Chapter 232: Courage and Strategy

 Chapter 232: Courage and Strategy

"Big Sister, now that Big Brother and I have lost our allowances, you have to help us out," Yan Wenkai quickly stopped Daohua as they exited the old madam’s room.

Behind him, Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wentao looked at her with expectant faces.

There was no other way. Among the younger generation in the family, only Daohua had achieved financial independence. For the rest of them, life at the academy without any silver would be inconvenient, whether for purchasing stationery or joining classmates on outings—everything required money.

Daohua refused. The three brothers had gone to Fenxi on their own without informing the family. No matter what reasons they had, it was wrong, and she didn’t want to encourage such behavior.

"No way! While you might have your reasons, the family was genuinely worried about you. If you do something wrong, you should accept your punishment. Right, Big Brother?"

Caught off guard by Daohua’s pointed look, Yan Wenxiu’s face stiffened.

He had often lectured his little sister in this exact manner.

And now, so soon, she was using his own words against him.

Yan Wenxiu quickly regained his composure. "Little Sister is right. The Yan family values its traditions, and mistakes must be punished."

Yan Wenkai shot a disgruntled glance at his older brother. Big Brother was too spineless—Daohua had barely said a word, and he had already surrendered, leaving no room for Wenkai to play his usual tricks.

Realizing there was no hope of getting any silver, Yan Wenkai pulled Daohua aside, glancing around furtively before whispering like a thief, "Big Sister, fine, I won’t ask for money. But you need to give me some of the knockout powder and itching pills you gave the young prince."

Those were perfect tools for catching people off guard!

If not for the young prince accidentally letting it slip, Wenkai wouldn’t have known his sister had created such incredible things.

This time in Fenxi, these two items had played a big role in helping them dismantle a bandit hideout.

Daohua was speechless as she looked at her fourth brother, who seemed so sneaky yet conspicuous with his burly frame. His expression screamed, I’m hiding something.

Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wentao were equally embarrassed, averting their eyes.

Initially unnoticed by the others, Wenkai’s antics now drew everyone’s attention. Nobody left, all standing and staring.

Realizing his foolishness, Wenkai immediately barked at them, "What are you looking at? I’m having a private conversation with my sister!"

With that, he dragged Daohua away.

Daohua allowed herself to be led but pulled her hand free once they were far from the others.

Wenkai hurriedly said, "Big Sister, did you hear what I said earlier? I want—"

Daohua cut him off, "I heard you! Let me ask you this—did Xiao Yeyang tell you about it?"

Wenkai shook his head, then nodded. "The young prince didn’t mean to, but he couldn’t resist bragging and accidentally let it slip."

Daohua snorted. "Who else knows about this?"

A young lady possessing knockout powder and itching pills was hardly something to brag about—it would only harm her reputation if word got out.

Wenkai hesitated. "Just us: me, Big Brother, Third Brother, the young prince, Brother Dong. Wu Hongda kept asking about it, clearly wanting the recipe, but we didn’t tell him a thing."

Hearing that only familiar people knew, Daohua finally relaxed.

She knew Wu Hongda—he was close to Brother Zhou and came from a family of physicians. His grandfather was the head of the imperial medical bureau. Wanting the recipe was understandable, but she was confident Xiao Yeyang wouldn’t give it to him.

After some thought, Daohua warned, "I’m telling you now, this stays between us. If this gets out, it will ruin my reputation."

Wenkai nodded earnestly. "Don’t worry! The young prince and Big Brother have already warned us several times—I’m sick of hearing it."

As he spoke, he tugged at Daohua’s sleeve.

"Good Sister, so, are you going to give us those things or not?"

Daohua considered briefly and said, "Tell me everything that happened after you arrived in Fenxi, and I’ll prepare some for you."

"Deal!" Wenkai agreed instantly and began recounting their adventures in Fenxi with great enthusiasm.

As they walked, Daohua listened attentively. Her heart tightened when she heard how Xiao Yeyang and his group had infiltrated the bandit hideout.

"Big Sister, I must say, this time I truly realized how impressive the young prince is. He’s not only courageous but also highly strategic and bold."

"From the moment we set our sights on the bandit hideout, he planned to lead a team to dismantle it. Every step he took was calculated, and he anticipated the bandits’ every move. Honestly, when he led us, he truly felt like a general."

"Before, I thought Brother Dong and Su Hongxin only obeyed the young prince because of his status. But now I understand—they respect his talent and abilities, too."

Daohua nodded silently.

From the first time she saw Xiao Yeyang, she felt his unyielding spirit.

Proud individuals often had reasons for their confidence.

From his usual conversations, it was clear Xiao Yeyang wasn’t just diligent in martial arts but also well-read. Even the panda she embroidered for her fourth brother’s pouch was something he recognized from the records of Bashu County.

The next day, Yan Wenxiu, Yan Wentao, and Yan Wenkai left after spending a night at home.

Before they left, Daohua gave them five pouches, each containing some knockout powder and itching pills.

Wangyue Academy.

Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan quickly snatched a pouch each from Yan Wenkai’s hands.

After inspecting the knockout powder and itching pills inside, Dong Yuanxuan chuckled. "Looks like Yan Meimei didn’t forget me this time."

While Dong Yuanxuan was pleased, Xiao Yeyang was utterly annoyed. What used to be his exclusive treasure was now distributed to everyone.

