Chapter 20 Butler, Chef, Maid
Hastur didn't know Professor Wayne's little thoughts, and even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
It is a very lucky thing to have such a caring teacher on the road of life.
In the next half hour, Professor Wayne made additional points and solved Hastur's confusion, allowing the lawyer's potion in his body to be digested faster.
But if you want to truly digest the magic potion, you still have to play the role of a lawyer.
There is no hope for the Bavart Bank for the time being, and I am not capable enough to open a law firm.
Perhaps being a free legal aid would be more suitable for me now.
Thinking of this, Hastur began to look forward to a short trip to the dock area with Professor Wayne this Friday.
Before leaving, Professor Wayne gave Hastur a book. This book has no title and is more like a portable diary.
Hastur only opened two pages and knew that this was Professor Wayne's own insights and thoughts on the law.
Its value cannot be described in terms of money.
"Study hard, you still have a long future."
Professor Wayne left with a smile.
…
The next day, Hastur went out early in the morning to buy three small gifts, which cost him 8 pounds and 6 soles. This was for the convenience of gift giving.
Because he was going to interview the three housekeepers today, no matter what the outcome was, a small and exquisite gift was indispensable.
In addition to three gifts, he also bought two cans of Marquis black tea and some desserts to go with the tea.
Compared to coffee, black tea is more in line with his preferences.
At about 8:50, the three housekeepers who came for the interview came to the door of Hasta's big house.
This is a very suitable time. If you come too early, the host will be unprepared and it will be embarrassing to sit dry.
If it is after nine o'clock, then there is no need to come for the interview. A person who does not respect time will naturally not be respected by others.
After a brief introduction and a few words of greeting, Hastur asked two of the interviewers to wait in the living room on the first floor, and he led one interviewer to another study room on the second floor that was not commonly used.
Bud Lewis, the first interviewer, is a middle-aged man with slightly white temples. He looks about forty-five.
Before starting the interview, Hastur had used spiritual power to set a rule in the room in advance: "Lies are not allowed in this room!"
Choose the right steward. The fortune teller has his own methods.
For today's interview, he thought about a lot of questions last night, covering all aspects, enough for him to judge which person is more suitable to be his butler.
"Mr. Bud, my interview is very simple, as long as you can answer a few questions from me simply and honestly."
Bud said respectfully: "It is my honor to answer your question."
Hasta nodded and said, "For what reason were you fired from your last employer?"
"Baron Hill no longer wants to live in Backlund and plans to move to a seaside city, but I am reluctant to leave the beautiful Backlund."
"How do you think you should be a good steward?"
"Be honest, careful, serious, not greedy, talk less..."
"Will you work for me wholeheartedly?"
Bud said naturally: "This is the duty of a steward."
Hearing this, Hastur laughed. This Mr. Bader had lied about this issue. He would not work for himself wholeheartedly.
But that question wasn't enough to prove he had other ideas.
Hastur continued: "What do you think of the workers working in the factory?"
The sudden shift of the question made Bud stunned for a moment, but he still maintained his usual calmness and replied: "Those are the lucky ones who deserve pity. Compared to workers who have jobs, there are more people who live more miserable lives. life."
There was pity in his calm tone, and his whole face was covered with a touch of sadness because of this question.
Tsk tsk, Mr. Bud, why did you lie again?
This is not your intention at all. Your heart is not as compassionate and kind as you show.
At this time, Hastur had already excluded Mr. Bard from being a steward and asked a few more questions casually.
Among the remaining questions, he panicked again.
Hastur asked him to go downstairs and wait while the next interviewer came up.
The second interviewer, Mr. Mike, is obviously more honest than the first Mr. Bud, and his moral character deserves recognition.
The third interviewer, Mr. Neil, is the oldest of the three interviewers, already fifty-two years old, but he has the best mental outlook.
He didn't seem to like words very much, and his eyes seemed to have a repulsive indifference. But whenever Hastur asked him a question, the indifference in his eyes would dissipate, but he did not show any joy, and his tone was calm. He was gentle and answered every question calmly.
His work history is also very good. He was once the butler of an old earl. He only left when the old earl passed away and a new earl took over.
This is an old butler who is used to many big scenes.
Very fond of Hastur.
In order to get to know Mr. Neil better, he asked several more questions.
Neil still acted very honestly, and the content of his answers was in line with Hastur's value orientation.
Even on some deliberately difficult issues, he adhered to his honest character and did not deal with it with perfunctory words or nice words.
At the end of the conversation, Hasta asked with a smile: "Mr. Neil, what is your desired salary?"
Neil said calmly: "The annual salary is 150 gold pounds. I think my ability should be worthy of such remuneration."
