Chapter 32: Ranks
After the misunderstanding with Yu Hui was resolved, Hua Changxi went to the storeroom to collect medicinal herbs, and the variety of herbs she received began to increase.
“Sister Changxi, you’re only taking a few stalks of each medicinal herb. Don’t you find it troublesome?”
Yu Hui looked at Hua Changxi in confusion. He knew that other laborers, when collecting medicinal herbs, wished they only had to collect one type to make cleaning easier.
Hua Changxi shook her head, “I don’t find it troublesome.”
Yu Hui asked again, “Is there a reason you’re collecting medicinal herbs like this?”
Hua Changxi glanced around. Seeing that no one else was paying attention to them, she whispered, “The Medical Affairs Department has a wide variety of medicinal herbs, many of which I’ve never encountered outside. Since I have the chance now, I naturally want to study them thoroughly.”
Yu Hui: “Laborers are not allowed to damage medicinal herbs. How can you study them?”
Hua Changxi pointed to the medicinal herbs on the cart, “For herbs with extensive root systems, I’ll pinch off a small section of the root to taste. If it’s an herb with more leaves, I’ll taste the leaves. This way, I can understand the medicinal properties of the herbs without damaging them.”
Yu Hui stroked his chin, “Collecting medicinal herbs this way is too troublesome. How about this: when Wan Xiaozhou, Li Meng, and I are on duty at night, you can come to the storeroom to study them.”
“But we have to agree beforehand that you’re not allowed to damage any medicinal herbs. Otherwise, neither you nor I will be able to handle the consequences.”
Hua Changxi’s face lit up with joy, “Brother Yu, don’t worry, I promise not to cause you any trouble.”
Seeing Hua Changxi’s excited expression, Yu Hui also smiled and added, “Tomorrow is payday. After you finish breakfast, don’t come to collect medicinal herbs first. Go to the Internal Affairs Department to collect your silver. If you go late, who knows how long you’ll have to queue.”
The only people queuing at the storeroom to collect medicinal herbs were the laborers from the Third Department.
However, those queuing at the Internal Affairs Department to collect silver included all the laborers from the First and Second Departments.
Hearing that she could collect her wages, Hua Changxi was also very happy, “How much silver can we collect?”
Yu Hui’s expression showed surprise, “You don’t even know this?”
Hua Changxi gave a sheepish smile, “I didn’t have the nerve to ask.” Mainly, her relationship with her roommates wasn’t good, so no one told her.
Yu Hui didn’t probe further and began to explain, “All Head Stewards receive a monthly salary of ten taels. The salaries for Second Stewards, Third Stewards, and laborers are divided by gender.”
“For male Second and Third Stewards, their monthly salaries are eight and five taels respectively, and male laborers receive three taels of silver per month.”
“For female Second and Third Stewards, their monthly salaries are five and three taels respectively, and female laborers receive two taels of silver per month.”
“As for the three eunuchs who manage the Labor Department, I don’t know how high their monthly salaries are.”
Hua Changxi: “Why are the monthly salaries different for men and women?”
Yu Hui smiled, “Of course they’re different. Men contribute much more effort than women.”
Hua Changxi: “But the number of medicinal herbs that male and female laborers are responsible for cleaning each day is clearly the same.”
Yu Hui: “Male laborers are sometimes assigned other tasks, such as transporting medicinal herbs from the Medicine Farm or Medicine Valley. These are tasks that female laborers cannot do.”
Hua Changxi said ‘oh’ and didn’t say anything more.
On October 30th, before the sky had fully brightened, a long queue had already formed at the Internal Affairs Department of the Labor Department. When Hua Changxi arrived after breakfast, the courtyard was already too crowded to enter.
“Qingluo, hurry up, I’ve saved a spot for you all.”
Hua Changxi stood at the courtyard gate and heard Wang Yun Chu’s voice from inside. She turned her head and saw Lu Qingluo pulling another young woman as they hurried into the courtyard.
