"These are the account books for the tricycles; they also detail every family who made a purchase," Shopkeeper Hong pointed to the account books while introducing them to Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang.
"These books record the stacked gold ingots, these are for the 'Fight the Landlord' playing cards, these are for the snow sleds, and this is for the dumplings…"
As Qiao Xiaomai listened to Shopkeeper Hong, she reached out, picked up an account book, and carefully examined it. There were no Arabic numerals; all the numbers were recorded in Chinese characters—ones like '壹,贰,叁,肆,伍,' which made Qiao Xiaomai's head spin.
After only a few glances, she put it back down on the table; anyway, she couldn't understand it, so she let Tong Sanlang take a look.
Tong Sanlang, who was accustomed to these kinds of account books, looked through it quickly.
Qiao Xiaomai didn't disturb him and started chatting with Shopkeeper Hong, "Even dumplings have their own special account book?"
