I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 382 Vixen

The main courtyard of the Yang family ancestral home.

The steward stood in the courtyard with his head bowed and eyes lowered, breathing softly, afraid of making the slightest sound.

"Are you sure it's the Jin family?"

"Yes," the steward replied. "The people below have already found out that Mei Niang, the head of Qingyanfang, is a member of a collateral branch of the Jin family, a relative of the young master's mother. Her family has fallen on hard times and she had no choice but to come to Suzhou to seek refuge with Madam Jin."

"Fine, fine!" Old Master Yang sneered. For the position of Dean of Hongshan Academy, the Jin family truly disregarded all past relationships.

Since that's the case, don't blame the Yang family for not showing any mercy!
"Prepare the car," Old Master Yang ordered. "We're going to Hanshan Temple."

Inside Hanshan Temple, incense is burning brightly and believers come and go in an endless stream.

A carriage bearing the Yang clan emblem stopped in front of the temple gate, and the guest monk immediately stepped forward to pay his respects, saying, "Amitabha."

Old Master Yang, supported by the steward, got off the carriage and returned the Buddhist greeting with his hands clasped together.

"Benefactor Yang, please go to the main hall to burn incense first. This humble monk will go and invite the abbot."

"Thank you for your help, young man."

Every year during festivals, the Yang family would offer incense to Hanshan Temple. Old Master Yang would even stay at Hanshan Temple on the day of Buddha's Birthday to discuss Buddhism with the abbot. Hanshan Temple specially reserved a meditation hall for Old Master Yang for this purpose.

When the abbot heard that Old Master Yang had come to Hanshan Temple out of the usual holiday, he was greatly surprised. He bid farewell to the believers who came to seek scriptures and worship Buddha, and turned to walk into the main hall.

After Old Master Yang finished offering incense, the abbot stepped forward and said, "Amitabha, greetings to Benefactor Yang."

Grandpa Yang stood up and performed a Buddhist salute, saying, "Greetings, Abbot."

The abbot looked up and saw a hint of melancholy in Old Master Yang's eyes. He said, "Is Benefactor Yang troubled and wishing to confide in the Buddha?"

Grandpa Yang nodded.

"Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha is merciful and will surely bless Benefactor Yang so that he may soon be free from his worries."

Grandpa Yang put his hands together in prayer and said, "I also need the master to explain the Buddhist scriptures to me."

“It is my duty,” the abbot said. “Please come with me to the meditation room, Mr. Yang.”

Old Master Yang walked to the meditation room in the backyard. The abbot dismissed the monks and sat cross-legged on the futon. Just as he was about to start preaching, Old Master Yang asked, "Is Master Daozhou here?"

"This is a private matter for Benefactor Huang, and I cannot disclose it to you."

“Master, the Yang family is in trouble,” Old Master Yang said, looking directly at the master. “Now the Yang family’s trade routes have been cut off and its military influence has been eliminated. If we lose Hongshan Academy as well, the Yang family will be completely ruined.”

"Amitabha," the abbot said, closing his eyes. "The rise and fall of the world is predetermined and cannot be changed by ordinary people. Rather than trying to hold on, it is better to go with the flow."

"Let nature take its course. If the Yang family, which has lasted for several dynasties, falls into ruin in my hands, how will I face my ancestors after my death?"

The abbot remained silent, only chanting the Buddha's name.

Old Master Yang softened his tone, “Even if the abbot doesn’t remember the Yang family’s contributions to Hanshan Temple over the years, such as donations of incense and temple construction, he should at least remember the Yang family’s kindness in giving you life and raising you.”

The abbot paused in his hand as he was fiddling with the prayer beads.

“Back then, my elder brother should have inherited the position of head of the Yang clan, but he was devoted to Buddhism and did not want to be burdened by worldly affairs. My father and mother could not persuade him otherwise, so they lied and said that my elder brother had died of illness and sent him to Hanshan Temple to become a monk.”

