Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 241 Choice
Trust between people is something that cannot be clearly defined.

Xie Chonghai trusted his elder brother, but he also knew how his brother had killed Miao Shi.

Miao's death was a good thing for the Xie family, but it also made Xie Chonghai remember another side of his elder brother.

Therefore, Xie Chonghai would involuntarily become wary.

People's evil intentions will eventually come back to haunt them.

This is a little bit of truth that Xie Zishao realized while hiding in Baode Temple and listening to Master Zhiyuan talk about Buddhism.

Does a kind heart bring blessings to others? No, the one who truly receives the blessings is themselves. Fewer evil thoughts mean fewer misfortunes; a broad mind prevents one from being burdened by karmic obstacles.

Xie Zishao could tell that Master Zhiyuan pitied him. In order to deceive Xie Chonghai and Zhao Shi, he did not hesitate to jump into the icy river. If he had been rescued a moment later, he would have died. However, he also fell ill and never recovered because of this.

Master Zhiyuan brewed medicine for him. When he was delirious, he begged Master Zhiyuan to chant sutras for him. He didn't want the kind of sutras to help the souls of the dead pass away. He wanted to become an evil ghost and linger in the world so that he could see Xie Chongjun's final fate.

At that time, he was delirious from the fever and talked nonsense all day long. It was thanks to Master Zhiyuan's compassion that he was not afraid that his shouts of violence would pollute the ancient temple.

Tenth Sister is right. Baode Temple is the best place to settle down. He told the abbot that if he could get away this time, he would build ten meditation rooms for the ancient temple. Of course, he also had a request: one of the rooms should be reserved for him. He could tell that Master Zhiyuan liked him very much.

Everyone says that monks don't lie, yet they took in someone who had faked his death. Fearing danger down the mountain, they repeatedly stopped him from going down; what else could this be but genuine care? From then on, Baode Temple became his second home.

Xie Zishao abandoned Xie Chongjun and Xie Chonghai. Based on Master Zhao's confession, the Zhao family would be convicted, and the Xie brothers and Old Master Xie would also be beheaded for smuggling goods to Western Xia and Northern Qi.

The days that followed were filled with torment, for waiting to die was no pleasant experience.

Xie Zishao walked out of the prison, where the county magistrate was waiting.

“I’m going to deliver a message to Lord Wang and my tenth sister,” Xie Zishao said, “to tell them that Prefect Liu has committed suicide.”

The county magistrate nodded: "That's exactly what we were thinking. Once the coroner returns from the autopsy, we'll send a message to Guan County."

The message sent by Xie Zishao was more likely to be believed by Wang Yan and Xie Yuyan. The county magistrate also realized that the Xie family's affairs were all under Lord Wang's control, and that Xie Zishao had long been working for Lord Wang.

Xie Zishao bowed to the county magistrate again: "Thank you, Your Excellency." After saying that, he looked up at the sky and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

……

Guanxian County Government Office.

Xie Yuyan slept soundly all night, and most of her fatigue disappeared.

Wang Yan went to the front hall to handle official business, and she called Zheng Shi and Chen Rong over to talk.

Chen Rong found it strange. These days he had been leading people to patrol around, but today Madam Xie suddenly told everyone to rest, and Wang Tianshi did not raise any objections.

If there were more reinforcements, it would be understandable, but as far as he knew, the troops from Mingzhou went straight to Daming Prefecture to arrest those criminal officials.

They were not out of danger until all the corrupt officials were arrested.

Xie Yuyan, however, seemed oblivious to these concerns, calmly looking at Chen Rong and asking, "What are your plans for the future?"

Chen Rong was taken aback, and after a moment of thought, said, "Go to the yamen to sue those people and seek justice for Han Tong and the villagers."

Xie Yuyan clearly didn't want to ask that: "I mean, after that, do you want to go back to Chenyao Village to farm, or do something else? I heard that the reason you're called Chenyao Village is because there used to be a small kiln in the village?"

Chen Rong nodded: "That was a long time ago. I heard my father talk about it, but it was abandoned because of the war, and we don't know how to make kilns anymore."

Xie Yuyan nodded: "Then do you want to learn?"

Chen Rong looked at Xie Yuyan: "Does Madam Xie mean that we should go and fire clay kilns?" Xie Yuyan did not hide anything: "After the Xie family falls, I will take away several of the Xie family's clay kilns."

