The wicked sister-in-law is in charge; meals include fish and shrimp.

Chapter 328 Meng Jichang Trips Things Up

He shouldn't have been so soft-hearted as to bring his son, who has unpredictable outbursts of madness, out today!

Look at him! He doesn't look like a young master at all!

Meng Jingyang looked up at him with a wronged expression, then lowered her head and continued to wail, crying even harder than before.

Meng Jichang glared fiercely at Guo Rong, whose heart skipped a beat. She yelled at the two servants she had brought, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and take the young master back!"

Two startled servants rushed forward and, each taking one arm, struggled to pull Meng Jingyang up from the ground.

The group hurriedly boarded the carriage. Li Yunwan waved her embroidered handkerchief, her face filled with worry. "Madam Meng, you must find a good doctor to give the young master a proper check-up!"

Guo Rong was furious and wished she could take the pastries from the carriage that she had used to appease Meng Jingyang and smash them against her to death.

The family came and went in a hurry, and Li Yunwan laughed heartily when she saw the carriage finally leave.

Hmph, you dare threaten them?

Just wait, tomorrow the news that the eldest young master of the Meng family has gone mad will spread throughout the entire Qingzhou County.

Song Youqing sat silently in the chair. Li Yunwan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Now you know how powerful she is, right? Luckily, Wan'er escaped."

If the child is taught to be extremely obedient and will likely comply with arrangements, then that would truly be sending them into a fire pit.

Song Youqing sighed heavily. "I was indeed wrong at that moment. I just hope Wan'er is alright."

Li Yunwan offered him a few words of comfort, then remembered that her family still had business dealings with the Meng family.

In this way, Meng Changji would definitely try to trip her up. He probably realized that she had deliberately made Meng Jingyang have a public breakdown.

Ultimately, she won the argument but actually suffered a great loss.

"Sir, the restaurant's business..." She hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt.

Song Youqing waved his hand and said, "If it's gone, it's gone. I'm not afraid even if he brings people to smash up our other shops!"

His first wife left him with this daughter, but the Meng family tricked him into marriage!

"Master! It's not good!"

Butler Song rushed in from outside, carrying a large stack of things.

He handed the items over, and Song Youqing took them and saw that they were resignation letters from the dockworkers.

"Ha, the Meng family moves really fast."

Qingzhou County has a total of two wharves, one in the southeast and one each for the Meng and Song families.

Meng Jichang has now poached his workers by offering them five times the wages.

The docks can't recruit enough experienced people in a short time, so piling up goods and business orders means it's a losing proposition.

They've only been out of the manor for a short time, and they're already so impatient?

Song Youqing slammed the large stack of resignation letters on the table. "Let them go! I don't believe they can bring down the Song family like this!"

He strode out, with the butler sweating profusely as he followed closely behind.

Upon arriving at the dock, the workers began to riot, rushing forward one by one to protest against Song Youqing's arrival.

"Master Song! We've worked for you for so long, why are you lowering our wages?"

"Exactly! Master Meng said he'd give us five times the amount! You're being really unfair!"

"He's an official, how could he act like this? He's brought shame to Qingzhou County!"

They roared angrily, completely forgetting that Song Youqing had bought the dock only because they had played the victim to gain a chance to live.

As for the five times the wages? They had no idea how it all worked out.

Song Youqing's eyes swept over them one by one. What he hated most was people bringing up his official position.

He only has the empty title of a wealthy man thanks to the blessings of his ancestors; who cares about him?

"Them?" Song Youqing gave a self-deprecating laugh.

If we had taken him seriously, things wouldn't be like this now.

"Go find whoever pays you the most, I, Song Youqing, will not say a word!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Steward Song opened the paybook. "Those who want to leave, come and collect your wages, five times the normal rate."

The people's eyes lit up as soon as they heard this, and they rushed to collect their wages.

I received five times the wages here and then went to the Meng family's dock. From then on, I received five times the wages every month!

They were beaming with delight as they took the silver, while the ringleaders, who had been making the biggest fuss, arrogantly declared, "Master Song does have a conscience; after working for us for so long, there's still some affection between us."

"We'll let bygones be bygones for what happened before."

The others echoed this sentiment, each speaking in a tone of repaying evil with good.

In the end, only a few people remained on the huge dock, looking at each other with a hint of determination in their eyes.

"Mr. Song, we're not leaving."

The speaker was a middle-aged man who had fled to Qingzhou County with his family during a famine.

Penniless and like a beggar, who would want him?

Just when he thought his family was going to starve to death with him, he met Song Youqing.

This kind person first arranged simple accommodations for the family, and then fed them a full meal.

Later, seeing how pitiful they were, they simply let him come to the dock to help with the work and even gave him an advance on his wages.

Now he has settled down here, and his family's livelihood is no longer a problem.

Furthermore, he knew Meng Jichang's character to some extent.

Because the two docks had cooperated before, he knew a few people there, and they said that Meng Jichang wasn't as good as his coworkers described.

So what if the wages are five times higher? People must not forget their roots.

Song Youqing patted his shoulder and looked at the group, "Everyone, go back and rest for a couple of days."

"Return to work normally in two days."

He had just finished dealing with this matter when, before he even left the dock, Song's godson came looking for him.

"Sir, what about the shop..."

He didn't continue, but Song Youqing knew what was going on from his angry expression.

"Let them do what they want, they can't kill me," Song Youqing said dismissively, waving his hand.

At worst, he can just sell those shops. Do you really think you can force him to his death?

Meng Jichang was overjoyed at home, shaking his head with delight. He knew that if he did something slightly, Song Youqing would earn far less money.

With no one at the dock and the shops closed, everyone must be frantic with worry.

Guo Rong brought Meng Jingyang, whose mind was still not quite clear.

Seeing Meng Jichang and Meng Jingyang hide behind Guo Rong, they didn't dare to look forward.

Meng Jichang looked at Guo Rong with a stern face and immediately felt embarrassed. She pulled Meng Jingyang and pushed him in front of Meng Jichang, saying, "Yang'er, go apologize to your father."

Meng Jingyang pursed his lips, but still obediently said, "I'm sorry, Father, please forgive me. I was wrong today."

Meng Jichang glanced at him, his expression slightly displeased. "It's not your fault."

"You just need to wait patiently for your marriage to Song Tingwan next month."

He sighed softly, deeply worried about his son.

Meng Jingyang immediately danced with joy, spinning around happily in the room.

Guo Rong was happy to see him so happy, but her smile didn't last long before it was frozen by the words of the servants.

"Master, someone from Pear Blossom Garden just came and said that Consort Qiu is pregnant!"

The servants ran in with beaming faces; they were sure to get some goodies this time!

Guo Rong was struck by lightning; she clung tightly to Meng Jingyang's sleeve to barely steady herself.