Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 295: Household registration is changed to temporary worker and farmer registration!
"What kind of decision-making power are you giving us? Aren't we still just listening to you?"

"Yes, we should listen to the government's approach first."

"."

There was some clamor in the lobby.

The government seemed to have given them the power to decide, but in fact it did not.

Instead, it was a very firm statement that the stove owner was gone and they would never be able to be stove owners again.

What choice do they have?
Xia Zhibai continued to shake his head and said, "It is true that there are no more stove owners, but if you insist on using the 'traditional method' to make salt, you can still do it. It's just that it will be very difficult to make a living, or even impossible to make a living this way."

"The only thing we can hope for is that in the future, the 'iron horse' will connect the world, and the ancient method of making salt will become a tourist attraction for people from other places."

“And this is bound to take a while.”

"Given your current condition, you probably won't be able to hold out until then."

“The stove-household system will indeed no longer exist.”

"It's not impossible to continue living in the past, but it requires more effort and hard work than before, and it may not even be enough to support a family. The government took this into consideration and therefore did not approve it."

"Of course, if you insist, the government won't say anything."

"What I want now is someone who is willing to follow the advice of the government."

"The government will only find a way out for this group of people."

Li Dali, Deng Muzi and other kitchen owners looked at each other in bewilderment. It was obviously impossible for them to continue living the old way. The salt market was completely occupied and they could not sell their salt at all. They were not qualified to sell salt. As for what Xia Zhibai said about relying on others to see, they could not understand what he meant.

It’s even more impossible to choose.

Fang Erniu looked around and whispered, "Let's just listen to the government."

"If the government is really not a human being, we will just ignore it. After all, we have legs and feet."

"The government can't force us to agree, right?"

Li Dali and Deng Muzi looked at each other and nodded.

Deng Muzi said: "Yes, we are willing to follow the government's advice, but if the government's advice is not good, or we do not accept it, the government cannot force us to agree, let alone threaten us directly."

Li Dali said: "Not only that, the government cannot harm our family."

"Yes, the disaster will not affect our family. Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If the government is really unhappy with us, they can come to us directly instead of bullying our wives and children." A cook in the lobby said angrily.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "You worry too much."

"The government is only giving you advice, and will not force you to follow it."

"But if you don't agree, you don't have to come to the government if you have any dissatisfaction in the future. Everything ends here."

"Okay!" Someone nodded in agreement.

Xia Zhibai smiled slightly, nodded with satisfaction and said, "First, the stove household system has been clearly abolished. It's just that it will take some time for the various provincial governments to issue the order, but it should be completed within the next two years."

"Your household registration will be uniformly changed from 'kitchen household' to temporary 'worker-peasant'."

"Workers and farmers, as the name suggests, are the main household registrations, which means that for a period of time, you can engage in both 'farming' related and 'worker' related jobs. Your options will be greatly improved, but I also said in advance that the government needs stability."

"It is impossible for me to let you jump back and forth."

"One moment I think this is good and do this, and the next moment I feel tired and want to change to another one."

“That’s not allowed.”

"Once confirmed, the household registration is determined."

"Your 'worker and peasant' status at that time was also cancelled and changed to a clear household registration."

"Do you have any opinion on this?"

When they heard about the temporary "worker and peasant" status, Li Dali and others were stunned.

They knew about the cancellation of their household registration.

But allowing them to choose freely was still somewhat unexpected to them.

You can work as a worker or as a farmer.

This means they can do most jobs.

The constraints that originally restricted them suddenly disappeared, giving them a great deal of room for choice.

However, they still had self-awareness. As kitchen keepers, they basically just did the basic work. If they were more greedy and wanted to study and become scholars, it would still not be allowed. Although they had expectations in their hearts, they did not dare to ask.

Xia Zhibai has already been very lenient. If he continues to ask for more, and if he angers the imperial envoy, he might even have to take back what he has promised.

"can."

"I accept this."

"As long as the government keeps its word, I will definitely agree."

Xia Zhibai smiled faintly.

