"I think everyone should know the reason why I called everyone here today. It is mainly to talk about the recent general affairs in the mansion."
Shen Tianshu waited until everyone stood still and stopped moving before Shi Shiran spoke.
"My mother has to rest due to illness and cannot work hard. The general affairs were previously handled by Aunt Ping. Now that I'm back, my father wants me to gain experience, so he asked me to take over temporarily."
Hearing this, Ping Niang hurriedly said: "I am incompetent and can't take care of things in a mess, so I have to trouble the eldest girl to take over."
"Everyone knows that I am actually very talkative."
As soon as these words came out, everyone below felt their skin tighten all over.
If it had been in the past, everyone might still think so.
But in recent months, the eldest girl has already impressed everyone with her actions.
Especially this time when I went to the Prince Rui's Mansion for a banquet, I actually won the favor of the Dowager Empress.
Although no one knew what was going on in the palace, everyone saw the eldest daughter's many rewards and the palace's guards when she came back.
Everyone is discussing in private, is the big girl really going to reach the sky in one fell swoop?
I heard Shen Tianshu say from above: "But when I do things, I like to say ugly things first.
"I am only temporarily taking care of it for a few days. After my mother recovers from her illness, I will naturally return it to her.
"So I hope that in these few days, everyone can cooperate well, behave in a gentle manner, and do things smoothly.
"As long as you do your job well, I will naturally not find fault with you, but if anyone thinks I am good-natured and insists on causing trouble for me, there is no need for me to tolerate your bad habits.
"Not to mention anything else, there are quite a few Zhuangzi in the family. If you want to arrange for a dozen or even dozens of people, it won't be a problem.
"So you all have to consider whether it's worth throwing away your good job just to trouble me."
What Shen Tianshu said was very unclear. She was only temporarily taking care of it. From now on, this matter will still be handed over to Xu's hands.
Therefore, she has no interest in reorganizing the back house, nor does she have any plans to win anyone over and replace her with one of her own.
As long as you keep your integrity and give her face, she will naturally be kind to you.
But if someone insists on kicking someone in the face, she will never be merciful.
After hearing what Shen Tianshu said, everyone naturally thought of Aunt Guo next to the madam. Isn't it because the eldest girl was sent to Zhuangzi?
Everyone's eyes began to greet Yu Juan involuntarily.
Yu Juan's body felt like needles piercing her body as she was looked at by the vague gazes around her, and she wished she could find a place to hide herself.
Ping Niang stood by and listened with astonishment. If she hadn't been sure that Shen Tianshu had never been in contact with general affairs, she would have thought that Shen Tianshu was a veteran in this field.
Every sentence hits the key points, which not only dispels the concerns of these stewards, but also strikes from the side so that they will not be underestimated.
Thinking of this, she turned her eyes to Shen Yunhui and saw that she was looking at Shen Tianshu with admiration. She didn't know how much she could learn the skills of the older girl.
Shen Tianshu called everyone here today, just to hammer out a few words and give everyone a tight grip, so that there would be no need to keep everyone behind for the rest of the matter.
"A few of the stewards will stay, and the others will disperse, so as not to delay your errands." Shen Tianshu finished speaking and looked at Madam Yan, "Madam Yan, bring over last year's account book and check it. See last year's Hua Chao Festival Mansion. What kind of expenditures have been made, this year is just a little more than last year’s practice.”
However, Mrs. Yan still did Tai Chi as she did with Ping Niang before: "Sister, last year's account books were put away after the reconciliation at the end of the year. When I go back to the warehouse, I will look for it..."
Shen Tianshu opened his mouth and interrupted Mrs. Yan directly: "I just want to look at the account books. As for how the account books are organized and stored, and how to find the account books from previous years, that is all your business. You can't tell me."
Shen Tianshu's words were already very rude, but Mrs. Yan was still annoyed.
Not only did she not give her the account books, she even said: "The eldest lady has never taken care of the household affairs, so naturally she doesn't know these things. There are so many people in our house, and we have countless trivial expenses and incomes every day. The pile of account books is higher than everyone else's throughout the year, but It’s not like you can find it right away if you look for it…”
Upon hearing this, several other stewards cast incomprehensible looks at Mrs. Yan.
Although everyone knew that Mrs. Yan had some disagreements with Aunt Yang, she often made up false accusations in front of Mrs. Xu because of those nonsense things.
But that was when the Xu family was the housekeeper, and now that the eldest girl has just taken over the power, if you don't cooperate like this, isn't this a loss of face for the eldest girl in public?
When he quietly looked up, Shen Tianshu's face had indeed sunk.
Little did they know that Madam Yan was also full of grievances at this time.
If she could get the account, why bother struggling with the older girl here?
In fact, I really didn’t look at last year’s accounts.
Xu misappropriated money in various ways to make loan sharks or supplement her parents' family. In addition, Xu Yihao came to Yongzhou Prefecture at the end of the year, which also added a lot of shameful expenses.
These events made last year's ledger as full of holes as a sieve.
In the past, after the Chinese New Year every year, Mr. Xu would take back the usury money and interest that had been released, so that most of the holes could be basically plugged.
But this year Mrs. Xu has been bedridden, and Mrs. Yan didn't even have the chance to ask what should be done with the accounts.
Shen Tianshu didn't expect that as soon as she finished her training, someone immediately came up to make trouble for her.
If such a person is not dealt with, why should he take care of the general affairs?
It will be known to everyone in the house before tonight, making her the laughing stock of the people in the back house again.
"Ms. Yan, if I remember correctly, you have been in charge of the accounts since we moved to Yongzhou Mansion, right?"
Mrs. Yan was sweating under the pressure of Shen Tianshu's eyes, but she did not dare not answer.
"That's what the big girl said."
"That means you handled all the account books from previous years. Did you put them away, right?"
"yes."
"In this case, I just want to ask, is it always so difficult to check the accounts in our house?
"If that's the case, then shouldn't you take a good look at yourself to see if there's anything you need to improve on? Are you really qualified for this job?"
"I……"
Shen Tianshu did not lose his temper or use force to pressure others. He had a very clear mind and asked questions one after another, completely leaving Mrs. Yan speechless.
"Now I only have one request. Before everything is locked tonight, the account books are sent to my room.
"If you really can't do it, I may need to consider whether I should find an easier job for you to do!"