Xiao Yeyang flipped through the pouch. Seeing it wasn’t handmade by Daohua, he lost interest, casually putting it away before turning to Yan Wenkai. "Did you ask about the thing I told you to?"

Yan Wenkai, who had been gearing up to brag about how hard he worked to get the pouches for them, froze at the question.

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Yeyang instantly knew the answer. Rolling up his sleeves, he approached. "Did you forget?"

Yan Wenkai laughed awkwardly, backing away as he did. "Heh heh..."

He knew better than to fight Xiao Yeyang. After all, his martial arts training couldn’t compare. The young prince had the imperial physicians tending to his health and multiple instructors guiding his practice, making his progress far superior.

No way was he going to pick a fight!

"Your Highness, does it really matter whether I asked or not? Either way, you’ll only find out what my sister prepared for you on your birthday!"

Xiao Yeyang was exasperated. Of course, he knew he’d have to wait until his birthday to see what Daohua’s gift was.

The reason he told Yan Wenkai to ask wasn’t to spoil the surprise—it was to remind Daohua.

That scatterbrain could very well forget to prepare a gift for him altogether!

(End of chapter)

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Chapter 231: A Family Tribunal

 Chapter 231: A Family Tribunal

Upon receiving Daohua's letter, Yan Wenxiu and his two brothers returned to the Yan family home on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival.

At the Songhe Courtyard, all members of the Yan family were present. Old Madam Yan sat on the dais, Yan Zhigao occupied the chief seat on the left, while Madam Li sat on the right. The others were seated along the sides.

Yan Wenxiu, Yan Wentao, and Yan Wenkai stood in the center with their heads bowed.

Sitting next to the old madam, Daohua observed the scene. The atmosphere resembled a tribunal, and her expression turned serious.

Yan Zhigao spoke first, "Wenxiu, you are the eldest brother. Explain what happened during your trip to Fenxi."

Yan Wenxiu felt a pang of nervousness. Although he had anticipated being scolded when deciding to follow the young prince to Fenxi, he hadn’t expected his family to organize such a formal inquisition.

"Father, here's what happened," he began.

"In March, the Prefect Magistrate wrote to the young prince, suggesting that he gain practical experience. As the Prefect Magistrate put it, no matter how much one learns in an academy, real-life experience is irreplaceable."

"The bandit problems in Fenxi had largely been controlled, and the remaining factions were being dismantled. It wasn’t particularly dangerous, making it an ideal opportunity for us to learn."

"At the time, the three of us, along with Brother Dong, Hongxin, and Chengye, were all present. None of us had ever experienced such a real-life scenario, so we were eager to join."

"After discussing it, we decided to follow the young prince. After all, he had guards with him, ensuring our safety."

Yan Wenkai chimed in, "That's right, Father, Mother, Grandmother. Third Brother and I study martial arts. Eventually, we will face such situations, so it’s better to prepare early."

"This was a rare opportunity to learn, and we didn’t want to miss it."

Seeing her fourth brother’s self-assured expression, Daohua had an urge to cover her face.

Was today’s discussion about whether their decision was right or wrong?

The issue was their failure to inform the family beforehand!

Sure enough, her mother and grandmother both looked displeased.

At this point, Yan Wentao spoke, "Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt, we were wrong. We should have informed the family immediately. That was our mistake."

Yan Wenkai took over, "We were mainly worried that the family would object—"

"We didn’t want to worry you!" Yan Wenxiu quickly interrupted his younger brother, fearing that his grandmother and mother, who seemed to be softening, would become upset again.

"Grandmother, Mother, staying with the young prince was genuinely safe. The Prefect Magistrate wouldn’t let his own nephew be in danger. And we truly gained a lot from this experience."

Yan Zhigao asked, "What exactly did you gain?"

Yan Wenxiu paused to gather his thoughts.

"In the past, when we heard about bandits, we instinctively condemned them, assuming they were all ruthless criminals."

"But during our time in Fenxi, we found that many of these so-called bandits were unarmed commoners. They rebelled not out of malice but because they were starving. Give them food, and they would disperse immediately. Their demands were so simple."

"When the grain seeds were stolen, I was indignant. But seeing those people living in such misery, I felt a sense of understanding. How could they care about national interests when they couldn’t even fill their stomachs?"

"To govern a region effectively isn’t difficult—ensure the people are fed and clothed, and they will be grateful. But if they lose their means of survival, even the most honest individuals will rise up in rebellion."

Yan Zhigao nodded, "You’re right, but ensuring that everyone is fed and clothed is no easy task."

He felt gratified that his eldest son was concerned about the well-being of the people. Only by caring for the people could one truly serve them as an official.

Then, Yan Zhigao turned his attention to Yan Wenkai.

Over the years, with an outstanding eldest son in front and a favored youngest son behind, he hadn’t paid much attention to his second legitimate son, who had seemed playful and unruly.

But today, he was startled to realize that this overlooked son had grown. Standing beside his elder brother, Yan Wenkai was taller, his robust physique exuding an imposing presence.

"What about you? What did you gain?"

Yan Wenkai was surprised by his father’s question.

He had always been the invisible one in the family. His parents focused on his elder brother and had few expectations for him. They didn’t deny him anything but rarely paid him much attention.

Only after Daohua’s return and his time at Wangyue Academy with the young prince did he start to gain more of the family’s attention.

