Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 170 Take action
After saying that, Zhao immediately waved her hand: "I was just talking nonsense. After all, we are of the Xie family bloodline, so naturally we can't..."

Xie Chongjun registered Xie Qi under his stepmother Zhao's name. Logically, Xie Qi should be the legitimate son of the Xie family, but these things are not up to the Xie family to decide.

Therefore, he could immediately revert to being a son of a concubine.

If a son born out of wedlock makes a mistake and is expelled from the family, it doesn't do much damage to the family's reputation.

Old Master Xie, who had been silent, raised his head upon hearing this.

“That’s right,” said Old Master Xie. “How much trouble has that wretched child caused over the years? We can take this opportunity to deal with him all at once.”

Xie Chonghai's expression was solemn, with a hint of reluctance in his eyes: "After all, they are of the Xie family bloodline."

"So what?" said Old Master Xie. "Are we going to let the entire Xie family fall into his hands?"

Xie Chonghai remained silent.

Zhao also became anxious.

Old Master Xie scolded Xie Chonghai: "You're just not ruthless enough."

Xie Chonghai said, "Let's wait and see..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao interrupted him: "How's the investigation at the porcelain kiln going? Is it related to Shao-ge'er?"

Speaking of this, Xie Chonghai sighed: "We just checked last year's accounts and found a lot of problems. If those people were all working for Shao Ge'er, Shao Ge'er would have at least several thousand strings of cash."

"How much?" Old Master Xie's eyes widened.

“I’m just speculating,” Xie Chonghai said. “We’ll have to investigate further to find out.”

Zhao's heart turned to ice. She didn't even have that much money, yet Xie Chongjun had given it to his illegitimate son. A while ago, Xie Chongjun had pretended to be worried because he had lost six thousand strings of cash. She had even considered taking out her dowry...

Where would you actually need to use it?

Xie Chongjun simply couldn't bear to take money from Xie Qi.

Now, Zhao even suspects that Xie Chongjun was not swindled out of the money by Xie Yuyan, but rather that he used this opportunity to give it to his illegitimate son.

Zhao's eyes were dark-rimmed. She couldn't sleep last night, her eyes wide open. Just thinking about how Xie Chongjun had lied to her all these years made her feel terrible.

My heart felt like it was about to break.

In the end, she was still deceived.

She had had enough of this, which is why she just mentioned using this incident to get rid of Xie Qi as well.

Old Master Xie said, "Those traitors from the porcelain kiln, get them all out of here."

Xie Chonghai's eyes flickered: "Those are all old managers and craftsmen."

“No matter who he is,” said Old Master Xie, “find out all the people involved, arrange for replacements in advance, and since you’re going to take action, wipe them all out in one go.”

As for how to make Xie Qi take responsibility for his crimes...

"Next time the kiln is opened, let that wretched boy go over there, and it would be best if he caused trouble with the Yang family," Old Master Xie said, looking at Xie Chonghai. "You can arrange what to do next."

Xie Chonghai was still somewhat hesitant, but under the repeated requests of Old Master Xie, he had no choice but to nod.

With these matters settled, both Old Master Xie and Madam Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.

After coming out of Old Master Xie's room, Zhao was stopped by Xie Chonghai.

“Sister-in-law,” Xie Chonghai said, “this is what I’m thinking… Shao’er only needs a lesson, after all, he’s my elder brother’s flesh and blood, I still can’t bear to do it…”

Zhao's face was grim, but she couldn't argue with Xie Chonghai directly: "I'll do whatever my second brother decides."

Xie Chonghai was relieved, bowed to Zhao, and then left.

Zhao felt as if she had been doused with ice water. When she returned to the house, she felt completely frozen. Her lips trembled, and it took her a long time before she picked up the teapot on the table and smashed it on the ground.

"What kind of good person is he?" Zhao screamed angrily. "They're family, after all."

Even though Xie Chongjun is in jail, Xie Chonghai is still thinking of him. He's afraid that when Xie Chongjun gets out, he'll find that his beloved illegitimate son is gone.

Zhao felt that she had once again fallen into a helpless situation.

Just like when Xie Qi's birth mother, Miao, was alive.

It seems she'll have to rely on herself for this. Zhao looked at the head maid, a servant she'd brought back from her maiden home, who was utterly loyal to her. It was also Mama Wu who had helped arrange things for Miao back then.

Madam Wu recognized her mistress's gaze and nodded: "Just like last time when we dealt with Madam Miao, this servant will go find someone."

Zhao took a deep breath: "Give me more money. If you help me this one more time, I will remove his family members from the household registration system."

Madam Wu replied, "This servant will arrange it immediately."

As Zhao watched Wu Mama's departing figure, she thought of how sickly Miao Mama had looked back then. She had handled that matter flawlessly, and even when the yamen officials came, they couldn't find any clues.

This time it will definitely work too.

Even if she had a kind heart and sent the mother and son to reunite.

……

These days, Zuo Shangying, Liu Erlang, and a group of scholars would often gather in the teahouse to talk about tabloids.

The tabloid was printed three times, and each time more people paid to buy it.

People kept coming to Liu Zhi's shop to deliver articles, and Zuo Shangying and others had to read them until late at night every day before they could finish reviewing them.

Now they get together and decide which article will be published in the tabloid.

Madam Xie entrusted the matter entirely to Tong Zixu, who then gathered a group of people, saying that a multi-layered selection process was sufficient, and one could imagine the joy of those who could have their articles included in the tabloid.

Among them was a scholar named Yan who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, but he had figured out some tricks of the trade beforehand, and his articles had already been selected twice. Moreover, they were frequently discussed by others.

"The story of Madam Xie smashing the clay stove is the most talked about in the neighborhood."

They even arranged for people to go around asking newspaper readers which tabloid article they liked best.

The last tabloids talked mostly about the rivalry between the Yang family's porcelain kiln and the Xie family's porcelain kiln.

"What were the results of the Xie family opening the kiln for the second time today? Can we continue to report on that?"

Zuo Shangying nodded: "In my opinion, it's right to have someone check it. If we're going to sell, we should sell the good stuff. Otherwise, it's better to smash it. News like this... is a good thing to get out."

Everyone agreed.

Zuo Shangying said, "Then that's settled. Once we have the results over there, we'll write them down and include them in the next issue of the newsletter."

Logically, the tabloid should go to print tomorrow, so time is very tight.

This is also the last tabloid before New Year's Day.

As everyone was talking, they heard the sound of running upstairs.

Yan Xiucai was covered in sweat and was out of breath. He said to everyone, "Something has happened. The workers from Yang's Porcelain Kiln beat someone up at Xie's Pottery Kiln."

Zuo Shangying was taken aback: "You... heard it from someone, or did you see it with your own eyes?"

Scholar Yan said, "They wouldn't let us into the pottery kiln, so I just kept watch outside. But I heard a lot of noise coming from inside, and then someone was shouting, which was overheard by a patrol team."

"I saw the Yang family's servants being tied up and taken to the county government by the patrolmen."

Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed in surprise.

Zuo Shangying said, "Go to the county government office and find out what happened."

Two people volunteered to go.

The remaining people stayed together and talked.

“If,” said Scholar Yan, “it’s true, then should we still write about it in our tabloid? After all, Madam Xie is the owner of the tabloid.”

Everyone immediately fell silent.

……

In a private room on the other side of the teahouse, someone placed a small newspaper on the table.

“I always said that these tabloids are just for merchants to make profits. Once the interests of the owner are involved, they would rather not write about it.”

A man in his forties, dressed as a scholar, said, "This... is nothing special."

(End of this chapter)