After the replacement marriage, I was forced to fight at home

"Go to sleep. Let them watch first. Wait until the statistics are given to you, and then you can take a good look at it." Zhou Yu took the booklet from Meng Wan's hand and took her hand to walk towards the kang.

"I think this is not difficult, especially the booklet in the mansion, which is too detailed. What was given to whom, how much silver was given, what was taken back, and how much silver was given are all clear at a glance. I just need to ask whether it is more or less than last year's. As for those things, they are nothing more than tea, sugar, rice, spices, leather, and wine. If you are closer to your relatives, you can add some vegetables, dried fruits, and meat. If you are of a more noble status, you will also give fabrics, jewelry, tea sets, etc. Looking at it this way, it is impossible for her to make a mistake."

Meng Wan sat on the edge of the kang, still holding the half-broken charcoal pencil in her hand, her little face wrinkled.

Zhou Yu smiled slightly, and took the charcoal in her hand with a bit of heartache, "It must not be that simple, but I don't know about such things. In previous years, it was always Mother Fan who was worried about it. Although there were occasional errands, it was not a big deal. If you can't see anything, why don't I take you out and ask your sister?"

"How can I do that? If my sister knew, she would definitely laugh at me, which would make her worried. Besides, it's the end of the year now, and she's already busy enough with the affairs of the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion."

"How about going back to Huainan Marquis' Mansion and asking my mother-in-law?"

Meng Wan's eyes lit up, and then he shook his head, "Forget it, I'd better think about it slowly. Only if I handle it myself can I have a deeper impression. Besides, I also want to use this incident to clean up all the traitors in our courtyard. After the first month of the year, when the princess knows my true identity, the news in our courtyard will not be allowed to spread outside."

"Okay, you don't have to worry about it. Even if she plots against you again, it's just to embarrass you. Anyway, your reputation in Beijing is not much better than Meng Qi's, so you don't have to worry about it."

"Ouch, be gentle, I'm your dear husband." Zhou Yu held down Meng Wan's hand that was pinching the soft flesh on his waist.

"You're talking nonsense. This is my first head-on battle with her. I can't lose. Oh, and I need your help."

"What are you talking about? If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you talking about helping me?" Zhou Yu said unhappily, pulling Meng Wan's hand, "Let me see what you ate behind my back, why are you so strong?"

Meng Wan gently patted Zhou Yu's shoulder and said, "Wang Xiaoer, please help me find out these few days whether there are any changes this year for the families that often come and go with the palace. I always feel that the princess will not give me this job so easily. If you find out more, I will have a better idea in my mind, so that I can have a better idea when I go to visit them."

Zhou Yu nodded, "Yes, you are right. Let's not talk about others. I just saw the list you wrote for Lord Lin's family. The meat and fish are not acceptable."

"That's right, how could I have forgotten? The old lady in their family passed away less than a month ago. I'm afraid they won't eat meat during the New Year." Meng Wan clapped his hands.

"Yes, Mrs. Hu will definitely not remind you of such a thing. So, you just need to pay more attention to the family she emphasizes to you to prepare for. The more she says, the more you should pay attention and inquire more. Later, when Wu Hen finishes his work over there, I will ask him to help you. When the time comes, if you want to investigate a family, just let Cai'er contact him."

"Wang Xiaoer, you are so smart." Meng Wan held Zhou Yu's face and kissed him.

Zhou Yu turned his head, held Meng Wan's lips, and said vaguely, "You just knew it." He turned over and pressed Meng Wan under him.

------

"Second Grandma, Mother Fan said she couldn't find it." Chuan'er said with embarrassment.

Meng Wan pressed her temples. Early in the morning, after returning from Junyueju, she asked Chuan'er to find Mother Fan and bring back the gift booklets that Qinghe Garden had needed to distribute in recent years.

"Is it that all of them are gone?"

"No, they just said they couldn't find the ones from last year. They said there's no difference from the year before last, so just compare them with the year before last." Chuan'er put the three booklets on the kang table.

Meng Wan gently opened it. There were only a few words written on the page. They were crooked and not very neat. Some of the words were directly replaced by pictures, which made it clear at a glance.

"Didn't they say Green Willow helped her? Was this recorded by Green Willow?"

"Lvliu said that it was not her who recorded it. It was all recorded by Mother Fan herself. She was only responsible for preparing the gifts for the festival. Mother Fan would not let her see the things on the account."

Meng Wan nodded and said, "Go and call Lvliu."

After a while, Lvliu came in, wearing a dark green jacket and skirt. Thinking that everyone in the yard was dressed to look fresh and bright, only Lvliu, who was always dressed very maturely, looked a lot older in this outfit.

