Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 128 Missing
The matron grew increasingly anxious as she watched her daughter's nose turn red from the cold.

“Second Mistress,” the head maid said, “tomorrow we will go out to look for that clay stove and try our best to get one back.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Erniang's expression softened somewhat, but she still stood there, refusing to leave.

The head maid thought for a moment and said, "I will just send someone out of the manor to bring the silver fox back. I guarantee it won't ruin Second Mistress's banquet."

Liu Erniang finally relaxed her brows: "Second brother, you shouldn't have paid attention to some people. They almost ruined my important plans."

The headmistress hurriedly tried to please her.

While other families' daughters might not be favored, the Liu family is different. There are many men in the clan, and it's rare to find a young lady who is so beautiful, proficient in poetry and songs, and of just the right age. I wonder how many men will want to marry her in the future.

Two years ago, Prince Chang wanted to marry the master, but the master refused. In the future, the second daughter will definitely marry someone better.

Liu Erniang walked gracefully towards her dwelling. As she climbed the steps, her skirt swayed a little too much and touched the wet ground. She couldn't help but frown again, feeling that the hem of her skirt had become dirty and unsightly.

After returning from the Liu family, many things went wrong.

The Liu family was merely a minor official in the capital, but because both father and son had passed the imperial examinations, they were superior to others in every way. Liu Si Niangzi heard some interesting stories from her brother and shared them with everyone.

The women were completely absorbed in listening, and no one noticed that she had the embroiderers making pearl shoes for a long time.

Later, Liu Si Niang had a small clay stove brought over.

She said she borrowed it from her older brother. She would first boil water and make tea on the clay stove, and then roast oranges, chestnuts, and persimmons. For some reason, no matter what the food was, it would taste especially sweet after being cooked on that clay stove.

After eating, Liu Si Niang had someone bring some face-washing water for everyone to use to clean their hands. She said that women in the capital used this kind of water to wash their faces and hands at home, and that after using it, their skin would be exceptionally smooth and soft, and it would also have a medicinal fragrance.

The women all thought it was good.

Liu Erniang washed her hands but felt no benefit whatsoever. Upon returning home, she immediately soaked her hands in flower petals for a long time before finally getting rid of the unpleasant medicinal smell.

Later, when she went to serve her grandmother, she smelled the medicinal tea her grandmother was drinking. Although it had nothing to do with the face wash soup, the taste was somewhat similar, which immediately reminded her of that incident, and she felt both disgust and resentment.

She didn't know when this strange wind blew into Daming Prefecture, with people selling hot water and face wash soup. She took a carriage to stroll through the market and encountered those water carriers on the way. Several times they blocked her carriage. If it weren't for the reputation of the Liu family, she would have had her servants kick the hot water away to prevent them from causing trouble.

The once peaceful street was suddenly occupied by these peddlers and laborers. She really didn't understand why they had to open the market. Even in the neighborhood where the Liu family lived, she often saw people dressed in rags. She specifically instructed the neighborhood head to not let anyone sell hot water here. If anyone wandered around in front of their residence, they shouldn't blame the guards for thinking they were criminals and tying them up.

The Liu family actually thought this was a good thing.

She was absolutely furious.

In addition, Liu Si Niang said with a smile, "There are still some exciting things to do these days."

What's all the fuss about? Isn't it the lantern festival during the Lunar New Year?

"What's the story with that Yang family member from Yong'an Ward?" Liu Erniang asked her servant.

Liu Si Niang mentioned Yang Shi twice, saying that she was some kind of Xie Da Niangzi, who had taken charge of the entire Yang clan not long after marrying into the family, and was truly remarkable.

Those are just common people; when will they ever catch their attention?

The Liu family, despite considering themselves scholars, were not as courteous as her family, which consisted of military generals.

Liu Erniang was increasingly reluctant to go out. She planned to let Liu Siniang and the others see what a real banquet was like in a while.

After eating something, Liu Erniang took a short nap. When she woke up, she saw the two stewards talking together.

"What are you muttering about?" Liu Erniang frowned.

The headmistress immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"We've found the kind of clay stove that Second Sister mentioned. Please take a look and see if it's the right one."

As they spoke, two clay stoves, one large and one small, were brought up.

