Chapter 200 Show of Martial Might
Xie Qi returned to the house, and Shen Yuanzhu pulled Luo Shi aside.
“Nanny, Xie Boyu and Xie Chengzhi had a fight today. Xie Boyu accidentally said that he would hand over the Xie family business to Xie Chengzhi to manage.”
"What?"
Luo exclaimed in surprise, "Xie Boyu is too easily provoked. How could he say such a thing so easily?"
Shen Yuanzhu nodded in agreement: "Whether we talk about it or not, the matter has been settled. I think the Xie family is in such a mess, it's a good opportunity to fish in troubled waters."
"What does Miss want to do?"
Shen Yuanzhu said, "Tomorrow, have Luo Bai find someone to spread the word in the streets and alleys that Xie Sanniang was angered to death by Xie Chengzhi, that unfilial son."
"Let's also spread the word about how he caused such a scene at the funeral today."
"That's a good trick."
Upon hearing this, Luo curled her lip: "Letting someone like that in power... I wonder who would dare to do business with the Xie family again."
"I'm afraid it's bad luck to be associated with the Xie family."
"Don't spread it too fast or too wildly. Tell someone to explain it carefully and spread it slowly."
Shen Yuanzhu said, "Xie Chengzhi should still have a backup plan. Let's give him some time and see how much more muddy the waters can get."
"Don't worry, Miss, I will do my best to handle this for you."
After saying that, Luo sent a letter to Luo Bai.
The next morning, before dawn, Xie Chengzhi got up early and put on a brand new plain-colored robe that Zheng Shu had sent him.
As Zheng Shu helped him get dressed, she said, "Tsk tsk, you don't know, it's really tough to be in power."
"This outfit of yours was embroidered by the embroiderers in the weaving and dyeing garden yesterday, which I sent someone to do overnight."
"The goods were delivered before dawn today. When the old lady was alive, we never had this kind of confidence."
"This hasn't even officially declared that you've taken control of the Xie family yet. If the entire Xie family knew, wouldn't our second branch be able to wear whatever we wanted from now on?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Chengzhi couldn't help but smile.
Even so, he still scolded, "You shallow-minded thing, you're already envious of a few clothes?"
Zheng Shu ignored his sarcastic remarks and said, "Now that you are going out, you should at least be addressed as the Second Master of the Xie family. Since you have become the head of the Xie family, Lu Rongying and I cannot be too shabby, can we?"
"It's not us who are losing face, it's you who are losing face."
Zheng Shu said, "It's not that I only see a few clothes, but they have to match yours, right? I can't be the wife of the head of the Xie family, and I'm all sloppy and poor wherever I go."
Upon hearing this, Xie Chengzhi felt that what he said made perfect sense and had no way to refute it.
After thinking for a while, he put on airs and said, "Then let them make you a few nice outfits too."
"Yeah."
Zheng Shu looked delighted, but didn't mention that she had already given instructions to the dyeing workshop to make eight sets of clothes from the inside out.
Xie Chengzhi dressed, stood in front of the bronze mirror, looked at his own presentable appearance, dusted off his arms and stretched his legs, and then straightened his back and walked out of the courtyard.
When the Xie family steward met him at Yujintang, he stepped forward carrying a mahogany tray.
"Second Master, the First Master instructed yesterday to hand these things over to you."
Xie Chengzhi looked down and exclaimed.
"He's quick on the uptake, getting ready so early."
As Xie Chengzhi picked up the heavy brass keychain, he felt a surge of excitement.
Xie San Niang's private seal was small, and the Xie family's business seal was no bigger than the palm of his hand, yet it weighed so heavily that his heart trembled.
For so many years, he had waited, dreaming of commanding the entire Xie family. And today, his wish has finally come true.
Xie Chengzhi took the items, with the key chain in one hand and Xie San Niang's private seal in the other, and walked around in circles twice with a swaying gait.
The butler watched, his eyes slightly lowered, without uttering a word.
"Oh, right, prepare a sedan chair for the master."
"Second Master wants to go..."
"Go to the dyeing workshop."
The butler looked up at the sky: "So early?"
Xie Chengzhi said, "Of course."
Since he couldn't sleep anyway, he decided to go to the dyeing and weaving workshop to let everyone know who the "eldest son" of the Xie family was now.
Thinking this, Xie Chengzhi said again, "Go and prepare some snacks for me."
"What does the master want, and how much?"
Xie Chengzhi said impatiently, "Just prepare five, six, seven or eight kinds, and two catties of each. Stop with all this nonsense."
After saying that, he turned and walked out, but turned back halfway and said, "Prepare it and put it on my carriage. Hurry up."
The old steward, who had served Xie San Niang his whole life, shook his head helplessly as he watched Xie San Niang's retreating figure.
When he turned to instruct his granddaughter, he said, "Aqing, Grandpa will take you back to the countryside in a few days."
The little girl nodded blankly.
She came to work at the Xie family as soon as she came of age, and it had only been half a year since she arrived. But hearing her grandfather say that, she knew there must be a deeper meaning behind it. The little girl didn't ask any more questions and quickly ran to the kitchen.
Xie Chengzhi waited and cursed in the carriage until it was completely light before the snacks were prepared.
"Go to the dyeing workshop."
The Xie family's textile and dyeing workshop was not far from the Xie family's residence. When Xie Chengzhi arrived, the craftsmen had just started their work.
The Xie family's textile and dyeing workshop was very famous in Suzhou Prefecture. Every craftsman had been poached with a lot of money, and some had even been lured away, but most of those who stayed had spent most of their lives with the Xie family.
Because Xie San Niang trusted them, their treatment was naturally among the best in Suzhou Prefecture.
So when Xie Chengzhi arrived at the textile and dyeing garden and saw that all the artisans in the courtyard were wearing white linen belts, he couldn't help but look down at his own brand-new straight robe.
He then put it out of his mind.
"Hey, Second Master, what brings you here?"
When Manager Wu saw Xie Chengzhi, he bowed and scraped as he approached. Upon seeing the large bunch of keys hanging from Xie's waist, he exclaimed "Oh dear!" several times.
Seeing this, Xie Chengzhi patted his waist and said, "Go and call all the craftsmen in the garden over. Whether they are weavers, embroiderers, or dyers, call them all. I have something to announce."
"That must be a big deal."
Manager Wu dropped his joking demeanor and hurriedly said to a craftsman beside him, "Go, Second Master has something to say."
After saying that, Manager Wu had a chair brought over and invited Xie Chengzhi to sit down.
Xie Chengzhi sat under the eaves, watching the busy figures of everyone in the garden, and couldn't help but purse his lips.
"Second Master, everyone is here. There are sixty-four people at the dye shop, but two masters are not here today; they are on leave."
"There are ninety-two people in the weaving workshop. Manager Cui isn't here, and the other fourteen master craftsmen are in the garden making new brocade looms. A while ago, those were burned down..."
Xie Chengzhi clicked his tongue: "Put that aside for now. What could be more important than me?"
Upon hearing this, Manager Wu's face twitched. After thinking for a moment, he had several experienced craftsmen invited over as well.
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