The man led Duan Rong and Xiao Yu to the door of Dong Yi Room.

He only knocked once without waiting for a response from inside, then he pushed the door open a gap and stood at the entrance, saying in a deep voice, "They have arrived!"

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu stood outside without hearing a reply, but evidently someone inside responded with action. The man pushed the door wide open, stepped back, stood beside the door, and fixed his gaze on Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, saying, "Please, come in!"

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu entered Dong Yi Room.

Inside the room, it was filled with various account books and documents, with only Wang De’an sitting behind a desk. Upon seeing the two enter, he stood up, smiled, and said, "Both of you are indeed outstanding talents, truly the promising youths of our Yuan Shun Escort Agency!"

Xiao Yu always disliked such superficial courtesies, but Duan Rong, having lived two lifetimes, was already adept at dealing with such remarks and replied fluently, "Deputy Chief Accountant Wang, managing such a multitude of documents daily. Yet, you still take the trouble to receive us juniors, we truly feel somewhat ashamed!"

As Duan Rong spoke, he glanced at the account books in front of Wang De’an.

Duan Rong’s flattery was evidently smoother and more atmospheric than Wang De’an’s straightforward awkward praise.

Moreover, Duan Rong’s face was solemn, and his tone sincere. Although Wang De’an knew Duan Rong’s words were mere pleasantries, he couldn’t help but feel a thread of goodwill towards him.

Xiao Yu stood beside him, casting a sidelong glance at Duan Rong, apparently feeling somewhat slickened by Duan Rong’s charm.

However, Duan Rong’s ability to handle situations made Wang De’an feel a bit embarrassed. He cleared his throat and said, "It’s like this. The account books from January to December have already been organized a few days ago and placed on the shelves in the Document Library."

"This is the key to the back-yard accounting room and the Document Library." Wang De’an continued, placing the two keys from his hand onto the desk.

"The auditing time, as per usual, is five days. During these five days, you are free to enter and exit the accounting room and Document Library."

Duan Rong glanced at the two keys but didn’t move. Seeing Duan Rong stationary, Xiao Yu stepped forward and grabbed the keys.

"Originally, we intended to arrange two assistants for you, but the chief accountant’s suggestion is to let you choose yourself. I have here a list of personnel, feel free to take a look."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong’s eyes moved slightly. Xu Shouxian’s arrangement seemed to avoid suspicion.

Wang De’an spoke while placing a paper filled with names onto the desk.

Duan Rong glanced at the paper and decisively said, "No need to look. I’ll pick Huang Qing."

"Huang Qing?" Wang De’an gave Duan Rong a strange look because Huang Qing wasn’t on the list at all. "Huang Qing is just an apprentice accountant, still not very skilled in many tasks. Escort Master Duan, how about choosing someone else?"

"No need, him it is! Whether skilled or not, it’s irrelevant!" Duan Rong declared openly.

He wasn’t expecting the audit to uncover anything significant. Duan Rong had already thought it through yesterday; with him and Xiao Yu both inexperienced, whatever they find would probably be procedural, just to muddle through these five days.

And even if they did find a minor issue, Xu Shouxian, being such an esteemed figure, is not someone they can afford to offend.

Seeing Duan Rong insist, Wang De’an had no choice but to acquiesce and turned to look at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu didn’t bother looking at the list either, and said, "I heard there’s someone reputed as the best in mental calculations in your back-yard accounting room, what’s the name... Get him for me."

Wang De’an’s face immediately turned a bit sour, thinking to himself: You’re really bold in choosing, aren’t you?

However, outwardly he maintained a smile saying, "Miss Xiao mentioned Li Jun, but he’s also not on this list! Besides, he is the assistant to the chief accountant Xu; the daily audit work cannot do without him."

"Miss Xiao might have to pick another person!" Wang De’an advised courteously.

"Since Miss Xiao has chosen Li Jun, let him come over then."

A voice suddenly came from outside the door, and then Xu Shouxian entered while fanning himself, looking at Wang De’an, said, "The shopkeeper has spoken; we should fully cooperate."

Xiao Yu originally spoke of him based on hearsay, casually naming him without knowing he was Xu Shouxian’s assistant. She glanced at Xu Shouxian, only to see him smiling kindly at her, showing no reaction.

Upon seeing Xu Shouxian step in, Wang De’an promptly nodded in agreement, and subsequently fetched Li Jun and Huang Qing, then led Duan Rong and Xiao Yu to the Document Library in the west.

The side rooms in the west were similar to those in the east, divided into four rooms: A, B, C, and D.

Actually, the side rooms C and D were being used as the Document Library.

The account books of Yuan Shun Escort Agency are typically preserved for four years.

After four years, they undergo destruction; otherwise, the sheer volume would overwhelm the Document Library.

During year-end audits, typically only this year’s accounts are examined. Even if issues are identified, investigations can only be made up to the fourth year on record. Anything prior would have already been destroyed.

This year’s accounted books are all organized, stored on the shelves in the west side room C.

Wang De’an held only a lamp while leading the group inside, instructing, "The Document Library is usually forbidden to use fire, so only one lamp can be lit."

Duan Rong entered and found the room was not large, and it was filled with tall shelves. The shelves were loaded with neatly stacked wooden boxes, each with labeled tags.

Furthermore, the room had only one door and no windows.

Wang De’an placed the lamp in a corner on a desk then turned with a smile, saying, "Here is where you’ll be conducting the audit for these five days. Daily matters will be assisted by Li Jun and Huang Qing. Should you require anything extra, feel free to find me in Dong Yi Room."

After finishing, Wang De’an walked out on his own.

Duan Rong looked at the small dark room, feeling gloomy. "In such a dark room, with only one lamp, is this an audit or a test of our vision?"

Li Jun said, "Escort Master Duan, don’t misunderstand, we normally only use one lamp here. With so many documents at stake, in case of a fire, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Duan Rong glanced at Li Jun without responding; he still vividly remembered what Li Jun said about him on the day he received silver. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

After a while in the dark room, everyone gradually adjusted to the dim lighting.

Duan Rong approached a nearby shelf, opened a wooden box casually, and observed several account books stacked inside. He looked around the room, though it wasn’t large, it had twenty or so shelves.

He looked at Xiao Yu, whose eyes were equally perplexed.

With so many account books, where should they begin the audit?

Duan Rong asked, "Are all these account books for this year?"

Li Jun replied, "This west side room C holds account books for both last year and this year."

Duan Rong glanced at Huang Qing standing there dumbfounded, realizing it’s his first time learning this too, he secretly sighed, grateful Xiao Yu chose someone with knowledge.

Duan Rong’s eyes sparked and he suddenly looked at Huang Qing, saying, "I’ll start with the summary account books for December, please help me find it."

Huang Qing blinked, looking at Li Jun, who glared at him impatiently, saying, "South, third shelf."

Then Huang Qing went to that shelf and started searching.

Xiao Yu was at a loss for what to do, seeing Duan Rong suddenly request the summary account books, she followed suit and asked Li Jun, "Then let me see the summary account books for March."

Hearing this, Li Jun walked at a pace to the northern shelf, squatted down, and opened a wooden box from the bottom. From a pile of account books inside, he pulled one out, glanced at the cover, and returned with it.