vncnus Page 122
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They even went a step further, incorporating former clerks into the formal official system. Without a guarantee, this might save money in the short term, but it could lead to a lot of hidden dangers in the future!
The military is better off; their salaries are generally a level higher than those of civil servants, and they also receive retirement pay.
But for civil servants, all they get is a salary, nothing else. Even their retirement benefits have been cancelled, and their former tax-free privileges have vanished.
If you serve as an official your whole life, and then retire without even a pension, who would be happy?
It is absurd to expect officials to govern the country with resentment, no security, and enormous risks. Normal people would transfer risks, and it goes without saying where they would transfer them.
Faced with the crowd's outrage, Zhao Yan was generous for the first time; otherwise, the crowd would have exploded.
Even Lu Zhaoxuan, a usually transparent and honest person, publicly declared that "glory should never be enjoyed alone."
Zhao Yan had no choice but to agree to a substantial increase in the salaries and benefits of civil servants and military personnel, doubling their original amounts.
Adjusting the base salary is just the beginning; the key is the subsequent protection measures.
The meeting proposed a national social insurance system, which covers almost all types of insurance, including accident insurance, unemployment insurance, pension insurance, maternity insurance, and illness insurance.
After the introduction of social insurance, it was applied to all citizens, regardless of urban or rural areas, gender, or age, with the same benefit standard for everyone, and it was implemented universally.
The government fully covers the social security contributions for civil servants; they do not need to purchase them themselves and are automatically enrolled upon employment.
But this insurance is real insurance; it's a one-time opportunity. As long as you buy it and hold it for more than a year, the government will save your life in a critical moment.
Simply put, if you encounter an insurmountable crisis and feel like you can't overcome it, and you're left to die, this insurance will allow the government to save your life.
But this opportunity is only available once in a lifetime. Once the insurance is triggered, there will be no second chance, and no opportunity to renew the insurance.
If it is not triggered by the time you retire, it will automatically become a pension insurance and you can receive it monthly. But if it is triggered, you will have to buy expensive commercial insurance to protect yourself.
Furthermore, the social insurance fund is not unlimited; it also has a limit, which is implemented according to the per capita standard of the fund pool and the socio-economic standard.
This is a typical "help in an emergency, not in a long-term" mentality. They'll only pull you out once in a critical moment, and after that, it's up to you to deal with the rest.
In addition to social insurance, civil servants have two additional funds: one is the "anti-corruption fund," which is paid monthly at 15% of their salary and stored in a fixed pool. It cannot be withdrawn freely; an application document must be submitted in advance for withdrawal.
The other is the pension, which is an additional pension and is determined according to the official's rank at the time of retirement.
Zhao Yan's results surprised and satisfied everyone. Not only did he raise salaries, but he also innovatively created a social security safety net to guarantee officials' long-term benefits.
That's how Zhao Yan does things. He either doesn't budge an inch, or when he does, he gets it right the first time, satisfying everyone. He never does the piecemeal stuff.
Chapter 204 Finally, we saw a return on our investment.
February 5, 1910, the beginning of spring.
It was still snowing in Meihua Town. As the Spring Festival approached, the weather was still very cold, with heavy snow falling all around.
The dilapidated town government building was drafty, and the deputy mayor and his wife were huddled inside a fire pit, covered with a small quilt for warmth.
The town government was originally a dilapidated temple. It had been neglected for years and was relatively cool in the summer, since it was drafty from all sides. But it was completely unbearable in the winter.
The deputy mayor brought his fire bucket from home to the town government. The fire bucket was similar to a bathtub, with some wooden lattice inside and charcoal fire underneath. Sitting on it and covering yourself with something was much more comfortable than sitting by a fire, and it also saved more fuel.
"Damn it, I'm freezing to death! Make way!" A figure covered in snow rushed into the house, pushing his way in with a gust of cold wind.
He took off his shoes and then slipped into the fire bucket in a puff of smoke. And that was it. The deputy mayor and his wife were almost knocked unconscious by the smell of his feet and quickly got up and stood up.
"Old Lin, this is what my family moved here. How can you even use it if you crawl inside?" the deputy mayor said angrily.
Lin Jishun showed no remorse whatsoever, but instead said smugly, "Once you're on my turf, it's mine. I don't recognize it as my home!"
A few seconds later, the town's police officers also braved the snow and came in, another pair of smelly feet crawling inside. The deputy mayor slapped his thigh: "It's over, this is completely unusable!"
