TBFCWTE - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

He Shu and several companions who were openly traveling with her passed through the busy, prosperous streets of the capital and left the city, only then switching to a mule cart outside the city.

Although she had disguised her face somewhat and worn shoes that increased her height, so that even people who knew her might not recognize her if they met face to face, for safety's sake He Shu still did not plan to appear in the capital.

Had the truth that she was originally a daughter not been so sensitive, she would even have wanted to wear women's clothes, which would have made her even harder to suspect and better concealed.

Meanwhile, as time passed, the new Tax Reform Plan that had been distributed was successively sent to the prefectures. In areas relatively close to the capital, prefectural offices further distributed it to the counties under their jurisdiction.

In an era of low transport efficiency and slow information transmission, posting the Tax Reform Plan and the Ministry of Revenue's apology throughout all prefectures and counties in Great An would still take a long time.

For the court to receive public feedback would take even longer. Thus, at least three months would pass before specific discussion and decision on Tax Reform could take place.

That was why He Shu set herself a three-month plan for leaving the palace.

Three months was neither long nor short. Out of various considerations, she should not go too far from the capital. She could only choose, based on known information, a few nearby places that were representative or distinctive and travel there.

At the same time, in Sanhe County, some three hundred kilometers from the capital, many city residents who happened to be present were discussing two notices the county office had just posted, and some were busy spreading the word.

The court's tax policy was closely tied to the lives of all the people of Great An. When the county office suddenly posted the court's Tax Reform Plan with great fanfare, and even arranged for literate officials to read the contents aloud to the gathered residents, saying they were collecting the people's opinions, the matter naturally drew everyone's attention and concern. Even illiterate poor people, upon hearing of it, instinctively wanted to listen for a few lines.

They heard that in the Tax Reform Plan sent down by the court, the core content was highlighted: cancel the head tax on additional population; each person may enjoy a tax exemption on one mu of land, which may be called a ration field.

The upper limit of tax-exempt ration fields a household may enjoy was five mu in total, regardless of gender. Any decrease or increase in household members must be reported promptly and not concealed.

In addition, each person could enjoy a certain share of benefit fields, with a tax rate of five percent, and a household upper limit of fifteen mu, and so on.

Just hearing this was enough to know that if the new Tax Reform Plan could be implemented, those who benefited most would absolutely be the poorest people who had no land or had little land.

"Cousin, I heard the court sent people to post notices at the city gate about tax collection."

Liu Ping hurried into the courtyard, looking excitedly at Shen Zhuo, who was sitting in the yard reading.

"Let's hurry over and take a look too?"

The woman washing vegetables by the well in the yard immediately spoke up. "Zhuo'er, you must not listen to Shuanzi's nonsense. The news has just spread, and many people will surely rush over to join the excitement. Crowds are not safe."

Then she scolded Liu Ping. "You are used to running wild outside, but do not lead Zhuo'er astray. He is a scholar and needs to study and write essays. He is not tough like you, restless all day and joining every crowd."

Faced with his mother's scolding and nagging, Liu Ping did not dare talk back. He only secretly made faces at Shen Zhuo to show his unwillingness to accept it.

"Aunt, you may not know, but a notice concerning Tax Reform is truly a major matter. It is not only related to the lives of ordinary people like us, but also to scholars. Who knows, it might even be tested in some examination."

Knowing her son was not causing trouble, Wu Shuiqin, a distant cousin on Shen Zhuo's mother's side, finally showed a bit of a smile.

"So that is how it is. Zhuo'er still knows more. But even if the contents of the notice are important, you had best wait until later when there are fewer people before going to look."

Knowing the other meant well, Shen Zhuo smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps we do not need to go. When Grandfather returns, we will know what the notice says."

Shen Zhuo's grandfather, Shen Jichuan, worked as a clerk in the county office. Various documents and notices passed up and down through the county office basically all went through his hands, so he could learn the relevant news at the first opportunity.

"That is true. When Great-uncle returns, we will know. It is getting late, and Great-uncle should be back soon. I will go meet him."

With that, Liu Ping ran out of the courtyard skipping and hopping. Watching her son's utterly unstable back, Wu Shuiqin could not help sighing.

Hearing the commotion, Shen Zhuo's grandmother came out and said, "The way I see it, there is nothing bad about Shuanzi being like this. A lively nature is natural. What is rare is that the child is also diligent and sensible. Do not restrain him too much. I actually hope Zhuo'er can be influenced by him and become a little livelier too."

Wu Shuiqin said with feeling, "That is also because you and Uncle are so kind to him, and Zhuo'er indulges and protects him so much, that he can forget the pain so quickly once the wound heals and become so lively, forgetting the past."

"What is past is past. Do not keep it always in your heart. This home has become much livelier with you here. Besides, if not for you and Sister Fang being here, Zhuo'er would certainly not have agreed to go to Qingshan Academy."

Shen Zhuo smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes. Fortunately, Aunt and Cousin are at home and can help care for Grandfather and Grandmother, so I can go study with peace of mind."

