Chapter 130: The Shackles of Household Registration Imprison People

Zhu Yunwen observed the courtyard, which was simple, with a wooden table, a locust tree, and a few benches, all within a fifteen-step radius.

On the west side of the courtyard, there was a small vegetable patch, flourishing with vibrant chives. Beside the chives, there was a wooden frame about a person’s height, likely intended for cucumber and green bean vines.

Simple, plain, self-sufficient – this was the first impression that struck Zhu Yunwen.

Huang Jiuer couldn’t believe that the Emperor, the ruler of the nation, had set foot in his humble farmhouse. Before he could even utter “Your Majesty,” he saw Zhu Yunwen shake his head slightly.

“Brother Jiuer, I hope I am not intruding by coming here today,”

Huang Jiuer shivered all over; the Emperor was addressing him as “brother” was almost too much to handle.

Leaning on his cane, Huang Jiuer’s mother, Madam Liu, helped him to his feet, asking, “Is there anything wrong with you, my child? Stand up quickly; we have guests, so we should entertain them properly.”

With a forced smile on his face, Huang Jiuer rose and, with his mother’s support, addressed Zhu Yunwen, “No, no, you are not causing any trouble. Huaniang, quick, bring a chair.”

Madam Wang, frowning at her husband’s awkwardness, quickly headed inside the house.

Zhu Yunwen followed closely, approached Madam Liu, and bowed, saying, “Elderly lady, I am a friend of Huang Jiuer from the Printing Office. I have come to visit you today.”

Madam Liu scrutinized Zhu Yunwen; though his attire was simple, his bearing was extraordinary.

But why did you come empty-handed? Aren’t you embarrassed?

 Oh well, it’s not polite to bring it up directly.

“Don’t be so loud. I’m not deaf yet. Are you from the printing office too? You seem like a foreman,” Madam Liu asked, her tone indifferent.

Zhu Yunwen laughed, “You’re right, I’m a foreman. Huang Jiu’er works as a craftsman under my command.”

“Hmph.”

Madam Liu glared at Zhu Yunwen and tapped her cane on the ground before heading toward the room.

Zhu Yunwen felt a bit frustated and turned to Huang Jiu’er.

Huang Jiuer was busy wiping sweat from his forehead and explained softly, “I’ve been beaten by the foreman before, so my mother…”

I see.

After beating someone’s son, can you expect her to greet you warmly?

Zhu Yunwen noticed the cute little girl eating candied haws on a stick, so he leaned down and asked, “What’s your name, little girl? Are candied haws tasty?”

The little girl glanced at Huang Jiu’er and saw him nod, then she answered, “Yes, they are. I’m Huang Ying, the singing nightingale.”

“Oh, what songs can you sing?”

Zhu Yunwen was intrigued.

Huang Ying’s face brightened with a brilliant smile, and she began to sing, “The mountains are high, the emperor is far, the people are few, and the officials are many. Three whippings a day, and if we don’t yield, what then?”

Huang Jiu’er panicked when he heard the song. This was the “Shu Qi Yao^[1]The “Shuqi Yao” is a folk song from the time of the Red Turban Rebellion, written on a flag. It reflects the complex and ever-changing loyalties and alliances during the rebellion, making … Continue reading,” a folk song written during the rebellion led by Fang Guozhen.

Fang Guozhen is two faced, after the rebellion, he would sometimes surrender to the Yuan Dynasty, and sometimes rebel again. He fought with Zhang Shicheng and colluded with Chen Youliang. On the surface, he tried to please Zhu Yuanzhang, but in secret, he had sinister intentions. Later, he couldn’t compete with Zhu Liangzu, Tang He, Liao Yongzhong, and others, so he had to surrender to Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the past, talking about this folk song during turbulent times was not a problem, but now it’s a time of peace. It has been thirty years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Singing this folk song again is clearly inappropriate.

If they were charged with incitement to rebellion, their whole family would be in trouble.

Just when Huang Jiuer was about to apologize, Zhu Yunwen applauded, “Great! You sang it well. Do you know what it means?”

Huang Ying shook her head and said, “I’m not very clear, but I heard my mother say that if you receive three whippings, you have to return and can’t take a fourth.”

“Haha, Huang Jiuer, your wife is quite talented…”

Zhu Yunwen was very pleased. However, even though he said that, Huang Jiuer didn’t have the courage to talk back.

Huang Jiuer didn’t dare to say anything and could only smile awkwardly.

Seeing his wife cutting vegetables, he bowed to Zhu Yunwen and went to the kitchen to talk to Madam Wang, “Stop cooking and go to the Fu Gui Lou and buy some food and drinks.”

