Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 79 Get Ready

It sounded like hundreds of birds were chirping in Yang Mingjing's ears.

He was firmly surrounded in the middle, with everyone talking at once and people constantly interrupting.

“I went to check the area on Yuyingqian Street. It’s not very smooth. We need to fix it before we go there.”

"Yang, could you please arrange for some servants from the neighborhood to help out?"

“In winter, the ground is frozen solid. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t be begging in the neighborhood.”

"Where can the warden arrange manpower for this matter?"

"Why not? Back when Yangjiazhuang was flooded, didn't they send us out to help dredge the water? When the Du family's house caught fire, they asked us to help repair it."

“When we go out, we’ll be using the ‘Yong’anfang’ brand. If we don’t do well, we’ll be disgracing Yong’anfang.”

After he finished speaking, many eyes turned to Yang Mingjing.

Yang Mingjing's heart skipped a beat. How could the local customs of Yong'an Ward have changed so drastically since he became the ward head? In the past, the timid would avoid him when he walked through the ward, afraid of offending him and being sent to serve in the military. Now, they felt that the patrol office could stand up for them, and he dared not act recklessly...

Yang Mingjing took a deep breath. Okay, he admitted it. His father was in prison, and he really didn't dare to make any more mistakes, otherwise he would really ruin the Yang family business.

Despite Xie Yuyan's professed status as a member of the Yang family, when trouble strikes the Yang family, she will only leave with the third branch of the family, abandoning the rest.

Therefore, he swallowed his anger for the sake of the Yang family's overall interests.

"I will take some people to Yuyingqian Street to take a look."

As for where to find people?
Yang Mingjing glanced at the resident men, all carrying their belongings. Realizing he couldn't find many men, he decided to target the wealthy households in the neighborhood. These families, like him, hadn't yet sorted out their affairs and dared not offend the patrol office. Just as he was finishing his official duties, he discovered they all still had unfinished corvée labor.

Grandma Li watched Yang Mingjing leave with his hands behind his back, a smile appearing on her face: "Let's go, hurry up, there are still many things to discuss."

Do you think Yang Mingjing, the deputy ward official, is a good person? The Yang family has been in Yong'an Ward for so many years, even if they've changed their names. They know the family well. It's all because of Madam Xie that all those good things have come their way.

The way they treat Yang Mingjing is just to put him on a pedestal. Who doesn't understand who's good and who's bad?

The Yang family watched as many people flocked to the third courtyard, gathering in twos and threes to speculate about what they were doing. At first, they had no clue, but after an hour, a fragrant aroma wafted from the third courtyard.

Are these people having a banquet?

……

Several pairs of eyes were fixed on the large pot in front of Granny Li.

This pot contained various offal, tofu, dried vegetables, and a "medicinal packet" that Xie Yuyan had put in. It was these medicinal herbs that masked the fishy smell, and as it cooked longer, it developed a particularly rich and fragrant meaty aroma.

Next to the large pot were many small clay stoves, and on the stoves were earthenware pots. The pots were boiling, and the broth and steam inside kept pushing against the lids, making a crisp sound.

Just hearing that sound makes your mouth water, not to mention the rising steam carrying the aroma, which goes straight into your nostrils.

Grandma Li smiled and said, "The recipe my wife gave me really works. I tried it when I got back, and the fragrance lingers all day."

The woman next to her said, "My house is next to Grandma's. I have three boys who are so greedy that they come to our door. After tasting the offal, they smack their lips and hum in their dreams."

Grandma Li smiled and said, "Once I've earned some money, I'll treat everyone to a meal."

“That won’t do,” the woman laughed. “Didn’t Madam set a rule? Even if people from the village association buy from each other, they have to pay money. Don’t let these things ruin the friendship between villagers.”

Grandma Li looked at the small earthenware pots and said, "Your soup will sell well; people need nourishment in the dead of winter." These were all suggestions from the eldest daughter-in-law.

Besides these, there were also people selling fried tea, baked sesame cakes, steamed rice cakes, noodle soup, steamed yams...

Xu also led the women to make a lot of paper-cutting, collars, shoe soles, insoles, etc. When the stall was set up, the women would also collect some needlework.

Simple mending can be done on the spot, while more complicated work can be taken back to Yong'anfang and used for the next time you set up your stall, or the owner can pick it up from Yong'anfang.

A young man from a collateral branch of the Yang family was also preparing to go to the morning and evening markets with everyone. However, the things he sold were not so complicated, and he had prepared them well in advance. Whenever everyone discussed things, he would just sit there listening and grinning foolishly.

"Little Shanzi," Grandma Li said, "is your stall ready too?"

Xiao Shanzi nodded: "Alright, let's show it to Madam too."

Everyone was curious: "What exactly are you selling?"

Xiao Shanzi shook his head: "We'll know when the time comes, but... we might not sell many. Madam said it doesn't matter whether we make a profit or not."

After he finished speaking, he opened the signboard next to him, which read "Shuntong Water Shop".

Everyone immediately understood that they were going to sell hot water at the market, but... how big of a pot would they need to boil the water? Would it be enough? Seeing Xiaoshanzi's mysterious look, no one pressed him for more information.

Mother Yu and her men carried in a trunk, which they then opened.

Xie Yuyan said, "These are vests made for everyone, with our 'Yong'anfang Township Association' printed on them."

Everyone who goes to the market has one, and even the youngest boy in the family who does odd jobs has one.

Grandma Li picked up a vest and looked at the words on it. She couldn't read, but she could pronounce these words clearly. She could also recite the rules of the village fair fluently.

In the past few days, nearly forty people from Yong'anfang have joined the village association. Those who join recommend each other, and whether someone is qualified for membership is decided by a vote of the villagers. Everyone who joins must memorize the village association rules, and Grandma Li, who had been listening in, naturally memorized them.

"Wearing this vest, you must be even more careful about your words and actions," Grandma Li reminded everyone.

Everyone nodded. The morning and evening markets were all arranged by Madam Xie. She did this so that they could have an extra source of income, which was in accordance with the village rules.

They truly felt the benefits of the village association; everyone gathered together, and things were done exceptionally quickly. No one hesitated to contribute anything useful, whether materials or manpower, and they were all ready in just a few days. If anything happened, they would first think of the rules set by the matriarch, and that would usually solve the problem; if not, they would seek reason from the matriarch.

In short, since the establishment of the village association, we haven't encountered any major problems.

Grandma Li said, "Everyone should prepare tomorrow, and we'll set up our stall early the day after tomorrow."

Everyone responded in unison.

"Come and try some food."

The food in the pot was all cooked. The reason we gathered here was to try it out and see how it tasted. Everyone was starving, and when they heard that it was time to eat, they all smiled and picked up their bowls.

The commotion lasted for quite a while before everyone dispersed.

Watching the people from Yong'anfang leave, the Yang family members guessed that Xie Yuyan must have some profitable business to make those people so happy.

Just as Xie Yuyan was about to take a nap with the cat, members of the Yang clan came looking for him.

"We weren't able to bring the money for the water shop business back then, but if Madam has a new business, can we join in?"

(End of this chapter)