Maintaining his usual blunt manner, Yan Wenkai replied, "Strength is the ultimate rule. To deal with rebels, we need absolute force to suppress them, leaving them no chance to rise again."

Yan Zhigao frowned, "Blind reliance on force is not a wise strategy."

Yan Wenkai retorted, "First, suppress them. Once subdued, we can negotiate. Then, whatever I say goes. If they resist, they’ll just get beaten again!"

Yan Zhigao was speechless. "What if you’re the one who loses?"

Yan Wenkai replied immediately, "That’s why I plan to train even harder when I return to the academy. No matter what, I must win all future fights. Only then will I have the right to speak."

Before Yan Zhigao could respond, Madam Li stood up abruptly.

She walked over to Yan Wenkai, pointed her finger at his forehead, and said, "Fight, fight, fight—is fighting all you care about?"

Yan Wenkai quickly hid behind Yan Wenxiu and pleaded, "Mother, I was just answering Father’s question. I don’t fight all the time!"

At this point, Yan Zhigao turned to Yan Wentao, his expression and tone much gentler when addressing his nephew. "Wentao, Uncle knows you are a steady and dependable child, not one to act impulsively. Your fourth brother can be a bit reckless, so you must keep an eye on him."

Yan Wentao immediately replied, "Don’t worry, Uncle. I will. Actually, Fourth Brother isn’t as reckless as he seems. He just likes to play around sometimes. Besides, the young prince appreciates Fourth Brother’s personality, and so do Brother Dong and Brother Zhou."

Yan Zhigao chuckled. "He’s straightforward and lacks guile. His thoughts are written all over his face, so he doesn’t have to bother scheming. Naturally, people find him likable."

Scratching the back of his head, Yan Wentao was puzzled. Why did everyone say his fourth brother was simple-minded?

His fourth brother was quite smart. Otherwise, during their trip to Fenxi, he wouldn’t have been the first to spot the hidden sentries of the bandits.

Leaning on the old madam’s shoulder, Daohua chuckled as well. To her, her fourth brother was in no way inferior to her eldest brother. Though straightforward and seemingly careless, anyone who underestimated him would surely regret it.

Old Madam Yan made the final decision. "No matter what, the fact remains that you went to Fenxi without informing the family. That was a serious mistake. No matter how reasonable your explanations are, you must be punished."

Madam Li immediately agreed. "Indeed."

Old Madam Yan looked at Madam Li. "Why don’t we punish them by—"

Madam Li quickly interjected, "Docking their monthly allowance for three months?"

"No, Grandmother, Mother! Without our allowance, we’ll have to live off the northwest wind. You can’t do this to us!" Yan Wenkai wailed dramatically, looking as pitiful as possible.

Seeing this, the old madam smiled in satisfaction. "Fine, three months of allowance it is. Let this be a lesson for you."

Hearing this, Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wentao both breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it was just three months of allowance. They could endure it and move on.

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 230: More Rain

 Chapter 230: More Rain

After the Second Household had reined in their spending, Concubine Lin's special treatment was also stopped. With these two issues resolved, Daohua’s management of the kitchen proceeded much more smoothly.

She didn’t implement any drastic changes to the kitchen but made some improvements where needed. For the most part, she didn’t interfere much in the daily personnel management of the kitchen.

She emphasized a few points: First, hygiene and the freshness of ingredients must be guaranteed. Second, the kitchen expenses must not exceed the budget unless the household was hosting a banquet or had other special events. Third, if a banquet was hosted, the dishes must be of a high standard.

As for the management of kitchen staff, she left that entirely to Old Aunt Ren.

However, she made sure to tell Old Aunt Ren that if any trouble arose among the staff, the first person to be held accountable would be Old Aunt Ren herself.

As a result, the kitchen became more orderly than it had been before.

In the Daohua study, Gu Yu was tidying up the room while chatting with Li Xia.

Li Xia commented, “After taking charge of the kitchen, I didn’t think the young lady would be busier than before. Look, she’s off riding horses with Miss Zhou again. In fact, she’s been more active than ever.”

Gu Yu smiled and nodded. “That’s because our young lady is so capable. I once heard her tell Sister Man’er that when managing any area, the first step is to establish rules and procedures. Once the rules are in place, you find the right person to oversee it, and then she doesn’t need to worry about every small detail.”

Li Xia added, “Before, didn’t the madam praise the young lady for knowing how to delegate? If the mistress takes care of everything herself, she’d be exhausted. Our young lady knows how to enjoy life.”

Gu Yu chuckled in agreement. “That’s true. If you look at the kitchen now, the staff is more energetic than before, and they’re all following the rules without any complaints.”

Li Xia smiled and continued, “How could they not? The young lady is fair with rewards and punishments, and the rules are clearly written. As long as everyone follows the rules, even if they don’t stand out, they won’t be unfairly punished or have their monthly allowances deducted.”

“And if they come up with new dishes or find something tasty, they’ll get a reward. With something to look forward to, no one is slacking off, gossiping, or causing trouble. It’s much more harmonious now.”

In the Suburbs of Xingzhou City

After riding for a few laps, Daohua and Zhou Jingwan noticed the sky had started to drizzle. They had to stop and return to the carriage to head back to the estate.

“This year’s weather is really strange. It rains so frequently, it’s driving me crazy,” Zhou Jingwan grumbled as she jumped off her horse and climbed into the carriage, allowing her maid to help her tidy her wet hair and clothes.

