Ancient natural disasters: The whole family traveled through time and was almost wiped out

Chapter 243

Jiang Yiyu was appointed as a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue - Jiang Yipei recommended him to Chen Nuo. The Jiang family ran a restaurant, which strictly speaking could be considered as doing business, and Jiang Yiyu had some talent in this area, but Luoshui County was small and could not fully demonstrate his abilities.

When he entered the Ministry of Revenue, he brought a man with him - Jiang the peddler. This man also had a talent for business, and if he was trained well, he would definitely be his right-hand man.

Jiang Xiumian, who was standing by, listened for a long time but didn't hear his own name.

fall--

What are you doing!

He worked so hard, so hard that even if he didn't make any contribution, he still worked hard. So, there's no reward at all?

There were some. When it was almost the end, Jiang Xiumian and Jiang Xiubai finally heard their names. Dasheng recognized their efforts and gave them financial rewards - a certain amount of gold, a certain amount of silver, a certain amount of jewelry, a certain amount of cloth (still owed), and a certain amount of brocade (still owed).

Nowadays, materials are scarce, and many rewards are recorded on the list, but they cannot be taken out at all. They can only be owed and implemented when production and economy recover.

Jiang Xiumian and Jiang Xiubai were highly regarded by the emperor. After reading the eunuch's decree, he said to them, "Your Majesty is waiting for the two young masters to pass the imperial examination."

These words made everyone else envious. With the emperor's words, it would be difficult for Jiang Xiubai and Jiang Xiumian not to be named. Their fame was already set in stone, and the ranking could not be too low.

It can also be regarded as an alternative reward from the emperor to the two of them.

Jiang Xiumian had no problem, but Jiang Xiubai was a little worried. He had brains, but he was not familiar with the ancient imperial examination essays. When he came to the ancient times, he faced natural disasters, let alone reading. He had not even written a few words. Now that he was suddenly told to take the imperial examination, it would take him a long time to integrate the knowledge and articles in the original owner's mind.

There are only two months left before the special examination begins, and he needs to get a decent ranking, otherwise how can he, a key university student, put his face on the road?

Isn't this a disgrace to his and Jiang Xiaomi's alma mater?

All kinds of emotions were intertwined, so much so that Jiang Xiubai didn't smile that brightly when he received the reward.

If this decree made him unhappy, the emperor's next decree directly made him, Jiang Xiaomi, and Jiang Xiumian, all of them, become very autistic.

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: I have heard that the ancient sage kings regarded marriage as the great ethics of the people and the foundation of the family and the country. Marriage between men and women is the way to carry on the family line, continue the heirs, strengthen human relations, and prosper the country..."

The eunuch reading the decree eloquently took about ten minutes, and the central idea was very clear, which was -

In our Dasheng, too many people died due to external and internal troubles. In order to increase the population and improve the fertility rate, all Dasheng citizens, men at the age of 18 and women at the age of 15, must get married. With the orders of their parents and the advice of the matchmaker, an auspicious day and time must be chosen to hold the ceremony!

What if you are over the age limit and still haven't married? It's easy, just pay a fine!

If a man is eighteen and a woman is fifteen and still unmarried, he will be fined five taels of silver for every year he is older! Ten taels of silver for two years older, and three years older? Oh, you are lucky, Dasheng will help you!

If a man is 21 and a woman is 18 and still unmarried, they will be forced to marry by the government!

Of course, County Magistrate Chen still had a little conscience. He knew that the world was difficult now and he didn't have enough money to marry a wife. He specifically pointed out that -

If there is a man who is too poor to marry, the government should try to help him; if there is a man who is picky and refuses to marry, the government should severely admonish him.

The imperial court’s marriage subsidy in this decree will take effect immediately, and the marriage penalty will take effect from this day next year. All prefectures and counties must comply with it and must not violate it.

That’s so fucking thoughtful.

I also give you a year to go on a blind date.

As for whether this law would create many resentful couples, the ministers discussed and felt that it would not.

In an era where people are just trying to make ends meet, love is an extremely luxurious thing and being able to eat enough is considered good enough.

Besides, men and women of this era all got married at the age of 15, 16, 17 or 18, so this law was only slightly oppressive.

Moreover, in ancient times, men and women were arranged by their parents and matchmakers, and they didn’t know what their partner looked like before the veil was lifted. The national conditions were already like this, so how much worse could it get?

The people all accepted it happily. After all, getting married is a necessity, it is only a matter of time. What's more, the government now provides subsidies. It costs five taels of silver to get married, and the government subsidizes three taels. What else do they need?

