1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 349 Times Change

After more than half a year of rest and recuperation, Donghu Town in Jiangxia County has gradually regained some vitality.

The rice paddies around Donghu Town are mostly ripe, and Zhou Rucheng, Zhou Jihong, and Zhou Jishen, a father and son who were once wealthy in Donghu Town, are bending over to harvest rice in the paddy fields next to their fishpond.

Wu Dezhu, a former day laborer of the Zhou family, carried a full sack of rice past the fields of the Zhou family father and son and greeted them.

"Director Zhou, are you harvesting rice?"

After speaking, panting, Wu Dezhu temporarily put down the heavy sack on his shoulder and sat down on the edge of the field to rest.

Although at the end of last year, when they saw that their former employer's land had been confiscated, only the house was kept and they were allocated a fishpond, the land they received was less and of lower quality than that of the Wu family.

Wu Dezhu felt extremely happy at the time, especially after he sent his son to become a soldier. He felt even more triumphant and often showed off in front of his former employer, Zhou Rucheng.

At first, Wu Dezhu thought it was interesting and enjoyable to do this.

However, Zhou Rucheng and his son never responded. In addition, in June, Zhou Rucheng was recruited into the Donghu Town Farmers' Association as a branch director because he was a rare scholar among the original inhabitants of Donghu Town. He was literate and meticulous in his work.

From then on, Wu Dezhu stopped showing off in front of the Zhou family father and son.

"Next year's food supply depends on these few acres of land," Zhou Rucheng replied, clumsily cutting a sheaf of rice.

"Director Zhou is a master at raising fish, but he seems rather clumsy at managing the fields," Wu Dezhu said, picking up the gourd from his waist and taking a sip of water.

The Zhou family started out raising and selling fish, and their fish-raising skills were among the best in Donghu Town. However, farming was not their forte.

The Zhou family's original two and a half acres of land were either rented out to neighboring households for cultivation or managed by hired long-term laborers. During the busy farming season, they would also hire short-term laborers like Wu Dezhu.

The Zhou family, including Zhou Rucheng, rarely work on the land; their main responsibility is managing the fish shop and fishponds.

"I'm not physically active, please excuse my laziness."

Zhou Rucheng's two sons, Zhou Jihong and Zhou Jishen, were somewhat displeased with Wu Dezhu's words, but Zhou Rucheng didn't take it to heart. After all, what Wu Dezhu said was true; he really wasn't very good at farming.

Furthermore, Zhou Rucheng pinned his hopes for a turnaround on his two sons' success in the upcoming college entrance examination in Taipei, as well as on that fishpond.

As for the rice paddies, as long as they can keep the family from starving, that's fine.

Zhou Rucheng did not expect to become rich and powerful with these six acres of paddy fields.

Zhou Rucheng served as a branch director of the Donghu Town Farmers' Association. Although the branch director was not as good as the director of the Jiangxia County Farmers' Association, the director of the county Farmers' Association not only managed the food rations, but also received a monthly allowance of eight qian of silver.

The branch council members currently only manage their own food rations and occasionally send some oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.

But Zhou Rucheng was already very content. His family had been allocated six mu of second-grade paddy fields, which would be enough to provide food for two able-bodied young men even in a slightly poor year.

"The Northern King is so kind. He said he would exempt Jiangxia County from taxes for a year, and he really won't take a single grain of rice this year." Wu Dezhu continued to chat with the Zhou family father and son, his face beaming with a genuine smile of happiness.

This year's rice harvest in Jiangxia County is quite good. Wu Dezhu roughly estimated that, after deducting the amount his family eats, they can store at least five or six shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice.

In the past, Wu Dezhu made a living by doing odd jobs for others. A good year was one where he didn't owe too much money or food after a year of hard work.

Having his own food reserves was something Wu Dezhu had never dared to dream of before.

Wu Dezhu is already planning to deposit half of the rice into the Farmers' Credit Union and earn 0.5% interest.

Aside from the harvest from managing the fields, Wu Dezhu's second son, who was a soldier, sent five taels and three mace of silver home this year. The Wu family's life was getting better and better.

Although Wu Dezhu was not very educated, he knew that the good life of his Wu family was given by the Northern King, so when the Northern King was mentioned, Wu Dezhu's face was full of respect.

Zhou Rucheng was a local gentry in Donghu Town. In the past, when the Qing Dynasty was in power, the Qing government had also reduced taxes and levies.

However, the benefits of the Qing Dynasty's tax reductions and levies mostly fell into the hands of officials and clerks at all levels who handled them, as well as local gentry.