Daohua followed suit, wiping the rain from her forehead with a handkerchief. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out at the steady rainfall, her expression turning a bit worried.

“The rain this year is indeed excessive. If it keeps up like this, the crops will likely yield less, and some areas might even face floods.”

Zhou Jingwan, not particularly concerned with such matters, quickly changed the subject. “Did you receive the prince’s invitation?”

Daohua shook her head. “What invitation?”

Zhou Jingwan grinned. “The one for his birthday banquet at the palace this year!”

Daohua realized, “That’s still over a month away, right?”

Zhou Jingwan replied, “A month goes by quickly! Have you decided what gift to give him?”

Daohua smiled. “The Young Prince has helped my family a lot. Since this is his first birthday, of course, I’ll prepare an appropriate gift.”

Zhou Jingwan’s eyes widened in curiosity. “What is it? Tell me!”

Daohua shook her head. “If I tell you now, it won’t be as interesting. You’ll see when the time comes. By the way, what about you? What gift have you prepared?”

Zhou Jingwan replied, “My mother helped me prepare a set of high-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.”

Hearing this, Daohua couldn’t help but laugh, recalling how Xiao Yeyang had once specifically told her not to give him any such items. She could imagine that, having received many similar gifts over the years, he must have become numb to them by now.

The rain continued to pour, and the coachman hurried to increase their pace. Soon, the carriage reached Xingzhou City. Daohua and Zhou Jingwan parted ways and went to their respective homes.

As Daohua led her horse to the stable, she encountered Advisor Xiao, who was returning his horse. Seeing him looking disheveled and soaked through, she immediately asked, “Advisor Xiao, where have you been?”

Advisor Xiao saw that it was Daohua and didn't rush to leave. He smiled and said, "This year, there has been too much rain. The master asked me to inspect the riverbank."

Daohua asked, "Is the riverbank okay?"

Advisor Xiao shook his head. "The master had the riverbank repaired when he first arrived two years ago, and the maintenance hasn't stopped. There's no issue; the water level hasn't risen."

Daohua breathed a sigh of relief. "Advisor Xiao, hurry and change your clothes. You mustn't catch a cold."

Advisor Xiao nodded and left with a smile.

Soon after, Daohua returned to the main courtyard and saw Madam Li reading a letter from her eldest brother. However, her expression seemed a bit off.

"Mother, what did eldest brother say?"

Madam Li put the letter down. "Nothing much, just some matters from the academy and a few words of greeting."

Daohua asked, "The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, will eldest brother and the others come back?"

This year, her eldest brother and the others hadn’t come home once, claiming to be busy with their studies.

Madam Li shook her head. "No, they won’t return."

Daohua furrowed her brow. "Are they really that busy?"

Madam Li glanced at Daohua, thought for a moment, and pushed the letter toward her. "You can read it yourself."

Daohua quickly picked up the letter and began reading. When she finished, her eyes widened in shock. "No way! Eldest brother and the others actually went to Fenxi with the Young Prince?"

"They went to Fenxi for what? To fight bandits?"

Hearing the word "bandits," Madam Li’s eyelids twitched rapidly. "Fortunately, they came back safely. What if something had happened?"

"It won't happen!" Daohua quickly interrupted. "Mother, think about it. Xiao Yeyang is who he is. He must have a lot of skilled martial artists around him. How could anything happen?"

Though she spoke confidently, her words lacked conviction.

Swords and blades are blind; when bandits attack, they don’t care about your status.

Madam Li wasn't reassured, but she didn't want her daughter to worry. She only said, "They are too bold, not even telling us. When they return next time, your father will have to teach them a lesson."

Daohua didn’t dare to speak up in defense. She immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, they need to be taught a lesson."

Madam Li thought for a moment, still feeling uneasy. "Do you think your eldest brother and the others got injured, which is why they won’t come home for the Dragon Boat Festival?"

Daohua was stunned for a moment. "I don't think so."

Madam Li shook her head. "No, I can’t be at ease without seeing them in person. Go and write a letter to your eldest brother, telling him he must come home for the Dragon Boat Festival."

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 229: More Rain

 Chapter 229: More Rain

Old Aunt Ren and Fang Gui stayed in Daohua’s courtyard for only about a quarter of an hour before leaving. Once they finished their business, Madam Li received the news.

After hearing about Daohua’s two additional rules, Madam Li paused for a moment. “The girl is quite thorough. Registering the food expenses for each household in black and white ensures everyone is aware, preventing anyone from thinking they’ve eaten too little.”

Ping Tong nodded. “The household has been more prosperous these past two years, and I’ve noticed that whenever the second master and second madam order food, they always order a lot. If they don’t finish, it’s a waste.”

“And that person in Shuangxin Courtyard—ever since she gave birth to the fifth young lady, she’s been using the excuse of needing to nourish her body and occasionally calls for extra food from the kitchen.”

Madam Li sneered. “Now, both the second master and second madam are learning the ways of the aristocracy, but they don’t consider whether our family can afford such extravagance. Due to Old Madam Yan and the master, I’ve refrained from saying anything.”

“As for Shuangxin Courtyard, it’s the master’s orders. He told Concubine Concubine Lin to get whatever she wants from the kitchen. After that, Concubine Lin simply took full advantage.”

She laughed softly.

“They say a daughter is her mother’s close little cotton-padded jacket. This saying is truly accurate. With the girl’s move, she’ll likely curb some of the bad habits in this household. Even if something unpleasant happens later, we’ll have reason and evidence.”

