Chapter 827: The Fallen Officials, the Beginning of Prosperity
Chapter 827: The fallen official, the beginning of wealth
"I have been with you for six years. Originally, my family was considered a well-to-do family in Qianyang County. My father saw that you were honest and an official, so he asked me to marry you.
But look at how our family is living now."
The woman had a cold look on her face, and it was difficult for a clever woman to make a living without rice. She was not an irresponsible person, and she had never thought about getting rich. However, the anger and depression of these years had weighed in her heart, so how could she not feel a little aggrieved.
"Madam, following me will make you suffer!"
Li Tairan's face showed a bit of shame!
He comes from a poor family, and he knows the suffering of the people! Once, he also wanted to take charge of a party and make decisions for the people, but the reality of officialdom made him seem out of place! Maybe if you close your eyes more and stretch your hands more, life at home will be much richer.
, but, after all, I can’t get around the hurdle in my heart!
Looking at her husband's appearance, the woman couldn't help but feel a little softer!
"Hey, tell me, what is going on?
It’s not that you are greedy for ink! Let me tell you, if you are greedy for ink, then we two would rather starve to death than have such luxury!”
At this point, her voice became a little lower, "Although our family is not living a rich life, we can barely afford food and clothing. If we can't live well, we will go to Nancheng. I heard that the houses in Nancheng only cost two meters."
Three taels of silver a month..."
In fact, according to the salaries of officials in the Song Dynasty, even if they are not corrupt, although they will not be rich, they will basically not have to worry about spending money!
Unlike the Ming Dynasty, being an official in the Song Dynasty was definitely the happiest era. Even the lowest ninth-grade official had seven or eight taels of silver per month, plus four or five shi of rice.
Li Tairan has only three people in his family, so it is not difficult to survive.
However, a low-level official with no foundation is incompatible with all the superior officials, so he is not only squeezed out by others, but even his salary will be deducted by the superior officials.
For example, the money he was supposed to have would not be given out at all, but would be replaced by Lumi.
Moreover, even Lumi is not polished rice, but the cheapest brown rice on the market.
Living in Lin'an is not easy, and it's no different in Chengdu, the land of Sichuan and Sichuan! Naturally, we can't afford to buy a house, so we can only rent it temporarily!
In addition, Chengdu Prefecture has developed commerce and trade, which also makes the price of ordinary goods far higher than other prefectures! In this way, Li Tairan converted part of the Lumi he received every month into money and paid the rent, and the rest was barely enough to survive.
After a month, or even at the end of the month, it is not unusual for the food rations to be cut off.
"Let's talk about it later!"
Li Tairan gritted his teeth, "The new prefect asked me to help buy these things, and the money was sent by the prefect!"
"Ah, yes! Aren't you going to greet the new prefect today?"
The woman asked in surprise, "Why would the prefect ask you to run an errand?"
Do you want to use you?"
Li Tairan shook his head, "Who knows, but my job is an official of the prefect. I think the prefect will also use his confidants! It is already a grace for him not to replace me directly."
"Why!"
The woman sighed, "Forget it, I don't want to think about this anymore.
Since it's Shangguan's errand, you can handle it! In addition, starting from this month, the rent has increased by several hundred cents! I don't have any money at home, so I temporarily used the leftover brown rice at home to pay for it! At noon, I went to Aunt Wang's house
I went home and borrowed half a bucket of rice, saying that I would bring it to Uncle Wang when he got off work! We will pay it back to Aunt Wang when you get your salary next month!"
The Aunt Wang mentioned by the woman is their neighbor! Aunt Wang's family also works as a yamen servant! Although she is just a low-income book clerk, her life is much better off than that of the Li family.
Li Tairan often helped the households copy documents, and the two houses were adjacent to each other, so the private relationship was quite good.
"Um!"
Li Tairan nodded dullly.
"Master Li, are you here?"
Outside the door, a low and hoarse voice came in!
The woman hurriedly greeted him and opened the door, "Uncle Wang, come in quickly, the child's father has just walked in!"
A stout man in his fifties wearing a long coat was standing outside the yard with a cloth bag on his back! Seeing this, the woman hurriedly said again, "Would you please Uncle Wang to bring it over..."
"Hey, bastard, Mr. Li and I are colleagues, and Mr. Li is still my superior officer. What does this trivial matter mean?"
The old man said with a grin.
"Thank you, Uncle Wang!"
After putting the things in the house, Li Tairan also came out, "Quick, come in and sit for a while, my dear, come and boil some water!"
The old man put his pocket in Li Tairan's hand and followed him into the house without being polite!
"My lord, I am going to greet the prefect today. Don't you know that I can see the prefect's face?"
It is said that our new prefect is the commander-in-chief who led the troops to fight in Chengdu Prefecture not long ago. When the commander-in-chief rescued Chengdu Prefecture and entered the city, I even took a look at him from afar in the crowd, and he was so majestic!"
Li Tairan smiled bitterly, "Yes, but the prefect did not accept the hospitality of other adults, but went directly to the backyard of the magistrate's office! Moreover, the prefect also gave me an errand, and I don't know if it was done properly!"
With that said, he told Old Man Wang something about the matter of entrusting Shen Tang to him.
When the story was finished, Old Man Wang blinked his eyes and suddenly raised his hands and said, "Hahaha, I have long said that you will be reused sooner or later, isn't this because the new prefect has taken a fancy to you!"
"Just buying some things, what kind of errand is that?"
Li Tairan responded with a wry smile.
"What are you talking to Uncle Wang?"
The woman who came in carrying a kettle spoke!
"You bitch, your officials are going to be rich this time!"
Old man Wang smiled.
The woman stared with curiosity and a bit of hope, while Li Tairan shook his head and said, "Uncle Wang is serious. Maybe the prefect will forget my name tomorrow!"
"hey-hey!"
Old Man Wang smiled and said, "Master Li, there should be quite a few people here, the prefect!"
Li Tairan nodded dullly, "There are at least more than two hundred guards, attendants, and maids!"
"This is it!"
There was a bit of shrewdness in Old Man Wang's eyes, "If the magistrate wants to do something, he only needs to inform him and someone will go there, but why is this simple errand given to Master Li?
Moreover, the money was paid by the prefect himself?"
Although Old Man Wang is just a scribe, he has been working in the yamen for most of his life, so what is unclear about him?
Seeing that Li Tairan was still confused, Old Man Wang said with certainty, "The reason for this is that the prefect must want to use Governor Li! This matter is just an introduction.