As they passed the courtyard gate, they saw Hua Changxi and were both stunned.
Wang Yun Chu, who was already quite far ahead in the queue inside, also saw Hua Changxi. However, she didn’t call out to Hua Changxi. Instead, she turned and spoke to Sister-in-law Shi and the other two who were queuing with her.
Sister-in-law Shi and the other two also looked at Hua Changxi but didn’t speak either.
Hua Changxi quickly shifted her gaze, looking at the crowded Internal Affairs Department. After some thought, she decided to go to the storeroom to collect medicinal herbs first.
Watching Hua Changxi leave, Lu Qingluo looked at Wang Yun Chu and the others, “Is what we did not very good?”
Wang Yun Chu snorted, “What’s not good about it? Given how Hua Changxi usually acts, unwilling to interact much with us, isn’t it normal that we didn’t call her?”
She paused, “If she had come over proactively, would we have refused her?”
The others didn’t dwell on the matter and soon happily discussed what they would buy after receiving their monthly salaries.
Meanwhile, Hua Changxi finished cleaning all five hundred stalks of medicinal herbs and delivered them to the Second Department. When she returned to the Internal Affairs Department, there were still many people inside.
Hua Changxi glanced at the sky, seeing that it was almost noon, and decided to go to the canteen for lunch.
Because she had cured several women in the canteen, Hua Changxi was very popular there. Besides the usual large pot meals, she occasionally got extra dishes.
After lunch, when she went to the Internal Affairs Department, there were not many people left.
After queuing for a while, Hua Changxi received two taels of silver. However, she didn’t leave immediately, “Mr. Accountant, I joined the Labor Department on September 21st. I haven’t received my September monthly salary yet.”
The accountant distributing the monthly salaries glanced at Hua Changxi, “It’s already been collected.”
Hua Changxi: “That’s impossible, I haven’t collected it.”
The accountant became a little impatient, “Go back and ask your steward. Next!”
Hearing the urging from behind, Hua Changxi had to move aside and quickly returned to the Sixth Bureau. She found Steward Du Ruo at the end of the ditch, “Steward Du, the accountant said my September monthly salary has already been collected, but I haven’t received it. What’s going on?”
Steward Du Ruo saw Hua Changxi’s determined look and didn’t hide anything, “Your September monthly salary was six hundred wen. Steward Leng collected it.”
Hua Changxi: “But she didn’t give it to me.” She paused, “She probably forgot. I’ll go find her now.”
Hearing this, Steward Du Ruo and Wang Yun Chu and others nearby looked at her as if she were an idiot.
Seeing their expressions, Hua Changxi knew there was something fishy going on and turned to find Steward Leng.
Steward Du Ruo saw that Hua Changxi was serious and quickly stopped her, “Are you genuinely unaware or pretending not to know?”
Hua Changxi frowned, “What do you mean?”
Seeing her like this, Steward Du Ruo sighed, “You haven’t worked before, have you?”
Hua Changxi: “No, this is my first job.”
Steward Du Ruo: “Every laborer has to pay six hundred wen as a ‘filial piety fee’ each month. This has been the rule in the Labor Department for many years.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes widened, “Filial piety fee? To whom?”
Steward Du Ruo didn’t answer this question. Instead, Wang Yun Chu enlightened Hua Changxi, “Of course, it’s to show filial piety to the stewards.”
Hua Changxi fell silent. After a moment, she looked at Wang Yun Chu and the others, “Earning only two taels of silver after working from dawn till dusk, and having to pay nearly a third as a ‘filial piety fee.’ Has no one objected?”
Wang Yun Chu glanced at Steward Du Ruo and quickly replied, “Some people have objected, but they were all eventually expelled from the Labor Department.”
Steward Du Ruo saw Hua Changxi’s defiant look and, not wanting her to cause trouble, advised, “After paying six hundred wen, you still have one thousand four hundred wen left. This is already more than what you’d earn from jobs outside.”