"Your honesty and kindness are the reasons why you got this job."
At this point, Neil naturally understood that he had won out of the three interviewers, but he was not too excited. It was a normal thing for an excellent housekeeper to meet a discerning employer.
Neil stood up and bowed respectfully and said, "Your moral character will be the banner for my future actions."
"Well, there are three gifts here, one is yours, and you can bring the other two to them."
"Thank you for your generosity."
Neil walked out of the study with three small gifts and went down the stairs.
After about five minutes, he returned to Hastur.
Hastur stood up with a smile and said, "Hasta Campbell, your new employer."
Neil also bowed and said, "I am proud to serve you."
"You can start working from now on." Hasta smiled, "I don't like to be served by too many people, so the staff at home must be streamlined."
"Do you have any more specific requirements?" Neil immediately got into work.
"I like to enjoy delicious food, desserts, and snacks from various places, such as the Intis cuisine left by Emperor Russell, and the Dixi pie is also good. It would be even better if I could eat the delicacies of the Southern Continent."
Apart from food, Hastur does not have many requirements in other aspects, as long as it can satisfy daily life. As for maintaining the pomp and pomp that a noble should have, we will talk about it later.
Neil thought about it based on Hastur's request and said: "I think you need a pastry chef who specializes in desserts, a top chef who is good at cooking delicacies from all over the world, a family property manager, and a personal servant. One first-class maid in charge of the bedroom, two second-class maids in charge of the living room, two valets responsible for receiving guests, a store maid, a kitchen maid, two scullery maids, and two menial maids.”
"We also need chef assistants, coachmen, gardeners, attendants, and laborers..."
Hasta listened silently, and after Neil finished speaking, he considered it and said: "I don't need valets, gardeners, attendants, and small laborers. I can let other people do the work part-time, and then give them a little more salary, and the number of maids will not change." It takes so much.”
This Lord Baron is more thrifty than he thought!
Except for the emphasis on food, other aspects seem to be dispensable.
Neil was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "I will comply with your wishes."
Soon, Neil listed the number of people to be hired: three chefs, pastry chefs and assistants, one household property manager, one coachman, three people responsible for cleaning all living rooms, bedrooms, living rooms and other simple tasks, and a man to receive guests. The two servants also serve as servants, three other maids do odd jobs, and the two male servants also serve as gardeners and laborers.
Fifteen people in total, not including him.
Hasta originally wanted to reduce the number of people, but seeing Neil's expression of embarrassment, he didn't reduce the number of people any more. After all, his house was really big.
"If they are willing to work more, give them more salary."
"Thank you for your generosity."
"You choose someone first, and then ask them to come to the study to meet me."
Even though they were only in some unimportant positions, Hasta also felt that he needed to ask a few questions to see if they would concentrate on staying here to work.
He didn't want something unpleasant to happen every few days.
The two discussed the order and rules of working at home. Hasta mainly proposed it, and Neil was responsible for taking notes.
As a lawyer, order and rules should be integrated into your life at all times.
Simply pretending to be a lawyer is just a superficial resemblance, rather than a true understanding of its connotation. A similar acting method cannot truly digest the magic potion.
The two talked about it around twelve o'clock. Neil originally wanted to say goodbye and leave, and then stay here after hiring enough servants in the afternoon.
Hastur asked him to stay for a working meal, and spent some money to have two dishes delivered to him from a nearby restaurant.
After enjoying lunch, Neil went out to do errands. The Metropolitan Helping Household Servants Association has prepared a group of maids and servants in advance who can go to work at any time.
At 1:30 in the afternoon, Neil led thirty people to the interview.
Hastur spent two hours meeting each of them and asking them some questions.
For example: If you see an ownerless wallet, will you leave it there and wait for the owner to claim it?
When no one is watching at home, do you think of stealing and act on it?
Do you like talking behind someone's back?
Will he be bribed with money from other nobles?
There are about ten questions in total, covering almost all aspects.
Except for a few inconsistencies, they are generally very good, which shows that Neil has a good eye for selecting people.
In the end, Hastur left fifteen people behind, and then handed 500 gold pounds to the housekeeper who managed the finances, asking her to look at the arrangements and pay one week's salary in advance.
There are many things in this house, and there are very few places where big money is really needed. There are even two carriages.
One is a carriage that previously belonged to Voltaire Campbell, and the other is used by the original owner in his daily life.
500 gold pounds is enough for a long time. As long as no banquet is held, no more money will be needed for at least two or three months.
After finishing these trivial matters, Hasta asked Neil to handle them while he stayed in the study to read quietly.