Chapter 62 Financial Meeting New Year, Qiuqiu also got two suitable...

In the New Year, Qiuqiu also got two sets of clothes to suit the occasion. The red shirt is placed on the white fluffy ball, and it looks festive wherever it goes.

Nanny Wu came into the tent with a stack of documents and saw Qiuqiu's tail swinging back and forth. She couldn't help but smile.

"This outfit is really nice, and it's worth spending half a penny on it."

Qiuqiu walked around her legs, asking for a touch.

"My dear Qiuqiu Gege, my son is busy right now. I will play with you later."

Nanny Wu walked into the inner room with a smile, and the maids on both sides hurriedly helped to open the curtains.

Today, I have come to report to the princess on this year's financial situation.

Nanny Wu and several maids who knew how to do accounting worked for half a month and finally sorted out all the accounts, big and small, before New Year's Eve.

According to the princess's arrangement, the money and valuables coming in and out were all under the control of Madam Wu, and the detailed list would be reviewed again by Madam Zhao. So when I entered the inner room, Madam Zhao was also there, smiling and nodding to Madam Wu.

After greeting, the princess on the throne said, "Okay, then tell me in detail about the audit."

“Yes, these are detailed lists.”

Madam Wu handed over a stack of documents and explained the current situation. Let's not talk about the cattle, sheep and horses that are still in the pen.

Apart from the five thousand taels of silver bearing interest deposited in Rong'an Pawn Shop, the one thousand taels of silver donated to the temple for incense offerings, the New Year gifts given to everyone in the palace, the expenses along the way, the food and clothing expenses of the princess, the food and winter clothing expenses for the princess's family, and the New Year's bonus that will be given out, there will be expenses for next year.

She reported the final total with a distressed look: "My Lord, the cash you can withdraw now is only 500 taels."

Mu Xue's hands holding the account book tightened. She knew that a lot of the dowry and silver flowers had been spent, but she didn't expect that there would be so little left.

After carefully looking at several large expenditures, apart from those mentioned by Nanny Wu, she also gave Yunqi a sum of investment silver before she led the sheep transport team to Beijing, and asked her to invest more in small businesses and build a camel team. Adding up all these, the silver in her hand was leaking less and less like water in a funnel.

Aunt Wu saw her expression and asked tentatively, "How about reducing the New Year bonus for the subordinates a little? This way we can save some money."

Mu Xue shook her head: "No, there are already so many of them in the capital. If they follow me to the grassland, the reward money they get will be less. Wouldn't that make them disappointed? It will be even more troublesome if their morale is dispersed. Besides, it won't save much money."

Hearing her say this, Nanny Wu sighed. In her opinion, the princess spent this money in vain, as little of it was spent on the princess herself, and all of it was spent on building relationships and doing business.

She felt so uncomfortable that she said, "I don't know whether I should say this or not. It's good that you want to do business, but it's not a good idea to spend money like this."

Seeing this, Mother Zhao consoled them, "When spring comes, Yunqi and the others will be able to bring in part of their earnings from sheep trading, as well as the New Year's salary allocated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Then we will have more money."

"But then those eunuchs will have to take the money to accompany the taiji to the capital." Madam Wu curled her lips. She was used to saving money. When she was in the palace, the princess's monthly salary was only a few dozen taels. If she hadn't been cross-eyed and watched every penny, how could she have saved it?

As a result, after leaving the palace, the princess became the head of the household, and the treasury under her control became empty.

Mu Xue also knew the character of this wet nurse, and said to her: "It's okay, you have to be willing to spend money to make a profit. Besides, I won't be left without food or clothes. I'm doing pretty well now, right?"

After the financial meeting, she looked over the accounts carefully again.

Nanny Wu's worries were not without reason. Most of her money was invested outside. If anything unexpected happened, the little cash she had would not be enough to sustain her.

When she needs money next year, she should keep some cash on hand. Although if she really can't make ends meet, Dorji will definitely help her generously, and she can get extra silver by submitting a petition to Khan Ama to complain about her poverty, but... it's still embarrassing.

Why did I start to subconsciously imagine negative situations again? Mu Xue shook her head, trying to put these thoughts out of her mind.

It’s okay, just wait for Yunqi to come back with the silver and goods.

She calmed down and told Rong'er to prepare the pen and ink and write the word "Fu" on the red paper. This habit was learned from Emperor Kangxi when he was in the capital. Every spring, Emperor Kangxi would write the word "Fu" with his own hand and give it to the royal family and close ministers. It was also a means to win over the people.

In the past, she had also received the red words written by the emperor, but now she was far away in the northern desert and could not receive the red words written by Kangxi. She could bestow "blessings" on her subordinates.

On New Year’s Eve, eternal lanterns illuminate the night sky, and pine smoke fills the air beside the cleaned livestock pens.

Muxue stood beside Dorji and imitated him, sweeping her hands through the bowl of liquid brought by the lama, and then smearing it on the foreheads of the sheep and the horse.

"May the five domestic animals prosper, thousands of horses, tens of thousands of sheep, thousands and thousands of them, grow strong and healthy!"

Such a solemn ceremony for celebrating the New Year for the five domestic animals had never been seen before in the capital. Since it was a ceremony that was so important on the grassland, she had to pay attention to it.

Mu Xue studies very hard.

After paying New Year's greetings to Tushetu Khan and the great lama, she took some time off and went to the yurt area of ​​the dowry people in person to give them blessing characters and reward money.