It was expected that these kitchen owners would agree.

A big problem they had before was the restrictions imposed by their household registration system.

Now that restrictions have been lifted and they are given the opportunity to choose freely, how could they object?
Xia Zhibai said: "Since you all agree, it will be easy. Now there are still two paths in front of you. One is to stay in your hometown and engage in 'industry and agriculture' related work. If you want to farm, you can go to the nearby barren land to reclaim it. The government will provide certain farming tools and seeds, and will also lend you a certain amount of money and food. You can also continue to stay in your hometown."

"As for the second way."

“You actually heard it.”

"It's going north."

“There is not enough space to accommodate so many cookstove households locally.”

"The only thing the government can do is to provide you with certain conveniences for reclamation and allow you to find what you want to do. As for whether it can be successful, the government will not care. But I would also like to remind you that there are many people in the south and many aspects have been saturated. It will be very difficult for you to intervene."

"It seems difficult to make a living for a long time except reclaiming wasteland by yourself."

"The north is vast and sparsely populated. The court can provide enough farmland, so you don't have to cultivate it yourself."

"Some of you may even be able to work in salt factories, coal factories and other factories in the north, or work in other industries in the north. The pressure and resistance you face will be much smaller than in the south."

"The decision is still up to you."

"Those who are nostalgic for their homeland and do not want to go north can freely choose to make a living in their hometown."

There was another commotion in the lobby.

Everyone was whispering to each other, with some reluctance in their eyes.

Many people cannot accept leaving their hometown.

But reclaiming wasteland is one solution, but many of them have a "reputation" and they are worried about being picked on by government officials. Now the government can ignore them because the court officials are here. If the court officials leave, will those petty officials really not come to cause trouble for them?
They don't believe it.

Little devils have always been difficult to deal with.

But once you choose to go north, you have no control over it.

Life and death are in the hands of the government.

If they were killed along the way, no one would know about it. Moreover, being away from their homeland, it would be a problem whether they could take root there. It was said that Mongols from the north would move south from time to time, and they really did not want to face the extremely brutal Mongols.

The discussion went on for a long time.

Xia Zhibai didn't rush.

Just wait here quietly for them to finish their discussion.

This is a dilemma in itself.

The Han people today are different from those in later generations. They are very resistant to leaving their hometowns. Unless it is an emergency, they absolutely do not want to leave home. Moreover, after living here for so long, they will be completely at a loss when they go to a place where they are unfamiliar with.

The anxiety and fear are indescribable.

After struggling for a while, Fang Erniu whispered, "I won't leave. I'll stay in Yuhang. I'm too old now. If I keep going back and forth, I'm afraid I'll die in half a day. It's not good to go back and forth any more. I'll go to a place a little further away and open up a few acres of land. I should be able to support my family."

Deng Muzi looked at Fang Erniu deeply for a few times and nodded.

He actually had this plan.

But Li Dali's words reminded him that they were different from Fang Erniu. They had been a thorn in the side of the government for some time. If they continued to stay in the local area, there was no guarantee that they would not be targeted by the government. By then, they would be helpless.

For the safety of their families and to completely get rid of the influence of the government, they had no choice but to head north.

Deng Muzi said, "Uncle Fang, you stay here, and we will go north."

"I have no idea."

"As the leader of the riot, if I stay, something bad might happen."

Fang Erniu nodded and said, "I understand. It's better for you to leave. If you don't leave, I'm afraid the government will be afraid. Who knows when you will get confused and start making trouble again? If you leave, both the government and you can rest assured."

"But what about your wife, children and elders?"

"This bumpy ride is not easy to endure."

Deng Muzi smiled bitterly and said, "I, the boss, have left, so how can they not follow?"

"But we used to make salt as a family, but now I have to rely on myself to make a living. I don't know how the government will arrange it there."

"At worst, I can go farm!"

"After all, he is a seven-foot-tall man. As long as he is willing to work hard, he won't starve to death."

"Alas." Fang Erniu sighed and said, "This is the only way."

(End of this chapter)