Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 134 Taking office
Yang Mingjing's youngest son, Yang Shen, was only fourteen years old. Yang Cheng had left home, supposedly to travel and study, but in reality, he had spent a lot of money to study at a small academy in Jiangnan.

Without money to support him, Yang Cheng could only return to Daming Prefecture. What could he do at his age? Even if Yang Shen were left with him, he probably wouldn't be able to take good care of him.

His eldest daughter married and moved to Shanxi. They only exchanged a few letters a year, and even if her husband's family provided relief, they wouldn't give her much money.

Once expelled from the clan, everything becomes difficult. Any decent job requires clan guarantor. If all clan members have passed away, it goes without saying. But if there are still clan members present but no official document, they can only be driven away.

Yang Mingjing recalled his mother mentioning the third branch of the family, saying that one day she would expel them from the Yang family, but in the end, it was the entire second branch that was thrown out.

Yang Mingjing said in a trembling voice, "I...I'm willing to do it."

Xie Yuyan was not surprised. She smiled slightly and said, "I've given the way to Second Uncle. Now it's up to him to decide what to do."

Yang Mingjing took a deep breath: "I'll take the people from the yamen to the accounting office."

Besides Yang Zongdao, several other direct relatives of the Yang clan also embezzled a lot of property from the collateral branches of the clan. When the collateral branches complained to him, as the clan head, he should have taken charge, but he suppressed the collateral branches and downplayed the matter...

Now it's time for him to pay back his debts.

Two members of a collateral branch of the clan went out with Yang Mingjing.

Xie Yuyan looked at the remaining people in the room and said, "We will be electing a new clan leader in the next two days. Everyone should be prepared."

"Why bother choosing? Naturally, the eldest daughter-in-law should be the clan leader."

“That’s right. If it weren’t for Madam, we, the collateral branches, wouldn’t look like members of the clan at all; we would be their hired hands.”

"The eldest daughter-in-law is the clan leader."

They had never heard of any clan leader being a woman, but the Yang clan members didn't care about that anymore.

They have a lot of rules and regulations, but who cares about their well-being? They've come to realize that whoever treats them well and leads them to a good life will be in charge.

Of course, some of these things can be said aloud, while others are left unsaid and unspoken.

With the matriarch in charge, who dares to be the clan leader? And who is capable of being the clan leader?

No one is more capable than the eldest daughter-in-law; otherwise, the second wife wouldn't have been able to suppress her for so many years.

Moreover, they didn't want what Mrs. He said to come true.

Madam He said that in the future, when the eldest daughter-in-law no longer needs the Yang family, she will abandon the Yang family.

If Madam Yang can continue to be the head of the Yang clan and treat them as her own people, then she shouldn't abandon them so easily, right? Clan members are always more trustworthy than ordinary people.

Unless the eldest daughter-in-law remarries in the future.

But I can't think that far ahead now.

Xie Yuyan did not refuse. She did not like being the head of the Yang clan, but she disliked being controlled even more.

Therefore, it was destined that since she was here, everything had to be done her way.

Whether it's people or principles.

Xie Yuyan looked at Yang Qin. Before Yang Qin grew up, she would be in charge of the Yang family.

But she hadn't considered whether she would stay in the Yang family forever.

Compared to her past life's tendency to overthink, she now prefers to follow her heart and leave the future to her future self.

Xie Yuyan said calmly, "Tomorrow at the beginning of the day, the elders of the clan will come to the main hall to discuss matters. After New Year's Day, the clan will select people to go to the porcelain kiln."

Upon hearing the words "porcelain kiln," the clansmen's faces immediately lit up with joy.

The stove shop next to the water shop opened, selling clay stoves fired in the abandoned porcelain kiln of the Yang family. Although it opened quietly, many people were already waiting there early in the morning.

Everyone is familiar with this clay furnace; in fact, they've had their eyes on it for a long time.

This thing has been placed outside since the water shop opened, so that passersby can keep warm.

A few days ago, someone even tried to steal the clay stove, but fortunately, the villagers who were warming themselves by the fire discovered it and managed to get it back.