“People should learn to be content and not dwell too much on immediate gains and losses.”
“If you want to continue working in the Labor Department, you must abide by its rules.”
Hua Changxi angrily blurted out a curse, “What a load of crap rules.”
Steward Du Ruo’s tone turned unpleasant, “If you have the ability, change these crap rules. If you don’t, then stop complaining.”
Hua Changxi felt wronged but knew she couldn’t fight against the rules of the Labor Department. With a grim expression, she prepared to return to her room.
“Wait!”
Steward Du Ruo called out to her, “You haven’t paid this month’s filial piety fee yet.”
Hua Changxi took several deep breaths before taking six hundred wen from her newly received monthly salary and giving it to Steward Du Ruo. She then left without looking back.
Seeing that Hua Changxi dared to give Steward Du Ruo a dirty look, Wang Yun Chu said to Lu Qingluo and the others with a look of surprise, “With Hua Changxi’s temper, her family dared to let her come out and work as a laborer.”
Lu Qingluo looked enviously at Hua Changxi’s receding back, “Changxi’s family must dote on her very much, otherwise, they wouldn’t have raised her with such a personality.”
Having her wages docked, Hua Changxi was upset and couldn’t focus on cultivation. She went to the storeroom to find Yu Hui.
“Brother Yu, do you guys have to pay a filial piety fee?”
Yu Hui could tell Hua Changxi was in a bad mood and guessed what was going on. As there was nothing else to do at the moment, he started chatting with her.
“Paying a filial piety fee to the stewards has been a rule in the Labor Department for many years.”
“Laborers pay six hundred wen each month: one hundred wen for the Third Steward, two hundred wen for the Second Steward, and three hundred wen for the Head Steward.”
“And the Head Steward doesn’t just receive; they also have to show filial piety to the eunuchs above them.”
“This is the rule, and we can only abide by it. It’s uncomfortable for anyone to pay the filial piety fee for the first time, but you’ll get used to it later.”
“The treatment in the Labor Department is still much better than jobs outside. Working outside also requires paying a filial piety fee.”
“So, sister, try to be more optimistic. No matter where you go, the rules are the same.”
Hua Changxi: “But this rule is unreasonable.”
Yu Hui shrugged, “That’s just how the world is, what can we do?” He then lowered his voice, “Let me tell you, it’s not just the Labor Department; the Apprentice Hall and the Disciple Hall have the same rules.”
“On the nine streets in front of the Medical Affairs Department, the pharmacists and physicians on the back streets also have to curry favor with those on the front streets.”
This was the first time Hua Changxi had heard of such a thing, “What? Are the physicians and pharmacists in the Medical Affairs Department also divided into ranks?”
Yu Hui: “Of course. The first street of the Medical Affairs Department is where the Department Head and other officials have their offices. After the second street are the apothecary shops of various pharmacists and physicians.”
“The Medical Affairs Department does not typically treat patients. Most of the time, pharmacists and physicians are engaged in research on new medicines and medical skills.”
“With so many pharmacists and physicians, how are medicinal herbs, medical equipment, and personnel allocated? It depends on the street where the pharmacist or physician is located.”
“Pharmacists and physicians on the second and third streets have the highest status. Medicinal herbs, disciples, and apprentices in the Medical Affairs Department are preferentially supplied to them.”
“Of course, their alchemy techniques and medical skills are also the highest. Only they can refine the medicines used by Eighth-Rank and Ninth-Rank Martial Artists.”
“By the way, the pharmacists on these two streets are also responsible for researching new medicines.”
“Next are the physicians and pharmacists on the fourth and fifth streets. Their medical skills are also good. The pills needed by Seventh-Rank Martial Artists depend on them.”
“Then come the sixth and seventh streets, responsible for refining and developing pills for Fourth to Sixth-Rank Martial Artists.”
