老百姓投票选出本地议员,这在中国历史上可谓破天荒头一遭。选举的过程平淡,而一旦当选,这些议员们后发的力量惊人。一个鸦片烟客,偶然在烟馆里听到选举议员的消息,以为议员就是官,赶紧去购置田产,以符合选举条件,即在本省有五千元以上的营业资本或者不动产。这是光绪三十二年,在《月月小说》上发表的一则以“预备立宪”为题的讽刺小说。 Ordinary people voted to elect local councilors, which can be described as unprecedented in Chinese history. The election process is dull, and once elected, the power of these legislators is staggering. An opium smoker, who occasionally heard the members of the election hall in the smokehouse, thought that the legislator was the official and hurried to purchase the property to meet the conditions for the election, that is, there are over five thousand yuan of operating capital or real estate in the province. This is a satirical novel titled “Preparing for Constitution” in the “Moon and the Moon” published by Emperor Guangxu for thirty-two years.