Favoring the concubine and killing the wife? She divorced the concubine and lived with her concubine

As for business, there isn't much good business to start right now. It's already late autumn, and the Chinese New Year is coming soon. Many businesses are trying to make a profit before the New Year, and they need to prepare their own New Year goods.

The same was true for the Xiao family. The shipload of exquisite porcelain and brocade that the Xiao family had prepared, as well as the ginseng that had come from Lin Rui, were all sent to the capital city on that huge cargo ship.

Xiao Zongshan didn't need to worry about the business in the capital, as there were people to take care of it. These people were all relationships that Xiao Zongshan's father had arranged, and Xiao Zongshan accepted them directly.

The business was shady. Xiao Zongshan only occasionally visited the capital to become acquainted with the shopkeepers there, while a local man named Cui You actually ran the business. When the money was collected, Cui You received 70% of the profits, and the Xiao family received 30%.

Cui You's connections were extensive, and even the most prominent officials in the capital were his clients. Many of the largest and most powerful families would directly ask him to deliver goods, never changing their agents. So, when Xiao Zongshan once tried to take over the capital's business, he gave up after only two days of ignoring him. Xiao Zongshan simply couldn't understand why Cui You insisted on using the Xiao family's name to conduct business, when he could have made more money by doing it himself.

Xiao Zongshan was wealthy, but unfortunately, he had no influence in the capital. The capital, with its two marquisates and three princes on one street, was unattainable for him. So, despite his tireless efforts to investigate Cui You's background, his results were ultimately fruitless. However, he no longer cared about it; after all, this business alone was already making him a tidy profit. He only needed to establish a few more workshops in South City and supply Cui You with high-quality goods, and he could earn several times more than he already did in South City.

Therefore, this is why others are always curious about why the Xiao family's business has expanded to the capital, but they have not moved there. This is also why Xiao Zongshan has been able to firmly control the Xiao family. In addition to being the only male of this generation in the Xiao family, Cui You only recognizes Xiao Zongshan, and the Xiao family's various workshops have indeed grown under Xiao Zongshan's leadership. Many skilled old craftsmen were hired by Xiao Zongshan.

The Xiao family had nothing else to do at the moment, and Cui You was very satisfied with the goods from the capital. So now it was time to complete the city wall repairs that he had promised the government office.

Although Xiao Zongshan claimed to have raised money from various merchants, in reality, each merchant profited to some extent from the Xiao family's business. So, at the Xiao family's command, everyone united as one, and the work of repairing the city wall was in full swing. Those who contributed manpower contributed manpower, and those who worked hard contributed labor, without any slackness.

Xiao Zongshan sent away Xiao Cheng who came to his house in person early this morning. Xiao Cheng kept talking a lot, but he just wanted to send Xiao Xuan to do business.

Because Xiao Lan had hinted at it before, Xiao Zongshan agreed without making any excuses.

Xiao Cheng was very satisfied with this, and after a few words, he said something about how they were finally a family, and then he left. He knew in his heart that being able to squeeze someone in and make more money was already a good thing. If he could really become the head shopkeeper, he would get more benefits in the future.

Early that morning, Xiao Xuan arrived at Xiao Lan's door. Haitang led the way. She glanced at Xiao Xuan and then lowered her eyes to lead him in. Xiao Lan had prepared breakfast and was waiting for him to eat together.

The two of them ate breakfast in silence for a long time.

Haitang was waiting on the side. Xiao Lan glanced at her and saw that she looked worried, so she said to Xiao Xuan, "I see you don't have anyone to serve you. How about I give it to you? After all, you won't be back for a while."

Xiao Xuan thought Xiao Lan was talking to Haitang, so he didn't even look up, not really listening. He had tried to concentrate today, but he hadn't slept well the previous night, thinking about his father and Liu Yue, so his mind was wandering.

"Xiao Xuan!"

"what?"

Xiao Lan frowned, "What are you thinking about? I'm going to see my father soon. If he scolds you when you're so listless, don't blame anyone."

"Oh, I see."

"I'm asking you something!"

"What..." Xiao Xuan raised his eyes, looking confused.

