Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 64 Gathering Hearts: Thanks to Xiaodie for the Monthly Ticket Package
As Wang Yan stepped into the room, his gaze fell on Xie Yuyan.

More than a decade has passed, and he seems to hear the rustling of leaves in his ears. Deep in the forest, the little girl holding the raccoon dog stares at him. Before he can speak, she asks in a clear voice, "Are you an immortal?"

"Where did you come from? Why are you so beautiful?"

She stared at him with unusual boldness, as if she were attracted by his face and forgot everything else for a moment: "Everyone says that there are three beauties in Daliang, but I think even the most beautiful Su Xiaoli is not as good as you."

After saying this, she came back to her senses and pouted: "When you came, did you see my brothers? They said they would help me pick flowers, but I... saw a beautiful butterfly and unknowingly followed it here. My family must be frantic with worry because they can't find me."

Those eyes were filled with tears and resentment, making them look exceptionally pitiful.

"Could you help me find my family members so they can thank you?"

At the time, it seemed normal, but upon closer examination, every word contained a probing tone.

The title of "Xiaoli" was an official position. Only children from official families would be taught to address people with such titles through their own exposure. Generally, bad people would give up any ideas upon hearing this, and no one would dare to easily offend such a family.

She also told him that several of her brothers were nearby and that he should not act rashly. She then mentioned that her family was looking for her and that she would be rewarded if she could be returned.

The money a kidnapper gets from abducting a girl to sell is nowhere near the reward money given by a high-ranking official or nobleman. Even if he was less than ten years old at the time, who can guarantee that no one was involved with him? Perhaps once she was lured over, someone hiding nearby would make a move.

As for his good looks...

Wang Yan saw a familiar glimmer in Xie Yuyan's eyes, like a ray of light accidentally spilling from a cloud, but it vanished in an instant.

There might be some truth to it, but it could also be a tactic to deceive him.

Wang Yan sat down, and Mama Yu hurriedly stepped forward to serve tea. Madam Zhang also said from the side, "We were unaware that the Registrar would be here. We have truly been negligent."

Wang Yan didn't mind having a few more people in the room and said to Zhang Shi, "I came here unexpectedly, so please don't mind."

After speaking, he looked at Xie Yuyan: "Were all those people who left just now from Yong'an Ward? They also paid a deposit and were preparing to take hot water out to sell?"

So that's what it was all about.

Xie Yuyan slightly raised her lips. In Daming Prefecture, the only one who could react first was Wang Hechun. He knew that she was not only doing business, but also gathering manpower.

Now that she'd been seen through, she didn't hide anything: "But Yong'an Ward is different. I know the residents here well, and I trust them. Besides selling water, I want to do something else with them."

Wang Yan said, "Tell me about it."

Xie Yuyan said, "There are four wards in Daming Prefecture. Only two of them are close to the East and West Markets. It would be too inconvenient for the people in the other two wards to buy things."

Wang Yan met Xie Yuyan's clear gaze: "You want to open another market?"

Xie Yuyan shook his head: "Our South First Ward is close together, the roads are not wide enough, and there are not many shops on the street, so it is difficult to form a proper business. However, if we can set up stalls to sell in the morning and evening, without interfering with the passage of carriages and pedestrians during the day, the government should be able to agree, right?"

Since Wang Yan had come to test her, she couldn't let him come for nothing, so she decided to be frank and discuss things openly.

Wang Yan did not respond, but after a pause, he said, "You're not after the morning and evening markets; you're after the Imperial Camp."

He really reacted extremely quickly.

The Imperial Camp was where the imperial family resided when they traveled north. Even if the imperial family did not go there, there were still troops stationed there. Although the war in the north has indeed stopped, the troops have not all been withdrawn.

The hundreds of people inside alone are enough to drive the morning and evening market.

Moreover, besides the soldiers remaining in the camp, there were also artisans, laborers, and military dependents doing odd jobs with the army. Previously, no unauthorized persons were allowed to linger around the imperial camp, but now that the markets and wards have been opened, the control of the imperial camp will naturally be more relaxed.

Wang Yan said, "Now that there is no more fighting, the troops left in the camp will withdraw sooner or later. What will you do then?"

Xie Yuyan wasn't worried at all: "Anyway, we don't have a shop, so everyone can just find another place to make a living."

that's it?
Wang Yan's expression turned serious again: "I received news from the capital that the garrison in Daming Prefecture will soon be heading to the Northwest."

The cat had somehow slipped back into Xie Yuyan's arms.

