“That’s right, you’re really not destined for a life of luxury. You’re living an easy life now, and you even get paid. Just relax and enjoy it.” Granny Gao leaned back leisurely in her chair.
Granny Dong's expression changed, and she asked, "When it's time to collect the silver, the princess won't refuse to give it to us, will she?"
Granny Gao glared and said, "What does she give? The kitchen expenses are all taken from Miss Ye Shan. I'll go myself; you don't need to help."
With Consort Yu as their backer and the Empress as their safety net, they have become incredibly arrogant.
Su Wenyuan wasn't in a hurry; getting rid of these old guys would take some effort.
Meng Qi investigated for several days and gave Su Wenyuan a big surprise.
The head of the group, Granny Gao, actually bought a large house and regularly sent nice things to their home.
The old woman who followed her was also quite good; she built houses for both of her sons.
The others were a little less successful, but they still made a lot of money.
It was that day again when the manor distributed monthly wages. Usually, Ye Shan would call everyone to the courtyard and distribute the wages according to the roster.
Everyone arrived at the courtyard early today and waited. Ye Shan called them into the Bamboo Moon Pavilion.
Tables and chairs were set up inside the Bamboo Moon Pavilion, and Su Wenyuan sat in the center, flipping through the roster.
There were too many people in the manor, and she hadn't remembered much in just a few days.
But she remembers very clearly those who are working and those who aren't, even those who are right in front of her.
"Let's start with Zhuyue Pavilion. A couple of days ago, the servants in Zhuyue Pavilion were fined a month's or half a month's wages, but after observing for a few days, I found that some people's wages can be waived."
After she finished speaking, she handed the marked roster to Yuexiu.
The group exchanged bewildered glances, some of them already feeling guilty.
Taking advantage of the fact that their monthly wages had been fined, they tried to slack off as much as possible, since there were plenty of people to do the work after Su Wenyuan's reprimand.
Yuexiu said, "Those whose names are called, come forward, collect your monthly allowance, and then write your name on it!"
Several people happily accepted their monthly allowance, while the rest looked unhappy, passing the buck and trying to find someone to talk to.
Su Wenyuan said coldly, "The rest of you will be transferred away from Zhuyue Pavilion and assigned to your own work areas later."
Now everyone fell silent. Their monthly allowance was gone, and they had to leave Zhuyue Pavilion. If they continued talking, they might have to leave the Prince Chen's mansion.
Su Wenyuan couldn't understand how the Prince's mansion could be in such a mess. Consort Yu had arranged for a cook, but hadn't she arranged for someone in charge?
Before the remaining people receive their monthly allowance, they must also undergo Su Wenyuan's questioning and consideration.
After standing for more than an hour, it was finally the kitchen's turn.
Granny Gao wore a fake smile; if it weren't for the money, she wouldn't even want to smile.
"Your Highness, please don't ask about the people in the kitchen. You probably don't know them as well as I, this old woman, do," Granny Gao said first.
Su Wenyuan smiled. The people in the kitchen had always been managed by Granny Gao.
Those who didn't listen were ousted long ago; the kitchen these days is truly united.
The joint operation deceived their superiors and subordinates, making it impossible for Su Wenyuan to find out the truth even if she wanted to.
Granny Dong stepped forward again and added fuel to the fire, saying, "Your Highness can give all the silver to Granny Gao, and she can go back to the kitchen to distribute it, which will save Your Highness's time."
Su Wenyuan glanced at the maids and servants behind her; they didn't seem to have any objections.
“Alright, you all step back first, let Yuexiu calculate your wages.” Su Wenyuan waved her hand and continued, “A few new people have joined the manor this month. They haven’t been here for a full month, but they’ve done a good job, so we’ll calculate it as half a month’s wages for you.”
They had been there for about ten days, and Su Wenyuan had already added half of the ingredients.
Ye Shan read out the names, and each person received one tael of silver...
The people immediately erupted in anger. They earned eight coins a month, while the newcomers earned one tael every half month. The difference was significant.
"Why is the new guy's monthly salary so high?"
"I've been in this manor for five years, and I'm still only worth eight coins!"
"They've only had one or two ounces in half a month, isn't that a bit much?"
Several old women exchanged gloating glances, their eyes seemingly saying, "See? The princess is still young."
With such a large difference in monthly wages, would anyone still be willing to work for her?
The murmurs among the crowd grew louder and louder, with no manners whatsoever. Su Wenyuan was very curious: who exactly had said that the Prince Chen's mansion was terrifying?
Even in the Prime Minister's residence managed by the Wang family, no one dared to act like this.
She was a princess, but she didn't have as much prestige as Lady Wang.
Or maybe I'm just too good-natured!
Thinking of this, Su Wenyuan smashed the cup.
"If you don't want to work, go collect an extra month's pay, then get out! Don't you know how you've been working all these years?"
The crowd fell silent, but many were still somewhat resentful, feeling unbalanced by the large difference in silver.
Yuexiu said, "The princess has selected several stewards. Those who become stewards will receive two taels of silver per month. The names of the stewards will be announced shortly. The rest of the monthly salary will remain unchanged. Those who are not satisfied can leave now."
After these words were spoken, a glimmer of hope appeared in the eyes of some people, and they stopped arguing. They all hoped that they could become managers and earn two taels of silver!
The old women exchanged smiles. The mansion was selecting a steward, and how could they be left out?
Meanwhile, the money in the kitchen was calculated, and Yuexiu handed it over to Granny Gao.
Granny Gao deliberately loosened her grip, and the money bag fell to the ground.
Yuexiu rolled her eyes at her and turned back to Su Wenyuan's side.
Whoever's money it is, they'll be the one who cares. If she's so capable, she shouldn't have picked it up.
Granny Gao was immediately embarrassed. Everyone was looking at her, and she was really too embarrassed to bend down and pick it up.
"Two and a half taels each for the five cooks in the small kitchen," Yuexiu called out again.
Everyone exclaimed in surprise, "They actually had this much in just half a month?"
The five men were also a little excited. At first, they didn't believe it when it was said that it would be five taels a month, but now, after only ten days, they have received their monthly allowance, which is half a month's allowance.
As soon as a cook received the money, she knelt down before Su Wenyuan.
"Hey hey hey..." Su Wenyuan was startled and quickly got up.
The man thanked Su Wenyuan with tears in his eyes, saying that her family was poor and no one wanted to hire her when she went out to look for work.
Unexpectedly, she ended up in Prince Chen's mansion, where the monthly allowance was so much that it would be enough for her family to eat and drink for a year.
Su Wenyuan laughed and said, "It's only been half a month. If you work hard in the future, you'll be rewarded. The one thing I, the princess, can't afford to lose is my mouth. If the place is big enough, I'd like to hire another ten or eight chefs."
Those who were familiar with Su Wenyuan covered their mouths and chuckled; they had already noticed.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, we'll cook all sorts of delicious dishes from now on!" the chefs assured them excitedly.
Granny Gao and the others looked grim, and servants from other courtyards cast mocking glances at them.
It was such a good opportunity to please the princess.
But they insisted on making things difficult for the princess, not only refusing to cook delicious food, but also sending her only the most unpalatable dishes.
This is good, the princess herself paid a high price to hire someone, five taels a month, while Granny Gao only paid one tael a month.
"This princess may not have much else, but she has plenty of money. Just read out the steward's name." Su Wenyuan straightened her back, feeling a little tired.
Granny Gao suppressed her thoughts of causing trouble, thinking that even the person in charge would get a share, and she should take as much as she could.
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