“Finally, there are the eighth and ninth streets, responsible for the research of medicines for First to Third-Rank Martial Artists and ordinary people.”
Hua Changxi: “It feels like the ranks of pharmacists and physicians are determined by the ranks of martial artists?”
Yu Hui: “You’re not mistaken, that’s exactly right. Do you know what one of the most important tasks of the Medical Affairs Department is?”
Hua Changxi: “What?”
Yu Hui: “To provide the medicines needed for the cultivation of martial artists for all martial arts academies in the Great Jin.”
“Otherwise, the Labor Department wouldn’t be so busy. Calculate it yourself, how many medicinal herbs does the Labor Department have to clean and prepare each month?”
“These medicinal herbs, along with the pills refined by all the pharmacists and physicians on the nine streets, will eventually be sent to the Capital Martial Academy and various local martial arts academies.”
“Of course, medicinal herbs from all over the Nine Provinces of Great Jin will also be escorted to our Medical Affairs Department.”
Yu Hui glanced at the storeroom entrance. Today was payday, and the guards at the storeroom were more relaxed, gathered together for gambling.
“Let’s go. A batch of medicinal herbs arrived from Jiaozhou yesterday. They must be ones you haven’t seen before. You like tasting medicinal herbs, right? I’ll take you into the storeroom.”
“Thank you, Brother Yu.”
The unhappiness Hua Changxi felt from her salary being deducted instantly vanished.
Upon entering the storeroom, Hua Changxi’s gaze immediately fixed on a pile of discarded medicinal herbs in the corner, which were deemed unusable due to improper storage and severe damage during transport.
Hua Changxi walked over and picked through them, “Brother Yu, many of these medicinal herbs are still usable. Are they all going to be thrown away?”
Yu Hui shook his head, “They won’t be thrown away. The Medical Affairs Department discards an immeasurable amount of medicinal herbs every day. Our Labor Department is considered fortunate; the Apprentice Hall and Disciple Hall discard even more.”
“These discarded medicinal herbs are collected by designated merchants. These merchants are well-connected and have deep backgrounds, reportedly backed by benefactors.”
He then lowered his voice, “Let me tell you, the low-quality pills sold in some apothecary shops outside are refined using discarded medicinal herbs from the Medical Affairs Department.”
After hearing Yu Hui’s words, Hua Changxi looked at the discarded medicinal herbs with interest. After some thought, she whispered to Yu Hui, “Brother Yu, I can refine Qi and Blood Pills used by First-Rank Martial Artists, Bone Strengthening Pills used by Second-Rank Martial Artists, Viscera Strengthening Pills used by Third-Rank Martial Artists, Tendon Unblocking Pills used by Fourth-Rank Martial Artists, Marrow Cleansing Pills used by Fifth-Rank Martial Artists, and Breaking Shackles Pills used by Sixth-Rank Martial Artists.”
With each pill Hua Changxi mentioned, Yu Hui’s expression became more shaken. By the time she finished, he was so excited that he grabbed Hua Changxi’s arm.
“Sister, you’re not lying to me, are you?”
Hua Changxi smiled at him, “Brother Yu, you’ve personally experienced my medical skills.”
Yu Hui’s face turned red with excitement. As someone who grew up as a beggar, he had always dreamed of becoming powerful and never being bullied again. Unfortunately, even after acknowledging Eunuch Yu as his father, the silver he earned was not enough to support his martial arts practice.
“Sister, let me tell you the truth. The discarded medicinal herbs in the storeroom are not inventoried; whatever is taken is taken. As long as we’re careful, it’s not a problem for me to let you use some.”
Hua Changxi smiled, “Brother Yu, then let’s cooperate. You provide the discarded medicinal herbs, and I’ll provide the skills. We’ll split the refined pills fifty-fifty.”
Yu Hui wanted to become strong too badly and immediately agreed, “Okay.”
