Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 271 Conference
Hearing Xie Yuyan's words, Xie Zishao felt a surge of excitement. He had considered taking over the Xie family's porcelain kiln, but he didn't want to perpetuate the Xie family's reputation.

However, what my tenth sister said was quite right. The Xie family was at fault, but the Xie family's porcelain kiln and porcelain were not. He could create a new Xie family kiln and make people completely forget about the old one.

Everyone knows about Prefect Liu's case, and the Xie family and other merchants who were arrested are also being talked about. By taking advantage of this incident, they can rebuild the porcelain kiln, which will surely attract a lot of attention. In this way, they can save effort in spreading the news.

So that outsiders wouldn't be unaware of why he wanted to rebuild the porcelain kiln.

As requested by my tenth sister, the kiln was built and porcelain was fired again. Whether my tenth sister's methods were effective or not can be seen at a glance.

Using the Xie family's porcelain kiln as an example, it serves as a warning to all those who are still observing: whether or not to join the porcelain kiln village association is up to their individual considerations.

Xie Zishao stood up: "There's no time to lose, I'll get right to it."

“No rush,” Xie Yuyan said. “We need to make things clear first. Seventh Master, go back and ask your craftsmen who else is willing to stay in Xie Family Kiln and join the village association. Then bring those who are willing to the Yang family.”

"Understood."

Xie Zishao said nothing more and walked out. He happened to meet Zhang Shi outside the door and quickly bowed to show respect as a junior.

Zhang smiled and said, "Go ahead and get busy, no need for such formalities."

Xie Zishao pulled Cheng Qi aside and gave him some instructions, repeating Xie Yuyan's words: "Let everyone think it over carefully, there's no need to force it."

Cheng Qi was naturally delighted. He was originally Seventh Master's man and had been helping Madam Xie with her work. He was thinking that now that the case was closed, shouldn't he go back to Seventh Master?
Cheng Qi was going back to help Seventh Master, but she was also very reluctant to leave Madam Xie. It was truly because working with Madam Xie was so comfortable. Madam Xie explained everything clearly, from what to do to how to do it, so she didn't have to think too much. Most importantly, she could get good results after working hard for a long time.

Seeing Xie Chongjun, Xie Chonghai, and others being sent to prison, Cheng Qi felt incredibly happy.

Now that Seventh Master and Madam Xie are working together, Cheng Qi has no more worries.

Xie Zishao and Cheng Qi split up and, in less than an hour, arrived at Yong'anfang with a large group of people.

The Yong'anfang area was completely different from when Xie Zishao left; groups of craftsmen were heading to the Yang family's house.

Xie Zishao had expected this, but the craftsmen beside him were somewhat surprised: "How could there be... so many people?" They knew that Madam Xie was famous, but they did not expect to attract so many people all at once.

As everyone entered the flower hall one after another, Madam Xie sat in the center, and Yang Xiaoshan led Xie Zishao to sit down next to her. To her right sat Old Wei, Old Yao, and Old Geng, while to her left sat several merchants who owned coal mines, including Third Master Zheng and Fourth Master Xu, as well as Meng Jiu from Sanhe Village, Zheng Shi and Chen Rong from Chenyao Village, and Grandma Li and Zhou Da from Yong'anfang.

What others didn't know was that a hint of timidity appeared on Meng Jiu's honest face. He had never seen such a scene before. If only Shi Yong were home... He never expected that Madam Xie would invite them to come.

Zheng and Chen Rong were the same; they hadn't expected that Madam Xie would let them sit next to her.

Grandma Li, being old, didn't panic. Zhou Da was also quite calm; after all, they had managed the Yong'anfang Township Association for so long and had gained a lot of experience.

Xie Zishao looked around the house. Inside were merchants, craftsmen, and villagers, and outside there were many hired workers and peddlers.

Even if these people are seen, they will not arouse the vigilance of others, because each of them is of low status and none of them would be frightening if taken out individually.

No one would think they could accomplish anything significant.

In the past, when the Xie family wanted to gain benefits, they would flatter officials and wealthy people, hoping to get some favors from them, and never paid any attention to craftsmen and laborers.

They even tried every means to bully them. If they knew that Madam Xie valued these people the most, they would definitely find it laughable.

After Xie Yuyan and the other craftsmen entered the house and sat down, he said, "Everyone has read the village rules."

Everyone nodded and said, "We've seen it."

Xie Yuyan continued, "Everyone who comes here is willing to join the village association and abide by the village rules." Elder Wei and the others took the lead and said, "We are willing."

Master Xu added, "If we can all abide by the principles of mutual encouragement in virtue and conduct, mutual correction of faults, mutual respect in etiquette and customs, and mutual assistance in times of trouble, it will be beneficial to everyone."

Many of the craftsmen were illiterate, so they gathered together and asked someone to explain the text to them sentence by sentence, and found nothing wrong with it.

The craftsmen agreed, and then they all went to see Xie Yuyan without prior arrangement.

The person in the main seat was young and a woman, yet no one questioned her because of that.

Facing so many people, Madam Xie remained calm and composed. Her clear eyes seemed to see through everything, and she was as if no matter how turbulent the waves were, they would all return to calm in front of her.

In short, it gives the impression that... she should just sit there.

Xie Yuyan said, "Most of what is written in the village rules is related to morality. The laws of Daliang do not restrict these things, and the rewards and punishments are only for those who join the village association."

"But once you join the village association, you must abide by its rules, because what you are responsible for is protecting the interests of all the villagers. The village association has public funds that are used to help the poor. If anyone deliberately tries to take advantage of these funds, then that is putting the cart before the horse."

“If criminals are harbored in the village association, it will damage the reputation of the village association and implicate other villagers.”

“Everyone can abide by the village rules, and even if people have never met, they can still entrust each other with their trust.”

"On the way back to his hometown, someone took him back after he fell seriously ill."

"When you encounter injustice, work together to help it."

"Celebrate good news and send off the deceased upon hearing of death."

"This is not a law, but a rule. Upholding and abiding by the village rules is for the benefit of the villagers, and even more so for ourselves. It will be of great benefit to everyone in the future."

As Xie Yuyan spoke, everyone nodded subconsciously.

After saying this, Xie Yuyan remained silent for a moment: "Since we are all from the same village, there is no need to hide anything."

“These days everyone has heard about my arrangements for the craftsmen and laborers, and how I will pay them wages according to their rank. What do you all think?”

Now it was the artisans' turn to look at each other, wondering if this was something they should be saying.

For a moment, no one dared to speak.

Xie Yuyan said, "What? Does everyone think it's bad?"

At this point, everyone immediately started chattering.

"Of course."

"it is good."

After a burst of noise, Miao Shun was pushed forward and said to Xie Yuyan, "We all think it's very good. Craftsmen rely on their skills to make a living, and everyone is convinced by this way of paying wages."

Xie Yuyan said, "I will also have someone keep a roster, which will record when everyone arrives at the ceramic kiln. If good porcelain or ceramic pieces are produced, it will also be recorded in the roster. Any increase or decrease in wages will be based on this roster."

"In other words, whether something is done well or poorly is no longer up to the person in charge, but is visible to everyone."