Chapter 187
As evening fell, the couple sat in the carriage on their way back home. Leqian leaned back on the cushions and closed his eyes to rest.
Shen Chu sat quietly to the side, without saying a word.
Thinking about it now, there's nothing unpleasant about it.
After arriving home, the two went to Yingxiang's place for a while, and then went back to rest.
At night, Yingxiang lay in bed, counting on her fingers, realizing that in just a few months, there would be one more person in the family.
My income this year was decent; I didn't have any major expenses, and I even managed to save some money.
"My husband, after the New Year, I'd like to buy some more land."
The economic benefits of mulberry planting and silkworm raising are quite good. In this prosperous and peaceful era, business is good, people are living well, and they have some surplus money in their hands, so they are willing to spend money on clothing.
The capital city already has a large population, so Yingxiang decided to expand its scale first. Wen Shi opened his eyes, as if he was deep in thought.
"In addition, I also want to buy some paddy fields so that I can rent them out to make money."
The land you buy is considered an asset.
How many acres?
Wen Shi suddenly sat up, looking somewhat solemn.
"Twenty mu, I guess."
Yingxiang was somewhat puzzled.
"Before the New Year, His Majesty discussed with some officials of the Ministry of Revenue that it would be difficult to redistribute land to the people. Although the national treasury was full, it was not realistic to use it to purchase land."
Yingxiang gestured for Wen Shi to continue speaking, as if something was about to happen.
"Some people suggested a compromise: control the amount of land held by officials and merchants, ensuring that most of the arable land is in the hands of the common people. Ideally, the problem should be solved at its root by growing crops. In addition, local governments should be required to strictly investigate and prevent any vacant land from being left uncultivated, ensuring that land is cultivated. More taxes should be levied on merchants, and more taxes should be reduced for the common people. Good farmland and paddy fields should be used to grow crops."
There were reasons why grain production was low in ancient times.
However, Yingxiang herself doesn't have the ability to solve these problems, and it's unrealistic to say anything about them.
This kind of problem cannot be solved with just a few words.
"Approximately how much?"
"The first rank is 5,000 mu, and it gradually decreases downwards. This is the land under the official's name that can be directly exempted from tax. Any other part exceeding this will be subject to a tax of 40% of the annual income."
"The discussions were almost complete and it should have been finalized, but His Majesty suddenly fell ill, so it was put on hold. In short, it was just one last imperial edict that was missing."
The crown prince was personally chosen by the emperor. Even if something were to happen to the emperor, he would still implement this edict sooner or later.
Wen Shi also thought of this.
Previously, all land owned by former officials was exempt from taxes; this privilege will certainly not be available in the future.
If they were made an example of, the losses would be too great, so the couple thought of the farm.
Yingxiang cupped her face in her hands, thought for a moment, and then said, "That won't have that much of an impact on our family, since we don't have that much land anyway."
"Once this edict is implemented, officials' salaries may increase."
It's impossible to expect a horse to run without feeding it. Wen Shi also knew what kind of person Emperor Jingyuan was.
He will definitely use this opportunity to raise the salaries of officials and appease the public.
For an official like him with little political influence, the losses weren't that great. The ones who suffered were the noble families, but even if they united, their opposition was futile.
With the fourth emperor approaching, some families have already begun to decline. Many of the heads of noble families are only fourth or fifth grade officials, holding low-ranking positions, and many of them hold sinecure posts. Consequently, they will have far fewer tax-exempt lands under their names.
The officials who have such deep-rooted influence and cannot hold their ground in the court at this stage are the most distressed. Even if they unite, it will be useless. The figure of five thousand mu was also determined by Emperor Jingyuan after careful consideration.
For 70 percent of the officials in the court, the impact wasn't that significant, including some in high positions.
If this can encourage some people to sell their land, that would be ideal. Lower land prices mean more ordinary people can afford to buy land, and since most of them rely on farming for a living, they certainly won't let their land sit idle.
Only when there is an abundance of grain can prices be low, ensuring that most people do not go hungry—this is the bottom line.
"This is a good thing."
After Yingxiang finished speaking, she lay down on the couch. If Wen Shi's salary could increase, that would be the best outcome.
As for this edict, she felt that it was highly likely to be issued, as long as it did not infringe upon the interests of most officials.
Thinking about it carefully, there's nothing wrong with growing grain. Even if the grain doesn't sell for a good price, it can still be used to brew wine or make some pastries. It's just that the economic benefits are not as great as those from fruit trees and livestock.
She also has dry land on her farm, so most of her livestock can still be raised.
