The Song Dynasty was an era after the Great Chaos, and people were more open-minded. Many things that may seem unthinkable in later generations are taken for granted in this era. Families in the city hire their children as maids when they are eight or nine years old. Eating other people's meals saves food for your own family, and you can also earn some money to support your family. If you are not from a wealthy family, this kind of thing is very common.
Some people say that favoring boys over girls is a traditional Chinese thought. This Chinese tradition only lasts for a while and only exists in some places. As long as the social conditions are right, Chinese people do not favor boys over girls. Even under special circumstances, it is normal to favor girls over boys.
In some big cities, if a girl is pretty, she can sing in a restaurant or be hired by a wealthy family with a generous salary. The social atmosphere does not like boys, but likes girls. This situation formed a trend and attracted some literati to criticize it. Just like Wang Xiaolie in his previous life, because of his good job in the entertainment industry and the ease of making money, auditions and debuts became hot topics in society.
These so-called traditions are often caused by many reasons. There are both ideological reasons and practical social reasons, which are intricately intertwined to form a phenomenon. Not just because we are Chinese, we have this so-called tradition.
Many people cannot view this phenomenon correctly. When I discover a common phenomenon in society, I feel that I have discovered something extraordinary, which is very remarkable. Summarizing these phenomena and saying that they are the traditions of civilization or the common characteristics of ethnic groups, and thus self-righteously coming up with solutions to social problems, does not have much positive effect.
There are many such summaries in Wang Xiaolie's previous life. Some are short-lived, while others have far-reaching consequences.
For example, the Chinese people are not united. One Chinese person is like a dragon; three Chinese people are like a worm. For comparison, I also thought of Japan next door, "One Japanese is a worm, and three Japanese are a dragon." Those who spoke were serious and quoted from scriptures; those who listened were fascinated, thinking that finally there was a brave person who dared to introspect the national culture.
For example, the Chinese are ignorant, and foreigners do what they want. Those who spoke were salivating, and those who listened were fascinated. I just hate how I was born in such an ignorant country. It would be better if I was born in a foreign country.
For example, Chinese children are "little emperors", while foreign children have been self-reliant since childhood and even exercised in various ways. Someone even made up a story about a summer camp, telling how miserable Chinese children are and how powerful Japanese children are. If things continue like this, what will happen to the nation and what will happen to the country? This story directly affected a generation, and the person who compiled it was very proud of it.
For example, Chinese people don't care about hygiene, while foreign countries are clean and beautiful. In fact, the problem of food and clothing has been solved, and Chinese people are also very particular about hygiene.
For example, the Han people are cowardly, while the ethnic minorities are brave. There is also a wolf totem to show the boldness of ethnic minorities. He also said that the Han people had no entertainment activities, but the ethnic minorities would circle around the bonfire twice after eating, and they were good at singing and dancing.
Another example is that the Chinese believe that red is festive, and they even call a bright red color "Chinese red", saying it is Chinese tradition. Not to mention that China’s use of color was very complex in history, but in later generations, it soon became a custom for young people to wear white wedding dresses when they got married.
There are so many examples of this, that for a certain period of time, it even became a trend. There are even Taiwanese literati who can think about life while looking at the toilet, sorting out a large section of Han traditional culture, and why it doesn't work.
Most of these words are just nonsense from literati. The traditional culture they summarized has little to do with Chinese history, but how much does it have to do with tradition? Most traditions only explain people's living conditions in the previous or previous historical periods.
I don’t know when some literati had a strange idea. My thoughts are not understood by the Chinese people because the Chinese people are too ignorant. When you get it to foreigners, they will praise it very much.
Thoughts and art must of course be learned and absorbed from many sources, but in the end they must be sublimated from the people.
Gu Xun
There was not much resistance to Wang Xiaolie's reform of the slave system because Chinese people are not inherently servile. In the Song Dynasty, the personal restrictions of slaves were gradually relaxed from the founding of the country. It was not until the Southern Song Dynasty that slaves were completely abolished from the law and completely changed to the employment system.
Of course, this does not mean that if slaves are abolished in law, there will be no actual slaves in society. In later modern countries, there will also be illegal slaves and illegal workers. In order to control the nominal wage slaves, the Song Dynasty also used the names of adopted sons and daughters to evade the law.
Whether it is the abolition of slaves or concubines, the effect cannot be achieved by just one order. Without corresponding social foundation and economic security, even if it is temporarily abolished, it will come back again in the future.
Wang Xiaolie used a relatively gentle approach to do this because the social foundation was not yet in place and he could only do it step by step.
People like Zhang Chi would find it very inconvenient if slaves were eliminated. But he only complained a few words and would not joke about his own future. Ordinary rich people are not so well-behaved and always find ways to circumvent these prohibitions.
Zhang Chi stood outside the house, watching the busy cook inside. There are three people in total, with clear division of labor and skilled movements. One person washes the vegetables and another person cuts them. The person washing the vegetables brought the chopped vegetables to the stove, and a chef was cooking.
These cooks belong to the Qun Ying Hui, a restaurant belonging to the Zhenfu Envoy Department that specializes in wedding and funeral banquets. They don't have a restaurant. In addition to catering for various banquets, they set up stalls at the market every time they go to the market. Although there is no restaurant, the chefs are fully equipped and can come to cook various high and low-end wine feasts. This family doesn't make much money, but serves more of a function as an internship and retirement place for various restaurants under the town's governor's office.
The chef inside turned on the high heat and stir-fried the eel in the pot a few times. He went back and said to Zhang Chi: "Commander, wait a moment. After these two hot dishes are fried, the banquet can begin. We have our own rules, please wait a moment."
Zhang Chi said: "It doesn't matter, it's still early, you should do it slowly."
Mother pulled Zhang Chi aside and whispered: "I see that the cook, Daizhao, is very skilled. I just tried his cooking and it tasted delicious. It would cost a lot to invite such a person to your home." Money, right?”
Zhang Chi said: "Mom doesn't have to worry about these things. Let me tell you, they are all people who are used to cooking, so there is no need to watch here."
Mother whispered: "A lot of chicken, duck and fish. You bought a lot of expensive things today. If you don't watch here, they will take the meat away without paying attention! You are young and ignorant. The cook is the best at cooking." This matter!"
Zhang Chi smiled and did not argue with his mother.
The mother sighed: "Everything is good about this place in Xinye. The houses are spacious, the streets are neat, and even the neighbors are friendly. There is only one bad thing, the things are too expensive! When I was at home, I went to the market and held a Holding ten cents in hand is like holding a hot coal, and I want to make a fire! It's amazing here in Xinye. I go out with ten cents and lose it without buying anything! After living for a month, a thrifty person like me can't How many strings of money do you need! How many strings of money are enough? Your father and I are at home, and we have to sell grain from several acres of land! You are so good, how can you afford to live there!"
Zhang Chi said: "It's different. You can buy everything here. The price is a little more expensive, so you will spend more money." Mobile phone users please browse the Kingdom of Tianhan for a better user experience.
