Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Madam Xing smiled ingratiatingly and cautiously:

"Grandma, it's entirely up to you who decides who manages the household. How could I, your daughter-in-law, dare to appoint someone!"

Madam Xing knew that Grandmother Jia had never liked her, so she didn't dare to say it directly. As the eldest wife of the first wife, she was the right person to take charge of the family business.

Grandmother Jia looked at Madam Xing with displeasure and said angrily:

"It's good that you know! Let me tell you plainly, even if Baoyu's mother and Fengjie stop managing the household, it's not your place to manage it!"

"You still have the nerve to jump around and curse Sister Feng? Are you really that clean? Even if Sister Feng isn't good, at least she's truly filial to my old lady."

"Filial piety is the most important virtue. I'm still here; it's not your place to criticize her character!"

Grandmother Jia's words left Madam Xing speechless!

Madam Xing's face froze, turning red and white in patches, and she was extremely embarrassed!

She could only follow the example of Madam Wang and Sister Feng, obediently kneeling on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

Grandmother Jia was too lazy to pay any more attention to this foolish daughter-in-law, and said to Jia Jing:

"Jing-ge'er, you continue dealing with the servants' affairs! We'll discuss Bao-yu's mother and Feng-jie's mistakes later..."

Although Grandmother Jia was angry with Lady Wang and Sister Feng, she ultimately did not want to embarrass them in front of everyone.

Jia Jing nodded and said:

"Okay! But besides not being able to be the housekeeper anymore, I think there's something else you need to compensate me for!"

"As for Sister Feng, all the interest she earned from lending money at exorbitant interest rates should be returned to the borrowers, especially the poor families, who should receive double the interest."

"As for the benefits that Wang Shi provided to the Wang family, she should personally use her own money to repay the family's treasury. Only in this way can it be considered fair, just, reasonable, and reasonable, leaving no room for criticism."

"This will also let outsiders know that my Jia family is a truly benevolent family, and we would never covet ill-gotten gains!"

"As for the wrongdoings committed by the Lai family and other servants outside, I will have people go to each of them to compensate the victims, explain the reasons, and restore the reputation of my Jia family."

Grandmother Jia nodded and said in a hoarse voice:

"Okay! Let's handle this like this."

After saying this, Grandmother Jia sat back down in her original seat, paying no further attention to Xing Wang, Feng Jie, and the other two kneeling on the ground.

Jia Jing then continued to address the servants in the courtyard, saying:

"As you have all seen, even if the wives do something wrong, they should be punished. Let alone you, from now on, my family will be governed by military law, and there will be no leniency."

"Guards, bring Qin Xian's family, Cheng Rixing, Zhan Guang, Shan Pinren..."

Jia Jing then read out the names of nearly a hundred people in succession, and then said:

"These people may not have committed any major crimes, but they are all not innocent."

"They are either incompetent officials, gossips, or senior servants who abuse their age; others gamble while working in the household, behave improperly, or bully junior maids, etc."

"Depending on the severity of their crimes, either they should be expelled from the manor, or their entire families should be sold off. Zhuque, you are in charge!"

Jia Jing didn't bother arguing with them one by one; after all, home wasn't a courtroom.

When dealing with serious offenders like the Lai family, evidence has already been presented. Those with less serious crimes can be dealt with quickly.

This time, more than a hundred people were dealt with in one go. Those who should be killed were killed, and those who should be punished were punished. It can be considered that the servants of Rongguo Mansion were purged from top to bottom.

There may be some other minor mistakes, but Jia Jing does not intend to deal with them all.

Because many servants in the Rongguo Mansion had served the Jia family for generations, and no one is perfect, it is impossible for them not to make any mistakes.

Even if we select some people with clean backgrounds from outside, it doesn't mean they will all be good. Perhaps the people selected again will not be as loyal as these hereditary servants.

Therefore, today we have already made an example of one to warn a hundred, severely punishing a group of those who have committed serious crimes, those who hold positions without performing their duties, and those who betray their own people. This has achieved the effect of rectifying the atmosphere.

I believe that others, having witnessed the fate of the Lai family and others today, will be more respectful and cautious in their words and actions when they are in the household.

Ultimately, the quality of a servant largely depends on the attitude and ability of their master.

When the master is strict and wise, the servants naturally dare not be arrogant or deceitful. When the master is muddle-headed and indulgent, the servants naturally become arrogant and rude.

After receiving Jia Jing's order, Zhuque directed his personal guards to drag out the servants in the courtyard who had been named, one by one, and deal with them accordingly.

The courtyard was emptied of almost half of its contents in an instant. Although the remaining servants were not called out by name, they were all trembling with fear.

Today, seeing Lai Da, Wu Xindeng, and other stewards and managers beaten to death, and then driving out over a hundred people, I can say that they have learned a thing or two about Jia Jing's methods.

I had always heard how formidable Jia Jing was outside, but without experiencing it firsthand, I didn't realize how scary he was!

But the swift and decisive reorganization that unfolded before them today allowed the servants of the manor to understand the majesty and ruthlessness of a general who had fought his way through the battlefield.

Jia Jing looked around at everyone, then spoke:

"Let's deal with these for today, and I hope you can learn from this experience."

"Most of the rest of you are honest and reliable. You may have made some minor mistakes, but overall you are good!"

"But I must warn you all that from now on, there will be no embezzlement, gossip, servants deceiving their masters, forming cliques, neglecting duties, or collusion between insiders and outsiders in this household. Otherwise, the family rules will show no mercy."

"You must always remember the words 'loyalty' and 'diligence.' Loyalty means keeping your heart with your master and being able to distinguish right from wrong. Diligence means having sharp eyes and a clear mind and daring to be a pioneer."

"In the Jia family, loyalty and competence will always be the primary principles guiding your conduct!"

Hearing this, everyone on the field breathed a sigh of relief, and the manager, Lin Zhixiao, took the lead in shouting:

"I will heed Your Excellency's teachings!"

His daughter, Xiao Hong, was now in Jia Jing's courtyard. He had long considered himself Jia Jing's person, so naturally he had to stand up and support Jia Jing.

Not to mention, now that the stewards of the Lai, Wu, Shan, and Zhou families are all gone, leaving only his Lin family unscathed, he naturally wants to make some progress!

Seeing this, the other servants echoed in agreement:

"I will remember Your Excellency's teachings..."

Jia Jing continued:

"Of course, there are punishments and rewards! From now on, the household will also establish a 'Loyalty and Diligence Award' every year."

"Those who have rendered meritorious service to the household, such as reporting corruption and verifying it, preventing major losses, proposing practical improvement suggestions that are adopted, being loyal to the master, keeping clear and accident-free accounts for the affairs under their management throughout the year, being conscientious in their duties, acting bravely for justice, or having outstanding talents, will be rewarded with tens to hundreds of taels of gold and silver, depending on the size of their merits."

"Those who perform great service can have their entire family freed from slavery, and their children and grandchildren can even attend the clan school to study and learn martial arts, ensuring a bright future for them!"

"I will establish detailed rules for these matters, and announce them to everyone in a few days along with the new family rules."

"In short, as long as you are loyal to your duties, diligent in your work, and wholeheartedly devoted to serving the household, our master will absolutely not mistreat you!"

Upon hearing Jia Jing's words, the servants in the courtyard immediately showed a hint of joy on their faces.