Once the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is over, Leqian will prepare to take the imperial examination.
Although the whole family didn't say it, they were all a little nervous inside.
Yingxiang immediately ordered people to start clearing the fields in preparation for spring planting.
The price of grain seeds is not expensive, and we can't miss the spring planting this year. Considering the population of the village, there are enough people to grow grain. In addition, she has always raised cattle on the village, and now she has five cows, which is convenient to use.
This thing can be bought and sold, but you can't just kill it and eat it. Yingxiang doesn't have a particular fondness for beef, and it's not something she absolutely has to eat. She was thinking of selling it for money before, but she won't need it in the future, so she'll keep it for herself for now.
This year is a year for the imperial examinations, which everyone is already very interested in. Shortly after the Lantern Festival, the emperor's decree was issued, and most officials remained calm.
They had received the news long ago, but it shocked some ordinary people and merchants. For most people, this was good news.
In the past, some landlords would rather leave their land vacant than lease it to others in order to increase the price. Now, if your family doesn't have that many people and you leave the land vacant, you'll have to pay double the taxes, making the cost even higher.
Either cultivate the land or rent it out, which will lower the rental price compared to before.
Needless to say, Emperor Jingyuan was meticulous in his planning and arrangements.
Wen Shi and Ying Xiang were roughly talking about it. In the south, some prefectures with more cash crops could appropriately reduce the quota by half. The task of local officials was to ensure that more than half of the land in their prefectures was used to grow grain, emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce. This was the practice in many dynasties.
Unfortunately, the capital city is located in the north.
I heard that my annual salary has increased by five hundred taels, which is a real benefit.
Emperor Jingyuan increased the salaries of officials, with the fifth rank as the dividing line. Officials of the fifth rank and above would receive an additional 500 taels of silver per year on top of their previous salary, while those below the fifth rank would receive an additional 300 taels of silver.
The salary increase this time was quite substantial, and the officials were generally very satisfied.
After the results of the provincial examination are released, Le Qian will participate in the palace examination. Compared to his ranking in the provincial examination, he has fallen twenty places again.
By the time of the palace examination, the weather had warmed up considerably, and Yingxiang had even changed into spring clothes.
The bamboo planted in front of the house is growing well. Bamboo has a good meaning, and some wealthy and official families will plant a lot of it in their homes, symbolizing continuous advancement.
This exam confirms that my son will definitely get some kind of official position, but I don't know where it will be.
Yingxiang waited anxiously at home for the results to be released. During this time, Leqian went out to meet with some old friends a few times, but most of the time he stayed at home.
Shen Chu's abdomen was already swollen high.
The family didn't seem to care much about whether the child was male or female.
That night, Wen Shi looked at his wife and said, "The results will be released in two days."
With the recent increase in officials' salaries, even the lowest-ranking official, Yue Qian, will receive 500 taels a year after entering officialdom. Previously, it was 200 taels, but now it has been increased to 300 taels. Emperor Jingyuan's move has truly won over the hearts of most of the scholars who have not yet entered officialdom.
Especially those without family wealth, everyone in the community praised him.
Five hundred taels a year was more than enough for the couple. The pay raise came unexpectedly, but it also benefited their son and husband. Yingxiang had already decided that, given the situation, she wouldn't need to give the eldest son and his wife any more money in the future.
They eat and live at home, and the annual salary of five hundred taels of silver is enough for them, even if they become a family of three.
On the day the results of the imperial examination were announced, the weather was clear and sunny. The whole family went together. There were crowds of people in front of the list, and for safety reasons, Shen Chu did not get off the carriage.
Yingxiang sat in the middle and didn't get down. This row of carriages was full of people, and there was no need for them to go and check the results right now.
Wen Leqian, on the other hand, was mostly hopeful. He believed in himself, and when he arrived, the servant behind him was just as serious as he was.
Wen Leqian smiled when he saw the second page.
The 36th place in the second division is also a very good ranking.
Wen Shi sat in the front carriage; when they arrived, the father and son were in the same carriage.
After hearing what his daughter-in-law said, he immediately curled up the corners of his mouth.
Being a second-class graduate is already quite good. Now they just need to wait for the official documents from the Ministry of Personnel. Unlike before, they now have some connections within the Ministry of Personnel.
When Yingxiang found out, she looked at Leqian and was genuinely happy for him.
The child's years of hard work have finally paid off.
"Going home to prepare for the banquet."
Yingxiang was in a very good mood, not to mention Chenchu.
