Cui Yeping had not quite caught what his second son was muttering. He leaned closer and asked, “What did you say?”
Cui Huaihao quickly straightened his back, cleared his throat, and said, “Nothing. I was only acting on impulse. Fortunately, Yaoyao helped me, and His Majesty has already granted my request. From now on, we merchants can do business with our heads held high and will no longer be treated as inferior! In the future, I won’t have to worry that doing business will hinder my son’s chances in the civil service examinations or affect Father’s and Big Brother’s official careers. I won’t even have to fear being pointed at whenever I ride in a carriage.”
Cui Yeping stared at his second son, his eyes faintly reddening.
How could a father not understand his son’s difficulties and deepest heartache? His son loved doing business, but merchants held a low social status and faced countless restrictions. He had always been afraid of bringing trouble upon his family and was cautious even about the clothes he wore. Now that he had received the emperor’s favor, this truly was the best of good news.
“Yaoyao was truly amazing just now! She debated several officials single-handedly and even thought everything through so carefully. She really is a member of the Cui family!” Cui Huaihao said with a smile.
At the thought of his granddaughter, a pride he could not conceal flashed across Cui Yeping’s face. Naturally, his granddaughter was the best.
Those officials who usually had the final say in court had all turned into muddleheaded fools in front of his Yaoyao!
When it came to intelligence, they were not even fit to carry his Yaoyao’s shoes!
“Come on! Tell me properly how this golden tuber is to be planted. I must compile the information into a booklet as soon as possible and present it to His Majesty…”
“All right!”
…
Three days later, the emperor’s decree was announced throughout the realm.
By imperial command: All those engaged in commerce in Great Zhou may wear silk and ride in sedan chairs. The low-status registration imposed upon merchant households is abolished. Should they wish for their descendants to take the civil service examinations and enter officialdom, they must meet the following requirements:
First, they must possess proof of having paid taxes over the years.
Second, they must be kindhearted and have committed no acts that harmed others, violated morality, or defied justice.
Third, they must either present the imperial court with a precious new crop or rare treasure unknown to Great Zhou; build bridges or roads for Great Zhou; transport provisions to the frontier for three years; provide relief to disaster-stricken regions; or pay two-tenths of their family wealth.
Once all three conditions are met, the sons of merchant families may also take the civil service examinations.
Within three days of the decree being issued, merchants throughout Great Zhou were walking the streets with bright, confident expressions. They wore newly made silk garments, and even their backs were straighter than before.
Some merchants were so overjoyed that they set up porridge kitchens, announcing that they would distribute porridge to the poor and displaced people of Great Zhou for seven consecutive days.
When one merchant did so, a second followed, then a third…
Some even went to the homes of the impoverished and scattered silver coins in the streets.
Those merchants all knelt facing the imperial palace, thanking the emperor for his gracious decree allowing merchants to wear silk and ride in sedan chairs, and permitting the sons of merchant families to sit for the civil service examinations.
They did not merely thank the emperor. They also expressed their gratitude to Second Master Cui.
Someone spread the story of how Second Master Cui had petitioned the throne that day, and merchant families everywhere praised Second Master Cui for his selflessness in securing such a decree for merchants across the realm.
Even the words spoken by Grand Princess Fuxi that day spread among the merchants.
Upon hearing them, the merchants’ eyes reddened. Once again, they knelt toward the imperial city. Many vowed to follow Second Master Cui’s example, travel to even more distant places to conduct business, and exchange goods for rare treasures to present to the emperor.
The excitement continued for more than half a month without showing any sign of dying down.
The streets of the capital had never been so lively.
Many farmers even set up stalls during the slack farming season and began engaging in small businesses.
For a time, Great Zhou took on the appearance of a prosperous age encompassing every kind of trade and industry. The change spread from the capital to every corner of the realm.
Along the road, Fan Xiuwen, who was returning to the capital from Xinghua County to take up his new post, witnessed the prosperity firsthand. Curious, he stopped to ask someone what had happened.
The person who answered was a scholar dressed in plain clothes. He frowned and said, “You actually think this kind of chaos is a good thing?”
Fan Xiuwen replied, “Why would it not be? The common people are happy, and the streets have become lively. That means they have money to spare and are living better lives. How is that not a good thing?”
The plain-clothed scholar stared at Fan Xiuwen and spoke with indignation. “You appear to be a scholar yourself. How can you be as short-sighted as those ignorant commoners? Just look at what is happening now! Even merchants are allowed to ride in sedan chairs. They are all dressed in silk, richer than many of our officials. It is a complete reversal of social order! Merchants are base and lowly, yet Second Master Cui actually petitioned on behalf of merchants throughout Great Zhou, allowing the sons of merchants to stand on equal footing with the rest of us commoners. That is why these merchants have become so lawless!”
