Chapter 201 Triumph

"Second Master, everyone has arrived."

Xie Chengzhi sat in a chair and saw a large group of people standing in front of him. After a moment, he stood up and coughed lightly.

"I called everyone here today because I have something to announce."

“From today onwards, the Xie family will be under my control, Xie Chengzhi. I've called you all here so you can recognize your master and not be unsure of whose orders to take in the future.”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Several embroiderers standing in the corner looked displeased and rolled their eyes at the words.

Xie Chengzhi said, "I know that some things have happened in the family recently. The dyeing workshop was destroyed by fire, and the old lady... the backbone of our Xie family has passed away."

"But masters, don't worry, things will get better in the future."

Xie Chengzhi patted his chest and said passionately, "I know what everyone is worried about. They're afraid that the higher-ups will suddenly change their masters and they won't be able to figure out my temperament."

"But I want to tell everyone that I, Xie Chengzhi, am an extremely reasonable person who is fair in rewarding and punishing.

"If you all work for me, you'll only get to live a life of luxury."

Upon hearing this, Manager Wu couldn't help but glance at him.

Xie Sanniang's mourning period hasn't even ended yet, and he's already spouting nonsense, even saying things like "enjoying a life of luxury"...

Manager Wu was cunning and would never dare to offend his employer, but not all of the craftsmen were soft-hearted.

A rough male voice rang out: "Second Master, we just want to know if this month's wages will be paid on time after the warehouse and machine room were burned down."

"certainly."

Xie Chengzhi said, "When has my Xie family ever owed you any wages? After I take over the Xie family, I will not only continue to pay you your monthly wages, but I will also give you an extra sum."

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen in the courtyard looked much better.

"Starting this month, everyone working at my Xie Family Textile and Dyeing Garden will receive a five-cash monthly allowance, and on the first and fifteenth of each month, we will add a big meat dish for everyone."

"..."

The man from before stepped out of the crowd.

The man was burly and had a stern face: "Second Master, have you lost your mind? The old lady's mourning period isn't over yet, why are you adding such heavy meat dishes?"

Xie Chengzhi choked upon hearing this, and then said, "Although my Xie family is the owner, we do not force everyone to observe mourning for the old lady."

"Besides, you all do manual labor. If you don't eat some meat, how will you have the strength to work for us?"

Manager Wu stepped in to smooth things over: "Our master is kind and benevolent, but it is our own choice to observe mourning for our former master. Among us, we have all received kindness from our former master."

"In that case, I, Xie, will accept everyone's kindness."

"I am here today not only to announce this important event, but also to reward everyone."

Xie Chengzhi clapped his hands, and two little girls behind him walked in carrying four food boxes.

"I brought some snacks for everyone to eat..."

The four food boxes placed under the eaves looked rather comical in front of more than a hundred people, but Xie Chengzhi didn't seem to mind.

"Alright, then I won't disturb you all while you're working. You can do whatever you want. I'm just taking a stroll, so don't worry about me."

After boasting about himself a couple more times, Xie Chengzhi swaggered off to inspect the textile and dyeing workshop.

A group of people were left standing there, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Several embroiderers with dark circles under their eyes gathered together and began to berate Xie Chengzhi from head to toe, cursing him relentlessly.

"I knew it. Yesterday, a little maid from the second branch came and acted so arrogantly. When she got to the embroidery room, she almost poked my face with her finger."

"The first thing they asked was for us to make a set of clothes for the Second Master overnight, saying that it had to be ready by dawn today."

"I figured Xie Lao Er needed to be buried early this morning, why the rush..."

The embroiderer, who had worked hard all night in the embroidery room yesterday, was now cursing incessantly, her eyes gleaming with dark circles.

Their eyes are precious; how could anyone make them work through the night?

And it's not something I need urgently...

Four or five embroiderers had worked all night and had just sent the items away in the morning when, less than half an hour later, the second branch of the family delivered another set of documents.

It consists entirely of eight or ten bodies.

This is completely against the Xie family's rules. When Xie San Niang was alive, she never had the embroiderers in the Xie family's weaving and dyeing garden make clothes for her.

They were working for the Xie family, not selling themselves to them...

The group of people got angry when they saw the list, but they were too tired from the night to argue with the maid.

Thinking she'd rest a bit and have a word with Steward Wu later, she'd barely lay down and closed her eyes for half an hour when, that unlucky Xie Lao Er had someone start banging a gong around for them...

One of them hurled insults, and a gentle-spoken embroiderer pulled at her.

"Stop cursing, or that thing will hear you."

"Why can't I curse? What can they do even if they hear me?"

Their skills are so good that they can earn a living anywhere. The reason they didn't leave in the past was because of the kindness that Xie San Niang had shown them.

There was only one female owner in Suzhou Prefecture, so the embroiderers in the Xie family did not have the same low status as those in other families.

In the Xie family's embroidery workshop, the embroiderers each have their own separate courtyard and a room to rest.

Moreover, the treatment was only slightly worse than that of Xiecuifang in the entire Suzhou Prefecture.

It's a pity that I haven't heard any news about Xiecui Workshop recruiting embroiderers in recent years...

Several embroiderers were cursing, and a loom master walking by also spat twice upon hearing this.

"The old boss is gone. How did the Xie family's business fall into the hands of such a scoundrel? Every time I've come to the weaving and dyeing workshop over the years, I've never seen him do anything good."

"Brother Xie is confused too."

Upon hearing this, the usually taciturn Old Zhu said in a deep voice, "I know what happened."

"What happened?"

"That's right, Lao Zhu, don't you have a distant relative who works for the Xie family?"

Old Zhu nodded: "It was my distant relative who told me."

Yesterday, he received a message from Wei Hu at home; his master had given him another task. After completing this task, he could return to Jixia Village to work.

After thinking for a moment, Old Zhu asked with a look of disdain, "Guess how Xie Lao Er got control of the Xie family?"

"How is it?"

"Yes, even if Xie Laoda is muddle-headed, we can't hand over the family business to such a person."

Old Zhu spat on the ground: "Yesterday, he threw a tantrum in the mourning hall, demanding power and constantly pushing the old master's coffin."

"He threatened Boss Xie with his old boss's corpse, which led to what happened this morning."

"What?"

The embroiderer who had been cursing earlier said, "That Xie Lao Er is truly a beast."

"Old Zhu."

From the corner, an elderly man with a pale face and white beard suddenly spoke up. His eyes were sharp, and he stared intently at Old Zhu: "Is what you're saying true?"

Old Zhu nodded: "Master Song, what I said is true. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to inquire."

Old Zhu's words were meant for Old Man Song.

Old Man Song was a master at making looms. He could solve any problem with the looms, from making them to repairing them.

Even if Cui Cheng were here, he would still have to respectfully address him as Master Song.

He was the most prestigious person in the Xie family's textile and dyeing workshop. If he could persuade Master Song to go to Jixia Manor with him, his master could strike at the root of the problem and seize the Xie family's most core interests...