Zhu Linglong was the girl whom Ruan Tongjie bought from the slave broker after arriving in Xichuan City.
After a few days of contact, Jin Feng discovered that this girl was extremely sensitive to numbers and could calculate very quickly.
Ruan Tongjie had undergone rigorous training and multiple assessments in Xihe Bay before qualifying to serve as manager in Xichuan City. Using an abacus was a basic skill for her.
Yet even when Ruan Tongjie used an abacus, her calculation speed was still no match for Zhu Linglong’s mental arithmetic.
Jin Feng had never before encountered such a mathematical genius, so he paid her more attention.
As a result, Jin Feng found that this girl was indeed an excellent talent for running a money house.
Not only was she sensitive to numbers, but more rare still, her way of handling people and affairs was, like her name, exquisitely perceptive and transparent.
Jin Feng had originally planned to cultivate Ruan Tongjie, then send her to the capital to oversee the money house there, while promoting the current deputy manager to replace her.
After discovering Zhu Linglong, however, Jin Feng gradually changed his mind.
He asked Qing Muluan to investigate Zhu Linglong’s background while continuing his own observations.
Xichuan City was the Qing family’s main base. Qing Muluan needed only one morning to uncover Zhu Linglong’s family history going back eight generations.
Her original family had been a wealthy merchant household that had long been in the restaurant business.
Though not an immensely rich clan, they had lived very comfortably.
Half a year earlier, Xue Henglu had dined at the Zhu family restaurant. He became drunk and caused a disturbance there.
Zhu Linglong’s elder brother had also drunk too much at the time and spat in Xue Henglu’s face.
The honourable Young Master Xue, the future brother-in-law of the emperor, had never suffered such humiliation.
He not only ordered his guards to beat Zhu Linglong’s brother to death on the spot, but also sent men to search the Zhu home, where they found two sets of armour that her father had collected and treasured.
Privately possessing armour was an offence that could be treated as serious or minor. Many prominent families in Dakang secretly did the same.
If no one pursued the matter, officials were too lazy to bother.
But if someone did pursue it, the charge of intending rebellion could be applied, a capital crime.
The Zhu family was extremely unlucky to encounter the petty and vindictive Xue Henglu.
Xue Henglu not only had powerful backing, but clung stubbornly to the case.
With ironclad evidence in hand, and the Qing family unwilling to intervene for an unrelated merchant, the Zhu family’s fate was predictable.
All male members were conscripted into military servitude. The women were sold to the entertainment quarter or the slave broker.
Zhu Linglong’s mother, unwilling to see her daughter fall into the entertainment quarter, cruelly beat her until her face was bruised and swollen before the house was raided.
As a result, Zhu Linglong was indeed not selected for the entertainment quarter. She then encountered Ruan Tongjie at the slave broker while the latter was choosing staff, and thus came to the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce.
In recent months, Zhu Linglong had been working under Ruan Tongjie.
After reading the report, Jin Feng turned to Qing Muluan. “Can Zhu Linglong’s family members still be found?”
“The women should all be in Xichuan City and relatively easy to locate, but I cannot guarantee they are still alive. The men were sent to the front as military labourers half a year ago…”
Qing Muluan stopped there.
Dakang treated slaves harshly. Many household slaves did not survive a year.
Several of the Zhu women were no longer young. Having lived comfortably before, the sudden double blow of status and treatment made it uncertain whether they could have endured until now.
The men needed no mention. Once sent to the front, they were certainly assigned to vanguard camps as cannon fodder.
Very few could survive half a year.
Jin Feng sighed as well and said, “Try to enquire anyway. Find whoever can be found. Consider it a favour I owe your brother.”
“They are merely household slaves and convicts. I can handle it without involving my brother.”
Qing Muluan asked, “Sir, do you intend to promote Zhu Linglong heavily?”
“Zhu Linglong has a clean family background and considerable natural talent in accounting. She is a good candidate worth cultivating.”
Jin Feng nodded.
He currently lacked capable people under him, especially specialised talent like Zhu Linglong.
“Very well. I shall see to it at once,” Qing Muluan replied.
Over the following days, Jin Feng began meeting Zhu Linglong privately, occasionally giving her extra tuition.
During this process, Jin Feng discovered that Zhu Linglong also had strong learning ability.
She grasped things after a single explanation. Not only did she quickly master the money house operating model he proposed, but she offered many highly useful suggestions.
This strengthened Jin Feng’s resolve to develop her.
Beyond private tuition, he began testing her by letting her take over his own role and manage the money house entirely.
Zhu Linglong did not disappoint him. She performed outstandingly in every aspect.
She even handled matters more smoothly than Jin Feng himself.
Jin Feng observed her closely for a full half month. Once certain that Zhu Linglong could indeed manage the money house alone, he made his decision.
That day, after the money house closed, Jin Feng sent for Zhu Linglong.
“Sir, you wished to see me?” Zhu Linglong greeted Jin Feng with a respectful curtsey.
She held Jin Feng in very high regard.
Not only because he was her boss’s boss, but also for his profound knowledge and easy manner.
Before meeting Jin Feng, no one had ever surpassed her in mathematics.
After meeting him, however, she was completely convinced.
During the time she had studied under him, she had encountered many mathematical theories and financial concepts she had never heard of before.
Many of them fascinated her.
Jin Feng seemed to have opened the door to a new world for her. Apart from work and study hours, she spent all her spare time thinking about the new knowledge.
“Yes, there is something I wish to discuss,” Jin Feng said as he walked. “If I asked you to leave Xichuan, lead a team to the capital, and open a new money house there, would you feel confident?”
Zhu Linglong stopped in her tracks upon hearing this.
Her mind raced.
As an intelligent person, she naturally understood that Jin Feng asking this question essentially meant he had already decided to send her to the capital.
Those skilled in mathematics usually have strong logical thinking.
In an instant, Zhu Linglong weighed the consequences of accepting or refusing.
She also made her decision in her heart.
“Thank you, sir, for your great kindness and trust in allowing Linglong to open a money house in such an important place as the capital.”
Zhu Linglong expressed her gratitude with a deep curtsey, her expression exceptionally sincere.
Yet Jin Feng felt his heart sink.
He knew she was about to say “but”.
Sure enough, Zhu Linglong continued, “However, Linglong cannot accept your kind offer for the time being.”
“You should think carefully. You already understand the importance of the money house. If you manage the one in the capital well, your salary and status will certainly be no less than Manager Ruan’s,” Jin Feng reminded her.
Zhu Linglong still shook her head. “I have failed your trust and cultivation. Linglong is willing to accept punishment.”
“Can you tell me why?” Jin Feng pressed.
Zhu Linglong was truly an excellent candidate for running a money house. Sending her to the capital was the most suitable choice Jin Feng could think of at present.
“Linglong does not wish to leave Xichuan City. That way… that way I can search for my family.”
Having said this, Zhu Linglong quickly assured him, “Sir, rest assured. Linglong will never use work time or resources for personal matters. Once I receive my wages, I shall entrust others to search.”
