Prefect Zhun, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, was a classic example of someone who kicks away the ladder once they have climbed up, or breaks the bowl the moment they finish their meal.
However, it made sense. Why would he leave such a lucrative method of making money to his successor? If the next official wanted to make money, he could figure it out himself. In any case, the Prefectural Yamen had already issued official documents to Jiangdu and Ganquan, explicitly halting the certification of "Famous Trademarks" and "High-Quality Products." The stated justification was to ensure the "value" of existing certified products, while also making a gesture toward reducing the burden on merchants. If his successor wanted to follow suit, he would first have to overturn the decisions made by his predecessor. But was that easy to do? His predecessor was now the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner!
Zhao An was left with no choice. Even though Prefect Zhun hadn't taken him along to the provincial capital to make his fortune and had dismantled his certification business, he had treated Zhao An reasonably well.
Chapter 51