Chapter 294: Whether it is open or not, the people will suffer

Wang Cong: "First of all, we will hold a temple fair for the mountain god on November 24th at Sanqing Mountain. At that time, the temple will distribute rice and medicinal herbs to keep warm. Can you let the village heads notify the people in need to go to the temple fair on the 24th, 25th and 26th to burn incense and receive gifts?"

Mingren: "The road in front of your mountain temple is so small, and the village is also small, how can it accommodate so many people? If someone accidentally falls or steps on it, it will be a big deal."

Wang Cong: "The villagers will help maintain order. The road goes up. There is a large square in front of the mountain temple. After coming out, you can go up the mountain to Sanqing Temple, or you can go around and come down on another road."

It is necessary to climb a mountain, but "Sanqing Mountain has beautiful scenery and the rocks are magnificent. Believers who go there can take a look."

Mingren glanced at him and said, "You are willing to spend money for this mountain temple. This trip must be no less than 500 taels, right?"

Wang Cong: "Does the county magistrate need some support?"

Mingren waved his hand, "I can't even support myself, where can I get the money to do this?"

Mingren refused to donate, but agreed to their holding of the temple fair, and said, "I will let the head of each village notify them, and then inform the landlords in the county. If they are willing, they will send money."

Pan Yun thanked him with a smile.

Mingren looked at her curiously. "Last year, when we built the mountain temple, you were unwilling to accept donations. Why is it that this year..."

Can construction be the same as doing good deeds in daily life?

Moreover, the construction was a promise she made when she became his disciple, so naturally she could not rely on others.

Pan Jun said seriously, "I was too narrow-minded last year. This year, I went out to gain experience and saw all the sadness in the world. I realized that the power of one person is still too weak."

"So since all the good people are willing to do good deeds, and I have the ability to do good deeds, why not gather the good intentions of the good people and do more and better good deeds?"

Mingren immediately turned around and said to Wang Cong, "Your junior uncle's mouth is just like yours. If your third uncle had half the eloquence of you two, he would not have been beaten when he went out."

Ming Ren asked, "You said you would give my pulse diagnosis to your Third Uncle, but you didn't say you would invite him to come. Is he injured again?"

Wang Cong was silent.

Pan Yun was silent for a moment, and finally tried his best for his third brother, "My third brother was injured this time not because of treating someone, but because of me."

Akihito smiled, looking unconvinced, and asked, "What's the second thing?"

Wang Cong said: "My junior uncle did charity and sponsored fourteen children, nine of whom are of school age."

Mingren was surprised, "You are willing to support so many children to go to school?"

Pan Yun said: "It's just a few years of study. Of course, if there are those who are eager to learn and good at studying, they can continue to study. If they can pass the imperial examination and become an official, that would be their great fortune."

Mingren was silent for a moment and then said, "If it's orphans...are they the dozen or so children who often beg on the streets?"

Pan Yun nodded.

"That's a bit difficult. Most private schools won't accept them."

Wang Cong: "I have consulted several gentlemen, and they are indeed in a difficult situation, so they came to ask to see you, my Lord."

Ming Ren glanced at him and said, "You are quite good at finding a job. I have a candidate... Mr. Zhu from South Lane. As long as you pay enough tuition, he will definitely accept you. So, you can send your children there, and the county will provide their textbooks."

Pan Yun was overjoyed and clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

Mingren smiled and clasped his fists towards Beifang, saying: "If you want to thank someone, you should thank your Majesty and Emperor Taizu Gao. This is a divine grace."

This is indeed divine grace.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang was very wary of civil servants, he also knew that reading was a good thing, so he was very keen on running schools during his tenure.

County schools last for four years, prefectural schools last for six years, while Guozixue and Taixue last for nine years. They were more targeted, namely, to train civil and military officials for the court.

But it was also his attitude that led to the emergence of private schools like mushrooms after a rain, and the largest number of private schools were in Jiangnan.

From village schools and township schools to various private schools and academies, it can be said that everything is taught there, suitable for all kinds of students to enroll. The things taught in private schools are also more practical.

Therefore, private schools have always been more famous than official schools, and Pan Yun used to prefer private schools.

Many private school teachers have close cooperation with some shops and craftsmen, and outstanding and talented students will be recommended to become apprentices.

As the county magistrate, Mingren knew the scholars in his jurisdiction best. He knew best who would accept such students and who could give the greatest help to these children.

So, Wang Cong came directly to him.

Akihito: "Okay, what's the next question?"

Wang Cong's face became more serious, and he said, "The weather this year is unusual, a little colder than in previous years. My father observed the sky at night and said that the first snow will fall in five days at most."

Akihito was stunned and frowned, "Is the snow falling so early this year?"

"Not only is it early, but the snow is probably very thick. But I see that the homeless beggars on the street have no place to stay. Didn't the county prepare houses for them to keep out the cold this year?" Mingren's forehead throbbed with pain. "Don't mention it. The two masters who were willing to lend me their houses to take in homeless beggars changed their minds at the last minute. Plus, I was sick, so I couldn't prepare it for the time being."