One or two taels of silver from three taels are used as betrothal gifts for the bride and to buy things needed for the wedding. The family only needs to spend two taels to entertain the guests. However, in the current situation, can we have a grand ceremony? A simple meal would cost less than two taels, so wouldn't the two taels be saved?

Isn’t it equivalent to the government paying for your family to marry a wife?

Did the government lose money?

not at all.

The government subsidies are quantified, and everyone knows how much the subsidy is. So when the woman discusses the bride price, she will have a clear idea of ​​the amount. It would be fair for each party to get half, right?

The government still loses money!

still none.

The government has stipulated that -

With the orders of the parents and the words of the matchmaker, an auspicious day and time are chosen to complete the ceremony!

A wedding must be held, and it must have certain specifications, and it must also specify where the wedding items must be purchased.

Nowadays, almost all supplies are controlled by the imperial court. Where does the money you use to buy things go?

It goes into the pocket of the imperial court. Even if it doesn’t go directly back to the pocket of the imperial court, the taxes collected from other people’s homes also go into the pocket of the imperial court!

In other words, the three taels of silver given by the court were enough for a poor family to get married, and each household even had to contribute a little.

Moreover, you can only apply for these three taels of silver after the wedding by taking the marriage certificate and all the invoices for the wedding items to the government. And you can only apply once. Do you want to apply for it again for the second marriage? No way!

Want to line your own pockets?

There is room for maneuver, but it's not big.

but--

Jiang Xiaomi and the other two returned to their own courtyard and looked up at the sky - who would care about these three taels of silver!

Jiang Xiaomi is seventeen this year and will be eighteen in half a year.

Jiang Xiumian is nineteen years old this year, nine months away from turning twenty.

Jiang Xiubai just celebrated his birthday last month, and he will be 20 years old in eleven months.

Jiang Xiubin is sixteen this year and will be seventeen in two months.

The whole family is counting the days, and Jiang Xiaomi is the most anxious. She only has half a year left before she will fall into the fire pit!

On this day next year, she will be eighteen years and six months old, which means she is already over eighteen years old. That is to say, if she does not get married before this day next year, she will be included in the court's list of people to be urged to get married.

By then, it won't be her parents urging her to get married, but the court~

What an honor!

But, this honor is given to you, do you want it?

Jiang Xiaomi doesn’t want that!

She shook her head frantically, looking at Jiang Yipei with a look of bereavement: "Dad! You know how many men I have seen in the past two years, right? It's really hard to ask me to get married before I turn 18! Can the emperor discuss this matter? Open a back door, otherwise, I'd better go up the mountain and become a nun?"

"The most frightening thing is that you have no say in whether you will become a nun..." Jiang Xiumian said, "There are so many girls nowadays, and widows are encouraged to remarry..."

Jiang Xiaomi glared at her brother: "Please, shut up!"

Jiang Suying was also very worried: "It's too late to talk now. How can you get married after dating for one year? You have to date for two or three years! You have to understand the character of the other person and the character of the family members. Otherwise, getting married rashly is no different from jumping into a fire pit."

"Mom, it's a bit early for us to consider this now. First of all, we need a man that Xiaomi likes." Jiang Xiumian said.

In fact, he was also worried because his sentence was only nine months later than Jiang Xiaomi's!

Time is very tight!

Where can he find someone to marry?

If the court really arranged for him to marry someone at random, would he accept it or not?

If he doesn't accept it, it would be a challenge to the imperial power. Can his father bear it?

If you accept it, you will get married first and fall in love later...

It’s just... so outrageous!

The mother and daughter were both silent. They didn't know where to look. They were not very familiar with the capital city and they hadn't even recognized all the neighbors!

How about holding a party in a couple of days?

Jiang Suying thought.

After all, Jiang Yipei is now a popular figure around the emperor, so no one should refuse to give him face, right? Let those ladies bring all their daughters and sons over and hold a blind date in disguise, which should be okay... right?

Jiang Yipei walked around the room twice, and after a while he said, "There's no need to be so anxious. This law will not take effect until next year. We still have a year. If it really doesn't work, I'll go to the palace and beg the emperor for mercy. After so many life and death experiences, he can't just not give me this face!"

Jiang Xiumian shook his head: "Dad, I think it's difficult. Maybe the emperor will advise you to be considerate of him. After all, his imperial decree has just taken effect. If you, as his confidant, openly disobey him, the situation will be bad."

