Chapter 109 Retrieving the Silver Notes to Curb the Spendthrift Father-in-Law
"What's the rush? You're so sleepy, yet you still insist on waiting for me."
Song Yi felt a surge of tenderness, hugged Li Nanke tightly, and kissed her little face.
Li Nanke hugged Song Yi's arm, snuggled against her affectionately, then wriggled out of her embrace and stood on the ground to talk.
"My mother's arms are so soft and fragrant, I feel even sleepier."
Song Yi was amused.
"Then hurry up and tell me, what is it?"
Li Nanke: "Mother instructed Manager Qin to deposit the banknotes into the public account. Did she deposit them into the outer courtyard's accounting office?"
Song Yi said, "Of course it's the outer courtyard accountant. The inner courtyard accountant was originally Zheng Mama, but she wasn't home yesterday either."
Besides, this money was earned from the shops outside, and it was supposed to go into the outer courtyard's accounting office anyway.
Whether it is a noble family or a high-ranking official's household, the accounting department is divided into internal and external departments.
The inner courtyard accountant was mainly responsible for the daily expenses of the family members, such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, clothing and jewelry, children's education, family sacrifices, and managing the property and accounts of the inner courtyard.
The accounting office in the inner courtyard was usually managed by a steward or accountant trusted by the mistress of the house.
The outer courtyard accountant was responsible for the operation and management of the family's businesses, such as the accounting of income and expenditure of shops and workshops, the rent and taxes of estates, and the family's banquets and gift-giving.
The Marquis's mansion's public accounts were generally managed by the outer courtyard's accounting office, while the inner courtyard's daily expenses were calculated by the inner courtyard's accounting office and then withdrawn from the outer courtyard's accounting office.
Song Yi asked, puzzled, "Is there something wrong with this?"
Li Nanke nodded his little head emphatically.
“This is very inappropriate. My grandfather loves antiques and collectibles. If we hand over the money to the outer accounting office, he can withdraw it all in just a few days.”
“If there is no money in the account, Grandfather will definitely force Mother to use your dowry to support the whole family.”
I was busy selling grain a few days ago and neglected this matter.
Tonight, Song Yi dealt with Zheng's mother. She was bored waiting alone in her room and eventually fell asleep on the table.
She dreamt again of how, during her exile, Marquis Anping tricked Zisu out of the silver and jewelry she had given him, and then led her second uncle's family to bribe the yamen runners and run away on their own.
No matter how much her mother kowtowed and begged, Marquis Anping heartlessly abandoned them.
She woke up crying from a nightmare and it took her a long time to come to her senses.
Suddenly, she realized that if Marquis Anping wanted to bribe the yamen runners, the silver and jewelry he had swindled from her would definitely not work.
Zisu gave her only a few taels of silver. The few pieces of silver jewelry were worth some money, but they weren't even worth fifty taels in total.
Besides bribing the yamen runners, Marquis Anping also needed to obtain new identity documents, so he must still have money on hand.
But the Marquis's mansion was clearly ransacked back then, so where did the Marquis of Anping get the money?
She remembered that Marquis Anping usually loved buying antiques and collectibles, and he would always spend money to buy back the ones he liked.
She immediately thought of the ten thousand taels of silver notes that Manager Qin had just returned yesterday.
"Mother, please quickly have Mama Tao go to the outer courtyard and get the silver notes back. If we wait any longer, they might be gone."
She urged Song Yi anxiously.
Although the money was earned by the Marquis's shop, it was also thanks to her mother and herself. If she could, she wouldn't want to give a single penny to Marquis Anping.
Song Yi's expression hardened, and she quickly instructed Tao Mama to go to the accounting office in the outer courtyard.
As night deepened, Tao's mother returned only after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
He was holding a mahogany box and looked grim.
"The young lady was right. The accountant said that Manager Qin had just registered the silver notes into the account yesterday, and the Marquis withdrew three thousand taels of silver notes."
