Servants

"Alright, we understand." Wu Zong said, "Then let's meet them in the order you've decided."

The three of them then walked around the various courtyards.

Because Zhao Ruxi's conditions were quite specific, and with Wu Zong present, her purchase of two houses that morning demonstrated her financial strength. Therefore, the people didn't bring too many people to make up the numbers; each person brought only twenty or thirty, many of whom came as families.

The interview process was similar to modern interviews. Everyone was made to line up and walk a few steps, and those who were too ugly or walked with their shoulders tilted or their heads tilted were eliminated. Then they were asked to introduce themselves, and those who couldn't speak clearly, stuttered, or had their eyes darting around were eliminated one by one.

Of the remaining people, call forward those who can read and write, give them some questions to test them, and the interview is over.

Wu Zong and Wang Guangyao both had sharp eyes, and although Zhao Ruxi hadn't done management in modern times, she had seen many people being interviewed and naturally had her own methods. The three of them only spent a little over an hour selecting the candidates.

Because the people had all made their selections beforehand, quite a few met the criteria, totaling thirty-five.

Actually, there are eighteen families in total, consisting of four households. The largest family is a couple in their thirties with four children, the youngest being six years old and the oldest fourteen. The others are families of five, four, and three.

Compared to individuals, Wu Zong and Wang Guangyao preferred family. These people are more stable, and as long as they are not mistreated, they are less likely to have wicked thoughts; with family ties, the cost of betrayal is several times greater than for single people, making them much more obedient.

What made Zhao Ruxi feel embarrassed was that a third of the servants she kept were servants from the families of disgraced officials, introduced by Broker Tong from the east of the city. The main reason was that these people were far superior to the others in terms of clothing, appearance, and behavior, and many of them were literate. No matter how she compared them, she couldn't bear to eliminate them.

Wu Zong said that these people were basically kept in the inner quarters and didn't know anyone outside. They were fine to use and wouldn't have much involvement with other people's families, so Zhao Ruxi kept them.

Among them, the family that Broker Wang strongly recommended was a man named Zhou Chun, whose wife's surname was Sun. Both of them were in their thirties. They had two children, a boy and a girl, who were teenagers. The family members were of decent appearance, dressed well, and spoke generously and politely, which made a very good first impression on Zhao Ruxi.

"Alright, these thirty-five people will stay for now. I'll train them for half a month. If I find any problems during this time, I'll send them back." Zhao Ruxi said, then told Qingfeng to settle their accounts.

This is how everyone buys people, so the middlemen naturally had no objections. They took the money and left with the rest of the people.

"Where do you plan to place these people?" Wu Zong asked. "If there isn't a suitable place, they can stay with me for a few days. But people from various provinces who come to study painting will be arriving soon, and they'll have to be moved then."

Zhao Ruxi had already decided. "Put it at the estate first."

Once the nearby houses are purchased, she will bring the children out to learn to read and do arithmetic. Those with a certain foundation will be given special training and used as accountants.

The manager can hire outsiders, but the accountant must be an insider. As long as the money and skills are in your own hands, even if the manager has ulterior motives, he won't be able to cause any trouble.

She then told Wu Zong about her house, and said to Wang Guangyao, "Uncle Wang, when I find a house in Beining, I'll have to trouble you again."

Wu Zong and Wang Guangyao were both astonished by her extravagant spending.

Wu Zong really wanted to ask her why she bought so many houses and shops, but in the end he held back.

Fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls have never held so much money before. It's quite normal for them to spend it recklessly when they suddenly have it.

However, Zhao Ruxi was buying houses and shops, which was a very proper way to spend money and not considered reckless spending. Even if she did nothing, renting them out would provide a fixed income every month, which was better than keeping the money in her hands.

Asking too many questions would be counterproductive.

Having known her for so long, he had come to understand this junior sister quite well. He knew she was no ordinary person; she was very opinionated and had her own thoughts on everything, making her far superior to his seventeen or eighteen-year-old nephews.

Therefore, he doesn't need to worry about these things.

"Alright, if there's anything I can help with, just let me know. These people still need your help settling in, so we'll be going now," he said, standing up.

"Senior brother, I've troubled Uncle Wang for so long. Could you please treat him to a meal at a restaurant tonight? I'll have Ma Sheng go and arrange it," Zhao Ruxi said.

As a working stiff, she was used to the idea that if someone did her a favor, she had to treat them to a meal; this routine had become ingrained in her. Naturally, she couldn't just let Wu Zong and Wang Guangyao leave like that.

Wu Zong once again experienced his junior sister's worldly wisdom.

"No need, no need to be so polite." Wang Guangyao waved his hands repeatedly. "I just came to sit down. I haven't been of any help. There's no need to be so formal."

Zhao Ruxi was sensible, so Wu Zong naturally wouldn't refuse to do her a favor. He immediately made the decision. "Alright, don't be so polite with my junior sister. Look at all the businesses she owns, she's a real tycoon. How can you not let her spend some money? Tonight, let's have Fragrant Flavor House. Bring along a few of your close brothers from the yamen, as a way of giving my junior sister face."

He then told Zhao Ruxi, "Just call Ma Sheng in half an hour." He then pulled Wang Guangyao away with him.

Zhao Ruxi saw them to the door before returning. She looked at everyone present and calculated what she needed to buy for them.

Those servants sold off by corrupt officials still had two sets of clothes with them. But most of the others had encountered difficulties at home, either selling themselves or being sold by their families. These people only had the clothes they were wearing, which they must have obtained from a middleman, and had no spare clothes.

She asked Qingfeng to call Zhou Chun's wife, Madam Sun, and said, "Sister-in-law Sun, you're the embroiderer. Could you take stock of everyone who's making clothes and how much fabric and bedding they need...?"

She turned to Qingfeng and asked, "Are there any ready-made bedding sets for sale in town?"

Qingfeng paused for a moment, then said, "I think... there probably is."

She used to be a second-class maidservant in front of the old lady, rarely leaving the mansion. It was only after she started following Zhao Ruxi that she began to go out every day and broaden her horizons. But she doesn't understand things she hasn't encountered recently.

Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Sun hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Young lady, there's really no need to buy ready-made bedding; it's too expensive. Let's buy some cotton and fabric, and a few of us women can make some ourselves, and we can finish them tonight. As for clothes, there's no rush. We can finish them after we've made the bedding; each of us can have a set in just two days."