Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 550 Hoarding and Speculation
When Xie Yuyan said this, the merchants who originally wanted to argue their point all tacitly shut their mouths.

Before figuring out Xie Niangzi's intentions, one should not speak rashly, lest one give others a handle to use against them.

These people were unwilling to sign the contract because they were dissatisfied with Lady Xie. But how could they cause trouble for Lady Xie and replace her as the head of the business? It would be safer for them to follow suit if someone else took the lead.

Others might back down, but Chen Yixiu couldn't remain silent: "Why would Master Xing think this way? No one expected the porcelain business to suddenly change its leader, so it's normal for preparations to be inadequate."

Xie Yuyan said calmly, "You came in a hurry, but it has been ten days since you submitted the contract. Isn't ten days enough for you to prepare?"

Merchants like Chen Yixiu, relying on the contracts they held, were pressing the porcelain business step by step. Now, Xie Yuyan wanted to use a ridiculous excuse to suppress them. How could they agree to that?

Chen Yixiu said, "It's not right for Elder Xing to make things difficult for us like this. A few days ago at Elder Xing's residence, he clearly said that even if we don't sign the new contract, he will acknowledge the previous contract."

Another merchant chimed in, "Yes, everything was agreed upon, so why did things change when the day came?"

These words make it seem as if Xie Yuyan is untrustworthy, and how can such a person be respected?

Xie Yuyan ignored everyone and continued, "It's not enough for the porcelain to leave Bianjing; it needs to be brought back to your shops in various places before it can be sold."

Now, the merchants' faces turned even uglier.

There was no such rule before.

"What's the point of this?"

Since everyone's interests were involved, everyone started to speak up.

The merchants continued to raise questions, but Xie Yuyan picked up her tea and drank it, showing no sign of panic. After a moment, she said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "I will leave the porcelain shop in half an hour."

Almost immediately, the argument fell silent.

Lady Xie is really gone; they still have to search for her everywhere.

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly. As long as what he said was of great importance, no matter how loudly he spoke, it would be heard.

Li Shi said in a deep voice, "Elder Xing, you must give us a reason for doing this."

Xie Yuyan looked at the steward beside him, who immediately handed over the documents.

Xie Yuyan said, "I did not say that I do not recognize the contract in your hands. On the contrary, I need to carefully examine the past transactions to avoid making mistakes and causing everyone to suffer losses."

“As a veteran in the porcelain trade, it’s only natural that I have to be involved in these matters. Do you really think I would just let it go? If so, then your thinking is absurd.”

That's a statement that no one can refute.

Xie Yuyan said, "When I was reviewing the porcelain price records from last year and this year, as well as the porcelain price records from the Market and Exchange Bureau, I discovered a strange situation."

She paused slightly at this point.

Chen Yixiu immediately had a bad feeling, as if someone was about to seize some kind of leverage over him.

"Last November, the price of porcelain in Bianjing suddenly soared, and by the end of December, there was not enough porcelain to sell in the shops."

"Do any of you remember what happened back then?"

The merchants' faces turned grim, and Chen Yixiu subconsciously clenched his fists. Xie Yuyan hadn't expected them to say anything, so he continued, "When did you all sign the contracts with the porcelain shop?"

The merchants immediately looked at each other, their eyes revealing panic.

“Five contracts were signed at the end of October last year, and seven were signed in November last year,” Xie Yuyan said. “Why is it such a coincidence? Why did the market price of porcelain rise after you signed the contracts?”

Seeing that the situation was not good, Li Shi immediately said, "Every year around the twelfth lunar month, the price of porcelain rises. It's not just porcelain; cloth, rice, and all kinds of grains go up in price too."

Xie Yuyan said, "Are you saying that the price of cloth has increased by 20% and rice by 10%? If that's normal, wouldn't it be strange if the price of porcelain increased by 50%?"

Li Shi was immediately frustrated.

Xie Yuyan then opened another book: "These are the accounts of the storage yard. From October to December last year, someone rented the yard several times to store goods, and the goods stored there were porcelain."

Xie Yuyan tapped his finger lightly, and three merchants immediately showed nervous expressions, with one of them quickly wiping away sweat.

“Who rented the house and how much money they spent are all documented in the contract,” Xie Yuyan said, pausing for a moment. “Coincidentally, a couple of days ago, the three people who rented the storage yard last year went to the warehouse owner again, wanting to rent the house again. The warehouse owner agreed, so they gave him twenty strings of cash as a deposit.”

"The storage yard is the government's warehouse. Goods can only be stored temporarily. Long-term occupation is not allowed unless the warehouse is bribed in advance. But if no one investigates bribery, that's fine. But if the officials arrest and interrogate the person, I wonder if the warehouse will confess the truth?"

After Xie Yuyan finished speaking, he looked at one of the merchants. The merchant couldn't help but tremble slightly. Xie Yuyan's gaze was like a knife, making the man almost collapse on the spot.

"What? Do you think it's too cold in the porcelain shop? Do you need to add a charcoal brazier?"

The merchants hurriedly avoided Xie Yuyan's gaze, only wanting to get through this.

Xie Yuyan, however, instructed his servant: "Send a clay stove over there."

The servant responded.

The merchant dared not refuse. When the servant brought the clay stove over, he felt the heat rising from his feet, as if it would set him on fire. More sweat streamed down his face.

Xie Yuyan withdrew his gaze, his expression indifferent. However, to others, it seemed as if he had slightly curled his lips, but that smile was like a sharp sword blade, cutting through the flesh of anyone who saw it.

Xie Yuyan said, “Both the supervisor of the storage yard and I have doubts. If someone keeps hoarding goods and not selling them, causing a shortage of goods in the market, and intentionally manipulating the market, waiting for high prices to sell them off to make a profit, that is hoarding and speculation. According to the laws of Daliang, the punishment is at least eighty strokes of the cane, and the goods will also be deemed by the Market and Exchange Bureau as ‘obstructing the market’ and will be confiscated for official use.”

“In cases like this, whether it’s the supervising official or someone like me, we must report the situation to the court, or we will be implicated.”

"Therefore, I have already submitted my complaint to the Municipal Affairs Bureau."

After Xie Yuyan finished speaking, the merchant whose feet had been covered by a clay stove immediately stood up and said tremblingly, "Master Xing, I...I am willing to sign the new contract. I...I'm not in a hurry to transport those goods, and I don't want them for now."

No sooner had this man finished speaking than several more merchants stood up.

Xie Yuyan remained unmoved: "I've said it before, there's no time to lose. How can you change your mind so easily? You should find someone to move the goods. The guild's porcelain warehouse isn't big enough to hold all this stuff."

The merchant was almost in tears: "Master Xing... I really..."

Xie Yuyan didn't wait for him to finish speaking before his voice turned stern: "Do you think... I don't know what you're up to?"

There are still some tonight