used by veteran accountants to falsify accounts.

Ye Yaming had long wanted to find a good accountant, so she had asked Zan’er to keep an eye out.

This Jiang Huan was originally a waiter at the restaurant. Due to his quick thinking, he caught the attention of the old accountant, who taught him accounting and married his daughter to him.

Now in his early forties, he had excellent accounting skills and good character. Previously, when the restaurant was mismanaged and owed him wages, he still diligently managed the accounts. It wasn’t until the young owner closed the restaurant and dismissed him that he left.

Therefore, when Jiang Huan became unemployed, Ye Yaming personally assessed him and hired him at a high salary.

She had agreed with him that he would train several accountants for her.

The next day, Zan’er went to fetch Jiang Huan and brought him to a room in the outer courtyard that Ye Yaming had specially prepared. Lu’E brought Zi Yuan and Qing Zhi, carrying a stack of account books, and they began their audit there.

With such a grand display, it didn’t take Zan’er much effort to spread the news; within half a day, all the accountants and stewards in the Ye household knew about it.

The Ye family’s teahouses in Lin’an and the Capital had more monetary transactions and each had an appointed accountant; the tea factories and gardens only distributed monthly allowances to servants, with the stewards directly managing the accounts. The situation in Huizhou and Minzhou was similar to Lin’an.

Huizhou and Minzhou were newly established, and although the accountants were from one of the three collaborating parties, the accounts were mutually supervised, which presented few problems. Ye Yaming’s main focus was on the Ye family’s accounts here.

Once the news spread, Shen Zhongyi, the accountant of Ji Xiang Tower, couldn’t sit still and invited Wen Tao out for drinks; whereas Liu Shen, the accountant of the teahouse, remained calm.

Ye Chongming knew the purpose of Ye Yaming’s high-profile actions and had been having people monitor the two accountants. Now, seeing Shen Zhongyi inviting Wen Tao out, he couldn’t remain idle and came to find Ye Yaming.

“Does Shen Zhongyi’s account have problems?” he asked.

He spent every day in the teahouse, and if this Shen Zhongyi had been misbehaving right under his nose, he would be extremely upset.

“His accounts have calculation errors in every book,” Ye Yaming said.

“What?” Ye Chongming was startled, “How is that possible?”

Ye Yaming remained silent.

“What about Liu Shen?”

“Liu Shen also has issues.”

Ye Chongming looked at her for a while, and finally understood, “Does Wen Tao have problems?”

Ye Yaming said, “If I told you Wen Tao has problems, you certainly wouldn’t believe me. I’ve now cast the bait; let’s see if Wen Tao reveals his true colors.”

Ye Chongming remained silent for a long while.