His wife, standing to the side, was also venting her anger by pinching the soft flesh on the deputy mayor's waist. If he hadn't insisted on bringing the fire bucket over, she would have been so comfortable staying at home roasting herself.
Lin Jishun warmed his frozen hands again, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, offered one to the police officer, and then lit one for himself.
"You'll definitely thank me later. Quickly call everyone over for a meeting, and after the meeting, take advantage of the time to go on vacation," Lin Jishun said, smoking a cigarette.
"A higher-ranking official can have absolute power," and the deputy mayor, left with no other option, could only go and call for backup.
Soon everyone from the town government arrived, including the teachers and principals. A dozen or so people sat around the fire pit, enduring the stench of feet emanating from it, waiting for Lin Jishun to speak.
Lin Jishun didn't mince words and said directly, "I went to a meeting in the county the day before yesterday and also helped everyone collect their wages. Today is the last day before the holiday."
"I almost froze to death on the way, but I'm back with a lot of good stuff this time."
"The county meeting mainly conveyed the content of this year's central government work report. I also brought back the relevant documents. We can study them slowly after everyone goes back to work after the Spring Festival."
"The main message is just one thing! The higher-ups have finally shown mercy, and everyone's good days are coming!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked up.
"The central government has issued the latest civil servant salary and benefits policy issued earlier this month, and this time it has finally been fully implemented! Everyone's salary has increased; the lowest salary before was three yuan and fifty cents, and now it has all increased to seven yuan."
"I've brought it all back for you this time, and the year-end bonus is also double your monthly salary. You'll get at least twenty-one yuan this month!"
"In addition, there are social insurance, anti-corruption allowances, and pension benefits, which are more complicated and do not provide cash, so we will not discuss them today."
Hearing that they could get at least 21 yuan by the end of the year, everyone present was excited. There were only five days left until the Chinese New Year. Now that they had this money in hand, this year would definitely be a prosperous one!
"Where's the money? I'm asking you, where's the money?! Where is the money?!" The deputy mayor was so agitated that he grabbed Lin Jishun by the collar and almost lifted him up.
"There, inside! Let go!" Lin Jishun quickly pointed to the pair of smelly leather boots.
Everyone was convinced; this town mayor always liked to hide money, whether it was big or small, under the insoles of his boots.
Sometimes he would hide a few cents in there, and the vegetable vendors would never accept money from the town mayor, not because they were afraid of him or respected him, but simply because they disliked him.
The group pulled two stacks of damp, limp banknotes from Lin Jishun's boots. The clerk immediately took the ledger and started distributing salaries, signing and pressing his fingerprint after each payment, making sure the procedures were clear and straightforward, giving Lin Jishun no chance to interfere.
The ninth-level clerks are fine; after the salary increase, they get seven yuan a month, plus a year-end bonus, which is twenty-one yuan. The eighth-level staff members are only the deputy mayor and the mayor, Lin Jishun, who get ten yuan a month, for a total of thirty yuan.
Furthermore, the food and office expenses have increased significantly this month, and the anti-corruption allowance and pension that have not yet been received are also very attractive.
For these lowest-paid civil servants, this is the first time they've seen so much money coming back; the higher-ups are finally being generous this time.
The decision to raise wages before the Spring Festival was made by the higher authorities, as the Chinese people are most short of money during the Lunar New Year.
Why is the Spring Festival called the "Year-End Pass"? It's because celebrating the Spring Festival is like passing through a hurdle! The whole family needs a good meal, the children need new clothes, the elderly need to pay New Year's visits, red envelopes need to be given on New Year's Eve, and relatives need to be visited during the first month of the lunar calendar—all of which cost money.
The central government also took this into consideration, finalizing the decision around New Year's Day and then implementing it before the Spring Festival.
Although most of the officials in the central government of the Republic are still former officials from the previous dynasty, the biggest change is that their resumes are different. To be able to enter the capital and become a big shot, one must have at least experience as a county magistrate. Compared to the indifferent officials of the Qing Dynasty, these officials have at least lived in the lower levels and know what kind of life people live.
After distributing the last paycheck and bonuses of the year, the Meihua Town government announced that it was taking leave and leaving get off work. Only Mayor Lin Jishun and police officers would remain at the town government to continue their duties.
Lin Jishun was from out of town. He was a bandit from Shandong and had no home for a long time. It didn't matter whether he went back or not, so he simply stayed in Meihua Town for the New Year.
