Chapter 159: The Second Boss
Early in the morning, President Zhu of the Silk Guild heard that Foreman Zou had died of excessive pleasure, but Old Wan had not returned.
A hint of unease welled up in President Zhu’s heart.
Before long, he heard that Mrs. Wu, Foreman Zou’s wife, had knelt in the shed on the wharf belonging to the Young Lord and submitted a petition, stating that the concubine Qing Jin had colluded with her lover to poison Foreman Zou.
The next piece of news was that the Young Lord had accepted the petition and assigned Huang Xianzhou to help him investigate the case.
President Zhu’s unease grew. While he sent out several groups of people to find Old Wan, he also dispatched Steward Han to immediately find Second Foreman Wei and instruct him to ensure Mrs. Wu withdrew the petition, prioritizing gang affairs.
Watching Steward Han leave, President Zhu sat down and stood up again, pacing back and forth twice. He felt his right eyelid twitching. After standing by the door for a moment, he ordered a servant to fetch some Dragon Phoenix tea cakes and left the Silk General Store, heading towards the Maritime Tax Bureau.
Upon receiving Steward Han’s message, Second Foreman Wei pondered for a while before heading straight to the Zou Family Residence.
In the center of the main house in the main courtyard of the Zou Family Residence, a coffin bed was set up, surrounded by large ice strips. As Second Foreman Wei approached, he saw Foreman Zou’s face, blackened and terrifying, amidst the ice strips around the coffin.
Second Foreman Wei quickly averted his gaze, stepped back, and scanned the concubines and maids on either side of the coffin bed. He then asked, and upon exiting the main house, approached the side room door, bowed, and said, “Eldest Sister-in-law, are you well?”
“Second Boss, please come in,” Mrs. Wu replied, her voice low and calm.
Second Foreman Wei lifted the curtain and entered the room.
Mrs. Wu leaned on the couch, her expression somber. On the other side of the side room, several old women and young girls were busy making a burial shroud.
Second Foreman Wei sat in an armchair by the door, and a little girl brought tea.
“With Big Brother like that, it’s not a good situation,” Second Foreman Wei said with a bitter smile after sipping half a cup of tea.
“Master Huang said that the coroner from Hangcheng will arrive tomorrow morning, and the body can be interred after the examination,” Mrs. Wu said in a low tone.
“How will it be investigated?” Second Foreman Wei asked tentatively.
Mrs. Wu glanced at him but said nothing.
“Big Brother has always been a philanderer, and Eldest Sister-in-law has often been angry with him because of it. But now, Big Brother is gone, and to cut him open again,” Second Foreman Wei smiled bitterly again, “to desecrate his body, it’s not very good, no matter what, Big Brother is gone.”
Mrs. Wu slowly straightened her upper body and looked directly at Second Foreman Wei, “Does Second Boss mean that I am taking out my anger on your Big Brother’s corpse?”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, Eldest Sister-in-law has always been virtuous. Big Brother is gone. Look, Qing Jin has been by Big Brother’s side for nearly ten years, and they have two children. To say she poisoned Big Brother…”
Second Foreman Wei let out a few dry laughs.
“Qing Jin has a good temper and is honest. Eldest Sister-in-law has praised her many times. How could Qing Jin harm Big Brother?”
“I know Qing Jin would not poison your Big Brother,” Mrs. Wu said, her gaze slightly cold and her voice calm.
“Since Eldest Sister-in-law knows…” Second Foreman Wei straightened his back.
“You know best how your Big Brother’s health has been. Qing Jin has been with him for ten years. That night, it was just him and Qing Jin. He didn’t drink, and he didn’t have anyone else. How could he have died of excessive pleasure?” Mrs. Wu said, word by word.
Second Foreman Wei was stunned. “This, a mishap…”
“This is not a mishap. Your Big Brother was poisoned to death. I know Qing Jin didn’t poison him, but I can only accuse Qing Jin,” Mrs. Wu said coldly.
“Eldest Sister-in-law must be overcome with grief and confused. Who would poison Big Brother? Big Brother…”
Meeting Mrs. Wu’s cold gaze, Second Foreman Wei couldn’t continue.
“Your Big Brother once told me why he promoted you to Second Boss. He said you were stupid, and that he was very relieved to have such a stupid person as Second Boss,” Mrs. Wu said with a hint of sarcasm.
Second Foreman Wei’s expression changed slightly. After a long pause, he managed to speak, “I haven’t offended Eldest Sister-in-law. Even if Eldest Sister-in-law is overcome with grief, you shouldn’t talk such nonsense.
“I came here to persuade Eldest Sister-in-law to stop making trouble and to quickly let Big Brother be buried in peace. This is also for the good of Eldest Sister-in-law and the children.
“The future expenses for Eldest Sister-in-law and the children will depend on the gang. The wharf is not peaceful now. If Eldest Sister-in-law continues to make trouble like this and causes our Cheng Zi Gang to fall apart, how will Eldest Sister-in-law and the children live in the future?”