"Including the remaining silver in the original public account, the outer courtyard now has a total of nine thousand taels of silver."
“This servant has brought back all nine thousand taels of silver notes. The accountant in the outer courtyard was so angry that his face turned green. He said he would go to the Marquis to settle the matter first thing tomorrow morning.”
"Lady of the Heir Apparent, I'm afraid the Marquis will have to make things difficult for you first thing tomorrow morning."
Song Yi's face was a little pale, but she didn't look panicked.
She clenched her fist, as if encouraging herself.
“I’m not afraid. He’s a father-in-law, he can’t possibly hit me. But if I don’t keep the money in my own hands, no matter how much I earn, it won’t be enough for my father-in-law to squander.”
"Ke'er reminded me. Tomorrow, go to the shop and talk to Manager Qin. Tell him that from now on, the money in the shop will be given directly to you."
From now on, Madam Tao will manage the accounts for the inner courtyard. As for the accounts for the outer courtyard, let him come to you to withdraw the money.
Tao's mother responded with a "yes".
Although Song Yi looked unwell, Li Nanke quickly grasped the key point.
It seems that with the help of the housekeeper and Tao's mother's guidance these past few days, Mother has made a lot of progress.
Her heart, which had just been hanging in suspense, relaxed, and her eyelids couldn't help but start drooping again.
Song Yi turned her head and saw her standing there, her eyes already closed, her little head starting to nod again.
With a little effort, I reached out and carried her to the bed.
"Ke'er, go to sleep. You'll sleep with Mommy tonight."
Li Nanke snuggled against the pillow, inhaling its familiar scent, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
The next day, right after breakfast, a servant from the Marquis of Anping came to speak to him.
"The Marquis invites the Heir Apparent's wife to the front hall."
Li Nanke and Song Yi exchanged a glance.
Song Yi nodded, "Understood. Go and inform the Marquis, I'll be right there."
She stood up, and Li Nanke immediately jumped off the chair.
“I’m going with my mother.”
Song Yi thought for a moment and shook her head.
"Mother can go by herself, don't worry."
If Ke'er went along and saw her being punished, she would definitely not be happy.
She was worried that Ke'er would directly contradict Marquis Anping and then be punished by him for disrespecting an elder.
Li Nanke guessed her worries and nodded with a smile.
"Alright then, Mother, don't keep giving in."
After Song Yi left, her eyes darted around, and she beckoned Zisu over.
"Sister Zisu, let's go for a walk in the front yard too."
Zisu chuckled, knowing that she was worried that the young master's wife would be bullied.
Her daughter is so cute and thoughtful.
lobby.
As soon as Song Yi entered the door, she heard Marquis Anping's roar.
"Song family member, kneel down before me!"
She looked up and saw Marquis Anping sitting at the head of the table, his face full of anger.
Standing to the left was Madam Sun, her eyes filled with a smile of anticipation for a good show.
The accountant stood opposite him, looking indignant.
She calmly curtsied and said, "I don't know what I did wrong to make you so angry."
Marquis Anping slammed his palm heavily on the small table.
"How dare you ask? I'm asking you, why did you take all the money from the outer courtyard's accounting office? Now that you've taken it, how will the outer courtyard get its next paycheck?"
Song Yi tossed and turned all night, having already prepared her response.
He calmly replied, "It's like this. I've been reviewing the previous steward's accounts of the Marquis's residence these past few days and found many unreasonable aspects in the expenditure of money."
It is precisely these unreasonable practices that have caused our household's silver to be consumed so quickly that there is almost no silver left in our accounts.
The daughter-in-law then instructed Tao's mother to take all the silver notes back to the inner courtyard's accounting office, firstly to control household expenses, and secondly to facilitate the auditing of the outer courtyard's accounts.
As soon as he finished speaking, the accountant and Madam Sun's expressions changed simultaneously.
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