Chapter 2 — The Queen Reorganized the Marquis Palace

Every month the kitchen reports buying three hundred pounds of lamb, how much does it actually import? Old Tien swallowed his saliva.

“One hundred and eighty pounds.

Maybe a hundred and fifty.” Thanh Hoa cursed out loud: "So where is the rest?" Old Tien timidly looked out the door. I said: "There is no one from the kitchen here."

“It's for sale.

Zhu's son is in charge of opening a meat stall in the Western market, using it as our government's shopping agent." I wrote the three words "Administrator Zhou" on paper.

“What about charcoal?”

“There are also demons.

The government bought good coal, but when it was brought in, half of it was mixed with scrap coal. In the past, Eldest Miss was closely examined, they were afraid of you. And now. . .” He didn't finish his sentence yet. Thanh Hoa smiled coldly: "Now Bodhisattva is the housekeeper, good days have come." Suddenly there were footsteps outside the door. So Nghien rushed in, followed by two petty officers.

“So Lenh Nghi, you are certainly not at peace.

Nhu Nhi only took over for a day, and she secretly interrogated the old servants in the palace." We turn the paper face down on the table.

“He is not from the government.”

“You still make excuses.

Nhu Nhi said that you are not willing in your heart, I still don't believe it. Now it seems like I just don't see her living well." Old Tien knelt down in fear. So Nghien pointed straight at the old man: "Who sent you here? Did So Lenh Nghi promise you any benefits and force you to fabricate scandalous stories about the kitchen? Old Tien's lips were white. Thanh Hoa stood in front of him.

“Little Marquis, what's the point of threatening an old man?

In the past, when our lady looked up the books, he said she was cruel, but now she doesn't care anymore. When asked a few questions, he said she was harmful to others. It turns out that the Marquis's family name is So, is it only my lady who is not worthy of having the surname So?" So Nghien waved his hand to slap. I placed the teacup firmly on the table.

“I'll give it a try.”

His hand stopped in midair. Bui Hanh's voice came from the courtyard door.

"Lin Nghi, you're becoming more and more incoherent."

He helped So Nhu enter. So Nhu held a stack of lists in her hand, her eyes were red.

“Sister, if you want to regain your housekeeper rights, you can say it frankly, why do you have to incite your old servants to riot?

Curator Zhou just finished crying in front of me. He said that before, my sister used to oppress him everywhere, even when his sick son wanted to advance monthly money, he wouldn't let him." I calmly looked at her.

"His son is twenty-seven years old. Last night he was at the casino and lost thirty taels."

So Nhu's face turned a little white. So Nghien angrily scolded: "You sent someone to spy on the servants in the palace?" I replied: "The door of the casino in the Western Market is plastered with debt collection notices, no one can see it." Bui Hanh threw the list down on the table.

“That's enough.

Nhu Nhi today allowed the kitchen to collect the bonus, and also removed the old punishment for Manager Chu. Don't bring up those old and tattered stories to force people on you anymore." I glanced at the list.

“How much is the back pay?”

So Nhu mumbled: “One hundred and twenty taels. There were many people in the kitchen, and in the past, there were many disadvantages." Thanh Hoa burst out laughing.

“The kitchen has twenty-three people, one hundred and twenty taels.

There are eleven people in the sewing room, and yesterday I just asked Second Miss thirty taels. Are you planning on coming to the carriage room tomorrow to cry too?” So Nhu was stunned by what he said. So Nghien quickly protected her: "Does the Marquis lack that bit of money?" I raised my head to look at him.

“Missing.”

The whole hospital suddenly fell silent. Bui Hanh frowned: "The Marquis has a hundred years of lineage, stop talking about sensational and scary things." I pushed the old debt book in front of them.

“You may not believe it.

But the cash in the treasury was only enough to last twenty-three days. If we follow So Nhu's reward today, ten days will be gone." So Nhu stared at the notebook, her fingers pressing the corner of the paper tightly.

“Sister, you intentionally scared me.”

I stood up.

“The books are in my hands.

Calculate for yourself.” So Nghien firmly closed the notebook.

“You don't need to count.

The Marquis has shops and estates, so how can he be intimidated by your words? I looked at his face full of righteous eloquence and suddenly felt that the original owner's death would not be unjust. It's not that she can't compete with So Nhu. But she alone was trying to pull back a boat full of people who were diligently punching holes in it, no matter how hard they pulled, they couldn't get it ashore. On the third day, Manager Zhou brought people from the kitchen to give thanks. They carried two baskets of fresh fruit, walked around the door of my hospital, banged gongs and drums and brought them straight to So Nhu's hospital. Thanh Hoa walked in from outside, with snow on her sleeves.

“Miss, they said the Second Miss was kind, and said that before, when she worked under someone, even the withered leaves of vegetables had to be weighed.”

I'm writing an inventory list.

“If the leaves of vegetables are not weighed properly, you will be charged money to buy good vegetables.”

“Don't you go out and scold them?”

"Can scolding get my money back?"

Thanh Hoa was speechless. I gave her the list.

“Go find Treasurer Ly.

Make a list of people who can be deployed in the stores that belong to my dowry. Don't bother trying, just tell them to keep a close watch on the rice shop on South Street and the coal factory on North Market.” Thanh Hoa's eyes lit up.

“Are you planning to collect them already?”

"I'm just preventing myself from starving or freezing to death."

Just as she held the list and was about to leave, maid Ngan Hanh of So Nhu hospital came running.

“Eldest Miss, Second Miss, please come to the front hall.”

Thanh Hoa was upset: "What did she invite our lady to do?" Ngan Hanh pouted.

“Today the kitchen made hot pot, the second lady said that family members should eat a meal together in harmony.

If Eldest Miss doesn't go, she will act like she still holds grudges in her heart. I put down my pen.

“Go.”

The front hall was bustling like a festival. So Nhu sat next to the Old Lady, serving her food. So Nghien picked up the meat for So Nhu, Bui Hanh sat on one side, his expression gentle. As soon as I entered the door, the laughter stopped for half a beat. The old man glanced at me.

“When you arrive, sit down.

Don't show any attitude.” We sit down. So Nhu quickly pushed a bowl of soup over.

“Sister, the kitchen purposely stewed it today, please try it.”

I glanced at the surface of the soup. The lamb fat floats thickly, the radishes are cut into unevenly sized pieces, and the water is murky.

“This is the new meat bought today from the kitchen?”

The Chu manager stood next to him and immediately responded: "I'll tell you, Miss, the delicious lamb meat was delivered this morning." I asked: "Which butcher to buy from?" The smile on Zhou's face took care of the stiffness. So Nhu quickly warned: "Sister, don't interrogate people while eating. Zhou has been busy all morning, so just let him breathe a bit.” So Nghien picked up a large piece of meat and put it in So Nhu's bowl.

“Please don't pay attention to my sister.

I just don't want anyone to have a peaceful meal." The old man's face also darkened.

“Lanh Nghi, if you don't want to eat then go home.”

I picked up my chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat and placed it on a white ceramic plate.

“This meat is not right.”

The Chu manager immediately knelt down.

“Eldest Miss, I know you dislike me, but Second Miss has just taken over the house, you can't use me as a chopping block.”

The tears that So Nhu mentioned were coming.

“Sister, are you still blaming me?

If so, I will return the key to you. Please don't make things difficult for them." Bui Hanh stood up suddenly.

“Leng Nghi, apologize to Manager Zhou immediately.”