Finally, the day of the New Year's Eve banquet arrived.
On the surface, the entire Xie Mansion was filled with the festive atmosphere of the approaching New Year. In reality, however, it was fraught with intrigue beneath the surface.
Sure enough, as soon as the family banquet began and before the old Master Xie could say a word, Xie Jing took the lead in raising his cup and said, "It's been a long time since the mansion has been this lively. Let's have a toast together."
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu didn't even lift his eyelids. He just played with his fingers, a sneer curling up on his lips.
Seeing this, Xie Jing's smile instantly froze on his face. Then he put down his wine cup, frowned, and said coldly, "Fourth brother, what do you mean?"
He thought to himself, did this guy still think he was the Fourth Master of the Xie family? How dare he publicly disgrace him!
"Father hasn't spoken yet. What's the rush?" Xie Jingchu said contemptuously.
In previous family banquets, it was always the old Master Xie who spoke first. Now, although Xie Jing was the person in power in the Xie family, he wasn't the head of the family. He was getting a bit too carried away!
Xie Jing smiled and said, "Father is getting old. It's better for me to handle some things on his behalf."
As soon as he said this, the old Master Xie's face instantly turned ugly. He coughed lightly twice and said in a deep voice, "I'm not dead yet! Do you want to take my place already?"
"Son wouldn't dare!" Xie Jing replied with a smile. Then, his eyes shifted, and he continued, "However, it's time for Father to step down and make way for the worthy."
"What did you say?!" the old Master Xie shouted angrily. A surge of anger welled up in his chest.
Xie Jingchu looked up at Xie Jing. He thought that such a rebellious remark must have been instigated by Xie Xiu.
Xie Jing continued, "Father has taught us since childhood that the capable should take the position. So, why can't I be the head of the Xie family?"
After saying that, Xie Jing spread out his arms, looking full of confidence.
The old Master Xie sneered after hearing this. "Don't you have any idea of your own capabilities? You still dare to dream of becoming the head of the Xie family. It's really a joke."
He thought to himself that even the Fourth son wouldn't say such boastful words. How could this guy be so bold?
Xie Jing wasn't in a hurry or angry. "Well, Father, don't be so hasty with your words. Take a look at this first."
After saying that, Xie Jing ordered someone to present the thing. The old Master Xie took it and looked at it carefully. His expression changed from shock to surprise.
"What's going on?" the old Master Xie was puzzled.
"Just as you can see," Xie Jing paused and raised his head. "Now, the Xie family's salt business has become the imperial salt merchant." His face was full of pride.
The old Master Xie was stunned for a moment. Countless emotions flashed through his eyes, but there was no trace of joy.
The old Master Xie trembled as he raised the document in his hand and asked coldly, "How did you get this?"
"Of course, it's thanks to my careful planning," Xie Jing said even more proudly.
The salt business was a highly profitable one. Now that the Xie family's salt business had become an imperial merchant, there would be boundless wealth in the future. Now, he wanted to see if the old master would still look down on him!
Hearing this, the old Master Xie's body went limp as if he had lost all his strength. He knew his son too well. For the salt business to become an imperial merchant, he must have resorted to some underhanded means. The Xie family was in danger!
The old Master Xie looked at Xie Jing with hatred in his eyes. But Xie Jing thought that the old master was just reluctant to give up the position of the head of the Xie family to him, so he looked even more proud.
"Just because you've become an imperial merchant, you're getting carried away?" Xie Jingchu said slowly, his eyes full of provocation.
"What do you mean?" Xie Jing took a deep breath and continued, "It's still better than you sticking to a broken tea mountain!"
Before Xie Jingchu could say anything, Xie Jing immediately changed his expression to one of pride and continued, "Oh, right. I almost forgot to tell you that starting from tomorrow, all the workers on your tea mountain will go to work in the salt business."
"On what grounds?" Xie Jingchu's eyes instantly turned fierce.
"Just because the salt business is now an imperial merchant. What can a broken tea mountain offer in comparison?" Xie Jing sneered.
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu suddenly stood up and looked at Xie Jing with hatred. He roared, "The tea mountain is my private property!"
Xie Jing smiled. "But all your workers belong to the Xie family."
"You!" Xie Jingchu pointed at Xie Jing, wishing he could crush him! Then, he retracted his finger and sneered contemptuously. "It doesn't matter. In such a big Qinzhou City, do you think I can't find anyone to help me work?"
Hearing this, Xie Jing slowly stood up, looking calm and composed. "Then let's have a competition. Let's see if you can offer more silver than me. Let's see if anyone will help you work."
So what if the tea mountain was up and running? Without the workers, he wanted to see if Xie Jingchu could still make the tea mountain profitable.
Xie Jingchu clenched his fists tightly. His sharp eyes were full of anger. If Qin Yuan hadn't stopped him quickly, those clenched fists would have surely landed on Xie Jing's face.
Seeing this, Ruan Jiu narrowed her eyes slightly. She thought to herself that something was wrong. A Jing wasn't such an impulsive person. Moreover, he had been hiding his capabilities before. Even when others tried to take advantage of his misfortune, he never showed his emotions. Could it be...
Thinking of this, Ruan Jiu immediately stood up and scolded Xie Jing, "Your methods are too despicable!"
Seeing Ruan Jiu standing up to speak for Xie Jingchu, Xie Jing snorted. "Since you say so, then all the workers in the silk shop will also go to the salt business tomorrow."
"You've gone too far!" Ruan Jiu shouted angrily.
"Hahaha," Xie Jing laughed a few times and then said, "I'm just bullying you. What can you do about it?"
Xie Jing stopped laughing and then said to Xie Jingchu, "If you don't want to be bullied, then leave the Xie Mansion! And you, Ruan Jiu, you've been relying on the title of the cousin in the Xie family for so many years. If you could be more self - reliant and leave the mansion on your own, I might even praise you for having backbone."
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu's eyes turned cold and his face became even more gloomy.
"A Jiu, let's go!" his deep voice was suppressed with anger.
As soon as the words fell, Xie Jingchu immediately led Ruan Jiu away.
The old Master Xie watched as the wonderful New Year's Eve family banquet turned into such a mess. A sense of desolation welled up in his heart.
Had he done something wrong? Why had the Xie family reached the point where brothers were at odds with each other!
Looking at the backs of Xie Jingchu and Ruan Jiu leaving, the old Master Xie was naturally reluctant, but he didn't plan to say anything to keep them. Now that Xie Jing had caused a great disaster, it was better for Xie Jingchu and Ruan Jiu to leave.
Thinking of this, a surge of blood rushed up in the old Master Xie's chest. He couldn't help covering his mouth and coughing heavily. To his surprise, his palm was stained with a touch of bright red.
"Forget it," the old Master Xie looked exhausted, as if he had aged several years in an instant. "If you want to take the position of the head of the Xie family, then take it."
After saying that, Steward Li immediately supported the old Master Xie back to his courtyard.
Xie Jing finally got what he wanted!
At this moment, Xie Xiu, who had been watching the show from the side, stood up and bowed to Xie Jing.
"Congratulations, big brother. You've removed the thorn in your side and taken the position of the head of the family!"
Hearing this, Xie Jing immediately stepped forward and lifted Xie Xiu's arm. "I have to thank you for your idea."
If it weren't for Xie Xiu's suggestion to make things difficult for Xie Jingchu at the banquet and force him out of the Xie Mansion, he didn't know when he would be able to become the head of the Xie family. What made him even more delighted was that the annoying Ruan Jiu had also left.
Now, everything in the Xie family was in his hands, and he had the final say. It really seemed that the heavens were helping those who were destined to succeed!