I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Xu Qing didn't answer immediately. He walked up to Zhao Laosi and asked about a few details.

Did the person leave their name when they bought the silk? What was their accent? What kind of material were their clothes made of?

Zhao Laosi frowned, looked at the sky, and tried hard to recall.

"The name wasn't mentioned, but the accent sounded like it was from the prefectural city. The clothes were just ordinary gray cloth short jackets, made of average material, and it was impossible to tell where they were from."

Xu Qing nodded and turned to look at Xiao Mingyuan.

"This isn't aimed at the Xiao family, it's aimed at you."

Xiao Mingyuan frowned. "Huh? They're after me? I haven't offended anyone in the prefectural city..."

Xu Qing shook her head.

"It has nothing to do with the prefectural city. You should know who it is. Chen Shijin was humiliated by you and me at Zhuangyuanlou, and then he was humiliated by Gu Zhiyi at Chunhongyuan."

He's a vengeful person, and he might not have come up with such a scheme on his own, but the Chen family has been operating in Hengyang County for so many years; they have plenty of connections to find people to do dirty work.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

"Chen Shijin, it's him again. Xu Qing, just tell me directly, what should we do? I believe you."

Xu Qing remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Since the silk merchants in the prefectural city have used this trick, they won't just stop after one time. As long as they make another move, we can follow the clues back to their hometown."

Xiao Mingyuan asked anxiously, "What about the beggars and onlookers now? The news has already spread throughout the streets."

Xu Qing glanced at him and pondered for a moment.

"Have your father put up a notice at the entrance of the Xiao family's cloth shop first thing tomorrow morning, saying that the Xiao family has been doing good deeds recently, distributing a batch of high-quality silk cloth to the poor people in the city as a way to accumulate merit."

The Xiao family will not pursue those who previously received the silk fabric, but please refrain from wearing it in the streets to avoid misleading others. The Xiao family's silk fabrics have always been reserved for respectable families.

Xiao Mingyuan's eyes lit up for a moment after hearing this, but then he frowned again.

"But those silk fabrics aren't inferior goods; they're genuine materials."

"Who would bother to check whether the fabrics worn by those beggars are of inferior or superior quality?"

Xu Qing looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Once the notice is posted, people will be convinced from the outset that the goods are inferior. This way, we can protect our reputation without making people think that the Xiao family is shirking responsibility. As for the prefectural city, let me think about it some more."

Xiao Mingyuan stroked his double chin and thought for a long time before finally slamming his hand on the table.

"Alright, we'll do it your way. Uncle Zhao, go and arrange the notice. Have someone write it now, make sure it looks presentable, don't make a fool of yourself."

Zhao Laosi nodded repeatedly, his posture much more steady than before, and quickly left the courtyard.

As soon as Zhao Laosi left, Xiao Mingyuan plopped back down on the stone bench and righted the overturned inkstone.

Looking up at Xu Qing, he sounded a little scared.

"If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have really messed up this time. When those people gave silk to the beggars, I almost thought of returning the exact same silk."

Xu Qing picked up the county exam questions again.

"There are many ways to retaliate, but not all debts can be settled by directly retaliating. Sometimes the timing of settling accounts is more important."

Xu Qing turned to a page of questions, tapped it with the tip of her pen, and said in a normal tone, "Come on, finish reading this question."

Xiao Mingyuan sighed as he watched him switch from being a master to solving problems in an instant.

"You're pretty good at exams; it would be strange if you didn't pass the county exam this time. As for me, it'll be a bit difficult..."

Xu Qing tapped the table: "Stop talking nonsense, sit down. If you trust me, just follow along. You've passed the county exam, it won't be difficult for you..."

"real?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Zhao Laosi did not go far; he returned.

Two people followed behind him: Xiao Wanjin and his butler, Xiao Liu.

Xiao Wanjin was wearing a dark brown silk robe, the corners of which were still dusty, indicating that he had just rushed back.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he asked the question.

"I heard about the cloth shop incident on the way here. Who came up with the idea of ​​posting the notice?"

Xiao Mingyuan glanced at Xu Qing, and Xiao Wanjin followed his gaze.

Xu Qing calmly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Sir, it was my idea."

Xiao Wanjin did not answer immediately. He walked to the stone table and sat down, asking Zhao Laosi to tell the whole story again.

Zhao Laosi is not as nervous as before. He speaks more coherently and steadily, and he has filled in the details.

After listening, Xiao Wanjin's brows finally relaxed a little.

He nodded and looked at Xu Qing.

"Mr. Xu, this method is brilliant. It avoids a complete breakdown in relations while preserving the brand. It's a good defense."

He changed the subject, his voice becoming lower.

"Unfortunately, we are good at defense but not good at offense. We only blocked this one move. They may come up with a second or third move. We can't just be passively beaten."

Just as Xu Qing was about to speak, another waiter ran up from outside the courtyard gate, panting and shouting something.

"Master, young master, something has happened at Chunhong Courtyard."

Xiao Mingyuan suddenly stood up. "What is it?"

The waiter, catching his breath, replied:

Rumors were spreading at the entrance of Chunhong Courtyard. They said the girls inside wore clothes made from scraps taken from beggars, and that customers who went there would be lowering their status. The news spread very quickly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan slammed his hand on the stone table, ignoring the pain in his hand.

"It's that same group of people again. Not content with targeting our fabric shop, they're also going after Chunhong Courtyard. Aren't they forcing us to change our fabrics?"

Xiao Wanjin's face also darkened, and he pondered for a moment.

"This is no longer a business matter between silk merchants. Silk merchants compete for customers, at most they try to lower prices, snatch orders, and spread rumors. But to go directly to someone's doorstep and spread rumors is deliberately trying to escalate the situation."

As they were talking, the people from Chunhong Courtyard arrived.

Zhao Laosi went out and brought back news.

After learning of the rumors, Gu Zhiyi immediately asked the madam to clarify them, but it had little effect; many people listened, and many believed them.

The number of guests at Chunhong Courtyard has visibly decreased by 30%.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan paced back and forth in the courtyard two and a half times, his face trembling with anxiety.

"What should we do? If Chunhong Courtyard can't hold on and they switch to other fabric suppliers, our newly secured business will be lost. The silk shop's business will only become more difficult."

Xu Qing looked at his anxious expression and was about to speak...

Another person entered through the courtyard gate.

This time it was a maid from Chunhong Courtyard, the round-faced girl next to Gu Zhiyi.

He held a letter in his hand, entered the courtyard, bowed to Xiao Wanjin, and then handed the letter to Xiao Mingyuan.

"Young Master Xiao, Miss asked me to deliver this."

Xiao Mingyuan opened the letter, glanced at it, and his expression turned even more unpleasant.