"Mr. Zhou is a fourth-rank official, but his simple lifestyle is rare in the world." After listening to the explanation of Captain Zhang, Zhu Ping'an greatly admired Zhou Houjie's simple style.
Although the Ming Dynasty's official salaries were notoriously low among all dynasties, they were still much higher than those of ordinary people. Moreover, Zhou Houjie was a fourth-rank prefect, a high-ranking official in the capital area, half a level higher than the local officials of the same rank, and his salary was also half a level higher than that of the fourth-rank prefects in the local area. His salary was not small, but he was willing to live a simple life, which was rare.
According to this year's salary standards, the salary of a fourth-rank prefect is 24 shi (rice) per month. Zhou Houjie, the prefect, is an official in the capital, and his salary is half a level higher than that of the local officials, at 25 shi (rice) per month.
Here, “石” is pronounced as dan.
Shi, dou, sheng and he are all traditional units of measurement in ancient times. They are all decimal, with ten he equaling a sheng, ten sheng equaling a dou and ten dou equaling a shi, making them very convenient to calculate.
In the Ming Dynasty, salaries were paid in "shi". Before the Ming Dynasty, salaries were paid in "dou" or "sheng". Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang believed that if the previous dynasty's regulations were followed to pay salaries in "dou" or "sheng", it would show that the court was petty and not enough to show the court's loyalty and emphasis on salaries, so he changed the system to pay salaries in "shi". To give a simple example, it is equivalent to a company that used to pay salaries in "jiao" or "fen". The new CEO felt that this was too petty and could not show the company's loyalty and emphasis on employees' salaries, so he issued regulations to use "yuan" as the unit of salary.
One dan of rice is equal to 10 dou, or 100 liters. One liter of rice weighs about 1.25 jin, so one dan of rice weighs about 125 jin. Zhou Houjie's monthly salary is 25 dan, or 3,125 jin. According to this year's prices, it is equivalent to 13 taels of silver.
If calculated according to current wages, Zhou Houjie earns about 8,000 yuan a month. With a salary of 8,000 yuan, he only eats cabbage, tofu and salted radish strips every day, without any meat. He only has a palm-sized crucian carp as a snack during festivals. This is really very rare.
"Zihou, you came from the countryside, how could you be so confused. There are three dishes for every meal and plenty of white flour buns. How can that be simple? Think about it, now in our Ming Dynasty there are still many people who eat a lot but still can't fill their stomachs. Compared with them, what I have is already a luxury." Zhou Houjie suddenly said very seriously.
Zhu Pingan smiled bitterly, "Your Excellency is right, but if you don't think about yourself, you should also think about your sister-in-law and your son. Reduce one vegetarian dish and add one meat dish for each meal, and it will still be simple."
"Zihou, you worry too much. My wife and son are both in my hometown in Anhui. Although my family is not wealthy, my ancestors left me more than ten acres of land where we grow melons and vegetables and raise chickens and ducks. It is more convenient for them and their children to eat and use than for me." Zhou Houjie waved his hand and smiled.
"Your Excellency has been an official in Beijing for many years, living alone and never bringing his family with him. Last year, the young master had planned to visit His Excellency, but was unable to do so due to the long journey and lack of money." Captain Zhang could not help but add a sentence as soon as Magistrate Zhou finished speaking.
Well
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping'an turned his gaze to Zhou Houjie and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Naked official!
This is the naked official in ancient times!
It is different in modern times. Modern naked officials are those officials whose spouses and children have emigrated abroad. Most of them are state parasites who have enriched themselves and are ready to run away and join the corrupt other side at any time.
The naked officials in ancient times were not like those in modern times. They did not take their families with them to other places because their salaries could not support their wives, children, maids and servants. Zhou Houjie was in this situation. He was alone and incorruptible. Therefore, most of the naked officials in ancient times were honest and upright. Every hair of theirs was a hundred times more majestic than those naked officials in modern times.
"You're talking too much." Zhou Houjie glanced at Captain Zhang.
"Sir, I am not being nosy. I am just feeling sorry for you. Look around, sir. How many officials are as good as you? To be honest, the food on my table is much richer than yours. Cabbage, tofu, and pickled vegetables. How can your body handle this for a long time? How can you be the judge of the people? You have no family, no maids, and only an old housekeeper... To be honest, you are not being an official, you are being a monk." Captain Zhang seemed to have been holding back for a long time. This time, with Zhu Ping'an beside him, he took the opportunity to say what he had been holding back for a long time.
Haha, the words are rough but the logic is sound. Zhu Ping'an nodded. It is true that Zhou Houjie's job as an official is really almost like that of an ascetic monk.
"It's easy to go from simple to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagant to frugal." Zhou Houjie smiled slightly, took a sip of tea and said, "Although I am a fourth-rank official, my salary plus special allowance and rewards are not small. However, you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you manage the household. Although the income has increased, the expenses are also high. Every month, Han Bo and I need two taels of silver for food, and I have to take out two taels from each house to give to my wife and son, two taels to honor my parents, four taels to honor my grandfather, two taels to offer incense to the clan ancestral hall, and three taels to support the younger generation of the clan... Even these are nine out of ten of the salary, and other expenses have not been calculated. It's pretty good now."
Upon hearing this, Captain Zhang raised his head and looked at Zhou Houjie. He hesitated for a long time and dared not say anything.
Zhu Ping'an knew what Captain Zhang wanted to say. It was nothing more than gray income such as fees for writing and money for burning. Captain Zhang was right to keep silent. With Zhou Houjie's temper, Captain Zhang would probably be scolded if he said it.
"Ping'an has benefited a lot from the meal today. Although he may not be able to live a simple life like you, my Lord, when he serves as an official in the future, he must learn to be as broad-minded and incorruptible as you." Zhu Ping'an sat upright and bowed solemnly.
Zhu Ping'an benefited a lot from this meal and learned a lot from Zhou Houjie. The fact that he was honest and upright inspired him a lot.
"Great, what a bright moon on one shoulder and clean wind in two sleeves! Zihou and I have known each other for a short time, but he is a person who knows me and understands me." After hearing what Zhu Ping'an said, Zhou Houjie could not help but slamming the table and said, "This official, a farmer's son, can get to where he is today, relying on this bright moon on one shoulder and clean wind in two sleeves. This official does not seek to be recorded in history, nor does he seek fame from the emperor, but only to serve the country and the people. This official knows that his talents are limited, and what he can do for my Ming Dynasty and its people is limited. Since I, Zhou Houjie, have not done much for my country and my people, I must not bring disaster to my country and my people. This official is incorruptible not for fame, but to be worthy of the heaven, earth, the emperor and the people. In the future, when this official turns into a handful of rotten soil, he can also nourish the earth." Zhou Houjie put down the teacup and sighed.
Zhu Pingan was moved by the scene when he heard the words, and a poem from the Qing Dynasty came to his mind, which was very suitable for Zhou Houjie. Seeing the pen, ink, paper and inkstone beside him, he couldn't help but take the pen and wrote it down.
For a moment, the pen was full of ink:
"Presented to Magistrate Zhou"
The sun sets as I feel a great sense of separation; I point my whip to the east and the horizon is just around the corner.
Fallen petals are not heartless things, they turn into spring mud to protect the flowers.