What followed was a natural progression: giving gifts to her husband, inviting people to dinner—Leqian was visibly happy.
Needless to say, the rest of the Wen family were also affected.
Hearing that the second son of the Zong family is also getting married, Xiuyu is in a pretty good mood. She thinks that it's only a matter of time before her own son gets married.
Yingxiang specially booked several tables at a large restaurant so the whole family could eat together, which was lively and joyful.
In the evening, before leaving, Xiuyu held Yingxiang's hand, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Sister-in-law, just say what you have to say?"
Yingxiang drank some, but she wasn't drunk.
"Looking at Leqian's wife's belly today, I'm pretty sure it's a girl, just like when my eldest son's wife was pregnant."
Yingxiang thought it was something serious, but upon hearing this, she smiled and spoke.
"It's the same whether the flower blooms first or the fruit ripens later."
She was indifferent to gender. In the past, if she had a daughter, she was afraid that she would suffer. But now that the family is not as good as before, it would be fine if Shen Chu had a girl.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this child has a mother who is the eldest daughter of an earl's family, a father who is an official, and a grandfather. As long as she doesn't try to climb the social ladder and is of sound mind, her life will definitely be good.
Not to mention, her family's wealth will gradually increase, and her dowry in the future will certainly be substantial.
She doesn't discriminate against girls, and Wen Shi isn't like that either. As for Le Qian, he's not much different from his father.
Seeing Yingxiang's reaction, Xiuyu swallowed her words. If the other person didn't care, there was no point in saying anything more.
Sometimes I find this sister-in-law rather strange, but as long as she's a nice person, that's fine.
She didn't think much of it and quickly went back.
When Le Qian received the document from the Ministry of Personnel, he wasn't too surprised. Just like he had back then, it would be good to spend three more years in consolidation. If there was an opportunity, he could take up a post directly. Spending three years in the Hanlin Academy, even if it meant being sent to a post outside the capital, would be better than being sent directly to a post outside the capital.
The initial attack occurred in mid-May, quite suddenly.
The first pregnancy was quite difficult, and she went into labor at midday under the scorching sun. Apart from Yingxiang, only Liu was sitting at the door waiting.
Wen Shi and Le Qian were not home.
Liu can still walk a few steps on her own, but Old Man Wen is not so good at it.
She found the midwife and wet nurse herself, and the child wasn't unreliable. She would definitely take her own affairs more seriously, so Yingxiang had nothing to worry about.
In the afternoon, accompanied by a baby's loud cry, the midwife came out carrying a small baby in a red swaddle blanket.
"Congratulations, Madam, it's a girl."
Liu was taken aback. She had always thought that Shen Chu would give birth to a son, but she didn't expect it to be a daughter.
Yingxiang hugged the child and then went inside to check on Chenchu.
Upon learning that she had given birth to a daughter, Shen Chu didn't seem too heartbroken. Her face was a little pale as she lay on the bed, looking at Ying Xiang, who was holding the baby beside her.
She first looked at the baby in the swaddling clothes, thought for a moment, and then said, "My daughter-in-law is young and inexperienced; I'm afraid she won't be able to raise the child well."
Before she could finish speaking, Yingxiang interrupted her.
“You should know your mother. She is your own flesh and blood, so you should raise her yourself. After you finish your postpartum period, bring her over to see her more often.”
Shen Chu was taken aback and looked at Ying Xiang in disbelief.
"Take good care of yourself. Your father will be very happy when he comes back later."
Wen Shi had already thought of names for the children, both for boys and girls.
Although he was from ancient times, he was not pedantic.
Shen Chu looked at Ying Xiang and nodded.
It wasn't that she didn't want to raise the child; she just felt she had to make an effort. Fortunately, her mother-in-law was a good person throughout.
She'll definitely feel more at ease raising it herself.
Yingxiang is a mother herself, and the couple raising the child together is good for the child.
"You should rest first. Let the wet nurse take the baby downstairs to breastfeed."
Yingxiang breastfed her child herself, but Chenchu was different from her. At that time, she didn't have a choice either. Later, when it came to Xinxin, she also wanted to breastfeed herself.
Finding a wet nurse is perfectly acceptable, as long as the child is doing well, there's no point in interfering too much.
After returning to her own courtyard, Yingxiang was in a pretty good mood.
When Wen returned from his shift, the wet nurse brought the child over for him to see.
He was delighted to see his wife; although it was a baby girl, it was still their first child.
After Wen Shi took the child, she carefully held him for a moment, then told the wet nurse to take him back quickly, as such a small child needed to be taken good care of.
