Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 159 Civil strife
What Xie Chonghai said naturally worried Old Master Xie.

This is the foundation of the Xie family.

With money in hand, there is room for maneuver in many things. Once the family business is lost, not only will it be impossible to rescue Xie Chongjun and his son, but the entire Xie clan will also lose their livelihood.

"Then what should we do?" said Old Master Xie. "Try to arrange something so that we can go see your elder brother and ask him what he's up to."

Xie Chonghai said, "Because we caught a spy from the Western Xia at my mine, so... no one is allowed to see the detained person before the case is concluded."

“My son spent a lot of money, and my sister-in-law went to the government office every day to wait, hoping to say a few words to my brother, but she was never able to do so.”

At this point, Xie Chonghai's eyes flickered: "Moreover, even if we do see our elder brother, I'm afraid we won't get any information out of him."

Xie Chongjun couldn't possibly tell the truth, especially now.

"What?" Old Master Xie's eyes widened. "Would we harm him?"

Xie Chonghai stammered, "I used to think it wouldn't happen, but now..."

Old Master Xie fell silent immediately. If he had no ulterior motives, he wouldn't have done those things in secret.

“That woman has corrupted them all,” Old Master Xie said, referring to Xie Qi’s birth mother, Madam Miao. “The entire Xie clan has been handed over to him, what more could he possibly want?”

Xie Chonghai said in a low voice, "Perhaps there's something we didn't do well."

Of Old Master Xie's sons, Xie Chongjun manages the clan affairs, while Xie Chonghai and Xie Chongjiang help manage the clan's businesses. Xie Chongjiang, being gentle by nature, simply follows his two older brothers' instructions. Before the Lunar New Year, he led a group of people to deliver gifts and only returned to Daming Prefecture yesterday.

Xie Chonghai led his clansmen to transport porcelain and went out to negotiate business with his elder brother. He was also on the sidelines welcoming and seeing off guests and was rarely asked for his opinion.

That's why Xie Chongjun didn't inform anyone when he spent 6,000 strings of cash to buy the land.

Now that Xie Chongjun is in prison, the burden of the Xie family has fallen on Xie Chonghai's shoulders.

Xie Chonghai then felt the pressure and... the feeling of holding power.

“In any case, it’s not that scoundrel’s place to interfere in clan affairs,” said Old Master Xie. “He can only give orders if I’m dead.”

Xie Chonghai whispered, "Father, don't worry. Maybe it's not as serious as we think."

These words confirmed the things Xie Chongjun and Xie Zishao had done in private.

Old Master Xie frowned: "Go investigate and see how many people in the porcelain kiln are secretly obeying that scoundrel."

Since Xie Chongjun has made such arrangements, he will also have people planted in the porcelain kiln. The important thing now is to find those people in order to prevent Xie Zishao from undermining them.

Xie Chonghai hesitated for a moment: "Well... since it hasn't been done through my elder brother... I think we should wait for my elder brother to come back, and then Father can discuss it with him."

"I'm not dead yet!" Old Master Xie's eyes widened. "I gave him the reins of the Xie clan, not the power to hand it over to that rebellious son."

“If this matter is not handled properly, it could shake the foundation of the Xie family.”

After saying this, Old Master Xie said, "You also know that there are still people in the porcelain kiln who think of that slut Miao, who is truly betraying her own people and helping her unfilial son. What will be the result?"

"He has already pushed the Xie family to the brink of disaster. Instead of reaching out to save them, you're thinking of relying on him?"

"Don't worry, when your older brother comes out, I will talk to him. I don't believe he would rather have that unfilial son than his father."

Xie Chonghai finally stopped hesitating and hurriedly lowered his head: "Son understands."

Old Master Xie waved his hand: "Go and do it. Punish as many people as you want, no need to inform me. I'll take care of things within the clan." Between Xie Zishao and Chonghai, he would choose to believe Chonghai even with his eyes closed.

The Xie family should not have suffered such a calamity; otherwise, if they had discovered it any later, it would have been truly irreversible.

Xie Chonghai then discussed with Old Master Xie how to proceed. They decided to thoroughly investigate all the stewards and craftsmen Xie Chongjun trusted most; finding even one of them would prove their direction was correct.

A moment later, Xie Chonghai came out of Old Master Xie's room. Tian, ​​who had left earlier, was waiting outside the courtyard. When she saw her husband, she hurried forward.

"Well? Is Father willing to let Master interfere in clan affairs?"

Xie Chonghai nodded, a smile appearing on his lips. Over the years, he had been exceptionally obedient to his elder brother, but secretly he had long since grown tired of that kind of life.

His elder brother was neither as temperamental nor as intelligent as him, yet he was able to sit in the main seat and control everything.

No matter how well he does, he will never have the chance to be served at the table.

The elder brother tolerated it; he couldn't possibly have to bow and scrape to a nephew who was just an illegitimate son.

Fortunately, although he had no say in the matter over the years, he knew who his elder brother trusted most, so he started investigating those people.

……

When Master Xie returned to his room, he knew that his outburst today would surely frighten Old Master Xie and Xie Chonghai, who would then begin to investigate people and accounts.

Xie Chongjun's men are shady characters, so how could they not panic when they suddenly find out that Xie Chonghai is investigating?
He made the entire Xie family feel uneasy.

Seventh Master Xie laughed. Before anyone else had even made a move, the Xie family itself was already gripped by fear.

Are you worried that something won't go wrong?

Master Xie took a deep breath and suddenly felt a sense of relief in his chest.

After a moment, his gaze became even more determined.

He had to make the Xie family suffer the same things his mother went through, otherwise... he wouldn't be worthy of being a son.

He used to be all alone, but now... he has his tenth sister to help him. With his tenth sister's abilities, what can't she accomplish?
He hasn't gone out these past few days, but when he does, things will start to change drastically in the Xie family.

……

At Prefect Liu's residence.

Liu Erniang and Jia Siniang were talking together when the steward came over and reported, "The Xie family has sent someone to deliver a message that the first kiln of clay will be fired in two days."

Jia Si Niang looked surprised: "So fast?"

The clay stove that suddenly became popular in Daming Prefecture was so easily seized by the Liu family, and only the second aunt in the Liu family was involved in this matter.

Jia Si Niang was filled with envy. In Daming Prefecture, no one could rival the Liu family. Er Niang had only taken a fancy to a clay stove, and now she had to put up with the deal.

"Do we have to wait another two days?" Liu Erniang said with dissatisfaction. "We can't really do anything significant anyway."

The stewardess said, "Buying a kiln and firing the pottery will take some effort."

“Yes,” said Jia Si Niang, “the clay stove has to be made.”

Liu Erniang, however, disagreed: "Why doesn't he just get his hands on the Yang family's porcelain kiln first? He's hopeless." With the official documents from the court, she could easily find a way to leave the Yang family and Xie Yuyan with nowhere to turn. Instead, she chose an honest but clumsy method and dutifully started making clay kilns.

Therefore, a small merchant will always be a small merchant.

She had seen her father say a single sentence that made someone abandon all their family wealth, resign from their official post, and leave Daming Prefecture.

Not only that, the man also had to kneel down and kowtow to his father.

In comparison, her methods are simply inadequate.

And that Madam Xie... she just lost like that, it's really pointless.