The Devil's Tribulation

Chapter 293 The Ximen Family’s Decision

The Ximen family in Yancheng is now filled with a sad mood. Who would have thought that the Ximen family, which was supposed to be the first family in Yancheng, would be crushed by the new Zhong family in just a few years? 90% of the business was taken away by department stores. The Ximen family has more than 100,000 people to support. When it was profitable, it didn't feel it, but now it has been losing money. Every year, Ximen Department Store has to pay 10 million high-quality crystal beads as management fees to Fu Guangzong. Only outflows and no inflows, even if the Ximen family has some foundation, it can't last long.

Ximen Ba no longer had the original domineering aura. He sat in the head seat with a somewhat decadent look and said, "The Li family has decided to withdraw from Yancheng. What should the Ximen family do? Let's discuss it." Ximen Gui said angrily, "It's all because of the Yu family! They used us and kicked us away! Our customers questioned our integrity and our business plummeted!" After the Ximen family received the first resource support from the Yu family, they followed the instructions of the Yu family's visitors and gave a 50% discount on all the goods in the mall, and doubled the consumption points, which could be exchanged for anything in the mall. This wave of operations caused the department store to lose more than half of its customers. However, the Yu family only gave the first resource, and then there was no trust, and the Yu family representative also disappeared.

Ximen Department Store is surrounded by a group of casual cultivators every day, clamoring to exchange points for goods. Can the Ximen family afford it? It's like giving it away for free! What to do? They have to close Ximen Department Store. But even if you close the mall, your Ximen family is still in Yancheng. This wave of operations not only closed Ximen Department Store, but also affected the original business of the Ximen family. Ximen Ba slammed the table and said angrily: "What's the point of saying this now? Do you dare to ask the Yu family for an explanation? The Yu family is such a big family, and it is in Jin State. Do we have the ability to go to them?!"

Ximen Gui closed his mouth in anger. Ximen Ba did not continue talking about this topic. Instead, he asked, "Now we are discussing where the Ximen family should go. If we continue to stay in Yancheng, with our family's foundation, we can hold on for a few more decades. But this is a way to die. It is better to find another way out somewhere else while we still have some family assets." An elder of the family stood up and said, "How about we move to Songling City like the Li family, at least there will be someone to take care of us?" Ximen Ba shook his head and said, "The Li family has relatives in Songling City. There will be people to arrange and take care of them. What's the point of us going there? Don't let them gnaw away everything by then. It's best for our Ximen family not to leave the Great Zhou Kingdom."

Dong, Dong, Dong, an old man walked slowly into the hall of Ximen's house with a cane. When Ximen Ba saw the man, he stood up and went to support him, blaming himself, "I am an unfilial nephew and disturbed you." The man ignored Ximen Ba, shook off his hand and said, "I can walk by myself!" The old man walked to the seat of the head of the family, turned around and sat down, saying, "Everyone, it's been a long time." Everyone stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, ancestor."

The person who came was the most senior person in the Ximen family, Ximen Ba's great uncle or great uncle, Ximen Xuan. Ximen Xuan looked at his children and grandchildren and smiled and said, "Are you all up? I heard that you were discussing migration, so I came to take a look." After that, he looked at Ximen Ba and asked, "How many years have you taken over the family from your father?" Ximen Ba said nervously, "About, about 1,300 years." Ximen Xuan sighed and said, "That means he has been the patriarch of the family for more than a thousand years?" Ximen Ba didn't know what his uncle wanted to say, so he could only nod his head.

Ximen Xuan said to himself, "As far as I know, the reason why the Li family withdrew from Yancheng and fled to Song State was because the Li family had a grudge with the Zhong family. I heard that the grudge was not small." Ximen Ba also knew these things, and hurriedly made an excuse, "It was a direct descendant of the Li family who raped and killed the mother of the previous head of the Zhong family." Ximen Xuan nodded and asked, "Does the Ximen family have a grudge against the Zhong family?" Ximen Ba shook his head and said, "There is no deep hatred." Ximen Gui hurriedly said, "Dad, my sister seems to have some grievances with the old ancestor of the Zhong family. There were some conflicts a few years ago." Ximen Xuan glared and said anxiously, "Call Xiaoxue!"

Half an hour later, Ximen Xue came to the hall in confusion and saw that all the important people in the family were there. However, when she saw Ximen Xuan, Ximen Xue immediately ran over with a smile, grabbed Ximen Xuan's arm and said, "Grandfather, why did you come out? Are you looking for Xue'er?" Ximen Xuan leaned on his crutches with both hands and said angrily, "No rules, get down!" Ximen Xue was shocked. Usually, the grandfather loved her the most, so what happened today? Ximen Ba also said, "It's a family meeting now, don't be unruly, come down and wait for uncle to question you!"