The taxes levied on ordinary people will continue to be collected without fail.

This was the first time Zhou Rucheng had ever seen a case like the Northern King's, where he promised to waive taxes for a year and actually did so, without taking a single grain of rice or a single penny.

"The Northern King is benevolent and virtuous." Zhou Rucheng nodded in response.

“Director Zhou, if you want to save on food rations, I have a way,” Wu Dezhu said with a smile.

"The Wuchang Prefectural School and Jiangxia County School in Wuchang City are providing free food and lodging for the scholars who are going to take the Northern Examination. The students in the Prefectural and County Schools not only eat fine rice every meal, but also have side dishes. I heard that you two gentlemen are going to Wuchang to take the Northern Examination. Why don't you go earlier and save more than half a month's worth of food?"

In the Yue Ma Field of Wuchang City, there were also vehicles that could run on their own without the help of oxen or horses, and that emitted smoke. I think they were called trains, and they ran faster than horses. It was said that they were treasures presented to the Northern King by foreign barbarians.

On the river near Hanyangmen Wharf, there are several large boats that can sail upstream without oars or paddles. It's quite a novelty; the two gentlemen can take this opportunity to go to Wuchang to broaden their horizons and gain some knowledge.

Wu Dezhu had just visited his son at the military camp in Wuchang a few days ago and received three taels and one mace of silver from his son.

Wu Dezhu knew more about the recent events in Wuchang than the Zhou family father and son, who had always lived in Donghu Town.

"Really?" Zhou Rucheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Zhou Rucheng participated in the imperial examinations many times. All the examinations he took, whether county or prefectural, were held in Wuchang City.

In the past, Zhou Rucheng paid for his own participation in the county and prefectural examinations.

Although the Zhou family was relatively wealthy and Wuchang was not far away, Wuchang was, after all, the provincial capital, and food and lodging were quite expensive. For the Zhou family at present, participating in the imperial examination was a huge expense.

As for the steamship that Wu Dezhu mentioned, which could travel upstream, Zhou Rucheng had heard from merchants traveling between Wuchang and Donghu Town two or three months ago that such a ship did indeed exist.

This was the first time Zhou Rucheng had ever heard of a train that could run on its own, and he found it quite novel.

Zhou Rucheng could understand the idea of ​​a boat traveling on water, since steamships have wheels and there might be someone inside operating them.

Zhou Rucheng found the idea of ​​a train that could run on its own without external force too sensational and hard to understand, and felt that Wu Dezhu was exaggerating and embellishing the story.

“Wu Dezhu, you make it sound so easy. Right now is the busy season for farming, there’s a ton of work to do. The rice needs to be harvested, and the fish in the pond need to be fed every day. There are only the three of us in our family, my father and I. My brother and I went to Wuchang ahead of time. How can my father manage all this alone?”

Zhou Jihong wasn't interested in the novelties Wu Dezhu mentioned about Wuchang City; he was more concerned about making a living.

“I’ve told you so many times, you have to call him Uncle Wu.” Zhou Rucheng frowned, glared at Zhou Jihong, and said seriously.

This moment, that moment.

Wu Dezhu is no longer a day laborer, but a military dependent whose son is a soldier.

I heard that Wu Dezhu's second son was promoted to group leader after his triumphant return from the western expedition, making him a minor military officer.

Although Zhou Rucheng was capable in his work at the farmers' association and was highly appreciated by Xiao Guoying, the general manager of the Jiangxia County Farmers' Association, it was still better to be polite when speaking to Shengbing's family, thinking that it was better to avoid trouble.

Furthermore, Wu Dezhu's family meant well and had no malicious intent.

“We appreciate Uncle Wu’s kindness, but we are too busy with farming to leave right now. Besides, it’s only a day or two’s walk from Donghu to Wuchang, so it’s no problem.” Zhou Rucheng’s youngest son, Zhou Jishen, spoke, and his manners were much more appropriate than his eldest son’s.

“It’s alright, you two young masters, please go ahead. My family’s rice harvest will be finished today. We have more men in our family, and they’re just sitting around doing nothing anyway. We’ll help your father harvest rice, cut grass, and raise fish,” Wu Dezhu said.

Zhou Rucheng is currently highly regarded by Xiao Guoying, the general manager of the Jiangxia County Farmers' Association, and his future looks promising.

If we can build a good relationship with the Zhou family now, in case one of Zhou Rucheng's two sons passes the imperial examination in Beijing, they can look out for each other in the future. More importantly, when I visited my son at the military camp in Wuchang, he told me about a fellow soldier from Jinkou Town who enlisted at the same time as my son. Although their merits were the same and they were about the same age, the young man from Jinkou Town had attended a private school for two years and knew some characters, so he was directly promoted to deputy platoon leader, one rank higher than my son.