Police officers, on the other hand, must be on duty around the clock. The police officer in Plum Blossom Town was a rogue in his early years, illiterate and a kind of Ah Q in the town. He was promoted to police officer by sheer luck because he shouted revolutionary slogans loudly.
He only became honest and reliable after getting a job, which helped him secure his position as a town police officer, but it was also the most miserable position.
Everyone in town can take a day off, except for the police officer, because he's the only one in charge of maintaining order. If he takes a day off, the town's official security system will be paralyzed.
"Hey Lao Ding, it's just the two of us now. How about I give you a chance tonight and you buy me a drink?"
"You'd better be smart. The first thing you should do after you get your salary is to curry favor with your boss. When I get promoted, I'll take you to the county police station and get you a position there too!"
After everyone had left, Lin Jishun tried to trick Officer Ding into buying him some alcohol, but Officer Ding wasn't fooled at all: "Mayor, I know my own limitations. I'm already lucky to be a town police officer; I don't expect to go to the county."
So, you should buy your own wine. I have to go home soon; my wife and kids are there!
Two years ago, police officer Lao Ding got married thanks to his government job. Now their child is four months old, and he doesn't want to sit in the cold wind in the government compound with the bachelor mayor.
“Old Ding, are you leaving me too? Even if you don’t go to the county, you’ll still have to work under me in the town. Have you thought this through? There aren’t many opportunities to treat the town mayor to a meal. It would be a pity to miss it!” Lin Jishun continued.
Old Ding had long since figured out Lin Jishun's background: "Come on, you, Mayor Lin, are famous for going wherever there's food. You're the kind of person who can smell the aroma of boiling water and come over. Do you really need someone to specially invite you to dinner?"
"If you have nowhere to go tonight, you can stay at my place, but I can't afford to pay for your dinner!"
"By the way, we really need to buy a police gun after the New Year. It would be better to buy a pistol. In other towns, the police officers carry guns when they go out with the mayor. But in our Plum Blossom Town, I have to carry a dog-beating stick with you all day long. It's really too embarrassing!"
During their two days in the county, Officer Ding and Lin Jishun encountered many other town mayors. Those mayors were also accompanied and protected by police officers, who either carried rifles or had pistols on their waists, looking extremely imposing.
He, the police officer from Plum Blossom Town, was carrying a dog-beating stick, making a complete fool of himself.
Many people flee their money at the end of the year, and everyone is afraid of being robbed on the road while carrying so much cash, so they all have police officers accompany them and provide armed protection.
But carrying such a dog-beating stick is less intimidating than carrying a hoe.
"Don't worry, next year there will be more new recruits from the national civil service exam who will be transferred here after completing their training. The town is going to set up a police station, and you will be the police chief. You will be promoted from the ninth rank to the ninth rank, and you will have at least three more heads under your command."
The relevant funds will all be deposited into the account. Buying new weapons from the weapons shop is too expensive now, and those old Hanyang rifles with their old sockets at the market are not very useful.
I have connections in the military. I can get you a few Springfield rifles and some Mauser C96 pistols. They'll be secondhand, but they'll be more than enough, and they won't be expensive!
Next year, the central Ministry of Finance will launch another round of massive monetary easing, and fiscal expenditures will also increase accordingly, with a focus on promoting the improvement and perfection of township administrative institutions.
An administrative unit like Meihua Town will have at least thirty staff members by next year. The town government will also have the funds to renovate it and will add new institutions such as a police station and a tax office.
The town government will also be improved from the original makeshift team into new departments such as finance, office, culture and education, agriculture, and economics.
Now these veteran employees will also be promoted. Although their rank will not change, they will be promoted from ordinary clerks to senior clerks in charge of a department, which is equivalent to being promoted from the ninth rank to the ninth rank.
Like Officer Ding, next year, after the new recruits take over, he will become the police chief of the town's police station, in charge of the town's security and law enforcement, with at least three officers under his command.
This is also the normal grassroots structure planned by the higher authorities. A town usually has a population of around 20,000. Relying on a single police chief to maintain public order is practically useless.
Previously, the local security in Meihua Town was maintained by the village chief and local elders. The principle was that if the people did not complain, the officials would not investigate. Unless it was a major case involving a death, nothing would go to court.
This has led to strong clan power and influence among non-governmental organizations in rural areas, and the government will not allow anyone from the private sector to have the right to make legal judgments in the future.