Liu Erniang's eyes lit up; the smaller clay stove looked very similar to the one she had seen at the Liu family's house.

“You said it was rare,” Liu Erniang’s eyes crinkled with laughter, “but two of them came together, didn’t they?”

Seeing this, the head housekeeper dared not hide the truth: "This clay stove was bought from a shop."

Liu Erniang was taken aback: "Didn't Liu Siniang say that there were no shops selling this?"

“Three shops happened to be open today,” the manager said. “They’re right next to the water shop, called Shun Tong Stove Shop. They specialize in these clay stoves and can also build stoves for people.”

Fearing that Liu Erniang would be angry, the head maid said, "But there are many people going to buy stoves, and not everyone can buy one." This answer clearly did not satisfy Liu Erniang.

"Now that the shop is open, I can buy whatever I want."

Once there are shops selling these things, they're no longer a rarity.

Liu Erniang frowned. In this way, she could no longer suppress Liu Siniang.

"Who runs this shop? They have no sense of propriety at all." Liu Erniang felt a lump in her throat, an indescribable discomfort.

Military officers are inferior to civil officials, and the Liu family is poor in every way. How can they compare to the Liu family? Yet those women are willing to follow Liu Si Niang, which makes her angry just thinking about it.

Therefore, she was determined to marry a civil official, and she refused even when the royal family came to propose marriage.

The head housekeeper whispered, "It's that Madam Xie. That woman is really formidable. Our household refuses to see any guests, and it's all related to her."

Liu Erniang didn't care much about these trivial matters, but the clay stove had annoyed her, so she asked the steward to explain it to her in detail.

"You mean, that merchant Xie family couldn't even outmaneuver a widow?" Liu Erniang said with a sneer. "I think the Xie family is no good either; they can't even fire a clay stove."

If the merchant had sent this clay stove among the goods, she would have slapped Liu Si Niang in the face on the spot.

Liu Erniang thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow, go to the Yang family and have Madam Xie come to see me. I have some work to give her."

The head housekeeper was taken aback: "This...that kind of woman, isn't that giving her face?"

“It’s alright to give it to her,” Liu Erniang said generously. “As long as she can serve me wholeheartedly, I can speak on her behalf to my father.”

She wanted to use this kind of clay stove at the banquet, but it had to be specially made, different from the ones that could be bought elsewhere.

As for the reward...

"She does this job well. On the day of my banquet, I'll have her wait at the gatehouse. If there's an opportunity, I'll summon her up to talk to her."

With so many high-ranking officials and noblewomen present, how much face was she giving that woman by summoning Madam Xie to serve her? Let alone a few clay stoves, even if it cost that woman half her life, she would still be eternally grateful.

The head maid replied, "This servant will take care of it immediately."

Having resolved a major issue, Liu Erniang glanced at it and ordered someone to throw the clay stove out.

She had no interest in using such an ordinary item.

He picked up a piece of paper at random; it was a document with the official's comments at the end.

The handwriting is neat and each stroke is vigorous and powerful.

"How come he never makes a spelling mistake?"

"I saw many official documents that my father wrote on behalf of others, and they were all so neat and orderly."

Liu Erniang stared at the brush for too long and couldn't help but get up to copy it. But the more she wrote, the worse it looked. So she angrily threw the brush aside.

……

The Yang family of Yong'anfang.

Xie Yuyan was also writing calligraphy.

The third family purchased a new desk and table, complete with all the four treasures of the study.

Xie Yuyan spread out a sheet of Xuan paper and wrote a line on it: "May everything go well for you after the New Year. May all your wishes come true."

His brushstrokes were fluid and graceful, flowing like clouds and water.

"Sister-in-law, this calligraphy is beautiful." Yang Qin carefully protected it from the side, waiting for the ink to dry so that it could be hung up.

Xie Yuyan didn't mind, and simply reached out to pat Yang Qin's head.

“Madam,” Madam Yang hurriedly entered the room, “someone has come from outside, saying that he is a servant from the Liu family in Chengen Ward.”

Chengenfang?
Xie Yuyan had seen the map of Daming Prefecture and knew what kind of people lived there. The only one who could call himself the Liu family was the Liu family, the prefect.

Without hesitation, Xie Yuyan said calmly, "I won't see you."

(End of this chapter)