Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 187 Superiority and Disparity
Notices were quickly posted at the entrances of Yang's clay stove shop and Shuntong Water Shop.

Yang Xiaoshan was short, so he stood on the pile of bricks, pointed to the notice and said to everyone: "We keep our word. It's all written in black and white on this notice. If we can't keep our word, you can come to the shop or to our Yang family to yell at us."

The notices have already been written, so what is there to worry about?
After Yang Xiaoshan finished speaking, the door of Yang's shop opened, and two old craftsmen came out. Old Wei said, "If any of the clay kilns from our pottery kiln are damaged during firing, bring them all over here."

As soon as Old Wei finished speaking, someone handed him a clay stove. Old Wei glanced at it and said, "Don't try to take advantage of this. This isn't from the Yang family."

The man who delivered the clay stove continued to argue: "How...how can you prove it?"

Old Wei took out a new clay stove and led everyone to feel it inside: "Whoever made the clay stove will naturally have a mark. It won't necessarily be stamped or signed, but we can still tell."

"Besides, with something like this... you don't even need to touch it, you can tell at a glance whether it's real or not."

People gathered around and eagerly touched it, and sure enough, they found a dent, as if something had been carved into it.

"Madam Xie doesn't cheat people on what she sells."

"If you really want to make money, why bother with clay furnaces? Just sell Buddhist charcoal at a high price, right?"

Hearing the murmurs, Yang Xiaoshan gestured to the crowd and said, "Those who want to buy clay stoves, please come straight into the shop. Those who bought our clay stoves before and had them burnt out can come over here."

As he spoke, the shop assistant opened the door to the small hut next to the shop. Inside, there was a row of shelves, which were currently empty.

"If the old craftsmen determine that the problem is with our clay kilns, they will put the broken clay kilns on that shelf, and they can see at a glance how many clay kilns are collected each day."

The Yang family dared to do this because they had exceptional confidence in their clay furnace.

"Compared to this, the Xie family is truly heartless," a woman said. "When I get back, I'll tell everyone in the neighborhood that if they have Xie family clay stoves, they shouldn't use them anymore. We should go to their homes and ask them for a refund, and then everyone should come and buy Yang family clay stoves... No, we should buy Yang family clay stoves first and go back to use them as soon as possible."

"Yes, that's how it should be."

Just as everyone was talking animatedly, a voice rang out.

"The lady has arrived."

The people gathered around the clay furnace turned to look, and saw Xie Yuyan alight from the carriage. The crowd immediately parted to the sides, and many eyes followed Xie Yuyan's figure until she stood in front of the shop and looked at everyone.

For some reason, everyone subconsciously stopped talking and waited for Xie Yuyan to speak.

Xie Yuyan's brows were relaxed, and her expression was calm. Her face, which should have looked somewhat immature, had the composure of a head of the family, as if whatever she said was believable.

Xie Yuyan said, "I will be in the shop today. Please spread the word. If the Yang family wants to return or exchange their clay stoves, please come. If there are any problems while using the clay stoves, please let me know and I will handle it. In short, I will not let anyone suffer any losses."

After Xie Yuyan finished speaking, he turned and walked into the shop. The area in front of the Yang family's shop became lively again, with everyone talking at once.

"Look, it's different. It was clearly the Xie family's clay furnace that had the problem, but the head of the Xie family refused to show up."

"It has nothing to do with the Yang family, but Madam Xie has arrived."

"What's this?"

Someone in the crowd made a comment.

"The two 'thank you' characters are indeed different."

Many people did not understand the meaning of this statement and immediately asked for clarification.

"Madam Xie was bought by the Xie family and sent to the Yang family for a ghost marriage."

"Later, Madam Xie even sued the Xie family."

This case has been brought up again.

"The Xie family is denying it. They have so many servants to take the blame, and the steward is still in jail."

"How can we admit it? Relying on their porcelain kiln business, they have some money and have long since stopped caring about human lives."

"That's why Madam Xie saw through the Xie family. Right there in the yamen, in front of many people, she told Master Xie that from now on she had nothing to do with the Xie family. Her 'Xie' was different from the 'Xie' in Daming Prefecture; it was a 'Xie' with one less stroke." "What does 'one less stroke' mean? Is it still the 'Xie'?"

A scholar shook his head: "Madam Xie is mocking the Xie family. What's missing?"

Someone chimed in, "What's missing is just that little bit that's shameful."

After a moment of silence, laughter immediately erupted from the crowd.

"Okay, less 'thank you' is fine. From now on, we'll stick to this 'thank you' style. Thank you, Madam."

……

The area in front of Yang's shop became increasingly lively, and Xie Chonghai cracked his knuckles as he clenched his fists.

No matter what they do now, they are already a step behind the Yang family. Even if they lose money now, it is conceivable that those people will no longer trust them.

Unless something happens to the Yang family and Xie Yuyan, and that thing is even bigger than what happened to the Xie family.

"How many clay furnaces do they have?" Xie Chonghai asked.

The servant said, "Two more carts have just arrived, and there are more to come; there should be many more."

Xie Yuyan didn't bring out these clay stoves when they were selling best; he truly used them at the most crucial moment.

"Should we open the door?" the steward asked cautiously.

"Why are you opening the door?" Xie Chonghai asked.

The manager was speechless for a moment.

A fierce glint flashed in Xie Chonghai's eyes: "Just wait, she won't be able to cause trouble for long." They had already figured out how to deal with her, and once everything was ready, they would strike and resolve everything.

No more future troubles.

The Xie family's carriage slunk away.

Lost in his own thoughts, Xie Chonghai naturally didn't notice that two people were staring at their carriage.

Wen Zhengchen, accompanied by his servant, stood not far away.

The servant said, "That's right, that's the Xie family's carriage. I've seen the steward who accompanies the carriage before. He even came to our house one year to deliver New Year's gifts, but the master didn't accept them."

The servant was always quick-witted; he rarely forgot the people he had met.

Wen Zhengchen nodded, then looked at the Yang family shop and muttered, "The difference is obvious. Compared to Madam Xie, they are far inferior."

"If there are no other means, the Xie family will remain like this forever."

The servant, sensing a hidden meaning in his master's words, couldn't help but ask, "What other tricks could the Xie family possibly use? Their offerings aren't as good as others, so what can they do?"

“Naturally, they use some underhanded methods,” Wen Zhengchen said. “In their eyes, there is no right or wrong, only interests.”

After speaking, Wen Zhengchen walked forward, not forgetting to instruct his servant: "Go and buy a clay stove, so that the master can brew some tea tonight."

If this clay stove is really good, he will take it to the capital.

……

The patrol and inspection office.

He Tan had already packed his bags, but he dawdled and didn't want to leave.

It wasn't just the food sent by the Yang family that made him want to visit on the fifth day of the lunar new year. He felt it was a pity to miss the battle in Daming Prefecture.