Uncle Chen's sudden voice woke me from my dilemma.
Three pairs of eyes were looking at me with intense focus.
Gulp.
"I want charcoal to draw lines…" I blurted out immediately, the first thing that came to my mind.
I couldn't say it directly to Uncle Chen, that he was overcharging everyone.
I didn't even know what other lenders were like.
"I'll go get it…"
Yulan immediately responded.
She stood up, went into the kitchen, brought out a thin piece of charcoal, ideal for drawing fine lines and handed it to me.
"Thank you, Sister Yulan…"
After thanking her, I used the thick edge of the book to draw lines, separating the data of each and every month into the columns I had devised.
Taking the full stack of papers, I handed it to Uncle Chen and said, "With this, my calculation is completed."
Uncle Chen took a small note from his robe.
As he looked at the final sum I had calculated, he uttered, "Amazing! You really completed this long calculation perfectly!"
It was very clear that he was checking the value I came up, and comparing it to the numbers in notebook in his hand.
Wait! he already had the calculation done?
Then why did he ask me to do it?
Was it because Yulan said that I was cheating, and he wanted to test me?
I sighed deeply.
Thank goodness the calculation wasn't difficult at all, I could do it even with my eyes closed.
With this I hope my name is cleared.
Both Yulan and Yuer looked back and forth between the notebook and the papers.
Then Yuer suddenly pointed at my papers and shouted with sparkling eyes, "I want these!"
She tried to grab them, but Uncle Chen gently removed her hands, preventing her from tearing the papers.
The entire time, his eyes never left the pages.
Only after a few moments did he place them down and ask me, "Who taught you all this?"
"Hm?"
I had already told them that my parents taught me mathematics, but I repeated it again.
"My parents taught me these calculations. They said I would become a good merchant in the future…"
"No, I'm not talking about the calculations…"
He took one of the papers and pointed at the columns and rows.
"Why did you separate these details and enter them into different boxes?"
Oh… he was talking about that.
That was taught by the kind person from another world, but he had told me not to mention him to anyone, no matter what.
I hadn't even told my parents about him.
So I replied with an innocent look, "I thought that sorting similar information separately would make it easier to find when needed. Is that wrong, Uncle Chen?"
He paused for a moment, staring at my face.
Then he suddenly gripped my shoulders firmly.
"Little Tianyuan, listen to me carefully…"
His tone was serious as he continued.
"The way you carried yourself when asking me for money, the immediate action of wanting to transfer your parents' assets into your name, and now this accounting ability… none of these are normal for someone your age."
He tightened his grip slightly.
My heartbeats faster as I heard.
"You are more intelligent and more capable than any child I have seen. You might be a genius who appears only once in centuries."
"Huh?!"
I looked at him in bewilderment.
What was he talking about?
For a moment, I thought he had discovered that I was lying.
Thank goodness, he had simply mistaken me for some kind of genius or something like that.
Only then did I truly relax.
As for the genius thing, I already knew I wasn't one.
The kind person from the dream had told me that I was just an average child who happened to be lucky enough to learn things at an early age.
He had also said that all children my age in the other world could do such things easily.
Naturally, I believed him.
Unlike that other world, children in this world had no proper way to learn.
If they had schools like the other world, many children far smarter than me would appear in no time.
Before I could refuse Uncle Chen's words, he spoke again, his gaze intense.
"Even though you're a genius that appears once in a century, you're still green. If left alone, you may end up living your life without ever using the gift entrusted to you by Heaven…"
His breathing grew a little heavier as he continued.
"We can't let it rot away. You need to learn many things from now on. Do you have any interest in the money-lending business?"
That question immediately caught my attention.
Even though I clearly knew I hadn't done anything to deserve such a reaction from him, I still nodded.
I really was interested in the money-lending business.
I even had a system for it.
From the imprint of the system, I already knew how it worked, but I had no idea how to lend money safely and recover it effectively.
I didn't know how to draft contracts or bonds for lending money.
Seeing me nod, he suddenly lifted me high into the air and laughed loudly.
"Great! From now on, come to my shop and work there until you learn everything!"
His voice was filled with excitement, and he looked at me as if I were some kind of treasure.
I could only nod timidly.
I didn't understand why he was acting this way.
All I knew was that I needed this man's help to fend off my uncle and aunt, and to sell and rent out my assets.
Even though something in my mind warned me that accepting his offer might cost me my freedom for a while, I didn't mind.
Once I rented everything out, I couldn't rely solely on rent to live.
There was no guarantee that tenants would pay properly every month.
Sooner or later, I would have to work somewhere.
If it was Uncle Chen's shop, it would be a good opportunity to learn.
"Daddy, I want to do it too!"
Little Yuer's voice helped me break free from Uncle Chen's grasp as he lifted her up as well, spinning her around.
The giggles of a child and the laughter of a man echoed through the room.
Frankly, I should have been the one feeling happy about it.
"Guangyi… both Zhao Hu and Sun Tie have arrived now… Mm? What are you all doing?"
Madam Liu arrived with Yuxin, her second daughter, but stopped short at the sight of Uncle Chen's enthusiasm.
I was jolted awake from my thoughts immediately.
Finally, the guards had arrived!