Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 147 No rush

Daming Prefecture is destined to be bustling this winter. The excitement of the tabloids on the streets and alleys has not yet subsided, and early in the morning, notices were posted that the Xie family was recruiting workers.

"One hundred coins a day."

"Has the Xie family suddenly become kind-hearted?"

"It's a pity that New Year's Day is just around the corner. With so many things to do at home, how can I go to work?"

"I wonder if we'll still need people after New Year's Day?"

Those who knew the inside story said, "Why do you think they can pay so much? The Xie family has acquired many pottery kilns and is preparing to open them to fire clay kilns, so naturally the sooner they start construction, the better."

Someone in the crowd asked, "Does this mean clay stoves will be easier to buy in the future?"

There are still many people who don't know the inside story and can't tell which family fired the clay stove first, so why the Xie family is now vying to fire one too.

The Xie family recognized this, which is why they acted at this time.

However, while many people watched the spectacle, the Xie family steward discovered that only a dozen or so workers had actually been hired.

Several hours have passed.

Is it really that hard to recruit people before New Year's Day?
The Xie family servants went out to gather information and then reported to the steward: "Everyone thinks that one hundred copper coins is not much, saying that the price is the same for the coal mine and the water shop."

The Xie family steward frowned: "The Yang family has made a mess of everything."

It used to be easiest to hire workers in winter, with people willing to work for 50 coins a day. But now... a short, thin man with hardly any flesh on his body complains that 100 coins is not enough.

The Xie family steward put down the hand warmer: "Tell them that if they want to come quickly, we'll have enough people soon."

If we don't provoke them, these people will think money will fall from the sky.

The servants left in response.

The words were spoken, but only five or six people came to inquire.

The Xie family steward couldn't sit still any longer and hurriedly sent someone to inquire about the news. Only then did he learn that the Yang family's porcelain kiln was also recruiting people. However, they could take seven days off during the Lunar New Year, and there would be a ten-day break every month. Their wages would still be paid. In addition, those who worked for more than three months could sign an employment contract for one year.

This is clearly going against them.

Upon hearing the news, Xie Chonghai frowned: "Post the notice, the daily wage is 120 wen, or 130 wen if that's not enough."

……

Xie Yuyan heard Cheng Qi say, "The Xie family's wages have now been raised to 130 coins. What should we do? Should we raise them too?"

Xie Yuyan shook his head: "No need."

She hadn't originally intended to use this to compete with the Xie family for hired workers.

“It’s the Xie family that’s involved, not us,” Xie Yuyan said. “We just need to act according to the pre-arranged plan.”

"The daily wage for recruiting workers remains one hundred coins, and selection is required. If the migrants need documents from the government office, we must not be careless."

Cheng Qi responded, though he was actually quite anxious. The craftsmen from Miao Village had come to inquire and learned that Madam Xie's porcelain kiln needed manpower...

That was all; I didn't make up my mind to come.

If Madam Xie's side is completely suppressed by the Xie family, he fears that those people... will stay in the Xie family.

After Xie Yuyan finished speaking, he told everyone to go about their business, and then took Yang Qin to the front yard to see the wild game that had been sent from the estate.

Watching Madam Xie's retreating figure, Cheng Qi sighed and turned to look at Mama Yu: "Tell me, why isn't our Madam in a hurry?"

The Xie family was practically inseparable from each other.

He was extremely anxious and wished he could send someone to persuade the craftsmen again, but the old lady said that too much of a good thing is bad and everything should be left at that point.

Mother Yu smiled and said, "When Madam bought the coal mine, we were also extremely anxious. Why weren't you anxious?"

Cheng Qi didn't need to think: "Because I personally witnessed the Xie family being led by the nose by Madam Xie."

Madam Yu nodded: "As long as those craftsmen have such thoughts, they will come to seek refuge with Madam." Craftsmen spend their entire lives at the kiln. What is the situation at the kiln? Can they earn money? They can tell at a glance. Hired workers may not know, but can they not see that the Xie family is currently struggling to cope?

When the eldest daughter-in-law steps in, she will surely be able to keep everyone here.

"The old lady said, let's just watch and see, anyway, the common people will benefit."

