Cao's words showed pity for these poor children, and also showed a hint of his own kindness.
"Actually, it's no wonder that parents are cruel. It's really difficult to raise more children," the county magistrate's wife sighed, "If the family is rich, the average farmer can only support three."
"Stop talking about this. Mrs. Zhizhou is pregnant now and can't listen to this." Mrs. Cao stopped quickly when she saw that Xu Chunjun didn't look good.
"It's okay," Xu Chunjun said, "I want to ask, the government has never stopped such cruel and bad habits?"
"Harm, of course the government does not allow infanticide, but if the law does not punish the public, and secondly, who can protect his own children?
When I asked him about it, he was told that he had died in infancy. Who could verify the matter?
What's more, if the parents are arrested, won't the other children starve to death?
Therefore, it has not stopped for so many years."
Xu Chunjun kept this in mind, and after returning home from the banquet, he called two local women he had hired.
Ask them if this is really the case.
"Poor people are like this, and there is nothing they can do about it.
It sounds like a cruel parent, but in fact, children from poor families are still poor when they are born, and they might as well be strangled to death.
A newborn baby doesn’t understand anything and doesn’t know how to feel pain. When the parents do something, they always want the baby to be reincarnated into a good family.”
Zheng Wuji returned to the back house and saw Xu Chunjun sitting there silently, his expression unprecedentedly dark.
He couldn't help being shocked and hurriedly walked up to him, took Xu Chunjun's hand and asked, "What's going on? Who made you unhappy?"
Seeing that he was worried about her, Xu Chunjun softened his expression and said, "No one else. It's just me who feels uncomfortable."
Zheng Wuji's worry did not lessen at all, so he asked her: "What is it that makes you like this? I was busy with the things ahead, and I actually ignored you."
"You are busy with business, as you should be," Xu Chunjun said. "I went to the Ye family for a banquet today and heard that there is a custom of infanticide in Chenzhou. Do you know?"
"I heard Mr. Wu mention it," Zheng Wuji only found out about it recently, "I was afraid that it would be like this if you heard it, so I didn't tell you."
Xu Chunjun sighed, leaned his head gently on Zheng Wuji's arms, and said, "This custom is really bad, but we can't blame the people.
There are very few parents in the world who don’t love their children.
As a parent, but you kill your child with your own hands, besides fearing the law, why don't you fear God's punishment in your heart?
But something so contrary to human ethics has become commonplace. There must be an unshakable reason."
None of the successive magistrates of the state had ever eliminated this bad habit, let alone reported it to the imperial court.
Of course those people are not stupid. Every official has to stay in this place for at least three years, so there is no way they don't know.
But no one cared about it, not even the King of Huaiyang who had been here all year round.
This shows how difficult this matter is.
"Do you want to get rid of this disadvantage?" Zheng Wuji asked.
Xu Chunjun nodded: "Although this is not easy, it is inevitable."
"I know you will definitely take care of it," Zheng Wuji said, "but it will never be effective overnight."
Xu Chunjun nodded: "I know that the ordinary people in Chenzhou have a difficult life. Their families have no food and no money.
What's more, when a child is born, someone will take care of him and raise him, so that he will have another mouth to eat.
It is difficult to cure a terminal illness with just one dose, let alone if it is like this in Juzhou, it cannot be cured without long-term and long-term efforts."
"Having said that, since it's you who want to do it, you can definitely do it." Zheng Wuji hugged Xu Chunjun and tightened his arms slightly, "You are the smartest and most capable woman I have ever seen."
"I'm still beating a drum in my heart. This is what we have to do naturally, it's a living person's life, not to mention you are the parent and official here.
Serving as an official will bring benefits to one party. You need your help in this matter, otherwise if I am the only one doing it, I will get twice the result with twice the result."
"You just need to tell me what you want me to do." Zheng Wuji said, "It's just that I'm afraid you will work too hard. After all, you are inconvenient now."
"This is also where I feel powerless," Xu Chunjun couldn't help but sigh, "But we can't delay this matter. Maybe it will be done soon."
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Chapter 540 But Do Good Deeds Free Reading:,!
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As long as you and I are talking, a child will die."
"Then don't be too anxious. The bigger the matter becomes, the more careful our plan will be." Zheng Wuji patted Xu Chunjun on the back and motioned her to calm down, "Tell me your plans first."
"This matter requires an official order to strictly prohibit the killing of babies. No matter what, if there is no clear document, it will always be unfair," Xu Chunjun said.
"You are right, even if the decree may not be implemented in place, you must first stand there. If you can shock three points, then shock three points." Zheng Wuji and Xu Chunjun thought the same.
"Merely threatening the law with laws is not enough. It treats the symptoms but not the root cause," Xu Chunjun continued. "We also have to order people to go door to door and register all pregnant women. In addition to being emotional and rational,
, but also to provide protection.”
"How to protect it?" Zheng Wuji asked.
"This is what I want to discuss with you. Public money cannot be touched unless it is reported to the court in the future and there is a special edict.
Nor can we raise funds from the gentry and merchants. Since we came here, we have already asked them to contribute a lot of money.
Besides, relying on them will not last long.
I was thinking if we could provide money and supplies ourselves first, and then when the local government is well managed, every family has savings, and they no longer have to worry about being able to feed the extra children, then we can let go," Xu Chunjun said.
"I have nothing to object to," Zheng Wuji said, "our family's business is all earned by you, not to mention that we still have banks and docks for income.
Even with my salary, I can do this kind of good deeds with as much effort as I can."
"Do you really think so? Don't you blame me?" Xu Chunjun was a little worried before.
There are not many officials in this officialdom who have to pay money to get in.
"Why should I blame you? It's too late for me to thank you." Zheng Wuji smiled, "It is a good thing for the country and the people, and it is also good for us. Why should I blame you?"
"I feel relieved when you say that," Xu Chunjun smiled happily, "I'm afraid that even if I give money and gifts, I still won't be able to let some families raise their children. It's better to build a Salesian church.
All abandoned children are given a place to raise them. Someone is hired to run the business. In the future, all these children will be able to read and write, which is always beneficial to the country."
"I'll help you share these things as much as possible," Zheng Wuji said, holding Xu Chunjun's hand. "You must not work too hard. The first child is especially important. You must not get tired and get angry."
"I know," Xu Chunjun lowered his head and stroked his belly, "This is our first child. I want to give him a safe birth and raise him well."
"I hope that if I do more good deeds, I can eliminate the previous evil obstacles," Zheng Wuji put his hand on Xu Chunjun's, "so that both of you can be safe."
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