Chapter 103 Acquaintances
Yuan Xu invited a large number of people to his private banquet, including members of the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce and some officials from the Textile and Dyeing Bureau.
Many people brought their female relatives to the event, but those like Xie Qi, who brought their mothers, were a minority.
However, Xie Qi caught Yuan Xu's eye. As soon as he arrived at the mansion, a young eunuch came to invite him, saying that Eunuch Yuan was waiting for him in the main hall.
"Thank you, sir."
Xie Qi raised his hand to express his gratitude, then walked past Hua Nanzhi and the little eunuch to find Yuan Xu, showing no intention of introducing Hua Nanzhi to him.
Fortunately, there were familiar ladies present, so Hua Nanzhi wasn't left alone.
However, Xie Qi rarely appeared in front of others, so Hua Nanzhi couldn't help but feel awkward when he was mentioned.
"Is that your second son? I remember he and Xu Chuan are twins, but they don't look alike at all. He looks more like your third master."
When Lady Wang of Diancui Pavilion saw Xie Qi, she couldn't stop praising him.
"I heard that you got married to the eldest daughter of the Shen family a few days ago? But why did the marriage suddenly change? I heard that your Xu Chuan didn't marry Shen Yuanzhu, but instead married the illegitimate daughter of the Jiang family."
"This marriage wasn't handled very well."
Madam Wang's brother worked in the textile and dyeing bureau, so his status was naturally much higher than that of other merchants' wives. Therefore, he spoke frankly and was not afraid of offending Hua Nanzhi.
Although the Xie family was wealthy, they could never compare to those with official positions.
Therefore, Hua Nanzhi only smiled faintly upon hearing this and did not respond.
Zhou He was an old friend of Shen Yuanzhu's mother when she was young, and seeing her mother-in-law being harassed, she had no choice but to step forward to help.
"I didn't get a good look at Xie Qi on the day he married Yuan Zhu, but seeing him today, he really is handsome and dashing."
"And my husband has also heard about the 'rouge cloth' from the other day, and he still occasionally recites the poem about fading the red from that day."
She stepped forward and affectionately took Hua Nanzhi's arm, then said softly with a smile, "Madam Xie, you must tell us how you raised two such outstanding children?"
As she spoke, she pulled Hua Nanzhi along towards the main hall.
As she got closer, Hua Nanzhi saw Xie Qi standing next to Yuan Xu, the two of them talking in hushed tones.
The handkerchief in her hand was torn into a tangled mess. After a long while, Hua Nanzhi finally smiled and said, "It's nowhere near as good as Madam Jiang described..."
"Xu Chuan is good, but he is too calm and composed."
"He's not as clever as Xie Qi. You don't know, Xie Qi has been full of ideas since he was a child, and he has many ideas that others can't think of."
"Just like the rouge cloth incident, even I, as a mother, never expected that he could make such a fuss about fading cloth."
"He's good in every way, except he's too opinionated and unwilling to suffer any loss."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang pursed her lips and said, "It's good that the younger generation in the family has some ideas, but if their ideas are too righteous, it's not a good thing."
Hua Nanzhi's words, at first glance, seemed to be praising Xie Qi, but there was always something subtle in her words.
Especially when considering the recent marriage exchange involving the Xie family, something just doesn't feel right.
However, those who came to the banquet today were all shrewd people who had no interest in other people's affairs. Even if they were curious, they would not ask the person in question like Madam Wang did.
So no one around them spoke to her, except Zhou He, who frowned slightly and looked at Hua Nanzhi with a much colder gaze.
Although the interactions between ladies cannot influence major events in the business world, Xie Qi's reputation will not be good after Hua Nanzhi's words.
Just as Zhou He was feeling sorry for Shen Yuanzhu, she heard Yuan Xu suddenly burst into laughter and pat a young man next to him forcefully.
"Who is that young man?"
Just as Madam Wang opened her mouth, Yuan Xu said loudly, "I think everyone is almost here. Thank you all for waiting. Shall we take our seats now?"
Xu Zhanyang, the president of the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce who was over fifty years old, said, "What are you saying, Lord Yuan? We should be the ones troubling you."
"I'm sorry to trouble you to make arrangements and give us brothers a few opportunities to share a drink with you."
Xu Zhanyang had just noticed that Yuan Xu valued the young people around him highly, so he wanted to take the opportunity to curry favor with him.
He looked at Xie Qi and smiled, "This young man has an extraordinary bearing. May I ask whose family he is, and whether he is married?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Xu turned and pointed at Xie Qi: "Old Master Xu has high hopes for you. I wonder if he has an unmarried daughter at home."
After saying that, he looked at Xu Zhanyang again: "It's a pity you're a step too late, he's already married."
"Oh, who is this young man? What a pity, what a pity."
Yuan Xu then said, "Xie Qi, the second young master of the Xie family, was the one who was messing around with the 'rouge cloth' the other day."
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.
Everyone knows what Yuanxu is thinking at today's private banquet.
Firstly, as a newcomer to the area, he naturally wanted to get to know as many people as possible he would be dealing with in the future. Secondly, he wanted to win over a few people who could do things for him in the future.
Before coming here today, the members of the Chamber of Commerce had been secretly wondering which family had caught the eye of the new textile commissioner, but they never expected it to be that unknown young man from the Xie family.
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhanyang readily agreed: "So it was you. Your rouge cloth is truly excellent. My wife and maid have been clamoring for it ever since they heard about it."
"You are a talented and courageous child; you are destined for great things."
It's not surprising that Yuan Xu knows Xie Qi, but what's strange is that he not only knows Xie Qi, but also knows that the rouge cloth was something he concocted, and that the other party had just gotten married a few days ago.
After a few words, how could anyone present not see that Yuan Xu was praising Xie Qi?
For a time, praises poured in, but Hua Nanzhi's face was unusually ugly.
Seeing this, Zhou He felt relieved and showed a faint smile.
"However, Elder Xu, there is no need to be too sad. There are still several talented young men who are not yet married."
Yuan Xu pointed to Yun Zheng next to Xie Qi and said with a smile, "Yun Zheng, the owner of Jixia Manor, is not yet twenty and has never married. Do you think he might be pleasing to your eye?"
Xu Zhanyang said, "Young and promising, young and promising, a good prospect for business."
They had never heard of Jixia Manor before, but the name carried a different meaning when Yuan Xu uttered it.
Xie Qi stood aside, watching Yun Zheng skillfully navigate between the two sides, and couldn't help but step back.
Today, he is the second young master of the Xie family. Xie Qi has no intention of glorifying the Xie family, so he naturally gives the spotlight to Yun Zheng.
Luo Qing and Luo Bai, on the other hand, stood in the corner, looking Xie Qi up and down.
Luo Bai still had a childish look on his face, but seeing Xie Qi's calm demeanor and handsome appearance, he couldn't help but secretly give him a thumbs up.
“Brother, I think the new son-in-law is much better than his elder brother.”
Luo Qing nodded: "He is indeed much better than Xie Xuchuan."
Seeing Xie Qi step aside, seemingly unaccustomed to the scene, Luo Qing thought for a moment and said, "I'll go and say a few words to the young master."
After all, Xie Qi would be their master after marrying Miss.
In just a few steps, Luo Qing had just reached Xie Qi's side when he saw Shen Yanhuai follow him.
"My name is Luo Qing from Xie Cui Fang..."
"Brother-in-law..."
The two spoke at the same time, and Xie Qi turned around and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Wow, today is full of familiar faces.
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