Fourth Uncle spoke with conviction, "Niece Xiao Yuruo, Tao Yu, Lord Tao is the Suzhou Weaving Master and is in charge of the Jiangsu Province's textile industry. My Xiao Family has been running the cloth shop for many years and is closely related to the Suzhou Weaving Master. Isn't it good that we have been living in harmony for so many years? The Xiao Family still relies on Lord Tao to take care of their business. How can we go against them? But now, because of this matter, not only have we offended Prince Tao, we have also offended Lord Tao. As long as Lord Tao says a word, our survival will be a problem. This is very disadvantageous to the Xiao Family. "
Survival? If it weren't for Lin San, we would have been swallowed by the Tao Family long ago. How could we even talk about survival? Xiao Yuruo snorted and bit her lip, asking, "Then, according to Fourth Uncle, how should we deal with this matter?"
Fourth Uncle said, "Niece, I have lived for many years longer than you and have seen many things. In my humble opinion, it is better to return the Tao Family's cloth shop to the Tao Family to show our Xiao Family's sincerity and hope that both sides can mend our relationship. "
Sure enough, it was a humble opinion. According to this old man, he was probably eager for Lady Xiao and the Tao Family to unite by marriage as a sign of "mend our relationship." Lin Wanrong despised this bullshit distant relative of the Xiao Family. It was a typical appeasement policy, but he still said it in such a dignified way.
Grand Mistress suppressed her anger and said, "Fourth Uncle, since the Tao Family started running the cloth shop, we have had more than one or two conflicts with them. Fourth Uncle said that we should mend our relationship with the Tao Family, but I want to ask you in reply. With the Tao Family's actions, when did they ever mend our relationship? Last time, they forced my Xiao Family to ally with them. This time in Hangzhou, they used their status as the head of the Jinling Chamber of Commerce to collude with the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce to make things difficult for my Xiao Family. If it wasn't for Lin San's help, I'm afraid I would've … "
The Grand Mistress clenched her teeth and stopped talking. Lin Wanrong knew what she meant. These Xiao Family members only knew how to wait for money. How could they understand the hardships of a weak woman like the Grand Mistress who struggled outside? If I didn't have some skills this time, the Xiao Family would have been defeated by Tao Dongcheng.
Fourth Uncle was about to say something when Lin Wanrong suddenly stood up and said with a smile, "May I know this steward's surname?"
Fourth Uncle Steward said proudly, "My Xiao Family is ranked fourth in the family tree. You have to call me Fourth Master."
"So your surname is Xiao. After listening to this old master talk for a long time, I thought your surname was Tao. "Lin Wanrong chuckled.
Fourth Master Xiao's expression changed. He said angrily, "How dare you! This is not a place for you to be presumptuous."
Seeing that Lin San stood up for her, the Grand Mistress looked at him gratefully. She said to Fourth Uncle stiffly, "Fourth Uncle's words are wrong. Allowing Lin San to enter the meeting hall was my mother's and my decision. Just now, all the stewards have already agreed. Now that his status is equal to yours, why can't he speak here? "
That steward rolled his eyes. He couldn't find any words to refute. He knew Lin Wanrong. He glared at him angrily but didn't say anything.
Lin Wanrong had never been afraid of anyone when it came to arguing. He smiled coldly and said, "This Fourth Master Xiao just said that he wanted to mend his relationship with the Tao Family and think for the Tao Family's sake. I thought that Fourth Master Xiao was a member of the Tao Family. I didn't expect you to be a member of our Xiao Family. A member of the Xiao Family eats the Xiao Family's food and drinks the Xiao Family's food. Instead of thinking about how to do his best for the Xiao Family, he thinks about protecting others all day long. He would rather harm the interests of the Xiao Family and curry favor with others. It's really surprising. "
Fourth Master Xiao said angrily, "I'm thinking for the Xiao Family's foundation. I don't want to see the ancestral foundation destroyed in your hands."
Damn you! You're a distant relative of the Xiao Family. You're even found in the genealogy. You're completely unrelated to the Xiao Family's ancestral foundation. You're really afraid of coveting the Xiao Family's property. Lin Wanrong's eyes were vicious. This Fourth Master Xiao had jumped out to speak for the Tao Family several times. Last time, he almost implicated Yushuang and himself to be beaten. This time, others were quiet, but he jumped out again. Was he really upright and outspoken? Bullsh * t! Looking at his triangular eyes, I know he's not a good guy. He either received benefits from the Tao Family or wanted to rob the Xiao Family's property. He can't escape.
"Thinking for the Xiao Family's foundation? Fourth Old Master, the Madam is the Old Master's daughter-in-law, and the First Miss and Second Miss are the Old Master's biological granddaughters. You are thinking of the Xiao Family, but could it be that they are deliberately making things difficult for the Xiao Family? Returning the shop to show that they've repaired it? These two sentences were very easy to say, but they made Old Master Xiao feel ashamed. The Tao Family was ambitious and made things difficult for the Xiao Family in every way. Last time, they forced the Xiao Family to form an alliance. This time, they went to Hangzhou even more. How the Tao Family united with Zhejiang businessmen and how they bullied the Xiao Family was seen by the whole Jinling Chamber of Commerce. Everyone complained for the Xiao Family. Haven't you heard of it, Fourth Master? Everyone knows that the Tao Family wants to exterminate the Xiao Family. But there are people who speak for the Tao Family again and again. Their actions are strange and their intentions are hard to predict. Could it be that they want to gain some benefits from this? "Lin Wanrong looked at Fourth Master Xiao and said in a powerful voice.