Upon hearing Wang Yan's words, Xie Yuyan's hand, which was resting on the thick fur, paused slightly, and he subconsciously said, "Big..."

Her mind raced, but Empress Dowager Xie only momentarily lost her composure before quickly regaining her composure.

"Sir, is what you're saying true?"

The strange behavior just now seemed to be due to being startled by Wang Yan's words. A strange glint flashed in Wang Yan's eyes.

Xie Yuyan looked at Wang Yan: "My lord has not received any news from the capital."

This Wang Yan was completely different from the old prime minister she had met in the courtyard years ago, which is why she didn't put much effort into guarding against him, and even managed to take advantage of him.

You should know that when she and Wang Huai went to pay their respects to Wang Yan, he kept her in the courtyard for a full hour. Her new clothes were soaked with sweat, and she had to keep her back straight, not daring to be the slightest bit impolite. In her boredom, she had no choice but to stare at the butterfly on the prime minister's clothes.

When Wang Yan woke up and looked at her, she felt that her eyes were deep and unfathomable, revealing no emotion, yet they could capture all of her thoughts.

She thought the prime minister had something to say, and after waiting for a long time, the prime minister got up and walked to her side. His tall figure loomed over her head, and when she tried to look up, he was stunned.

The prime minister asked Wang Huai for his homework.

That night, Wang Huai was beaten quite badly. She sneaked over to visit him and found him lying on a soft cushion, reciting his lessons.

“I could recite all the poems he used to test Su Xiaoli, and I even told him that we could recite them backwards two years ago.”

She asked, "And then?"

Wang Huai took a bite of the pancake: "Then he made me recite it backwards."

Hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh out loud: "So you memorized it wrong?"

“No,” Wang Huai said, “we’ve been playing this since we were kids, how could we be wrong? But he told my father…”

"After studying for many years, all he knows is how to play with words."

Later, Wang Huai was beaten frequently, and eventually he was locked up at home and not allowed to move around in front of others. Several years passed like this until Wang Yan fell seriously ill and went to Wang Huai's home to recuperate. She then went to the Wang family as a guest.

It was quite a coincidence that she happened to be at the Wang family home when Wang Yan passed away. Wang Huai said that the Wang family had prepared several sets of robes, and Wang Yan chose to wear dark colors before his death. During the funeral, the coffin was dressed in dark colors inside and out.

Since they had arrived at the prime minister's funeral, they could not simply leave. On the day of the funeral, another butterfly flew over and landed on her sleeve.

In fact, Empress Dowager Xie was quite afraid of butterflies, so she shook the butterflies off vigorously and stepped on them.

In a short moment, Xie Yuyan pondered many things. When she came to her senses, she found that Wang Yan had been watching her the whole time.

His gaze was deep, concealing his emotions.

"Have you discussed with the people of Yong'anfang how to open the morning and evening markets?" Wang Yan's expression returned to calm, as if the probing and confrontation just now had never happened.

Xie Yuyan said, “I want to organize a village association. First, I will recruit the residents of Yong’an Ward. I will provide them with specially made stoves and lotus root charcoal, and help them make utensils. After they make money, they can give me the money they spent on these items. If they lose money, I will only charge them half the price.”

This is what she meant when she said, "Those who are in the same association can help and lend each other money, utensils, vehicles, and manpower." The rules she set naturally started with her and would become the cornerstone of the association.

It turns out they were talking about the village gathering in the main room; no wonder they were all so excited.

“You are gathering people,” Wang Yan was not so easily fooled. “You call it a village association, but you are doing the work of the village head and neighborhood head.”

“You’ve misunderstood, sir,” Xie Yuyan said, “our village association only deals with matters related to buying and selling.”

"Where is there no connection to money? In time, who will be able to tell the difference? At that point, will the residents listen to the neighborhood head or to you?"

“The affairs of the imperial court are naturally decided by the ward head,” Xie Yuyan said. “Behind the ward head is the government office, and behind me is…”

"It's the human heart."

The three words came out of Wang Yan's mouth, and his gaze became sharp, as if he was determined to expose her true intentions.

Zhang was so frightened that her hands and feet turned ice-cold, and Yu's mother next to her also looked up.

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly, as if she were standing on the throne in the Chuigong Hall, looking at the prime minister who was pressing her with his questions. She stopped trying to negotiate and directly admitted: "Yes, what I want is the hearts of the people."

Thank you all for your strong support on the first day of release! Thank you Xiaodie for the monthly pass package!

With gratitude in our hearts, we will continue to strive.

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(End of this chapter)