Reviewing the Ledger Book Together

Su Li looked at the account book and thought to herself that Third Uncle was honest and simple, not the kind of clever businessman. For example, many families in the village, besides selling vegetables, also sold other things to earn extra money.

According to what Su Li knew, the Su Sanyun family did not engage in these side businesses. Although Mrs. Sun was somewhat skilled with needlework, she managed the household's daily needs alone and didn't have much time to do needlework for sale.

So why did Third Uncle's family suddenly take so many more vegetables? Could it be that they had come up with a good idea for selling vegetables?

Su Li thought hard but couldn't figure it out. She asked Zhou Lao Liu, who said that apart from taking more vegetables these past few days, Third Uncle's family had no unusual behavior.

Since Zhou Lao Liu couldn't provide any clues, Su Li told him to pay more attention to the vegetable sales these days and report immediately if anything happened, then sent him off.

After Zhou Lao Liu left, Su Li held the account book and went back inside, sitting down to continue flipping through it, hoping to find some clues.

"Wife, take a break and rest your eyes," Yuanbao came in carrying a cup of cassia seed tea. "I got this from Doctor Wu. It's good for the eyes."

Su Li took the steaming cup, sipped it, and felt much more comfortable.

Yuanbao took the opportunity to sit behind her, pulling her into his arms and took the account book away to set it aside.

Su Li smiled and took the account book back. "I haven't finished checking these accounts yet."

Yuanbao held her close, resting his chin on her head, and looked at the accounts with her. "Isn't this the account book for our family's retail vegetable sales? What's wrong with it?"

Su Li told Yuanbao about the abnormalities in the Su Sanyun family.

Yuanbao listened carefully to Su Li's furrowed brows. At the end, Su Li sighed and said, "Yuanbao, you don't know how hard life was for my mother and me before you came to our home. We survived only thanks to the village's aid. Everyone was poor then; no family was wealthy. Each family gave us a bit of food or vegetables, sharing with my mother and me. Now, I truly want to repay those benefactors and help everyone prosper. So I care deeply about this vegetable retail business and don't want anyone stirring trouble—a single bad apple spoils the whole barrel. But after all, it's my Third Uncle's family, who has done much for us. I only feel something is off with them. Before having solid evidence, I can't recklessly accuse them. First, I don't even know what trickery they might have done; second, if it's a misunderstanding and Third Uncle is just good at selling more, confronting him would hurt his feelings. So I must first figure out why Third Uncle's family suddenly started selling more vegetables, so I can act with purpose."

Yuanbao nodded in agreement and said, "You're right, wife. I'll accompany you to look through the account book."

Su Li smiled. She knew her silly husband couldn't really understand the accounts, but his company warmed her heart. So she leaned against the headboard with him and carefully looked through the accounts together.

After looking for a while, Yuanbao asked curiously, "Wife, why did the villagers start with similar vegetable sales quantities, but these past few days show quite a difference?"

"Because some people put their minds to it and sold well, so they took more; others were lazy and didn't sell well, so they could only take less," Su Li smiled. This was something she had expected.

Yuanbao frowned slightly after hearing this, then suddenly took something out from a box by the bed that surprised Su Li.