Chapter 96 Invitation

Unwilling to lose face in front of Shen Yuanzhu any further, Hua Nanzhi shook off Jiang Wansu's hand, but stood still.

"Go and ask Jiang Hong what business he has coming to visit."

A short while later, the gatekeeper came to report that Jiang Hong had come to ask if the Xie family had received Yuan Xu's invitation.

Upon hearing this, Hua Nanzhi's face turned green, and she turned and left.

Seeing this, Jiang Wansu quickly followed behind her, saying, "Mother, please slow down."

"Tsk."

Xie Qi said coolly, "We've traveled a long way, but we haven't seen any excitement."

There will be excitement.

Why do you say that?

Shen Yuanzhu said, "The Jiang family came to ask for Eunuch Yuan's invitation, most likely because Jiang Hong acted too ruthlessly and ruined his reputation. Businessmen value their reputation most, and his treatment of Jiang You is despised by many."

"So it's understandable that the Jiang family didn't receive an invitation."

"But the Xie family..."

Shen Yuanzhu scratched her head, unable to understand why even Xie Cui Fang received an invitation, but the Xie family did not.

It is important to know that this banquet hosted by the newly appointed Director of Textiles basically foreshadowed the business trends of the entire Suzhou Prefecture in the next few years.

It wasn't strange that he invited Xie Qi, but skipping the Xie family...

"Perhaps it was the Xie family that offended Eunuch Yuan sometime or somewhere, but the more unknown it is, the more frightening it becomes."

She looked up at Xie Qi, a hint of cunning in her eyes: "So the Xie family will definitely make you hand over the invitation, or ask you to come in with them."

"That's why I said the excitement will always come. We can just go back to Qianxiang Courtyard and wait."

us……

Upon hearing these two words, Xie Qi felt much better, no longer experiencing the irritation he used to feel when thinking of Hua Nanzhi, Xie Xuchuan, or Xie Boyu and Xie Sanniang.

At this moment, he even wished that Hua Nanzhi would come and cause him trouble soon, so that he could make Shen Yuanzhu watch the show immediately.

He completely forgot the resentment, unwillingness, and even self-destructive pain he would feel whenever the Xie family tried to take something from him.

"Go and prepare some fruits and snacks."

As soon as they returned to Qianxiang Courtyard, Xie Qi asked Mianhe to prepare some food.

Seeing Mianhe leave, Xie Qi led Shen Yuanzhu into the house, and the two continued to guard the invitations on the table.

Seeing this, Ling'er stepped forward and said, "Master asked us to prepare some snacks. Are you hungry? If you are, I'll have the kitchen make you a bowl of noodles."

Xie Qi said, "No need for noodles. Go to the small kitchen and see what snacks are available, and bring them to your young lady to prepare. She might need them later."

"..."

Ling'er was silent for a moment, then glanced at Shen Yuanzhu and silently turned to prepare snacks.

Their guess was correct; the Xie family was indeed pondering the invitation in Xie Qi's hand.

After a serious illness, Xie San Niang became even more emaciated, her face showing obvious signs of fatigue, and she no longer had her previous spirited appearance.

She was leaning against the cushion, with the first wife and her husband, as well as Xie Xuchuan and Jiang Wansu standing beside her.

After Hua Nanzhi fed Xie San Niang the medicine, she said softly, "Mother, what do you think Yuan Xu really means?"

"I sent people out to inquire today, and everyone in the Chamber of Commerce has been invited except for my Xie family and the Jiang family."

"By doing this, isn't he clearly telling everyone that the Xie and Jiang families will have no place in Suzhou Prefecture in the future?"

“Those opportunists in the Chamber of Commerce will definitely distance themselves from us now that things are like this. We were hoping to take things further, but now…”

She had barely said a few words when Xie Boyu said, "Mother is still sick, why are you talking to her about these things?"

Hua Nanzhi lowered her eyes, feeling extremely annoyed.

She has now reached the point where she feels extremely upset whenever Xie Boyu speaks.

Fortunately, Xie San Niang was not confused. She said weakly, "If we don't speak up now, are we supposed to wait until that little bastard shines brightly and my Xie family is ostracized before we think of a solution?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Boyu fell silent.

Xie Sanniang continued, "Yuanxu is a newly appointed person whose foundation is not yet stable. He would not offend the Xie family for no reason. We must have offended him somehow."

Xie Boyu said, "But we've never even met this eunuch before, how could we have offended him?"

There are only two possibilities.

Seeing Xie Boyu's puzzled expression, Xie San Niang sighed inwardly.

Her son is of impeccable character, but he's too mediocre, even less clear-headed than her eldest daughter-in-law.

He was too honest, and the second son was a cunning scoundrel. Only Xie Jingyuan was exceptionally intelligent and acted with integrity.

If she hadn't had other concerns, she would have really wanted to hand over the family business to her third son.

Xie Sanniang sighed, "Only the Jiang family and we didn't receive invitations, but Xie Qi did. This matter is either related to the Jiang family or to Xie Qi."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wansu's voice trembled slightly: "How...how could this be related to the Jiang family?"

The fact that the Xie family didn't receive an invitation because they are related to the Jiang family makes it clear that the Xie family was implicated by the Jiang family.

The only reason the Jiang family could implicate the Xie family is because of her!

Xie Sanniang didn't even glance at her and continued, "Jiang Hong has no bottom line, so it's understandable that Yuan Xu hates him. My Xie family just married a Jiang family girl before Yuan Xu took office, so it's highly likely that this is what displeased him."

Jiang Wansu hurriedly said, "How could that be? Grandmother is overthinking it. If she didn't like the Xie family, why would she have privately invited Xie Qi to the banquet?"

"In my opinion, it's probably because of Xie Qi that Yuan Xu developed a dislike for the Xie family."

Xie Boyu said, "Impossible. How could Xie Qi possibly know Yuan Xu? He would most likely invite him for the 'Red Rouge Cloth'."

Mentioning the rouge cloth caused everyone's faces to darken for a moment.

"In short, no matter what the reason, the Xie family cannot miss Yuan Xu's invitation at this time."

"If he doesn't show up that day, it will undoubtedly send a signal to the entire Suzhou Chamber of Commerce that Xie Qi will be in charge of the Xie family from now on."

Xie San Niang continued, "Xu Chuan, go to Xie Qi and get the invitation, then attend with him."

Xie Xuchuan lowered his eyes, offering no resistance.

He was unwilling to go, nor did he want to do something as lowly as begging Xie Qi.

The moment Hua Nanzhi moved her hand on the quilt, Xie Sanniang immediately pressed it down.

In the past, Xie Qi was unknown, so people would take his things without a second thought.

But things are different now. Now that Xie Qi has gained Yuan Xu's favor, if they, as elders, forcibly snatch the invitation, it will only put the Xie family in an even more embarrassing situation.

The original plan was to enter Yuanxu's banquet quietly, letting everyone know that everything at the Xie family was normal; making a scene would only make things worse.

However, things that are difficult for elders to do are perfectly acceptable for their peers.

"Xu Chuan, you..."

Xie Xuchuan remained motionless, stubborn and defiant, which made Jiang Wansu anxious.

She is no longer favored by her husband, in-laws, or grandparents in the Xie family. If she doesn't do something to change everyone's opinion of her, she will probably be sent back to the Jiang family sooner or later.

Jiang Wansu tightened her grip on the handkerchief and said cautiously, "Why don't I go and talk to Xie Qi?"