maidservant

Chapter 144 Government Orders to Promote Consumption

A temperature drop lasting four or five days has arrived.

Frost and snow accumulated in the cracks of the stone slabs on Zhuque Street. Half of the once bustling shops were closed. Occasionally, a few pedestrians wrapped in tattered cotton-padded coats hurried past, and even the sound of their shoes crushing ice shards seemed particularly jarring.

A cold wind swept withered leaves across the bluestone steps. Yun Shan wrapped her padded jacket tighter around herself and clutched her purse as she walked toward the clothing street.

From afar, one can see faded red silk hanging in front of the "Jinxiu Pavilion" gate. The waiter who used to stand at the door soliciting customers is now huddled inside the threshold, stamping his feet to keep warm.

"Hey, Manager Song!" The manager peeked out from behind the counter, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Come in and warm up, it's freezing cold outside."

As soon as Yun Shan stepped across the threshold, she was shivered by the blast of cold air. The wooden rack, which used to be filled with silks and brocades, was now empty, with only a few cotton-padded coats hanging crookedly, like white banners for a funeral.

"Didn't they say that new brocade material from Jiangnan had arrived?" she asked, pointing to the gray camphor wood chest in the corner.

The shopkeeper smiled wryly and lifted the lid of the chest, revealing half a piece of dark red silk: "Look at this, it's been sitting here for three months. If I weren't in a hurry to make room, I wouldn't have been willing to sell it at half price."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "To be honest, the 'Ruifuxiang' shop next door closed down this morning; they said they're going back to their hometown in Suzhou."

Just then, a creaking sound came from outside the door, and two women peeked out.

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up immediately, and he rushed over in three steps: "Come in and take a look! All cotton robes are 80% off, and if you buy two, you'll get a free woolen scarf!" But the two men only exchanged a glance before shrinking back and quickly leaving.

Yunshan's fingertips traced the stitches of the coarse cotton-padded jacket, recalling Cui'er and the others who spent their days preparing medicine for patients at the clinic, and Aqiao and Afu who always delivered medicine in the cold wind. "Wrap up these dark blue ones, and that one with the floral print."

She paused, then added, "Take two more bolts of plain-colored cotton cloth to make undergarments for the men."

"Manager Song is truly generous!" the manager exclaimed as he deftly packed the items. "Since the plague, which family hasn't been tightening their belts? The other day, the wife of the wealthy Li family came to have winter clothes made, and she actually asked if she could pay with her jewelry."

Before she could finish speaking, the sound of wooden wheels rolling over stone slabs came from outside. Yunshan lifted the curtain and saw a mule cart loaded with burlap sacks stopped at the street corner.

The driver jumped down and brushed the snow off his body: "Zhang's Cloth Shop's goods have arrived! Half price clearance sale, the best deal for making cotton clothes and quilts!" Several people huddled under the eaves hesitated and gathered around, but were forced back by the cold wind.

After paying, Yunshan carried the heavy bundle towards the clinic. As she passed "Ruifuxiang," she saw a yellow sign that read "Closed" pasted on the vermilion door panel, and thin ice forming on the brass rings.

An old man selling roasted sweet potatoes on the street corner called out to her, "Young lady, want to buy some to warm your hands?" She took out a few copper coins, but after the old man took the money, he sighed heavily in the direction of "Ruifuxiang".

Winter comes early and it gets dark; the sky is already starting to darken.

Yunshan pushed open the door of the clinic, and the aroma of medicine mixed with the warmth of charcoal fire wafted towards her.

Cui'er immediately came forward: "Shopkeeper, you're finally back!" Doctor Feng was just saying, "Her voice suddenly caught in her throat as she stared at the red silk bundle peeking out from Yun Shan's arms."

"Stop your fuss," Dr. Feng said, emerging from his clinic, his white beard smeared with medicine dust. "Afu, Aqiao, change into your new clothes."

He gazed at the darkening sky outside the window, "This cold winter needs some bright colors."

