Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 704 - 540: More Intense

Ming Yan feared he might not search meticulously, so he called several guards who returned with him to conduct the search.

Gu Chengyu casually picked up a small booklet from the little bundle, which should record Manager Xing’s own account books.

He opened to the first page and carefully examined the details at the beginning.

As he slowly read on, he discovered that every embezzlement Silver made from the accounts by Manager Xing was recorded here, surely to reconcile with the public accounts.

Gu Chengyu sneered, how foolish indeed, to not have destroyed the booklet. Did he think he would not come to Jingyuan Prefecture?

As Gu Chengyu flipped through the booklet, Accountant Ding and Manager Xing did not dare make a sound; Manager Xing didn’t even dare groan from the pain.

He considered the situation; the owner taking his life was a piece of cake. A servant dying meant little, as the government wouldn’t pursue it.

Besides, he heard the owner had significant connections, judging by the followers calling him ’Master’. He must be a court official.

The government might try to curry favor, unlikely to cause trouble for the owner. Besides, dealing with a servant, the government wouldn’t know.

He now deeply regretted his decisions; blinded by greed, thinking Silver was easy to obtain?

Gu Chengyu tossed the booklet in front of Xing Yang, startling him into pleading. This pleading was genuine, and he dared not play tricks anymore.

"Spare my life, Master, I won’t dare again. Please give me another chance..."

"Are all your Silver listed here? This doesn’t match your account book; where did the missing 1,000-plus Silver go? Are Accountant Xu and Steward Yu aware of your dismissal?"

Gu Chengyu interrupted Xing Yang’s plea, asking him directly.

Despite Xing Yang’s minor embezzlement, Gu Chengyu was unconcerned, yet he urgently wanted to know whether Yu Tuanzi knew of this.

Yu Tuanzi had been with him since he was five, initially organizing things for him; he only provided the Silver and moved his lips.

Over the years, it was impossible not to have any emotional ties between them. Previously, he had some trust in Yu Tuanzi, otherwise, he wouldn’t have shared the matter of poison with him.

Yu Tuanzi, busy inside and out in recent years, diligently followed his instructions. He was reluctant to consider the consequences of Yu Tuanzi betraying him.

Silver, he didn’t truly mind; he had a lot, more than he could spend.

Yu Tuanzi’s monthly salary had increased long ago, and every year during the festival, he gave generous red envelopes.

He noticed Yu Tuanzi’s efforts, naturally not treating him poorly.

But how much he gave was his wish; Yu Tuanzi reaching into the public accounts, even if only for an ounce, still broke the rules.

Gu Chengyu made up his mind, regardless of how many years Yu Tuanzi followed him or the emotional ties between them. If Yu Tuanzi indeed reached out, he would show no mercy.

If it was merely negligence, he could understand. After all, with more restaurants, Yu Tuanzi recently focused on newly opened restaurants in other States, overlooking Jingyuan Prefecture was forgivable.

Moreover, Xing Yang hadn’t tampered with the account book for very long, only about half a month.

Gu Chengyu thought Yu Tuanzi’s authority was a bit too large.

Plus, one didn’t have three heads and six arms; to manage everything was indeed difficult. He’d need to find someone to divide Yu Tuanzi’s authority, ensuring peace of mind.

Seeing Gu Chengyu questioning, Xing Yang tremulously replied, "The Silver is all here; the missing 1,000-plus Silver were all spent by Yang’s brother. He frequently lacked Silver and would ask me for it. I was forced to take from the account."

Gu Chengyu squinted, studying Xing Yang’s expression, seeing he seemed genuinely not lying, he had another plan in mind.

"How could I dare to tell Steward Yu about this?"

Xing Yang hadn’t thought much of it, his mind hurt with each throb. Whatever the master asked, he replied, unable to think.

"When was Steward Yu last in Jingyuan Prefecture? Were you present?" Gu Chengyu turned to Accountant Ding, though Xing Yang had no reason to lie, as he was beyond saving himself.

Yet Gu Chengyu couldn’t rest easy as Yu Tuanzi might have detected this matter but pretended not to notice and hadn’t yet intervened.

Tugging over the account book recorded by Xing Yang, Gu Chengyu flipped through, discovering that according to Xing Yang’s account book, in just over half a month, he’d embezzled at least 2,000 Silver.

In the first ten days, he dared only manipulate the income; lately, he reached into expenses.

Xing Yang’s speed was notably fast; he just manipulated the entry and started to balance the accounts. Probably not yet month-end, even though the accounts superficially balanced, they remained rough, unable to withstand scrutiny.

Gu Chengyu’s powerful calculations, by carefully reviewing and calculating, could identify where the problem arose.

The appetite only grows larger; within a few days, the manipulation became much more extensive than before. Having tasted profit, he would never stop, only becoming more excessive.

In just over half a month, he’d profited over 2,000 Silver—a colossal benefit, sinking Xing Yang deeper.

However, Xing Yang surely didn’t dare take too much, as afterward, profit fell short compared to before, which would arouse Gu Chengyu’s suspicion.

"Master, Steward Yu only stayed for two days last time he came, then rushed away about seventeen or eighteen days ago. At that time, both I and Accountant Xu were present, the same as before. But after Steward Yu left, Manager Xing promptly drove out Steward Xu."

Accountant Ding inwardly startled, speculating the master’s intentions.

Could this lead to doubting Steward Yu? Previously, he heard Steward Yu had been following the master for many years, managing affairs outside for him.

Only in recent years, the master’s nephew, Gu Wanqian, was added, though he didn’t manage restaurant matters.

Gu Chengyu nodded, but inside deliberated.

Patrols of the restaurants were periodic, Xing Yang couldn’t know when Yu Tuanzi would arrive in Jingyuan Prefecture.

After Yu Tuanzi left Jingyuan Prefecture, Xing Yang took action on the restaurant accounts; was this a coincidence, or did Yu Tuanzi secretly instruct it?

It could be that after seeing Yu Tuanzi gone, Xing Yang assumed he wouldn’t return and thus confidently falsified records.

It seems necessary to quickly arrange personnel for inspections, visiting each State to verify account books.

When prior accounts arrived in his hands, he carefully checked them; the annual income showed no major discrepancies, only minor fluctuations which were perfectly normal.

Even if personal enrichment occurred in between, it wouldn’t be as excessive as with Xing Yang’s actions here.

Water too clean holds no fish; Gu Chengyu could tolerate gaining a bit of profit, but Xing Yang truly went overboard, taking over 2,000 Silver in just over half a month.