Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 152 Familiarity
Under the reward, there must be a brave man.

Xie Yuyan had long anticipated this outcome. Even if Xie Chonghai wanted to take it slow, the second daughter of the Liu family couldn't wait. The Liu family would try every means to set up one or two kilns for trial firing.

Once the kiln is started, the craftsmen will be restless.

Xie Yuyan looked at Yang Xiaoshan and said, "If any craftsmen come to visit in the next few days, bring them to see me." The implication was that the rest was not important.

Yang Xiaoshan responded and left.

Zhang asked, "Won't something go wrong?"

Xie Yuyan said calmly, "The sooner the kiln is fired, the better. Making more is a good thing."

The kiln was thriving and selling well, which meant the Xie family had to support even more people. Accustomed to feeding officials with money, the cheap clay kiln would only become a burden for the Xie family.

As the two were talking, Madam Yu came in and reported, "Madam, the Liu family from Shike Lane in the East Third Wing has sent an invitation."

Xie Yuyan raised her eyes: "Who is it?"

Mother Yu said, "She's said to be the fourth daughter of the Liu family."

……

Liu Si Niang looked around the Yang family's ancestral home. It turned out to be such a small house. No wonder Liu Er Niang went crazy. Even the dignified family of the prefect couldn't step into this place.

"What if they won't let us in either?" the stewardess whispered.

Earlier, when they encountered the Yang family's carriage at the foot of the temple mountain, the stewardess glanced into the carriage and saw the figure of Madam Xie. However, with just that one glance, the stewardess felt that she did not seem to be a female member of a merchant family.

The Liu family was not a prominent clan, but they were considered a scholarly family. Although the master entered officialdom late, he was a proper official in the capital and had a certain reputation.

When they went to the capital to visit the master this year, she accompanied Fourth Sister to several banquets and suddenly realized that Madam Xie was no different from those other women.

"Do you think she might really come from a prominent family?" This was the thought that Liu Si Niang had after meeting Xie Yu Yan, which is why she took over the job from her brother and braved the heavy snow to make a trip to the Yang family.

The head housekeeper shook her head: "It shouldn't be like that. Which woman in a prominent family isn't surrounded by servants? How could they be taken away by kidnappers? To put it bluntly, it's just rumors spread by those people. If you think about it carefully, it doesn't hold water."

As they were talking, a steward came out to greet them.

"Madam asked me to invite you in."

The Yang family steward was very polite, but... the Liu family steward pursed her lips. Logically, Madam Xie should have come out to greet her. Their master held an official position, so Fourth Madam's status was always higher than Madam Xie's.

That's why their family doesn't care about these things; otherwise, Madam Xie would inevitably offend people again.

Holding a hand warmer and wearing a cloak, Liu Si Niang slowly stepped into the Yang family's gate.

Inside the Yang family ancestral home, family members came and went, each busy with their own tasks, creating a thriving atmosphere. Although the heavy snow had not yet stopped, the servants had already cleared the snow from the roads, indicating that the household affairs were being managed very well.

Lady Xie was about the same age as her, and Liu Si Niang truly admired her for her methods. Even if the rumors about Lady Xie's background were false, the things Lady Xie had done were undeniable, and no one could question them.

"Our lady is inside the house."

The head housekeeper led the way to the third room. Before Liu Si Niang could even take a good look at the courtyard, the curtain of the main room was lifted, and the head housekeeper greeted her with a smile.

And so Liu Si Niang was invited into the house.

The room was simply furnished, even a bit too shabby, but when she saw the figure sitting inside, everything else vanished from her mind.

When Liu Si Niang met those clear eyes, she was about to examine the other person closely, but it was as if a smooth bronze mirror was reflecting only her own image.

For a moment, Liu Si Niang forgot where she was. "Are you Liu Er Lang's sister?"