Ping Tong immediately chimed in, “Exactly. The eldest daughter has always been considerate of the madam.”

There were some matters that the madam knew but couldn’t address, but the eldest daughter was different. She could act without much hesitation.

Madam Li continued, “As for the purchasing, our household’s expenses are increasing, and we do need to tighten things up. It’s one thing to take a small advantage, but I’m afraid that if someone’s greed grows, they might end up embezzling.”

Ping Tong nodded and laughed. “Our eldest daughter truly is a good steward. The moment she took over the kitchen, she helped solve two major problems for the madam.”

Madam Li smiled as well. “The girl is smart, but she’s a bit lazy. She needs someone to push her to get things done. We must keep an eye on her.”

A Month Later

Old Aunt Ren handed over the records of the food expenses for each household to Daohua.

Sitting in the courtyard, Daohua flipped through the ledger while casually cracking sunflower seeds, occasionally laughing at what she saw.

“In our household, the biggest food expenditure isn’t from Old Madam Yan’s courtyard or the main courtyard, but from the second uncle’s household and a small concubine’s courtyard. They spend two to three hundred taels a month!”

Daohua scoffed and shook her head, then stood up and walked toward the study, quickly copying two copies of the records. She handed one copy to Wang Man’er, instructing her to deliver it to the second house.

“Whether it’s for second uncle or second aunt, just tell them that this is my first time managing the kitchen, and since I’m not familiar with the household’s expenses, I did a quick summary so they can take a look.”

She paused, then added, “If they ask who else knows about this, tell them I’m concerned that the monthly expenses might not be accurate, so I plan to track them for another two months and then report to mother.”

“That's all. Go ahead!”

Wang Man’er immediately turned and left.

Once she was gone, Daohua looked at the other copy of the ledger, then glanced at the sky. “Father should be back from court by now, right?”

Gu Yu nodded. “Yes, Miss.”

Daohua stood up. “Let’s go and see Father.”

The Flower Gate

Yan Zhigao had just returned from the front office when he saw his eldest daughter sitting with her maid in a pavilion on his usual route, sipping tea.

Seeing this, Yan Zhigao raised an eyebrow.

Usually, those who waited for him were people from Concubine Lin’s side, the madam’s side, or other children due to various reasons, but his eldest daughter had never done so. He was curious why she had come to see him.

Cough, cough~

Yan Zhigao approached the pavilion and coughed twice.

Daohua immediately smiled and stepped forward. “Father, you’ve returned from court?”

Yan Zhigao nodded, walked into the pavilion, and seeing the tea prepared on the stone table, he smiled. “Is this for me?”

Daohua smiled and nodded. “I’m not sure if it suits your taste.”

Yan Zhigao sat down, picked up the tea, and took a sip. “Not bad, the temperature is just right.”

Daohua smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

Yan Zhigao put down the teacup. “Did you come to see me for something?”

Daohua took the food expense ledger from Gu Yu’s hands. “Father, mother asked me to manage the kitchen, so I had the kitchen steward record the daily food requests from each household and compiled them. Please take a look.”

Madam Li had mentioned Daohua taking over the kitchen, but Yan Zhigao hadn’t said much and now reached out to take the ledger.

He first looked at the final summary. When he saw that the second younger brother’s courtyard and Shuangxin Courtyard spent two to three hundred taels a month on food alone, his brow furrowed immediately.

Seeing his reaction, Daohua quickly explained, “Father, the daily records are all here. Whenever the maidens from each household took food from the kitchen, they confirmed it.” The implication was clear—she hadn’t fabricated anything.

Yan Zhigao flipped through the ledger quickly and confirmed that each food request had a maid’s signature as confirmation.

Daohua continued, “As for Second Uncle, I’ve already had someone deliver a copy to him. I told them that I’m going to keep recording for a few more months before reporting to Mother. As for Shuangxin Courtyard, I couldn’t go directly to Concubine Lin, so I had to trouble Father.”

Yan Zhigao put down the ledger, silently admiring his daughter’s meticulous and thorough approach.

“You’ve done well. As for Second Uncle, if he makes changes from now on, we won’t bring it up again.” This was to avoid embarrassing his younger brother.

Daohua nodded in acknowledgment.

Yan Zhigao added, “I will speak with Concubine Lin. She’s already supplemented her diet for several months, so from now on, her food should be according to the standard portions.”

Daohua nodded again. “Okay, I will follow Father’s instructions.”

---

The Second Household Courtyard

After Wang Man’er left, Yan Zhiqiang and Sun Shi’s faces darkened.

Sun Shi muttered unhappily, “I knew it. Since the eldest sister-in-law made Daohua manage the kitchen, something was bound to go wrong. Sure enough, as soon as that girl took charge, she started targeting us.”

Yan Zhiqiang furrowed his brows and didn’t respond to Sun Shi’s complaint. Instead, he asked uncertainly, “Did we really order this much food?”

Sun Shi paused and then snapped, “Don’t you remember how much you ate yourself?”

Yan Zhiqiang fell silent.

His wife’s words seemed to acknowledge that they had indeed ordered a lot of food, and Daohua hadn’t fabricated anything to frame them.

After a long pause, Yan Zhiqiang finally spoke. “We’ll have to be more restrained in the future. The eldest sister-in-law might still consider Mother and Big Brother’s reputation and avoid making this a big issue, but Daohua won’t hold back.”