“Some of them have a little money and go outside the city to scatter it about and distribute porridge, merely to show off their wealth. They have even caused respectable families to take up merchant work! It is utterly absurd!”
The plain-clothed scholar’s voice was loud enough for a small peddler selling jewelry nearby to hear. The peddler immediately objected.
“What’s absurd about it? How have merchants become bad for giving money to the poor? How have they become bad for distributing porridge and grain? The clothes you wear, the books you read, and the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones you use—are any of them not sold by merchants? In my opinion, His Majesty is wise! The princess is wise! The Cui family’s second son is righteous! People ought to let go of their prejudice against merchants. If there are more merchants, there will be more goods, and prices will come down. Then we common people can live better lives too!”
The plain-clothed scholar trembled with anger. “You—you’re talking nonsense!”
The peddler pointed at himself. “I’m talking nonsense? Just look around you! Everyone has money now. Those with skills at home are bringing their handiwork out to sell, exchanging it for money and grain. Everyone is living well. In a few days, I’m going to leave the capital and follow the example of Second Master Cui. I’ll find some unusual goods and present them to His Majesty!”
“I can see that you are a scholar, sir, and you are no longer young. You must have elderly parents and children at home who need to eat. If you truly cannot pass the examinations, you would do better to find another path. Don’t waste your time.”
The plain-clothed scholar’s face flushed, then turned pale. He gripped the book in his hand so tightly that his knuckles whitened. After staring with reddened eyes for a long while, he finally spat out a single sentence.
“Great Zhou is doomed!”
After saying this, he turned to Fan Xiuwen, who had remained silent beside them. “Brother, you are a scholar as well, and you have just returned to the capital, I presume. Surely you, like me, believe that elevating the status of merchants is improper and contrary to all decorum?”
Fan Xiuwen gazed at the plain-clothed scholar, unable to conceal his shock. “Was this truly an order issued by His Majesty?”
The plain-clothed scholar shook his head and answered mournfully, “Several months ago, Second Master Cui, acting on behalf of the merchants, traded with foreign merchants for a type of grain called the golden tuber. It is said that it can produce thirty dan of grain per mu! In recognition of his great contribution, His Majesty granted him permission to ask for one thing. Yet instead of seeking high office or wealth, he actually demanded that the emperor issue an order allowing the sons of merchants to take the civil service examinations, and permitting merchants throughout Great Zhou to wear silk, ride horses, and travel in sedan chairs! It is utterly absurd! Utterly shameless! Grand Princess Fuxi even spoke on behalf of the merchants, relying on her status as a princess to argue with several grand councilors of the court. She bewitched His Majesty into granting Second Master Cui’s request!”
“Now look at the capital! Those merchants are completely lawless. They are even scattering money and distributing grain. Once the countless common people see this, won’t they all want to become lowly merchants? For the sake of a little money, they have abandoned all propriety. This will undermine the very foundations of Great Zhou!”
“Is that true?” Fan Xiuwen asked urgently.
The plain-clothed scholar looked at him blankly. “What is true?”
Fan Xiuwen said, “Thirty dan per mu! Can that grain truly produce thirty dan of grain per mu?”
The scholar in plain robes hesitated before replying, “That is what the rumors say. I heard that Second Master Cui, acting on the instructions of Grand Princess Fuxi, went in search of a crop never before seen in Great Zhou. That was how he found the golden tuber. Many officials are saying the same thing. Apparently, those golden tubers can yield as much as thirty dan per mu.”
Fan Xiuwen’s eyes reddened with excitement as he exclaimed, “If they truly can produce thirty dan per mu, then Grand Princess Fuxi and Second Master Cui will be great benefactors of Great Zhou! They can save the lives of countless commoners! Heaven bless Great Zhou!”
“You—you didn’t hear me, did you? The sons of merchants can take the imperial examinations! They not only have money, but can wear silk robes as well! They can even ride horses and travel in sedan chairs!”
Fan Xiuwen gazed fervently in the direction of the capital and declared, “I must see those golden tubers with my own eyes!”
The scholar in plain robes stared at him in shock. “You—you did hear what I said, didn’t you?”
Fan Xiuwen hoisted his bundle onto his back, his eyes shining. “I’m going to the capital right now! To pay my respects to His Majesty and Grand Princess Fuxi!”
