Chapter 16: The Housekeeper Gets into Trouble
Chapter 16: The Housekeeper Gets into Trouble
The two maids were stunned for a moment when they heard this, but Su Jin was already lying on the small couch. Yuchuan quickly put a pillow for her and covered her with a quilt. Jinchuan could only pick up the things to check.
The matters concerning Gu Changqing's courtyard were nothing more than the monthly wages for the maids and concubines, and the daily expenses for food, clothing, etc. As for the repairs of the courtyard, they were all carried out by the whole mansion, and it was not Su Jin's turn to take care of such matters.
So overall, the workload assigned to Su Jin is not much, but she just doesn't want to do it, and as long as she doesn't want to do it, no one can do anything about it.
Soon, Yuchuan and Jinchuan sorted out the accounts and expenditures. Jinchuan said, "While Miss Lin was taking care of these, Madam Li advanced two months' salary. In addition, the food specifications at Luoxuexuan are also better than those of other young ladies. Madam, take a look..."
Everyone in the backyard knows that Lin Wanhui eats more and takes more because she is favored. Her yard is bigger than that of other concubines, and she has more maids and servants than other concubines. It’s not that Su Jin didn’t want to manage it before, but he couldn’t. Now that the account books are in Su Jin’s hands, isn’t it time to take care of it?
Seeing this, Yuchuan said excitedly, "Madam, let that little bitch know who is the mistress of the mansion. This time, not only will she be in charge, but she will be severely punished. I don't believe that a concubine can go beyond you, Madam!"
These are all opportunities, why not take action?
Yuchuan was very excited, and was even prepared to be the first one to rush out and hit someone if Lin Xiaoniang came to cause trouble.
However, Su Jin narrowed his eyes.
Tsk, they say she doesn't like to work, because once she starts working she will run into all kinds of problems. Now being a housekeeper in the back house is almost the same as working in a company, with a manager on one side and a director on the other, and she might have touched upon someone's interests.
She is not afraid of Lin Xiaoniang, but behind Lin Xiaoniang is Gu Changqing. If possible, she would rather never see Gu Changqing in her life!
However, Lin Xiaoniang's share must be reduced. She was also a small manager in the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion. If she didn't take the lead in making a move when she took office, others would think that she, Su Jin, was weak and easy to bully. But no matter how much to reduce, there had to be a reason and the scale had to be well grasped.
While drinking tea, she slowly said, "I heard that the emperor recently advocated frugality among officials?"
Jin Chuan's eyes twinkled and she nodded, "Yes, Madam. Years of war have made the people suffer. The Emperor has been advocating frugality since he ascended the throne, but it has always been the harem that has been frugality. This time, even the officials are following the Emperor's policy of loving the people, and everyone is frugality together."
This matter was nothing new. Every peddler in the streets knew about it. Jin Chuan knew it without asking.
"Well, let's be frugal. The monthly salary remains the same, but the allowance is halved."
Since we are going to lose weight, then let's do it together. If everyone loses ten kilograms of noodles a month, then Lin Wanhui will have to lose twenty kilograms of noodles a month. It's because she eats more and takes more, so naturally she will lose more. And now that she has lost weight, it will be difficult to gain more in the future, after all, Lin Wanhui no longer takes care of the household.
Su Jin is not stupid. Having been a social animal all her life in her previous life, she knows very well that a worker should always be clear about his or her position. After she made this plan, she did not implement it immediately, but first asked someone to inform Old Madam Zou.
At this moment, old master Gu Zhao had just come off court and was discussing the emperor's talk of frugality with Zou. As a result, he listened to his daughter-in-law's suggestion to reduce all expenses in Gu Changqing's courtyard by half to support frugality.
Gu Zhao was delighted when he heard this: "Madam is really different now. She even cares about national affairs."
Zou was also happy: "It's just right, let's quickly express our stance in front of the new emperor so that we can have a good reputation. Then let's lose weight together!"
The old lady made the decision. Originally only Su Jin and the concubines would have their salaries cut in half, but now everyone in the courtyards would have their salaries cut together.
The maids and servants who went to collect their daily allotments were shocked to see that half of the things in their yards were missing.
After everyone got together and discussed for a long time, they realized that it was the old lady who gave the order to reduce the ration by half.
"What does this mean?"
"I heard that it supports the national policy. The emperor is practicing frugality."
"We didn't have much stuff in our yard to begin with, and now there's even less. How can we survive?"
The maids and old women gathered together and chattered, and Lin Wanhui, who was passing by, happened to overhear them.
These servants all thought that the order was given by the old lady, but Lin Wanhui knew that although the order was given by the old lady, it was Su Jin who proposed it.
She felt uncomfortable when she thought that Su Jin had taken away her rights and was now giving orders in a domineering manner.
So Lin Wanhui turned her head and glanced at Mother Li.
Mother Li was her confidant, so of course she knew what was going on. She turned around and walked over, pretending to take Luoxuexuan's share.
"Huh? Aunt Liu, why are there so many missing?" Mother Li asked deliberately.
Mrs. Liu was originally from Lin Wanhui's courtyard. Upon hearing this, she deliberately said, "It's because the eldest lady has gained power that she can speak freely. How can the emperor's national policy have anything to do with us ordinary people?"
"Mrs. Liu, isn't that what the old lady meant?" The servants below became agitated, and it was obvious that none of them were happy.
"What old lady? It was the eldest lady who first proposed it, saying that she supports the national policy. Bah, if the allowance is cut in half, the monthly salary will also have to be cut in half. After all, it is a marquis's mansion. If the monthly salary is cut in half again, then this old slave might as well find a third-rank master's house, where he can earn more than here!"
When they heard that even the monthly salary would be cut in half, everyone felt resentful.
Mrs. Liu even shouted, "No, I have to go and complain to the mistress. This is not treating us servants as human beings. My whole family, young and old, depends on this half-dollar monthly salary for food and drink. If it is reduced by half, we will all starve to death!"
"Yes, let's all go and make trouble with the lady!"
“Go, go, go!”
Soon, many people were instigated by Mrs. Liu, and a group of people hurried to Liuting Pavilion.
Mother Li shrewdly withdrew and stood beside Lin Wanhui, whispering, "Little girl, do you want to go and watch the fun?"
The eldest lady has been the housekeeper for only a few days and the servants in the mansion have caused trouble. I guess she won't be able to manage this yard for many more days.
Why not watch this ready-made excitement?
Lin Wanhui also smiled, she was also looking forward to it.
Su Jin had been the housekeeper before, but he was not very good at it, otherwise the old lady wouldn't still be holding the housekeeper's cards.
I can only say that my sister has nothing but a pretty face. She is just an embroidered pillow.
Thinking of this, she nodded with great anticipation.
"Let's go and watch the fun."
Mother Li smiled knowingly and followed behind to flatter him: "If it were you, the old lady would have to invite you to come tomorrow morning. You are the only one who can manage this family!"
In conclusion, Su Jin is totally incompetent and is nothing!