“Are you crazy? Fu Gui Lou? Can we afford the food and drinks from that place?”

Huaniang stared at him, immediately refusing.

“Oh, my dear wife! You, please put down the knife. I have my own reason. Can you listen to me just once? I still have my salary for this month, go spent it all.”

Huang Jiuer handed the bag of money to Huaniang.

Huaniang took it but still didn’t move, complaining, “Don’t even think about it. He whipped you so many times, and we’re already being kind by letting him have a meal here. Now you want to spend so much money? Look at him, what gift did he bring with him?”

Huang Jiuer was anxious and sweating profusely.

“These leeks are growing well, Huang Madam, can you make a stir-fried leek and egg dish?”

Zhu Yunwen walked to the kitchen entrance and asked with a smile.

“We don’t have…”

Huaniang spoke bluntly.

“No, it’s not a problem.”

Huang Jiuer interjected.

Zhu Yunwen held Huang Ying’s hand and said, “Let’s go, we’ll pick some leeks.”

“Sure.”

Huang Ying happily agreed.

Huang Jiuer gritted his teeth and told Madam Wang, “You listen well, he’s…”

“Brother Huang, where’s the sickle?”

Zhu Yunwen called out.

Huang Jiuer hurriedly ran out of the kitchen.

Madam Wang snorted and muttered to herself, “I’m listening; he’s useless. If I had known he was a foreman, I wouldn’t have brought him into our home.”

After the three dishes and a soup were arranged, Huang Jiuer nervously invited Zhu Yunwen to sit at the head of the table. However, Zhu Yunzhe glared at him, silently reminding him of the virtue of filial piety in the country.

Once everyone was seated, Zhu Yunwen didn’t mind the simple meal and turned his attention to Huang Erjin and Huang Eryue, asking, “Have you attended the academy?”

Huang Erjin shook his head and replied, “No, I’m still an apprentice at the Tang Bookstore.”

“Tang Bookstore? I’ve heard of that.”

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly, not inquiring about their wages.

The reason is simple: as apprentices learning a trade, there is no wage to be had. During this era, if you want to learn a trade, you need to find a master, prepare a proper apprenticeship gift, take the master out to dinner, and then move in with them or work in their workshop.

For the next three years, it’s unpaid labor.

You learn the trade, do the work well, and get room and board.

If you make good progress and become skilled, the master may be happy and buy you a new set of clothes.

If you’re dull-witted and not good at learning, you might wear the same set of clothes for three years, and no one will bother about you.

Upon completing your apprenticeship, the master will give you a “completion gift” – yes, seven jin of rice – which you’ll carry back home.

But you’ll need to be frugal with your meals; before you run out of this rice, you should find a “job.” After all, you’re a young person with ambition, and you can’t “depend on your parents” forever.

Seven jin of rice is probably enough for half a month. You see, people in ancient times had a strong sense of employment. They aimed to find employment within the first half month or they’d be prepared to go hungry.

For Huang Erjin, his most likely path is to learn a trade, work for a while before his father retires, and then enter the Directorate of Ceremonial’s Printing office to become a craftsman.

Zhu Yunwen thought for a moment and asked, “Do you think being a craftsman is good?”

Huang Erjin scratched his head and looked at his father, Huang Jiuer.

“You don’t need to mind him; I’m asking you.”

Zhu Yunwen said.

“Yes, yes, Answer whatever you have been asked, and tell the truth.”

Huang Jiuer quickly echoed.

Both Madam Liu and Madam Wang glared at Huang Jiuer at the same time, scaring him into lowering his head.

Huang Erjin shook his head and said, “I like selling books. Every time I see people buying books at the bookstore, it makes me happy. But we’re a family of craftsmen household, generation after generation, so no matter how much I like it, I can’t do it.”

“Oh, so you want to be in business, but because of your craftsmen household, you can’t go into business, is that it?”

Zhu Yunwen furrowed his brow and asked.

Huang Erjin nodded and looked at his younger brother, Huang Eryue, saying, “My younger brother is only thirteen. He enjoys reading and occasionally goes to the bookstore. I teach him some characters. We have no money to afford a tutor, and even if we learn some characters, it’s useless. We can’t participate in the imperial examination…”

The status of craftsmen households is very low, and they don’t even have the qualifications to participate in the imperial examinations.

Zhu Yunwen understood that the household registration system was like a shackle, firmly restraining the people of the Ming Dynasty.

People couldn’t be bound by these shackles forever.

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