Chapter 16: The Master of Actuarial Science
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Chai Xiao recognized the man clearly and was startled once again.
“Sir! You’ve come too! When did you take this seat?”
The newcomer was none other than Su Zhongjing!
This young tutor, well-read and gifted with talents that could shape the world, appeared slender yet exuded an air of refined elegance.
Clad in a simple gray robe, his modesty was even more pronounced.
“As for me, I heard you were running errands with the guards, so I came over.”
“I arrived just before or after Consort Yun, coinciding with the emperor’s mention of having breakfast.”
“I also want to make a statement!”
“Let them do the calculations. By saving forty taels a day on meals, that’s four hundred taels in ten days!”
Chai Xiao smiled wryly upon hearing this.
Indeed, under such circumstances, to remain unnoticed by him and still have others help with the accounting—only his mother and teacher could do that.
Yet these two, though having arrived earlier, said nothing and just watched from the sidelines.
Are they here to watch the show?
Yesterday, it was agreed to tackle the most difficult problem at hand together and raise a million taels.
Now they simply watch as I both “direct” and “perform” alone.
Are they just taking the child for a walk?
But then again, these two surely wanted to observe the independence of their eighteen-year-old emperor.
Whether he could finally shake off the label of an incompetent.
Chai Xiao raised both hands and bowed deeply.
“I haven’t thought much, only hoping not to ruin myself by overspending!”
“Unnecessary expenses will be funneled into the million-tael donation fund to earn profits.”
“As for letting Chef Yi Tai open a restaurant, perhaps that is currently the most effective revenue source.”
“Even so, I have caused mother and teacher to reduce their meals and save money with me.”
“I apologize in advance!”
Consort Yun and Su Zhongjing both waved their hands.
“This is a good thing!”
Su Zhongjing spoke with heartfelt emotion.
“I have been your teacher for over ten years, but today I feel that you are my teacher!”
Chai Xiao was startled and bowed even lower.
“Teacher, is it that saving on meals troubled you, so you torment your student like this?”
“I will personally pay, using the money I tricked from Second Prince Chai Huo. Shall I treat you to a grand lunch?”
Consort Yun laughed and lightly tapped her son.
“You! Last night you gambled with the courier and won two hundred taels from the teacher. Why not just return that?”
“Why still use money tricked from Second Prince?”
Chai Xiao kept waving his hands.
“The money won from you and the teacher is the principal for earning profits in the million-tael fund, so it cannot be returned!”
“Let’s keep using money tricked from Chai Huo. If I can trick more next time, all the better!”
“Ha ha!”
Consort Yun and Su Zhongjing could not help but smile.
Su Zhongjing’s expression soon turned solemn.
“Your Majesty, you just promised Chef Yi that rent need not be paid!”
“May I ask, does this also count as an expense? Where do you plan to locate this restaurant?”
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Chai Xiao stiffened and sighed.
“Teacher, you always think things through with great care and attention to detail. I was just planning to inspect the site in person. Would you care to join me?”
Su Zhongjing smiled.
“Let’s go see!”
Consort Yun, seeing her son and teacher thinking alike, was both surprised and delighted, and said,
“I’ll go too!”
Chai Xiao called to Zhang Bao.
“Accountant, gather Yi Tai and the deputy chefs he intends to assign as heads at the four restaurants!”
“Also, have Yao Jin bring a few men!”
Accountant?
Zhang Bao was momentarily puzzled, not understanding why His Majesty used such a title.
But since morning, he had grown accustomed to being led about.
Just obey the orders!
Besides, calling on the head and deputy chefs was akin to familiarizing them early with the environment in preparation for opening the restaurants.
Bringing along the captain of the guards and soldiers ensured security during their undercover visit.
Very thoughtful—there was no reason not to comply!
“Yes!”
Zhang Bao responded promptly, arranging for the group to accompany them.
He had Heyun and Lanzhi escort His Majesty, Consort Yun, and the young tutor back to change into casual clothes.
