Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 156 - 5: Regulations

Preparing such a beautiful maid to be a concubine for her son, adding trouble for her daughter-in-law; Susu wondered if the previous mistress of Qi Qiao had a loose screw? It turns out not every family head is as generous and wise as the Old Madam.

Even a troublesome maid like Hong Xiu, Susu really didn’t know how to arrange. Perhaps Hong Sheng might have concubines in the future, but it would definitely not be arranged by her. She accepts reality but does not mean she would be pretentious and add trouble for herself; she’s not self-destructive!

However, even if Hong Xiu is restless, Susu hasn’t caught any evidence against her, so it’s not appropriate to tell her to pack and leave. Asking her to serve as a coarse maid seems too demeaning, knowing she learned embroidery from Qi Qiao’s mother. Remembering the skirt of blooming flowers embroidered by Qi Qiao’s mother, Susu drew a picture of "Lotus Pond Under Moonlight" for Hong Xiu to embroider slowly.

As for whether she is willing or not, Susu doesn’t care about that. She considers her kindness by not assigning her hard tasks, allowing her to continue as a "pampered lady who neither exits the front nor steps out the back door," and even knowing her "ill intentions" without kicking her out is already benevolent.

From the Fifth Miss, Susu knows that some people not only have insatiable desires but also think differently from normal people.

Susu issued an order, and although the results were somewhat disappointing, Susu had a plan in mind. Previously, without a master in the manor, Susu had no time to manage it. The servants signed life contracts, and their monthly salary was determined by the manor head and Inner Courtyard Steward, ranging from one tael of silver to a few hundred coins, with some coarse maids just sweeping the yard, given three meals a day without any monthly salary.

Now with a master, running things this way is really unruly. Once the manor regains peace, Susu set down the regulations.

The male and female servants have defined levels. The Manor Head and Inner Courtyard Steward are first-level, receiving three taels of silver monthly. Skilled workers like Qi Qiao’s mother, Fen Dai’s mother, Shuimo’s mother, the accountant (Linglong’s father), and the master carpenter (Qi Qiao’s grandpa) are second-level, getting two taels monthly. First-class maids get one tael of silver monthly.

In addition to their monthly salary, these three levels receive three outfits quarterly. Men get tobacco and alcohol subsidies, while women receive cosmetics and silver coins monthly. Annually, they receive one set of silver jewelry.

Second-class maids and servants get eight hundred coins monthly, third-class get five hundred. They receive three outfits quarterly and fifty coins extra monthly. Female members receive two pieces of silver jewelry.

Rough maids and miscellaneous servants get three hundred coins monthly, four outfits quarterly: two coarse cloth outfits and two cotton cloth outfits. If they perform well, they are rewarded with one tael of silver quarterly.

This set of regulations sent the whole manor into an uproar, even more than Susu’s previous promise to allow them to leave their contracts. The servants felt the current master operated beyond the norm, doing whatever she wanted, truly embodying "wealth, willful!"

The treatment wasn’t much different from their previous service houses.

Actually, they just encountered Susu as their master; someone else, even with wealth, wouldn’t necessarily be so generous.

Firstly, Susu isn’t lacking money; secondly, she’s been influenced by Old Madam Song; thirdly, Susu intended to tell those who stayed that with her, there is meat to eat, thus winning hearts;

Most importantly, Susu retained the mindset of a modern person, that basic welfare for her employees should be available; she is no heartless employer.

The servants of the manor don’t yet fully understand Susu’s character, but they perceive the master’s kind heart and generous actions, allowing them to feel some relief from the initial anxiety due to Susu’s explosive arrival.

These people are all born into servant families, skilled in serving techniques, and even those with crafts have large families to support. Those who haven’t experienced the pain of being sold don’t understand the suffering of drifting around and being at others’ mercy. Now settled and meeting a good master, they feel immensely fortunate, naturally full of drive, fearing idleness would make the master think they’re deadweight.

It’s undeniable, Grandpa Qiao truly deserves praise for being an experienced steward, with sharp observation.

Because the high treatment in the manor caused a minor episode: Fen Dai’s older brother and sister-in-law wished to return after learning of this, knowing that Fen Dai’s parents couldn’t face asking the master, and Manor Head Zhao Youshen dared not to irritate Susu with such matters.