"I heard that the biggest clothing store next to Fanlou on East Street is having a 50% off sale on fur coats. Let our two female doctors go and pick one out tomorrow, and I'll pay for it." The two female doctors smiled, revealing their back teeth, and looked in the direction of the clothing store on East Street, which used to be frequented only by the wealthy.

Pushing open the window, I saw in the distance, in the direction of the East Market, several lanterns stubbornly shining in the wind and snow, like stars that refused to go out in the cold night.

Inside the Jingzhao Prefecture government office, the crackling of charcoal fires could not dispel the somber atmosphere in the council hall.

Chen Mo, the Prefect of Jingzhao, unfolded the crumpled account book in his hand, his knuckles tapping heavily on the words "Commercial taxes plummeted by 70%": "Since the plague, rice shops, silk stores, teahouses, and taverns have all been deserted."

Before he could finish speaking, the tax collector, a registrar, added with a wry smile, "The other day when I went to collect the taxes, Old Zhang, who sells steamed buns, said his family hadn't had any meat for half a month. Where would they get the extra money to pay taxes?"

"The common people dare not spend money, and merchants cannot make a profit. This vicious cycle will likely cause Chang'an to freeze to death this winter."

Chen Mo gazed at the faded map on the wall, his eyes suddenly stopping on the marker for the East Market. "Do you all remember that during the late Emperor's reign, the lights of the East Market could illuminate half the city on the Lantern Festival?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a young magistrate stood up: "My lord, why not follow the old custom and hold a grand year-end market!"

He strode to the sand table, dipped his finger in tea, and drew neat streets on the surface. "We'll build warm sheds in the East Market, dividing the area into sections based on categories—cloth section, grain and oil section, and a variety show stage. We'll also set up a 'Benefit-the-People Exchange Shop,' where people can exchange their daily spending receipts for government-subsidized salt and charcoal."

"But what about the money for this subsidy?" someone asked hesitantly.

Chen Mo pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "I will immediately write to the Ministry of Revenue, requesting that 30% of the remaining disaster relief funds be allocated. Furthermore..."

He suddenly raised his voice, "All merchants participating in the market will not only be exempt from three months' market tax, but those whose turnover reaches one hundred taels will also receive a 'Trusted Merchant' plaque issued by the government!"

The imperial decrees did indeed have an effect on people's consumption and the operation of shops.

Three days later, the bronze bell in the East Market rang again. The once deserted streets were transformed overnight: bright red lanterns hung under the gray eaves, and newly tied colorful ribbons fluttered in the cold wind.

Inside the makeshift warm shed, charcoal braziers crackled and popped as merchants displayed their stockpiled goods.

The silk shop owner even set up a screen and had his employees dress up as characters from a play, pacing back and forth with cloaks embroidered with gold thread.

"Don't miss it!" The vendor selling roasted chestnuts banged his gong, the chestnuts in the iron pot sizzling with sugar syrup, the aroma mingling with the steam. "Buy one pound, get half a pound free, and the government even gives a subsidy!" Several children were drawn in by the aroma, tugging at their mothers' clothes and refusing to leave.

Long queues formed in front of the Huimin Exchange Center, with people clutching their oil-stained receipts as they watched the yamen runners place snow-white salt blocks and black charcoal into bamboo baskets.

Suddenly, an exclamation arose from the crowd: "Look! The Prefect of the Capital is here!" Chen Mo, dressed in plain clothes, walked into the market surrounded by his entourage.

He first bought two bolts of coarse cloth from a cloth stall, then ordered a bowl of hot yellow wine from a tavern, and in front of everyone, pulled out a copper coin: "This wine is mellow and worth the price!"

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city. The next morning, merchants in the West Market spontaneously cleared the snow and hung up wooden signs that read, "In response to the government's call, all items are 20% off."

Even wealthy families, who usually kept to themselves, were venturing out with their households. In the silk shops, ladies touched the soft Shu brocade, listening to the shopkeeper's introduction: "Madam, if you buy thirty taels, the government will even give you a pass to the hot spring resort outside the city!"

A government decree did indeed encourage some of the wealthier families to start stimulating the market, but most ordinary people still held onto their money tightly and ignored all the excitement.