"Mr. Zhou was appointed as the fourth rank, but his life was rare in the world." After hearing Captain Zhang's explanation, Zhu Ping'an admired Zhou Houjie's simple style.

Although the official salary of the Ming Dynasty was notoriously small in all dynasties, the salary of officials was still higher than that of ordinary people. Moreover, Zhou Houjie, as a fourth-rank prefect, had a high salary of officials in Kyoto, half a grade higher than that of local officials with similar positions, and his salary was also half a grade higher than that of local fourth-rank prefect, and his salary was also quite high, but he was willing to live a simple life, which was rare.

According to this year's salary standards, the salary of the fourth-rank prefect is 24 shi (m) per month. Zhou Houjie, the prefect, was an official in the capital, and his salary was half a level higher than that of the local government, with a monthly salary of 25 shi (m).

Here, "stone" is pronounced as dan.

Stone, Dou, Xing, and Tong are all traditional units of measurement in ancient times. They are all decimal units, ten rounds are raising, ten rounds are Dou, and ten rounds are stones, which is very convenient to calculate.

The salary was paid in the Ming Dynasty with "stone" as the unit. Before the Ming Dynasty, the official salary was paid in "dou" or "support". Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang believed that if "dou" or "support" was used to pay official salary according to the regulations of the previous dynasty, it would show that the court's slim spirit was not enough to show the court's loyalty and trustworthiness and respect the salary, so he changed to "stone" to pay salary. For a simple example, it is equivalent to a company that used to pay salary in "corners" and "divisions" as the unit. The new boss felt that this was too petty spirit and could not show that the company's loyalty valued the salary of employees. After the issuance of regulations, the salary was used as the unit.

One "stone" rice is equal to 10 dou, equal to 100 liters. One liter of rice weighs about 1.25 kilograms, and one stone of rice weighs about 125 kilograms. Zhou Houjie's monthly salary is 25 shi, which is 3125 kilograms. According to the price this year, it is equivalent to 13 taels of silver.

If calculated based on the current salary, Zhou Houjie will be about 8,000 yuan a month. He only eats cabbage, tofu and salted radish strips every meal, and does not even have any meat. He only eats crucian carp as big as a palm during festivals. This is really very, very valuable.

"Zihou, you are from the countryside, so you are confused. There are three dishes for each meal, and you can only have enough white flour and steamed buns. How simple is this? Think about it, how many people in the Ming Dynasty still have a lot of meals and can't fill their stomachs. Compared with them, I am already a luxury." Zhou Houjie suddenly said very seriously.

Zhu Ping'an smiled bitterly when he heard this, "What the adults said is that it is just that the adults don't think about themselves, but they should also think about their sister-in-law and the young master. Each meal is reduced by one vegetarian dish and one meat dish, which is not without simplicity."

"Zihou has been worried too much. Zhujing and dogzi are both in their hometown in Anhui. Although this official is not a wealthy family, his ancestors have left more than ten acres of thin fields, and they grow melons, vegetables, and chickens and ducks. Their mother and mother are more convenient to eat and use than me." Zhou Houjie waved his hand and smiled.

"Mr. Du Zun was an official in Beijing for many years, alone and never brought his family. Last year, the young master originally planned to visit Du Zun, but he was suffering from the long journey and lacked money and could not make a journey." Captain Zhang couldn't help but add a sentence as soon as Master Zhou finished speaking.

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 an ancient naked official!

It is different in modern times. The modern naked officials are those whose spouses and whose children immigrate abroad. Most of them are full of personal pockets and ready to run away to the decaying country borer.

The ancient naked officials were not like this in modern times. They did not go to other places to serve as officials to take care of their families because their salaries could not afford their wives, children, maids and servants. This was the case in Zhou Houjie, alone and with clean arms. Therefore, the ancient naked officials were mostly honest officials, and their hair was a hundred times greater than those of modern naked officials.

"Talk too much." Zhou Houjie glanced at Captain Zhang's head.

"Sir, it's not that my subordinates talk too much, but that my subordinates are unfair. Look, how many officials are like you. To put it in a bad way, my subordinates' dining table is much richer than my adults' dining table. If you keep cabbage, tofu, pickled vegetables, how can you eat it for a long time? How can you be the master of the people? If you don't take care of your family or hire a maid, there is only one old housekeeper who says bold words, you are not an official, you are a monk." Captain Zhang seemed to have been holding it in for a long time. This time, Zhu Ping'an was next to him. He was so brave that he took advantage of the topic and said what he had been holding it in for a long time.

Haha, the words were rough but not rough. Zhu Ping'an nodded. Indeed, Zhou Houjie was really a bit like an ascetic.

"It's easy to go from simple to extravagance, but it's difficult to go from extravagance to frugality." Zhou Houjie smiled slightly and took a sip of tea and said, "Although I am a fourth-rank official, my salary plus special gifts are also a lot of rewards. However, if I don't be in charge of the family, I don't know that the firewood and rice are expensive. Although there are too many items, I also pay more. Every month, I need 2 taels of silver for my meals, and every month I have to take out 2 taels of silver for Zhujing and the dog son. My parents' high halls also have to respect 2 taels of filial piety, 4 taels of filial piety, 2 taels of incense in the clan hall, and 3 taels of 3 taels of sacred children. These are all eight or nine out of ten for the salary. The other expenses are not counted. It's already very good now."

Upon hearing this, Captain Zhang raised his head and looked at Zhou Houjie. He stumbled for a long time, but did not dare to say anything out of his mouth.

Zhu Ping'an knew that what Captain Zhang wanted to say was nothing more than gray income such as pen and spending money. Captain Zhang was right that he did not say anything. With Zhou Houjie's temper, it was probably necessary to be scolded if Captain Zhang said it.

"Pingan will benefit a lot from a meal today. Although Pingan may not be able to be as clear as a person as a pride and willing to be diligent in pain, he must also learn from adults like a person as bright moon and a clean breeze." Zhu Pingan sat upright and bowed his hands seriously and said to him.

Zhu Ping'an benefited a lot from this meal and learned a lot from Zhou Houjie. Just being honest has inspired him a lot.

"Okay, it's a bright moon on one shoulder, a clean breeze on both sides! Zihou has known me for a long time, but he is a person who knows me and understands me." After hearing Zhu Ping'an's words, Zhou Houjie couldn't help but attack the case, "I am a farmer's son who can reach this point today, relying on this bright moon on both sides. I am an official, not seeking fame in history, nor do I want to be famous, but only seeking to be the country and the people. My official knows his talents and can only do it for my Ming Dynasty and the people. Since I, Zhou Houjie, have not done much for the country and the people, I cannot harm the country and the people. I am honest and honest, but for the sake of the heaven, earth, the king and the people. In the future, I will turn into a handful of rotten soil and nourish the earth." Zhou Houjie put down his teacup and sighed.

When Zhu Ping'an heard this, he felt moved when he was moved by the scene. He couldn't help but think of a poem from the Qing Dynasty in his mind, which was very consistent with Zhou Houjie. Seeing the pen, ink, paper and inkstone beside him, he couldn't help feeling for a moment. He took the pen and wrote it in his hand.

For a moment, the pen was full of smooth ink:

"Give to the Prime Minister Zhou"

The vast sorrow of parting is slanting in the sun, and the whip is whip eastward and the end of the world is the end of the world.

Falling red is not a heartless thing, it turns into spring mud to protect flowers. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!