This farce lasted for a long time. Yin and the others were very careful. Even the banquet for the women was stopped. The women below followed suit and stopped attending the banquet. For a while, the capital was much quieter.
As December arrived, Qingyan began directing the servants to prepare things for the New Year. She also spent money to have the ingredients for Laba porridge replaced, and asked the kitchen to prepare it once to see how it tasted.
After Qingyan married into the royal family, she would prepare like this every year. As autumn approached, she would start preparing for the end of the year. Since returning to the capital, Yiken'e had been sent to the Imperial Study to study with the princes, while Hutulifengshengzhalafen stayed at home to accompany her.
"Mother, are all these things for the New Year?" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen sat down next to Qingyan and was stunned when she saw what she had prepared. There was already so much, and there were even porridge stalls in Hongluo Temple and other places.
“Yes, remember this: our family will have porridge at Hongluo Temple every year, but it must be done secretly. It is not allowed to do it under the name of Fourth Master’s residence!” Qingyan began to teach her daughter how to manage the household. Back then, her father directly let her manage the new house. There were some minor mistakes in the first few times, but she completely understood how to do it after that.
"Yes!" Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen sighed inwardly, realizing that his family also needed to make porridge.
"Starting this year, the matter of Shezhou will be handled by you!" Qingyan handed the Shezhou account book to Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen. Although her daughter was young, even if there were any troubles with these things, they would be minor matters.
Ugh!
Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen looked up at Shu Yun, wondering if he was going to leave this to her.
"Mother, is this not good?" Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen remembered that Songkelierha had said that the affairs of the mansion were still managed by his aunt.
“When your mother was your age, she was already managing the new house!” Qingyan didn’t hide anything. “So, Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen, you need to learn from reality, not just listen to the nanny next to you or your mother. We’re not afraid of paying tuition!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen nodded. Since her mother had said it was alright, she would no longer refuse.
"Mother, are we staying at Hongluo Temple?" Hutulifengsheng Zhalafen looked at the account book, which had many entries.
"These places are all porridge distribution points. Every year, they will keep an eye on the areas where refugees gather and distribute porridge. Look, there are still some down here. They will send people from nearby to keep watch and prevent others from sneaking in!" Qingyan instructed her daughter on what to do. After all, there are still quite a few people here who like to take advantage of cheap deals.
Hutulifengshengzhalafen listened to her mother's words, and admired her mother very much. Her father was busy outside, and her mother was not idle at home either.
"Why are you looking at me?" Qingyan said, then took a sip of her tea and noticed that her daughter was staring at her intently.
"Mother, you are really amazing!" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen had heard many people in the palace say that her mother's Linglong Pavilion was the most popular place for upper-class noblewomen, while the restaurants under the Yuelai Inn were popular with men.
Sometimes, when the brother and sister entered the palace, people would often try to curry favor with them.
"Alright, little girl, you handle it yourself. Mother also has some account books to deal with. Let's see who finishes first," Qingyan said, trying to encourage her daughter.
Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen's eyes lit up. "Of course, that's great!"
"Mother, there must be a reward!" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen looked up at Qingyan and said, "Rose pastry."
"Okay!" Qingyan readily agreed.
The rose pastry was specially prepared by Qingyan. The kitchen staff picked roses from the small garden and made them, which were different from those made by the imperial kitchen. Shuyun had them made into rose 'dew'.
As evening approached, Qingyan closed the ledger, having completed the tasks that needed to be done that day.
"Mother, look at these!" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen looked at the numbers on them and felt a little dizzy. Qingyan had taught the twins to recognize numbers since they were little, so Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen could read them very smoothly.
"What's wrong?" Qingyan got up and sat down next to Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen, following her small hand to look at the records in the ledger.
"How can there be two identical items?" Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen asked, puzzled.
Qingyan looked through the ledger and found that it was under the same purchase list. Her face darkened. It was obvious that someone had done this on purpose.
"Did you see that up ahead too?" Qingyan asked.
Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen quickly flipped to the first two pages, and the same item appeared.
"Good, Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen is the best! Sulan, go prepare a plate of rose pastries!" Qingyan praised her daughter's ability, took the account book to her side, and began to read it herself.
At this moment, Yin walked in from outside. He had returned alone today, as Yiken'e had been left in the palace by Kangxi again.
"Ama" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen rushed directly into Yin's arms.
Yin stipulated that if only the three of them were in the hall, they would not need to worry about so much understanding and the children could relax.
"You're back?" Qingyan snapped out of her reverie from the ledger, glanced at Yin, and then continued looking at the things.
Yin noticed that Qingyan's complexion was not good, but he didn't say much. He picked up his daughter and began to ask her what she had done that day.
“Father, I’m starting to manage the accounts today! Mother said I’ll be in charge of making Laba porridge this year!” Hutulifengshengzhalafen proudly puffed out her little chest. She started her job even earlier than Yiken’e.
"Good, my daughter is the best." Yin laughed. The little girl has a straightforward personality. Qingyan said that daughters should be pampered.
Yin agreed, and whenever something happened, he would praise his daughter first.
“Father, Mother said that she and I are the same age, and she has already taken over the management of Guo Luo Ma Fa’s residence!” Hu Tu Li Feng Sheng Zha La Fen said.
Yin glanced at Qingyan, a smile spreading across his face: "Yes, your mother is very capable too."
"Your daughter is very capable. On her first day looking at the accounts, she already noticed a few things that didn't seem right." Qingyan shook her head. She rarely looked at the accounts carefully anymore. She had trusted them too much, and sure enough, problems arose.
Su Lan walked in from outside, holding rose pastries in her hands.
"Mother, I want to eat in the flower hall, and I'll have Sulan brew a pot of the finest Da Hong Pao tea!" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen said directly.
She understood that her father and mother must have something to talk about.
Qingyan nodded, watching her daughter skip away before turning serious and speaking to Yin about the account book.
“There are a few duplicates; this is just one of the porridge stalls at Hongluo Temple!” Qingyan placed the account book directly in front of Yin.
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