Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 190 Murderous Intent

Zhao didn't care whether Xie Qi lived or died, but she was also afraid that she wouldn't be able to rescue her master and Zhang Ge'er.

Hearing Xie Chonghai say this, he couldn't help but ask, "Then... what about the evidence?"

“If he can have it in his hands, so can we,” Xie Chonghai said, looking at Zhao Shi. “Does Sister-in-law really think that Shao Ge’er is more trustworthy than me?”

Zhao's lips trembled: "Of course not."

Xie Chonghai continued, "Sister-in-law, don't forget how Miao died. If Shao-ge'er knew the truth, what would he do?"

Zhao shuddered and looked at Xie Chonghai in surprise.

Xie Chonghai said, "Sister-in-law, you are counting on Zhang-ge'er, not Shao-ge'er. Do you really want to support Shao-ge'er?"

Zhao would naturally not do that, and Xie Chonghai would not allow her to do so.

"Then what should we do?" Zhao slumped down, "I'll do whatever my second brother says."

Xie Chonghai said, "Keep a close eye on him, find the evidence he's hiding, and then..."

He didn't continue speaking there, but just gestured with his hands.

Zhao clenched her fists, then nodded slightly: "I understand."

Xie Chonghai stood up and walked out. Zhao couldn't help but stand up again and said, "Second brother, you must save Master and Zhang Ge'er. As long as they are alright, you brothers can be the same as before."

Xie Chonghai nodded: "Don't worry, sister-in-law!"

Stepping out of the Zhao family's courtyard, Xie Chonghai's face, hidden in the darkness, grew even colder. Were they still the same brothers? Did she mean he was still working like a slave for his elder brother, only to be treated with suspicion by him?

He would never do something so foolish again.

Even if he manages to save his elder brother, the Xie family will still have to listen to him from now on. He's the one who has done the work for the Liu family.

……

The fifth day of the lunar month.

The Yang family home became much more lively.

Because they were hosting a banquet for Mr. Yang Qin today, the clansmen got up early to decorate the courtyard.

Actually, there's not much to clean. The ancestral home was thoroughly cleaned before the holiday, and with the snow cleared yesterday, the entire courtyard looks exceptionally clean.

The reason why the Yang family members were so nervous was that so many scholars had never come to the Yang family before, and they were afraid that they would embarrass the eldest daughter-in-law.

After Tong Zixu arrived, Zuo Shangying, Liu Erlang, and others also came to visit one after another, followed by several scholars who wrote small newspapers.

Yang Qin and Chen Ping, along with several fellow disciples, welcomed the master and his entourage into the courtyard.

Tea had already been brewed in the room, and a table, writing brushes, ink, snacks, and warmed wine had been set out.

Zuo Shangying went inside and couldn't help but admire the feast. Despite being a merchant family, the Yang family had prepared an exceptionally good banquet. Zuo Shangying was right; it wasn't that the feast was particularly luxurious or lavish. Many prominent families would always use the finest rosewood tables and chairs, and the tableware was always carefully selected.

Even the ink they used was from a famous old brand.

Not to mention the endless stream of servants and the exceptionally exquisite food delivered, unlike anything ever seen elsewhere.

Sometimes a banquet can cost hundreds or even thousands of strings of cash.

The Yang family's place was not like that, but everything was prepared perfectly: a quiet tea room, a warm pavilion with a fire burning, mint soup on the table, and dried fruit on the stove.

On another small table, there was warm wine and diced crispy leaves, drizzled with osmanthus honey—perfect for pairing with the wine. The room was warm but not stuffy, just right for wearing a long robe.

In short, everything is going well.

Zuo Shangying couldn't help but look around, but she didn't see that Madam Xie.

Just then, Yang Qin was talking to Tong Zixu: "Sister-in-law is still talking with some merchants in the front hall and will be coming over later."

Tong Zixu couldn't help but ask, "Is it for the clay stove?"

Yang Qin nodded: "They are people from another prefecture who want to start a clay stove there. They came to ask me, sister-in-law, how to do this business?"

"My sister-in-law said..."

Yang Qin's voice piqued the interest of everyone in the room. In their view, Madam Xie's actions against the Xie family were partly motivated by a desire to prove herself superior.

Merchants, after all, are in it to make money; it's impossible for them to be like the abbot of Baode Temple, who only cares about compassion.

If one can earn some money and be honest with everyone, young and old, that would be ideal.

Therefore, if someone from another household makes clay stoves, Madam Xie must have conditions. I just don't know what Madam Xie will bring up.
Amid everyone's anticipation, Yang Qin repeated what Xie Yuyan had said: "My sister-in-law said that she has handed over the method of making clay stoves to the government office, so these clay stoves are not exactly a secret. However, if we want to be associated with the name of Daming Prefecture clay stoves, every clay stove we fire must be inspected like the Yang family has done."

After Yang Qin finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the room.

After a long while, Tong Zixu asked first, "Is that all?"

Yang Qin nodded: "That's all."

Liu Erlang asked, "Is that all?"

Yang Qin replied, "Yes, that's all. The reason we haven't finished speaking yet is that Grandpa Wei, Grandpa Geng, and Grandpa Yao are talking to them about how to inspect the clay furnace."

The group looked at each other, wondering what benefit Madam Xie could possibly gain from doing this.

This is tantamount to giving away the clay stove making method to someone else for free.

Yang Qin remembered: "Oh right, my sister-in-law also said that clay stoves that haven't been inspected can't be said to be clay stoves from Daming Prefecture, otherwise she'll definitely report it to the authorities."

“Those merchants might not believe it,” Yang Qin puffed out his chest, “but my sister-in-law has that kind of ability.”

The crowd was buzzing with discussion. Zuo Shangying, who had remained silent until now, pondered for a moment and then looked up: "The kiln that fired the clay furnace is not in Daming Prefecture. How can we verify this?"

Yang Qin said, "For the first six months, we will invite our craftsmen to come. They will have to prepare their lodging and meals, and pay them two to three hundred coins a day. After six months, when the clay kilns are fired without any problems, our craftsmen will leave. But it doesn't mean we will stop inspecting them. Instead, we will conduct random checks from time to time. Once a clay kiln is found to be defective, the clay kiln produced there will no longer be able to bear the name 'Damingfu Clay Kiln'."

“Any citizen who has bought ‘Damingfu clay stove’ can bring the stove to the Yang family’s shop for inspection at any time. If any problems are found, we will definitely investigate to the end and write down the kilns that produced defective products on the notice in front of the door.”

Liu Erlang asked, "Then how do you intend to profit?"

Yang Qin said, "My sister-in-law said that we don't want profit; we just want to preserve the reputation of Daming Prefecture's clay furnaces."

Fame and fortune are inseparable, but Liu Erlang can't figure out how Madam Xie can profit from it. It seems we'll have to wait for Madam Xie to reveal all this to them.

When everyone was drinking and chatting, Zuo Shangying looked at Yang Qin and asked, "Did your sister-in-law bring anything to show us today?"

The clay stoves that had been given to them earlier were already being fired in large quantities, and Zuo Shangying felt that Madam Xie must have some new styles of porcelain.

Just a few days ago, Madam Xie asked Yang Qin to ask them for pen and ink, which will surely come in handy.

(End of this chapter)