Chapter 7: The Great Way to Wealth
Similarly, the Gao family transitioned from being residents of Pingliang Prefecture to becoming residents of Xi'an Prefecture
Then, what about doing business
It is said that, with one's own intelligence and modern foresight, the first course of action should be to pursue education and take the imperial examination. In the officialdom-oriented Ming Dynasty, only by becoming an official could one find a good path. The so-called county magistrate who ruins a family, and the prefect who brings about the destruction of a clan. As long as you pass the examination and become a jinshi, you can immediately become a county magistrate of the seventh rank.
Alright, let's return to our original line of work and earn some money first
After some thought, Gao Wen quickly dismissed this idea. The reason was simple: there was no capital and no means. As far as he knew, his mother earned only ten wen for weaving a bolt of linen, and this amount was barely enough for food, let alone anything else
It is evident that the social atmosphere of this era is generally open and inclusive
In the presence of a county magistrate, even if you are as wealthy as a nation, without an official title, you must kneel and bow your head. If the magistrate takes a disliking to you, it is merely a matter of a glance whether he decides to punish you or take your life.
Later, the court, considering that most of the displaced people had already settled and were living in peace in the Guanzhong Plain area, issued a decree permitting the displaced individuals to register for local citizenship
Is it really necessary to become a laborer, continuing to rely on that meager wage to make a living? Then, like other poor people in this world, scrimping and saving, accumulating three to five taels of silver, marrying a robust wife, having a few children, and allowing them to lead the same kind of life?
Gao Wen's previous profession in his past life was that of an editor, specifically in the field of comprehensive social sciences. Of course, in today's market-oriented environment, the company also publishes some works that cater to readers' tastes. During his tenure, he also published a few novels.
As long as you have obtained a degree, even if it is just a minor scholar, you can meet officials without bowing and be exempt from taxes and corvée labor. Even if you commit a crime, before your degree is revoked, officials have no authority to detain you. During the interrogation, there must also be an educational official present; without their approval, others would not dare to act violently against you, which indeed has a flavor reminiscent of Western legislators
As long as one can read and write, it suffices; otherwise, it would indeed be difficult to explain when others inquire. If an illiterate person suddenly becomes well-versed, capable of poetry and prose, would they not be regarded as a monster by others? Gao Wen thought to himself
Gao Wen curled up in the clean but patched cotton quilt, not in a hurry to get out of bed. He needed to organize his thoughts; this was the sixth day since he had crossed over to the Ming Dynasty, and also the first day he had fully awakened and merged with the body of its previous owner. There was too much to digest.
Gao Wen, like other children of officials, attended school for a few days during his childhood. Naturally, the curriculum was limited to the basics of "Hundred Family Surnames" and "Thousand Character Classic," sufficient for him to read and write. As for the eight-legged essay, there was no need to waste time on it. After studying for two years, he could graduate. Continuing further would only be a waste of money.
To hold an official position is the proper path. If you wish to become an official, you can only achieve this through studying
Zhuanglang is located in the Liupan Mountain area, characterized as a typical Loess Plateau, with scarce rainfall and a perennial arid climate, remaining a severely impoverished region even in later times. In the final years of the Yongle era, Pingliang experienced a great drought, leading to cannibalism among the people, and a severe sandstorm completely buried the land of the Gao family. After enduring two years of hardship, unable to persist any longer and witnessing family members succumbing one after another to starvation, Gao Wen's grandfather abandoned the now desolate home and went to Hancheng to seek refuge with relatives. After enduring two years of hardship, unable to persist any longer and witnessing family members succumbing one after another to starvation, Gao Wen's grandfather abandoned the now desolate home and went to Hancheng to seek refuge with relatives
Moreover, in later time-travel novels, it is common to see scenarios where time travelers plagiarize the classics of future generations, gaining both fame and fortune, with their subordinates bowing down to them. One does not need to overthink; simply follow the actions of the protagonist in the story.
Settling down means finding a place to live, but the family business has already been completely destroyed, and the entire family needs to eat. With no other options, Gao Wen's father, having made up his mind, entered the lowly ranks and became a laborer. Relying on that meager wage, he raised Gao Wen to adulthood
Gao Wen is precisely such a clerk.
Thus, upon Gao Wen's birth, he transformed from the second of the four social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants into a constable, a figure who, despite being innocent, was deemed deserving of death by the law.
Unable to pursue studies or take the imperial examination, and unable to hold an official position, it seems that changing the circumstances of myself and my mother in the short term may not be so easy
These two individuals do not feel ashamed for having written such things; rather, they take pride in it. They are true gentlemen, free-spirited and unrestrained, not bound by conventional norms.
One only needs to casually copy a book; it is difficult to avoid becoming famous and wealthy.
In Gao Wen's view, apart from these four novels, the other books are actually not impressive. Whether it is the setting of suspense, the development of the story, or the depiction of details, they are all quite crude. Any contemporary YY novel, if set in ancient times, would be a masterpiece that appeals to both men and women.
No, the dental technician is still quite a bit like a *picture* book. People in public offices are, after all, civil servants. This individual, at most, can be considered a staff member on a government-funded position, and he is still in his probationary period. Just five days ago, he managed to find a way in through connections, and the office was genuinely short-staffed, which is how he finally stepped into his role.
Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, the atmosphere among the scholarly community has undergone significant changes. The acceptance of popular literature has increased, and reading storybooks and narratives is no longer considered shameful. In fact, discussions about the affairs of men and women in the inner chambers have become a topic of great interest, regarded as a refined pursuit. Some individuals have even taken to writing and publishing books directly, either to earn a living or purely for leisure. For instance, the renowned "Jin Ping Mei" is said to have been authored by Wang Shizhen
No, absolutely not
Wang Shizhen was a scholar who achieved the degree of Jinshi during the Jiajing era, eventually serving as the Minister of Justice in Nanjing, the Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, and a leading figure in the poetry scene of the late Ming Dynasty known as the "Seven Masters of the Late Ming." His contemporary, Tang Xianzu, also came from a Jinshi background, holding positions such as Doctor in the Ministry of Rites, Chief Clerk in the Imperial Academy, and Official in the Ministry of Rites. He too penned works like "The Peony Pavilion," which, from the perspective of the orthodox moral gentlemen, could be seen as promoting licentiousness and theft.
Upon thinking of this, Gao Wen became invigorated, quickly scrambling out of bed, pouring the overnight tea into the inkstone, and vigorously grinding the ink.
One must also study to eat the public food in the government office; otherwise, if you cannot even understand the official documents, how can you be a qualified clerk?
It was not because of the sunlight; in fact, he had been awakened by his mother's "bang bang" weaving sound half an hour earlier.
The Ming and Qing dynasties represent an excellent era for novels. Since the mid-Ming dynasty, society has enjoyed a long period of peace, and the emergence of capitalism and literature in prosperous regions has created a large bourgeois class, leading to the budding of urban culture. Once the common people had resolved their basic needs, they developed a strong thirst for spiritual nourishment. Consequently, a number of outstanding literary works emerged, represented by "Water Margin," "Journey to the West," "Dream of the Red Chamber," and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." These four books are the representatives and pinnacle of Ming and Qing novels. The emergence of an excellent work is invariably supported by a vast number of foundational novels, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe this as a mixture of sand and mud.
The position of a seventh-rank official may seem trivial to later generations, but in ancient times, one would realize that the power of a county magistrate was indeed formidable. During the Ming Dynasty, with a population of over 100 million, there were only a little over 1,000 counties. Each magistrate directly controlled the lives and fortunes of tens of thousands of common people, acting as a shepherd for the emperor. Yes, officials are the shepherds, while the common people are merely the sheep.
Thus, in the past, Gao Wen was not considered illiterate; in fact, his level of education could be roughly equated to that of a primary school graduate in later generations
In that case, I can also take this path myself. Alright, I shall be a freelance writer in the Ming Dynasty. In today's world, where there are no proclamations and no review system, it truly is a golden age for writers
The chirping of the little birds is crisp, and the morning light filters in through the window, falling onto Gao Wen's face
Initially, Gao Wen's grandfather was not from Hancheng in Xi'an Prefecture, but rather a small landowner from Zhuanglang County in Pingliang Prefecture. The family owned over 60 mu of land, and their life was relatively sustainable
All pursuits are of lowly status; only studying is esteemed.
Gao Wen's grandfather and his grandfather's grandfather had a modest fortune in Pingliang Prefecture. In the Zhonghe Library, any family with a bit of wealth would send their children to school, hoping that someone in the family would become a successful scholar and bring honor to the family name. Therefore, Gao Wen's grandfather was literate. However, by the time of Gao Wen's father, the family had fallen on hard times, and due to the pressures of life, he had no choice but to take a government job. As for Gao Wen, it is very likely that he would inherit his father's profession. By the time of Gao Wen's father, the family had fallen on hard times, and due to the pressures of life, he had no choice but to take a government job. As for Gao Wen, it is very likely that he would inherit his father's profession
Although the incident of beating Han Kui will certainly lead to subsequent troubles, this is not something he needs to consider at the moment. Before that, he must think about what his next step should be
Ah, these can be set aside for now. The urgent matter is to earn some money first, to change the current state of poverty at home, and at least to relieve my mother from the worry of daily meals.
That year, Gao Wengang was born with a loud cry
Unfortunately, this path is unrealistic for Gao Wen
The reasoning is quite simple; he is a commoner, classified among the clerks, and in the Ming Dynasty, which strictly enforced the household registration system, he belonged to the lowly class. According to the election system of the Ming Dynasty, individuals from the lowly status were not allowed to participate in the imperial examination, nor could their descendants.
The gaze shifted to a wooden table behind the window. On it lay a stack of rough-edged paper, a stone inkstone, a bald brush, and a stick of ink that had already developed green mold. These are the four treasures of the study
If I could write a few novels, perhaps I could strike my first pot of gold! With some initial capital, it would be much easier to pursue other endeavors in the future
In fact, his grandfather was not a scribe; it can be said that the family was relatively well-off back in the day. If there is anyone to blame, it should be the harsh environment of Shaanxi's northern region.
In books, there are houses of gold; in books, there are thousands of bushels of grain; in books, there are beauties like jade. In an ancient world where illiteracy was rampant and the literacy rate was less than one percent, knowledge was power