Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 186 Reputation
Six or seven people gathered outside the Xie family's shop, each carrying a clay stove. The one in the lead was dressed as a servant; only well-off families could afford servants.

Not all wealthy families in Daming Prefecture had dealings with the Xie family, and naturally, they wouldn't give the Xie family any face.

“My young master wanted to play, but luckily my master remembered that when the Yang family was making salt, they repeatedly told children not to throw salt grains themselves, otherwise my young master would definitely get burned.”

"My family had the same problem. The clay stove broke down after only a short time of use, which really scared the kids. It's a holiday, isn't that bad luck?"

This kind of arguing will attract even more people to watch the spectacle.

"Why is the Yang family's clay stove alright? They've been burning it all along, and it doesn't seem to be broken."

“My family bought the clay stove from the Yang family, and we were using it last night.”

"A clay stove is still a clay stove; whether it's good or bad is another matter."

After hearing this, everyone felt that it was all the Xie family's fault, and they hurriedly went to knock on the door again to ask the Xie family to come out and explain.

The Xie family only left two employees to watch the shop. Without Xie Chonghai's instructions, how could they dare to open the door?
No one spoke up, but more and more people gathered outside.

“We must never use this clay stove again,” someone in the crowd said. “It might burn down at any time. What if we don’t see it burn down and the house goes up?”

"No wonder the people from the Yang family's porcelain kiln went to the Xie family's kiln to smash the clay kiln. It turns out that the products fired by the Xie family were all of poor quality."

"Make the Xie family pay compensation."

"Compensate."

Before Xie Chonghai even reached the shop entrance, he heard someone shouting loudly, and he immediately stopped the carriage. Just as he was hesitating whether to go forward, he saw Xie Qi riding towards him.

"Second Uncle, why don't we go over there?" Xie Qi said. "There must be members of the Yang family inside. If we don't go, they'll incite those people to cause trouble."

Xie Chonghai's eyes flickered. Xie Qi's arrival was just in time. He coughed a few times before lifting the curtain: "Go and check the situation first, and try your best to persuade everyone to leave. We will definitely find a way to resolve this matter in a few days."

Xie Qi was silent for a moment and then nodded: "Okay, I'll go first. If it doesn't work, Second Uncle can think of something else."

After speaking, Xie Qi spurred his horse forward.

Xie Chonghai watched Xie Qi's retreating figure and instructed his servants, "Drive the carriage to a corner so no one notices." Xie Qi wanted to seize power in the Xie family, so let him go; they really needed him later.

Not long after Xie Qi left, the steward who had accompanied him brought back news: "Seventh Master is surrounded, and it seems he won't be able to escape for a while."

Xie Chonghai didn't care about these things. Xie Qi was willing to suffer that pain, so who could he blame?

Are there many people who are going to lose money?

This is what Xie Chonghai cares about most.

The steward swallowed and nodded: "Those people's clay stoves were clearly not damaged, but after hearing what those people said, they also clamored for a refund."

Xie Chonghai's face was grim; this was exactly what he feared.

The Xie family had already lost a lot of money competing with the Yang family for this deal, and now they're losing even more...

The Xie family suffered more than just minor injuries.

Xie Chonghai said, "Let's go home first."

The Xie family can't come up with that much money right now, and they can't just ask for compensation for the clay stove. They need to come up with a solution.

Just as the carriage was about to move forward, it suddenly saw some people rushing off to another street.

The Yang family's clay stove shop seems to be over there.

Could it be that the Yang family suffered heavy losses themselves, hurting the enemy a thousand while being implicated themselves?
Xie Chonghai immediately ordered his men to drive the carriage to catch up with the crowd, and sure enough, they found that the crowd had gathered in front of Yang's shop.

"Don't worry, don't worry."

Someone shouted, "If the clay stove you buy from my store is damaged, we will refund your money. If you are worried that the clay stove will be damaged, you can return it to us."

“We’ll refund your money, or you can get one of our newly fired clay stoves.” “The newly fired clay stoves have an extra layer of fireproof clay inside, making them more sturdy, but they’re also more expensive—fifty extra coins per stove.”

"However... if you bring an old one to exchange, we won't charge extra."

"It's not that our old clay stoves were bad, but this is a new thing after all, so naturally we'll make them more and more refined. Replacing the old stoves with new ones is a way to dispel everyone's concerns and make them feel more at ease."

"Furthermore, our lady said that those who bought the clay kilns all trust our Yang family pottery kiln, so the extra fifty coins can be considered as our thank you gift."

"Both the newly made clay stoves and the old clay stoves are on display there, so you can compare them."

"Whether it's a new clay kiln or an old one, you can use it with confidence. Our clay kilns have all been inspected by experienced craftsmen. If there is even the slightest flaw, they will be smashed and never put on the market for sale."

Some people nodded in agreement upon hearing this, as if it matched the previous rumors about the Yang family.

"The clay stove at the entrance of our Shuntong Water Shop has been burning ever since we took it there. I believe everyone can see how well it's been working."

"Let me show you how to identify this clay stove, whether it's good or not."

"First, pick it up and feel its weight to see if it's heavy enough. Then check if the shape of the clay stove is correct. You can't buy a crooked or slanted one."

This remark actually drew a burst of laughter.

Yang Xiaoshan continued, "Then there's the color. A well-fired clay kiln can only be like this. If the color is uneven, it's either not fired properly or it's mixed with bad clay. Finally, check for cracks. Even a very thin crack means it's a defective product."

At this point, someone asked, "What if it burns out before two years have passed?"

Yang Xiaoshan said, "If the old craftsman examines it and it is indeed burnt, then we'll replace it with a new one for you."

“We all recognize our clay stoves; that’s the reputation of Yang Family Clay Stove.”

“Just based on that, I should buy a clay stove here,” an old man said as he stepped forward. “Unlike the Xie family’s shop, no one has come out to say a word.”

"They won't compensate for the burnt items, let alone the ones that aren't damaged; they definitely won't give a refund."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Someone picked up a clay stove and said, "This is the Xie family's stove. Take a look and see if it's the defective product you're talking about."

Yang Xiaoshan's expression changed, showing a mixture of anger and contempt, but he quickly masked his emotions and clasped his hands in a fist salute to everyone: "We cannot show other people's clay furnaces."

"It's not that we're unwilling, but... sigh."

Yang Xiaoshan did not continue speaking, and bowed to everyone again to apologize.

"Don't make things difficult for the young man," someone said. "He just got out of prison, are you going to send him back in?"

"Is this the guy who was arrested before?"

"No wonder."

"Judging from this young man's appearance, he doesn't seem like the type to cause trouble for no reason."

As the group was talking, one of them spoke up: "Are you selling clay stoves today? Sell me a newly made clay stove."

"I want one too. I dare not use the Xie family's clay stove."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiaoshan clasped his hands in gratitude once again.

Xie Chonghai, inside the carriage, was trembling with anger. After the Yang family's outburst, he didn't know how many people would come to the Xie family to return the clay furnace.

If the Yang family can back down, why can't the Xie family?

The important thing is that the Yang family also gave them a clay stove for fifty more coins. He could guess that those who bought the clay stove would use this as an excuse to make them lose more money.

Xie Yuyan is trying to force the Xie family to their deaths.

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