“If even my Big Brother’s death can be glossed over without explanation, then in the future, can we, as a widow and orphans, rely on the gang?” Mrs. Wu let out a cold laugh.
“Eldest Sister-in-law is overcome with grief and confused. I’ll leave now. I’ll have Tiger’s mother come over to keep Eldest Sister-in-law company later,” Second Foreman Wei said angrily, throwing down a few words before standing up and leaving.
Leaving the Zou Family Residence, Second Foreman Wei walked with heavy steps, his brows furrowed and hands clasped behind his back, filled with annoyance.
Steward Han’s words were clear and explicit. If he wanted to peacefully take over their Cheng Zi Gang and remove the “Second” from his title, the first step was to send Foreman Zou to his eternal rest.
Now that Eldest Sister-in-law was so unyielding, what should he do?
Second Foreman Wei stopped and looked sideways at the high wall of the Zou Family Residence. After a moment, his brows relaxed.
Eldest Sister-in-law was just a woman, and Big Brother’s eldest son was only eleven and couldn’t handle things. Without a man in charge of the family, according to the rules, their gang had to support the family in place of Big Brother. If the gang supported it, then he, the Second Boss, would bear the responsibility.
He should be in charge of Big Brother’s funeral, and he could be in charge.
With this thought, Second Foreman Wei turned around and headed straight for the wharf.
Huang Xianzhou bowed deeply to Second Foreman Wei and gestured for him to sit.
Huang Xianzhou, having received the Young Lord’s orders to investigate the case, had borrowed the outer room of the Young Lord’s military tent.
This outer room had only a grand and imposing armchair placed in the center, which was the Young Lord’s seat. Huang Xianzhou placed a small bamboo chair and a small wooden table next to the armchair. Mr. Yao was also a discerning person; if the Esteemed Master sat on a small broken bamboo chair, he would have to settle for a broken stool, and Second Foreman Wei naturally could only have a small, old stool.
Second Foreman Wei, tall and strong, held his breath and sat on the old stool as if in a horse stance.
He was afraid that if he sat down properly, the stool would fall apart on the spot.
Huang Xianzhou held the large fine porcelain cup with a handle that the Young Lord had bestowed upon him, sipped his tea, and gestured for Second Foreman Wei to speak.
“It’s like this,” Second Foreman Wei said, taking his gaze off the strangely shaped, enormous cup. “My Big Brother was a philanderer. Master Huang must have heard that Eldest Sister-in-law often argued with Big Brother about him bringing beauties home one after another. Women are all like that.”
“Mm!” Huang Xianzhou nodded in agreement.
“And Big Brother died in a concubine’s room. Eldest Sister-in-law’s reputation…” Second Foreman Wei let out a dry laugh. “It can’t be blamed on Eldest Sister-in-law; Big Brother was truly too much of a philanderer.
“I just came from Big Brother’s home. Eldest Sister-in-law knows clearly that there’s no such thing as poison. How could it be possible? The maid Qing Jin has served Big Brother for nearly ten years. Eldest Sister-in-law often praises Qing Jin for being honest and gentle, saying that Qing Jin poisoning Big Brother is impossible, even Eldest Sister-in-law herself says so.”
“Mm!” Huang Xianzhou nodded again, looking at Second Foreman Wei, signaling him to continue.
“What I mean is, Eldest Sister-in-law isn’t really trying to sue; she just wants to vent her anger. Women, you know,” Second Foreman Wei had to explain more clearly.
“Mm!” Huang Xianzhou just grunted.
“What I mean is, I mean, I’m here to withdraw the petition on behalf of Eldest Sister-in-law. It’s still very hot, and Big Brother needs to be buried in peace quickly,” Second Foreman Wei finally stated plainly.
“Oh! To withdraw the petition, hmm!” Huang Xianzhou suddenly understood. “It’s not impossible. Old Yao, see who’s free outside and invite Mrs. Zou here. We’ll ask her in person.”
“Is that necessary! Eldest Sister-in-law is overcome with grief, is that necessary!” Second Foreman Wei was flustered, not expecting Huang Xianzhou to suddenly give such an order.
Mr. Yao had been standing at the entrance of the shed. As soon as Huang Xianzhou finished speaking, the order was passed down.
“I’ll go take a look! Eldest Sister-in-law is ill…” Second Foreman Wei stood up and rushed towards the exit.
“Second Boss, please stay!” Huang Xianzhou called out loudly.
The soldiers outside, with their spears crossed, blocked Second Foreman Wei.
Second Foreman Wei panicked. “Master Huang, what do you mean by this?”
“Your Big Brother is dead, and you can step up to be the head of the Cheng Zi Gang, right?” Huang Xianzhou said with a smile.
“No! How could I do such a thing!” Second Foreman Wei became flustered.
“You came to withdraw this petition. If it’s truly your Eldest Sister-in-law who sent you, then it’s easy to talk about. But if it wasn’t your Eldest Sister-in-law who sent you~” Huang Xianzhou trailed off, sneering.
Second Foreman Wei’s face turned pale.
