Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 648 Changing name and surname

It would be clearer to just give them a numerical code. So, I explained it to them in a nice way and advised them to pick another surname and a given name.

However, no one responded. The truth was that they could not recognize much Chinese and could not come up with their own names. It seemed a bit out of place to keep using their original names.

Because they wanted to assimilate Zhao'an and his men, Minister Zhang and Minister Li did not want to use force. So, the two champions came up with the most fair and just method, "drawing lots".

Write each surname on a piece of paper and let the captives draw lots. They will take the surname of the surname they draw. So, Hualei and the others started to prepare the slips of paper.

Although it is called the Hundred Family Surnames, "hundred" is an imaginary number used only to indicate a large number. It does not really have only one hundred surnames, but more than four hundred, including dozens of double surnames.

However, determining the surname is only the first step. These prisoners do not know how to name themselves, so more than 20,000 names need to be provided for them to draw lots.

Minister Zhang and Minister Li decided to pool their ideas, and each official helped to pick dozens of names and submit them for drawing lots.

In order to prevent too much duplication, a model was set for each official. You use the gold, silver, copper and iron series, and he uses the sun, moon and stars series. As long as it does not violate the taboos of the royal family of the Great Sheng Dynasty, you can use it.

Moreover, in order to make these captives feel valued, Minister Zhang and Minister Li also instructed the officials who were in charge of naming them, ensuring that the names could not be ambiguous or discriminatory.

Hualei said that this was a very difficult task. She racked her brains and thought about it over and over again when naming her own shop, Zhuangzi.

Picking fifty or sixty names at once might be more difficult than asking her to take the imperial examination. Originally, Hua Lei wanted Rong Jin to help with this matter.

However, Xiaoyuan and Rongjue's visit was tantamount to walking into a trap, so Hualei handed this difficult task over to the two of them.

For Hua Lei, coming up with dozens of names was an arduous and perhaps impossible task, but for Xiao Yuan and Rong Jue, it was no problem at all.

Moreover, for them, naming others subtly satisfies their own inexplicable and inexpressible sense of accomplishment.

So, while Hua Lei was preparing food for the two of them in the kitchen, the two of them had already come up with almost the same names.

Moreover, according to Minister Zhang's request, all the names have been copied directly onto the small slips of paper. Hua Lei took a look and was very satisfied.

After Rong Jin checked it and found nothing wrong, Hua Lei handed the note in. After seven or eight days of hard work, the notes with more than 400 surnames and more than 20,000 names were ready.

Then, the lottery began in a frenzy. The prisoners lined up one by one and took turns to draw a piece of paper from the wooden box.

First, the surname is determined, then the name is chosen by drawing lots, and finally the household registration is handled. It is a one-stop service. The scene is more grand than that of the people who moved to Xinzhou Prefecture.

There were more than 20,000 prisoners, lined up in dozens of long queues, and there were hundreds of yamen runners maintaining order.

Almost all the officials of the imperial court, big and small, came on stage and divided into groups to draw lots to determine the names of the captives. One was responsible for supervision, one was responsible for recording, and two were responsible for household registration.

Hua Lei was an official in the Ministry of Household Affairs, so she was responsible for helping to identify the names of the captives and register their household registration. Sticky Note Rong Jin took the opportunity to sit next to Hua Lei, and they were in the same group and worked together.

Because there were so many prisoners, the drawing of lots was chaotic at first, but soon became orderly. The drawing process was relatively simple, so it was very fast.

As a result, Hua Lei and Rong Jin, who were in charge of handling the household registration, seemed to be in a hurry. Looking at the long line in front of her, the anxious Hua Lei couldn't help but speed up her pace.

However, the more anxious you are, the easier it is to make mistakes. You might write someone else's name incorrectly or accidentally drop ink on the paper and need to rewrite it.

Seeing Hua Lei making mistakes all the time, Rong Jin, who was beside her, patted Hua Lei's arm gently and comforted her to go at her own pace, but he himself quickened his own pace and took on more workload.

At the end of the day, Hualei didn't even have time to drink water, but compared to Yu Rongjin, Hualei's speed was still half as slow. At night, her hands were so sore that she couldn't lift them up, and she was exhausted.

On the other hand, Rong Jin still looked calm and composed, which showed the difference in physical strength between men and women. Even if Hua Lei was not convinced, she could understand it.

Why in previous lives, women had so many fewer job opportunities than men, especially in jobs that required heavy physical labor.

Now, I am much stronger than most women who never leave the house. However, today, even a professional from the Ministry of Revenue cannot compare to Rong Jin who is like a sticky note.

Her weakness was so obvious that Hua Lei felt a little unhappy. What she was more worried about was that others would see her and slander her behind her back.

Although feeling discouraged, Hualei felt that she still needed to strengthen her physical fitness in the future, and also to speed up the use of the brush. Hualei was very strong and set a new goal for herself in her mind.

Perhaps seeing Hualei's frustration, Rong Jin took Hualei's hand and slowly walked back to the house after the shift. After dinner, Rong Jin personally massaged Hualei's sore arms and wrists, while chatting with Hualei in a gentle voice.

"Sister Hua, are you very tired? Are you feeling a little discouraged, thinking that you are slow and have a poor physique?" Rong Jin looked at Hua Lei and asked while pinching her arm.

Hualei nodded helplessly.

"Did you know? In the Great Sheng Dynasty, in addition to the imperial palace, there were a few female officials who held certain official ranks, received court salaries, and assisted in managing the affairs of the harem.

There were almost no female officials in the previous dynasty. In this respect, you are the best and unique. Do you still think you are incompetent?" Rong Jin asked again with a smile.

"This... this may be related to the current system. If the court gives women opportunities, perhaps there will be many female officials." Hua Lei didn't dare to be arrogant and say that she was the best.

After all, among the few women she knew, there were several very good candidates, such as Mrs. Chen Shao, who rented the yard behind her house, and Ruyi, who was far away in Chengsheng Prefecture. No matter from which aspect, they were very capable.

However, during the Great Sheng Dynasty, due to secular customs, women did not have the opportunity to take the imperial examinations, and many female family members hardly ever left the house.