"Although I didn't wash the rice every time they cooked, I checked it every time they cooked. I've been a cook in the army all my life, so I have a good eye. Before the general and his wife came back, we should have consumed about 22 catties of food a day, with an error of no more than 2 catties per day."
Xiao Wu was clever and guessed that Yang Cui might be investigating the grain matter. Although he didn't know why she wanted to investigate, he still told her the truth.
He paused, then added, "I ate even less in the past two years. If I remember correctly, I ate around sixteen pounds a day, with an error of no more than two pounds a day."
In this era, one jin is equal to sixteen liang, which means that people used to eat three liang of rice per meal, but now a meal is about four liang of rice.
Based on this calculation, forty-six people would consume 8,400 jin of grain per year. Even if we calculate it as 8,500 jin, more than 4,000 jin of grain would still disappear.
Transporting over four thousand catties of grain out would not be an easy task. Unless everyone in the General's Mansion was involved, it would be impossible for no word to have leaked out. Therefore, Yang Cui believed that the grain must not have entered the General's Mansion in the first place.
It was already getting dark, so Yang Cui decided to take people to take inventory of the grain in the warehouse the next day.
That evening, Cen Xiao told Yang Cui that Xue Bing had confessed.
The actual amount of rent collected the year before last was 115,600 jin, but he only recorded 101,600 jin, thus embezzling 15,000 jin.
Last year, the rent collected was 115,200 jin, but he only recorded 92,200 jin, embezzling 23,000 jin.
This year, he actually collected 115,000 catties of rent, but he only recorded 95,000 catties, so he embezzled 20,000 catties.
A total of 55,000 catties of grain were embezzled.
Xue Bing sold all of this grain to a merchant from out of town, earning six hundred taels of silver.
Xue Bing also confessed that he only embezzled this much, and the data sent to the general's mansion and the military camp were all accurate. The discrepancy in the general's mansion's data was not his doing; it must have been done by the Qiao siblings. This was because Qiao Shu told him that there wasn't enough food, and it was Qiao Mai who led people to the estate to collect the food. He did indeed hand over the amount of food recorded in the ledger to Qiao Mai.
Yang Cui said, "If Xue Bing wasn't lying, then the Qiao siblings are the problem."
"This matter is probably not just a simple case of embezzlement."
Yang Cui was taken aback.
"In recent years, the weather has been favorable, and apart from a disaster that occurred in Jinjiang this year, no other disasters have occurred anywhere else."
Logically speaking, no place needs so much grain. If a merchant from out of town needs to buy grain here and leave, wouldn't he have to double the price? In a year of good weather and abundant harvest, the grain won't fetch a good price; where will he make a profit?
Upon hearing Cen Xiao's words, Yang Cui immediately sensed something was amiss, as if something had flashed through her mind.
"Don't take inventory of the granary tomorrow, and don't touch the Qiao siblings either. I will send someone to keep a close watch on them."
Yang Cui nodded in agreement, and then brought up the matter of arranging jobs for retired veterans and families of martyrs: "I plan to set up another breeding farm, mainly raising chickens and sheep, and also set up a cannery, which will provide many job opportunities."
What is canned food?
"It's like a fruit-infused syrup. This season is perfect for making canned mandarins. If you make canned mandarins and store them properly, they won't spoil for months."
In modern times, canned oranges can last for one or two years without spoiling, but here, Yang Cui isn't confident she can preserve them for a year. However, with proper hygiene, airtight sealing, and ice, they can be stored at low temperatures and should last for three months without any problems.
Cen Xiao was quite shocked, but he believed that what Yang Cui said was true.
Yang Cui continued, "We can arrange for some of the people in the manor to work in the past. For those who can't work, we can arrange jobs for their family members. However, the person who accepts the job must take care of the old soldier until his death. For the families of the soldiers who died in battle, we will provide a job for their wives and children."
If they can't work and have no relatives, then build a veterans' activity center. We'll provide their food and drink, medical care, and even funeral arrangements. After all, they won't eat much anyway.
"This factory will be built on the village grounds. The chicken, duck, and sheep manure will fertilize the fields. There are many tenant farmers on the village. Once things settle down, we can build an academy so everyone can learn to read and write. What do you think?"
"That's a good idea, and you've thought it through very well." Cen Xiao could imagine that if this was done well, it would definitely boost morale!
His wife is truly a treasure trove, knowing everything and being good at everything!
Cen Xiao stared intently at Yang Cui.
Yang Cui noticed Cen Xiao's intense gaze and asked, "What?"
"Damn it!" With that, Cen Xiao picked up Yang Cui and threw her onto the bed...
The "what" she asked wasn't actually "what," was it?
The scoundrel deliberately misinterpreted her meaning, and Yang Cui didn't even have time to explain before being overwhelmed by a passionate kiss...
...
The next morning, Cen Xiao brought up what Yang Cui had said the night before about resettling retired soldiers.
"Successfully accomplishing this would be extremely good for our reputation, so we cannot accept such a stigma."
He himself held military power and feared arousing suspicion.
If the lives of retired soldiers are still arranged so well, his reputation in the military and among the people will surely rise several notches.
Which emperor could have been at ease back then?
Therefore, he dared not accept this reputation and insisted that the emperor bear this honor.
Yang Cui only wanted to do some good deeds, but she didn't expect it to go to such lengths. Her reputation didn't matter anymore; as long as she had a clear conscience, that was enough.
The couple discussed that they would announce to the outside world that it was because of the Emperor's great benevolence and compassion for the soldiers that he had asked them to do it, so that the Emperor would bear the good reputation.
*
After breakfast, Cen Xiao escorted Yuan Qiu to the South Study.
Yang Cui was also busy; Qiao Shu had already found a gardener who would come to renovate the garden today.
Upon learning that he was coming to Kyoto, Cen Xiao sent a letter to the manor informing them that vegetables could not be planted in the second half of the year because the garden needed to be renovated, so no vegetables were planted this autumn.
At 3:45 AM, Su Murong, Guo Zhenyu and his family of three, along with Chen Shaoyun and Chen Shiqi, also arrived.
"Madam Cen, I've heard so much about you. My name is Chen Shiqi, and I'm his niece." Chen Shiqi introduced herself in a generous manner, her eyes constantly scanning Yang Cui and Er Ya and San Ya.
“I have long admired your name and have always admired you. Today, I heard that my uncle was coming to your residence, so I came uninvited. I hope you will not mind.”
Although Chen Shiqi kept looking at Yang Cui, Yang Cui did not sense any malice.
She smiled gently and said, "You're most welcome."
After introductions, Yang Cui arranged for everyone to take their seats.
"My husband has gone to the palace and should be back soon."
Guo Zhenyu's wife, Madam Wang, said, "I heard that Young Master Yuan has caught the Emperor's eye and has been assigned to the Southern Study. I haven't congratulated Madam Cen yet."
Wang was also sizing up Yang Cui, after all, Yang Cui's reputation was truly remarkable.
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