Wu Shuiqin's husband had died two years earlier from illness brought on by overwork. Her in-laws then bullied her and her children even more viciously, and later planned to sell her daughter, who was then only twelve or thirteen.

After she threatened suicide and made a scene, her in-laws temporarily dropped the idea of selling her daughter. But Wu Shuiqin knew they would not give up, so she hurriedly fled with her two children.

To avoid attention, when the three of them fled, they did not dare bring much luggage. After their small savings were spent, they begged for food along the way and finally found the family of her cousin's husband, the Shen Family.

Although the daughter-in-law had died early, Shen Jichuan and his wife were both kindhearted and deeply sympathized with Wu Shuiqin's plight. Though their own finances were not rich, they still kept the three of them and even solved the problem of their household registration documents.

This left Wu Shuiqin's family deeply grateful for the Shen Family's shelter. They respected and served Shen Jichuan and his wife with particular filial piety, and the two families now shared a deep bond.

So Shen Zhuo, who could long since have obtained a recommendation spot but had refused to leave home because he worried about his elderly grandparents, finally agreed this year to study at Qingshan Academy.

When Shen Jichuan returned from duty for lunch, he was met by several pairs of eyes full of curiosity and expectation.

"Grandfather, I heard the city is very lively now. Many people have rushed to the city gate to see the notices. They say the court has made some new move again?"

In recent years, whenever such a spectacle appeared, it often meant the court was about to implement some new measure, most of which were preferential policies benefiting the poor.

Shen Zhuo would never forget that last year, when his grandfather fell gravely ill and the family was about to reach a dead end in the face of extremely high medical fees, he saw the new policy notice issued by the court stating that the court would cover serious illness medical expenses for officials. He remembered his excitement and gratitude at that moment.

His grandfather had served as a clerk in the county office for thirty years, and his annual evaluations had always been excellent. According to the court's policy, he could enjoy the benefit of having one hundred percent of serious illness medical expenses covered by the court.

Precisely because of this policy, his grandfather had set aside the mental burden of not wanting to drag the family down, abandoned his insistence on giving up treatment, and accepted medical care with peace of mind. In the end, he recovered successfully.

His hair already graying, Shen Jichuan sat down in the courtyard, drank a cup of coarse tea at a moderate temperature, and then began smilingly to explain matters to the family.

After introducing the core key contents of the Tax Reform Plan, as well as the contents of the Ministry of Revenue's public apology to the Eastern Palace, he said with considerable feeling, cupping his hands toward the direction of the capital, "His Majesty is sage and the crown prince is wise. This is truly a blessing for the people of Great An!"

Then he looked at his only grandson and admonished him earnestly.

"Zhuo'er, our family has deeply received imperial grace. Grandfather is old and can no longer repay it. You must study diligently, especially learn practical skills, and strive to have a chance to enter court service in the future, so that you may serve His Majesty and the crown prince with all your heart."

Hearing what his grandfather said, Shen Zhuo, whose feelings were complex, agreed solemnly.

"Grandfather, rest assured. Your grandson will not fail your expectations."

Liu Ping said from the side, "So last year, the money spent on Great-uncle's illness should have been paid by the Ministry of Revenue, but in the end it was all paid by the crown prince?"

Seeing Shen Jichuan nod, Liu Ping continued.

"And now the crown prince proposes to exempt us poor people from taxes? With such a good thing, who would not agree? Why not just implement it directly? Why seek the realm's opinions?"

Although only ten, Liu Ping knew what "tax" meant. The reason his grandparents and uncle had wanted to sell his sister back then was that the family had no money to pay the head tax for so many people.

Now, hearing that the court would cancel the head tax and also reduce land taxes, he thought this was absolutely a tremendous good thing. How could anyone disagree?

Shen Jichuan could not easily explain to him the interests of all sides involved in the Tax Reform Plan.

Nor could he plainly tell a child that while the poor could benefit from the Tax Reform Plan, the great clans and powerful families would face paying more tax, and their interests would be harmed.

"Taxation is a major matter concerning our Great An court and all the people. Although the crown prince is wholly sincere in serving the state and the people, he cannot decide everything alone. No amount of caution is excessive."

"Recent years have truly brought one good thing after another. You young people have caught the good times. In earlier years, we never dreamed that such good things could exist in this world."

Sitting nearby, Shen Zhuo's grandmother sighed as she lowered her head to sew shoe soles.

"I truly hope the emperor and the crown prince both live long and healthy lives, so we common people can enjoy more good days."

Shen Jichuan said, "We caught them too. Otherwise, I would not be alive now."

During his illness last year, the family had borrowed from every relative and friend they could, and had even considered selling the house.

But even so, it had not been enough for his treatment. That was why he had been determined to give up treatment and stop the family from selling their only shelter.

But because the court happened to be implementing the policy of covering medical expenses for officials, even though his illness cost nearly four hundred taels of silver in total, the prefectural office verified it and paid the full amount without a single copper missing.

And only now did he learn that the money had actually been paid by the crown prince's Eastern Palace enterprises. Having served in the county office for many years and seen the fickleness of the world, Shen Jichuan felt a flood of mixed emotions.

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