Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 724 Clever
Hearing Madam Lin say this, Zhang felt that this matter was too strange. She thought about it carefully and said, "Madam said that Young Master Wang has been missing for three days. How did Young Master Wang, who is so young, manage to survive in the mountains?"

Madam Lin had also thought about these things: "I also asked Yan Ge'er, but he said that he didn't feel that three days had passed, it was as if it was only one day at most."

This is even more strange. The Wang family must not have made a mistake. They would remember clearly how long Wang Langjun had been missing. Wang Langjun should not lie either; at least he should be able to tell his family the truth.

Zhang murmured, "That's really strange."

Madam Lin nodded: "My son Yan has been clever since he was a child. There are many things that I can't figure out, but he can understand them clearly. The reason why he is so stubborn about this matter is probably because he still can't figure out the truth."

“He had something weighing on his mind, and he would always be thinking about it. I was really afraid he would become obsessed. It wasn’t until he met Ayan that he started to smile again.”

Zhang nodded, which is why Madam Lin looked so grateful when she first came.

"That seems a bit off-topic, but... my decision to give up needlework is actually related to this," Madam Lin said with a slight smile. "These past few years, Yan-ge'er has dressed up in such an old-fashioned way, wearing the same robes all year round. It's really unnecessary for me to do anything. Even if I make him something more elaborate, he'll wear it with a stiff face, which is a waste of my good skills. I don't like it, so I simply stopped serving him."

"After returning from Daming Prefecture, guess what?" Madam Lin's eyes crinkled into a smile. "He actually started picking out clothes and asked me to make him a robe."

"I got my sewing basket back that very night."

Zhang thought about it carefully and realized it was true. When they were in Daming Prefecture, Wang Langjun always wore dark-colored robes, but after returning to Bianjing, his robes changed every time.

She even went back to her own home as Wang Langjun, and that's why things were different. So it was... for Ayan to wear?

Zhang couldn't help but blame herself for being too careless; how could she have missed something so obvious? Thinking about it more carefully, she noticed a change in A-Yan as well. Lately, she smiled more, her brows relaxed, and she would sometimes joke with her. It was clear that A-Yan was fond of Wang Langjun.

Zhang murmured, "I wonder when they will be able to come back." The more she talked with Madam Lin, the more she missed Ayan.

“This time it will definitely not be easy,” Zhang said. “When they come back, I will make some medicinal food to nourish them.”

Madam Lin stopped what she was doing and looked at Madam Zhang: "Madam Zhang, you can even make medicinal cuisine?"

Zhang looked rather embarrassed: "I was taught by the doctor, so I only know a little bit."

Madam Lin said, "When you do it, teach me too."

Zhang's cooking skills were quite good, so he didn't refuse and simply nodded.

The atmosphere in the room was exceptionally pleasant, and the two continued chatting and laughing.

Only Yang Qin, standing in the courtyard, had a furrowed brow. He learned the truth when Madam Lin came for the second time, and at that moment he was surprised, saddened, and a little angry.

It turns out that Wang Langjun came to the house to kidnap his sister-in-law.

His admiration and respect for Wang Langjun vanished instantly. If Wang Langjun were here, he would have stormed over and cursed him: "What a despicable act!"

They came to test his studies, and sent people to help his sister-in-law; they all had ulterior motives.

He was careless and that's how he got tricked.

Yan Sui wanted to say a few words of advice, but he didn't know what to say.

Yang Qin looked at Yan Sui: "Did you guess it too?"

Yan Sui didn't hide anything: "It's being said outside..."

“Everyone’s saying it’s not true,” Yang Qin said coldly. “Since my sister-in-law didn’t mention it, it doesn’t matter who says it.”

Yan Sui was silent for a moment before saying, "Then are you willing to let Madam Xie remain a widow? Don't you want Madam Xie to remarry, or don't you want her to leave the Yang family?" "You don't want Madam Xie to remarry, but if one day Madam Xie moves out to live separately, or even... goes to Ciyun Nunnery, won't you be sad? Just like me, my master keeps telling me to stay in the temple, but I know that my master doesn't necessarily want me to become a nun. He's just worried that I'm too young and won't be able to take care of me if I run away."

You need to think these things through.

Yang Qin remained silent for a long time: "What's the use of figuring it out?"

"How is it useless?" Yan Sui leaned closer and blinked. "Knowing what you want is the best way to fight for it."

Yang Qin was stunned. After a long while, he came to his senses and felt that the little monk in front of him was really clever... very clever.

……

On the official road to Fujian, the people passing by watched the horses galloping by with curiosity.

People resting at the teahouse couldn't help but ask, "What's going on here lately? In just a short while, two caravans and several groups of people have passed by."

The waiter at the teahouse chuckled, "It's been like this for the last five or six days..."

As they were talking, another caravan appeared in their sight. The two men at the head rode quickly to the tea house and handed over several water bags for the waiter to fill.

He even asked his companions for information: "How many caravans have passed by today?"

The waiter immediately chimed in, "There are three caravans ahead of you, and some on horseback. I wonder if they are merchants?"

The man thanked the waiter.

The shop assistant couldn't help but ask, "Are you also transporting porcelain?"

The man shook his head: "No, we are tea, porcelain is not for us."

A passerby drinking tea exclaimed in surprise, "Business has been so good lately? Didn't I hear that a lot of officials have been arrested and things are in chaos over there?"

“That’s all ancient history,” the caravan member shook his head. “That’s all in the past. Now everyone’s trying to sell goods at sea!”

Passersby still didn't understand: "Isn't it the same every year? What's new this year?"

“Of course there are,” the caravan member said. “We don’t know about other places, but this year there are some special rules for porcelain. Porcelain merchants and kiln owners from all over the country have gathered together to set some regulations. They need to get official certificates from the imperial court before the goods can be shipped out smoothly.”

"Without obtaining a certificate, not only will you be placed at the back of the queue, but you might not even get a good price."

The passerby was confused: "What kind of public document are you talking about?"

The caravan members said, "The porcelain has been inspected by the porcelain guild to ensure it is genuine and flawless. It also needs to go through the Maritime Trade Office and be inspected before a document is issued. Only with this document can merchants successfully set sail."

A passerby said, "Isn't that troublesome?"

“There are advantages to trouble,” said one of the caravan members. “When foreign merchants buy porcelain, they will recognize official certificates, making it harder for other merchants to try to circumvent the system.”

"Most of those smuggling merchants lead a group of desperados, selling inferior goods as superior ones and driving down prices. As a result, legitimate porcelain kilns either can't sell their wares or are forced to collude with them. In the long run, doesn't this embolden these people?"

The passerby looked at the merchants and said, "I see. You guys are the ones who understand things best."

The merchant shook his head: "It wasn't me. I heard it on the road. All those who trade porcelain say the same thing."

(End of this chapter)