“Besides,” he continued, “spending two to three hundred taels a month on food is indeed excessive.”

Sun Shi pouted. “It’s not excessive at all. Other families spend over a thousand taels for one banquet. What we spent is nothing compared to that. Besides, it’s not like we can’t afford it.”

She huffed. “It’s just that the eldest sister-in-law is too stingy!”

---

Chapter 229 End

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Chapter 228: Taking Over the Kitchen

Chapter 228: Taking Over the Kitchen

After the spring began, Daohua became very busy. She was occupied with classes, overseeing the various estates, and, in addition, Madam Li assigned her a new task: to learn how to manage the kitchen.

“Mother, why do you want me to manage the kitchen?” Daohua was somewhat reluctant and wanted to avoid the task. She already had so much to learn—book knowledge, calligraphy, needlework, playing the guqin, practicing martial arts, and she still had to find time to manage the estates and shops.

It truly felt like she was waking up earlier than a rooster and going to bed later than a dog, even more so than a modern office worker. But the rewards were rather gratifying; otherwise, she might have just quit.

Wasn’t she supposed to live a carefree life?

Madam Li gave her a side glance. “What do you mean ‘early’? I still think it’s late. After August, you’ll be twelve years old. You should start learning to handle household matters, including socializing and managing these things.”

When Daohua heard “twelve,” she immediately felt overwhelmed.

In modern times, twelve would mean just entering middle school, but in ancient times, girls were already expected to prepare for marriage.

Madam Li paid no attention to her daughter’s sulking expression and continued, “You love cooking, so starting with managing the kitchen will be a good fit. That way, you can get familiar with it.”

“When you get comfortable with the kitchen, then you can take over the needlework room.”

Daohua quickly interrupted, “Mother, when did our family even have a needlework room?”

Madam Li shot her a knowing glance. “You only focus on your estates and shops, but you don’t pay attention to the household. Let me explain.”

“We’re entertaining guests more often now. Your father is the Prefect Magistrate of the region, so we can’t afford to be negligent with our appearance. Plus, we have more servants now, and the cost of clothing changes every season adds up. With a needlework room, we won’t have to buy clothes anymore, which will save us a lot of money.”

“Our family has more sources of income now, but we still can’t waste money. In two years, you’ll all be older, and there will be more things to spend on.”

Daohua nodded.

Her mother truly had a talent for managing the household; she always anticipated needs and made plans ahead of time.

Madam Li gently patted Daohua’s head. “As young women, we can enjoy some relaxation while we’re still unmarried, but if we’re too carefree, we’ll only end up suffering more after marriage.”

“I know you’re busy with your studies, but if you work a little harder now, you’ll be able to relax more after you’re married. At home, if you don’t understand something, you can ask me. But once you’re married, even if your mother-in-law is reasonable, it won’t be appropriate to ask her every time.”

“Think about it. Would you rather learn at home now or wait until you’re married?”

Daohua sighed. “Alright, I’ll learn.”

Managing the household was something every legitimate wife had to know. Concubines had it easy—they didn’t have to do anything—but they were dependent on others for their survival and couldn’t control their own fate, let alone the status of their children.

Everything had its trade-offs.

If one enjoyed comfort, they would have to pay the corresponding price.

Madam Li smiled and quickly took the personnel registry and purchase ledger from Ping Tong, handing them to Daohua. “Take these back and familiarize yourself with them. If you don’t understand anything, feel free to come and ask me.”

Daohua nodded, resignedly taking the two books and leaving.

Daohua’s Courtyard

Daohua was standing under the eaves, playing with a parrot, while in the courtyard stood Nian Pozi, the kitchen steward, and Fang Gui, the purchasing Steward.

They had been waiting for a while, and there were chairs and tea set up, but both of them dared not sit, standing respectfully and cautiously watching Daohua.

Truth be told, even though Daohua was a young lady, no one in the Yan family dared to underestimate her.

Not because of anything else, but because she was the only one in the family who dared challenge the master in front of others, so no one would provoke her.

Moreover, she was truly capable. If there was any issue in the house, she would help Madam Li handle it, with Madam Li overseeing things while Daohua filled in the gaps.

The Yan family had hosted several banquets, and each time, the guests left with smiles, proving that Daohua was a meticulous and thoughtful person.

Now that she was managing the kitchen, they knew they had to treat her with extra care.

Looking at the two of them standing, Daohua was a little speechless.

To be honest, she hadn’t planned on intimidating them in any way.

The reason was simple: most of the food in the Yan household came from their own estates. Even if they tried to embezzle, there was probably no opportunity.

She had been playing with the parrot purely out of awkwardness and to ease her own discomfort. But since the two insisted on standing, she couldn’t help but feel helpless.

Daohua set the parrot down and walked over to sit. “You can sit down too.”

Only then did Nian Pozi and Fang Gui dare to sit, but both of them only sat on the edge of their seats, sitting up straight.

Daohua: “...”

Could it be that she has the aura of a domineering female CEO?

Looking at the two of them, anyone would think she’s really fierce!

"My mother asked me to take charge of the kitchen. Although I go there often, there are still many things I don’t know. You all can tell me about the situation there."

As she spoke, Daohua paused and looked at Fang Gui: "Why do you seem so familiar to me?"