Old Ding was very happy to hear this. He really didn't want to leave Plum Blossom Town for the sake of a so-called promotion. After all, this was the place he knew best. If he left Plum Blossom Town, he would be like a rootless duckweed.
But if he could stay in Plum Blossom Town and become more powerful and prestigious, he would be very happy to do so.
In the nearly two years since Lin Jishun took office in Meihua Town, he has been serving him hand and foot, doing all the hard and tiring work. Although he often complains, he does his best when it comes to getting things done.
Now that Lin Jishun has finally given him a future, Old Ding is overjoyed and immediately agrees to host a banquet at home that evening, serving him the best wine and meat.
People like Officer Ding, who sneaked in by taking advantage of the situation, will most likely only ever reach the rank of junior staff member before retiring.
Furthermore, the civil servants who entered the national civil service exam in the past two years, who were admitted with more lenient policies, basically have no future prospects. Even retired military officers like Lin Jishun can only manage to become a county magistrate at most, or, if they are extremely lucky, become a deputy mayor in the city.
Going further up, the lack of education becomes a major disadvantage. Even with a high school diploma, one can climb the ranks, but it's impossible to truly succeed.
If you have a degree, that's even more impressive, there's no limit to how high you can go!
Chapter 205 Rural Economy
Meihua Town was even more bustling than last year in December. Despite the bad weather and heavy snow, people from various villages still flocked to the town.
Even in the coldest part of winter in the south, rivers do not freeze and are navigable; in fact, the water flow is even more stable than in spring and summer.
Goods from all directions pass through the town, and it boasts the most complete selection of goods in the area. People from the surrounding villages and towns flock here to buy some good things to take home during these last few days before the Lunar New Year.
The busiest place in Meihua Town is the wharf market. Now that the Spring Festival is approaching, the wharf is already packed with people.
Street vendors lined the streets, and shops on both sides had their doors wide open to welcome customers.
Lin Jishun and Officer Ding received a request for help from the public and came to the dock market to maintain order. In the lobby of the largest Ping An Inn next to the dock, seven or eight children who could not find their parents had been brought in.
Several other people lost things or had their wallets stolen, and there were all sorts of trivial matters; it just wouldn't stop.
Town Mayor Lin Jishun and police officer Lao Ding, who were still on duty at the town government, had no choice but to go to the dock. After arriving at Ping An Inn, a group of people surrounded them, each telling their own story of the difficulties they had encountered.
As the town mayor, Lin Jishun would definitely not make a direct appearance. After all, he would only make the final decision, and the initial handling would still require Officer Ding. Only when Officer Ding could not handle the situation would Lin Jishun personally step in.
Lin Jishun's main job was to comfort the lost children, while Officer Ding was responsible for handling public order incidents.
Several prominent figures from the town also came upon hearing the news, and several local town government officials also stopped their holidays and rushed to work.
"Mayor, please make a decision quickly! I've lived for decades and never seen anything like this before. People are being trampled to death at the docks!"
"Yes, Mayor, you are the head of this town. The town can't be this crowded anymore, or it will immediately explode!"
"I've never seen so many people come to town before! This tiny Plum Blossom Town is packed with tens of thousands of people!"
Several respected elders from the village were extremely anxious, as there weren't this many people even decades earlier when there were uprisings.
The reasons are that people who have been working outside have brought money home for the New Year, locals who have saved some money have come to spend it, and merchants from other places have also stopped here.
Although Meihua Town is not a large place, it is a transportation hub, and all travelers from the north and south of the county must pass through it. It is also rich in local products.
They usually keep a low profile, but after accumulating strength, a sudden surge of people came during the Spring Festival, which was to be expected.
For the past four years since the Republican government came to power, it has consistently treated the lower classes with great favor. To what extent? It's not just about reducing taxes and providing for the people's well-being; it's about exempting them from agricultural taxes and corvée labor, allowing them to grow freely.
Even in the most difficult times, Zhao Yan never laid a hand on the peasants. Even though the North conscripted a large number of laborers to fight, they were given generous rewards and compensation after the war.
The South was even more unaffected by war, seamlessly transitioning from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic, without any civil war or foreign war.
The government didn't exploit the land, and the war didn't harm this place. With the savings accumulated over the past few years, the people, while not necessarily living a life of basic needs, are at least not starving and have some money left over for the New Year.
In rural areas of the south, there is a large population but limited land, and Hunan is mostly mountainous, so there is not a high demand for labor. Many people have gone to the city to make a living.