He himself followed closely behind His Majesty.
Chai Xiao watched Consort Yun and the tutor go ahead, walking before the grand steward, then turned back with a smile.
“To be called an accountant, one must master three skills: assessment, pricing, and allocation.”
“I saw you just now didn’t use an abacus. You did it all mentally, quick and accurate—not bad!”
“You could say you possess the basic qualities of a good accountant.”
“But there is still a long way to go!”
“First, through mental calculation, you must know the price and compare which is better or worse.”
“This is called assessment!”
“Second, judge the trend and set the price. For example, lamb buns at an outside restaurant—should the price be doubled or tripled?”
“Perhaps, because they are common, only doubled.”
“But sea cucumber stewed with pig tendons or braised deer tail—rare royal dishes that are hard to taste—could be tripled or more!”
“This is pricing!”
“Third, how many people are needed to run these four restaurants? Should the staff be evenly distributed or vary?”
“What about the daily dish preparation? Should it be exactly the same or specialized?”
“Combining the restaurant’s name with its signature dishes—does that make it more appealing?”
“For example, the East Restaurant, focusing on pigeon broth, named Yi Yin Soup Feast.”
“The South Restaurant, specializing in roasted fish, named Tai He Whole Fish.”
“This is allocation!”
Seeing the unusual light in Zhang Bao’s eyes, Chai Xiao knew he had found the right person for this “ancient knowledge applied to the present.”
In truth, he had only outlined the most basic functions of an accountant.
He had not even mentioned financial risk assessment and avoidance, probability statistics, or setting edge models.
Even if he had, Zhang Bao would not have understood.
This practical introduction was already enough to keep him practicing for a while.
More importantly, every point presented a brand-new perspective for him.
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Especially the mention of Yi Yin Soup Feast and Tai He Whole Fish—it surely struck a unique chord within him.
It could really be done this way?
So unconventional!
No—
It was simply incredible!
Not only that—
It could indeed be done!
Just that he had never thought about it this way before!
Chai Xiao emphasized his words.
“In the end, to be a good ‘accountant,’ two words: dedication.”
“To turn 5,600 taels of income into reality, seven words: do what you must do!”
Zhang Bao, listening to His Majesty, unconsciously stopped walking.
He felt his heart beating erratically, no longer under his control.
At first, it tightened as if declaring his own humility and ignorance.
Then, suddenly, it swelled like the beating of war drums, sounding endlessly: “Charge! Charge! Charge!”
Both startled and joyful!
His mind went blank initially.
But soon, all the “incredible” thoughts inspired by His Majesty flooded in like wild horses, galloping wildly.
He was dazed by the shock but more filled with eager anticipation of what was to come.
These two extremes intertwined and collided, plunging him into a near-mad state.
After finishing, Chai Xiao paused, quietly watching Zhang Bao.
Zhang Bao was stunned, then immediately dropped to one knee.
“Your Majesty! I accept your command!”
“Dedication!”
“Do what you must do!”
Chai Xiao smiled.
“Rise! Yi Tai is a capable chef, but time is tight. If he can perfect the dishes, that alone is no small feat!”
“The rest of the matters, you take care of!”
“In ten days, you may slowly train a few apprentices to take over.”
“Also, have Yi Tai and the deputy chefs learn about precise allocation.”
“So you can free your hands for greater tasks awaiting you!”
Zhang Bao held his hands respectfully and solemnly replied.
“Yes!”
As he spoke, Chai Xiao reached the gates of the residence, about to step inside.
Zhang Bao asked one last question.
“Your Majesty, Consort Yun and the tutor just asked: among the East, South, West, and North restaurants, which one shall we visit first?”
Chai Xiao did not hesitate, signaling Heyun and Lanzhi to close the door.
“We’ll know when we get there!”
“Oh, and you two, help me find the troop deployment tiger tally!”
“I forgot where I put it!”
“Who knows? We might need it any day now!”