Pan Yun, "You're taking it for free, aren't you paying?"

"Of course I paid it," Mingren said, "but this year they raised the rent, and we couldn't reach an agreement. The county sent someone to inquire about it. They wanted to sell the dilapidated house, so they deliberately found an excuse to block me."

How can a house that can be used as a residence for beggars and needs to be repaired by the county government be considered a good house?

It was usually empty, and the county government was willing to rent it to beggars and vagrants for three months. They were not afraid that they would damage the house, and they could also do the county magistrate a favor, so they generously rented it.

It’s just that someone wanted to buy a house this year, and they also wanted to sell it, so they are not willing to rent it to the county government anymore.

Mingren said: "I will ask people to look for it again. If they can't find it, we can only build a shed in the wild as an emergency measure."

Pan Yun: "If it's a shed, I'm afraid it won't be able to keep out the cold."

"I know that too. I will have people prepare ginger soup, firewood and quilts for them." Ming Ren sighed, "There is not much money in the county government's account this year. Alas, even a good cook cannot cook without rice."

Pan Yun said generously: "We at Sanqing Temple are willing to donate fifty taels for this matter."

When Mingren heard this, he immediately clasped his fists and said, "Master Pan is still the most righteous, and so is Mount Sanqing."

Pan Yun waved his hand and said, "It's all for the people, it's all for the people."

Akihito can take this case to ask the county's landlords for donations.

The Taoist temple has been donated, how can you not donate?

Akihito couldn't help but smile, the big and the small looked at each other, they both understood each other's feelings, and laughed.

Mingren kept Pan Yun for tea and snacks, and he took Wang Cong to the backyard to change the prescription for him.

He smiled with his hands behind his back: "Your junior uncle is really interesting. She is very experienced in dealing with people. She has figured out all our dirty thoughts behind our backs."

Wang Cong: "You also know that you are dirty?"

Mingren smiled and shook his head, saying: "Although I am dirty, what I did is clean. After the two of them are washed away, it is not considered dirty, ahem..."

Wang Cong saw that he was coughing non-stop and his face and neck were red, so he couldn't help but frown, "Your illness... must be treated properly, otherwise I'm afraid you won't live long."

"The doctors all advised me to worry less and rest more. Why didn't you tell me that?"

"At this time, if you don't worry too much, people will die outside," Wang Cong paused and said, "Besides, if I tell you to worry less, will you really get more rest?"

Mingren shook his head and sighed: "It's difficult~ It's difficult~"

Wang Cong left him a new medicine for his departure. As soon as he left the county government office, he asked Pan Yun, "Master Junior, do you think he will not die young?"

Pan Jun was stunned for a moment. "No, he is sick, but he is not dead. Why, are you afraid that he will die of illness this time?"

Wang Cong: "I am afraid it will affect his life span."

Pan Yun thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. A person's luck is not static, and their fate will change. But at the moment, he should have no worries about his life, and his future looks good."

Akihito's future was indeed bright. He heard that the imperial court had given him an excellent grade for his performance this year. When his advisor heard the news, he immediately ran back happily to tell him, "If the news is true, you will be promoted next year."

Mingren was both happy and worried, and warned: "It's just a rumor, it may not be true. We still have to be cautious."

"We must be cautious, but this news did not come from the gossip. It came from the prefect. I think it is 90% true."

"If it's true, we have to be more cautious. Nothing can happen this winter," Mingren said. "This year is colder than in previous years. I got news that it will snow within five days. Have someone call all the village heads and have the villagers prepare for the cold and frostbite."

"The wheat planted in the field should be covered with straw if necessary. Firewood, quilts and clothes for the winter should be prepared early. The roof should be checked to prevent it from collapsing due to snow..."

Mingren instructed them one by one, and then said: "Find the people from the pawnshop. We need to arrange a place for the homeless people on the street to keep warm. Try to complete it within three days. Also, withdraw fifty taels of silver from the public account. Together with this fifty taels, we can buy enough food for them to eat for half a month, and rent some clothes and quilts..."

"Sir," the lawyer hurriedly stopped him and said, "If they knew that the clothes and quilts were rented to beggars, I'm afraid no one would be willing to rent them."

When Mingren heard this, he rubbed his forehead and said, "Then buy second-hand ones, and let the yamen runners go to the streets now, gather those people together, and take them to the mountains to collect firewood and prepare things to keep warm."

The master frowned and agreed, "I don't know what's going on, but there seem to be more beggars on the street this year."

Mingren said with a complicated expression: "This year, your majesty will reopen the silver mines in Zhejiang and Fujian. Starting next year, Fujian will have to pay more than 21,120 taels of silver every year. This year's refugees are still relatively few. Next year and the year after, there will be more and more people coming here to beg."

The master was silent for a moment and then said, "If the imperial court does not reopen the silver mines, people will continue to steal the silver mines. Isn't this also an infringement of national wealth?"

"Yes," Mingren sighed, "When mining is carried out, the people suffer. When mining is not carried out, the people suffer as well. Regardless of whether mining is carried out or not, the benefits will not reach ordinary people."

　good night

　　
　
(End of this chapter)