Chapter 247: Chapter 231, Abundant Rain_1
Ren Pozi and Fang Gui left Daohua Courtyard after spending no more than a quarter of an hour, and as soon as they finished their business, Madam Li received the news.
Upon hearing the two additional rules from Daohua, Madam Li fell silent for a moment, “This girl has thought things through quite meticulously. Listing out what each household eats, black on white, everyone will know exactly what’s going on, preventing some people from feeling shortchanged after eating their fill.”
Ping Tong nodded, “The household has been more comfortable these past two years, and I’ve noticed that the Second Master and his wife always order a lot whenever they choose their meals. If they can’t finish, it would be such a waste.”
“There’s also the one from Shuangxin Courtyard, who has been using the excuse of needing to nourish her body since giving birth to the fifth young miss, and occasionally goes to the kitchen to order something.”
Madam Li scoffed, “Nowadays, the Second Master and his wife are imitating the ways of aristocratic families. But they don’t consider whether our household can withstand such extravagance. Because of the Old Madam and the Master, I haven’t been able to say much.”
“As for Shuangxin Courtyard, that was the Master’s own directive, allowing Madam Lin to have whatever she wishes the kitchen to prepare. With that said, the Lin Family wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage.”
As she spoke, Madam Li smirked again.
“They say a daughter is her mother’s intimate little cotton-padded jacket, and that saying is certainly true. With this move of hers, we’ll have to suppress the bad practices in this household. Even if it causes some displeasure in the future, we will have a well-reasoned argument on our side.”
Ping Tong immediately responded, “Indeed, the eldest young miss has always had Madam’s interests at heart.”
There are some things, even if Madam knows about them, she can’t act on, but it’s different for the eldest young miss; she can afford much less consideration.
Madam Li continued, “Regarding the procurement… our household expenses have been increasing lately and we should really tighten control in that area. A little pilfering isn’t a big deal, but I’m more concerned about people’s greed growing larger, eventually leading to lining their own pockets.”
Ping Tong nodded, then laughed, “Our eldest young miss really has the makings of a good butler. Taking over the kitchen, she resolved two major problems for Madam.”
Madam Li laughed too, “The girl is clever indeed, but a bit lazy, needing a push before she takes action. We must keep a close eye on her.”
…
One month later.
Ren Pozi handed over the ledgers with detailed records of food expenses for each household to Daohua.
Daohua sat in the yard, flipping through the ledgers while cracking sunflower seeds, occasionally letting out a snicker.
“In our household, the biggest food expense isn’t from the Old Madam’s courtyard, nor the main courtyard, but actually from my Second Uncle’s place and a concubine’s residence. They spend two or three hundred silver taels per month!”
Daohua shook her head in mockery, then stood up and headed to the study, swiftly making two copies. Afterwards, she handed one to Wang Manman, instructing her to deliver it to the second branch of the family.
“Whether it’s to Second Uncle or Second Aunt, tell them since it’s my first time managing the kitchen, I wasn’t clear on the household expenses and made some calculations to let them be aware as well.”
Having said that, she paused.
“If they ask who else knows, tell them that I’m concerned about the accuracy of one month’s expenses and plan to record for two more months before reporting to Mother.”
“That’s all, go!”
Wang Manman turned and promptly left.
Once she left, Daohua turned her gaze to the other copy, pondered for a moment, then looked at the sky, “Father should be about to finish his official duties, right?”
Guyu nodded, “Yes, young miss.”
Daohua got up, “Let’s go, we shall visit Father.”
Chuihua Gate.
As Yan Zhigao was returning from the administrative office, he saw his eldest daughter drinking tea with her maid at the pavilion on his must-pass route.
Seeing this, Yan Zhigao arched an eyebrow.
Usually those who block his way are either people from the Lin Family or Madam’s, and even his other children had bumped into him for various reasons. Only his eldest daughter had never done so before.
He was very curious, why was his eldest daughter taking the initiative to come find him?
“Ahem~”
Yan Zhigao approached the pavilion and coughed twice.
Daohua immediately came out smiling, “Father, have you finished at court?
Yan Zhigao nodded and stepped into the pavilion, then noticing the tea prepared on the stone table, he smiled and said, “Is this prepared for your father?”
Daohua nodded with a smile, “I don’t know if it suits Father’s taste?”
Yan Zhigao sat down, took a sip of the tea, and commented, “Not bad, the strength of the brew is well controlled.”
Daohua responded with a smile, “As long as Father likes it.”
Yan Zhigao set down the teacup, “Did you seek out your father because you have some matter?”
Daohua took the household provision ledger from Guyu’s hands, “Mother asked me to manage the kitchen, so I had the kitchen butler record the daily meals ordered by each room and made a summary for your perusal.”
The eldest daughter taking charge of the kitchen was something Madam Li had mentioned to him, and Yan Zhigao, without expressing any objections, took the ledger and started reading.
The first thing he looked at was the summary at the end, and when he saw that the second brother’s courtyard and Shuangxin Courtyard had spent two to three hundred taels of silver just on food in a month, his eyebrows furrowed immediately.
Seeing his reaction, Daohua quickly said, “Father, there are daily records in the front, and the confirmation of each maid from the rooms when they collected the meals from the kitchen.” Her implication was clear, she hadn’t falsified anything.
Yan Zhigao flipped through the ledger quickly, indeed, there was maid’s confirmation every time they took something.
Daohua continued, “I’ve already sent a copied version to Second Uncle, saying that we will keep recording for a few more months before reporting to Mother. As for Shuangxin Courtyard, it’s not right for me to directly approach Aunt Lin, so I have come to bother Father with this.”
Yan Zhigao put down the ledger, inwardly praising his eldest daughter’s thoroughness and meticulousness in her work.
“You’ve done well. With your Second Uncle’s side, if things improve after this, there’s no need to bring it up again,” to save Second Brother’s face.
Daohua nodded in agreement.
Yan Zhigao, “I will speak with Aunt Lin myself, she has already made up for several months, from now on, her provisions should adhere to the standard quota.”
Daohua nodded again, “All right, I’ll follow Father’s wishes.”
The second son’s courtyard.
After Wang Manman left, the expressions on Yan Zhiyuan and the Sun Family’s faces turned ugly.
The Sun Family complained, “I knew it, letting Daohua manage the kitchen would lead to trouble. Sure enough, she’s targeted us first upon taking charge.”
Yan Zhiyuan furrowed his brow and, not addressing the Sun Family’s complaint, asked uncertainly, “Did we really order that much food?”
The Sun Family choked and then responded irritably, “Don’t you remember how much you’ve eaten yourself?”
Yan Zhiyuan fell silent.
His wife’s words amounted to an admission that all the food written in the ledger was indeed ordered by them, and Daohua had not fabricated any accusations against them.
After a long pause, Yan Zhiyuan said, “We should restrain our spending in the future. Perhaps the eldest sister-in-law might consider Mother and Big Brother’s face and not make a fuss, but Daohua certainly won’t.”
“And when you think about it, spending two to three hundred taels of silver a month on food is indeed a bit excessive.”
The Sun Family pursed her lips, what did they consider excessive? Other families could spend thousands of taels of silver on a single banquet, and theirs was nothing in comparison. Besides, it wasn’t as if the family couldn’t afford it.
All it really came down to was the eldest sister-in-law being tightfisted!