Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 301 Climbing Over the Wall
Master Zhiyuan felt that he really couldn't keep this little apprentice.

how?

One halo of Buddha's light is not enough, now we need a shadow of Buddha too?
Seeing that his master's expression was not right, Yan Sui said, "Master thinks that what I did was wrong? Then I won't do it this way."

Master Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and patted his disciple's head. Just as he was about to say something, he saw his disciple raise his face.

"But I'm still worried about what will happen if our reliquary is stolen?"

Master Zhiyuan paused.

Yan Sui said seriously, "Since Madam said so, those people must be extraordinary. It's fine if they break in and rummage through things, but it's disrespectful to Buddha."

"If we startle the believers or fellow practitioners in the temple, wouldn't that cause a disaster?"

That statement, surprisingly, makes some sense despite its far-fetched nature.

“I understand,” Yan Sui’s eyes lit up. “That’s why Madam wanted to put the reliquary in our temple.”

Master Zhiyuan was genuinely curious this time. Why was Madam Xie doing this? Wasn't it to use a hen to lay eggs? Her small Baode Temple had already laid two golden eggs: "Buddhist charcoal" and "Buddhist porcelain."

Despite this thought, Master Zhiyuan still wanted to hear his youngest disciple's opinion: "Why?"

Yan Sui said with an extremely serious expression: "Because Madam also knows that she cannot stop those people, so she can only ask Buddha to persuade them to do good and let them give up those evil thoughts."

“From then on, I will also recite scriptures more often and ask Buddha for help.”

Master Zhiyuan did not respond. He felt as if he had been caught in a net, and then Yan Sui tightened the net.

“Master, I have made up my mind,” Yan Sui pointed here, “From now on, I will recite scriptures here every day.”

Master Zhiyuan stared at his young apprentice and asked, "Where is it?"

Yan Sui said, "I think this side hall is quiet, so I'll stay here."

A moment of silence fell over the hall. After a short while, Master Zhiyuan pointed with his finger: "In that pit?"

Yan Sui clasped his hands together and replied, "Disciple thinks that place is indeed just right. Master is right, we shouldn't frighten people, so we sincerely ask Buddha to guide them."

Master Zhiyuan's lips twitched. So what's different?
It's still the same old pit, still the same old chanting.

Master Zhiyuan took a deep breath: "Madam Xie is going to Bianjing, why don't you go with her and take a look?"

Yan Sui smiled and asked, "Master wants me to go?"

Master Zhiyuan nodded. Rather than staying in Baode Temple, it would be better to... leave his sight and avoid seeing him altogether.

Yan Sui suddenly squatted down, looked at the hole he had dug, and then measured his master's body.

Zhiyuan asked, "What are you doing?"

“If my disciple leaves, I will have to chant sutras here,” Yan Sui frowned. “But it’s too small for me to sit down.”

Zhiyuan restrained himself, refraining from immediately going to find a razor and shaving his apprentice's head completely clean. He planned to let him cry his heart out until he was satisfied.

Amitabha!
……

Xie Yuyan went to bed very late today. Since he was planning to leave Daming Prefecture for a while, he needed to make sure all the necessary arrangements were in place.

This is where the advantages of having clansmen become apparent.

Although the Yang family of Daming Prefecture was not a prominent clan, they had been established there for a long time. Furthermore, the business deals brought by Xie Yuyan in recent months had brought the Yang family considerable prosperity. Many of the Yang family's collateral branches, relatives by marriage, and acquaintances came seeking employment. With these favors extended, most of them would naturally protect and support the Yang family.

Of course, there are always cunning people who outwardly express gratitude but secretly engage in shady dealings. However, the local associations also keep an eye on these transactions.

However, the rules set by Xie Yuyan bound everyone together. The days when the manager had absolute power were over; craftsmen and laborers could seek help from the local association if they encountered injustice. Therefore, Xie Yuyan didn't need to worry that the business in Daming Prefecture would run into major problems in the short term.

The business in Daming Prefecture is her foundation; she cannot afford to make mistakes right from the start.

But if she makes good use of her subordinates and lets them each do their job, it doesn't matter whether she's in the Yang family or not.

Xie Yuyan then gave instructions on the several urgent matters at hand.

Yang Mingde and his son are keeping an eye on the kiln in Luozhou. Once Miao Shun and the others arrive, she can get Shi Yong out of Luozhou. Shi Yong will take the people of Sanhe Village to the several pottery kilns that have recently joined the village association. They will build coal kilns, and then the three elders will lead the craftsmen to supervise the firing of clay in the new kilns.

Xie Zishao would take Meng Jiu and Chen Rong to places like the Zhou family's porcelain kiln to help them improve the kiln. Xie Yuyan had originally planned to send Chen Rong to Lanzhou for a period of training, but now that there was a shortage of manpower, he could only follow Xie Zishao and work alongside him to familiarize himself with the tasks.

As for Shuipu, it naturally has women from Chenyao Village.

She also wanted the Yang family to reorganize the caravans, so that they could be put to use once the trade at the border market was secured.

The tasks are numerous and complex. If we break them down further, we will find that we do not have enough manpower. It seems that we need to select some more capable people.

Xie Yuyan flipped through the list of craftsmen, intending to train the craftsmen recommended by the three elders and see if they could shoulder important responsibilities.

They not only needed to be skilled at porcelain making, but also knew how to use the rules of the local association to protect the other craftsmen and laborers. She wasn't afraid of having clever people under her command.

On the contrary, the smarter she is, the easier it is for her to use it.

Xie Yuyan picked up a pen to write down the names, so that Xie Zishao could take them with him on his trip to the Zhou family's porcelain kiln.

Lost in thought, she focused intently on arranging things and didn't notice her mother coming in for quite a while. By the time she realized it, the tea her mother had brought was already cold.

Xie Yuyan said, "Why didn't you call me?"

Mrs. Yu said in a low voice, "I called you, but you might not have heard me."

Xie Yuyan nodded: "Is there anything else?"

Madam Yu said, "Lord Wang has arrived, but he's still outside." It's been almost half an hour, and it's so cold outside. I wonder if he's left yet.

Just as Mrs. Yu was thinking, there was a knock on the door.

Yu's mother raised her eyes.

Xie Yuyan remained calm and simply said, "Let's go take a look!" It was so late, and she had already told Zhang Shi and the others to rest. Unless something important happened, no one would enter her courtyard.

Now that the person has come in, they knock on the door but refuse to speak, and Wang Yan is waiting outside...

Xie Yuyan had some guesses.

However, some doubts remain.

Really?
The main gate wasn't open, and no one was there to greet him at the back. How could Wang Yan have gotten to the Yang family? Did he climb over the wall? I'm afraid no one would believe that if they told anyone.

That's why, when Yu's mother saw the people outside, she was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a long time.

Is this still a scholar? A scion of a prominent family?
Don't you think that's utterly disgraceful?
After a while without hearing any movement from Madam Yu, Xie Yuyan said, "Please let her in!" Since Madam Yu was reacting this way, she no longer needed to guess.