Everyone was in good spirits, wearing new cotton-padded jackets and with rosy complexions. Some families even built a small fence in front of their yurts and raised two sheep.

Noticing Mu Xue's gaze, Niuniu's mother smiled and said, "We exchanged with the locals so that we can give Niuniu goat milk to drink every day. Princess, look, she has grown a lot taller."

Niu Niu was a little embarrassed and hid behind her mother, but she was indeed much taller than when she was in Guihua City.

Mu Xue nodded and smiled: "That's great. Have you learned Mongolian now?"

"We know a little bit. Children learn quickly."

Niuniuniang replied. At first, these bondservants of the Imperial Household Department really didn't know how to speak the local language, but there was no other way, so they had to bite the bullet and try to deal with people. They started by learning the simplest words like mutton and fire, and gradually they were able to have simple conversations. People's adaptability is always strong.

After walking around, all the rewards were distributed. The steward Zeng Qiuhua accompanied her and walked slowly towards the princess' tent, talking about the dowry population. Although there were occasional small disputes, there were generally no conflicts, and everyone quickly adapted to the grassland life. Especially the younger children, they would play with the herdsmen's children and talk fluently.

"You reminded me of something," Mu Xue said, "After the New Year, we should set up a school so that children like Niuniu can read and learn calligraphy."

Talents should be educated quickly. When the business gradually improves, there will be a lot of talents needed. But even the eunuchs can't read, let alone the dowry population. She can't always hope that there will be some criminals from the court and send them to the grassland to work for her.

Qiu Hua hesitated for a moment: "Does this school also accept girls like Niuniu?"

"Of course." Mu Xue said, "Girls are very smart. Now that we are on the grassland, don't be so bound by the rules about gender separation. As long as they are useful, we will teach them."

She called Niuniu over and asked, "Are you willing to learn to read and study?"

The little girl's eyes lit up: "Yes!" Then she hesitated and said, "How much will it cost to repair this bundle? It won't be very expensive, right?"

Really? A sensible child?, Mu Xue thought for a moment and explained: "As long as you can pass the test, the tuition fee will be waived."

Niuniu cheered: "I can do it."

She then asked, "So is it possible for Agu to go to school with me?"

Qiuhua explained: "She was talking about the herdsmen's children, who often played with her."

"Agu is very pitiful. His father died in the war and his mother remarried. Now he helps his uncle who lives far away to herd sheep." Niuniu said eagerly, "He is very smart. I taught him Chinese characters and he learned them quickly."

If that's the case, then he's a war orphan? Mu Xue said with regret, "He's also a poor child? Alas, war..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly stopped.

Wait, this seems to be a direction. If these children who have lost their parents are brought up by her, they will not have to suffer from hunger and cold, and they will surely become a loyal force when they grow up.

Mu Xue smiled and said, "Of course Agu can come to school."

She told Qiuhua: "You should prepare this matter well and start it after the New Year. It will be called Princess School."

When Nanny Wu heard this, her face changed.

Oh my God, they are going to open a school again, and they are free of tuition! This is simply... simply unbearable?

But after all, she was outside, and she didn't dare to offend the princess directly. When she returned to the big tent, Nanny Wu frowned and said, "Princess, although opening a school is a good thing, the funds..."

"Don't worry," Mu Xue said softly, "this money doesn't come from the private treasury."

She sat down at the desk, spread out a blank memorial, pondered for a moment, and then wrote in rapid succession, "Your Highness, the fourth duke, respectfully memorializes this matter, urging the Lord to allocate funds to develop education and improve civil affairs."

Dear Khan, educating the border people, letting your holy virtues shine on the students in the northern desert, and making them loyal to the court, it is not too much to spend some money on such a great thing, right?

After writing the petition in one breath, Mu Xue smiled and said, "Khan Ama will be happy to pay for it."

When Aunt Wu heard that she didn't have to pay, she breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. Princess, I don't mean anything else. Well, we just have to wait until Yunqi and the others come back. When will they come back?"

"We have to wait until the first month of the lunar year is over and the roads are thawed before we can set off."

*** ***

In the capital, the courtyard house of the owner of Rong'an Pawnshop.

Yunqi sneezed with a sound of "Ah--Qiu--".

"Sorry," Yunqi wiped his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and continued, "Anyway, I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. During this New Year, copper is expensive and silver is cheap. But it is also an opportunity."

She said seriously, "I suggest that the Fan family immediately write to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and ask for permission to buy copper overseas. This will surely bring huge profits."

Fan Yuqi nodded: "As a royal merchant, my family has the opportunity to submit a memorial. I think this is a good idea."

Yunqi looked at the shopkeeper Cui Gu who had been silent the whole time: "What do you mean?"

Cui Gu picked up the tea and took a sip. "This is a serious matter. We need to go overseas to buy copper. Both the shipping fee and the money for the copper must be paid. Although the silver from the sheep is all here, it is the master's money. You must ask her what she means."

"Of course I want to know what she means," Yun Qi frowned, "but now it's snowy and icy. Even if we go from Zhangku Avenue, it will take at least two months to go back and forth. There are many smart people in the capital. The trend of copper being more expensive and silver being cheaper will only get worse! Let others ask for permission first. Let's not even have meat, let alone hot soup! Don't you understand that a general cannot obey the orders of the king when he is away from home?"

Cui Gu slammed the teacup onto the table and said angrily, "I think you don't understand. You just want to be arbitrary! Without the master's permission, I won't give you Bei Laixian's money."