Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 718 Effort
Madam Lin chatted with Zhang for a while, left some gifts, and then left with her entourage.

Standing at the door, Zhang watched the Wang family's carriage drive away, feeling a sense of disorientation.

"Madam Zhang, let's go back!"

Zhang Shi only came back to her senses when Chen Shangjun's voice came through.

The two sat down inside the house, and Yang Hong also entered: "While the Wang family's carriage arrived, a lot more spies came to our residence."

Ever since Ayan became the head of the porcelain business, there have always been people keeping an eye on the South City Wharf and their residence.

Chen Shangjun said, "Then... wouldn't they have seen the Wang family's wife when she came over?"

Zhang recalled what Madam Lin had said. The reason she had come to visit this time was because there were too many rumors circulating outside. The Wang family wanted to make their stance clear so that Ayan would not be wronged.

“Let them see,” Zhang said. “We’ll just do what we’re doing; there’s nothing to hide.”

Their Ayan is upright and honest, and those nonsense words ultimately cannot stand.

Zhang looked at Chen Shangjun and said, "Write a letter to Minghui later and tell him to tell the clan to make the porcelain carefully. Don't let them become lax just because Ayan has become the head of the industry. Porcelain with defects can't be sold at the market."

"Let me be frank from the start: if anything goes wrong, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Chen Shangjun nodded.

Zhang continued, "And... tell them not to forget that without Ayan, the Yang family would have no more porcelain kilns. No matter what, they must always remember Ayan's kindness."

Chen Shangjun nodded. Zhang Niangzi was afraid that the Yang family would cause trouble when the eldest daughter-in-law remarried, so she spread the word early to remind the clansmen that whether the porcelain made by the Yang family could be sold at the market was up to the eldest daughter-in-law. They dared to harm the eldest daughter-in-law behind her back because they didn't want to earn money from the porcelain kiln anymore.

Chen Shangjun noticed that Zhang Niangzi's gentle nature had subtly changed, a result of her being around the eldest daughter-in-law. Now, even without the eldest daughter-in-law's support, Zhang Niangzi would no longer be bullied by her clansmen.

Chen Shangjun said, "No one in the clan dares to harbor any ill intentions, otherwise we would have punished them before even reaching Madam Zhang. Everyone in the clan has benefited from Madam Zhang's kindness, especially us. After working for Madam Zhang, we are no longer bullied, and we are all making a fortune..."

Chen Shangjun gestured to his waist: "They've all gotten quite a bit thicker. I think they're not stupid; they know who to protect."

Zhang replied, "That is indeed the case."

“Furthermore, no one will dare to bully the third branch of the family anymore,” Chen Shangjun said. “Don’t worry, Madam Zhang.”

Zhang felt a warmth in her chest and a smile appeared on her face.

“Whether Madam marries or not in the future,” Chen Shangjun added, “we are all the same. If Madam doesn’t mind, we are considered family, right?”

Zhang nodded, and after a moment said, "Ayan won't mind."

Chen Shangjun smiled as well, her gaze falling on the gifts on the table: "It's good that we're with you, Madam. Even the Wang family's wife came to visit, bringing gifts. What a great honor! Look at all these things you've chosen; it's as if we wouldn't accept them."

Madam Lin sent books and writing implements, saying that they were ordered by Lord Wang. In fact, Zhang knew that Madam Lin must have prepared them carefully. The inkstone was particularly exquisite, and the writing brushes from Xuancheng were not something that could be bought at ordinary times. She had heard that it took several months to make a single brush, and it might be possible to order one half a year in advance.

Mrs. Lin may have made preparations long ago.

This shows how much Madam Lin values ​​Ayan.

“Let’s continue tidying up,” Zhang said. “The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can get the money, so as not to delay A-Yan’s use of it.”

Chen Shangjun responded.

Yang Hong continued to patrol the surrounding area. Zhang Niangzi said not to worry about those spies, but they found out which family these people came from and who their backers were.

……

Madam Lin's carriage stopped in front of the Wang family's house. She got out and walked briskly into the courtyard. Wang Bingchen had just finished his business and changed out of his official robes. He was heading to his study in the front courtyard when he bumped into Madam Lin.

"Where did they go?" Wang Bingchen asked.

Madam Lin did not respond, but instead said, "Master, can't you guess?"

Wang Bingchen roughly knew what his wife was busy with and guessed that she would go to the Yang family, but he didn't know when.

"Did Yan-ge send someone back with a letter from home?"

Only in this way would the lady be in a hurry to go out.

Madam Lin nodded: "Yes, but the letter didn't ask about the master."

Wang Bingchen felt a sudden tightness in his chest, knowing that his wife was trying to provoke him, and said calmly, "I didn't want to see it either."

Madam Lin laughed out loud: "I won't ask about your affairs, but you must remember that your smooth reinstatement is all thanks to our two children. To avoid suspicion, you shouldn't speak up for them in court. As a woman, I can't be bothered by the censors, can I?"

Wang Bingchen was speechless. If he remembered correctly, he was forced to stay at home on sick leave because of her eldest son.

"Don't be too ostentatious," Wang Bingchen still said, "it's not good for them."

Madam Lin said, "In the past, talking to the Yang family was considered ostentatious? Then has the master really forgotten what I was like when I was in the Lin family?"

Wang Bingchen took a deep breath. He meant well by saying a few words, but she brought up these things again. Whenever her eldest son was involved, she would turn into a hedgehog.

He's someone we can't afford to offend, but we can't just ignore him?

“When you reply to him, tell him that the court will send officials to Fujian in seven days at the earliest and half a month at the latest.”

When the new official takes office, he, as the angel, will have to relinquish some of his power. Once Fujian is stable, the day will come for him to return to the capital.

Madam Lin nodded, and seeing that Wang Bingchen was about to leave, she reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

Wang Bingchen had no choice but to stop.

Madam Lin leaned closer and lowered her voice: "Regarding the officials going to Fujian, has His Majesty inquired about the Master's opinion?"

“I asked,” Wang Bingchen said without hiding anything, “and I also recommended people, but they may not be selected.” As he said this, he sensed a hint of disdain in his wife’s gaze.

Is this a sign that they think he's useless?

Wang Bingchen's face darkened: "With Xie Yizhi and others arrested, the court is bound to be in turmoil. The Emperor will not give me much power. In the end, I will only be able to implement the new laws in Fujian."

The lady withdrew her disdainful gaze, but it seemed to be done very deliberately…

Wang Bingchen frowned and scolded, "Don't look at me like that."

A few days ago, he thought the emperor would be able to select two or three people from those he recommended, but in the last two days, the emperor changed his mind for some reason, and there has been no response to the list he submitted.

Wang Bingchen was certain that someone was secretly taking action to plant his own people, but he didn't know who that person was yet.

Madam Lin said, "I heard that A-Yan risked his life to meet the leader of the Demon Sect. I'm still terrified when I think about it. What if something had happened to him..."

"In short, it's not easy to get this result, so don't let their efforts go to waste."

(End of this chapter)