"Then I'll leave everything to Attendant Zhang. I'll take my leave now!"

"Hmph~, don't bother seeing me out...!"

Zhang Rang closed his eyes, snorted coldly, and waved his hand at Jia Xu without turning his head.

Seeing this, Jia Xu simply smiled and then walked outside, leaving Zhang Rang sitting inside, panting heavily in frustration.

"Hmph~, this Jia Wenhe..., His Majesty clearly ordered me to cooperate with him, so how did he end up pushing me to the front? He's actually hiding in the back...!"

After Jia Xu left, Zhang Rang couldn't help but take out the list again. Recalling Jia Xu's face, Zhang Rang felt a surge of hatred that made his teeth itch.

That night, Zhang Rang sent someone to invite the people in charge of purchasing coal, led by the Yuan and Chen families, to his living room.

After everyone had arrived, Zhang Rang, with a gloomy expression, came out from the back hall and sat in the main seat.

Looking at everyone present, Zhang Rang got straight to the point: "I'm sure you all understand why I've invited you all here today, right?"

The crowd exchanged glances, and one of the Chen family members stood up and bowed to Zhang Rang.

"Is Zhang Changshi referring to the recent significant reduction in coal production?"

Zhang Rang nodded. "That's right! Since a few days ago, the amount of coal being transported has been decreasing day by day! Does anyone know why?"

Yuan Yi's expression shifted, and he asked suspiciously, "Does Zhang Changshi mean... someone is interfering?"

Zhang Rang sneered: "That's right! We've already sent people to investigate! The reason you're buying less and less coal is because someone is jealous and wants a piece of the pie!"

"Who would dare to be so bold...?"

Upon hearing that someone had actually tried to take advantage of the situation, everyone present immediately protested! The cake was only so big, and it was already quite a lot for so many of them to share. How could someone still have designs on it?