Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 145 Good Guys
Yan Sui was overjoyed, never expecting that Benefactor Wang would be willing to teach him to write.

He followed his master, learning to read and write, and looking through the scriptures in the temple. There was a copy of the Surangama Sutra that was copied by Wang, and it was the most beautiful calligraphy he had ever seen. He couldn't bear to look away when he first saw it.

His greatest daily expectation was to write and draw on the scripture. He didn't expect to write it perfectly; he would be content as long as it resembled the text.

Last year, when Benefactor Wang came to Daming Prefecture, he stayed at the temple for more than half a month. He would always take the opportunity of delivering vegetarian meals to linger in the meditation room for a while. Benefactor Wang noticed his thoughts and let him stay aside to read. If there were any words he did not recognize, he would even give him some pointers.

What he couldn't understand, Wang could easily explain. In Yan Sui's mind, Wang was even greater than the Bodhisattva in the hall.

Those days were incredibly joyful.

Previously, he could only read one scroll of scripture, but now he sees what Benefactor Wang wrote on paper.

No matter how many words they write, it seems like they never make a mistake.

He didn't know much, but to him it was beautiful, in short... there wasn't a single thing that was wrong with it.

Sometimes, when Benefactor Wang sat on the steps of the temple and looked down the mountain, he would sit beside him and listen to Benefactor Wang talk about things down the mountain. There were many truths in those stories that he had never heard before.

But most of the time, Wang remained silent, lost in thought. Later, he learned from his master that Wang had something on his mind that he couldn't let go of.

Although the master was unwilling to say it outright, during that period he often saw Benefactor Wang reading Taoist scriptures, and he also heard from the pilgrims that Benefactor Wang had "encountered a deity" when he was young, which was why he was so intelligent.

Do gods really exist in this world? He had no idea.

During those days, he suddenly fell ill with a persistent high fever. It was Wang who took him down the mountain to see a doctor. Only after he recovered did Wang leave.

This is why he believed that Master Wang was the benefactor of him and his master.

The kind of person who can save the lives of the master and his apprentice when they are desperate in the future.

Therefore, even though one could not read Taoist scriptures in temples, he would save up money to buy them and read them secretly.

As for what Benefactor Wang said about stealing the Taoist scriptures, it was something he did last year when he was looking through them in the meditation room and wanted to take a copy with him...

"It won't happen again," Yan Sui said. "I was wrong last time, I'll do it again..."

Wang Yan seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly smiled, his brows relaxing a bit: "If you want to take the copy away, just let me know."

He used to carefully protect those ancient manuscripts that had been passed down through generations, but now... they're not so important anymore.

“Benefactor Wang,” Yan Sui couldn’t help but ask, “would you like to sit on the steps today? I’ve woven a cushion for you to take with you.”

It seemed quite nice to just sit together and look at the mountain gate.

However, Master Wang only acts that way when he is in a bad mood.

Wang Yan stood up, slightly raised his head, and could feel the flower hairpin in his hair: "Let's go another day!"

Yan Sui nodded.

Wang Yan asked, "Will you come down the mountain with me now?"

Yan Sui answered almost without hesitation: "Go, but I have to come back early." It's been too cold at night these past few days, and my master's legs are like ice blocks. I have to share a blanket with my master so that he won't be unable to squat down to use the toilet tomorrow.

He was a highly respected monk, after all; he couldn't afford to lose face in front of others.

The two people walked out of the meditation room.

The sunlight fell on Wang Yan, making the dogwood even more beautiful and adding a touch of color to his jade-like face.

Wang Yan walked forward, and Yan Sui hurriedly followed.

Wang Yan looked at Yan Sui: "Did you know that Benefactor Xie before?"

"This is our first meeting," Yan Sui said, "but thank you very much, Benefactor Xie."

Wang Yan listened quietly.

Yan Sui pursed his lips: "Among the tributes that Benefactor Xie just sent, there were also a few herbs, including Eucommia ulmoides and Angelica pubescens, and there was also a prescription inside, all for treating arthralgia."

Master's legs and feet were getting worse and worse, which is why Benefactor Xie noticed the problem.

As for why he recognized those herbs, it was because Wang, the benefactor, had also given medicine to his master.

Yan Sui said, "Both Benefactor Wang and Benefactor Xie are good people." Wang Yan stopped and waited for Yan Sui. After a while, he said, "I am not a good person, and as for her... she probably doesn't count either." In the end, they are the same kind of people.

……

On the carriage.

Xie Yuyan leaned against the pillow, with the cat sleeping soundly on his lap.

Strangely enough, once the cat reached the foot of the mountain, it curled up into a ball and refused to go up the mountain with her no matter what. Was it because there was nothing in the temple that could arouse its interest?

Xie Yuyan recalled the scene when she had just adorned Wang Yan with flowers.

She was certain that Wang Yan had been acting strangely lately, with many emotions flickering in his eyes that she couldn't understand.

He deliberately hid it from her, so she wouldn't know.

That invitation with the flower in its hair felt more like a provocation.

At that moment, it seemed like I saw through her...

Through the person in front of me, I saw the real Xie Yuyan.

So he personally made tea for her, and everything he did became more and more in line with her habits.

Wang Yan...

He was no longer the prime minister she remembered; she saw a side of him she had never known before.

"It's just ahead."

A commotion broke out.

Xie Yuyan snapped out of her daze and reached out to lift the carriage curtain. She saw seven or eight men walking towards the gate of Baode Temple.

Among this group of people, there was a familiar face.

That's Zuo Shangying.

This renowned northern scholar would pass the imperial examination with flying colors a few months later, but unfortunately, he wouldn't be at the top of the list, nor would he win the top prize. However, Xie Yuyan consistently recommended Zuo Shangying for his literary talent.

Unfortunately, after Wang Yan passed away, she also resigned due to illness, and she was unable to serve in the court with him.

In both of those notes, she and Wang Yan wrote Zuo Shangying first.

Just as Xie Yuyan lowered the curtain and withdrew her gaze, a carriage came speeding by from the opposite direction, and a woman in the carriage was looking out.

The woman was taken aback when she saw Xie Yuyan, then smiled, nodded to him, and lowered the curtain.

"Fourth Miss," the servant accompanying the carriage whispered, "that should be the Yang family's carriage. I saw the servant accompanying the carriage when I bought the clay stove."

Liu Si Niang exclaimed in surprise. Could the person she had just seen be Madam Xie?
She had always wanted to meet that lady, but unfortunately, she missed the opportunity because they weren't familiar with each other.

The servant advised, "Fourth Miss, don't be in a hurry. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Liu Si Niang nodded. In any case, no matter which family took over the business of making clay kilns, she would only buy those fired by the Yang family's porcelain kiln. There wasn't much she could do, but she would try her best to help with the small newspaper and Buddhist charcoal.

……

Xie family.

Xie Chonghai took the documents and strode into the main room.

Grandpa Xie and the others were waiting for news. When they saw Xie Chonghai, the room fell silent as they waited for him to speak.

Xie Chonghai smiled with relief: "It's all done. We've got the documents and the method for making the clay furnace. Everything's been taken care of at the government office. We can start firing the clay furnace tomorrow."

Grandpa Xie breathed a sigh of relief, while Grandma Xie turned the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, praying for the Bodhisattva's protection.

If this matter can be handled well, Xie Chongjun will definitely be released.

(End of this chapter)