Mother Kong had investigated these maids in detail. Except Chuntao, the other three were sixteen years old. The maids in the palace worked until they were eighteen years old. If there were no special instructions from the master, they would be sent out and usually married off.

Wanxia is engaged, but Hewen and Luliu are not.

"You also know that the princess has entrusted the matter of the New Year's gifts in the mansion to me. I thought of starting with Qinghe Garden. In previous years, you have been with Mother Fan to handle these matters. Now, tell me, what should we pay attention to?"

Lvliu bowed deeply and said slowly, "First, we need to decide how many households there are and what their relationships are. Then we need to classify them by closeness. Then we need to determine the amount. No matter what you are sending, we need to write down how much it is in silver. Then we need to find out if there are any special circumstances for the family, such as the birth of a child, the marriage of a daughter-in-law, or the death of a family member. We need to pay more attention to these things, so as not to offend others by sending things."

Meng Wan looked up in surprise. This Lv Liu was really good. From the last skirt incident to this incident, she was able to analyze objectively. She did not hide anything and wait until the end to show off her ability, nor did she become complacent and make random suggestions just because she knew a little bit.

"Any more?"

"And then there's the other party's ability."

"The other party's ability?" Meng Wan was puzzled.

"Yes, I remember that last year, the Second Master met a young man who came to Beijing to take the imperial examination. He rented a small courtyard. I don't know how the Second Master and that man got together, so he asked me to send him a festival gift at the end of the year.

"When I was ready to send the gifts, I found out that the family's conditions were not very good. If I send the gifts, they will not be able to return the gifts with the same gift, unless we sell the gifts sent by the Second Master and buy other gifts for us.

"I told Madam Fan about my idea. I wanted to give less and give it according to what the family can afford. But Madam Fan disagreed. She said that giving more would show the Second Master's sincerity towards him."

Meng Wan frowned. She didn't even like to talk about this Mrs. Fan. She was so shallow.

"What happened next? Was it sent as is?"

Green Willow shook her head. "I felt it was inappropriate. Seeing that I couldn't persuade Madam Fan, I secretly went to find the Second Master. The Second Master also felt that what I said was right, so he reduced the amount and gave him some practical things. However, the young master didn't pass the spring examination this year, and went back home to study hard, saying that he would come back in three years. I suggested to the Second Master that the remaining money that I wanted to give him should be used as travel expenses."

Meng Wan nodded. She was a very clear-minded person. If she gave it to the young master like this, he would definitely thank Zhou Yu when he passed the imperial examination. But if she really gave it to the young master as a New Year gift, it would only add burden to the young master.

"Is it because of this incident that Mother Fan doesn't allow you to stay with her?"

Lvliu didn't expect Meng Wan to be so perceptive. She smiled bitterly and said, "Maybe she blamed me for going to look for the Second Master without her knowledge."

It seems that Chuntao slowly approached Luliu after seeing that she was not favored by Mother Fan.

"In that case, you should follow Chuan'er and Caiyun today and sort out the Qinghe Garden first. Mother Fan doesn't have last year's gift book, do you remember it?"

Lvliu thought for a moment and said, "We should remember it. After all, not many have been given away in the name of Qinghe Garden. But I wonder if there are any left from previous years?"

"some."

"That's fine, I'll take a look at it."

Meng Wan was satisfied and called out to Chuan'er, "Go to the outer courtyard these two days and ask Mingfu if the Second Master has made any new friends this year. Don't miss any. From today on, let Lvliu follow you, and bring Caiyun with you."

Seeing Lvliu walk out, Chuan'er stepped forward and asked, "Second Madam, where are the other two?"

"There's no need for them to come yet. I originally wanted to call them all over, and then I would deliberately leak some information to see where it spreads, so that we can know if it's someone from that side, and whose person it is. But there's no need now. Look at this Lvliu, she's done both things very well. And the three of you have done enough. As for the two of them, we'll talk about it later when we prepare the goods and gifts."

Chuan'er exhaled and sighed, "That's good. Let's sort out the Qinghe Garden first, and then it will be easier to deal with the mansion."

Meng Wan smiled and said, "Why are you so bitter and resentful? Don't worry, we will not let the Hu family be satisfied with this matter."

"Second Madam, aren't you going to pretend anymore?" Chuan'er asked.

"I won't pretend anymore, but I'd better not let her notice anything. After all, there are still things to do in the palace. If she finds out that I'm not as stupid as she thinks, and then changes her strategy, it will be detrimental to the Second Master and my plan."

Chuan'er didn't expect that there was something about Zhou Yu at the palace banquet. He wanted to ask a question, but after a little thought, he shut up.