"Ah..." Xiao Lan sighed and repeated helplessly, "You're not leaving for a while. Do you want someone to serve you? The edges of your clothes are not even straight. You're absent-minded every day. What a mess you lead."

Xiao Xuan hesitated, not answering immediately. He and his father lived in the restaurant, and the waiters would help with general matters, but there was no one to do the personal work. It was fine for a day or two, but now that he was staying for a long time, it was really inconvenient. Although his father was not close to him, he had never been treated unfairly since he was a child, and there was always someone to wait on him on weekdays.

"Do you want it? Chi Yu, who was with Sun Shaohua before, is a smart guy." Xiao Lan glanced at Haitang when she said this. She had told Haitang about this before. Chi Yu was disrespectful to her at the Sun family, and if she called him back, others would gossip about him. Now, if she could send him to Xiao Xuan, firstly, Xiao Xuan was kind to others and treated them well. Secondly, he could help her keep an eye on Xiao Xuan and notify him in time if anything happened. Haitang thought it was a good idea, but she hadn't told Chi Yu yet. She didn't know if he was willing, nor did she know if Xiao Xuan was willing. After all, Xiao Lan and Xiao Xuan had a complicated relationship, and who knew if Xiao Xuan would use Xiao Lan's people.

"Chi Yu? I've met him a few times. He's a smart guy. I'm afraid my father..." Xiao Xuan was a little embarrassed.

Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Lan couldn't help but complain, "Weren't you so powerful before your father came? You came to threaten me and look for my father, but now that my father is here, you don't even dare to ask for a servant?"

Xiao Xuan glanced at her and lowered his head to drink his porridge. Seeing that he didn't answer, Xiao Lan raised her hand to signal Haitang to leave.

Xiao Xuan finally spoke, his tone light, but his hand holding the spoon paused, "I was scared of him when I was a kid. Even now, even if he treats me well, I'm still afraid of him."

Xiao Lan didn't expect what Xiao Xuan said.

"Your father has only one son, and he's so strict with you?" Xiao Lan thought about herself, an only child, who was also brought up with strict discipline, but she was never beaten or scolded... Thinking of this, Xiao Lan felt something was wrong. The original owner was raised by PUA, so she was also beaten and scolded. Thinking about the original owner's mother, who often said that the original owner was incompetent and couldn't do anything well, Xiao Zongshan didn't even look at her, and she was also a pitiful child.

Xiao Xuan nodded, there was no sadness in his eyes anymore, as if he was talking about his happy childhood.

"Yeah, my father beat me, my grandmother beat me, and only Uncle Fan treated me well. In this small restaurant, there are all kinds of rules. You can't touch this, you can't move that. In short, they want to nail me up in a box."

"Uncle Fan..." Although Xiao Lan felt sorry for Xiao Xuan's situation, she still heard the name "Uncle Fan". This person was someone Su Ze guessed was related to them, but this was the first time Xiao Lan heard them mention this person, and Liu Hu had never mentioned him either.

Xiao Xuan finished a bowl of porridge and met Xiao Lan's gaze. There was sincerity in his eyes. He was not like the gentle and kind young man he usually was. He was just an ordinary person telling his friend about his past.

"Uncle Fan and my father are like brothers. He was a child picked up by my grandmother from the street. He was the best to me since I was a child. My grandmother took my father and him to Beidu. Before reaching Beidu, my father met my mother. My mother died of dystocia because of me, so when my father saw me, he missed my mother, so he didn't like me." There was a slight tremor in Xiao Xuan's voice, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, making him look like he was smiling, but Xiao Lan could see that he was just trying to appear indifferent.

"Is Fan Zhi okay?"

When Xiao Xuan heard Xiao Lan say this name, he paused slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes, then he lowered his eyes, smiled self-deprecatingly, and whispered, "Yes."

"No matter what, at least you have someone to rely on. You also have Liu Yue, so you are very rich." Xiao Lan's sudden comfort made Xiao Xuan lower his head again.

Xiao Lan looked at the man who had been so elegant and graceful when they first met. Now, he was silent and looked depressed. This was because he had expectations, but now those expectations were being held hostage, becoming his weakness.