He has some experience in this area.
“I made a gold lock for both Xinxin and Leqian before. Now that I have a granddaughter, I can’t be without one. It will be made when she is a month old. I will ask someone to urge them to finish it. After it is consecrated at the Buddhist temple, it will ensure that the child will have a peaceful life.”
"We should hold a full moon celebration. The weather is getting warmer now, so we can put more ice in the hall. We need to invite the in-laws and our family members."
Yingxiang didn't ask for much from the children; she kept talking and thinking about what to do next.
He remained calm upon hearing this and did not object.
When Leqian returned, he was mostly excited. Xinxin followed behind him, constantly looking at the child in his arms.
"He'll be an uncle in the future, and an elder too."
Xin Xin smiled when he heard this; he was still a child who was not quite grown up.
Newborn babies are just like any other baby, nothing special.
But after a period of time, the changes are indeed significant.
Old Man Wen and Mrs. Liu felt regret, but they didn't dare to show it.
The family has many daughters, but fortunately they already have great-grandchildren. Xu Yi later gave birth to a son, and now they hear that Jin Yu's wife is pregnant again, so the old couple are looking forward to it.
Five days later, Yingxiang retrieved the gold lock.
The gold lock, with its exquisite design and glittering gold, was engraved with the child's name, Wen Xiyu.
These three small characters are not noticeable unless you look closely.
The baby was born early. Yingxiang carefully put away the gold lock, planning to give it away when the baby was a month old. The name was chosen by Wenshi, but the characters are quite good. Her son and daughter-in-law had no objections, and the meaning is also very auspicious, so Yingxiang naturally wouldn't object.
The child changes every day, and she goes to check on him daily. The wet nurse has plenty of milk and is raising the child very well.
Now, she has shed her red skin and gradually become fair and tender, looking lovely and adorable.
"Madam, the Madam has arrived, and she has brought Miss Shen San with her."
Yingxiang gestured for someone to come in immediately.
The invitations have already been sent out, and the timing of the Madam's arrival is neither too early nor too late. She is Chen Chu's mother, and there's nothing wrong with her visiting before the full moon celebration.
"You're such a fair-skinned little girl, so lovely. This is from your grandmother, keep it safe."
Outside, everyone is generous and polite. After seeing Chen Chu, the group took the children to the outer room.
This was the first time that Mrs. Bo had visited the Wen family. As she walked in, she found that the Wen family was quite nice, with flowers blooming in the garden, butterflies fluttering around, and the house was not small either.
While it can't compare to the Earl's mansion, it's not exactly shabby either.
A brand new red envelope was placed in the baby's swaddling clothes. The little one opened her eyes but didn't cry. The aunt held the little girl and looked very fond of the child.
"Congratulations, in-laws! This is a joyous occasion with the addition of a new member to your family."
Yingxiang smiled and nodded, gesturing for her to drink the tea.
Sitting to the side was the Countess's youngest daughter. Logically, her marriage should have been on the agenda, but thinking of her second daughter, the Countess's plans changed, and she was no longer in such a hurry.
"This is from Shuang'er for her little niece."
Shen Shuang was always very proper in public. After she finished speaking, the maid behind her immediately took out a small box. When she opened it, she found a finely crafted gold bracelet inside.
Yingxiang gestured for the wet nurse to accept the gift and praised her a few times.
The two didn't stay long and soon made an excuse to leave.
Yingxiang had someone take the child inside, and she returned to her own courtyard, where she would come to check on the child every day.
Shen Chu opened the red envelope, inside was a silver note for thirty taels of silver, and she gestured to the maid beside her to accept it first.
In the following days, Chen Chu's aunt and others also came over one after another.
The baby has already received quite a few gifts even though he is not yet a month old.
On the day of the full moon, the weather was hot, but there were still quite a few guests, with more than ten tables set up in the front hall and back courtyard. Master Shen also came.
The entire Shen family arrived together.
"Such a grand full moon celebration for a little girl."
"Xue'er".
The aunt glanced at her second daughter, and Shen Xue immediately shut up.
She wasn't doing so well, but looking at this older sister, she was radiant, and her husband standing beside her was tall and handsome, and seemed to treat her very well. The Wen family didn't seem to have that many messy things going on.
She adjusted her mindset and became much more composed.
"Find an opportunity to come back in a few days; your mother has something to tell you."
Looking at her second son-in-law, who was only drinking and having fun with others not far away, the aunt was also worried. Naturally, she hoped that her son-in-law would be ambitious so that her daughter could have a good life.
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