After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 238 Jealousy
As winter approached in Huaizhou City, the Du family's business flourished even more.

However, compared to the Du family's joy, the other original large cloth shops were not so happy.

The families behind these fabric shops have been secretly in contact over the past month, and they are now sitting in the front hall of the Fang family, each with a solemn expression.

Among the Fang family members present were the eldest and second eldest. Because of the third eldest's failure in Huaizhou City, the Fang family no longer allowed him to participate in the Fang family's business.

The one from the Wang family of Kyoto is the eldest son of the Wang family patriarch, Prince Wang Quan.

The rest were seven well-known cloth merchants from other regions.

The front hall was quiet, but the first to lose his composure was Boss Qiu from Bianxi.

"Mr. Fang, Mr. Wang, the Du family is really going too far."

“We were clearly willing to cooperate with the Du family, but they didn’t choose us. Instead, they went and cooperated with those low-class cloth shops.”

"what is this?"

"Isn't this clearly looking down on us?" Boss Qiu said indignantly.

However, these words resonated with them, so Second Master Fang echoed, "Indeed, this is going too far."

Grandpa Fang didn't speak; he looked at Young Master Wang from Kyoto.

After all, he's from Kyoto, and the powerful backers behind Young Master Wang are different from those of the merchants in the region. Right now, Young Master Wang is the one who has the most confidence to speak.

"Young Master Wang, do you have any good ideas for dealing with the current situation?"

Wang Quan nodded slightly and chuckled, “Everyone, why do you think the Du family is unwilling to cooperate with us, but instead chooses to cooperate with those cloth merchants who are slightly weaker than us?”

Grandpa Fang didn't speak, but Boss Qiu interrupted, "Why!"

"What else could it be!"

"They're just afraid that if we find out the Du family's secrets, we'll steal their business."

The other bosses nodded in agreement, including Grandpa Fang, but Wang Quan remained silent.

Grandpa Fang smiled and asked Wang Quan, "Young Master Wang, do you have a different opinion? Why don't you share it with us?"

Wang Quan politely clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Everyone here is an elder who is older than me, so I shouldn't be making any comments so casually."

"However, given the current situation, we cloth merchants do need to unite closely, so I'll be bold enough to say a few words."

"Young Master Wang, there's no need to be so polite. Just say what you need to say," said Second Master Fang with a smile as he sat down.

The other business owners nodded in agreement. Although the Wang family's cloth shop wasn't the largest among them, it was one they also wanted to rely on.

It's unclear what the old patriarch of the Wang family was thinking, allowing such a young upstart to participate in their important council meetings. Although they were somewhat unhappy, they would never show it on their faces.

Wang Quan nodded and said, "Although the Du family's decision to abandon cooperation with powerful cloth merchants like us seems like a bad move, if we think about it carefully, as long as we understand the Du family's purpose, it may not be difficult to see why they did this!"

"What is the Du family's purpose?" Boss Qiu sneered disdainfully, "Wang family brat, the Du family is nothing but a local gentry family hiding in the north with no power whatsoever."

"What could their purpose be!"

"It's just about making more money so that my descendants can have something to rely on."

Wang Quan shook his head and said, "The Du family's purpose is not just that."

"Seniors, if you look closely, you'll find that the cloth merchants chosen by the Du family, although they don't seem to have much power, all have one thing in common."

Grandpa Fang had his servants bring up the list they had compiled and gathered, and the business owners gathered around to examine the list carefully.

Because of his disdain, Boss Qiu naturally didn't see anything.

Fang Erye slapped his forehead, exclaiming, "This is terrible! This is terrible!"

"It seems that the Du family's ambitions are no longer limited to Huaizhou City, but extend to the entire Shang Kingdom."

After hearing what Second Master Fang said, Grandpa Fang understood, but the others, who were unfamiliar with the backgrounds of these merchants, were still completely confused.

One of the bosses couldn't wait any longer, "Hey, Mr. Wang, Mr. Fang, stop keeping us in suspense."

"What time is it now?"

Grandpa Fang laughed heartily, “Boss Zheng, we need to be even calmer at times like this. We’ve all seen the ups and downs of the business world, so let’s not lose our composure.”

Master Zheng sighed and said nothing more, but he was still irritable and couldn't see anything.

Wang Quan didn't keep them in suspense, saying, "Esteemed seniors, all these people on this list have powerful local connections behind them."

"Let's not talk about other places, let's just talk about the Shao family."

"The Shao family has only been in the cloth business for a few years. Because of our Wang family's involvement, their shop in Kyoto has always been lukewarm."

"But our Wang family can't take him down."

Boss Qiu perked up his ears. They knew about the Wang family's background, as well as the cloth merchant that the Wang family couldn't take down.

That means they must have a complicated background.

Wang Quan did not elaborate, but only hinted at it.

"So if you look at other places, you'll see the same principle."

"What the Du family wants to support are those cloth merchants who have enough background to compete with us."

"Their goal is to become the cloth supplier for the entire commercial kingdom."

Boss Qiu's eyes widened, then he shook his head in objection, "Young Master Wang, aren't you giving others too much credit?"