"Tsk—" Jiang Yipei said with a click of his tongue; "Sure enough, once he becomes emperor, he will change. Look at him before, and look at him now!"

"You can't say that about the emperor. He's really good to you." Jiang Suying complained to Chen Nuoming rationally, "He only needed to consider the entire Luoshui County before, and then he only needed to take care of his own side. Now he has to consider the whole world, and he has to make overall plans."

"For the sake of the entire Great Sheng, the interests of some people must be reduced. If we think that a law issued by the emperor is good, it is nothing more than us standing on the side of being protected. Now we think that the emperor even forces marriage, which is really too much! It's nothing more than that we don't need these three taels of silver."

"Laws are meant to protect the majority."

Jiang Yipei: “…”

"No, is this the time to talk about such a big truth?"

"Forget it, let's take it one step at a time." Jiang Xiaomi said, and suddenly she seemed to think of something: "Maybe something good will happen! Think about it, with the court subsidies hanging in front of them, many people will definitely pair up and get married. The rest of those who don't get married may have the same idea as us - if they can't find the right one, they won't settle..."

"Forget about it." Jiang Xiumian interrupted her before she could finish. "Is it possible that none of your ideal men exist, but instead they are all ordinary men? Not only is he ordinary, but he is also ugly. By then... I'm afraid you will run away overnight."

Jiang Xiaomi: “…”

This possibility is not ruled out.

"Well, what—" Jiang Xiubai, who had been silent all this time, raised his hand at this time: "Uncle, I have an immature suggestion. Do you think it's okay for me and Xiaomi to be a couple?"

"What?" Jiang Xiaomi wondered if she had heard it wrong?

Jiang Yipei, Jiang Suying, and Jiang Xiumian all stared at Jiang Xiubai, their expressions clearly saying -

What did you say? Do you dare to say it again?

Jiang Xiubai swallowed his saliva and said, "I say, what do you think of me and Xiaomi getting married?"

Jiang Xiumian had a blank expression on his face: "Not very good!"

"Brother!" Jiang Xiaomi shouted, "I think it's okay! If he wants to get married, I want to get married too. It's better for us to be a couple than to marry a stranger! Let's just deal with it first, and when we find our true love, we can get divorced!"

Jiang Xiubai: “…”

Jiang Xiumian just laughed out loud.

Jiang Xiubai: “…”

Jiang Yipei shook his head: "How can you get married if you are not yet of the fifth degree of mourning? Your grandfather and your uncle Da will not agree to it first, and the whole village will not agree to it either. Give up the idea."

Jiang Yipei said this and looked at Jiang Xiubai meaningfully - little guy, I didn't expect you to have such deep thoughts in your mind, it's a pity that your current status does not allow it, if it were in modern times he could still consider it.

"What a pity." Jiang Xiubai shrugged with pretended regret.

Jiang Xiaomi patted his shoulder and said, "Let's find a way! As long as we are not siblings within the five generations of mourning, it will be fine! Your parents may not be your parents, and my parents may not be my parents. Only then will we be a family!"

Everyone: "..."

This is so confusing that I almost couldn't understand it!

"I understand what you mean. You want to say that if you and Jiang Xiubai have a child who is not from the Jiang family, then it will be fine, right? I tell you, that's impossible. Once you are included in the family tree, you are brother and sister, no matter if you are blood related or not! Unless you are expelled from the family tree - in order to get married, you ask to be expelled from the family tree? Seeing how crazy you are, the clan members will come to persuade you every day. Do you believe it?"

Jiang Xiaomi: “…”

Just thinking about that picture is chilling.

There is no good solution for the time being, and Jiang Xiaomi did not force it. She would just take it one step at a time. Even if it really comes to the point of forced marriage, she has a father, and who would dare to marry her off to a ugly guy?

With Jiang Xiaomi's example, everyone else became less anxious, except Jiang Lizheng and Old Lady Yang. They originally wanted to go back to the village after seeing the world, but when this incident happened, they were afraid that their eldest granddaughter would be wronged, so they resolutely became the old grandfather and old lady in the Xiaoyaohou Mansion and found a good husband for her.

Over the years, the two elders were considered wealthy old men and women in the village, but they still seemed a little insignificant in the capital. They didn't understand many rules, so they asked Jiang Yipei to go to the palace to ask the emperor for an old nanny to learn the rules so as not to embarrass his son at the banquet.

The person involved, Jiang Xiaomi, was not in a hurry at all. The emperor gave her a horse, and she was very interested in it. She ran around the city every day.