Marquis of Pacifying the South's Residence
The Marquis of Pacifying the South had not gone out for a long time, instead practicing calligraphy in his Book of Documents room. For some reason, he had felt somewhat unsettled lately, and writing characters could calm the mind, but even this method was losing its effect today.
Lifting his feet to stand, he saw six accountants holding account books checking accounts in a sitting room. Suddenly recalling that today was the day to check the accounts of the previous year, and finding everything entirely normal, he retreated back.
Seeing him, the steward mistakenly thought it was brilliant, and entered shortly after: "My Lord, the accounts are cleared."
"Mm, speak!" The Marquis of Pacifying the South steadied his composure, took a sip of tea, and spoke while continuing to write.
"Yes!" The steward did not use paper, speaking directly.
"In our residence last year, the masters' monthly silver was 900 taels, the servants' total monthly wages were 1,357 taels, carriage and horse expenses were 142 taels, clothing 1,647 taels, heating 136 taels, food and drink 1,597 taels, enlightenment 196 taels, watching operas and setting banquets 166 taels, maintaining the residence cost 72 taels..."
The Marquis of Pacifying the South did not find it dry. Every family had its own financial scripture, and in the past, he would have been extremely earnest, but today he was stubbornly absent-minded.
"Servants' monthly wages 1,357 taels, 87 subordinates in this residence, averaging 16 taels?"
Startled slightly, male servants in the Capital City were slightly higher and female servants slightly lower, but a year was around 10 taels, with each one 6 taels more. Yet, with a second thought, he laughed at himself; those were ordinary servants, and above them were managers, senior personal maids, stewards, and the like,