“My parents only have two children, my elder brother and me, so the heavy burden of the Yang family naturally falls on my shoulders. Over the years, I have devoted myself to the Yang family and worked hard to bring it back to life.”

“Now the Yang family has suffered another calamity, and I alone am powerless to save it,” Old Master Yang took a deep breath and reached out to grasp the abbot’s hand that was twirling the prayer beads. “Now, the only one who can save the Yang family from this predicament is my elder brother.”

The master host tried to pull his hand away, but Old Master Yang held on tightly and he was unsuccessful.

"Brother, just this once!" Old Master Yang promised. "No matter the outcome, neither I nor the Yang family will trouble you again!"

The abbot silently recited Buddhist scriptures, but his mind was filled with the gloomy and anxious expression of Old Master Yang.

Ultimately, revitalizing the Yang family should have been his responsibility. He shifted the burden of revitalizing the Yang family to his younger brother for his own selfish desires, which was his fault to begin with. The host softened, "This will only happen once."

Grandpa Yang smiled.

Wuqixianshan Farm in Minzhou.

Raindrops from the eaves fell in strings to the ground, flowing along the blue bricks and gathering in the low-lying areas.

Tang Zhao leaned half his body out of the window and reached out his hand to catch the rain.

Gu Ci took off his raincoat under the eaves, went into the inner room to change his clothes, and stood next to Tang Zhao to dry his hair.

"Has anyone received it?"

"They have already settled in Suzhou."

"Has the army broken camp?"

“Yes,” Gu Ci replied, “but the number of people who migrated to the Northwest was 100,000 more than we expected.”

"It's alright, the Northwest is vast, it can accommodate even more than 100,000 people," Tang Zhao reached out and took the cloth from Gu Ci's hand, standing behind him to wipe his hair.

Gu Ci was reluctant to see Tang Zhao tired, but at the same time, he couldn't bear to refuse Zhao Zhao's rare tenderness.

After all, he was the one who usually dried Zhao Zhao's hair, and Zhao Zhao dried his hair; this was the first time ever.

Gu Ci wished time could slow down, completely unconcerned that Tang Zhao had ruffled his hair into a mess.

Qiu Yu turned her head away, trying her best to suppress her laughter.

Tang Zhao looked at Gu Ci's messy hair, chuckled dryly, picked up the silver comb from the dressing table, and slowly straightened the hair, taking a long time to finally tie it up.

Tang Zhao admired his masterpiece for a moment with satisfaction, then picked up the mirror and placed it in front of Gu Ci. "My hair-combing technique is pretty good, isn't it?"

Gu Ci looked at her crooked hair in the mirror and chuckled softly.

"What are you laughing at?" Tang Zhao snapped. "You think I didn't comb my hair well?"

"No," Gu Ci quickly coaxed, "I am happy. My wife is so virtuous; it is truly my good fortune."

Tang Zhao raised her chin arrogantly, "It's good that you know."

Looking at Tang Zhao, Gu Ci suddenly remembered a little red fox he had caught in the Northwest. That little fox was just as cute and proud, with a pair of big, wet eyes that could melt a person's heart.

He was so moved by the little fox's eyes that he momentarily lost his composure and let the little fox escape.

Gu Ci thought for a moment, then reached out and picked Tang Zhao up, lifting her onto his lap.

Upon seeing this, Qiu Yu quickly covered her mouth, chuckling as she retreated.

"Gu Ci, you son of a bitch, ugh."

Tang Zhao was almost breathless from Gu Ci's kiss. She was finally released, but before she could catch her breath, she was kissed again.

After several attempts, Tang Zhao lost her temper with Gu Ci and could only glare at him with her big eyes to express her anger.

Gu Ci hugged Tang Zhao tightly around the waist and whispered in her ear, "Little fox."

Tang Zhao was furious. "You dare call me a vixen? You're asking for it!"

"Zhaozhao, would you like a little fox?"

Tang Zhao was a little tempted; she had only ever seen foxes in the zoo.

"How about I catch one for you?"

Tang Zhao nodded, "That's a good idea."