Chapter Nineteenth: The Pitfall of the Zhang Family

  The charity house has many functions, but the Xu family's charity house only has one function, which is to store coffins. Of course, the coffins are not empty, they all have corpses inside, mostly because they have not yet found a good place for burial, or the deceased died in a foreign land and their families are preparing to transport them back to their hometown for burial, or they are too poor to afford a funeral and can only temporarily store the coffin in the charity house.

  There are many ways to do good deeds in this world, and Xu's father and son also have their own unique way of doing good deeds, directly running a charity.

  According to the Da Ming Law, charitable halls were not allowed to be set up within the city walls and could only be established in the suburbs. However, Qiantang County was a prosperous county with a large population that had long outgrown its city walls, which had been built decades ago. As a result, even the suburbs were bustling with activity. Xu's father and son did not violate the Ming law by setting up their charitable hall here.

  It's just that this era is more superstitious, as soon as you hear the words "funeral home", it instantly makes people feel extremely unlucky. Not to mention now, even in later generations, if someone's house nearby is planning a funeral parlor or a garbage dump, they might go crazy.

  Everyone suddenly realized that this was actually a mourning hall and naturally retreated one after another, fearing that the bad luck would stick to themselves.

  But then again, setting up a charity mortuary is indeed a good deed. After all, even if kind-hearted people do good deeds, most of the time they only set up free porridge stalls, and when it comes to dealing with the dead, there aren't many people who are willing to get involved. Since Qiantang is located at the intersection of several important roads, there are often travelers and merchants dying suddenly, and since those who die in a foreign land cannot be buried on the spot, their bodies can only be temporarily stored until their families arrive from afar to handle the aftermath.

  Xu Qian's eyes sparkled, his face filled with compassion, as he repeatedly spoke of his own psychological journey in doing good deeds. He talked about how he had seen guests die in a foreign land and have no place to be buried, only to be carried out by the inn and left to rot in the wilderness, and how his heart had struggled, and how he had finally made up his mind, and eventually gained the support of Huang Shiyé, who lavishly praised him.

  After saying so much, a team of hired musicians lined up together, Xu Qian raised his hand and shouted: "Start the music!"

  Suddenly, the suona and cymbals sounded loudly, and mournful music was played. The sorrowful and mournful notes instantly made people think of the countless people wearing mourning clothes and white flowers, as if they were attending a funeral. If only a few more heaven-shaking wails could be added, it would be even more perfect.

  Among the crowd, there were naturally many people from the Zhang family. The Zhang family had been paying attention to Xu's father and son all along, but because their attention was too focused, they didn't think that Xu's father and son would secretly cross the river and set their sights on the abandoned inn opposite the Zhang family.

  The inn had been abandoned for two years, so it wasn't expensive to buy, but it still took almost all of the Xu family's savings. The inn didn't even need any repairs and could be converted into a charity house immediately. After all, a charity house doesn't require any decorations, just a sweep and some shelter from the wind and rain would do.

  Several members of the Zhang family were squeezed in the crowd, their eyes wide with wonder and their mouths agape, their chins almost dropping off.

  This is not Kaiyuan Villa, it's simply a scam.

  Running to someone's mansion gate and opening a righteous village is really unlucky.

  What a prestigious Zhang family, what kind of family is this? If people find out that there are corpses placed at the door, and every now and then, a mournful tune is played, with people in mourning clothes carrying coffins to the front door, will the Zhang family still have any face left? What can they use to stand firm in Qiantang?

  Even if it were placed in a later generation, next to a new building complex, if there is a funeral home, the house price would at least be cut in half. Not to mention this era. The newly built Zhang family mansion cost a huge amount of money and cannot be easily moved away. Moreover, if the Zhang family really moves away, wouldn't they be laughed at by others?

  So...

  Several door gods exchanged a look, just about to go and report, when someone rode up on a fast horse, wearing guard attire with a sword at his waist - it was Deng Jian.

  Deng Jian looked particularly spirited today, and he was savoring the feeling of being in the spotlight. Previously, Xu's father and son had not explained what kind of good deed they were doing, but in his understanding, a good deed was nothing more than giving out porridge. He had come to make an appearance at Xu Qian's behest, which wasn't a bad thing either.

  But he was spirited and proud until halfway through, when he saw that the crowd in front was dense but kept a distance, and heard the mournful music, suddenly stunned.

  What's going on?

  Deng Jian suddenly realized that this place was not good to stay in.

