Chapter 797: New Year Gifts
Holding Bai Hanyun’s hand, Feng Xiyan led her into the small alley beside the store.
Following him, Bai Hanyun looked around curiously. Soon, she saw a wooden door not far ahead.
Stopping before it, Feng Xiyan knocked and waited.
Knock, knock, knock.
A moment later, the door opened from inside. When the servant saw that it was Feng Xiyan, he was startled before quickly clasping his hands and bowing.
"This servant greets the Great General."
Feng Xiyan gestured for him to rise, then asked, "Is your master at the store?"
The servant kept his respectful bow as he replied, "Answering the Great General, only my family’s Eldest Young Master is here today."
"Take me to him," Feng Xiyan ordered.
Stepping aside to let them pass, the servant said, "Great General, please come with this servant."
After closing the door, the servant led them toward the back courtyard of the store.
Noticing that the store seemed larger than the last time she had visited, Bai Hanyun realized that the He Clan truly excelled at business.
In just a few months, they had not only opened several more branch stores in Xiqiang City and the surrounding areas, but had also expanded the original store.
Leading them to the main hall, the servant said, "Great General, Fairy Bai, please wait here for a moment. This servant will go and inform the Eldest Young Master of your arrival."
"Alright."
Receiving Feng Xiyan’s permission, the servant bowed and hurried away.
Not long after he left, two maidservants entered carrying trays of small cakes and a pot of tea. After serving the tea and refreshments, the two maidservants bowed to Feng Xiyan and Bai Hanyun, then quietly retreated from the main hall.
While Bai Hanyun enjoyed the tea and cakes, in the side hall, the sound of an abacus clicking echoed through the silence.
Clack, clack, clack.
With every sound of the abacus, the hearts of the store managers skipped a beat.
Sitting below the main seat, one of the branch managers wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then leaned closer to the colleague beside him.
"Why is it taking so long to check the accounts today?" he asked in a low voice.
Hearing this, the other store manager shook his head and replied, "Maybe someone is tampering with the accounts."
The first manager sucked in a sharp breath and asked fearfully, "Who would dare do that?"
The second store manager did not answer. He simply shrugged in silence.
Just when the store managers felt that they would not survive today’s account inspection, a servant entered the study.
Standing before He Jingtai, he clasped his hands and bowed slightly. "This servant greets the Eldest Young Master."
Without pausing his work, He Jingtai asked calmly, "What is it?"
"Eldest Young Master, the Great General and Fairy Bai are waiting for you in the main hall." The servant replied respectfully.
The moment He Jingtai heard this, his fingers paused above the abacus beads. Standing up, he straightened his robes and said, "We will continue later."
Without waiting for the store managers’ response, he walked out of the study in a hurry.
Watching his figure disappear around the corner, one of the store managers let out a long sigh of relief.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, he muttered, "Today’s account check is so suffocating. I almost couldn’t breathe just now."
Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists and added hatefully, "If I find out someone is tampering with the account books, I will castrate them."
While the store managers were taking their time to calm down, He Jingtai asked, "Do you know why the Great General and Fairy Bai suddenly came to the store today?"
The servant lowered his head and answered while trying his best to keep up with He Jingtai’s walking pace.
"Answering the Eldest Young Master, this servant does not know. The Great General only said that he wanted to see you."
Hearing this, He Jingtai’s expression turned serious as he quickened his pace. Before long, he arrived outside the main hall.
Before stepping inside, he took a few deep breaths to steady himself, then put on a slight smile. When he was ready, he stepped forward and entered the main hall.
When he saw Feng Xiyan and Bai Hanyun seated at the main seats, He Jingtai smiled and walked toward them. Standing before them, he clasped his hands and bowed slightly.
"This commoner greets the Great General and Fairy Bai."
Gesturing for him to rise, Feng Xiyan said, "No need for formalities. Eldest Young Master He, please have a seat."
"Thank you, Great General."
After He Jingtai took his seat, he asked, "Great General, Fairy Bai, are you here today to check the account books?"
Hearing this, Bai Hanyun shook her head and explained, "Eldest Young Master He, we are here today to deliver some New Year gifts for the He Clan and the workers."
When He Jingtai heard this, his eyes lit up. Smiling, he responded, "Then this one thanks Fairy Bai on behalf of my clan members and the workers."
Smiling back at him, Bai Hanyun waved her hand and took the New Year gifts out of her spatial ring. In an instant, the spacious main hall was filled with beautifully wrapped packages.
Looking at the mountain of gifts, He Jingtai was stunned for a moment before regaining his composure.
Standing up from her seat, Bai Hanyun said, "Eldest Young Master He, we still have other matters to attend to, so we will take our leave first."
He Jingtai also stood up at her words.
Seeing this, Bai Hanyun raised her hand to stop him. "Please stay, Eldest Young Master He."
He Jingtai paused mid-step, then bowed slightly to the two of them. "This commoner respectfully sees off Fairy Bai and the Great General."
After Feng Xiyan and Bai Hanyun left the main hall, He Jingtai called out, "Someone, come."
Soon, a servant hurried in. When he saw the mountain of packages filling the main hall, he nearly tripped and fell flat on his face. Quickly regaining his balance, the servant hurried over to He Jingtai.