Wu Dezhu's eldest son died young. Apart from his second son, who had become a holy soldier, he had three other sons.

Of the remaining three sons, the eldest is already fifteen years old. Wu Dezhu plans to have his youngest son sign up to become a holy soldier in a year or two.

We absolutely cannot let the third child suffer the same fate as the second child, who was illiterate and didn't go to school.

The Zhou family was a scholarly family in the small town of Donghu. Since he had helped the Zhou family, he would spend some grain and rice to have Zhou Rucheng teach his son to read and write when he had some free time. Zhou Rucheng could not refuse.

“This isn’t a good idea,” Zhou Rucheng said.

“What’s wrong with that? We’re all from the same hometown, so we should help and look after each other,” Wu Dezhu said with a smile.

"Then thank you very much." Seeing that his two sons were full of longing for Wuchang, Zhou Rucheng felt that he should not treat his sons badly. He thought it would be good to let his two sons go to Wuchang and eat good food for half a month.

"Don't mention it," Wu Dezhu said to Zhou Rucheng as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Director Zhou, do you still remember Team Leader Tang who distributed porridge to us at the Donghu Town porridge shed?"

“How could I not remember? This Team Leader Tang is a great benefactor to both our families,” Zhou Rucheng said. “I remember Team Leader Tang is from Yongzhou Prefecture, Hunan. Did you meet Team Leader Tang in Wuchang?”

Team Leader Tang was a veteran soldier from southern Hunan who was in charge of one of the soup kitchens in Donghu Town. The Zhou and Wu families had fled from Anqing back to Donghu Town, had run out of food, and were on the verge of starvation. They survived those difficult days by getting soup and coarse grains from Team Leader Tang's soup kitchen, which saved the lives of their entire families.

Later, when Team Leader Tang heard that his family were scholars, he sent his two sons a lot of books about the upcoming imperial examination in the north.

I will never forget the kindness I have received.

Although Team Leader Tang had left Donghu Town and they no longer had much contact, Zhou Rucheng still remembered Team Leader Tang's kindness.

"I saw him." Wu Dezhu nodded, looking saddened.

“My son served as a soldier under Team Leader Tang. Before the Northern King’s westward expedition, Team Leader Tang promoted him to platoon leader. He made meritorious contributions during this westward expedition and was promoted to deputy company commander.”

"This is a good thing. Team Leader Tang is a good person and deserves good fortune. Why are you so sad?" Zhou Rucheng asked, puzzled.

When Team Leader Tang was promoted to deputy company commander, Zhou Rucheng was genuinely happy for his savior.

“I met Team Leader Tang at the medical clinic in Wuchang. Team Leader Tang lost an arm in the battle of Yuezhou. Although he was promoted to company commander, he was discharged due to injury,” Wu Dezhu said, his voice choked with emotion.

Team Leader Tang had a very good reputation in Donghu Town, and Wu Dezhu was particularly reassured that his son could serve in the army under Team Leader Tang.

Wu Dezhu felt a little sad when he thought that his son's future boss would no longer be Team Leader Tang.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Rucheng couldn't help but sigh and remained silent.

I returned home in the evening to find it clean and tidy, though not completely repaired.

Zhou Rucheng lavishly used the iron wok he had just acquired from the Hanyang Ironworks to cook two side dishes, giving his two sons a good meal.

The next morning, he went to the market in Donghu Town to buy some local products, which he asked his two sons to give to Team Leader Tang when they visited him in Wuchang.

Before the Zhou brothers left home, Zhou Rucheng stuffed the two strings of cash he had saved over the past year, along with two taels and five mace of silver borrowed from Wu Dezhu, into their satchels and repeatedly instructed them: "Use it sparingly, don't compete with others, and come back after the exam."

The two brothers, Zhou Jihong and Zhou Jishen, nodded in agreement, bid farewell to Zhou Rucheng, and headed to Wuchang.

The Zhou family has declined and is no longer what it used to be.

In the past, when they went to Wuchang for scientific expeditions, although their accommodations were not particularly luxurious, they were always clean and respectable inns.

Upon arriving in Wuchang, the two brothers originally planned to find the cheapest dormitory to stay in and eat the dry food they brought with them each day with pickled vegetables.

When they nervously went to the academy to register, they were greeted with a series of unbelievable surprises.

