"You! You!" Xie Jing was enraged by Ruan Jiu's words. He almost failed to catch his breath.
"What about 'you'? Even though my status may be humble, I've at least brought considerable benefits to the Xie family. But what about you? Over the years, all you've done is make the Xie family clean up your mess. What else can you do? Which of the businesses you've handled hasn't incurred losses? I think you should change your name from 'Xie Jing' to 'Xie Pei' (Xie the Loser)!"
"Ruan Jiu!" Xie Jing roared angrily. "How dare you talk to me like this! I'm your elder!"
Ruan Jiu folded her arms across her chest and said mockingly, "Just now you said I was a dog of the Xie family. How come you're my elder now? Could it be that you're an old dog?" After saying that, she covered her mouth, looking sarcastic.
"You must go to the ancestral shrine immediately and receive family punishment!" Xie Jing was fuming with rage. He was determined to beat Ruan Jiu with a stick to vent his anger.
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu couldn't help laughing. "Uncle, after sitting in the position of the family's decision - maker for a few days, do you think you're the head of the Xie family? How about we go and talk it over with Grandfather and see if I really deserve the family punishment!"
"Sharp - tongued! Full of empty talk! Nonsense!" Xie Jing was so angry that he was speechless and couldn't find better words to refute.
Ruan Jiu had always been submissive and timid in the Xie family for ten years, not even daring to breathe loudly. But today she dared to challenge him! What was even more infuriating was that he couldn't out - argue her.
Provoked by Ruan Jiu like this, he even forgot his purpose for today. He took a deep breath and said, "Just tell me whether you'll hand over the silk shop or not!"
"It's not impossible for me to hand it over." Ruan Jiu raised her eyebrows.
Hearing Ruan Jiu's concession, Xie Jing's eyebrows relaxed a bit.
Ruan Jiu continued, "After all, it was given to me by Grandfather. If I'm going to hand it over, he has to agree first."
"You!" Xie Jing frowned. This girl clearly knew that he didn't dare to take this matter to the old man. So she said this on purpose. However, he had plenty of ways to deal with her.
"I may not be able to control the silk shop, but I can surely control the cloth - making workshops. If you insist on not handing over the silk shop, from now on, all the cloth - making workshops of the Xie family will no longer provide you with any materials." After saying that, a flash of smugness passed through Xie Jing's eyes. Who said he wasn't the decision - maker of the Xie family now?
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu cursed silently in her heart. What a despicable villain! Only a fool like Xie Jing could come up with such a strategy that would harm the enemy but also hurt oneself!
"Aren't you afraid that Grandfather will find out?"
Xie Jing smiled. "The old man has just recovered a bit. Are you sure you want to make him worry about these things?"
Ruan Jiu bit her lips. The old man really couldn't bear any more stress. She snorted coldly. "Are you threatening me?"
Xie Jing shook his head. "This isn't a threat. It's a deal. As long as you obediently hand over the silk shop, I guarantee the old man will be healthy."
Ruan Jiu squinted her eyes and thought to herself, Is his brain really malfunctioning? Then, looking at Xie Jing with disgust, she said, "What you mean is that if I don't hand over the silk shop, Grandfather won't be healthy? What, do you want to kill your father? Do you have the guts?"
Ruan Jiu's words left Xie Jing speechless. He coughed awkwardly twice. He really hadn't thought it through before speaking those words. That was the ancestor of the Xie family. How could he dare to do anything to the old man!
Ruan Jiu continued, "Let's be frank. I definitely won't hand over the silk shop. Even if you want to use some despicable means, I'll take them all. Let's just compete on our own merits. Oh, sorry, I forgot. Uncle Xie has everything but ability."
After saying that, Ruan Jiu didn't give Xie Jing a chance to speak. She immediately turned around and left.
As soon as she stepped out of the main hall, Ruan Jiu let out a long breath. It felt so good! As the saying goes, when it came to arguing, she, Ruan Jiu, was never afraid of anyone.
However, after the indignation in her heart gradually subsided, she began to feel anxious.
When she returned to her room, she drooped her head and lay on the table. She had said what she wanted to say, scolded the person she wanted to scold, and torn off the mask of courtesy. What should she do in the future?!
Just then, a familiar voice sounded. "I just returned to the mansion and heard about someone's heroic deeds. That eloquence is truly unparalleled in the world."
Hearing the voice, Ruan Jiu looked up and saw Xie Jingchu looking at her playfully. She immediately drooped her head again and said, "Oh, stop teasing me."
Xie Jingchu smiled, walked over and sat down beside Ruan Jiu, and asked, "Why did you have a conflict with him today?" Although he was happy to see Ruan Jiu like this, it didn't match her usual personality.
So, Ruan Jiu described what had happened today in detail.
"He dared to scold you?" After hearing this, the smile on Xie Jingchu's face disappeared instantly. A cold chill emerged from his deep eyes.
"I scolded him back." Ruan Jiu raised her head proudly and then continued, "Oh, this isn't important."
"How can this not be important?" Xie Jingchu complained. He was always reluctant to say a harsh word to her. How dare Xie Jing scold her! At this moment, he wished he could tear Xie Jing apart!
Ruan Jiu said seriously, "Think about it. Why did Uncle suddenly target me for no reason?"
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu squinted his eyes. Indeed, now that Xie Jing had already obtained what he wanted most, there was no need for him to compete with Ruan Jiu for the silk shop.
Ruan Jiu continued, "I think he's afraid that you'll form a relationship with the prefect's mansion. So he wants to take control of the silk shop to secure his position as the decision - maker of the Xie family. However, with his brain, he shouldn't be able to come up with this idea."
"You mean?"
Ruan Jiu nodded. "I suspect it was Uncle Third who came up with this plan." She had already suspected Xie Xiu since the incident at the Mid - Autumn family banquet.
Xie Jingchu frowned and carefully recalled what had happened recently in his mind. "Xie Xiu isn't that kind - hearted. He probably wants to make Xie Jing make things difficult for you to provoke me."
Ruan Jiu was shocked. "Could it be that he knows about our relationship?"
Xie Jingchu nodded. He had started to suspect since the Mid - Autumn family banquet. Otherwise, why was it just when the old man was about to announce that he would be the decision - maker of the Xie family that the news that he wasn't a member of the Xie family was exposed? However, Xie Xiu probably didn't expect that the old man would actually support Xie Jing in that position. It was a free ride for Xie Jing.
Xie Xiu's actions were undoubtedly to make him and Xie Jing fight like a snipe and a clam. When they fought each other to a pulp and annoyed the old man, Xie Xiu could reap the benefits as a fisherman.
"So what should we do now?" Ruan Jiu asked.
Xie Jingchu's expression was cold, and a faint anger surged deep in his eyes, like a layer of terrifying frost. I had no intention of competing with you, but you've touched my reverse scale again and again. Then, I'll contest the position of the decision - maker of the Xie family with you.