CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: A GRAND ASPIRATION

After spending a day in the granary, Chief Historian Chen returned to the county government and heard that the Commandery Princess had smoothed things over at the Child Tower today.

Chen Zhuo immediately went to see the Commandery Princess.

The Commandery Princess remained relatively calm, but Chen Sheren, her eyes were red like a rabbit’s, almost swollen from crying.

Chen Zhuo was somewhat helpless and first clasped his hands to apologize to the Commandery Princess: "Chen Sheren is young and impulsive, and her actions lack composure. I apologize for causing the Commandery Princess trouble."

Jiang Shaohua was heavy-hearted today and not in the mood for joking: "Chen Sheren dares to express both anger and laughter, full of youthful zeal, a person of character. I admire her sincerity."

Chen Jinyu’s voice was hoarse when she spoke: "Grandfather, have you seen the Child Tower?"

Chen Zhuo glanced at his granddaughter and nodded.

Chen Jinyu’s anger flared up again, and she stomped her foot forcefully: "Grandfather, you are aware of the people’s bad habit of abandoning female infants. Why didn’t you stop it?"

Now this was getting unreasonable. He was merely the Prince Mansion Chief Historian, not the Buddha or a deity.

Chen Zhuo did not get angry and patiently explained: "Back when the Prince came to Nanyang County for governance, I accompanied him on inspections across the counties. Every county had places like the Child Tower, and the Prince ordered to eliminate this malpractice. But there are always some impoverished areas where people secretly abandoned newborn girls."

"It’s not that we don’t want to stop it, but that we can’t stop it." Jiang Shaohua softly continued: "If the people lived well, could eat and dress warmly, raising one more child wouldn’t be such a big deal. But in truly impoverished places, worried daily about livelihood, having one more child means one more mouth to feed, a heavy burden indeed."

"When a son is born, they grit their teeth and raise him. By seven or eight, he can help in the fields, and when grown, he marries and continues the family line. People are unwilling to abandon sons, so they discard the newborn girls instead."

"Sister Jin Yu, this matter is not the fault of Chief Historian Chen. Nor is it the fault of the deceased grandfather."

"Nevertheless, from today on, this is my responsibility, Jiang Shaohua."

Chen Jinyu suddenly looked up, meeting the Commandery Princess’s determined gaze.

"I want to ensure all people are fed and clothed, so they can afford to raise their children and live good lives," Jiang Shaohua said slowly. "I want there to be no more Child Towers under the jurisdiction of Nanyang County."

Chen Jinyu’s nose suddenly stung; she held back her tears and nodded firmly: "I, Chen Jinyu, am willing to follow the Commandery Princess for a lifetime."

Wait!

Follow the Commandery Princess for a lifetime?

Not getting married in the future? Have you asked your grandfather, your father, and your mother for their opinions?

Chen Zhuo glanced at his granddaughter, who had made such a vow but did not utter anything to dampen her spirit.

Jiang Shaohua, being so astute, looked at the Chief Historian with a smile: "Even if Sister Jin Yu gets married, she can still work by my side."

Chen Zhuo stroked his beard and said half-jokingly: "There aren’t many good men in the world with such an open mind. The Commandery Princess will have to help in finding a marriage match for Jinyu’s lifetime major affair."

Next to them, Ma Sherren stepped forward excitedly by a small step.

Unfortunately, no one noticed him.

Jiang Shaohua promised with a smile: "Rest assured, in the future, the good men in Nanyang County are at Sister Jin Yu’s disposal."

Chen Jinyu was publicly teased but didn’t blush: "Other matters aside, this one thing must go according to my wishes. After marriage, I want to work. If no one agrees, then I will not marry."

Ma Sherren stepped forward excitedly by another small step.

Still, no one noticed him.

Chen Zhuo sighed with a smile: "Forget it, with such a temperament, how can you marry and go to your husband’s home to suffer grievances? In the future, you might as well find a live-in son-in-law! Both the Commandery Princess and I, your grandfather, can look after you."