  However, now that he has been entrusted with the task, he can only grit his teeth and force himself to move forward. Looking at this scene, he suddenly confirmed his own speculation. He furrowed his brow and scowled, unable to help but curse in his heart: "If it weren't for the ten taels of silver debt, Master Deng would rather die than be involved in this unlucky affair. Alas, alas, today I've lost all dignity and forced myself into this."

  He walked forward with a package on his back and said, "Congratulations, congratulations. I heard that Xu Ban Tou and Xu Xiao Guan Ren have accumulated virtues and done good deeds. I was entrusted by someone to come and present gifts."

  After that, Deng Jian took off the package and revealed a plaque. The plaque was not large, and the people watching from afar couldn't see what was written on it. However, Xu Qian bowed solemnly to Deng Jian and said seriously: "Such a heavy gift, how can I dare accept it? Please return and inform the noble person that I am grateful for their favor, but I am unworthy of it."

  Xu Qian took the plaque and hastily called someone to hang it up. The height at which this plaque was hung was even higher than that of the "Accumulated Goodness" plaque written by Huang Shiye. It was particularly eye-catching, and everyone looked intently at it. On the plaque were written the four characters: "De Shàn Jì Shì".

  The onlookers couldn't help but start discussing it again.

  "That gift-giver, look at his attire, seems like a royal guard."

  "Not bad, I know him, his surname is Ju and his name is Jian, he indeed works in the Wang Gonggong government."

  "The surname Deng claims to have been entrusted by a noble person to deliver gifts, could it be that the gift-giver is actually the Duke himself? What kind of luck has this Xu family encountered, that even the Duke is giving them face?"

  "Just now, Xu Xiaoguan said that the person who sent the gift was a nobleman, it must be Wang Gonggong without a doubt."

  "Nonsense, if it wasn't for Wang Gonggong, why would they hang this plaque above Huang Shiyeye's calligraphy? This person must be of high status to be able to suppress Huang Shiyeye, no need to guess, it must be Wang Gonggong."

  A good thing, unexpectedly brought out several large Buddhas on the land of Qiantang County, making it even more mysterious and enchanting.

  Xu Qian looked at the plaque on the door with a pleased expression, thinking to himself that this was not something sent by Wang Gonggong. In fact, he had played a trick and ordered it himself, without mentioning that it was a gift from Wang Gonggong. He only said it was from a noble person and asked Deng Jian to deliver it. If Wang Gonggong were to ask about it later, Xu Qian would deny any involvement and say it was a gift from one of Deng Jian's relatives, with no connection to Wang Gonggong whatsoever. As for the rumors circulating in town, they were naturally not credible.

  However, Xu Qian and Deng Jianfang's every move made everyone deeply convinced of Wang Gonggong's gift of a plaque, so many people in their hearts determined that there must be more gossip waiting to be dug up, with increasing enthusiasm.

  Several of Zhang's family members could no longer bear it and quickly returned to the front of the Zhang residence to report the news.

  The noise and mourning sounds on the street, even if Zhang's family was a high wall and a large courtyard, had already heard it clearly. Mr. Zhang was very annoyed, at first thinking that someone in the house had died, and the funeral procession had passed by this way. Who knew that the mourning sound didn't show any signs of stopping, but instead became more intense? When encountering such things, Mr. Zhang was even more annoyed, and hastily called Zhang Jin to come over and explain. Just as he was about to ask for an explanation, the gatekeeper came flying in.

  "Master, something terrible has happened!"

  "Scoundrel!" Old Master Zhang flew into a rage.

  The more a family is like his, the more taboos they have. They had just heard the funeral music, and now someone said something ominous, Zhang Taigong's face turned red with rage, and he raised his cane to strike.

  The gatekeeper was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe out, and hastily said: "Our Zhang family's opposite neighbor has opened a charity house, saying it's for doing good deeds, accumulating virtues, and in the future will take in those abandoned and helpless..."

  Afterwards, he didn't dare say anything else.

  Zhang Taigong was initially stunned, then suddenly furious. He now understood what this mourning music was all about. It turned out that they were not just passing by, but intended to set up camp in front of his own home and play this every other day?

  Having received such a huge shock, Zhang Tai Gong suddenly felt his eyes becoming blurry, dizzy and suffocated, unable to breathe out, so he hurriedly covered his chest, stretched out his hand and struggled to say: "Xiang... Xiang..."