Ximen Xue didn't know what she had done wrong. She stood obediently in the middle of the hall, waiting to be questioned. Ximen Xuan felt sorry for Ximen Xue's pitiful appearance, but in the face of family affairs, personal feelings could only be put aside. Ximen Xuan looked at Ximen Xue and asked, "Ximen Xue, what's the problem between you and the old ancestor of the Zhong family?" When Ximen Xue heard that he was asking about this, she was a little embarrassed to speak, and didn't know where to start. Seeing Ximen Xue's look, Ximen Xuan thought it was a big deal, and shouted anxiously, "What's the matter! Tell me! Otherwise, I will punish you according to the family rules!" This scared Ximen Xue a lot. Family rules! If she really got punished, she would be skinned alive!

Ximen Xue's legs went limp after being yelled at, and she knelt down directly. She told all the stories about Zhong Wuyan like a bamboo tube pouring out beans. It turned out that five hundred years ago, Ximen Xue went out for training and met Zhong Wuyan in Gongcheng of the Great Zhou Kingdom. It turned out that the two got along well and even called each other sisters. But later, a man appeared. This man fell in love with Zhong Wuyan at first sight, pestered her and ignored Ximen Xue. But Ximen Xue also fell in love with that man at first sight. Can you imagine how this happened?

At this point, everyone knows who that man is, right? Yes, it was Tang Tong from Bailu College. Ximen Xue was not bad looking, but Tang Tong was stubborn. He had set his sights on Zhong Wuyan, and no one could stop him. Zhong Wuyan avoided Tang Tong, which Ximen Xue saw as playing hard to get. Just like that, the former "good sisters" turned against each other because of a man. It was Ximen Xue who turned against her, and Zhong Wuyan was simply confused. Since then, the two have not had any contact, and the last time they met was in Fuguang Town.

Ximen Xuan and a group of elders closed their eyes and thought. After a while, Ximen Xuan opened his eyes and said, "Fortunately, it's not something that cannot be made up for. Baer, ​​take Xiaoxue to the Zhong family to apologize and bring a valuable gift." Ximen Xue was shocked and asked, "Why do you want me to apologize to that woman! She stole Xueer's husband! It's not Xueer's fault!" Ximen Ba said angrily, "You have no right to talk here! Get out! House arrest and don't go out!" Ximen Xue wiped her tears and went down. Ximen Ba glanced at Ximen Gui. Ximen Gui knew what his father meant, and hurried down to comfort his sister.

Ximen Xuan looked around at the people in the hall and said slowly: "If the Ximen family does not leave Yancheng, it is better to rely on the Zhong family and continue to stay in Yancheng instead of starting over in another place. The old man has not been idle recently. He inquired about the Zhong family's usual style. As long as there is no deep hatred, the Zhong family will leave a place for the Ximen family to survive." Ximen Ba hesitated and said: "But in this way, the development of the Ximen family will be controlled by others." Ximen Xuan said: "The Ximen family has developed too fast in the past thousand years. It is just right to take advantage of this time to digest it. Turn resources into strength, and then it will be easier to turn the tables or find a new territory."

Ximen Ba was a little flustered before. Seeing that the Li family had run away, he was confused about what the Ximen family should do. After calming down and listening to his uncle's words, he felt that it made sense. It was useless for the Ximen family to earn more crystal beads now. As long as they could maintain their daily expenses and convert the remaining resources into strength, this was the kingly way. Ximen Xuan woke up Ximen Ba and slowly stood up and said, "Hey, the old man is old and really doesn't want to be displaced. Leave the rest to the head of the family." Everyone stood up and sent the old ancestor off.

Ximen Ba sat back on the throne of the head of the family, thought for a while and said, "My uncle is right. Our Ximen family is not short of money now. We just need time to digest these resources. Now we just need to earn a little to maintain our daily expenses. Therefore, I have decided to temporarily rely on the Zhong family! You should also prepare, and pay what you should pay to the Zhong family, and just leave a little for the Ximen family to maintain daily expenses."

An Er curled his lips and thought to himself, "I didn't expect to hear about the romantic history of the Zhong family's ancestor. Should I report it truthfully?" Ever since An Yi and An Er came to Fuguang Town in Yancheng, there have been no secrets in this town for Qian'er. Especially for these major families, whenever there is a family meeting, An Er will definitely be there. An Er left the Ximen family and muttered to himself, "Hey, those little guys need to be trained quickly, otherwise I'll be exhausted." Now Qian'er only has An Er at her disposal, so she uses An Er for everything, which really makes An Er a little overwhelmed.

After listening to An Er's report, Qian'er sneered, "You want to be the host? If you want to get beauty, once you come to my place, you will have no choice. If you obey, you will be given food, but if you don't, you won't even get any soup." An Er bowed and said, "Madam, the Li family has already set off. They took away everything they could. This is the first batch, all cultivators, and there will be some Qi training disciples and mortal children coming later." Qian'er stood up and said, "Some things are about to be resolved. An Er, follow me."