As Xia Zeshi watched the glass items being auctioned on stage, he suddenly had a realization.
"You mean the glass factory?"
He couldn't help but recall some rumors circulating in the capital these past few days.
"Didn't they say the glass factory had ceased production?"
It was rumored that the Ninghe Glass Factory had indeed produced glass, but all the output was substandard. Someone had personally witnessed Tian Kangtai, the factory's chief manager, secretly disposing of defective glass.
There were even whispers that some influential figures in the capital, with their vast connections, had obtained these flawed items that Tian Kangtai had been discarding, thereby confirming the failure of the Ninghe factory in glass manufacturing.
Consequently, some claimed that glass production was incompatible with the local climate, and that high-quality glass items could not be manufactured in Da Yu; others attributed it to insufficient raw materials, or problems with the raw materials and manufacturing techniques.
In short, there were all sorts of theories.
Coupled with the commotion caused by the Xing Shun Bo Manor and those few families, Young Master Xie's factory could no longer operate, leading him to organize an auction to recoup some losses.
As for the glass items being auctioned tonight, they were all exquisite pieces transported from Nanyang.
"Fifteen hundred taels!"
"Sixteen hundred taels!"
"..."
"Two thousand three hundred taels!"
"..."
"Three thousand taels!"
"Three thousand taels for the first time, three thousand taels for the second time, three thousand taels for the third time, sold!"
The gavel fell, and a glass vase was sold at the high price of three thousand taels of silver.
Xia Zeshi stared blankly at the stage, then suddenly thought of something and widened his eyes, looking at Xie Jiang.
Upon hearing Xia Zeshi's words, Xu Hengyi also understood.
So, the glass factory was making money.
Seeing Xia Zeshi's disbelieving gaze at Xie Jiang...
Xu Hengyi suddenly realized, "Ah! Those rumors were..."
Xie Jiang finally turned around, smiled at the two of them, and said, "Kneel down for me, beg me properly, or neither of you will leave here alive."
She intended to kill them to silence them!
Xia Zeshi and Xu Hengyi shivered in unison, terrified.
Seeing how timid they were, Xie Jiang found it utterly uninteresting and turned away listlessly.
Only then did the two realize that Xie Jiang was just teasing them!
But Xie Jiang's smile just now was truly terrifying!
The hairs on their backs stood on end!
Xu Hengyi stared at Xie Jiang's retreating back, gnashing his teeth, feeling helpless.
Xia Zeshi continued to watch the subsequent auctions.
Glass items were sold one after another, with none fetching less than a thousand taels of silver.
A glass hairpin was sold for fifteen hundred taels of silver!
The highest-priced glass item so far had reached over seven thousand taels!
A fine sheen of sweat broke out on Xia Zeshi's forehead.
If the rumors circulating in the capital a few days ago were all false.
If these shimmering, dazzling glass items were actually produced by the Ninghe Glass Factory, and the Ninghe Glass Factory could continuously produce them.
Xia Zeshi observed for a long time; most of the buyers who paid high prices tonight were influential figures in the capital.
When these influential figures discovered in the future that the Ninghe Glass Factory could not only continue to produce glass items but also more exquisite ones...
They would probably want to eat Young Master Xie alive!
The Xing Shun Bo Manor and those few families who had stirred up trouble and caused Young Master Xie to harbor resentment, it was uncertain if they could withstand the wrath of the influential figures who had suffered heavy losses!
Xia Zeshi felt that Young Master Xie was probably not afraid.
If he were afraid, he wouldn't be so arrogant and retaliate so unscrupulously.
After Young Master Xie's glass factory started operating, besides those from Xing Shun Bo Manor and the few families who were eager to make the first move, others might not have been without their own ideas.
In fact, some people had instigated these few families to rush to Ninghe and take the lead.
Young Master Xie saw it all clearly.
That's why this scene unfolded tonight.
It wouldn't be enough for just Xing Shun Bo Manor and those few families to bleed heavily; anyone with any ideas had to cough up some blood!
They weren't even allowed to think about it!
Young Master Xie was always domineering.
"I can understand your resentment. Anyone in your position wouldn't easily swallow such an insult, but by doing this tonight, aren't you offending half the influential figures in the capital? Even if you plan to stay in Ninghe for a while longer, can you avoid returning to the capital forever? And even if you can stay hidden in Ninghe, do you think those people can't do anything to you?"
The more Xia Zeshi thought about it, the more worried he became for Xie Jiang, unable to help but fret about her future situation.
This person was too audacious!
Was it because the matter with the Nanxiong Marquis Manor had gone too smoothly for her?
And the matter with Princess Le'an, she had also emerged unscathed.
Therefore, she felt it didn't matter if she offended more people, as it wouldn't cripple her, so why should she be afraid?
"You can't always rely on luck; there will always be a time when you hit a stone wall..."
As the glass items were nearing the end of the auction, Xia Zeshi's sweat dripped down his forehead.
Xu Hengyi, having understood the cause and effect, let out a sharp gasp, "You really are... with this massive undertaking you've orchestrated, even my second brother might not be able to protect you!"
Xie Jiang turned around impatiently, raised a leg, and swept it towards the two of them. Xu Hengyi, having been kicked many times, instinctively jumped back, pulling Xia Zeshi along with him.
"Xie Jiang, have you no humanity! Falling from this height would kill someone!"
This was the third floor! The third floor!
Below them sat so many high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants who had been driven out of the private rooms by the ladies!
Throwing two living people from the third floor would result in utter chaos and a pulpy mess!
"We were trying to help you out of good intentions, and you repay us with ingratitude!" Xu Hengyi was so angry his face turned red, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.
"Backstabbing me? You curse me, and you won't let me defend myself?"
"We curse you?! You think we're cursing you! We..."
Xu Hengyi leaned back in anger. If Xia Zeshi hadn't blocked him, he would have collapsed on the spot.
After all, he couldn't beat that scoundrel Xie Jiang anyway!
Xia Zeshi sighed helplessly, signaling Xu Hengyi to calm down. Having known Xie Jiang for so long, didn't he know what kind of person she was?
Perhaps Xie Jiang simply found them to be nagging and annoying, so they should just stop talking.
Xu Hengyi wanted to cry.
Why was his life so difficult!
Why did God make him meet Xie Jiang!
This scoundrel always infuriated him to the point where he wanted to sever ties on the spot!
But the moment his anger subsided, he couldn't help but approach her again!
He, he wanted to beat himself to death!
"Forget it! I forgive you! I won't argue with you! I..."
Xu Hengyi convinced himself to keep looking at Xie Jiang's face. In the lamplight, Xie Jiang's face indeed made one instantly put down their weapons and achieve enlightenment.
"You've been in Ninghe for so long, and you rarely return to the capital, yet you don't look for us, and you actually went to find Ruan Ziji!"
Xu Hengyi's heart ached with sadness. Didn't he know Ruan Ziji had designs on her! And she still went to Ruan Ziji!
Xia Zeshi also felt a vague sense of being neglected.
(ｷ｀ﾟДﾟ´)!! What nonsense!
How could he have such a thought!
Xie Jiang said disdainfully, "I took Ruan Ziji and the others into those families and beat up those young scions. Would you two dare?"
Xu Hengyi immediately deflated.
He wouldn't dare.
If he dared to be so reckless, his father would break his legs.