A clear, melodious voice rang out, and Liu Si Niang subconsciously bowed to Xie Yu Yan, calling out, "Madam... you are referring to my elder brother."

Liu Si Niang couldn't think of anything else. From a young age, she had been learning to read people's expressions and demeanor. Even if they were strangers, she could guess their background. This was the skill she should have.

There was nothing about Madam Xie's actions that could be questioned.

She sat there seemingly casually, yet exuded an air of elegance.

All of this reminded her that the person in front of her was no ordinary person.

Mother Yu invited Liu Si Niang to sit down.

Only when she regained her senses did Liu Si Niang come to her senses. She carefully considered her actions and realized that they seemed inappropriate. She wouldn't be as aggressive as Liu Er Niang, but... she should also interact with Xie Da Niangzi normally. How could she be inferior in terms of aura as soon as they met?
Although Liu Si Niang blamed herself for her mistake, she did not resent Xie Yu Yan. Instead, she became even more certain that her previous feeling was correct and that Madam Xie was indeed different.

Liu Si Niang remained courteous and said, "I hope you won't take offense at my sudden visit today, Madam."

Xie Yuyan said, "Fourth Miss, you're too kind. Your brother helped Mr. Tong write the tabloid, so it's my turn to come and thank him."

She spoke very politely, but Liu Si Niang knew perfectly well that Madam Xie would never go to the Liu family to thank her second brother.

It wasn't because the Liu family wasn't prestigious enough, but rather... Madam Xie just didn't seem to have that kind of temperament.

Liu Si Niang pursed her lips: "I'm here to help my second brother and the others by delivering something to Madam." As she spoke, she gestured to the steward to hand the note to Xie Yu Yan.

"When my second brother and the others heard that the Xie family was going to make a clay stove, they didn't know how they could help," said Liu Si Niang. "So they got together and drew a few pictures."

Xie Yuyan flipped through the papers.

Those are all designs of clay stoves.

Liu Si Niang said, "Second Brother asked me to tell Madam that they had been using the clay stove for a while... and then they felt that this improvement would be better, adding a lid to the clay stove would make it easier to warm tea."

"Madam, you might as well paint some flowers and plants on the clay stove. It will look more elegant, and scholars will be even happier to see it."

Seeing that Xie Yuyan remained silent, Liu Si Niang tried to explain again: "My second brother and the others ultimately don't understand porcelain making. If you think it's not good, just pretend you didn't see it."

Xie Yuyan looked away from the paper. She had her own selfish reasons for gathering these scholars with the tabloid, one of which was for her porcelain.

It was just a newly opened Luzhou kiln, not a pottery kiln.

I didn't expect them to be willing to help now.

Looking at the flower and plant paintings in my hand, I realized that many of the artists were quite famous, and it was a real shame to put them on the clay stove.

Xie Yuyan looked at Liu Siniang: "You gave me all these paintings?"

Liu Si Niang nodded.

Xie Yuyan continued, "I can use it whenever I want?"

“Of course,” Liu Si Niang said, “Everything is up to Madam Xie.” Her second brother and the others only wanted to help, and they wouldn’t force Madam Xie to use the items when she needed them.

“I also have a return gift,” Xie Yuyan said. “Fourth Miss, please take it back for me to give to everyone later. However… this thing cannot be used right now, so please pass on my message.”

Liu Si Niang was immediately intrigued. What was Madam Xie talking about?
Since she couldn't see the items, Liu Si Niang couldn't ask, but Xie Da Niangzi seemed far too indifferent towards the Liu and Xie families. She knew Liu Er Niang's temperament; if she wasn't satisfied, she wouldn't give up.

Thinking about this, Liu Si Niang looked at Xie Da Niangzi. Xie Yu Yan was drinking tea, her sleeves covering her face, only revealing her eyebrows and eyes. She had a full forehead, eyebrows like distant mountains, and long, slightly upturned eyes... This face suddenly gave Liu Si Niang a sense of familiarity.