Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 361 is just around the corner
Guo Xiong had read the local gazette of Daming Prefecture, and he believed that his success today was also due to the guidance he received from it.

In particular, their treatment of hired workers was entirely copied from the Yang family's water shop practices.

What was that water shop called again? Right, it was Shuntong Water Shop.

Guo Xiong always felt that the person who opened Shuntong Water Shop was bold, decisive, and insightful. He dared to do this because he was going against the merchants in Daming Prefecture.

He also wondered if the water shop could stay open indefinitely.

Fortunately, the results are good.

The prefect of Daming Prefecture fell from power, and the merchants who colluded with the government were also brought to justice by the imperial court.

This further solidified Guo Xiong's resolve; he was certain that what he was about to do would succeed.

Since someone has already paved the way, why can't he? Even if this is Bianjing, the imperial decrees are there. As long as he does what the court says, those people can't do anything to him.

Unfortunately, he overestimated himself. If he hadn't met this woman at the crucial moment, everyone's lives would have been lost.

Now, hearing the mention of "Daming Prefecture," Guo Xiong had a feeling that this woman might know about Shuntong Water Shop in Daming Prefecture, and was familiar with the Buddhist charcoal and clay stoves of Daming Prefecture.

The reason I was able to save him was because I approved of his actions.

That makes sense.

Guo Xiong was still in a daze when the person who had been talking to the woman came out, and Li Mama led them into the house.

This time was different from the last; the woman in front of the table did not wear a veil and did not conceal her appearance.

Although Guo Xiong was somewhat prepared, he was still startled when he saw the woman's true face. The girl was younger than he had imagined, looking no more than sixteen or seventeen years old.

He was so engrossed in watching that he forgot to look away until she looked up and met his gaze.

There was no deliberate intimidation, but it was that ordinary gaze that made Guo Xiong unconsciously shudder and instantly sober up.

"Madam..." Guo Xiong bowed respectfully.

Guo Chuan was the same; he dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"Sit down and talk."

The two sat down nervously. Guo Xiong had a lot to say, but at this moment he didn't know where to begin.
Xie Yuyan wasn't in a hurry. He kept looking at the accounts in his hand while waiting for the two of them to come to their senses.

A servant brought out hot tea.

Guo Xiong hurriedly took the newspaper from the table next to him, but his hand trembled again when his eyes fell on the newspaper on the table.

"This...this is..."

Guo Xiong put down his teacup and picked up the tabloid.

"The local gazette of Daming Prefecture," Xie Yuyan said, "have you read it before?"

Guo Xiong immediately nodded: "I've seen it, but not this one..."

Merchants would buy tabloids from Daming Prefecture and bring them to Bianjing to sell. Guo Xiong would leave some money with the merchants in advance and ask them to leave him a copy of the tabloid.

Xie Yuyan nodded: "It was just sent from Daming Prefecture."

"Daming Prefecture?" Guo Xiong exclaimed in surprise. "Does Madam have acquaintances in Daming Prefecture?"

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly: "My husband's family is located in Daming Prefecture."

Guo Xiong's heart began to pound. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't even know Madam's surname, nor do I know her husband's family... is..."

Guo Xiong's words were incomplete, but Xie Yuyan already knew what he was thinking.

“My husband’s family is surnamed Yang. They are merchants in Daming Prefecture. The family has a caravan and several shops. After I married into my husband’s family, they opened Shuntong Water Shop and Clay Stove Shop in Daming Prefecture. They also own several pottery kilns and porcelain kilns.”

Guo Xiong's lips moved, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "You mean... the Yang family's Shuntong Water Shop? Are you that Xie family member?"

The strange case in Daming Prefecture was printed in the tabloids. How could anyone who read the tabloids not know the relationship between Shuntong Water Shop and the Xie family?
"So it was you, you were..."

In his excitement, Guo Xiong's words became somewhat incoherent: "No wonder the old lady treats the hired workers so well."

"No wonder...you came to me." "It's all because...you are."

She was the person he imitated, which is why the eldest daughter-in-law thought he had some ability.

Guo Xiong smiled wryly. What a coincidence! He didn't know how to tell Madam Xie. After thinking for a moment, Guo Xiong decided to tell the truth.

“Madam,” Guo Xiong said, “you may have the wrong person.”

Xie Yuyan asked calmly, "What do you mean?"

Guo Xiong pursed his lips: "The reason Madam thinks we brothers are capable is because we treat the boatmen well and dare to deal with those people on the Bian River, right?"

Xie Yuyan nodded.

really.

Guo Xiong took a deep breath: "But... this wasn't my idea."

As he spoke, Guo Xiong picked up the tabloid on the table.

“I learned how Shuntong Water Shop operated from a small newspaper,” Guo Xiong said with a wry smile. “So, Madam, you…you…you’ve made a mistake.”

Guo Chuan, who was standing to the side, finally came to his senses. Then he opened his eyes wide. His elder brother had wanted to go to Daming Prefecture to meet the owner of Shuntong Water Shop.

Unexpectedly, instead of them going, their employer came to Bianjing and rescued them.

Xie Yuyan said, "Just for this?"

Guo Xiong nodded.

“So many people have read tabloids,” Xie Yuyan said, “but not many people follow suit. It’s clear that you’ve had this idea for a long time. Even without this tabloid, you would have done the same.”

"Besides, what I'm looking for is someone who is willing to agree with me."

Guo Xiong's somewhat dejected expression vanished instantly, and his eyes lit up: "Does Madam mean... she's still willing to let me manage your fleet?"

Xie Yuyan pointed to the contract on the table: "The boat has been purchased. You can rest for a while and then take your men to pick it up. You can decide how many boatmen are needed and how much they are paid."

"However, the workers need to be graded, and their wages should be paid accordingly."

"Also, the news of my arrival in Bianjing must not be leaked."

Guo Xiong nodded along with Xie Yuyan's every word, especially when he heard the last sentence, he said, "We brothers will never reveal a single word to outsiders."

Guo Chuan also said, "Don't worry, Madam. You saved us two brothers, and we don't even know how to repay you. How could we possibly harm you?"

Guo Chuan dared not even think about what would have happened to them if there hadn't been prior arrangements.

Moreover, besides them, there were also the boatmen and Feng Erniang.

Xie Yuyan looked at Guo Chuan: "You want to ask about Feng Erniang?"

Guo Chuan, realizing his secret had been exposed, immediately nodded: "Does Madam know?"

"As a witness, Feng Erniang stayed in a courtyard arranged by the Ministry of Justice. The yamen hired a doctor to treat her injuries, and she is now out of danger."

These messages were naturally sent by Wang Yan.

“However,” Xie Yuyan said, “Feng Dalang is already dead.”

When the officials inspected several of the He family's estates, they found buried remains in one of them, totaling more than a dozen bodies, one of which belonged to Feng Dalang.

Guo Xiong clenched his fists.

Guo Chuan's eyes reddened as he recalled the times Feng Dalang had spent with them. The Feng family were all good people; when the eldest brother was away, he often came to their house to help out. He never imagined that the man would be murdered like this.

Guo Chuan said, "We must seek justice for Brother Feng."

However, Guo Chuan quickly realized that this matter shouldn't be too difficult. Now that the He family had been arrested and Erniang had been rescued, not only could they seek justice for Feng Dalang, but they might also be able to investigate the Feng family's previous cases.

This is all because of the old lady in front of us.