The general's wife knows medicine

Chapter 123 Managing the General's Mansion

Following Princess Qinghe's instructions, Butler Mu had already sorted out all the account books of the General's Mansion early on.

After Tang Peipei had breakfast, Butler Mu took the initiative to hand the account book to Tang Peipei for review.

Butler Mu is a servant of the Mu family, so he naturally trusts his master Mu Jintang.

So even though Tang Peipei came from the countryside, Butler Mu did not look down on her. On the contrary, he did his best to help Tang Peipei understand everything in the general's mansion.

"Madam, our general's mansion currently has two warehouses. One is used to store the court's rewards and the spoils of war obtained by the general over the years, and the other is used to store the things left by the old general." Butler Mu introduced: "The first warehouse is currently managed by the old slave, and the second warehouse is managed by Wood, Chief Steward Wu. However, Chief Steward Wu went to Suzhou a few days ago and may have to wait for some time before returning."

Tang Peipei nodded as he checked the account book: "Okay, I understand."

Tang Peipei first glanced through some of them and felt overwhelmed. She missed the modern accounting model very much at this moment.

Butler Mu stood by, waiting for Tang Peipei to ask questions.

Although Tang Peipei found it a bit difficult to look at these account books, she could still understand them.

Butler Mu stood there for a long time and helped Tang Peipei change two cups of tea. Seeing that Tang Peipei was looking at the account book very seriously, he felt a little relieved for Tang Peipei.

Although he did not mean to look down on Tang Peipei, it was an established fact that Tang Peipei came from the countryside, which made him worried. He was still afraid that Tang Peipei was a person who could not afford the money, and then his general would have to work harder.

But looking at Tang Peipei's state at this time, although he would frown occasionally, he still made plans without any hesitation.

Butler Mu asked, "Madam, would you like to meet the steward of the mansion?"

Tang Peipei put down the work in his hands, looked up at the housekeeper and said, "Well, I have to meet him. Then please ask the housekeeper to gather all the stewards to the flower hall in a quarter of an hour."

Butler Mu responded, "Yes, I will go now."

Then he went out.

Tang Peipei looked at the account book for a while, wondering whether he should teach his simple accounting method to the housekeeper, but after thinking for a moment, he gave up.

It is a bit troublesome for her to check the accounts alone now, but this accounting method should be universal. I don't want it to be convenient for her but difficult for the people below.

You have to know that just looking at the names of the account books, there are eight farms and eleven shops, which means there are nineteen account books here.

Tang Peipei looked at the account book in front of him and sighed in his heart: I didn't expect Mu Jintang to be so rich.

Then he packed up the account books and prepared to meet those managers first, and then come back to continue fighting with the account books.

When Tang Peipei arrived at the flower hall, the stewards were already waiting there.

Tang Peipei tried her best to look dignified, and said to the stewards, "I have just married into the general's mansion. I don't know the rules here very well, and the people here don't know each other. How about this, everyone introduce yourselves first. The content of the introduction is your name, age, and which area you are responsible for." After saying that, she waved to Xia Shuang behind her.

Xia Shuang stepped forward and bent her knees slightly and said, "Madam."

Tang Peipei asked: "Can Xia Shuang write?"

Xia Shuang said: "Yes."

Tang Peipei said: "Then you will be responsible for registering everyone's information, register as I just said."

Xia Shuang replied, "Yes, ma'am." Then she went to get a pen and paper, found a seat next to Tang Peipei and sat down to prepare for registration.

Seeing that they could start, Butler Mu asked Tang Peipei, "Madam, we can start now."

Tang Peipei nodded and said, "Let's get started."

All those stewards who could reach their current positions were shrewd men. Seeing that Steward Mu was being subservient to Tang Peipei, they naturally did not dare to cause trouble and reported everything according to Tang Peipei's requirements.

Although Tang Peipei seemed nonchalant, she was actually carefully observing everyone present and getting to know each of them.

After everyone had registered, Xia Shuang handed the registered roster to Tang Peipei. After Tang Peipei looked at it, he asked Xia Shuang to put the roster away and then looked at Butler Mu.

Steward Mu said, "Madam, according to the regulations of the General's Mansion, we should have 135 slaves, but because we have the title of general, plus some people transferred from the Princess' Mansion, we currently have 260 people in the mansion. Among them, there are 18 stewards, all of them are here."

Tang Peipei nodded and said, "Is the outer courtyard housekeeper here?"

A man who looked to be in his thirties or forties stepped forward and said, "Madam."

Tang Peipei said: "The general left the mansion yesterday. I don't think he will be back in the short term. I'll have to trouble Butler Zhou for the outer courtyard."

Butler Zhou bowed his head and replied, "Yes, I will take good care of the front yard."

Tang Peipei nodded and asked, "Who is responsible for the kitchen shopping?"

A slightly older woman, about fifty years old, stepped forward and said, "Madam, this old slave is in charge."

Tang Peipei said, "Now that Qianzhou is in great trouble, we may need a large amount of medicine and food. From now on, the General's Mansion will reduce expenses. I only need three dishes and one soup every day, and mother's will also be reduced to five dishes and one soup. However, mother's daily fixed diet will remain unchanged and will not be counted in this."

The woman asked, "Madam, the princess's food is regulated. Isn't it inappropriate to suddenly reduce it by so much?"

Tang Peipei knew that the nanny was just worried about not following the rules, so she said, "I'll tell mother about this, you just need to do what I say."

After hearing what Tang Peipei said, the nanny said nothing more and left.

Tang Peipei said: "Butler Mu, from today on, we should save as much unnecessary expenses as possible in the mansion. Go to the pharmacy and get some more herbs. I will give you the prescription later."

Butler Mu said: "Yes."

Tang Peipei knew that these stewards did not make things difficult for her today, all thanks to Butler Mu, and she was very grateful to Butler Mu for giving her face.

Tang Peipei looked at everyone and said, "Today is the first time I meet you all, and I have prepared gifts for everyone." After saying that, he looked at Xia Shuang.

Xia Shuang took the order and went out. When she came back in, she was followed by three maids holding trays covered with red cloth. There were also servants carrying three baskets in, which were also covered with red cloth. No one knew what was inside.

Everyone was whispering to each other, all very curious about what the gift was.

There were also people who looked down on her. Although she did not embarrass Tang Peipei today, her identity was unconvincing. What good gift could a village girl give?

Tang Peipei looked at everyone with a smile and said, "I want to prepare for the marriage between me and the general. Everyone has worked hard during this period. This is my little token of my appreciation for you all."

As soon as Tang Peipei finished speaking, Xia Shuang tore open all the red cloth, revealing what was inside.

Everyone opened their eyes wide and looked at each other. Is the new lady so generous?

Didn't they say the new wife was a country girl? Why was she so generous?

All I saw on the tray were silver ingots of ten taels and five taels each, and the basket was full of red bags, which I guess also contained silver and money.

Tang Peipei smiled and said, "The two housekeepers in the outer and inner courtyards have worked hard and made great contributions. They will each receive thirty taels, and the other stewards will each receive fifteen taels. The red money bags in the basket are for the remaining 242 people. There are exactly 242 red money bags in it. The first-class maids will receive five taels, the second-class maids will receive three taels, the third-class maids will receive one tael, and the maids who clean the house will receive five hundred coins. These money bags will be distributed to the stewards, and I will ask you to help me give them to all the servants in the mansion."

Everyone didn't expect Tang Peipei to be so generous, and they all responded with a smile.

As soon as Tang Peipei left, Butler Mu began to arrange for everyone to register and receive the red envelope.