I have a sneaking suspicion that this "bride audition" is just to get free labor. Kinda li...

I have a feeling that your suspicion is spot on

I mean, a true "bride audition" would be going out on dates with different people and getting to know them better. Here, you make a bunch of people cook, clean, do chores for you for... no pay! Theyre a rich family too, its not like the wife is gonna be treated like a servant right? Well, I sure as hell wouldnt want to marry into that family.

You're approaching this like a westerner, similar things like this actually happens in parts of Asia. Where if a person want to marry into the family they must prove their worth first. Kindah like how the dowry work, but different, if that makes sense. While it is a bit archaic they are a traditional family, plus its an alternate universe where a male gets prego so yeahh....

For rich people, even in feudal asia, "bride auditions" primarily take into account family lineage. A emperor or feudal lord wouldnt care if his wife could cook or clean well. They have servants. They marry for political gain. The uke here comes from a poor family. He shouldnt even be considered as a candidate. But yea, alternate universe so w/e.

So this isnt feudal asia, but same thing. Rich men pick rich wives. They wouldnt care how well she could cook or clean.

I know, but traditional family's wives are usually the head of the households, they make sure that the maids as you say do their job correctly, so the family must test the capabilities of the wife in this instance. As I was saying this a common practice here in Asia, like if how a man wants to marry a woman, he must give service to the family by doing "manly" chores, gathering/cutting fire woods, hunting, tending the livestocks, etc.If the family, usually the father approves his work then his allowed to marry the girl.

Any traditional family whether rich or middle-class does it. It's not strictly only about marrying for favors (political gain). OFC in manga, people only see the rich do the bride training but IRL any clan, especially those that are a stickler to traditions do it and usually, the law is that you marry with someone with the same social class. sometimes, a more liberated clan does not care about the social class but still does held bride training.
also I said "bride training" because IRL, you won't train multiple girls like this lol only one whom the son of the household brings home.
It's still common in the early 2000s but nowadays it's the mother in law vs daughter in law feud lol.

Dowry. Asian marriages live for it be it financial, political, or practical benefits. Yes, they surely won't be doing the cooking or the cleaning or whatever. But they still have to prove their WORTH. So I don't know how you can't understand that part. But whatever, you know.ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~

The husband may don't care but their mother sure care. I'm from south east asian and in here marriage isn't just about the bride and the groom. Your in law, especially mother in law can become so picky. It's not like you must have a household skill but if you can cook, clean, wash laundry it will be preferably. Some in laws dont want the wife to work and should just stay home to care for their child. Sounds bad i know, but not all women here dislike this kind of lifestyle.