Chapter 71 Publicly raise money for disaster relief
"Sister, it was my eldest brother who made you feel wronged. Don't worry, your eldest brother, I am handsome and handsome. I will definitely find a good wife."
When Chu Yunxi saw that her eldest brother could still joke and laugh, she finally let go of her worries. Mrs. Chu also nodded happily. Their family should share weal and woe.
"Father, brother, don't go today. Keep the gifts first. There are too many. I'm not worried. You can go after His Highness has disposed of all the gifts."
"Xi'er knows what I'm going to do with those gifts?" Jun Lingyun clearly knew what she said.
"No matter what it is used for, we just need to take good care of it." The two looked at each other and smiled, understanding each other tacitly.
Unknown to them, while they were chatting, someone hid in the corner and cursed them a thousand times.
"Miss, let's go back. You're not feeling well yet. The doctor asked you to get out of bed less and rest more."
Xiaocui warned her carefully, since Chu Xueer had a miscarriage, her temper had become more and more fierce.
She was enduring the pain of losing her son and lingering on the bedside. Why did Chu Yunxi enjoy everyone's favor!
How can she, Chu Yunxi, be better off if she is a dead flower? She is obviously a watery person who falls in love with everyone she meets, but she can be so lucky that all men surround her.
"Let's go." I don't know how long she watched before Chu Xueer let go of her trembling hand, her lower abdomen still hurting slightly. My aunt was right, she had to take good care of herself first before she could get everything she wanted.
The gift-giving team did not rest until dark. Even some minor officials tried to send congratulatory gifts, but without exception, they were all admitted to the general's mansion.
It makes the onlookers jealous and envious.
Early the next morning, under Jun Lingyun's instruction, the Ministry of Revenue set up a disaster relief fundraising point outside the palace gate.
There is a big notice posted next to it:
The official who donated the most money for disaster relief was given a yellow mantle. The businessman who donated the most money was given a plaque written by the emperor. The top 100 people who donated the most money were given a monument of merit by the government for the world to admire.
Anyone who donates more than 10 taels will receive a charity nameplate issued by the government. For more than 10 taels, green, for more than 100 taels, for cyan, and for more than 1,000 taels, red. The fundraising period lasts for seven days.
There has been a lot of excitement in the capital recently. The common people had just watched the grand ceremony of accepting betrothal gifts at the General Chu's Mansion, and they had come to watch and raise funds for disaster relief.
"It's great to have money. It's a gift from the emperor. It's like getting a gold medal to avoid death."
"Who says it's not the case? Who would dare to cause trouble if there is a plaque from the emperor?"
The ministers had been waiting outside the palace gate early in the morning to prepare to go to court. This time when the palace gate opened wide, they entered quietly unlike usual.
Pens, ink, paper and inkstones were placed at the entrance of the palace. Every time a person entered, he would ask:
"Xiao Guogong, how much money are you going to donate for disaster relief?"
Duke Xiao snorted coldly, it must be the prince's bad idea again. "Forty thousand taels."
To him, making money is just a matter of beckoning. Since the emperor is so grand, he must give him some face. To him, money for disaster relief is just a matter of left hand and right hand.
Forty thousand taels of silver, he donated it without blinking an eye. As expected of Duke Xiao. The ministers looked at each other, and they all had a sad face. They didn't have to count on the yellow mantle, they still had to pay for it.
The name brand of a good person is just to fool businessmen. It is of no use to officials like them.
"The Duke of Xiao donated 40,000 taels of silver for disaster relief!"
In addition to the person taking notes, there is also a shouting stand set up next to it so that everyone around can hear clearly.
"Xiao Guogong, this is your good person's name tag. Please take it and come in."
As the notice said, every donor had a charity name tag. Xiao Guogong just stuffed it into his sleeve pocket and crossed the threshold.
"Prime Minister Cao, how much money are you going to donate?"
Prime Minister Cao made some calculations in his mind. He had to be less than Duke Xiao, and he couldn't let the emperor find trouble with him: "Ten thousand taels."
"Prime Minister Cao donated 10,000 taels of silver for disaster relief!"
The officials behind him quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the amount has been reduced. It has been reduced by a large amount. When it is their turn, it will not hurt their muscles and bones.
It's just that many officials sent heavy gifts to General Chu's Mansion yesterday. At this time, they can only look at the sky silently, endure the pain, and think about the amount they can still bear.
"General Chu, how much silver do you want to donate?"
It's General Chu's turn. Everyone is listening with their ears pricked up. Yesterday, General Chu's mansion received a lot of good things. How can they come up with tens of thousands of taels? I wonder if they can compete with King An. Come on.
That yellow mantle.
After all, a yellow mandarin coat is usually something you can't buy even if you have money. Since the emperor succeeded to the throne, he has never given a yellow mandarin coat to anyone.
If King An didn't have the 100,000 taels of silver as a foundation, Duke Xiao would probably have come to compete for the first place.
"One thousand taels."
Unexpectedly, General Chu reported the number without changing his expression, but only reported one thousand taels.
"General Chu, weren't you very active in disaster relief yesterday? Why do you just want a red card today?"
The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance was suppressed by General Chu yesterday. He was so aggrieved. Today he finally had the opportunity to hurt General Chu. How could he let it go?
All the ministers lowered their heads and sneered. They were really tough. They received so many gifts yesterday and only gave out so little.
It seems that he didn't have enough money to get a hundred thousand taels, so he couldn't get the yellow jacket, so he just kept his money and got a red card. He is also a good person, but he is not afraid of the emperor's censure?
"Of course I, the general, are not as wealthy as Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu should donate more."
Regardless of how everyone murmured, General Chu entered the palace with his head held high as usual.
The Minister of Hubu gritted his teeth and was tricked by General Chu again. He originally only wanted to donate two thousand taels, but he had just finished laughing at General Chu, so he donated too little. When it was his turn, he didn't wait for anyone to ask.
The number was reported: "Five thousand taels."
In the end, the ministers consciously followed the official position, one was lower than the other, ranging from a few hundred taels to dozens of taels. Each of them had a good person's name plate.
The ministers all entered the palace, and among the people who were watching, the rich began to get ready to make a move. That was a name tag issued by the government. There was no telling what it would be used for in the future.
"I'll donate ten taels." Finally, someone was the first to step forward.
"Hey, isn't that Shopkeeper Lu from the shop opposite us?"
"Yes, it doesn't matter if he has us, we will also donate, a hundred taels!" The two shops are opposite each other and have been competing for many years. This shopkeeper is planning to get a blue famous brand, which will surpass shopkeeper Na Lu.
Shopkeeper Lu was blowing his beard and glaring at them. This pair of people wanted to compete with him for everything. He gritted his teeth and said, "Master, I will also donate a hundred taels and change the color for me."
"Humph!" The two shopkeepers glared at each other, then looked away, and each walked away with their cyan name tags, feeling relieved.
With the leader in charge, things went much smoother later on. At one point, there were even more people donating money than one table could accommodate, so two more tables were added to share the pressure.
"Chunhui Tower donated one thousand taels! I got a red card!"
"Wow, the first thousand taels of red cards were issued."
"This is the best restaurant in the capital. We make a lot of money every day."
Nowadays, the drought is most serious in the eastern cities. Although there are reports of refugees fleeing, it has not affected the capital yet, and the excitement of the people in the capital has not been affected at all.