The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Throughout the whole day, Su Jin's heart was full of panic, and he was naturally elated when he was rich. Once he owed a huge sum of money, he became humble when he spoke and acted, and his aura became much weaker; The official feels that qgu, Su Jin is not like this on weekdays, especially in public places, he is full of enthusiasm, but today he seems a little tired.

"Zicong, are you feeling unwell?" Li Chong couldn't help asking as the night approached.

Su Jin sighed and did not hide it from him, and told Li Chong about the financial crisis. Li Zhong was shocked and said, "It turns out that all your money is from Yinzhuang. Hui hangs the burden, 阋 hangs the dripping leaf first, and changes the umbrella first!

Su Jin shook his head and said, "When you say that, I feel that my efforts are meaningless. Look at this newly lit city. Is it a city that has never existed before? Over time, this city will not only bring us a huge amount of money. Your wealth will also affect all aspects, do you think 1000 million can buy these?"

Li Chongdao: "That's not what I mean. What should we do in this difficult situation? By the way, there are still a lot of savings in the four-way tax this year. Why don't I take it out and help you get over this hurdle?" [

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "No, the tax on the road is to pay the soldiers' salaries, and with the arrival of the severe winter, there must be many places in need of relief. In a few days, you will go to various roads to inspect the roads. There must be no shortage of food before the year People who have no food, I am afraid that there is still a shortfall in your two or three million yuan."

Li Chong frowned and said: "That being said, I can't just watch you face difficulties and ignore them. Besides, the tax money from Silu should belong to you. If the imperial court doesn't take away a dime, the money should belong to you."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Forget it, let's not discuss this matter anymore. Can you tell the emperor to ask him to give me money? It's not like you don't know that Di Qing, the prefect of Yanzhou, has been transferred back to Beijing. According to reliable sources Next spring, I will lead the army to the south to suppress the rebellion. At this time, the emperor will not ask me for money, so I will be thankful; no, he ordered the [-] horses and stallions in the racecourse to go away, and there will be another war , the emperor is also poor."

Li Chong sighed and said, "It's true, so let's do it, I still have tens of thousands of private funds in my hand, and I will send someone to deliver them to you at night. Although it is not very useful, it is also my heart."

Su Jin laughed and said: "Brother Zhao Ting's wish is accepted, you should keep the tens of thousands of guan for yourself, I heard that you and Jingtai's sister are very hot, these tens of thousands of guan are probably not enough as a dowry, I want Wouldn't taking it delay your lifelong event?"

Li Chong twitched and said, "You know that too? The big deal is later, what's the rush."

Su Jin said: "It's still too late. You are several years older than me. I already have a son. You are still single. You can wait for Miss Jing, but I heard that Miss Jing is seventeen years old, and she will be eighteen after the new year. Do you want people to wait until the wrinkles appear on the face?"

Li Chongdao: "Hey, I know you won't want it. I'll call a meeting of the chamber of commerce tomorrow to talk about Zicong's difficulties and see if I can think of a way."

Su Jin hurriedly said: "You mustn't do it. Once you say that they are not good and don't help, but if it spreads, it will be said that I, Su Jin, forcibly borrowed money. This is not helping me, it is destroying me."

Li Chongdao: "This will not work and that will not work. Could it be that you just watched your bank get run on? What do you use to fill the shortfall?"

Su Jin said: "I can't help it either, but my wife said she has a way, so I'll go back and ask her, she's better than me at such things."

Li Chong let go of his worried expression and said: "You have found a treasure. Miss Yan is the top woman in this world. She said that if she has a way, she must have a way. No matter how you give me the news tomorrow, if you can't do it, you will be gossip , I also want to find those merchants to lend you some money to tide you over, and I will borrow it in my own name, so I can take care of your face."

Su Jinyu said goodbye and went back to the house.

At the dinner table, Su Jin wanted to ask a few times, but Yan Biyun always changed the subject. Su Jin understood that Yan Biyun was afraid that everyone would worry about it and didn’t want to talk about it publicly. After the meal, Su Jin went into the room and pulled Yan Biyun and asked: Is there a way?"

Yan Biyun smiled and said: "Don't worry, my husband, the matter has been resolved, and I will go back to the capital in person tomorrow."

Su Jin said: "What is the solution? Or borrow money from Yan Xiang?"

Yan Biyun shook his head and said, "How can this be? After I left the court, I took care of my mother's business for two years. It's not like you don't know what happened afterwards."

Of course, Su Jin knew that after Yan Biyun got married, Yan Shu wanted her to take care of the Yan family's property, but the girl who left the court was the water that was poured out. The Yan family was already quite critical, and with Yan Biyun's limited energy, the income of the Yan family's property decreased slightly , people in each house of the Yan family made up words saying that Yan Biyun took the profit from the Yan family to subsidize the Su family. The family property was taken back and handed over to Yan Shu's sons to take charge of it together, which made the relationship a little awkward. If he went to ask Yan Shu for a loan at this time, it would inevitably cause a new round of dissatisfaction. Rejection is really embarrassing in face, so neither Su Jin nor Yan Biyun would consider this path.

