For ordinary people, reading books and newspapers is out of reach and unnecessary.
They are busy and toiling around their own little piece of land, feeding their family's mouths. It is obviously a luxury and a fantasy for them to care about national affairs.
However, with schools and night schools built in every village, the people's inherent habits gradually began to change.
Reading newspapers to students, explaining the new policies promulgated by the country, and the cultivation methods of new crops issued by the Liaodong government became a regular job for school teachers.
Although they were not as professional as the government agricultural officials, the common people learned from their speeches, and they could harvest more from their own crops. The new policies of the imperial court also had an impact on their lives. Naturally, the common people were willing to listen and used them as topics of conversation after dinner.
In addition to the preferential policies introduced by Jilin Prefecture and the emperor's suggestion of raising sheep and drinking milk for health, Zhang Zhuzi's trip to the city also brought news that the conscription system in Liaodong had begun to be implemented.
"You'll all be soldiers in the future!" Yingzi wasn't surprised, as it wasn't her family's business. She smiled and said, "That's good too. There are many troops in Liaodong, so we don't have to worry about war."
Yingzi's father drank his porridge and said slowly, "Sixteen to eighteen years old, the age set by the court is quite good. You are a young boy and you are going to make your father poor. If you send him to the army, our family will be better off. After he is discharged in two years, he can enjoy preferential policies."
Zhang Zhuzi nodded, put the peeled eggs into his wife's bowl, and said, "The common people should agree. The rich don't want their children to suffer in the army."
After a pause, Zhang Zhuzi added, "But this matter really can't be concealed. The government has set up a reporting box. Report anyone who evades military service, and there will be a reward."
Yingzi's father smiled and said, "Now we have caught the cheaters. Let's punish them severely and see if they dare to do it again."
Yingzi broke the egg, but looked at her father and the man, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Your health is the most important thing. Eat it all." Yingzi's father tapped the bowl with his chopsticks and said, "Those sheep on credit are not a big deal. I can pay them back in a year. Don't worry about it."
The naturalization of the Inner Khalkha and other Mongol tribes meant that the amount of cattle and sheep traded was no longer restricted to the quotas set by the imperial court, which benefited the naturalized tribes. The lower prices also benefited the people of Liaodong.
For example, the government’s policy of selling sheep and cattle on credit actually means distributing them to ordinary people’s homes and then returning the same amount when the deadline comes.
In addition to cattle and sheep, horses can also be bought on credit. Like cattle, the repayment period is extended to three years, with only a symbolic annual payment.
This was the best way to ensure the continued prosperity of the state treasury and the prosperity of the people. Furthermore, the emperor's thinking was broader and more advanced than anyone else's, in terms of promoting consumption, stimulating industrial and commercial development, and creating more employment projects.
The traditional model of men farming and women weaving has reached a point where change is necessary. Of course, it's also possible not to change. It's simply backwardness, the overall sluggish development of the country and nation lags behind the world's development trends.
Zhang Zhuzi also nodded and said, "Even if we buy it, our family has enough money."
Yingzi's father glanced at Zhang Zhuzi and said, "It's perfectly fine to buy on credit. I can figure out the bill."
"I'm not worried." Yingzi smiled and said, "I know it's always right to listen to my father since I was a child."
Yingzi's father's face showed a look of pride and joy. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up and said, "I'm going to herd the sheep and cut grass. The female will stay at home."
"It's the middle of the day, you should take a break before going." Zhang Zhuzi advised: "I'm going to the fields this afternoon, let's go together in the car."
Yingzi's father didn't even turn his head. He walked away, waving his hand and saying, "It's just a short distance. We're there in just a few steps. Why do we need to take a car?"
Zhang Zhuzi watched his father-in-law leave the house, then turned and smiled at his wife. He swiftly cleared the table and said, "I'll do this job. You take a good rest."
Yingzi didn't fight for it. She sat back a little, leaning on the blanket, and smiled as she said, "Catch some chicks when we go to the market in a few days."
"Okay." Zhang Zhuzi agreed readily and said, "We'll just have to wait until our old hens can start broody. You should take care of yourself first and don't worry."
He turned around to clear the dishes. When Zhang Zhuzi came back, he had something in his hand. He handed it to Yingzi with a smile, and a sweet fragrance came over.
"Soap?!" Yingzi's eyes lit up and she reached out to take it. After just a quick glance, she knew it was the right one. She couldn't help but look up and roll her eyes at the man, scolding him, "You wasted your money. If Dad finds out, he'll scold you."
Soaps, soaps, perfumes, etc. have been around for two or three decades, but for ordinary people, they are still considered luxuries.
Only soap had a relatively large sales volume, but before it became widely used, the emperor believed that the day would come not too far away.
Having worked in a shop before, Yingzi knew the price of this soap. She liked it, but also felt a little sad.
Zhang Zhuzi chuckled and said, "The store is having a promotion, and I happened to see Ah Tao, so the price is a lot cheaper."
Yingzi blinked her eyes and stopped investigating. She held it to her chest, inhaling the scent of jasmine, and closed her eyes slightly, looking very peaceful.
Zhang Zhuzi stared at it in a trance, his eyes slowly moving downwards. The slightly bulging belly was pregnant with a new life, which made him excited and full of happiness every time he thought of it.
That is the hope of the Zhang family and the Chen family.
After the unbearable war, he was the only one left in the Zhang family. Although he was filled with hatred after joining the army and was not afraid of death, now that peace had come, he had dreams of a better life again.
……………….
The dream of a better life is not just shared by the Liao people who have experienced war. In fact, everyone wants it, everyone hopes for it, and everyone is working hard for it.
However, since the third year of the Tianqi reign, anyone who has taken the right path, whether they are officials, scholars, merchants, soldiers, or ordinary people, has gradually discovered that there is greater hope if they work hard.
You know, the tragedy is not the lack of effort, but the failure to change after trying. Poverty is not a problem, but being poor after trying hard is enough to dampen your enthusiasm for struggle.
The rise of a nation cannot be separated from the hard work of its people. If everyone is muddleheaded, numb and rigid, what hope is there for the country?
Therefore, the Ming Empire was still the Celestial Empire and a great country, but it had changed a lot from the inside out in just a few years.
Zhu Youjian, the grandson of the Tang Dynasty, looked up at the magnificent and majestic Meridian Gate. Although he had been to the palace many times, the feeling this time was very different.
As the first vassal to give up his title of vassal king, Zhu Youjian finally convinced his father.
It was really because the health of the Prince of Tang was too poor that he did not consider his own future much, but instead put all his care on his son Zhu Youjian.
Since his son felt that giving up the title of vassal king would be more beneficial than harmful, the Tang prince could not insist too much. He had also learned a lot about the emperor's temperament during his long time in the capital.
Zhu Youjian took a deep breath and strode into the imperial city.
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