Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 712 Favoritism
Cao Yu and the others invited Supervisor Sun to their home for a meal. They were deeply grateful to Supervisor Sun, as he was the only one who spoke up for them during their most difficult time.

"If I had known the court would investigate, the ship inspectors wouldn't have suffered so much."

"I wonder if there are any good medicines at sea that can cure leg injuries."

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent again. Even the best medicine probably couldn't restore a badly healed bone to its original state.

Sun Jianbo was not concerned about his own leg, but told Cao Yu to be careful when going to sea.

After seeing Supervisor Sun off, everyone went back to rest. Cao Yu sat under the lamp, pondering what Supervisor Sun had said that evening, and couldn't help but frown.

Seeing her husband's expression, Zhou Lanqi asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Is there something you don't like?"

Cao Yu couldn't say for sure either. Logically speaking, they were closer to Supervisor Sun. Since taking office, Supervisor Sun had been particularly concerned about them and had helped them more than once. In particular, during the flood two years ago, Supervisor Sun took out all the rice and grain in his own family to provide relief to the disaster victims, and Cao Yu's family had also eaten that porridge.

Fujian has fallen to this point, and the people resent those officials, but Sun Jianbo is not among them.

If Sun Jianbo had said those words tonight before he had met Wang Yan and Xie Yuyan, he might have preferred to pay the fine rather than continue serving Lady Xie.

But his first reaction was that it was strange.

He felt that Supervisor Sun should be the same kind of person as Wang Yan and Lady Xie, because they said and did the same things, so why did they go their separate ways?
Nannan was already asleep. Looking at his daughter's little face, Cao Yu felt most of his worries disappear.

“Husband,” Zhou Lanqi said, “are you afraid that Madam Xie will harm us?”

Cao Yu shook his head. He wasn't being opportunistic. Wang Yan and Madam Xie had never harmed them; on the contrary, they had always been helping them. Even if they were very close to Supervisor Sun, they shouldn't be suspicious of each other without reason, unless he discovered some clues.

Cao Yu then took out the contract he had signed with Madam Xie. He had read this contract many times, and it was clearer than any other contract he had seen before.

Starting tomorrow, they will help Madam Xie prepare supplies, and their wages will also be calculated from tomorrow, settled daily. Every three days, Madam Xie will review the accounts, and she can bring three people to listen in.

They were hired laborers, and the mistress allowed them to inspect the accounts just so that she could get her share of the profits.

It would certainly not work with anyone else.

In short, all of these things are in their favor.

Cao Yu said, "Since the contract has already been signed, it should last at least a year, unless Madam Xie changes her mind."

Zhou Lanqi breathed a sigh of relief.

Madam Xie treated her and Nannan extremely well. For some reason, after only knowing her for a few days, she trusted Madam Xie very much from the bottom of her heart.

Looking at Madam Xie always reminds her of her sisters in the clan. She has been away from home for so many years and has long since adapted to married life, but recently, Madam Xie has always stirred up some homesickness in her.

When she insisted on marrying Cao Yu, her father said that he would never let her enter the house again. She had long since given up the idea of ​​going home. When she was with Lady Xie, she would often feel a strange sense of closeness, as if she had gained a relative.

Perhaps it's because Xie Niangzi's favorite foods and some of her habits are very similar to hers.

Yu's mother also helped her take care of her daughter. If she hadn't felt comfortable there, how could she have stayed at Aunt Xie's place for so many days?
When Madam Yu told her about Madam Xie's experiences in Daming Prefecture, she felt a pang of sadness and tears welled up in her eyes.

How difficult is it for a woman to reach this point?

As Zhou Lanqi spoke, she picked up the sewing basket beside her and began to do needlework.

Cao Yu asked, "What are you trying to do?"

Zhou Lanqi said, "Make a hand warmer for Madam Xie, she can use it in Bianjing during the winter. These past few days, Madam Xie bought two sets of clothes for Nannan, and I have nothing to return, except that my needlework is still decent."

Zhou Lanqi happily started sewing, and Cao Yu stopped thinking about it and began to ponder how many people he should take with him this time.

Those unaware of Cao Yu's background might assume he merely earned the trust of some villagers, leading them to make a living at sea. In reality, Cao Yu was highly respected in the nearby villages. He earned money through smuggling goods, helping many people, and these people took turns going to sea with him. It was precisely because of this that he was never caught by the authorities.

What he did was somewhat similar to what Xie Yuyan did at the South City Wharf, except that he wasn't as thorough as Xie Yuyan had thought. If he were forced to go to sea, the people in several villages would be willing to leave with him.

Of course, this is on the premise that they can find a place to stay.

Before the demonic cult was investigated, Cao Yu had heard that the cult members were planning to settle in Ryukyu, and they did indeed take action, fighting with the Ryukyuans several times.

The Ryukyu Islands had a lot of farmland, making it a place where one could settle down for a long time. Cao Yu even learned the local language and was able to meet and communicate with the Ryukyuans.

He brought things from Daliang to the Ryukyu people at low prices and had his own courtyard on the island.

If they are forced to leave Daliang this time and have nowhere else to go, they will definitely go to Penghu first, then to Ryukyu, and then try to cross to Luzon.

Madam Xie offered him a new option, the advantage of which was that they didn't have to abandon anyone.

Based on this alone, it was worth his all-out effort. With that thought in mind, Cao Yu got up to discuss with a few villagers. He would stay here to help Madam Xie, while they went to the village to call for help. Madam Xie would need more workers to take down the demon cult's ships, so he had to make preparations in advance.

……

Inside the government office.

As darkness fell, the sky gradually brightened again.

Wang Yan picked up the bronze lampshade and placed it steadily over the flame.

Although the flames are intense, they can be extinguished quickly if the right method is used.

Wang Yan did not go to Xie Yuyan's courtyard. She was fast asleep at the time, and if she heard any noise, she would inevitably get up and come over to talk to him.

Although she was forcing herself to stay with him despite her exhaustion, she was exceptionally touching.

But he still couldn't bear to do it.

After a quick wash, Wang Yan took off his official robes and rested in the duty room for less than two hours before being woken up by Sang Zhi.

“My lord,” Sangzhi whispered, “the clerk and the bailiff have arrived.”

Wang Yan got up, put on his official robes, and then returned to the second hall.

The clerk and the bailiff immediately rose to greet him.

As soon as Wang Yan sat down, the clerk immediately presented him with the documents in his hand: "Sir, all the ships that the yamen seized from the demon sect are here. The shipwrights have surveyed them and estimated their prices."

Wang Yan nodded and looked at the clerk: "Is there anyone left in the grain transport office?"

Kong Muguan looked troubled; the officials of the transport commission had been arrested the most, and there were practically none left.

Wang Yan said, "Then you should write up the list and post it. Merchants who want to buy should submit their petitions to the government office within seven days. These ships will be awarded to the highest bidder."

The clerk was stunned. Lord Wang disposed of the ships without reporting to the court? Even if Lord Wang was of extraordinary status, this was... far too fast. These ships, if bought, would instantly make someone a powerful merchant.

The government offices often do this kind of thing, but it's usually for personal gain. Lord Wang, he…

"What?" Wang Yan didn't look up, but simply said calmly, "Can't you do it?"

(End of this chapter)