What's good if even thieves are after it?
Moreover, lotus root charcoal burns longer in this stove, and those who used lotus root charcoal would always go to the water shop to inquire about the clay stoves. Upon learning that the shop was opening, they all lined the door to wait, and the clay stoves were sold out in just over an hour. Especially the small clay stoves, which were bought up by several scholars as soon as they were put on display.

This stuff can be used year-round, whether it's winter or summer; you can use it whenever you're making tea.

The clay stove was fired in the kiln by Madam Xie and the eldest son. Few other members of the Yang clan knew about it, and when asked about the clay stove, they didn't know what to say.

I'm happy that my own products are selling well, but I'm even more looking forward to the day when I can help out at the kiln.

Now the opportunity has arrived.

Just say that it's good that Madam Xie is the clan leader.

On the other hand, if Madam Xie hadn't stayed with the Yang family, the porcelain kiln would definitely have disappeared.

When the kiln was sealed, the clan treated Yang Mingde in such a way that, while not exactly enemies, Yang Mingde's family harbored resentment.

Given Yang Mingde's temperament, he would rather follow Madam Xie in doing business than stay in the clan.

Having received the benefits, the clansmen bowed to Xie Yuyan and Yang Mingde. Yang Mingde pretended not to see them and turned his head to the side. After the clansmen had all left, he spoke to Xie Yuyan: "Otherwise, I won't rest and will open the kiln on New Year's Day." Seeing that the clay kilns he made were not enough to sell, he felt indescribably anxious.

Unfortunately, firing clay kilns requires skill, and their kilns were simply too small; even with continuous firing, they couldn't produce too many.

Xie Yuyan said, "No need. Uncle, you should rest well these few days. It's not too late to open the kiln after the fifth day of the new year."

Yang Mingde sighed. What's more fun than firing a kiln during the New Year? But he could only listen to Xie Yuyan on these matters.

“I’m going back,” Yang Mingde said. “I still haven’t figured out those porcelain stones from Lanzhou.”

If you don't let him fire the clay stove, he'll play with porcelain stones.

Xie Yuyan nodded, and Yang Mingde strode out, genuinely concerned about the porcelain clay he had just ground.

Since reopening the kiln, Yang Mingde has been walking with a brisk pace, and his posture has changed from a hunched back to a strolling with his hands behind his back. All his former energy and spirit have returned.

As they left the courtyard of the third house, they happened to encounter yamen runners escorting the two old ladies out.

The two old ladies had ashen faces and kept calling out Yang Mingjing's name.

At first, it was a plea for help, but then it turned into cursing.

She scolded her son for being heartless, actually conspiring with outsiders to harm his parents.

Yang Mingde shook his head. Even if this kind of person is about to die, she will not repent. Fortunately, someone can control her.

With the ancestral home gate right in front of her, the second old lady suddenly had a feeling that once she went out, she would never be able to come back. She immediately began to struggle again, raising her head to cry out for justice, when she saw a cat leap over her head. The cat landed on a plum tree, and with a kick of its hind legs, a clump of snow fell from the branch, smearing the second old lady's face solidly, instantly burying her voice. The second old lady was thus dragged out.

……

The patrol and inspection office.

After speaking with Chen Ju, He Tan returned to the yamen.

He looked at Wang Yan: "Something has happened again in Yong'an Ward."

Wang Yan didn't look up: "The rest of the Yang family's second branch are in jail?"

He Tan asked in surprise, "How did you know? Did Miss Xie tell you?"

“No,” Wang Yan said, “With her personality, it’s impossible for the second branch of the family to have a peaceful New Year’s Day.”

“If you have a grudge, take revenge immediately. Even pigs don’t survive until after the New Year, let alone the second branch of the Yang family.”

He Tan almost spat out his water. Oh my, listen to this! In just a short while, the second branch of the Yang family has become worse than a pig.

“Have someone keep an eye on things,” Wang Yan continued, “The Xie family is about to make a move.”

He Tan's gaze sharpened: "What? Has the Liu family's informant sent back a message?"

(End of this chapter)