These days, the business world of Jinling had been talking about the Hangzhou Rain House. The Xiao Family had resisted the joint oppression of the leading Chambers of Commerce in Jinling and Hangzhou by themselves. Although the businessmen didn't say anything, they deeply admired the Xiao Family's resistance. They also welcomed the Xiao Family's return to being the leading Chamber of Commerce in Jinling. Everyone present was a businessman. Naturally, they had heard a lot about these things. Everything Lin San said was reasonable. But Fourth Master Xiao had repeatedly spoken for the Tao Family, which made people suspicious.
"You're talking nonsense. When did I receive any benefits?" Fourth Master Xiao, a distant relative, suddenly jumped up. A sinister light flashed in his eyes. He said loudly, "Xiao Yuruo is an orphan and widowed mother. It's hard to avoid people taking advantage of her. You're just a lowly servant. How could you enter the house? If you didn't confuse them, then what did you do?"
"How dare you!" Before Grand Mistress could open her mouth, Lady Xiao, who hadn't spoken for a long time, slammed the table and stood up.
Lady Xiao's face was as cold as frost. Her eyes swept across the hall. Everyone in the hall kept quiet out of fear. Fourth Master Xiao stole a glance at her and lowered his head. He didn't dare to speak.
Lady Xiao said coldly, "My Xiao Family is an orphan and a widowed mother. We wholeheartedly run our business and never cause trouble. But if anyone thinks that we're afraid of him, then they're wrong. Although I'm a woman, I've been to the imperial court in the past. I've met the Six Ministries and paid my respects to the Emperor. When have I ever been afraid of anyone? Even if my Xiao Clan is full of women, that's not something that anyone can make up. Today, in the meeting hall, in front of the Xiao Family's ancestors, someone dared to bully my Xiao Family. I won't let him off lightly. "
As soon as Lady Xiao spoke, the old and young members of the Xiao Family didn't dare to make a sound. Although Grand Mistress had some imposing manner, she was still young and her prestige couldn't be compared to her mother's. Lady Xiao's face was as calm as water. Her eyes scanned the people in the hall. No one dared to look her in the eye. From this, it could be seen how great her prestige was.
Lin Wanrong thought to himself, "This Lady Xiao really has some prestige." From what she said, she had been to the imperial court in the capital. He didn't know if it was true or not. Judging from her age, she couldn't have been more than twenty years old when she was in the capital. How could she have paid her respects to the imperial court? This Miss Guo was not simple at all.
Lin Wanrong saw that no one dared to speak. He couldn't help but laugh in his heart. This was a society where men were superior to women. But this group of men didn't even dare to raise their heads after hearing a few words from the Grand Mistress and her daughter. It was really a little boring.
Among the dozens of people, only Lin Wanrong looked happy and content. He had seen many people, from the first-ranked officials of the imperial court to the senior officials of the local government. He really hadn't been afraid of anyone.
Lady Xiao was sizing up others, but Lin Wanrong was sizing her up. This Lady Xiao was thirty-seven or eight years old, but her skin was sparkling and translucent. Her cheeks were flushed and her figure was graceful and charming. She looked like a young woman who was not even thirty years old. At this moment, under the influence of anger, her willowy eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and breasts trembled. She was even more graceful and beautiful. Her temperament was very elegant.
Lady Xiao's gaze was cold as she looked around. When she looked at Lin Wanrong, her gaze was much gentler. There was a smile on her face and she nodded slightly to show her approval.
Lady Xiao snorted and said, "Today, in the meeting hall, in front of the ancestors of the Xiao Family, someone dared to speak nonsense and humiliate my mother and daughter. He humiliated my Xiao Family. I will not forgive him."
As soon as Lady Xiao said this, everyone's gaze fell on the distant fourth uncle. That day when Second Miss barged into the meeting hall, Lady Xiao even wanted to beat her own daughter, let alone a distant uncle or brother.
"Xiao Siwei, your father and I are from the same clan. I invited you to join the Xiao Family's affairs according to the clan records. I hired you as the manager because I hoped that you would do your best for the Xiao Family on account of the fact that we are from the same clan. However, you did not think about improving yourself. You committed all sorts of misdeeds and even secretly accepted money from others. You used inferior cloth to disguise it as high-quality silk, ruining the reputation of my Xiao Clan. I forgave you several times for the sake of your father, hoping that you would repent. However, your actions have disappointed me. Today, you humiliated my mother and daughter, as well as the ancestors of the Xiao Family. If I don't punish you, the heavens will not forgive me. Today, I will remove you from your position as the manager and punish you with one hundred strokes of the cane. What else do you have to say? "Lady Xiao looked at the fourth uncle and said sternly.
The fourth uncle of the Xiao Family turned pale and said loudly, "You dare? I am a relative of the Xiao Family. No one can treat me like this. If you don't listen to me, you will suffer. That Official Tao has arrived in Jinling today. Cooperating with him is the right path. Otherwise, only death awaits … "
"Drag him out and punish him with one hundred strokes of the cane. Expel him from the family." Lady Xiao said angrily.
A few burly servants rushed in and pulled Fourth Uncle out. Not long after, a series of blood-curdling screams resounded.
So he really was a traitor. Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly. This fellow had already committed many evil deeds. It was lucky that Lady Xiao could tolerate him. If it were me, I would have already kicked him out.
Lady Xiao's face turned serious. She said to the people in the hall, "The Xiao Family has already been forced to this point. How can we retreat? Managers, you only need to think of a way to help Xiao Yuruo take over the Tao Family's cloth shop. You don't need to worry about anything else. "
She looked at Lin Wanrong and a gratified smile appeared on her face. Her red lips opened slightly and she said in a low voice, "Lin San, come with me."
When the two of them entered the side room, Lady Xiao looked at him and said with a smile, "Lin San, what do you think of Yushuang?"
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