Radiant Brilliance

Bai Lian's face flushed red, and she instinctively touched her cheek, saying, "I don't know that much, Brother Yuan Yu is just talking nonsense.",

Yuan Ling said seriously, "I'm not talking nonsense. I heard Brother Yuan Yu say, 'Miss Ali's female steward Bai Lu is amazing, she knows more than men!' Little Steward Yuan is my father's trusted right-hand man. If he says Sister Bai Lu is amazing, then Sister Bai Lu must really be capable!"

Su Li smiled, holding Bai Lu's hand, and said, "Bai Lu, don't be modest. When it comes to business, you're already an expert."

On the other side, Su Shirong listened, his eyes fixed intently on Bai Lu. Since he did business with Yuan Jie, he naturally knew Yuan Yu's sharp eye. If Yuan Yu had such high praise for Bai Lu, it meant she really was capable.

So Su Shirong cupped his hands and said, "Sister Bai Lu, I'll have to learn a lot from you. I hope you won't mind my ignorance or laugh at me."

Bai Lu quickly avoided Su Shirong's formal gesture and said, "My skills are all learned from my lady at home, really nothing special. If Master Shirong has any questions, Bai Lu will answer without holding back."

So Su Shirong began asking Bai Lu about problems he encountered in business, even some accounting issues, since he was new to the trade and didn't understand much yet.

As the chief steward who had been by Su Li's side and was now capable of handling things independently, these problems were child's play for Bai Lu.

Bai Lu was very patient, explaining things clearly and understandably. Su Shirong listened in amazement as his previously baffling problems were instantly solved.

Su Shirong looked at Bai Lu, seeing her lips moving as she spoke business wisdom fluently, as if she radiated brilliant light, captivating everyone's gaze.

"Master Shirong, is there anything else you don't understand? I can explain it to you again," Bai Lu's gentle voice brought Su Shirong back to his senses.

Su Shirong suddenly became flustered and hurriedly said, "I understand everything now. Thank you, Sister Bai Lu, for explaining all these and solving the problems that troubled me these days."

Bai Lu smiled, "Master Shirong, you've only been in business a short time, but having these doubts and insights shows you have good comprehension and observation skills. These are problems most people wouldn't even think of!"

"Really? Am I really that good?" Su Shirong shyly scratched his head, his face turning even redder.

"Our Bai Lu, the chief steward, has already vouched for you, so of course you are," Su Li said, covering his mouth with a smile. Seeing Bai Lu's composed demeanor, he felt extremely proud: no wonder she was the chief steward personally trained at home, able to outshine all the men outside!

Su Shirong chuckled foolishly, feeling as sweet inside as if he had eaten honey.

The carriage first went to the old Fuxiang in Qingmiao City to drop off Su Shirong, then headed to Shilipo to send Yuan Ling to school.

"Ling'er, can sister take a look at your arithmetic book?" Su Li asked.

Yuan Ling generously pulled out his arithmetic book and handed it to Su Li, his little face scrunched up like a bitter melon. He stuffed a snack in his mouth and said, "Sister Ali, why are you looking at arithmetic? Ugh, arithmetic is really hard, it’s making my head hurt!"

Su Li smiled as she flipped through Yuan Ling's arithmetic book, realizing it was indeed the old, very outdated system of arithmetic from ancient times.

Seeing Su Li seriously reading the arithmetic book, Yuan Ling leaned closer and said, "Sister Ali, arithmetic is really hard. Do you understand it? Ugh, everyone at our academy says that studying arithmetic too much can... can make you lose hair, make you bald!"