"Then you said there is a way, what kind of way?" Su Jin asked anxiously. [

Yan Biyun said: "Anyway, there is a way, don't worry about it."

Su Jin said anxiously: "What's the secret?"

Yan Biyun sighed, "Okay, follow me."

Yan Biyun walked in front holding the lamp, and Su Jin followed behind. The two stopped in front of the side room. Yan Biyun took out the key and opened the door lock, and pulled Su Jin into the room. Six large red-skinned wooden boxes asked suspiciously, "What are these?"

Yan Biyun smiled, and opened all the wooden boxes with his own hands. Under the light, the room was full of jewels and jewels, and Su Jin said in amazement, "This...isn't this your dowry?"

Yan Biyun nodded and said: "That's right, these things are dowry jewelry and jewellery, as well as some jade and brocade items, which have been stored for several years and have never been used. You see, the jade cabbage is dusty. Thinking about it, these things can be used as long as they are left, why not pawn them in the capital to tide over the current difficulties, these few boxes can be worth 200 million, plus some jewelry in the capital house, it is absolutely worth 300 million Yu, plus the more than 200 million in the account, isn't it close?"

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "How can this be? This is your dowry. It's fine if you don't enjoy the blessings with me. How come you still have it as a dowry? It won't work. Doesn't this make me look bad?"

Yan Biyun put down the candlestick, came to Su Jin, looked up at him and said, "Stupid words, although the dowry is a woman's private property, but you and I, husband and wife, how can the slaves take these things seriously at critical times? Is it better for our family to be safe and sound, or is it better for the slave family to hold these dead things and watch your husband fall into crisis?"

Su Jin said anxiously: "Although that's the case, it taught me how to be at ease."

Yan Biyun said: "Husband and wife, there is nothing to feel at ease. If you don't accept it, the slave family will not feel at ease."

Su Jin hugged Yan Biyun, tears were about to come down, and choked up, "Sister Yan, you are so kind."

Yan Biyun buried her head in Su Jin's arms and said softly: "Husband, you know Biyun's thoughts, the slave family didn't expect you to be a big official or a big thing, the slave family only hoped to be with you forever; The dowry is something extraneous, what is the relationship between you and me? Husband, don't blame yourself, this time the pace is faster, and we should do what we can in the future. "

Su Jin nodded and said: "Keep the pawn tickets, and redeem them when you have more money in the future. Although these things are used, they are still a thought. They will be passed down in the future. Children and grandchildren must remember that these things are not simple treasures. , but the most precious truth in the world.”

Yan Biyun nodded and said: "My husband is right, let's go out, don't let Sister Ling'er and the others know, or they should be worried."

Su Jin nodded, and the two of them were about to leave side by side when they heard the door slam open. The two looked in astonishment, but saw Xia Siling leading the way, Rouniang Huanniang, Xiaosuier, Xiaoxianer and others standing behind the snow wearing cloaks On the porch, several people held exquisite wooden boxes, large or small, in their hands.

Su Jin asked in astonishment, "Who are you?"

Xia Siling smiled, walked in and put the heavy box in her hand on the table, and opened it with her hand, the box was full of jewelry, gold and silver piled up like a hill.

"This is the dowry from my slave's family. There is also a box in the old house in the capital. Sister Yan and I will go back to Beijing together tomorrow. I will pawn it all!"

"And us." Rouniang Huanniang Xiao Sui'er also put the jewelry box in her hand on the table: "This is what the Lord bought for us over the years. Although it is not much, how can we sisters buy it for us in this difficult time?" Sleeves?"

Su Jin was stunned, his lips trembling, his eyes flicked slowly over the delicate or sweet faces of several women, and he sat down on the chair, speechless.

……

ps: The dowry in ancient times was a woman’s private property[

1. The bride price and dowry are given by the man to the woman’s family. The woman’s parents may also give the bride price to the daughter as a dowry, but it’s okay not to give it. The woman’s parents have full control over it.

2. The dowry is for the bride. It belongs to the bride’s personal property. The husband’s family has the right to use and interfere. If you want to use the daughter-in-law’s dowry, you must get the daughter-in-law’s consent, and if the daughter-in-law disagrees, it is also justified.In ancient times, embezzling a daughter-in-law's dowry was a very bad behavior, which was very bad for reputation.

3. After a woman dies, her dowry can only be inherited by her own children. If she has no children, her dowry will be inherited by her natal descendants.Chinese women actually have certain inheritance rights, and the inheritance of her natal family's property is reflected in the dowry, so if she has no descendants to return to her natal family, other members of her husband's family are not allowed to occupy it.

4. If a woman is divorced or leaves her husband's house, the dowry will be taken away by herself, and there is no division.

5. In real life in ancient times, many daughters-in-law would still have their dowry taken by their husband's family because of their weakness, but if this kind of thing is reported or spread, the husband's family will have to pay the price.In ancient times, women usually used dowry to subsidize their families, support their husbands to study or do business, raise and pass on to their children, and some "virtuous" women also used their dowry to concubines their husbands to improve their status.