Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 10 Guarantor
"Brother Yang Liu died for his country. If this doesn't count as loyalty and righteousness, then what does?"

The first to speak was a lame man. He had also been a soldier who was seriously wounded on the battlefield, but fortunately survived and was able to return home.

Many people are not as lucky as him.

Some were even beheaded and their heads were used to build mounds of skulls. The horrific scene is unimaginable to those who have never witnessed it firsthand.

They fought valiantly, dying on the battlefield, not for fame, but to refrain from being questioned by others.

Once someone started, voices immediately followed.

"The third daughter of the Yang family was a good mother who raised her son well and also risked her life to save others, which was naturally a great act of righteousness."

“My nephew is in the Jingwei Army. I heard that the soldiers of Jinming Village defended the city for several days. Later, when almost all of them were dead, the city gate was finally breached. When the imperial reinforcements recaptured Jinming Village and collected their bodies, each of them had a pound of arrowheads pulled out of their bodies.”

"No wonder most of them were not even skeletal remains, their bodies were so badly mutilated that it was impossible to tell who was who."

"We are honored that such a loyal and righteous person has emerged from Yong'anfang."

"You're right."

"When my sixth brother was at home, he was just as obedient. He helped me cover the roof. Back then... sigh... poor boy, he was so young."

Chen Ju felt gratified as he listened to the sounds around him. He had wanted to step forward and speak first, but Lord Wang gestured for him to stop.

Looking back now, wasn't he putting the cart before the horse? What this young lady wanted was the recognition of the Yang family mother and son by the neighbors.

Zhang looked around at the neighbors who were defending her sixth son, and quickly bowed. Amidst their voices, her eyes welled with tears. When the news of her sixth son's death arrived, the second patriarch was only concerned with using the incident to glorify the family; he showed no sadness whatsoever.

But now, she saw a lot of sympathy and regret on the faces of the people around her.

Seeing this scene, Old Madam Yang's face turned ugly, but she couldn't show the slightest displeasure. With this disturbance, no one in the clan could easily make things difficult for Zhang and her son in the future. Otherwise, if Zhang went out and cried, these people might just side with her.

If I had known it would turn out this way, I should have thought of a way to stop it from the beginning.

It's too late now.

As Mrs. Yang was pondering how to end the situation, the crowd parted to both sides, and then a man in his fifties walked over.

"Reporting to Inspector He, I am the official in charge of Yong'an Ward."

Fang Shi bowed, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Despite the cold weather, he was covered in sweat, which showed how rushed he had been. This was hardly his fault; with the Yang family's house on fire, he, as the village head, was bound to be questioned. He had just made a trip to the county government office when he was questioned about Yang Mingshan's case. Without stopping, he went to the patrol inspector's office, only to find that the inspector was not there.

He had read the official document from the clerk and was just about to invite the clerk for drinks to clarify the whole story when he heard that the patrol inspector had arrived at Yong'an Ward.

When the people arrived at the Yang family's door, they saw this huge scene before them.

Fang Shi even considered going to the temple to ask for a talisman. Could he have unintentionally offended some deity? How come today's events combined are more numerous than the entire previous year?
The important thing is that Yong'anfang alarmed Inspector He, who had just arrived.

New officials are always eager to make their mark, and the most difficult to deal with are those who have just taken office, especially since the He family is a family of military generals and has relatives by marriage like the Wang family.

Inspector He's forehead practically screamed: "I can't afford to offend him."

Fortunately, Fang Shi had overheard the conversation and immediately took over: "I heard everything just now. Yang San Niangzi's righteous act of saving people is truly a beautiful story. In the future, if anyone in Yong'an Ward spreads rumors or false information, I will definitely arrest them and send them to the yamen."

Yang Mingjing, following behind Fang Fangzheng, felt a jolt of surprise upon hearing this, sensing that Fangzheng's words were intentionally directed at the Yang family.

The issue of withholding information has not yet been resolved, and now another one has been added.

Moreover… Yang Mingjing’s eyelids twitched, as if he felt this wasn’t over yet.

