Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 196 Crying
Xie Yuyan stood up and slowly walked to the front of the square archway.

Fang Zheng said, "I'm getting old, don't scare me. I've already submitted a document to the government office, and a new ward head will be appointed this year. In my opinion, Yang Mingde is the most suitable. If you help take care of things, our Yong'an Ward will definitely prosper even more."

Xie Yuyan, however, continued to look at Fang Fangzheng.

"Actually, ever since I came here, I've felt that the brothel owner is a bit strange."

Fang Fang didn't want to listen, but he couldn't help but want to find out what Xie Yuyan meant by "strange".

“Yongan Ward looks quite good, so why is the Ward Head so eager to resign? Even though Yang Mingjing was watching the position before, after Yang Mingjing got into trouble, you didn’t take the opportunity to place your own son or grandson in it. Not only that, knowing that my uncle is not in charge, you still encouraged me to let my uncle take over as Ward Head.”

Fang Fangzheng's forehead began to bead with cold sweat. Xie Yuyan's gaze was like a bronze mirror, reflecting his entire being clearly.

He didn't initially want to be the head of the ward. Before the Yang family's troubles, he wanted to stay a few more years until his second son was older and could take over. But when the people in Yong'an Ward were arrested for selling smuggled salt, he was somewhat frightened.

Then Yang Mingshan got into trouble.

"Since Yang Mingshan was arrested, the neighborhood official has been preparing to withdraw."

“We all know that things that are in a hurry to get rid of are not good things.”

Fang Fangzheng blushed. The words "not a good person" seemed to refer to the position of the head of Yong'an Ward, but also seemed to refer to him.

Xie Yuyan's expression became even more solemn: "It seems this is a serious matter, otherwise Fang would be angry and talking back right now."

Fang Fang's mouth dropped open. How could Madam Xie know everything he was thinking?
“I have never exposed the Fangzheng,” Xie Yuyan said. “Firstly, I was curious, and secondly, I wanted to find out the truth so that I could blackmail the Fangzheng to stand on my side at a crucial moment.”

How could anyone say such a thing? Fang Fang gasped, wanting to get angry but not daring to, fearing that Madam Xie would refuse to say what followed.

Xie Yuyan said, "I'm saying this now because it's no longer of any use to me."

Logically speaking, it would be a good thing if they stopped threatening him, but Fang Fangzheng's heart grew even colder.

Madam Xie's words, though devoid of any emotion, seemed to exert a crushing pressure, making him think of...

Dead people are of no use.

Or a person who is about to die.

Xie Yuyan said, "I kept my second uncle for the same reason."

“But now someone has come looking for you, and they’ve got their eyes on Second Uncle and the Fangzheng before I did. No matter what secrets you have, that matter can’t be covered up anymore.”

Fang Fang wanted to say something to refute Xie Yuyan, but he couldn't open his mouth, and his hands trembled uncontrollably.

Xie Yuyan continued, "Not only that, I might also be implicated by you. However, I haven't been in Yong'anfang for long, so even if I'm framed, I can still find a way to turn the tables. You might not be able to."

How many members does the Fang family have in Daming Prefecture?

This question completely snapped the string in Fang Fangzheng's heart.

Fang Fangzheng seemed to be struggling to breathe. He shakily took out a pot of medicine from his sleeve, but after a long while, he still couldn't put the pills into his mouth.

Xie Yuyan watched coldly from the sidelines, showing no intention of helping.

Just before Fang Fang fainted, he managed to put the medicine into his mouth and slumped down from the chair.

Xie Yuyan bent down, picked up the cat at his feet, returned to his seat, and drank his tea. Fang Fangzheng remained motionless as if dead, and it took him a long time to finally catch his breath.

"It seems that Fang Fangzheng is reluctant to die, or Fangzheng knows that even if you die, he cannot protect your clansmen."

"Perhaps your survival is still of some use to your people."

Xie Yuyan's words struck a chord with Fang Fangzheng, and he actually started sobbing.

After a long while, Fang Fangzheng finally calmed down and asked, "Why did you not help me just now, my lady?" If he had taken his medicine any later, he might not have recovered.

“People must save themselves,” Xie Yuyan said. “If even Fang Fangzheng has lost the will to save himself, it is useless for others to lend a hand.”

"I might as well grant your wish to die."

To put it bluntly, he's a useless person, and Madam Xie couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him.

Fang Fangzheng shed some more tears, and after a long while he finally let out a long breath and said, "I don't want to either. It was agreed that it would only be a labor service, and that we would lead people to transport some goods."

At this point, he shut his mouth. This was a capital offense, and he had planned never to speak of it for the rest of his life, but now... he would die even if he didn't speak.

Yang Mingjing has been taken away; he's next.

Time is running out.

Fang Fang seemed to be in a daze, and subconsciously opened his mouth, revealing all the secrets in his heart: "The labor we were assigned was to transport bows and crossbows to the south, and then transport miscellaneous materials, armor and other military equipment back from the south."

“When I was escorting the goods on the road, I noticed that the ruts of the mule carts were not deep enough and the mules were not walking with much effort. I suspected that there was something wrong with the goods being transported. So, I mustered up my courage and took a sneak peek while the soldiers escorting the carts were inspecting them.”

“Those aren’t vests at all, they’re brocade.”

“We were originally serving the court, but we ended up becoming the servants of the officials, helping them transport goods. These goods were disguised as military equipment and were served by the post stations along the way, transported from the south to the north. It can be said that they didn’t spend a single penny on the journey.”

"The further north you go, the more valuable brocade becomes. You can imagine how much they can make from it."

“In addition, they also used soldiers to transport goods,” Fang Fangzheng said. “We met those people at the post station. They were disguised as ordinary people. When they passed through the checkpoints, someone would meet them. Those soldiers were not trained at all, but were used as merchant caravans.”

"It was precisely because I knew all this that I had the idea of ​​handing over the position of Ward Chief to Yang Mingjing when I heard that Inspector He had come to Daming Prefecture, but I was also a little reluctant to do so."

"Just like the old lady said, I hadn't really made up my mind at that time."

“I knew that Inspector He was around when Yang Mingshan was also in jail, and that this matter would be brought up sooner or later. If it got to me… switching military equipment and smuggling goods is a capital offense. Besides me, the entire Fang family will be implicated.”

"I was thinking of resigning from my position as the head of the neighborhood committee and moving to the southwest, where I might find a way to make a living. But I never expected... this would happen so quickly. Madam Xie, please think of something, what should we do?"

Xie Yuyan looked at Fang Fangzheng: "According to the laws of Liang, if someone has rendered meritorious service, they can be punished leniently. As long as you are not the ringleader."

Fang Fang shook his head frantically: "How could I have the guts?"

Xie Yuyan said, "But your contribution is not enough."

Fang Fang was staring blankly at Xie Yuyan.

Xie Yuyan reminded her, "The transportation of goods couldn't possibly only happen in Yong'an Ward, right?"