Chapter 707 - 543: The Person Ran Away

Chapter 707: Chapter 543: The Person Ran Away

"What do you think of Accountant Xu’s character?"

Gu Chengyu felt that both Accountant Xu and Accountant Ding had decent character. Since he needed personnel for investigation and they were skilled with account books, he figured he might as well consider them.

As for the accountant at the restaurant, choosing another might not be easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.

"I think he’s a bit rigid, but upright in character and does well with the accounts," Accountant Ding saw an opportunity and thought to help if he could.

"He hasn’t found a job yet, has he? If he’s willing, have him come see me at 7 AM tomorrow."

The matter of investigation was yet unresolved. Both the restaurant’s shopkeeper and accountant needed replacements. Gu Chengyu thought it best to take it slow.

Gu Chengyu waved his hand, indicating Accountant Ding should leave. He was waiting for Ming Mo to return with a report.

Accountant Ding hesitated for a moment and carefully said, "Do you think Manager Xing was deceived?"

Gu Chengyu’s actions were so obvious that Accountant Ding wasn’t surprised he could tell.

"It’s just a suspicion."

Seeing that Gu Chengyu didn’t want to say more, Accountant Ding nodded, "Then I’ll take my leave and have Accountant Xu come to your residence tomorrow."

Ming Yan was to take Xing Yang to another courtyard for supervision while Gu Chengyu continued reading in the study, waiting for Ming Mo’s return.

"Master!" Ming Mo saw the candlelight in the study and knew his master hadn’t slept.

Gu Chengyu took one look at Ming Mo’s face and knew things weren’t going well.

"Did you bring the person?" Gu Chengyu estimated the time, it should have been an hour and a half.

Ming Mo shook his head, "Looks like they ran. I took men to the courtyard Manager Xing mentioned, knocked for a while but no one answered. We climbed in over the wall and found no one in the house. There were some women’s clothes left, but the jewelry box on the dressing table was empty, and other valuables were gone."

Gu Chengyu frowned. The thing he feared most had happened.

"Then I found Dayou, he took us to two big gambling dens in the Prefecture, but we still found no one."

Ming Mo became awkward as he continued, "We even asked in the two brothels, where Dayou questioned the madams. They said they hadn’t seen such a person."

Gu Chengyu got up and paced, a habit when he was thinking.

Accountant Ding and Xing Yang had said that Yang’s brother knew quite a few people. Since she wasn’t at the gambling dens and brothels, had they fled together?

The more he thought, the more likely it seemed. If Yang had nothing to hide, why would she run?

At this point, the answer was almost in sight.

"Tomorrow, leave some people to investigate Yang and her brother. I suspect Yang was sent by someone. Approaching Manager Xing was obviously for Juxiang Building, and her intentions are not pure."

Gu Chengyu wanted to catch this person while still in Jingyuan Prefecture. Otherwise, once he returned to the Capital, what mischief could that person cause?

Besides, there’s only a thousand days of a thief’s deeds, not a thousand days to guard against a thief. Who knows what underhanded trick the other side might use next?

However, Yang’s news channel is impressively quick. How did she find out about Xing Yang so soon after his capture?

Could it be that there are Yang’s informants among the restaurant staff? That’s also possible. The person behind might not be targeting the restaurant, that still requires confirmation.

It’s also possible that knowing the true owner of the restaurant, they’re after him. None of this can be verified yet.

The night passed quickly, and Gu Chengyu maintained his habit of rising early to practice calligraphy.

"Jinyu!" Zhu Pang’s voice rang out from afar, and Gu Chengyu reluctantly put down his brush.

"You’re up early!"

Zhu Pang entered Gu Chengyu’s inner study, seeing two full sheets of practiced calligraphy, he couldn’t help but smirk.

"Don’t you get tired of doing the same thing every day?"

He plopped down in an armchair, bored, and looked at Gu Chengyu.

"Why would I get tired? Do you get tired of eating and drinking water every day? You often practice swordsmanship, don’t you feel bored?"

After hearing Gu Chengyu, Zhu Pang thought it made sense.

"I love swords, how could I feel bored?"

"Weren’t we going back home today? Let’s set off!" Zhu Pang was eager, excited to see Changling Mountain Range.

Gu Chengyu smiled, "No rush. There were some matters left from yesterday that need handling. We can’t leave for another hour and a half or so."

"Ming Mo! Go tell the shopkeeper at First-class House that he should look after Juxiang Building for the next few days, I’ll find a suitable shopkeeper as soon as possible."

Gu Chengyu handed a letter to Ming Mo, stamped with his private seal. The shopkeeper at First-class House would believe it.

Moreover, Ming Mo and Ming Yan were well-known among his people, making his message more convincing.

Thinking about a shopkeeper made Gu Chengyu feel overwhelmed. It seemed he had to call Yu Tuanzi back first.

After all, this was partly Yu Tuanzi’s negligence, and he had to give an account.

Still, he also needed to recruit a shopkeeper from another State to take over Juxiang Building in Jingyuan Prefecture. Yu Tuanzi knew more about the situations in other States.

"It’ll take that long? Haven’t you resolved it yet?" Zhu Pang was puzzled, unaware of what transpired with Xing Yang last night.

Gu Chengyu nodded, "It’s a bit complicated. Pull up one vegetable, and it drags up the mud; needing more thought."

Zhu Pang frowned, recalling what he knew of Gu Wanqian and Yu Lin, and after thinking, he spoke up.

"I may not understand your business, but I think you have too few reliable people. You should buy some more. Sometimes, with too much power, ambition follows."

Though friends, Zhu Pang didn’t press too directly; it was Gu Chengyu’s private matter, and he couldn’t interfere.

Gu Chengyu understood Zhu Pang’s meaning, knowing it was out of concern, and sighed helplessly.

"You know I lack manpower! Reliable shopkeepers and stewards aren’t easy to come by!"

Zhu Pang realized Gu Chengyu wasn’t a noble son, making it difficult to buy good, reliable servants.

After all, good stewards were often nurtured from a young age by their masters and rarely let go unless they committed an unforgivable mistake. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be sold.

These people knew their master’s secrets, so if they did err, they’d be punished, not sold. It’s not easy to buy such people.

If training their own, not only does Gu Chengyu lack time, but the business also can’t wait!

"Isn’t that nephew of yours, Gu Wanqian, doing well? Find some more in the clan to train!"

Such matters make Zhu Pang think of clansmen first. Their official families couldn’t be personally involved in business affairs. Instead, they let kin handle business, not trusting outsiders!