Jiapingguan Chronicle

“At that time, the Shi family was not well-known, so it was only natural for them to do this.” Chu Han sighed softly. “The Shi family’s real rise to prominence should have been after Madam Shi first showed her talent. So, at that time, the Xiao family, although an outsider, was an unapproachable force to them.”

"But aren't they relatives?" Jin Miaomiao looked at Chu Han with confusion. "Didn't the Shi family know this before?"

“The elders know a little bit, but they are related by marriage, not the close relatives like the Miao people, so many people don’t know. The reason they later tried to establish a connection was to get the Xiao family to provide a place for them to stay. If it weren’t for the fact that the Xiao family offered a lot of money, they probably wouldn’t have agreed.” Xiao Fengqi held up one finger. “This wasn’t agreed to by my great-aunt; it was my eldest uncle who signed it behind her back. If they breach the contract, they will have to pay the Shi family 100,000 taels of gold.”

"How dare they sign such a rip-off treaty?"

"I don't know." Xiao Fengqi spread his hands. "My uncle is always profit-driven. He'll do anything that makes money, even if it's extremely risky. And he knows very well that if it weren't for the 100,000 taels of gold to pay, my great-aunt would definitely have made him break the contract."

"Is this a way to blackmail Aunt?" Seeing Xiao Fengqi nod, Jin Miaomiao sneered and said, "They really will stop at nothing. Aunt is just watching and not doing anything?"

"It's already come to this point, and it's too late for my great-aunt to intervene. However, she said that she was already prepared to destroy the old order before building the new one. As for when that destruction will happen, that depends on how things develop. When I was little, my great-aunt often told me that if she were gone, I should keep a close eye on my uncles and aunts. I shouldn't care what they're doing, just wait for the right moment and strike decisively."

"Your great-aunt was wise!" Jin Miaomiao exclaimed, looking at Chu Han and then at the Third Grandfather. "Were you two not too surprised when you heard the news of the Xiao family's destruction?"

"Isn't it a good thing to be put in a desperate situation and then survive?" The Third Grandfather finished his duck soup and put down his bowl. "If this hadn't happened, the Xiao family would probably be close to its true destruction."

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “As I said before, before I made up my mind, I went to see my third grandfather and the two young masters of Yelü. I told them my thoughts. They encouraged me to do it and gave me confidence.”

"Hey, don't put it so nicely. We'd be very happy to see the Xiao family cripple itself and suffer a major blow."

Xiao Fengqi glanced at his third grandfather and shook his head helplessly. He knew his third grandfather was talking nonsense, so he didn't care about his current hypocrisy.

"Let's not talk about that anymore. Let's continue talking about Aunt and Madam Shi. Their meeting at Tianxiang Tower should have been their first and only meeting, right?" Shen Cha looked at Xiao Fengqi. "They probably haven't seen each other since, have they?"

“It wasn’t the only time; we met again later.” Xiao Fengqi sighed. “No matter how many times we met, the two of them didn’t get along and couldn’t stand each other. Although they were still young at the time, only a few years old, and had not yet truly taken over the family affairs, my great-aunt said that she just inexplicably disliked that person. Similarly, she also sensed that Madam Shi disliked her.”

"A conflict broke out?"

"It's not that serious. What kind of conflict could two young girls have? It's just a little bickering." Xiao Fengqi sighed. "There was no conflict at Tianxiang Tower, but the second time they met, they made a bit too much of a commotion."

Where did you meet the second time?

"The Miao family hosted a crab feast and sent invitations to many prominent families in Yangzhou, including the Shi family. However, the invitations to the Shi family weren't sent by the Miao family; they came to request the crabs themselves." "Requested them?"

"Yes, the Miao family originally intended to introduce my great-aunt's family to the prominent families in Yangzhou, especially those with businesses, hoping to successfully connect them. However, the Shi family somehow heard the news and Madam Shi personally came to their door, shamelessly asking for an invitation. My great-aunt was playing with Madam Miao and Madam Miao's mother at the time, so she heard and saw everything."

"Do you have a lot of disdain for the Shi family's behavior?"

“No, that’s not true. My great-aunt can understand the Shi family’s actions. After all, at that time, they were in an awkward position, neither here nor there.” Xiao Fengqi sighed. “It was because they managed to get an invitation that Madam Shi brought her young mother, Madam Shi, to the crab feast. There were quite a few children, and since the feast was held in the garden, no separate seats were arranged for the children. They all sat with their parents and elders. I don’t know why, but Madam Shi insisted on sitting next to the Xiao family’s seats.”

"But the Miao family didn't make this arrangement?"

"No." Xiao Fengqi shook his head slightly. "The Miao family refused their request and arranged for them to sit in the outermost seats, which the Shi family was indeed a little unhappy about. But I think the Miao family's arrangement was excellent. Besides themselves, the Dongfang family was also sitting next to the Xiao family." He looked at Chu Han. "I heard that the Dongfang family has some connection with our benefactor's family?"

"Yes!" Chu Han nodded gently. "It's my maternal grandmother's family. However, after the Jingwang Mansion was gone, the Dongfang family went into seclusion, and I haven't seen them for a very long time."

“The Dongfang family is very nice. My great-aunt said that they also have a little girl of similar age to her. The two of them chatted very happily and found that they had the same interests and hobbies.” Xiao Fengqi sighed helplessly and said, “When the banquet was about to end, Madam Shi appeared. She pushed the little girl Dongfang aside and squeezed between the two of them.”

"What is she trying to do?" Jin Miaomiao frowned slightly. "A provocation?"

"It's a bit like that, but not really." Xiao Fengqi shook his head gently. "My great-aunt said it might just be the kind of competition between children for favor? Madam Shi thinks that since they've already met at Tianxiang Tower, they're already acquainted, and she's criticizing my great-aunt for not going to see her and for getting along so well with others."

"You probably didn't even exchange a word when you first met, so how can you say you know each other?"

“That’s right, that’s what my great-aunt said too.” Xiao Fengqi sighed again. “My great-aunt has always been particularly good at making people angry since she was a child. After hearing what Madam Shi said, she only said one sentence and made Madam Shi cry.”

"One sentence?" Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment, then nudged Shen Cha. "What do you think she'd say?"

"Know you? I don't even know your name, how can I say I know you?" Shen Cha raised an eyebrow at the shocked Xiao Fengqi. "You guessed right?"

"Although there are some differences, they are roughly the same." Xiao Fengqi rubbed his face. "General, have I ever mentioned that you are remarkably similar to my great-aunt in some ways?" (End of Chapter)