"As far as I know, the Du family is just a small workshop. How could they possibly take over the entire cloth industry in the Shang Kingdom?"

"The fabric they're selling now is probably not the stock they had previously hoarded."

"Once they sell out their previous goods, they probably won't be able to supply any more."

"The reason we've gathered here is to discuss cutting off the Du family's escape route and seizing our current resources of weavers and cotton." "Even if the Du family wanted to, they couldn't turn the tide."

Boss Qiu remained full of confidence.

Wang Quan smiled and said, "Boss Qiu, the Du family isn't selling their previous stockpiled goods anymore."

"They were all newly woven by their weavers."

"If you keep waiting, you'll probably be disappointed, because you won't see that day."

Boss Qiu was skeptical and said with a sneer, "What do you mean? They can weave such a large quantity of cloth in a single day now?"

"That would require so many weavers. I haven't heard of the Du family's workshop expanding."

"Expansion has occurred, but definitely not by much."

"Has Mr. Qiu forgotten the price at which they sold the cloth? That was 60% lower than the market price."

Mr. Qiu was stunned. Indeed, this was also something he found very strange.

Originally, he intended to let the Du family dig their own grave and bring about their own destruction, but after waiting for more than a month, the Du family did not raise prices, which is why their business is now so difficult.

Boss Qiu fell silent.

Master Fang smiled and asked Wang Quan, "Has Young Master Wang discovered something?"

"Why don't you just tell us, Young Master Wang?"

Wang Quan's smile faded, and he said with a solemn expression, "The Du family has acquired a powerful tool that can weave a bolt of cloth in just two or three days."

It only takes two or three days to weave a bolt of cloth?
All the cloth merchants present were shocked. They didn't want to believe it, but if this condition was taken as a premise, all the series of operations they couldn't understand before would suddenly become clear.

They found it hard to believe that such a tool actually existed in the world.
"Young Master Wang, is your news true?" Boss Zheng asked.

Wang Quan nodded, "It couldn't be more true."

The Wang family was also shocked when they first learned of this news, so they sent people to the Du family's workshop to investigate again and again.

If they hadn't captured a weaver's younger brother, they wouldn't have known that the Du family possessed such a powerful weapon.

Upon learning of this, the Wang family initially planned to cooperate with the Du family. With such a powerful tool and the support of the Wang family, the entire fabric business of the Shang Kingdom would be under the control of the Wang and Du families.

The Du family has no real power; in reality, everything will fall under the control of the Wang family.

Unexpectedly, the Du family still refused. The weaver knew how to use the tool but couldn't make it. They asked several carpenters but couldn't figure it out.

Since the Wang family can't get it, then naturally the Shao family shouldn't get it either.

That's why Grandfather Wang sent his grandson on this trip to Jiangnan.

"That's terrible! They have tools like that, what are we going to fight with?"

"The cost has been reduced by 60% all at once, and we also have the support of people like the Shao family." Boss Zheng looked worried, as if the sky was about to fall.

Grandpa Fang waved his hand, "What's the rush? They're only just starting out; we have plenty of opportunities."

Mr. Zheng looked up and asked, "Uncle Fang, what do you suggest we do?"

Grandpa Fang called all the bosses over, and the group formed a circle.

"We can't compete with the Du family on cost, but we can do other things!"

"That's it."

Grandpa Fang shared his idea, and Wang Quan added his suggestions, thus forming a perfect plan.

After hearing this, Boss Qiu and the others couldn't help but admire the Fang and Wang families.

No wonder they became the largest fabric store in Jiangnan and Kyoto; they really have some skills.

"Alright! With this plan, we can finally get a few good nights' sleep."

"When the Du family is finished, I'll see if they'll hand over that weapon to us."

Everyone laughed heartily, and the Fang family had prepared a feast, which they enjoyed immensely.

Meanwhile, in Huaizhou City, Bai Wanqing was taking Furong's pulse at the Du family's residence.

"Furong, you're about to give birth, so you need to be extra careful."

"If there is anything amiss, come to the Lin family to find me immediately."

Bai Wanqing carefully gave Bai Furong some instructions. Bai Furong was very pregnant and was very scared as she got closer to her due date.

"Big sister, I'm scared!" Furong's nervous little face scrunched up.

Bai Wanqing patted Furong's shoulder to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, your big sister is here."

Just then, Baoyue suddenly rushed in from outside.

"Young Miss, Young Miss, something terrible has happened!"

Furong was startled by the ominous sound and froze, too stiff to move.

Bai Wanqing took Furong's hand and patted it gently, "Don't be nervous, your older sister is here, nothing will happen."

Baoyue entered the room, panting, and said, "Miss, Miss, the Third Miss is here."

White lotus?
When Furong heard that it was her third sister, she was no longer nervous. She looked at her eldest sister. Bai Wanqing was also surprised that Bai Qinglian would come at this time.

"Just her alone?"

Baoyue shook her head. "Yes, she's all alone. She's in the courtyard right now, making a scene and demanding to see Miss."

"Young Miss, the Second Young Miss seems to have ill intentions!"

(End of this chapter)