……

The pottery kiln matter wasn't urgent. What Xie Yuyan was really concerned about was the news from Yizhou. He took Yang Qin and a group of children from the clan to see the pheasants, rabbits, a few pigs and sheep, and the items prepared for the New Year's Day.

Although the Yang family experienced several setbacks this year, the final result was good. The family has a more reliable head, which makes everyone feel more at ease.

The clansmen bowed to Xie Yuyan and Zhang Shi. Zhang Shi smiled so much that her eyes crinkled, and she kept glancing at her "daughter-in-law" beside her. In her heart, Xie Yuyan was not just her sixth brother's daughter-in-law, but more like her pillar of support.

Listening to the noisy sounds and looking at the smoke rising from the kitchen, Xie Yuyan truly felt that she had come from the fierce war to this peaceful and tranquil world.

After glancing at the New Year's goods prepared by the Yang clan, Xie Yuyan changed his clothes and went to Sanhe Village.

“It’s time to rest,” Zhang couldn’t help but say. “I’ve lost weight these past few days.”

Having lived through a lifetime, Xie Yuyan had long since learned how to be lazy, and would take short naps whenever he had free time. Unfortunately, his health was probably not very good, and he often suffered from cold hands and feet.

The doctor meant that the patient was overthinking.

Zhang kept the doctor's words in mind and always advised Xie Yuyan to rest more.

Xie Yuyan didn't care much. After sorting out everything around her, she could take her time to recover. In this respect, Empress Dowager Xie never neglected herself.

Xie Yuyan went to Sanhe Village because Shi Yong and others had returned from Lanzhou.

The matter in Lanzhou should not be known to others yet. Meeting Shi Yong at the Yang family's house would inevitably attract attention, so it would be best for her to go to Sanhe Village instead.

During this trip, Xie Yuyan also brought some New Year's goods to Sanhe Village, so that the villagers could have a good New Year.

The carriage stopped at the village entrance, and Shi Yong and his men immediately came to greet it.

Seeing the two mule carts following behind the horse-drawn carriage, Shi Yong couldn't help but be taken aback: "This is..."

Mother Yu smiled and said, "It was given to the villagers by the eldest daughter-in-law."

Shi Yong and the others were immediately filled with gratitude.

The villagers of Sanhe Village now all live in the western part of the village, while those in the eastern part work for the imperial court in iron smelting and thus receive compensation from the court. Coupled with their work alongside Madam Xie, this winter has been the most comfortable for Sanhe Village.

When Shi Yong returned and saw the state of the village, he was glad that he had chosen to follow Aunt Xie.

“Everyone in Luozhou knows that we bought the land at the foot of the mountain, but they don’t know who the owner is. We lied and said that we were merchants from the west.”

Xie Yuyan said, "Although we have bought a lot of land, it won't attract too much attention before we start firing the kiln."

Shi Yong nodded: "We brought back a lot more porcelain clay, enough to last until New Year's Day. I'll go back immediately after New Year's Day."

"You need to go to Xingzhou first to buy some fine white porcelain clay," Xie Yuyan said, "and get ready to open the kiln in Qizhou."

Shi Yong's eyes lit up immediately: "I'll go to Xingzhou on the second day of the Lunar New Year."

Xie Yuyan said, "There's no need to rush. There's no one at the mines in Xingzhou so early. Let's wait until after the fifth day of the new year before making any decisions."

"It will take a few more days on the road," Shi Yong said with a smile. "I'll leave on the third day of the Lunar New Year."

He was afraid of delaying the old lady's business.

Xie Yuyan stopped objecting. It was a good thing to open the kiln sooner. She would close the Xie family's pottery kiln in the first month of the lunar calendar, and ideally, her porcelain kiln could also start firing porcelain by then.

After Xie Yuyan finished speaking with Shi Yong, he carefully examined the hand-drawn map of the mines in Luozhou by Shi Yong before preparing to return to the Yang family.

“Madam,” Mama Yu came in to report, “Registrar Wang is also in Sanhe Village. Someone just came from there and wants to invite you to come and take a look at the iron smelting furnace.”

(End of this chapter)