Chapter 23
Punishing the Servants

“This old servant deserves to die. It was my poor eyesight that caused this mistake. Fortunately, Young Madam has sharp eyes and found this issue.” The stewardess slapped herself hard, the sound startling the others.

“If there was a mistake in the report, just correct the accounts. There’s no need for this.”

Song Wan had Heng Wu help the stewardess up and then addressed Zhang Changsheng’s wife, “You are the wife of the steward in charge of the outer courtyard’s records, correct?”

“Yes, Young Madam.”

“In our marquis’s residence, we don’t believe that women should be uneducated. Therefore, the young ladies in each courtyard are literate and have some knowledge of painting and calligraphy. However, the daughters of the inner courtyard do not study at the academy during the day like the young masters and have more practice in the evening.”

“But I found that the expenses for ink, paper, and brushes for the young ladies are more than those for the young masters combined.”

“For example, you reported four ingots of imitation ancient Xueyitang ink this year.”

Zhang Changsheng’s wife smiled awkwardly, “Young Madam, you were in mourning before and didn’t know the household affairs. The young ladies in our residence are different from those in other families in the capital. While other families’ daughters enjoy needlework and weaving, the young ladies in our residence prefer reading and painting.”

“Take the third young lady from the second branch, for example. She loves painting birds and animals, so, naturally, she uses more paper and ink than the young masters.”

Seeing Song Wan remain silent, she continued, “Madam is kind and treats all the children equally, regardless of their birth. The young ladies love painting and ask for ink and brushes from the old servant. It wouldn’t be right to refuse them, would it?”

“Now that Young Madam has spoken, the old servant will be more careful in the future. But I wonder if the young ladies in the residence will think Young Madam is being too strict. After all, when Madam managed the household, she never cut the expenses for the daughters born of concubines.”

Her voice grew louder, but Song Wan calmly replied, “Imitation ancient Xueyitang ink is of medium value. It’s not the best in the residence, but one ingot is worth thirty to forty taels of silver. You may not know that Xueyitang ink is made from tung oil and spices, and oil soot ink is characterized by its bright luster but slightly lighter color.”

“The paintings by the young ladies in the residence…”

Song Wan took out two landscape paintings from a white porcelain painting jar and handed them to the stewardess.

“These two paintings have deep ink colors but lack elegance. The ink is typical pine soot ink, which is less glossy due to its lighter glue content.”

“Although both types of ink are smooth and fine, there is a significant difference between them.”

“Perhaps… perhaps this old servant made a mistake. I will go back and check the vouchers and accounts.”

Song Wan nodded, “Of course, it needs to be checked thoroughly.”

After she finished speaking, Liu Shun’s wife couldn’t hold back, “Young Madam, please check carefully. The accounts I submitted have always been accurate.”

The marquis’s residence had many unruly servants. Six years ago, the old madam suddenly lost her son and grandson, and her health deteriorated. Madam Jiang was also careless and rarely paid attention to such matters.

For a day or two, the old madam’s remaining authority kept things in check, but over time, the servants figured out the old madam’s nature and couldn’t resist taking advantage. Even those who were initially cautious saw their peers benefiting without consequences and eventually followed suit.

They didn’t expect to be caught by a young mistress today.

Some had come to watch the show, hoping to see Song Wan struggle and later spread gossip and jokes among the servants. But now, cold sweat soaked their undergarments.

“There really are no discrepancies.”

Song Wan smiled slightly at Liu Shun’s wife, “It’s just that your handwriting on the vouchers is quite sloppy, making it difficult for me to read.”

“Young Madam, I will practice my handwriting diligently in the future and will never make such a mistake again.”

“Alright, you may go.”

A group of people stood trembling, listening intently to Song Wan’s instructions.

She looked at the two who had issues with their accounts and said gently, “One of you is responsible for miscellaneous repairs in the outer courtyard, and the other manages the various storerooms in the inner courtyard. You have both worked hard these past few years. It’s not fair to keep overworking you, so I thought of giving you lighter duties.”

“After Zhang’s wife corrects the accounts, she will be transferred to Jixiang Courtyard as a stewardess. Lin Lianggao’s wife will be assigned to the tea room. The original stewardess of Jixiang Courtyard will go to the main kitchen for procurement, and Sun’s wife will…”

Song Wan reassigned several stewardesses, rotating the important positions in the inner courtyard of the marquis’s residence.

These stewardesses had been working together for a long time, familiar with all the loopholes in the residence, and had managed to handle things well. Even if they weren’t all corrupt, they weren’t far from it.

Now, by shaking things up, she could curb the unhealthy practices.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Changsheng’s wife wailed, “Young Madam, I was wrong. I was indeed careless, but I promise there won’t be a next time.”

What kind of place was Jixiang Courtyard?

It was where the maids and stewardesses of the residence went to recuperate and where concubines and young servants were laid to rest. It was gloomy all day and had no benefits. She currently managed the inner courtyard storeroom. Although she didn’t dare touch the items on the accounts, she often had her husband take extra stationery from the records room and put it under the young ladies’ names, earning dozens of taels of silver a month. One transaction was worth two years of her regular salary, so how could she give it up?

“Young Madam, please forgive me this time. I will do my best to serve you in the future.”

Zhang Changsheng’s wife cried and wailed, “I’m old and really can’t go to Jixiang Courtyard. Considering I’ve served the old madam and the madam for many years, please give me another chance.”

Song Wan frowned, “You have a point. You are indeed too old to manage Jixiang Courtyard.”

“Yes, yes…”

The stewardess was happy that Song Wan was young and soft-hearted, but then she saw Song Wan take out a wooden box from the table and pull out a contract of sale, handing it to her.

“You are old and should be allowed to return home and enjoy your retirement. Today, I will show mercy on behalf of my grandmother and let you go home.”

“Young Madam…”

“Young Madam, I was wrong. I will go to Jixiang Courtyard. I don’t want to go home… Please, my whole family is in the residence. We have been servants here for generations. Where would you have me go?”

Song Wan nodded to Heng Wu, who then took out five or six more contracts of sale, “You are considered an old servant of the residence. Since you are so reluctant to leave your family, you can return home with your children and grandchildren.”

In wealthy and well-mannered families, servants were never sold. Even if they committed a grave mistake, they were only given back their contracts and allowed to return home. However, for servants who had lived their entire lives in the residence and had some status, this was more painful than death.

The marquis’s residence was lenient with its servants, never harshly punishing them. Even the lowest-ranking stewardess had a better standard of living than the wives of officials in poor rural areas.

Moreover, their children and nephews could benefit greatly from the residence. If one of them caught the master’s eye and was given a position, it could change their family’s fortunes and bring honor to their ancestors. If a daughter became a first-class maid like Heng Wu or Heng Zhi, it would be a great blessing. She might even become a concubine one day.

Zhang Changsheng’s wife thought of her youngest daughter’s bright face and burst into tears, her wailing more sincere than before.

The other stewardesses in the room, seeing her being dragged away, trembled with fear, dreading that Song Wan’s clear gaze would fall on them.