Chapter 791: Investigative Abilities

Editor: Henyee Translations

The small store was built with a hundred square meters in mind, after all, it’s just a business between villages, not expecting a lot of people. It sold simple items to make things convenient for the people around.

Chu Qingzhi stood by watching when suddenly, Shuang’er flew over. Chu Qingzhi extended her arm, and Shuang’er landed on it, chirping, “Found it, found it…”

Chu Qingzhi walked to a secluded spot to inquire, “What did you find?”

Shuang’er chirped, “The clerk did it, the clerk did it.”

Chu Qingzhi pondered, “Do you mean the clerk switched the soybean sauce?”

Shuang’er hurriedly chirped, “No, no, the clerk’s wife made the soybean sauce, the clerk’s wife made the soybean sauce…”

Chu Qingzhi understood, “The clerk’s wife made the soybean sauce and then swapped it with the storekeeper’s sauce?”

Shuang’er chirped, “Yes, yes…”

Chu Qingzhi thought to herself, this was a case of ‘those nearest to the water are the first to get the moon’. If the clerk’s wife’s skills had been slightly better, it might not have been discovered. Was it that easy to replicate her products?

After Shuang’er reported the investigation results, the other thirty-four parrots gradually flew in, surrounding Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi asked from number two up to thirty-five, and their stories were more or less the same, showing that the parrots had indeed acquired a certain level of investigative ability.

To test the parrots’ investigative abilities further, Chu Qingzhi started assigning new tasks…

Some time later, Chu Xujin came over, “fifth sister, I’ve investigated the soybean sauce matter you mentioned.”

Chu Qingzhi didn’t mention that Shuang’er had already informed her, “Big brother, what happened?”

Chu Xujin explained, “It’s like this, the clerk at Manager Qian’s store saw that the soybean sauce was selling well, so he secretly collected those bottles back and had his wife make soybean sauce. They swapped the good sauce out and sold it to other small stores.”

Chu Qingzhi thought, if it hadn’t been discovered, this strategy was quite clever, considering not every use of soybean sauce in cooking would be tasted.

Chu Xujin said helplessly, “Fifth sister, our products are too good. Upon investigation today, not only soybean sauce but many other products in the city have imitations. If this continues, could it affect our business?”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “Those who want authentic products won’t be tempted by cheaper options on the street, so our real customers won’t be lost. Don’t worry, and we only sell our products to the storekeepers. The issues you mentioned are their headaches, not ours.”

It seemed to make sense, so Chu Xujin didn’t dwell on it any longer but changed the topic, “fifth sister, I want to learn dissection. Can you teach me?”

“Have you overcome your psychological barrier?” Chu Xujin had been learning dissection and autopsy a few months ago, but he really struggled with it, often ending up vomiting, so Chu Qingzhi had paused the teaching.

Chu Xujin was uncertain, “I don’t know, I want to try again.”

Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment, “Let’s go, we’ll try a different teaching method and take it slowly.”

“Ok.”

At the ancestral hall.

Chu Qingning finished the lesson, closed the book, and told the remaining eighteen students in the schoolhouse, “Today’s practical lesson is about inventory. Follow me to the workshop area, and pay close attention to how the workers do it. After observing, try it yourselves. If there are no mistakes, you’re considered competent.”

The students responded in unison, “Yes, Sister Qingning!”

Chu Qingning gestured, “Form two lines and follow me.”

The students quickly formed orderly lines and followed Chu Qingning towards the workshop.

Shen Ruyue was waiting for them at the workshop entrance. Upon the children’s arrival, she instructed, “Form groups freely, three to a group, and follow me.”

The students quickly formed their groups.

Shen Ruyue nodded with satisfaction, “Let’s go.”

It wasn’t the children’s first visit to the workshop. This time, their curiosity was replaced with seriousness. With the three-month course nearing its end and the possibility of not being able to stay, everything could revert to its original state.

No one wanted to return to their previous hard lives, so they all put in their best effort to stay. Staying meant a bright future, a boundless prospect.

This opportunity could change their fate. The previously somewhat confused children were now very clear-headed.

Shen Ruyue led them to the soy sauce storage area, where the workers were currently tallying the ingredients for making soy sauce, including beans, chili, salt, oil, etc. There were many and varied items, making it appear difficult to tally.

Watch closely how they tally. Later, you’ll be doing the same task. Try not to make mistakes.”

“Yes.”

The children dispersed and went closer to observe.

The workers, knowing the children were observing with a task in mind, didn’t make it difficult for them. Some of the more kind-hearted ones even offered pointers.

Children are at an age where they learn quickly, grasping concepts at a touch. Soon, their understanding of inventory methods became clearer.

Before coming here, Chu Qingning had explained the process of taking inventory to them and had them memorize it.

After the workers had completed tallying the soy sauce inventory, Shen Ruyue led the children to the rice dumpling workshop’s storage area.

There are now ten flavors of zongzi, with more than twenty types of ingredients. The ingredients brought back today for making zongzi were all laid out, none had been stored yet, prepared especially for the children.

Shen Ruyue had already had the goods tallied, but they were piled up in a disorderly manner, looking as if they hadn’t been sorted.

“Did Qingning tell you the method for inventory?”

“I did.”

“Alright, you have half an hour. There are six piles of goods here. Each group will tally one pile. If you tally correctly, you’ve completed the task; otherwise, it’s considered a failure.”

“Yes.”

Shen Ruyue had two tables brought over, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on them, needed for tallying the inventory. She and Chu Qingning then stepped aside to watch from a distance.

Shen Ruyue asked, “Qingning, do you think they can tally correctly?”

Chu Qingning was uncertain, “There are quite a lot of goods. It’s hard to say.” Each pile of goods weighed several hundred pounds, and they were indeed very disorderly, posing a real challenge to the children’s abilities.

“Let’s watch then. We’ll know if it’s a mule or a horse in half an hour.” Saying that, Shen Ruyue flipped an hourglass that timed half an hour.

On their part, Xu Songnian, Xu Wenlin, and Tian Xiaoqiu, known among their peers as the “Iron Triangle” for always grouping together, began their task.

The three gathered around their assigned pile of goods and started to strategize.

TianXiaoqiu volunteered, “I’ll record.”

Xu Songnian said, “I’ll report the goods.”

Xu Wenlin decided, “I’ll sort them by category.”

After agreeing on their roles, the three children sprang into action.

Tian Xiaoqiu prepared the paper and pen, announcing, “I’m ready, Songnian, start.”

Xu Songnian stepped forward, pulling out a bag from the pile, “Jujubes, thirty pounds.” The bag was labeled with ink indicating jujubes and their weight.