The clerk in charge of registration at the Wuchang Prefectural School showed no arrogance. Upon learning that the two brothers were from Jiangxia County, he verified the place of origin and names provided by the local farmers' association. He then took two wooden examination admission certificates with the ink still wet and clearly stamped with the official seal, and wrote the two brothers' names on the wooden pieces.

He then handed the wooden slip to the two brothers: "With this certificate, you may stay in dormitory number C in the East Study of the Prefectural School. You may eat at the school's canteen at 7:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 7:00 PM every day, free of charge."

Since the two brothers came from a county that had already completed land reform, the staff of Wuchang Prefectural School trusted the peasant association and, after a simple examination, granted the brothers Zhou Jihong and Zhou Jishen the qualification to take the exam.

As for the Jiangxi scholars who came from Ruichang County, Jiujiang Prefecture, who were behind Zhou Jihong and Zhou Jishen, the examination and teaching were much more detailed and rigorous.

After all, once the admission ticket is issued, free room and board must be provided, which is costly. The staff of the academy have to be careful to prevent anyone from sneaking in and taking advantage of the system.

Holding their exam admission tickets, the Zhou brothers were skeptical, but followed the directions to find room number C in the East Study.

It was a spacious room, bright and clean, with six simple wooden beds arranged side by side, covered with clean, coarse blue quilts.

Zhou Jihong practically pounced on the bedside, carefully touching the soft, thick reed cotton, then pressing down hard on the dry straw mattress underneath. He turned to look at his younger brother, his eyes wide with surprise: "This...this is really for us to sleep on? It's free?"

Zhou Jishen was a calm and composed person, but his heart was also churning with turmoil.

He recalled the old, stiff quilt his father had mended before he left home, and a wave of emotion washed over him. He took a deep breath, suppressing a sob in his throat, and whispered, "The Northern King's benevolence extends to all scholars. We can only do our utmost to repay even the slightest kindness."

After putting away their luggage, the two hungry brothers waited until noon before heading to the school's canteen with their exam admission tickets.

The two brothers followed the flow of people into the bustling yet orderly canteen. There, they saw a row of large pots steaming with hot water, piled high with snow-white, glistening rice, ready for anyone to help themselves.

In the large wooden basin next to it were stir-fried vegetables that were glistening with oil, and even a rare sight: a pot of mixed fish stewed to perfection.

The air was filled with the aroma of food, a world apart from the cold, hard rations they ate and swallowed with cold water when they went to take the exams.

Zhou Jishen looked at the white rice and fish, and unconsciously swallowed.

He filled a large bowl with rice, poured fish soup over it, and added a large piece of fish and vegetables. He returned to his seat and practically wolfed it down. As he ate, his movements slowed, his eyes reddened slightly, and he whispered, "Brother, if only Dad could eat like this at home."

Although the two of them used to be considered young masters in Donghu Town, in the past year or so, they have also experienced the life of fish farmers who can't even get the fish they want to eat.

The mixed fish in the bowl, which they had looked down upon two years ago, now both brothers felt that it was the most delicious fish they had ever eaten in their lives.

However, what shocked the two brothers the most was what happened after nightfall.

In the past, when I read at night in the countryside or in an inn, a small oil lamp would cast a dim, flickering light. My eyes would become sore after a short while, and the smoke would make me dizzy.

At this moment, as the servants of the prefectural school delivered uniquely shaped oil lamps into each dormitory, filled them with clear, slightly fishy whale oil, and lit them, the entire room was instantly enveloped in a light that was even more stable and bright than if it were pulled up.

"What...what kind of light is this? It's so bright!"

Zhou Jishen exclaimed in surprise and leaned closer to the lamp to examine it closely. The light was so bright that it illuminated the tiny characters on the pages so clearly that even the texture of the paper and ink was clearly visible.

One of the scholars who had arrived earlier and was more knowledgeable exclaimed, "I heard that this whale oil was presented to His Highness the Northern King by a Western trading company. His Highness himself was reluctant to use much of it, so he specially ordered twenty barrels to be allocated for us to use as light for our nighttime reading. This oil is durable and produces little smoke; it is truly a blessing for scholars!"

Zhou Jihong had a pleasant conversation with the scholar and his fellow students. He heard that he could use his examination admission ticket to ride the train at Yuemachang and board a steamship at Hanyangmen Wharf.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhou Jihong immediately discussed with his roommate, a scholar with whom he had gotten along well, that they would go to Yuemachang to take the train the next day, and then go to Hanyangmen Wharf the day after to board a steamship to visit and taste some foreign delicacies.

The two also invited Zhou Jishen to come along, but Zhou Jishen politely declined, saying that he was going to visit Team Leader Tang the next day.

(End of this chapter)