Assignments

The servants she trained were all intended to be managers, shop assistants, or guards. Specialized roles like craftsmen and cooks couldn't be trained quickly and had to be hired from outside. Her people only needed to manage these craftsmen and cooks.

Ma Sheng naturally had no objections.

He used to be a guard and had no management experience. Moreover, he now admired Zhao Ruxi immensely. In his opinion, whatever the girl said was absolutely correct, and he wouldn't accept any rebuttal.

Zhou Chun, however, thought about it a bit more.

"Miss..." Like Qingfeng, he couldn't understand why Zhao Ruxi would place each type of craftsman in three different locations, but unlike Qingfeng, he wasn't close to Zhao Ruxi and dared to ask the question.

He carefully considered his words: "We're not experts. Carpenters and blacksmiths are fine, but jade craftsmen use such precious jade. If they secretly hide some, we wouldn't be able to tell."

"Don't worry, I'll appoint another foreman to manage this. But our people also need to learn as much as possible. We don't expect them to be able to carve, carpent, or blacksmith, but they at least need to know their trades. We can't let them collude and fool us."

"Yes, young lady. I understand now," Zhou Chun said.

Zhao Ruxi clearly defined their responsibilities. "From now on, Zhou Chun will manage all three workshops; Ma Sheng will stay by my side and take my orders. You two will both be my stewards, receiving a monthly allowance of six taels of silver. Bonuses will be determined based on your performance."

The two men perked up and bowed deeply to Zhao Ruxi: "Thank you, young lady."

Zhou Chun was alright. Ever since the day they bought the place, when Zhao Ruxi entrusted him with the task of assigning servants, he knew that Zhao Ruxi would definitely not treat him as an ordinary servant. During this time, he also tried his best to perform well. However, he was still pleasantly surprised that Zhao Ruxi treated him as a steward rather than a manager.

Ma Sheng was quite anxious during this period.

He realized he was less capable than Zhou Chun. Unfortunately, he was now in charge of Zhou Chun's new recruits, their superior. He worried that Zhou Chun might eventually rise above him, and he would become Zhou Chun's subordinate; that would be incredibly humiliating.

Now that he realized Zhao Ruxi had placed them both in the same position, with no distinction between superiors and inferiors, only different roles, and that being by Zhao Ruxi's side meant he was one of her own, closer to her, and had more of her trust, his anxiety subsided.

A relaxed smile appeared on his face as he vowed to learn as quickly as possible and catch up with Zhou Chun in terms of problem-solving skills.

Zhao Ruxi, with her keen insight into people's hearts, was quite satisfied upon seeing the expressions on their faces.

Competition and rivalry are essential for mutual oversight and improvement. This applies to the managers of the three courtyards, as well as to Ma Sheng and Zhou Chun.

"Go and fetch Shao Zhengping, Han Yi, Yang Daxing," Zhao Ruxi said to Ma Sheng.

These three are the three who received the most little red flowers.

A short while later, the three were summoned in. Zhao Ruxi explained their appointments and added, "I will conduct unscheduled inspections of the courtyards you three manage. Your performance will be evaluated in terms of personnel, accounts, and living arrangements, just like it is now."

She pointed to the little red flower list on the wall.

"Evaluations are conducted monthly. The top performer receives a reward, while the worst performer has their monthly pay deducted accordingly. The basic monthly allowance is four taels of silver per person. The top performer receives a bonus of two taels, the second-best receives one tael, and the worst performer's reward depends on the circumstances—either no reward or deduction, or a deduction of half their pay."

The three of them were immediately energized, eager to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

"I will formulate corresponding management rules and regulations at that time. You will also need to evaluate your subordinates and reward or punish them according to their performance," Zhao Ruxi said.

These words not only invigorated the three men, but also invigorated Ma Sheng, Gao Weiqiang, and Zhou Chun, who were eager to take up their posts immediately.

Ma Sheng and Gao Weiqiang had stayed in the Earl of Suiping's Residence for many years. Zhou Chun had also worked for officials' families before. Even Shao Zhengping and the other two were all sold out by disgraced officials. They had either worked as minor stewards or served as attendants to their former masters.

They all understood the management style of wealthy families: regardless of whether you did well or poorly, your monthly allowance was fixed. Only when you met the master and he was satisfied with your work would he give you a reward. Therefore, everyone in the mansion desperately tried to get in front of the master.

Those who know how to flatter and speak well, and who can please their masters, often receive rewards; those who work diligently and don't know how to flatter can only honestly receive a fixed monthly allowance.

Like Zhao Ruxi, who clearly writes down the rules and regulations, specifying what to do, what not to do, and to what extent, the rules are all clearly defined. As long as the requirements are met, bonuses are awarded, and the bonus amounts are fixed. The subordinates only need to do their jobs diligently and do not need to rack their brains to please or flatter their superiors.

They are all down-to-earth people, so naturally they prefer this approach.

Zhou Chun, the newly appointed steward, felt that with his master's new system, managing the three courtyards would be much easier. He admired Zhao Ruxi even more.

Zhao Ruxi then summoned the three purchasing agents and nine guards she had appointed and gave them a pep talk and encouragement.

"Get ready, I'll have someone take you to the workshop tomorrow," she said.

She sent those people back, then called over the six people she had selected to work as accountants, "You've all done well in arithmetic; I plan to have you work as accountants from now on. Do you have any objections?"

Two of the girls looked up at Zhao Ruxi with surprise.

Not only them, but Zhou Chun was also very surprised.

He asked, "Miss, Kui'er... she can also work as an accountant?"

"Why not? She's incredibly talented in math." Zhao Ruxi pointed to the chart on the wall. "Look, she's always at the top of her class in math tests."

"But... but she's a girl," Zhou Chun said again.

Although there are women who work as accountants, those are shops run by women, such as embroidery workshops managed by female owners. But he just heard his master say that the workshops employ jade craftsmen, blacksmiths, and carpenters, so the shops they run are also related to these crafts. Such shops would never have women as managers.

It's strange that men are appointed as shopkeepers and shop assistants, while women are made accountants.

Zhao Ruxi ignored him and first asked Zhou Kui'er and the woman beside her Yunjin, "Being an accountant means frequently dealing with men and going in and out of workshops. Think it over. If you're unwilling, I can arrange other positions for you."

Before Zhou Kui'er could speak, Yunjin stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This servant is willing to be the accountant."