Sure enough, another voice rang out.

Xie Yuyan said, "Now that I have been carried into the Yang family and have paid my respects to Yang Liuge, we are considered husband and wife. I will definitely take good care of my mother and help her raise Jiuge to adulthood, thus fulfilling this obligation."

These words inevitably sparked another round of discussion among those around them.

He Tan asked, "Have you thought it through?"

Xie Yuyan responded, "I was kidnapped and sold to Daming Prefecture. I have no elders with me, so I ask the Inspector and everyone here to be my witnesses." He Tan nodded and looked at Zhang Shi, "Do you have a marriage certificate?"

“Yes,” Zhang said, “it’s at home.”

"I'll go get it," Yang Qin said, and ran into the courtyard. In no time, he delivered the marriage certificate to He Tan and also handed him a pen and ink.

He Tan filled in his name as guarantor at the end of the marriage certificate.

The marriage was considered settled, and no one dared to say that this "Xie Shiniang" was not a daughter-in-law of the Yang family.

Everyone around Zhang congratulated her.

Yang Mingjing only heard a sudden clap of thunder above his head.

It took Old Madam Yang a long time to realize what had just happened. Was "Xie Shiniang" going to stay in the Yang family?

They even asked He Tan to act as guarantor, and that's it? What's even more frightening is that General Chen has been staring at her ever since, as if he would tear her apart if she dared to step forward to stop him.

Chen Ju was overjoyed. He had said long ago that if this matter could be accomplished, it would be the first time he had successfully facilitated a marriage, and he would bring it up from time to time in the future.

Thinking this through, Chen Ju's eyelids suddenly twitched, and his heart tightened. He instinctively straightened his back. Why did he have this bad feeling?

……

Xie Yuyan stepped forward and bowed to He Tan to express her gratitude. She also remembered Wang Hechun, who had been standing by her side the whole time.

Although Wang Hechun didn't say anything, she knew that he was watching her every move.

Isn't her ostentatious behavior today meant to be shown to him?
He Tan said, "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to the government office to find me."

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Just then, Wang Hechun handed Yang Qin several books: "Come to the yamen tomorrow, and I will take you to see a teacher in the city. He can teach you to read."

Xie Yuyan was somewhat surprised; she had thought He Tan was going to call Yang Qin over for questioning before sending these things out.

Unexpectedly, without any effort at all, "he" figured it out.

But thinking about it carefully... who in the Great Liang Dynasty could compare to him in terms of reading?
So intelligent, and knows how to help others.

Xie Yuyan subconsciously wanted to see the reward.

Thinking this to himself, he had already curtsied to Wang Hechun: "Thank you, sir."

“I am just a scholar,” Wang Hechun said, “I am far from being a gentleman.”

Is she far inferior to the elder in her family?
Xie Yuyan naturally wouldn't argue with him about these things. Wang Hechun looked gentle at the moment, but who knew how much turmoil was hidden in his eyes?

However, with such a person offered to her, and countless benefits to follow, she had to accept them all.

Wang Hechun looked at Xie Shiniang with an unnatural gaze, her words and actions were natural, and there was no sign of any scheming in her mind.

But Yang Qin, who accepted the book with a slightly surprised expression, immediately smiled with a hint of admiration, which was naturally not directed at him.

With everything settled, Xie Yuyan watched He Tan and the others leave, then turned to go inside with Zhang Shi.

The second wife's old lady had a gloomy look in her eyes and instructed Zhang Shi, "Come over here and talk to me."

Zhang naturally agreed, but after only a few steps, the second wife's mother noticed that Xie was also following behind.

“You…” The two old ladies frowned and looked at Xie Yuyan.

"I also have something to report to the old lady."

The second old lady frowned and was about to send Xie Yuyan away when she heard Xie Yuyan say, "Just now, the old lady said that the Xie family is engaged to the old master. I would like to see the wedding invitation sent by the Xie family. It says how much land they will provide as a dowry and how much the bride price will be."

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(End of this chapter)