Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 180 Gameplay
The Yang clansmen gathered around the sound, and Yang Mingjing followed.

Through the gaps in the crowd, Yang Mingjing could vaguely see sparks flashing, followed by a series of crackling sounds.

Then a child shouted, "Drop it again! Drop it again!"

Yang Mingjing finally saw Xie Yuyan. She was wearing a lotus-root-colored dress, leaning slightly back in her chair, a smile playing on her lips. She looked exceptionally relaxed, but the imposing aura between her brows was even stronger.

If someone harbored ulterior motives, they certainly wouldn't dare to meet her gaze.

Thinking this, Yang Mingjing took a step back.

Xie Yuyan looked at the scorching hot clay stove on the ground, and the children's shouts grew louder and louder, all their eyes staring at her expectantly.

Why was Liu Erniang in such a hurry to get a clay stove? It was because she wanted to bring some novelties to the banquet.

The ladies of wealthy families always needed something presentable when hosting banquets at home. They had to have whatever was currently the most fun and sought-after.

She understood these people's thoughts better than anyone else.

Therefore, she deliberately kept the Liu family out of the house in order to provoke Liu Erniang's anger, so that Liu Erniang would try every means to get the clay stove.

People cherish toys they finally acquire and want to show them off everywhere.

She was certain that almost every wealthy family in Daming Prefecture owned a clay stove; some were gifts from the Liu family, while others bought them following suit. Whatever the city's high-ranking officials and nobles liked, there would always be followers—wasn't that the best form of publicity?

A considerable number of these clay kilns were even sent out of Daming Prefecture.

Without the dedication of the Liu and Xie families, her clay stove would have required considerable effort to pave the way for its success beyond Daming Prefecture.

When someone is eager to help her, how could she refuse?
Now that she has everything she wants, it's time to discard her like a used tool.

Xie Yuyan smiled nonchalantly. When it came to methods, Liu Erniang's were simply no match. She had seen countless true aristocratic families and members of the imperial court.

As for how to play, Liu Erniang had no idea.

Since that's the case, she'll teach him.

Xie Yuyan reached into the jar beside him, grabbed a handful, and then with a flick of his sleeve, the coarse salt grains in his palm fell into the clay stove like snowflakes falling from the sky.

The coarse salt grains immediately exploded upon contact with the red-hot charcoal.

The crackling sound was more continuous than the sound of burning bamboo poles, and sparks even flew out.

Shouts immediately came from the surrounding area.

Amidst these sounds, the children clapped and shouted, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.

Xie Yuyan threw another handful, and the children jumped up, while the adults smiled.

After three or four rounds, the children were still not satisfied.

Xie Yuyan handed the salt container to Yang: "The hotter the clay stove burns, the better. When you throw it, keep it far away and be careful not to get burned."

Yang responded.

Xie Yuyan continued, "We can't let the child get lost here."

As for how to spread out this game... she naturally had already made arrangements.

Maybe popping salt isn't that fun, but novelty is good, so why not give it a try? Especially for families who can frequently throw salt into their clay stoves, at least they are well-off.

These kinds of families cannot tolerate being wronged.

What if the clay stove burns out while they're playing with it? Will they come after the Xie family?
Xie Yuyan wanted the clay stove to burn more, to burn hotter, and to have a stronger fire.

True gold fears no fire, and naturally, the flawed clay stoves of the Xie family would not pass this test.

……

After finishing his meal, Yang Xiaoshan ran out of Yong'anfang to wander around the various neighborhoods and see if anyone was turning burning bamboo poles into popped salt.

Perhaps he was too impatient; everyone was still eating and chatting, and even if there was a popping sound of salt, it would be drowned out by the conversation.

Yang Xiaoshan was a little nervous. This was a task assigned to him by his wife, and he was afraid of doing it poorly.

This was the first time his dozen or so men had acted on such a large scale. If they didn't achieve the desired result, it meant they hadn't done a good job.

the other side.

The banquet at the Liu family's house was just about to end.

Liu Si Niang took the salt jar from the maid, wanting to do something interesting in front of her clansmen. Under the watchful eyes of the Liu family, Liu Si Niang tossed the salt grains into the clay stove.

With a crackling sound, the sparks that flew out made Liu Si Niang's eyes shine.

Liu Si Niang smiled, as if she could see Liu Er Niang's furious face.

She really didn't mean to, but before she knew it, she was walking ahead of Liu Erniang again.

The next morning, Xie Yuyan met Yang Xiaoshan in the courtyard.

Yang Xiaoshan stared at his dark circles, looking somewhat dejected. Upon inquiry, it was learned that Yang Xiaoshan's men had not been able to find out how many people were involved in the salt-making scheme.

It seems like not many people care.

Xie Yuyan, however, remained calm: "Staying up late on New Year's Eve, enjoying lanterns and visiting relatives and friends on New Year's Day will take a day or two, there's no need to rush."

Yang Xiaoshan understood this principle, but he still couldn't put his mind at ease.

Xie Yuyan said, "Shouldn't people at least have a proper New Year's Day celebration?"

……

The second day.

As the bell of Baode Temple rang, the market outside the temple opened for business.

Liu Erniang went to the temple to burn incense with her mother early in the morning. In the past, she had no interest in this matter, but this time was different. Looking at the stalls and vendors on both sides of the road, Liu Erniang found it particularly interesting.

If Xie Yuyan hadn't organized this market, she would have bought even more items.

As for now...

Naturally, I won't buy anything.

"There are so many people here," Liu Erniang remarked.

The steward, having read Liu Erniang's mind, whispered, "It's just the same stuff sold in the market every day, nothing special."

If we're talking about pretty things, then there are the lifelike flowers sold by the women. Many of them are new styles, and there's also a kind of velvet flower with the character "福" (fortune/blessing). Worshippers who have finished offering incense at the temple always buy one to take home, calling it "bringing good fortune home." The people who do this business are really good-natured; no wonder they can make money.

There were also vendors selling lanterns, sugar figurines, and all sorts of other toys.

The vendors over there had made giant centipede kites that were two or three zhang long, and they were exceptionally impressive.

The manager was also dazzled by the sights, but she couldn't tell her wife about it, because further back... the Yang family was still selling clay stoves.

The manager really didn't understand what the Yang family was up to. They didn't sell clay stoves before New Year's Day, but now that it's New Year's Day, they've put them out.

Who would buy a clay stove at this time?

Just as the steward was thinking this, he heard a child's voice: "Dad, hurry up, the clay stove seller is over there."

Upon hearing the words "clay stove," Liu Erniang perked up and immediately lifted the curtain to look outside. Sure enough, she saw a large crowd gathered not far away.

People occasionally gasped in amazement.

"What's going on?" Liu Erniang asked the manager. "The Xie family has set up a stall here?"

The steward pursed his lips and whispered, "It's not the Xie family, it's... the Yang family selling clay stoves."

Upon hearing this, Liu Erniang's eyes flashed, and then a light smile appeared on her face: "What? They can't sell their clay stoves?"

She couldn't think of any other reason why they couldn't be sold.

Why are they in such a hurry? Could it be that the Yang family's porcelain kiln is planning to close down after New Year's Day?