Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 61 Idea
The man lying on the ground, heartbroken over the full bucket of hot water, clutched his scalded foot and glared resentfully at the troublemaker.

He desperately wanted to rush forward and fight back, but this man was a notorious rogue in Daming Prefecture, tall and strong, and beyond his ability to handle. So he could only scream, "You were the one who crashed into me!"

"Did I hit him?" The thug stepped on the man's back, pinning him down so he couldn't get up. He looked around, "Did anyone see that?"

His arrogant demeanor was on full display in front of others.

The argument between the two attracted a lot of onlookers, but no one dared to approach until the crowd parted to make way for them.

A group of patrolmen stepped forward, the leader shoving the ruffian aside, while the other two helped the fallen man up, and together they walked toward the yamen.

The troublemaker was still shouting, "Sir, he bumped into me but won't admit it. I was so angry that I stomped on his foot. I'm innocent..."

The sound gradually faded away, and the onlookers dispersed, leaving only a thin layer of ice on the ground.

He Tan looked at Wang Yan: "Did you order that group of people to join you?"

This is outside the ward under He Tan's jurisdiction. This patrol team is obviously from the county government. The only person who could mobilize them in advance is Wang Yan.

No wonder Wang Yan said he had everything arranged.

The two sat down again, and He Tan said, "This kind of thing will happen again, and we can't keep running into patrolmen every time."

Wang Yan nodded: "There will always be people who are threatened and dare not buy water."

This is something the Xie family can do, and even if they cause trouble, it won't involve any murder or lawsuit. As long as they are paid enough, they will never expose the Xie family.

Only by spreading water in the two side rooms under He Tan's jurisdiction could they be safe, but... Xie Yuyan only opened one shop in those two side rooms, and the other three were outside.

He Tan said, "Miss Xie is truly extraordinary. Knowing all this, she still dared to do it so openly. She doesn't take the Xie family seriously. No wonder she dared to treat Xie Chongjun like that in the government office."

Wang Yan said, "Who she targets doesn't depend on that person's identity, but on whether they stand in her way. She's not causing trouble for the Xie family right now; she's just gathering more manpower."

He Tan knew about Xie Yuyan's affairs in the Yang family: "She has secured her position in the Yang family's household affairs. She has brought lawyers to write legal documents for the people in Yong'an Ward. There must be many people in the ward who are willing to do things for her, as well as those in Sanhe Village and Chenyao Village. Besides them, there are others?"

Wang Yan said, "For every string of cash you pay as a deposit for her water shops, you can buy two buckets of hot water for one coin."

He Tan nodded; the servant had already reported this.

Wang Yan looked at He Tan: "So how much do you think we can get in deposits? And who are the people who pay the deposits?"

He Tan was very clever and quickly came up with a way to make money from it.

Wang Yan said, "Only those who are thoughtful in the city could come up with this idea. Daming Prefecture didn't have water shops before, but now those who can decide to make money by selling water are more or less decisive."

Whether a person has courage or not is not determined by how big a thing they do. A prime minister with courage can stir up the court, while an ordinary person with courage can make decisions for their family.

“These people have vision and are willing to make decisions, so they should be in a good position by now. They are willing to use their brains and their connections to work together. What do you think the result will be?”

Those who dare to act before others are likely skilled in this area to some extent.

They naturally know how to sell hot water.

So from the very beginning, Xie Yuyan recruited these kinds of people.

"I was wondering why there were no staff members outside the water shop helping to call out to customers, now I understand."

Wang Yan continued, "These people will not only sell water, but will also do other businesses with her in the future, just like the Yang family and Yong'anfang. She is not doing one thing, but recruiting people."

He Tan said, "You made money, got helpers, and opened a few water shops and you've accomplished all this?"

After saying this, He Tan remained silent for a moment, his expression growing increasingly profound: "Which noblewoman in this dynasty could do what she did?"

Wang Yan said calmly, "No one of that age."

“Not that age, you mean…” He Tan thought of several sages in the Liang Palace, some of whom stirred up the political situation of the court, making the court officials turn pale at the mere mention of their names.

When He Tan first met Xie Xiaoniangzi, he didn't think she was that amazing. Later, Xie Xiaoniangzi helped them and enabled them to successfully open up the situation in Daming Prefecture.

