Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 287 Handing Over
Yang Cheng wanted to go up and talk to Zuo Shangying, but hesitated for a moment and missed the opportunity, as Zuo Shangying had already stepped through the gate.

The gatekeeper stepped forward to inquire, and Zuo Shangying bowed and said, "We have come to see Madam Xie."

Zuo Shangying's respectful demeanor surprised Yang Cheng even more, but Yang Shen, who was beside him, was already used to it and didn't care. Seeing that his brother was hesitant to move, he said, "Thank you, Madam Xie, for promising Father that we can stay in the clan."

Yang Mingjing told Xie Yuyan everything he knew, and Xie Yuyan agreed to let their family stay in the ancestral home.

As for the two old ladies, the two old gentlemen, and Yang Mingshan's family, it's impossible for them to get out of prison.

Yang Cheng did not want to submit to a woman of unknown origin. He even decided that he would never step into the clan again unless he rescued his father.

But his father's repeated admonitions in prison kept echoing in his ears. His father only said that they deserved their punishment and should wait for the court's judgment. He warned him not to cause trouble, to pay his respects to Madam Xie, to stay in the clan and take care of his younger brother, and that it would be best if he could find work in the clan.

With such a family tragedy, it's impossible for him to participate in the imperial examinations. Since that path is blocked, he can only think about how to make a living in the future.

“Brother,” Yang Shen said with a worried expression, “just listen to Father. Let’s go pay our respects to Madam, then go home and settle down for a few days before making any further plans.”

Yang Cheng clenched his fists tightly, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. When he left, his father was the clan chief and also helped Fang Fangzheng manage Yong'an Fang. The family was wealthy and prosperous. If he passed the imperial examination, it would be the icing on the cake.

But now, everything is gone.

Yang Cheng stepped into the courtyard. The gatekeeper saw the two of them and simply said, "Sanlang and Qilang are back." That was all.

In the past, every time Yang Cheng returned, he would hear the praises of his clansmen.

However, he didn't hear the ridicule from his clansmen; everyone was busy running around and didn't seem to have much energy to devote to his brothers.

They were completely ignored.

No one paid any attention to him, no one gave him a chance to speak, as if the matter had already passed.

"Brother." Yang Shen reached out to pull him again.

Yang Cheng suddenly noticed that his younger brother's hands were trembling. Just as he was hesitating, he saw a person being surrounded as they came out of the accounting room.

The woman's face looked completely unfamiliar, and the stewardess beside her was none other than Madam Yu, who served Yang Cheng's mother. Yang Cheng's heart sank; he knew who this woman was.

It seemed that the other person glanced at him briefly before looking away.

It was this emotionless glance that made Yang Cheng feel a chill in his chest, and all the things he had wanted to do before vanished completely.

Madam Xie didn't take them seriously at all.

The gap between them is too large; there is absolutely no way they can change the current situation.

Yang Cheng, head bowed, followed Yang Shen back to their courtyard in a daze.

"My home was searched by the government."

Yang Cheng looked at the empty room: "Why was everything taken away?"

“It wasn’t all taken by the government,” Yang Shen said. “My grandmother borrowed money from others to deal with Madam Xie, and my grandfather also owed some debts. When the creditors came knocking, we had to use those things to pay off the debts.”

"This is still good. Many people wanted to take advantage of the chaos, but thanks to the tribesmen, they were driven back."

Yang Shen brought over a chest containing some copper coins: "Otherwise, none of these would be left."

It wasn't until that moment that Yang Shen understood why his father insisted they stay in the ancestral home; at least the clansmen wouldn't just stand by and watch them be bullied. "Didn't Madam Xie stop the clansmen from helping us?" Yang Cheng asked.

Yang Shen shook his head: "Madam Xie... is actually a fair person." If it were his grandmother or mother, they would definitely have kicked him when he was down, but Madam Xie did not do that.

Yang Cheng took a deep breath and suddenly laughed: "She is... too lazy to get involved in these things."

Yang Shen didn't know whether his brother was right or wrong, so he lowered his head and dared not speak.

Yang Cheng put down the book box he was carrying and took out a porcelain piece wrapped in layers of clothing. It was a white porcelain vase with carved crane design for longevity.

Yang Cheng bought this piece after learning that Madam Xie had fired a new kiln, intending to use it to question Xie's claim that the carving technique was not created by Xie, and that such porcelain had been circulating for several years.

But now he has changed his mind.

With all his pride gone, Yang Cheng looked at his younger brother and said, "Later, take this to Madam Xie and tell her that I found it by chance in Zizhou."

Even before the Dharma assembly, news had spread that the Yang family's porcelain kiln had produced new porcelain. Yang Mingli, a member of a collateral branch of the clan, hurriedly went to find Yang Cheng and revealed this news.

Yang Mingli resented Madam Xie because her father, Yang Zongdao, was the one who harmed him. Not only was Yang Zongdao cheated out of money, but his family was also expelled from the clan. Under such circumstances, Yang Zongdao fell ill and died after the New Year.

Yang Mingli wanted to join forces with Yang Cheng to deal with Madam Xie. At that time, Yang Cheng was also consumed by hatred and wanted to cause trouble for Madam Xie. He remembered that he had seen the carved porcelain made by Madam Xie at his classmate's house in Zizhou, so he rushed to Zizhou and bought the porcelain at a high price.

Yang Shen was somewhat surprised: "Isn't this Madam's new porcelain?"

Yang Cheng shook his head: "No, maybe... it's just a coincidence!" He only cared about delivering the things; whether they were useful or not depended on Madam Xie.

Yang Shen responded.

Yang Cheng got up, washed up, and went to rest. He had received the news and had been rushing on his way, spending a lot of money to change several horses along the way. He had spent these days worrying and exhausted, and was already physically and mentally worn out.

However, lying in bed, he recalled the past: his family was wealthy, his father was kind and his son was filial, and there was laughter everywhere. He felt a pang of sadness and couldn't sleep. He vaguely heard Yang Shen walk out. He went into the room to check and found that the birthday vase was indeed gone.

Yang Shen was definitely in a hurry to present it to Madam Xie.

The clansmen respected, feared, and revered Xie, which shows that Madam Xie had a firm grip on the Yang clan.

……

Three bedrooms.

Xie Yuyan invited Zuo Shangying and Zhou Dalang into the house to talk.

Zuo Shangying opened the wooden box in his hand and took out the sketches he had recently compiled.

These are not ordinary paintings, but complete paintings with themes, such as herding, children playing football, and children playing in spring. These are all familiar to the people.

Of course, there are also some stories about King Yao visiting Shun.

Zuo Shangying said, "There are also folk proverbs, folk songs, and admonitory sayings. These are things that the people of the vassal states like. They will buy these kinds of books when they come to Daliang."

Xie Yuyan thought it would take a long time to gradually perfect the style of the Luzhou kiln. She thought it was impossible for her to make such a leap over a decade on her own. But she never expected that someone would help her take such a big step so quickly.

These porcelain pieces are fired with charcoal, making them inexpensive. They are mainly sold to ordinary people. The patterns on the porcelain don't need to be too elegant; a more down-to-earth feel would be better. Zuo Shangying grasped the essence of the matter and also made some preparations for selling them to the border markets.