A look of joy appeared on Chen Rong's face.

“However,” Xie Yuyan said, “my main focus going forward will not be on clay kilns, but on porcelain.”

Chen Rong couldn't understand: "Madam Xie wants to take over the Xie family's porcelain kiln too..."

“No,” Xie Yuyan said, “I’m going to open a new kiln. The kiln site will not be in Daming Prefecture but in Liuzhou. The porcelain produced will be sold to the border markets or even further afield. Liuzhou is a new kiln, and it won’t be easy for it to gain a foothold. This business will not go too smoothly and there will inevitably be dangers. But I will pay higher wages. You can think carefully about whether you want to work at the pottery kiln or help me manage things in Liuzhou.”

This……

Chen Rong swallowed.

This choice is not equitable. Staying at the Damingfu pottery kiln means only being able to work as a laborer, while going to the Luozhou kiln would allow one to take charge. However, as Madam Xie also mentioned, there is bound to be danger in Luozhou.

Chen Rong subconsciously looked at Zheng Shi. He actually wanted to stay in Chenyao Village to take care of his sister-in-law and Chen Ping, but if he went to Lanzhou...

Zheng guessed what Chen Rong was thinking and said, "I work at Madam's water shop. I earn a lot of money and it's not hard work. Ping-ge is also studying with Mr. Tong. You don't need to worry about us."

Chen Rong hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Actually... he wasn't just thinking about these things. Whether he had enough money was one thing, but having someone in his family to help him was another matter entirely, but he couldn't say it now.

Xie Yuyan said to Zheng Shi, "There will be water shops in Luozhou in the future. If you want to reunite, I can let you go to Luozhou."

As if her heart had been touched, Madam Zheng immediately said, "No need, no need, we're doing fine in Daming Prefecture."

Disappointment flashed in Chen Rong's eyes.

Xie Yuyan looked at the two of them. Since Chen Rong's brother died, Chen Rong only had his sister-in-law and nephew as his relatives. Over the years, they had supported each other in hiding, which deepened their bond.

Now that the ordeal has come to an end, Chen Rong clearly wants to take on the responsibility of raising his sister-in-law and nephew, but Zheng Shi is either unwilling to burden Chen Rong or intentionally avoiding suspicion.

After thinking for a long time, Chen Rong finally said, "I am willing to go to Luozhou." Madam Xie had been kind to them, and the fact that she was willing to let him go to Luozhou was because of her trust in him. How could he be ungrateful?
As for taking care of his sister-in-law and nephew, even if he stayed at home, there was no guarantee of success.

Zheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nodded subconsciously.

"Have you thought it through?" Xie Yuyan asked.

Chen Rong nodded again.

Xie Yuyan continued, "After this incident, all the refugees will be able to come out of the mountains. You are very familiar with the refugees, so I want you to select suitable people from among them to go to Lanzhou together. The wages I will give you are one hundred coins a day. If they become craftsmen in the future, the wages will naturally be more."

"But they must not have killed any innocent people and must have no connection with those demonic sects."

Speaking of the Demon Cult, Chen Rong was very curious. It was obvious that Madam Xie knew those people from the Demon Cult, otherwise they wouldn't have appeared in the mountains.

But what exactly are they...?

Xie Yuyan asked, "Do you want to know why I know people from the Manichaeism?"

Chen Rong wanted to know.

“I lied to them and said that I was a member of the Maitreya sect and that I planned to take advantage of the two of you fighting to capture Wang Yan and hand him over to the Empress Dowager of the Great Xia. The reason I killed them all was because I was afraid that the Manichaeism would find out the truth and come to retaliate in the future.”

Xie Yuyan paused here: "Those people are dead. The only people who know the inside story besides Wang Shitian are you. Don't say this out loud, or I might be in danger."

Chen Rong was utterly astonished. Did Madam Xie just blurt that out? He suddenly felt incredibly regretful. He shouldn't have asked. Now, Chen Rong wanted to slap himself. From now on, he couldn't drink alcohol, and he had to sleep with one eye open. He absolutely couldn't utter a single word, otherwise, not only would Madam Xie not forgive him, but his sister-in-law would also kill him first.