It would be best if they could have someone to work for them, and he would give Lady Xie some reward in the future.

But now... Miss Xie has just stepped out of Yong'an Ward and hasn't even left Daming Prefecture yet, and He Tan feels a sense of apprehension.

People might laugh at me if I told them this.

He, a high-ranking official, was actually afraid of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. But what worried He Tan most wasn't that; it was how long had Miss Xie been in Daming Prefecture? What would she do next? No one knew, and he couldn't predict it either.

He Tan looked at Wang Yan: "Should we take precautions?" Perhaps in Wang Yan's mind, even if Miss Xie had other intentions, he could handle it?
Wang Yan understood He Tan's meaning, but he didn't respond. Her behavior was becoming increasingly similar to the person in his memory, so was it possible that he had already lost to her once? And was it possible for it to happen a second time?

Even if she doesn't reappear, he might still not be able to win this round.

I cannot willingly forget the past when I met her, nor can I stop thinking about it or trying to verify it.

He Tan's gaze swept over Wang Yan several times, and suddenly noticed something: "Why are you wearing light-colored robes again?"

Wang Yan had always preferred light-colored robes, but after his encounter with the immortal, some people speculated that he was a banished immortal descended to earth, otherwise why would he be able to attract an immortal to speak with him? Wang Yan disliked such talk and changed his attire from then on.

But today... Wang Yan was wearing a moon-white, straight-collared Taoist robe.

Wang Yan stood up: "One's own preferences should not be changed because of anyone else."

Makes it sound so easy, but what about the past ten years?
Seeing Wang Yan walk out, He Tan hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?"

The only response he received was the sound of Wang Yan's footsteps. He looked at Sang Dian beside him, who picked up the cloth bag on his back and said, "I guess... the young master is worried about the cat and wants to go and check on it."

After saying this, he immediately took off after his husband.

……

Yang family.

Madam He listened nervously to the servant's report.

“Those men and women were very tight-lipped and refused to say how much money they made. But we watched closely and saw that, apart from the water shop closest to us, there were people from Yong'an Ward going there to buy water, which was quite lively.”

"The other three shops, despite the large crowds, only a dozen or so people actually paid their deposits."

Mrs. He's face lit up with joy, but she quickly frowned: "Don't lie to me, are there really only a dozen or so?"

The servant held up two fingers: "At most twenty people."

Mrs. He breathed a sigh of relief: "So that's twenty strings of cash?"

The servant laughed and said, "When the market opens, all the newly opened shops are full of people. Only the water shop of the Third Wife and Sixth Mistress is so deserted. I'm afraid they won't even be able to get back the money for renting a house, charcoal, and hiring people. Those who have money to do business with Sixth Mistress are going to be anxious."

"This money is about to be lost forever. In the end, we'll have to come to you for help. Even if the Third Branch has the help of the patrol office, what can they do? The patrol office can't just buy all the hot water."

“If things continue like this, she won’t be able to hold on for long,” Madam He said. “In two more days, I will discuss with the elders of the clan about having her close the water shop to avoid losing even more money.”

From then on, Xie Yuyan could no longer even think about handling the gifts.

He felt as if the heavy weight on her chest had finally been lifted, and her breathing became exceptionally smooth.

As for the shop near Yong'an Ward, even if it could earn some money, it wouldn't be much, since the people of Yong'an Ward couldn't possibly go there to buy water every day.

Just as Madam He was about to send the servant away, the steward hurriedly entered the room.

“Second Madam,” the steward said, “those people from Yong’an Ward followed Madam Xie to the Third House.”

Madam He frowned again: "Is Madam Xie planning to have the people from Yong'an Ward help her support the water shop?" After thinking it over, this was the most likely explanation.

"Spread the word that the people of Yong'anfang are going to the Third Branch."

When Xie wanted to use that shop as a pretext, she informed the elders in the clan beforehand that it was all fake.

……

Inside the main room of the third room.

Xie Yuyan sat in the main seat, followed by Granny Li and others.

Grandma Li looked at everyone, pursed her lips, and said, "I'll ask on everyone's behalf."

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Grandma Li continued, "Madam, could you help us with some business? Many people here have already paid deposits at the water shop and have a general idea, but we'd like to ask you, Madam, what's the best course of action next?"

(End of this chapter)