“Madam, there is one more thing,” the head maid continued to report.
"Nowadays, many stewards and servants in the mansion have been bewitched by the young mistress and have all sided with her."
"Especially the old woman in charge of the kitchen. I told her to make things difficult for the young mistress when it came to food, but she actually complied. Whenever the young mistress wanted something, she would give it to her. She was such a sycophant."
"When the young mistress ordered an extra dish, she complied without question. When the servant questioned her, she said that the young mistress had paid for it, so there was no reason for her not to do it."
"They also said that the young mistress is very generous with her rewards, and that all the maids and servants in the kitchen get rewards for helping the young mistress. If she doesn't take on the young mistress's work, the servants might complain."
"What is the name of the kitchen manager?" Wen asked.
"Her husband's name is Li Gui, and everyone calls her Li Gui's wife. Her family is a noble family."
“Madam, Li Gui’s family has sided with the young mistress too quickly. I think it might be because the servants feel that you have given us the positions of head steward and head nanny, so they are dissatisfied.”
"A bunch of lowly slaves. I am the mistress of the house. I can give the position of head maid to whomever I want. Why should I have to listen to their whims?"
Wen's face was icy cold.
In particular, she remembered that Old Madam Pei had once mentioned that she should give some of the power in her hands to the servants in the mansion.
ridiculous.
She should, of course, keep power in her own hands; why should she hand it over to outsiders?
Has she gone mad?
"Ignore her and the others who fawn over the Jiang family. After the clan banquet, they will come begging to me on their knees without me having to lift a finger."
Just like before, they did whatever she said.
They dared not disobey in the slightest.
Jiang Shuwan's courtyard.
Jiang Shuwan was eating melon seeds in the room, and there were many snacks and dried fruits on the table, all brought by the servants.
In the past two days, more and more people have been trying to curry favor with her, offering her food and drinks that, while not expensive, clearly reflect their attitude.
She couldn't finish all of it, so she had Xiao Tao distribute it to the servants in the courtyard.
"Thank you, miss."
"Miss is too kind to us."
The servants were overjoyed.
They kept their mouths busy, following Jiang Shuwan, eating oranges, milk tea, barbecue skewers, and now there were lots of snacks and melon seeds, more than they could finish.
They didn't have so many snacks before, not only because they couldn't afford them, but also because they couldn't bear to part with them.
Now, sunflower seeds and snacks are piled up like small mountains, and you can eat as many as you want.
"Eat up, it'll be a waste if it spoils if you leave it too long." Jiang Shuwan waved for them to leave.
Qingxing returned from outside.
"Miss, the head maid of the sewing room has sent over. She said she has spared four old women to make clothes for you, and she must make sure you can wear them before the clan banquet."
After saying that, Qingxing added, "She also said that even if they go blind from working so hard, they will still finish your clothes so that you can attend the banquet of the two families in a presentable manner."
Jiang Shuwan nodded.
There are still two days until the clan banquet.
We are no longer in the industrial age; making clothes is a very time-consuming process.
Especially for ladies and young women from aristocratic families, the embroidery on their clothes takes at least two or three months to make a decent garment.
The seamstress originally assigned five people to her, and now she's assigned four more. Working overtime, her clothes should be finished.
"Miss, there's something I don't understand and would like to ask you," Qingxing said hesitantly.
"ask."
"It's nothing, it's just that I think the head of the needlework department is too obsequious. It hasn't been long, and he's already given you four old women again."
"And Li Gui's family in the kitchen, they practically treat you like royalty, giving you whatever you want."
"Indeed, in their eyes, the young master and the old lady both love you, and they can't afford to offend you."
"But they can follow the rules perfectly, so neither you nor your wife can find fault with them. They can please both sides, and no matter whether you or your wife are in charge of the household in the future, they can't be harmed in the slightest."
"Their current stance can be said to be very biased towards you."
"This servant truly does not understand their methods."
Qingxing has a head full of questions.
Jiang Shuwan chuckled lightly and said slowly, "Little girl, do you know what investment is?"
Realizing that Qingxing might not understand, he explained, "Investing is about using a small amount of money to make a big return; the higher the risk, the higher the potential reward."
"I have just married into the household. If they side with me early on, they will be my confidants after I take charge of the household. But if I fail, they can simply go back and grovel before the madam."
“They are all born into the family, and it’s impossible for me to do anything to them just because they are nice to me, the young mistress. Besides, every time I take something beyond my allowance, I give them money and a reward. If Madam Wen uses this to beat them, they can go to the old lady.”
The sons born into the household serve the family for generations, resulting in a complex web of power dynamics.
If it's someone like Granny Fang, then they're really in a bad situation. They can't even see the old lady, and when they suffer injustice, they can only swallow their pride and bear it.
If it were someone from Li Gui's household, or a mid-level servant like the head of the needlework room, Old Madam Pei would never have allowed Wen to act arbitrarily.
Moreover, Wen's eating manners were indeed too unsightly.
She gave all three major powers—personnel management, etiquette, and storerooms—to herself as part of her dowry, without giving any of them any children to the Marquis's family.
Even when Madam Pei was in charge of the household, she gave one of the three matrons to a servant.
The Wen family accepted them all, showing no respect whatsoever to the Marquis's family in having children.
In modern corporate terms, Wens' actions would be considered as a new leader taking over the group.
They drastically reduced the power of senior employees and handed over all the company's power to their own people.
Of course, that's correct.
What kind of person is in charge if they don't have any real power?
But we can't be too blatant about it.
Other long-term employees work hard their whole lives and finally climb to the management level. You dismiss them all without asking why or what their merits or demerits were.
This is blatant dismantling of the bridge after crossing the river!
When they need us, let us step in; when they don't, kick us aside.
Even working people have tempers, you know!
Whether it's managing a company or staying at home.
You can promote your trusted confidants, but you should also make good use of your veterans who have made contributions.
When a boss behaves badly, don't blame the employees for starting their own businesses.
“If I were a servant born into a family, I would also want to rely on myself,” Jiang Shuwan said while eating sunflower seeds.
She said this without blushing at all.
As a working person, this has always been her attitude.
If the boss is inhumane, then kick him out.
No matter who you are, you should find another way to make a living when you get the chance.
The fact that the Marquis's family had children was actually a way to find another way out.
"So that's how it is." Qingxing felt a sudden sense of enlightenment.
"Miss, you are so clever. I didn't understand any of these tricks."
"You're still young now, you'll understand when you're older."
"Miss is still young, she's just reached marriageable age..."
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