Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 272 Support
Before Xie Yuyan could finish speaking, the craftsmen looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.

Xie Yuyan continued, "The roster has other uses besides that."

The room immediately returned to silence.

Xie Yuyan said, "For example, if you are planning to leave your current kiln and go to work at another kiln, the village association can make a copy of the roster for you to take with you. Once you join the village association's kiln, they will determine your wages based on the roster."

Many people have to start from scratch when they change employers, and only a few are able to receive their wages.

That's true, the roster is so useful.

However, Miao Shun thought of a problem: "What if the ceramic kiln we go to isn't in our village?"

Xie Yuyan said, "The village association also produces a roster, but whether it's useful or not depends on which pottery or porcelain kiln it is. We can manage the pottery and porcelain kilns of the village association, but we can't control others."

If you think about it carefully, you'll realize that the more famous their village association is, the more people will recognize this list.

Of course, if you want to change employers, it's best to choose within the village association.

The craftsmen could sense that Madam Xie was truly thinking of everyone's best interests, and that they could rely on her without leaving the village association.

“However, everyone should also know,” Xie Yuyan said, “that if someone has ulterior motives and does something shady, they will also be written on the list.”

"So, those who want to take advantage of the chaos had better leave as soon as possible. Otherwise... if you get caught, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The last sentence was spoken in a low voice, sending a chill down one's spine.

The craftsmen instinctively shivered.

Not only the craftsmen, but also the merchants present subconsciously straightened their backs. Madam Xie's words were addressed to everyone in the room.

Miao Shun spoke first: "We all understand."

Xie Yuyan said, "We need to open a new kiln and hire thirty workers, including six lower-level craftsmen and three mid-level craftsmen. We need to build a new coal kiln in Daming Prefecture. You can ask the people below. If you want to go, you can go to Master Xie Qi."

Xie Zishao nodded to everyone and took three thick registers from the accountant.

“After I go back, I will tell everyone that anyone who wants to come here can just give their name and check it against the roster. The wages will be as set by the village association: 140 cash per day for middle-class craftsmen, 120 cash per day for lower-class craftsmen, and 100 cash per day for hired laborers.”

Everyone suddenly realized that everything became much simpler once they had the roster.

Master Zheng and Master Xu exchanged glances, which gave them even more confidence in opening the kiln and firing the clay furnace. Joining the village association was still the best option; it only required paying a small amount of money, yet it saved them a lot of trouble. They couldn't wait to see the roster and ask if anyone was willing to go back with them.

Of course, they can't rush things; they can stay and see how the Xie family's new kiln is being built.

Master Xu looked at Xie Yuyan: "Then... Master Xie is planning to build a new kiln? He wants to fire clay kilns?"

Xie Yuyan said, "Naturally, it's about making porcelain. The Xie family has always been in the porcelain business, and Xie Qiye's birth mother was also a master in this field. Now that the Xie family of Daming Prefecture has been arrested, the porcelain that has been gathering dust in their hands should finally see the light of day."

Xie Zishao took a deep breath, and a pang of tenderness welled up in his heart. His tenth sister's words had touched the softest spot in his heart.

Even for his mother's sake, he had to rebuild the porcelain kiln.

At this point, everything came to an end, and everyone left the main room one after another. Xie Yuyan asked Miao Shun and the others to stay.

The craftsmen knew that Xie Yuyan had other instructions for them, so they all listened quietly to the arrangements.

Xie Yuyan asked, "Have you ever had your wages withheld at other pottery and porcelain kilns before?"

The craftsmen answered almost without hesitation: "Yes."

"Yes." "At most, I received twenty coins a day."

"If you offend the manager, they'll find any excuse to deduct most of your wages."

Xie Yuyan nodded: "Now that wages are transparent, if anyone is cheated out of their wages, as long as it's not your fault, you can come to the village association to find lawyer Liu, and the village association will help you."

“Even if you are no longer in the ceramic kiln of the village association, as long as you are still a member of the village association, you can still come back for help. Lawyer Liu will write a petition for you and send it to the yamen.”

Miao Shun and the craftsmen stared at Xie Yuyan in a daze for a long time without saying a word.

After a long pause, Miao Shuncai said, "Since Madam treats us so well, we will definitely do our job well in the future."

The others nodded in agreement.

Xie Yuyan spoke again: "This register is meant to provide fairness for craftsmen and laborers. Most people will do their best to maintain it, but some will try to find opportunities to make money off the register."

“They bribed the accountant to tamper with the roster, or asked someone to help them when determining the upper, middle, and lower classes. After all, the three elders can’t keep an eye on everyone all the time, and there will always be oversights.”

“Some people are good at exploiting loopholes. They can buy favors with money and always find a way to achieve their goals.”

The craftsmen's expressions turned serious.

Xie Yuyan said, "This result will render the roster useless, and our arrangements will be pointless."

Are such things rare?
Often, people harm themselves for their own short-term gains.

"If this is to last, then we should select an upright and honest person from among you to be in charge of this matter, and to bring those who are unruly to trial in public."

Miao Shunhe and the craftsman nodded again, almost unconsciously.

Every ceramic kiln should have such people, but Madam Xie didn't make the arrangements herself, but instead entrusted them with the task, which shows her trust in them.

This is to let them govern themselves, so that they will have a voice in the village council in the future.

If this matter were left to the owner or manager, they wouldn't need to come to future meetings like this.

Miao Shun stood up and bowed to Xie Yuyan: "Madam, we understand." Madam Xie had fought for them, and they couldn't slap themselves in the face, otherwise they would deserve to be bullied by their employer again in the future.

Regardless of what others do, they should be the ones who do the best to protect the village association.

Xie Yuyan looked at Miao Shun: "I know you are going to Yizhou. Before you leave, recommend a few people to me. I will ask them for help with matters in Daming Prefecture in the future."

Miao responded.

Xie Yuyan said, "Seventh Master Xie wants to rebuild the Xie family's porcelain kiln and select some people to help. This construction of the coal kiln is no small matter. Many eyes are watching, so we must not make any mistakes."

Miao Shun solemnly replied, "Don't worry, Madam, we will definitely do our best."

Through this kiln construction, they had to demonstrate to the merchants that they were worth the wages.

Miao Shun and the others left the Yang family with the craftsmen, as they needed to repair the coal kiln as quickly as possible.

Xie Yuyan continued drinking tea in the main room. After a while, Yang Xiaoshan came in and reported, "Han Si has checked into an inn in the northern part of the city."

Xie Yuyan sent Yang Xiaoshan to the government office to inquire about the news. He learned that something had happened to the Xie family's porcelain kiln and the imperial court needed to select other porcelain for the market. Naturally, the choice of which porcelain to select would fall to the old master of the industry.

The official recommended this time is named Han Si. The Han family runs a porcelain kiln in Bianjing, and many of the porcelain pieces they produce are sent to the palace, so he is naturally very knowledgeable.

Yang Xiaoshan said, "They came to Daming Prefecture, but instead of posting notices at the government office, they quietly settled down in the city. This sneaking around... they must have ill intentions."