Actually, in the Duke Song Mansion, there was no absolute rule on how much one could spend. Sometimes, the kitchen was very flexible. Every time there was a big festival or celebration, the cost of the kitchen would increase exponentially.
If it wasn't decided according to the situation, any old woman helping in the kitchen wouldn't be able to solve the problem of insufficient silver.
There must be something fishy about Mister Zhang treating his servants so harshly. If it wasn't that he had embezzled the money from the residence, then someone must have been instigating him.
Thinking of this, Ji Chengjun felt a chill run down his spine.
It turned out that what Haitang was talking about was just the tip of the iceberg. Even a place with a lot of expenses like the kitchen was implicated, let alone a little servant girl.
All these years, the accountant had been hiding behind everyone's back, secretly deducting an unknown amount of silver. If one were to count them, it would probably be shocking.
Money was spent everywhere in the residence. Even the people in the kitchen complained incessantly, let alone the days in other places.
"Zhang, don't go too far. Do you think we don't know about the despicable things you've done in the residence in the past? If it wasn't for Aunt Du protecting you from behind, how could we have endured it for so long? When I was in my twenties, I served in the Duke of Song Residence and became the incharge of the kitchen. I have seen some of the world. But no accountant has ever dared to be so harsh on us. You don't even want to pay the normal expenses of the kitchen. I think you want to make a big deal out of this. If the young miss knew about this, I'd like to see if you still dare to speak like this.”The woman in charge suddenly raised her voice and looked at Mr. Zhang with dissatisfaction.
"It's useless for you to find someone to talk to. I am just following the rules of the residence. Your kitchen has spent too much money, and you still have to come and ask me for money. I don't have the right to give it to you, and I won't give it to a shrew like you. Someone, quickly pull this old woman out. Don't let me see her again!”The accountant roared in a low voice, and a few servants rushed in fiercely.
However, when they saw the young miss at the door, the servants lost their imposing manner and just stood at the side with their heads lowered.
"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?" The accountant was furious and felt that the housekeeper in front of him was here to cause trouble.
"What's wrong? The accountant didn't care about paying money, but stealing money?”Ji Chengjun's voice suddenly rang out, giving the accountant a fright.
Mister Zhang was originally a person who bullied the weak and feared the strong. When he saw Ji Chengjun, he immediately changed his expression and bowed to greet Ji Chengjun.
"This servant greets Eldest Young Miss." Mr. Zhang knelt in front of Ji Chengjun, extremely respectful.
Haitang had no way of connecting the arrogant and domineering accountant with this person in front of her.
"Get up and talk. I heard from outside the door and only understood a little. What exactly happened? Why are you guys quarreling so fiercely?" Ji Chengjun pretended not to know the ins and outs of the matter and sat down, wanting to find out more.
When the accountant saw this situation, he immediately smiled and said,"Young miss, it's not a big deal. Are you here for money? I'll do it for you now."
"No hurry, I'll pay you after I understand the situation.”Ji Chengjun deliberately dragged out his voice. He had no intention of leaving.
The housekeeper of the kitchen came over and knelt in front of Ji Chengjun with a thud. With tears and snot running down her face, she said,"Young Miss, you are wise. Every time our kitchen comes to ask for money, he will shirk it in every way possible. This time, it was even worse. They actually deducted half of our silver. Our kitchen controls everyone's mouth. Perhaps Master can wear one less piece of clothing, but he definitely can't eat one less mouthful of rice. Every ingredient we buy is the freshest, and the price is also the most reasonable. If you don't believe me, you can ask around. Who in this village doesn't know my name? I only keep the vegetables they bring after carefully selecting them. I know that the few masters are picky, so I deliberately strictly control them. But he refused to give me the money for my daily meals. How am I supposed to manage the kitchen in the future? How are we going to cook for the masters?" The woman in charge looked at the accountant fiercely, feeling displeased.
"I didn't say that I wouldn't give you money. It's just that you've spent too much this month and have already exceeded your monthly budget. If everyone asks me for money like this, how can I manage this family?”The accountant was obviously not confident, but he still wanted to argue.
"Since the public says that the public is right, the woman says that the woman is right. Then I'll have to trouble the accountant to bring me the accounts of the Duke of Song Mansion. I'll check them with the in-charge woman one by one, and then I'll know where the money has been spent.”Ji Chengjun's expression was calm, but he had already seen through it.
The accountant looked at Ji Chengjun in a daze, feeling that this was no small matter.
Without Aunt Du's orders, no one was allowed to look through the accounts of the Duke of Song Manor. However, this rule was set by Aunt Du herself and had not been approved by Old Master.
Now that the young miss wanted to check the accounts, how could the accountant dare to say no?
"Eldest Miss, Aunt Du used to be in charge of the accountant's affairs. Should we inform Aunt Du first so that she can…"
"Pa!" A loud slap landed on the accountant's face, causing everyone present to be shocked.
It was still the Eldest Miss who was swift and decisive and dared to provoke anyone. This accountant was actually Aunt Du's guard dog.
Otherwise, Aunt Du's family was not rich enough to rival a country. Why did Aunt Du spend money like running water, as if she did not care?
"Watch carefully. I am the eldest daughter of the Duke of Song's estate. I don't care who you listen to. Today, the Matriarch sent me to check the accounts. You have to give it to me no matter what.”Ji Chengjun's tone was extremely arrogant, leaving the accountant with no way out.
"Eldest Young Lady, it's not that I want to make things difficult for you, but Old Master has said before that the accounts of our Duke of Song Residence cannot be easily read by ordinary people. Even Aunt Du, who was in charge of the entire garden, only looked over the expenses of a few rooms and never cared about the flow of silver in other places. If this is the first time, I'm afraid this servant will also…"
"Pa!" Another burning slap landed on the accountant's face.
"Stop talking nonsense with me. The Matriarch is the sky of the Song Public House. She has spoken, and you still dare to shirk your responsibility and play tricks on me. I think you don't want to live anymore. Men, drag this ignorant servant out and give him twenty heavy slaps.”Ji Chengjun pointed with her white hand, and a few burly men rushed in.
"Young miss, please spare my life!”The accountant wailed.
After being beaten, the accountant became much more obedient.
"Can you tell me now?" Ji Chengjun looked at the accountant, feeling unhappy.
The accountant held his waist and staggered over. Trembling, he picked up a few account books from the shelf and placed them in Ji Chengjun's hands.
#Insight Review Passed: Daguan Time:1024201810:48AM
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