Traveling through the starry sky just for you, I was a koi in ancient times

Wu Mei then talked about the layout of the Cao family's courtyard, describing it vividly. She said that there were two large courtyards in the backyard of the Cao family, each with three or four concubines.

Many people have always believed that concubines have independent housing, but no, most concubines live in dormitories, and the male master can call anyone to go to his yard.

This is the concubine referred to as the "three wives and concubines".

The guards on the tree heard a bunch of messy information and finally figured out two things: Taisheng Rice Shop was doing a booming business and Cao An's family was running out of lamp oil. What is this? It was a mess.

But as a royal guard, his meticulous work style required him to remember every piece of information and report back carefully.

Although the information was confusing, he still stated it clearly when reporting. The captains of the five teams A, B, C, D and E listened to his report and studied the plan.

Starting today, the Cao An family will arrange personnel to monitor and keep a close eye on the lurking maid.

After Wu Mei and Wang Jinyi finished their report, they continued to clean the backyard as if nothing had happened.

Wang Jinyi returned to the house and continued her daily routine.

After memorizing the chess records and reviewing the game, he asked casually:

"Mother, how much lamp oil do we need every month?"

"Why do you ask this?"

"Just wanted to ask."

"Mother can't remember too much detail. There are general records in Zhu'er and Ping'er's accounts.

One can of oil should be enough. Your father stays up late reading in his study every day, so it consumes a bit of oil."

The mother came back to her senses from her feelings for her husband.

"Is Jin'er's lamp oil insufficient?"

"No, mother, I have to manage the accounts and I must be careful about all the family affairs. I just want to know how much the lamp oil expenditure is every month?"

The mother gently stroked her daughter's face.

"Go ahead. Mr. Wenbai is waiting for you in the front hall. Show the recorded words to mother. Don't run on the road. Be careful."

Wang Jinyi stretched out his two short arms, hugged his mother and walked to the front hall. As he walked, he wondered what he could do with the wasted lamp oil.

Entered the main hall.

Today, the mother asked the wet nurse and Qing'er to follow her. After entering the house, they stood on both sides of the main hall door, guarding the young lady like two door gods.

Wang Jinyi kept her head down today because she was worried about the lamp oil in Cao An's house. She didn't look up even when she was sitting at the desk in the lobby.

When Wen Bai saw the young lady come in, he stood up and prepared to salute. Wang Jinyi lowered her head and remained silent. Wen Bai saluted and sat down quietly.

Wen Bai habitually prepared his pen and ink, then took out a thin booklet from the pile of manuscripts he was holding, looked at Wang Jinyi, and waited.

At this time, Wang Jinyi was thinking about what Wu Mei said: Cao's oil mill and the two jars of lamp oil.

I couldn't figure out the answer, and I felt that something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what was wrong. My thoughts sank into reasoning, and I quickly figured out my thoughts. I looked up at Qing'er at the door.

"Qing'er, tell mother that I want to know the family's expenses. Let Ping'er come over and bring the account of the family's purchases last month."

Qing'er received the instructions and left.

Wang Jinyi looked at Wen Bai who was waiting for the result.

"Mr. Wenbai, I'm learning how to be a housekeeper and I want to know something. Please wait for me."

Wang Jinyi stood up and bent his knees slightly.

Wen Bai only said one sentence,

"Don't dare to take it seriously."

Then he became unknown.

Wang Jinyi had just finished drinking a glass of water when Qing'er, Ping'er and Zhu'er came with the account books, followed by their mother.

As soon as she entered the door, the mother stopped her daughter from standing up and bowing with her hand. The servants brought a brocade stool, and the mother sat down next to Wang Jinyi.

The three maids spread out the account books in front of Wang Jinyi.

Usually the Madam checked the accounts in the back house or the accounting office. This was the first time that she called both of them to the front hall, and it was obvious that both of them were a little nervous.

Zhu Er wiped the sweat off her face with a handkerchief and looked at the lady. Her mother gently reminded her:

"Miss, I want to know about the purchases and expenses of the family."

Wang Jinyi thought her mother was mistaking her for someone else. She thought she was interested in the housekeeper and was using understanding her daily expenses as a starting point, but that was not the case with her.

I just don't understand why I'm curious about Cao An's family, so I mobilized so many people just to find out.

My mother came just in time.

"How many kinds of lamp oil do you usually sell in your mother's oil mill?"

"You asked this, I only know that our second house has always used sesame oil as lamp oil, Jin'er, wait a moment."

The mother looked at Qing'er and asked:

"Who is Qing'er going out to buy now?"

The mother was prepared to give her daughter a thorough understanding of household chores.

After a while, Nanny Wang entered the back hall. Seeing so many people so serious, she felt a little uneasy.

He stood in the hall, bowed and greeted politely, then lowered his head, grasping the corner of his clothes and not daring to look up.

In order to find out the truth as quickly as possible, Wang Jinyi asked:

"Madam Wang, do you go shopping for the family yourself?"

Nanny Wang raised her head and fixed her eyes on my mother's face. My mother just nodded faintly:

"Speak back."

Nanny Wang then looked at the young lady, who was sitting on a large armchair that did not suit her at all, making the little girl look even smaller, and the large armchairs around her were like a small fence.

Nanny Wang answered cautiously,

"Yes, Madam, Miss, I have been in charge of the purchases in the past few months. Previously, the purchases in the Wang family mansion were made by Gongzhong. We only need to reconcile and report the accounts."

"How many types of lamp oil does Wang Ma's Oil Mill have?"

When Nanny Wang heard the young lady ask this, she quickly replied:

"The oil mills mainly produce sesame oil and tung oil. Sesame oil does not produce much smoke when burned, so most people use this kind. Some people also use tung oil, but tung oil produces too much smoke, so only poor families use it.

However, tung oil is also used for outdoor fires.

Miss, are you asking about the price? Generally, sesame oil is about twice as expensive as tung oil. "

Added another sentence:

"Miss, the oil you light in your room is sesame oil"

Wang Jinyi thought about it and realized that it was no wonder that every time he lit the oil lamp, he always smelled a smell of fragrant oil in the room.

"Mammy, how much lamp oil does our family use every month?"

"Miss, there is a record."

Zhu'er interrupted and saw her mother nod and walk to the desk, found the "Consumption Account" book, opened it and pointed it to the young lady.

"How much is this jar and this jar and a half? How much is the urn?"

Nanny Wang explained to the young lady in detail:

"Miss, a can is divided into a large can and a small can. In our house, a can is two oil gourds, which is about two kilograms. An urn is also divided into a large urn and a small urn. Generally, a urn is about one hundred kilograms."

Oh, our family uses two to three kilograms of lamp oil a month, and Cao An’s two jars of oil mean 200 kilograms of lamp oil.

How can so much lamp oil be used?

Wang Jinyi sensed something was wrong with the Cao family from the huge difference.

I also felt that my initial suspicions had returned. There was indeed something fishy here!

"Okay, I understand. You can go back now."