Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 360 Conquer
Zhang brought out a bowl of Four Gods Soup that she had prepared from the kitchen. She had specifically asked a doctor at a pharmacy after arriving in Bianjing to teach her how to make it.

"After drinking the Four Gods Soup, you should eat rice cakes," Zhang instructed. "The doctor said that this is the best way to eat them."

Xie Yuyan looked at the bowl of hearty soup and was about to discuss with Zhang Shi about serving some out.

Zhang continued, "If it can't be replenished, then we'll have to boil it with pig's stomach."

After thinking about it, Xie Yuyan decided against adding more pig's stomach and took the bowl from Zhang's hands.

Zhang watched with a smile as Xie Yuyan finished eating, then handed him a plate of rice cakes.

“Just eat one piece,” Zhang said. “You don’t have to eat the whole thing.”

Yang Qin then said, "I'll eat the rest for my sister-in-law."

Xie Yuyan knew that the two of them were working together, one saying something and the other saying something, just to coax her to finish the medicinal meal. Empress Dowager Xie had been pampered since childhood, but this kind of care was something she had only experienced in her second life.

After finishing a piece of rice cake, Xie Yuyan looked at Zhang Shi and said with a forced smile, "Now look at me, have I gained any weight?"

Seeing the smile on Ayan's face, Zhang also pursed her lips and looked her over carefully: "She seems to be feeling better. This Four Gods Soup really works."

Yang Qin also came over: "Let me take a look too."

Laughter came from inside the house.

Zhang felt that not only she and Qin Ge'er had changed, but even A Yan had changed, becoming much more approachable. You see, when A Yan first came to the house, he mostly had a stern face, and even though his expression was indifferent, it still made people feel a little afraid from the bottom of their hearts.

She knew she shouldn't be afraid of Ayan, but she just couldn't control herself.

Now it's much better. Ah Yan smiles from time to time, and the solemnity in her eyes has faded considerably.

Xie Yuyan looked at Yang Qin: "Before going to the academy, you must review all the lessons taught by Mr. Tong. I will test you every morning."

Yang Qin's smile immediately froze on his face. He did love reading, but his reading was not the same as his sister-in-law's tests. The books his sister-in-law was testing him on were not in any of them, and Mr. Tong had not even taught them. He racked his brains but could not figure it out.

However, it was precisely because of what his sister-in-law taught him that the academy was willing to accept him.

“Don’t be fooled by the fact that this academy is willing to accept you,” Xie Yuyan said. “If your studies don’t go well, they will advise you to go home.”

"Moreover, this is just an academy for children's introductory education. It's very difficult to get into a real academy without ability and reputation, even if you know the headmaster. Whether you can go to study or not depends on how much effort you put in."

Yang Qin bowed and said, "Sister-in-law, I understand." Before, he could only study when he had free time. Now that his family has enough to eat and wear, he doesn't have to worry about anything. All he has to do is study hard and do his homework so that when he grows up and passes the imperial examinations, he can truly help his family.

As Yang Qin was about to leave, Xie Yuyan handed him a food box, saying, "Take this with you. Eat something if you get hungry while reading."

Yang Qin smiled again: "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Back in his room, Yang Qin opened the food box. Inside were all sorts of pastries, but… opening the second layer…

Yang Qin blinked. How come half of it is missing?
Did my sister-in-law eat it on her way back? It couldn't have been dragged away by a rat, could it?

……

In the days that followed, Yang Xiaoshan did everything Xie Yuyan had arranged, inquiring about various news in Bianjing while continuing to hire workers to haul bricks and repair the courtyard.

The evidence against Guo Xiong and Guo Chuan is conclusive. Except for the Guo brothers, who will remain in prison pending review, the boatmen have all been released.

Before being released from prison, Guo Xiong instructed everyone to seek refuge with Xie Yuyan and to work for him from now on.

At first, the boatmen were uneasy. They followed Guo Xiong because the Guo brothers treated them well, but now they had suddenly changed employers, and they didn't know what kind of new employer they were. However, they had also offended the four merchants on the Bian River, and they really had no other choice. After discussing it, they decided to go and see Xie Yuyan to see what was going on.

result……

After a day's work, no one wanted to leave.

The employer prepared one meal a day until they were full, and wages were settled daily. Before Guo Xiong and Guo Chuan returned, each of them received 120 coins a day. Once the two returned, their wages would be renegotiated.

The boatmen thought their master was just imitating the Guo brothers' methods, but by the end of the day, they discovered that it wasn't just them; all the hired workers who worked for their master were treated the same way.

Neither the owner nor the manager ever arbitrarily mistreated the workers. The premise was that everyone had to do their job well; any worker who was lazy and didn't do their job would be immediately dismissed.

Ten more days passed, and the Guo brothers were finally released. However, because the case was not yet closed, the government office required them not to leave Bianjing.

Several boatmen went to pick up the Guo brothers. On the way home, Guo Xiong asked about the situation these past few days.

The boatmen naturally told the truth. The fact that the owner sent them to pick up the people meant that he was giving them a chance to meet alone and have them say everything they wanted to say in private.

Guo Xiong was also surprised, not expecting his employer to treat his employees the same way he did.

The boatman asked, "Where is our boss from? What kind of business does he do? What's his name?"

To his shame, Guo Xiong knew nothing about these things, but he felt that his employer was not hiding them from them to deceive them, but rather because he did not trust them that much.

“I may find out soon,” Guo Xiong said, “but even if I know everything, I may not tell you immediately.”

Everyone was silent for a moment.

Guo Xiong's expression was resolute: "However, if there is any danger, I will definitely not let you get involved."

The boatman nodded: "Of course we trust you and will follow your arrangements."

Without saying anything more, the group arrived at their lodgings in the south of the city. Guo Xiong and Guo Chuan washed up and changed their clothes before going to pay their respects to Xie Yuyan.

The first thing the two brothers did after being released from prison was to thank the woman for saving their lives.

Guo Chuan also wanted to ask about the news that Feng Erniang had arrived.

When Guo Xiong arrived at the courtyard, he saw Tang Xing and Yang Xiaoshan standing at the door before he could even knock.

Yang Xiaoshan welcomed the two inside.

Guo Xiong and Guo Chuan's injuries had not yet healed, and they looked rather pale.

Yang Xiaoshan said, "We still need to find a good doctor to take good care of our health and prevent any lingering illness."

Guo Xiong replied, "They're all just superficial injuries; they'll all be healed in ten days or so."

Guo Chuan hesitated, but Yang Xiaoshan noticed and said, "If you have anything to say, just speak frankly to Madam. My Madam doesn't like beating around the bush."

Guo Chuan knew that this was a reminder to him, so he quickly bowed and thanked Yang Xiaoshan.

The two were led through the door.

Then they heard voices coming from inside: "It should be completed by the beginning of next month at the latest, and the restaurants in the city should open in the middle of the month. The porcelain from Daming Prefecture should have been shipped out; send someone to fetch it."

Upon hearing the words "Daming Prefecture," Guo Xiong was taken aback.