Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 468 Revenge
Zhou Guangyuan went straight home, but he did not immediately change his clothes to talk to his family. Instead, he went to his study alone.

A short while later, the manager brought someone in.

Zhou Guangyuan looked up and, sure enough, it was Jiang Qi.

The two locked eyes, their gazes meeting, unlike the tense atmosphere they had in front of Xie Yuyan. Instead, their familiarity was tinged with eagerness.

Jiang Qi closed the door tightly, and only dared to speak after seeing the Zhou family servants guarding outside.

"Why did you make me mention Zhao Dazheng in front of so many people?"

Jiang Qi's sudden remark was at Zhou Guangyuan's behest.

Zhou Guangyuan pondered for a moment and then said, "I think the time is right."

Jiang Qi paused: "Just because that Lady Xie asked us to sell porcelain? How did you figure that out?"

Zhou Guangyuan picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and then said, "She has made herself very clear. Now everyone in the porcelain business is watching her, so we can take advantage of this opportunity to act behind the scenes."

Jiang Qi frowned: "Did she... say it? Did she say this?"

“That’s not all,” Zhou Guangyuan continued, “If the porcelain merchants find out when we get together in private, we can tell them that we are discussing how to sell porcelain from Daming Prefecture.”

Jiang Qi thought about it carefully. Xie Yuyan did say something similar, but was that really what she meant?
Zhou Guangyuan glanced at Jiang Qi: "Why do you think Madam Xie invited us to the South City Wharf at this time?"

Jiang Qi said, "Weren't we going to sell porcelain?"

Zhou Guangyuan sighed. Jiang Qi was a very loyal and reliable person, but he lacked a bit of wit.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Zhou Guangyuan said, “Madam Xie is about to clash with those people in the porcelain business.”

"We might hear rumors soon."

Jiang Qi took a deep breath. The difference between people is really huge. He went to Nancheng with Zhou Guangyuan, so how come Zhou Guangyuan could see these things?
Zhou Guangyuan said, "If you're really worried, we can make preparations first, and then take action after we hear the news."

Jiang Qi's face was still full of worry: "Shouldn't we think about this some more..."

Before Jiang Qi could finish speaking, a voice came from outside the door.

“I think what Brother Guangyuan said makes sense.”

Neither of the two people in the room panicked; instead, they calmly waited for the person to enter.

The Zhou family servants guarding the door would not allow anyone to approach, and besides, they were all too familiar with that voice.

A man in his thirties sat down next to Jiang Qi. He was dressed in a short brown outfit, his face was tanned dark, and there was a large burn scar on his left forehead. There was still some dust on his body that he hadn't brushed off. He looked no different from a porter on the street. In fact, his habitual humble smile made him look particularly honest and simple.

Who would have thought that his family used to be well-off, and his father was a considerable merchant? Unfortunately, within days, their business was seized by the imperial court, his father lost his life, and the whole family was exiled to perform hard labor. On their way to exile, they encountered bandits, and everyone except him died.

Zhao Chuan sat down and drank a cup of tea. His hands were rough, with thick calluses on his fingers and palms. When inspected, the patrolmen would see his hands and think he was a rough man who made a living by physical strength. Of course, some people would also suspect that the scar on his forehead was left to cover up the tattoo. But as long as he produced his household registration certificate, no one would pursue the matter further. After all, many people used to buy household registration certificates to escape punishment. Those who sold household registration certificates were naturally government officials. If they really investigated, it was hard to say whether it would be a blessing or a curse. So the patrolmen also knew the principle of avoiding trouble.

That's just how the world is; when you try to live an honest and upright life, disaster will find you. But after you've been convicted, you discover there are many ways to regain your innocence and return to society.

No one would care how many grievances and hatreds he carried. His father, while traveling as a merchant, discovered people using porcelain to smuggle tea and salt. Returning to the capital, he prepared to report their activities, but the day before he was to file a complaint, officials, during a chance inspection of the shop, discovered bluish-white salt from Western Xia. When the officials came to the Zhao family to arrest him, his father had already committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

Because the amount of smuggled salt seized far exceeded ten kilograms, the case was sent directly to the Ministry of Justice, and within a few days, the entire family was sentenced to exile. As for the "bandits" they encountered along the way, they were simply there to kill them and silence them.

He was stabbed twice, rolled into the river, and was carried by the current for more than ten miles before finally being stopped by a dead tree and saving his life.

From then on, his heart was filled with nothing but revenge.

Upon returning to Bianjing, Zhao Chuan did not immediately seek out Zhou Guangyuan and the others. Instead, he secretly observed them for a long time to confirm that they were not colluding with the porcelain merchants before revealing himself.

He didn't expect Zhou Guangyuan and Jiang Qi to help him; he just wanted to get some information from them.

The men Zhao Chuan brought were all former refugees and bandits, without proper household registration. If they all flooded into the city at once, it would be easy for mistakes to occur. Until the time is right, it would be more appropriate to leave them outside the city.

Therefore, the news brought back by Zhou and Jiang was of great importance to Zhao Chuan, as it could fill the gaps left by others.

Zhao Chuan continued, "Those people are focused on dealing with Lady Xie, so they will inevitably lower their guard against others. I can take advantage of this opportunity to act."

Jiang Qi, unaware of Zhao Chuan's plans, asked, "Are you going to find evidence to clear the Zhao family's name?"

Zhao Chuan nodded but then shook his head: "Finding evidence is not wrong, but seeking justice is out of the question. The Zhao family is all dead, they won't care about these things."

“But,” Zhao Chuan’s face revealed a murderous intent, “the hatred for one’s parents is irreconcilable. They killed my entire family of eighteen, and this must be repaid.”

Jiang Qi wanted to say something more, but Zhao Chuan stopped him with a gesture: "You don't need to know too much about these things, and I don't need you to work with me, so as not to get implicated by me in the future."

"You guys keep an eye on the news at the South City Wharf and inside the city. If you hear anything, let me know," Zhao Chuan said, a simple smile spreading across his face. "I hope that Madam Xie won't let us down."

……

Liu family.

Liu Erlang had an especially difficult day; he even felt that all the suffering he had endured in the past combined could not compare to what he was going through now.

Master Liang of the bookstore didn't leave the Liu family at all. He acted like a distinguished guest, instructing the Liu family to bring him food. After eating his fill, he fell fast asleep on the couch in the inner room, as if he was already certain of what choice Liu Erlang would make.

Huang Zongwu finally couldn't help but look at Liu Erlang: "Brother Liu, is what Master Liang said true? Was it really Lady Xie who ordered you to run a tabloid in Bianjing?"

Liu Erlang looked at Huang Zongwu in surprise, and saw guilt and unease in the other's eyes.

"How could you not know whether Madam Xie advised the tabloids? We were together every day during those days, did you see me go to see Madam Xie?"

Huang Zongwu's expression stiffened, but he quickly said, "Perhaps... Brother Liu only showed the article to her... and didn't..."

Liu Erlang suddenly raised his voice: "Are you trying to frame a woman?"

Hu Ying grabbed Liu Erlang and whispered, "Erlang, don't be anxious, that's not what we meant."

Liu Erlang pointed at Master Liang inside the house: "Wasn't what he said clear enough? He just wants to use tabloids to deal with Madam Xie."

“I don’t know any of that,” Huang Zongwu said, his eyes wide. “All I know is that we were implicated by that Xie family. If it weren’t for her, we would be sitting in a restaurant right now, receiving congratulations and chatting with people.”