Upon hearing the words "live-in son-in-law," Ma Sherren’s feet froze.

He was the eldest grandson of the Ma Family, destined to inherit the Ma family’s business, and couldn’t be a live-in son-in-law.

"Finding a live-in son-in-law is too aggrieving for Sister Jin Yu," Jiang Shaohua said casually: "My father was a live-in son-in-law, outwardly prosperous, but internally decayed, truly unseemly."

Ma Yaosong: "..."

Ma Yaosong, still young and not well-practiced in self-discipline, widened his eyes when he heard the Commandery Princess belittling his own father behind his back.

Chen Zhuo and his granddaughter, on the other hand, remained composed. Clearly, they were used to hearing this.

Jiang Shaohua finally raised her eyes, looking at Ma Sherren with a frivolous smile: "Does Ma Sherren have something to say?"

Ma Yaosong quickly came back to his senses, shaking his head repeatedly: "No."

At that moment, Tu Bai came in to report: "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, County Magistrate Gao requests an audience."

...

Having received the same news, County Magistrate Gao hurriedly came to request an audience.

Upon meeting the Commandery Princess, County Magistrate Gao, full of shame, clasped his hands in apology: "It is all due to my incompetence; there is such a horrifying place as the Child Tower under my governance. I ask the Commandery Princess for punishment!"

Jiang Shaohua’s anger had mostly subsided, saying faintly: "This also cannot be entirely faulted to County Magistrate Gao. The people are impoverished, unable to raise children. Even without the Child Tower, isn’t it possible they would drown them in the toilet or abandon them by the roadside?"

County Magistrate Gao became increasingly shamed and said: "To respond to the Commandery Princess, I am indeed aware of the bad habit of child abandonment, and post notices two or three times a year, strictly ordering the people not to abandon infants. However, the clandestine abandonment still remains numerous beyond measure, which truly cannot be stopped."

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Shaohua said: "Just prohibiting it is not enough; we must find another way. Like this, draft a document saying that from today on, all newborns can come to the county office for registration. The county office will arrange for someone to deliver twenty catties of grain each month."

Don’t underestimate twenty catties of grain. It’s already a month’s supply of food for an adult.

It’s for the sake of this food that people might be reluctant to abandon their children.

The arrangement for the county office to send someone to deliver the grain is to facilitate door-to-door inspections. If the child were to die prematurely or be mistreated, it would be promptly discovered and punished severely.

County Magistrate Gao naturally knew this was a good idea, but if they did this, each month the county office would have an additional expense. Short-term it is manageable, but over time as the number of children increased, it might not be sustainable.

County Magistrate Gao hesitated to speak.

Jiang Shaohua said gently: "Rest assured, I am aware that Wuyin’s county office doesn’t have excess funds, and I won’t make things difficult for County Magistrate Gao. These grains will be recorded in a separate ledger and can be deducted directly from each year’s taxes in the future."

County Magistrate Gao was overjoyed, repeatedly bowing in gratitude.

Jiang Shaohua sighed lightly: "Taken from the people, used for the people. Nanyang County’s land taxes are the same as the court’s, and I cannot arbitrarily alter this, so this is the best I can do."

This is also tantamount to reducing the taxes for Wuyin County indirectly.

Jiang Shaohua pondered for a moment and then said to Chief Historian Chen: "Regarding the provision of grain to newborns, besides Wuyin County, Li County and Zhi County should also implement this."

Of the fourteen counties, Ye County is the richest, Bowan County follows, and then Biyang County, making up the top three. While the three poorest counties are ranked, Wuyin is at the bottom, Zhi County second last, and Li County is the third last. However, after dealing with bandit troubles, Li County can rely on natural resources and should improve soon.

Chief Historian Chen nodded in agreement.

Chen Jinyu volunteered, saying: "Commandery Princess, I’ll write this document."

Jiang Shaohua gladly nodded.