Wang Man'er immediately laughed and added, "Miss, you must think Fang Caiban looks like Lady Fang, right?"

Daohua showed a sudden realization: "Yes, she looks like the housekeeper around my mother."

Fang Gui immediately laughed and replied, "In response to the young lady, Lady Fang is my older sister. We siblings do look somewhat alike."

"Oh," Daohua nodded. "No wonder." She then turned her gaze to Old Aunt Ren, "There’s someone called Ren Xiaogu at the gatehouse, are you related to them?"

Old Aunt Ren immediately replied, "In response to the young lady, that’s my son."

Daohua nodded again, picked up her teacup, and drank silently.

Before long, the simple Yan family began to move toward a more complicated network of relationships.

As more servants entered the household, managing the affairs would undoubtedly become more difficult.

No wonder my mother has been insisting on finding a capable wife for my older brother; she must have considered this aspect as well.

For a family with such complicated relationships, managing everything smoothly is no easy task.

Now, I can understand Madam Li's motherly kindness. She had me take over the kitchen so early, likely because she’s worried I won’t be able to hold my ground in my husband’s family later on.

Seeing that Daohua had suddenly fallen silent, both Old Aunt Ren and Fang Gui felt a little nervous. They thought about what they had just said and found no fault in it.

After a moment, Daohua put down her teacup. "The kitchen rules will remain the same as my mother’s. However, I’ll add two points."

"First, from now on, whoever from any room calls for food from the kitchen, it must be registered." She wanted to monitor the expenses of each household.

"Second, the previous purchase records were not detailed enough. I’ll create a form that must be followed when filling out the purchases in the future."

The current purchase records only listed the quantity and amount, with no source or contact information. This could lead to corruption or inflated amounts in the purchasing process.

Both Old Aunt Ren and Fang Gui respectfully agreed, but they felt a bit bitter inside.

The young lady seemed to have done nothing so far, but she had cut off their hidden benefits.

Old Aunt Ren, responsible for the kitchen, was too cautious to take good items, but whenever there were food requests, she would always make a bit more, either to bribe the maids or secretly take it home.

Now that everything had to be recorded, there was far less room for maneuver.

Fang Gui was the same; although he didn’t dare to be too greedy, he often raised the price of the goods he bought. Now that the purchase records were changing, he had to be extra careful with the young lady's sharp mind.

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 227: Pleasing Oneself

Chapter 227: Pleasing Oneself

In the eighteenth year of Yongxing, the entire Yan family celebrated a joyous New Year.

Old Madam Yan was happy because the family was prospering, and the younger generations were achieving more. Even her daughter, who had married into the capital, was now able to communicate and keep in touch often.

Yan Zhigao was pleased because the grain seeds had been successfully planted. If the harvest in the summer yielded high production and helped ease the bandit troubles in Fenxi, his promotion after his term as the magistrate would be assured.

Madam Li was happy because her eldest son had become more steady and responsible. In two years, he could start looking for a wife. Her second son was also becoming more ambitious, and her daughter was as brilliant as ever, a little expert at making money. Not only had she earned money herself, but her family and maternal relatives also benefited from her success.

The Li family's winery had been completed, and they sold a substantial amount of wine during the New Year period, quickly earning back their investment.

As a token of gratitude, the Li family sent over ten thousand taels of silver along with the New Year gifts to the Yan family.

The Yan family’s fortune had gradually grown over time.

The second branch of the family was also content. They were happy that the first branch was thriving, which meant they would benefit too. However, the only downside was that Yan Wenjie hadn’t been able to join his three brothers at Wangyue Academy.

The third branch of the family had modest desires and was therefore the easiest to satisfy. Yan Zhiqiang and his wife, Wu Shi, looked on with pride as their eldest son, Wentao, became more accomplished, their second son entered the school, and their youngest child grew bigger every day. Their land and estates were expanding, and they had no further wishes.

The younger generation was also happy. During the New Year, there were many family gatherings, and they almost received invitations every day, visiting various homes, meeting new friends, and receiving gifts. How could they not be happy?

Daohua, too, was pleased. Not for any other reason, but because the account books documenting the earnings from the estates and stores had been steadily growing.

Wang Man’er watched her young lady sitting at the table, one hand swiftly moving the abacus, while the other flipped through the ledgers, a smile on her face that was as narrow as a slit, looking both amused and happy.

In the past, she couldn’t understand why her young lady, as the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yan family, could get silver simply by telling Madam Yan, but still insisted on working hard to earn money on her own. It seemed so tiring.

But after the last time, when Madam Yan and Madam Zhou went to the temple to burn incense, Wang Man’er had realized her young lady’s foresight.

The new set of headwear that had just hit the market cost several hundred taels of silver. Miss Zhou had liked one set very much, but unfortunately, she had no money of her own and had to ask Madam Zhou for it. Madam Zhou, however, refused, saying that Miss Zhou’s family already had too many jewelry pieces.

At that time, Wang Man’er had been standing next to them and had clearly seen the disappointment and regret in Miss Zhou’s eyes.

But her young lady, because she had money in hand, didn’t ask Madam Yan for anything. Instead, she directly bought the headwear she liked and also bought one for Old Madam Yan and Madam Yan.

Though Daohua often heard her young lady say that one needed talent to stand tall, everyone just listened and forgot. But after witnessing this event, Wang Man’er finally understood her young lady’s determination.

