Chapter 590 A Dream of Youth 122
As dusk deepened,
Xie Wangzhi sat on the other side of Elder Shi and respectfully handed over the newly sealed envelope, saying, "This is a letter from my master to you."
"They must have been insulting me."
Master Shi chuckled, then set the letter aside and looked steadily at Xie Wangzhi, "You have been able to study under He Qing'an for many years, which shows that you are quite talented."
Working in a pharmacy is a waste of talent.
Xie Wangzhi sat upright, not responding to this. "Prime Minister Shi is too kind. The seedling grows step by step, just as I did back then."
Counterfeit medicines were rampant in the markets, and the emergence of pharmacies effectively curbed this trend.
Changing the subject, Xie Wangzhi brought up some of the problems with pharmacies, "However, there are many problems. Some officials in charge of management and pharmacists who directly handle the business steal medicines or medicinal materials. They also use unrefined camphor to impersonate refined camphor tablets, or use inferior aconite from Taizhou to impersonate precious Sichuan aconite, engaging in embezzlement and other illegal activities."
All the medicines produced ended up in the hands of high-ranking officials, powerful figures, and wealthy individuals; the so-called benefits for the people were nothing but empty talk.
Did the imperial court not know what he was saying?
The imperial court was fully aware of this, but it was unable to bring itself to eradicate the abuses.
Master Shi fell silent. Xie Wangzhi seemed to be talking about the pharmacy, but he was actually also mentioning a new method.
He pointed out that the new law had numerous internal and external drawbacks, as evidenced by the many already listed by officials at court, as well as problems with internal personnel. Lord Shi was also aware of these issues, but they were unavoidable during its implementation.
He has learned not to care so much about the process, only about the result. The two northern countries are eyeing him covetously. If they cannot be prepared for danger in times of peace and strengthen their country and military, then in the end, the country will only be destroyed and the people scattered.
"I still remember when you were the magistrate of Yin County, you were deeply loved and respected, and the new laws were implemented smoothly, which greatly benefited the people."
Even now, letters sent back from their hometowns are full of complaints. Their wives, parents, and sisters also run businesses in the city, but taxes are increasing at every level. For some goods, the tax burden even exceeds the cost of the goods. Some small vendors even fight to the death. And so on and so forth.
Although some improvements were made later, such as exempting small vendors from taxes and reducing the taxes on merchants by 70%, the burden was still very heavy.
Lord Shi took a sip of tea and sighed softly. “Wangzhi, your teacher taught you to love the people. I used to be just like you, loving the people as if they were my own children. As the magistrate of a county, I should naturally consider the people’s needs.”
But the higher you stand, the less you can focus on the bottom; you must see further and plan far ahead. You don't understand now, but you will in the future.
People change, and their thoughts will naturally change as well.
For the sake of the people and the nation, can everyone truly be treated equally? Perhaps only God can.
He accepted both praise and criticism from the world, all for the sake of the nation.
Xie Wangzhi looked at the old man in front of him and bowed with his hands clasped.
"I hope you will remember this." He could tell whether the other party meant well or ill.
Finally, Xie Wangzhi couldn't help but remind him, "Sir, you mean that people's hearts are complex and ever-changing. I hope you can keep this in mind."
In Xie Wangzhi's view, the new law has many drawbacks, and the personnel implementing it have significant problems. These issues can actually be resolved. We cannot simply promote the new law without hindrance by employing those who outwardly support it but are actually just looking to profit from it.
At first, Lord Shi did not understand the meaning of this sentence, but when he left the capital and returned, he realized its significance.
On a long, clear summer day, Xie Ning carried his newly made medicine chest and entered the palace gates again.
But then I saw the usually lively Yan Xi quietly leaning against the railing, watching the newly opened pink lotus flowers. A tiny dragonfly perched on one of them, its light wings fluttering slightly, casting dappled rainbow colors.
Setting the medicine box aside, Xie Ning picked up the medicinal meal that the maid was carrying and handed it over. "Yam and lotus seed soup with glutinous rice balls. I found it very delicious. Yanxi, would you like to try some?"
Princess Yanxi waved for the nanny and maids to leave, then took the white jade bowl from Xie Ning's hand and took a bite. "A-Ning, you..."
Yan Xi frowned slightly, glanced at the palace maid in the distance, and then continued, "Today, I was looking for a book to read in the small study when I heard Father Emperor and Lord Shi arguing. Lord Shi... submitted his resignation, but it was rejected."
"Why did they argue?" Xie Ning had a vague idea of the reason, but hearing Yan Xi's explanation would make it clearer.
“They all blamed the drought on Lord Shi, saying that it was his implementation of the new laws that led to divine punishment. Even my great-grandmother and grandmother pressured my father, and he… stopped the new laws.”
Yan Xi liked Master Shi. When she was little, Master Shi gave her a calligraphy copybook to practice, saying it would help her calm her mind and cultivate her character.
Other adults said that it was nonsense for her to stay in the small study where they discussed matters, but Master Shi sided with her and refuted them. She listened to their discussions in a daze, and if she didn't understand something, she could get patient answers from Master Shi.
When she was talking to Xie Ning about this, Yan Xi laughed again, "It's just that Lord Shi sighs occasionally. He says that I am so intelligent, it would be great if I were a prince."
Ah Ning, do you think it's a pity?
Xie Ning tucked a stray strand of hair behind Yan Xi's ear and said earnestly, "I think you can do what a prince can do, so what's the difference between a princess and a prince?"
Yan Xi, who was aware of the situation, was startled upon hearing this. She hesitated, glancing at Xie Ning as if to say something but then stopped herself, perhaps thinking it was just an ordinary remark.
Actually, she was just a little sad, but Xie Ning's affirmation made her feel a little resentful.
Why is it so regrettable that she was born a princess?
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