Even Miss Zhou, after leaving the jewelry shop, had pulled Daohua aside and said that she too wanted to open a shop and earn silver herself.

"The herb seeds sent by Little Sixth Brother are still not enough. Ask him to go around the major medicine shops. He doesn’t need to focus on the rare and expensive herbs. The common herbs are in the highest demand."

After finishing calculating the earnings from the store and estate, Daohua lowered her head, thinking about the herb planting that was about to begin after the New Year.

Wang Man’er said, "Don’t worry, young lady. I’ll go find Little Sixth Brother and explain things to him. By the way, young lady, are we still going to the provincial capital for the Lantern Festival?"

Daohua shook her head. "We’re not going. This year, both uncles are busy with their business, so we won’t bother them."

Wang Man’er smiled. "Uncle’s business is getting bigger and bigger. I heard from Sister Pingtong that their wine has even been sold outside the province."

Daohua smiled lightly. "It’s good if the business is doing well." After all, she had received three estates from the Li family. If the Li family wasn’t making money, she would feel bad.

Wang Man’er said, "How impressive are the two uncles! How did they manage to get the wine sold outside the province?"

Daohua didn’t respond.

In fact, the process of making wine wasn’t difficult, and it wasn’t like there were no other businesses selling wine. The reason Li family’s wine sold so well was due to the quality of the grapes.

The grapes planted in the Li family's fields now come from the seeds she cultivated in her space. These grapes, both in flavor and nutritional value, are far superior to others.

Ordinary people might not notice much difference, but those who appreciate fine wine or are connoisseurs of good food will certainly taste the distinction.

This is the real reason why the Li family’s wine sells so well.

Of course, promoting a good product wouldn’t be possible without the remarkable abilities of her two uncles.

Additionally, the reason the Li family was able to sell their wine smoothly without being suppressed or envied by other merchants was partly due to her "cheap father."

In ancient times, making money and keeping the earnings required many conditions—good timing, favorable location, and the right people were all indispensable.

At this point, Gu Yu and Li Xia entered the room with a bamboo sieve and placed it on the table.

Upon seeing this, Daohua immediately stood up and walked over.

The sieve contained large, plump sunflower seeds.

Wang Man’er asked, “Young lady, why did you specifically pick out these sunflower seeds?”

Daohua smiled and replied, “You’ll understand soon enough.”

During the New Year, Daohua rarely went out. Aside from visiting the Zhou family and two or three other families who were close to Madam Li, she stayed at home, either cultivating medicinal herb seeds or practicing musical scores.

Not long after the Lantern Festival, Yan Wenxiu and his three brothers returned to the academy to resume their studies. As the weather began to warm, Daohua occasionally invited Zhou Jingwan to go horseback riding.

She could now ride at a full gallop, though she still couldn’t jump over obstacles.

“Daohua, the peach blossoms at Qi Wu Mountain will bloom in early March. Miss Wang has sent an invitation for us to go enjoy the peach blossoms. Will you go?” Zhou Jingwan asked loudly, riding her horse and trailing behind Daohua.

Daohua slowed down her horse, turned her head, and replied, “I’m not going. My herb garden is starting to be sown, and I need to visit it regularly.”

Zhou Jingwan caught up with her and asked, “You already have a tea garden, a flower garden, a vineyard, a fruit orchard, and grain estates. Why are you starting an herb garden now?”

Daohua sighed, “Well, what can I do? My family is poor. I must work hard to earn money.”

Zhou Jingwan pouted. “You’re not poor. You bought three sets of headwear for over a thousand taels without even blinking. My mother says you spend money more extravagantly than she does.”

Daohua smiled and shrugged.

She earned money for what? To please herself, of course!

If she liked something and had the means to afford it, why not buy it?

(End of Chapter)

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There is Room For the Poor Daughter

 Description

(1v1, Shuangjie, Sweet Pet) Xiliang Weiyuan Palace.

The little prince Xiao Moxi, who was only 5 years old, wrinkled his face and ran into the field when his mother left him again.

The little prince glanced sadly at his father next to him, and said old-fashionedly: “Father, why did you fall in love with my mother who likes to run outside when nothing is wrong?”

Xiao Yeyang glanced sideways at his family’s eldest son, and then made a thoughtful gesture.

Yes, why did he like that woman?

There was a long silence…

“Who knows, your mind is caught by the door!”

The father and son, who had the same fate, looked at each other and uttered a helpless sigh at the same time.

What should I do if there is a woman who has no home on the stall?

My own princess (mother), can only spoil her!

…

Carrying space through the ancient rice flowers, I just want to spend my life in the fields peacefully. Who knew there was a father who was a county magistrate, so he was forced to enter the city from the country!

There are so many things in the city. In order to have the right to speak at home, Daohua buys Zhuangzi, grows flowers, grows medicinal materials, and cultivates high-yield and high-quality grain seeds. This is to help the father, who has been a county magistrate for nine years, rise step by step. Let the Yan family, who came from a poor family, squeeze into the capital circle!

This is a prosperous and prosperous struggle story of a poor daughter’s auxiliary family, and also a sweet love story of mutual accomplishment and growth together!

Male protagonist: In front of outsiders, it is the jealous little prince, the domineering king Weiyuan, and in front of the female protagonist, it is a counseling gentleman.

Heroine: Everything is sober, warm-hearted and self-improving!

Associated Names

The Humble Family s Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket! (Webnovel version)

寒门嫡女有空间

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