Chapter 37: The Risk of Death

Chapter 37: The Risk of Death

Upon hearing Chen Jianfang's words, Old Madam Qu and Qu Erniang exchanged a glance. Old Madam Qu let out an imperceptible sigh of relief, her hand tightly gripping the ledger, remaining silent.

Silence, an awkward silence.

Xianjin kept her head down, like a roasted quail.

If she mishandled this situation, she would have to say goodbye to her gold bars.

She should have taken a bite first!

Xianjin couldn't help but regret it. She knew the intentions behind Old Madam Qu's decision to send Chen Fu to the old residence—it was merely because Mr. Chen Liu had gone too far, and Chen Fu needed to be reined in with his imperial sword.

But how much was too much was hard to gauge.

After all, she was new here, unable to fully understand the grudges and grievances between Old Madam Qu and the Chen family, nor could she fathom the depth of relationships among the uncles and nephews—hadn't Old Madam Qu shown considerable trust and reliance on Uncle Five of the Chen family?

What if Old Madam Qu only wanted to trim some of Mr. Chen Liu's hair, but Xianjin swung her axe, severing his neck with a single "crack"?

Would Old Madam Qu hate Mr. Chen Liu or her?

She understood the logic.

Yet, she didn't want to test it—Master Li Sanshun worked under her, and her father and brothers had either died or been maimed due to Mr. Chen Liu; she couldn't remain indifferent.

"Old Madam, there are lives on Mr. Chen Liu's hands," Xianjin raised her head to remind her. "If we raise our hand high and then let it fall lightly, we might not convince the masses."

Chen Jianfang fell silent.

This straightforward and foolish girl...

When calling for blood, at least wear a veil!

"Grandson still remembers when Grandfather left, Sixth Grandfather wept bitterly, raising his hand in the ancestral hall to swear by his blood and tears that he would protect the widows and orphans of the main house with safety and prosperity."

Chen Jianfang followed up on Xianjin's words, "Before the New Year, Father passed away suddenly. Fifth Grandfather, with red and swollen eyes, searched the entire city for a fine coffin, making eight trips to Chuzhou just to beg the gentry to give up the Huangbo wood coffin they had prepared for their elderly family members."

"At the same time, Sixth Grandfather wrote in a letter that the accounts of the workshop in Jing County were in crisis, hoping that the main family would allocate another sixty taels for raw materials next year."

Chen Jianfang had a pleasant voice, clear and warm, like a young man in a novel, wearing a white shirt and riding a bicycle on campus.

Xianjin glanced at him slightly.

"The tears shed by Sixth Grandfather in front of the ancestral hall were real, as is his current ruthlessness and trampling on the Chen family. But wanting to buy osmanthus flowers and carry wine together, it's never quite the same as youthful adventures..."

Chen Jianfang's voice gradually lowered.

Time flies, and another story of a dragon-slaying youth eventually becoming a dragon.

Xianjin also felt a strange sadness due to Chen Jianfang's words. She hadn't experienced the sudden collapse of the Chen family's pillar, the widows and orphans relying on two close uncles to stand up again. So she could shout for blood and violence without restraint...

Old Madam Qu sighed deeply, "How could he be so foolish!"

Aunt Qu's eyes reddened, "Madam, shall we ask the elders to take charge?"

Old Madam Qu's hand gripped the ledger, and after a long pause, she nodded. "Open the ancestral hall, invite the Chen family elders, and the village chief." Leaning on her cane, Old Madam Qu stood up, her voice hoarse. "Tell Ah Dong to lead a team of servants to bring Mr. Chen Liu here."

Then, Xianjin and Chen Jianfang were asked to leave. This high-level meeting of the Chen family, where elders were being disciplined, wasn't suitable for a rising star, let alone Xianjin, who was an illegitimate child working in the shadows.

Chen Jianfang walked slowly with his hands behind his back.

Xianjin originally wanted to part ways with the rising star once they left the flower hall, but she couldn't overtake him directly—it would make her intention to ignore him too obvious.

So Xianjin could only tilt her head, dragging her feet behind him, moving like a snail.

Chen Jianfang stopped, turned, and looked at her sideways. "You're not afraid that Mr. Chen Liu will report you for extortion?"

Xianjin was startled.

Chen Jianfang tersely reminded her, "On the fifth day of the first month, I met with friends at Xiao Daoxiang. Right across from us was the most bustling crowd on Shuixi Street."

Oh.

So he saw her leading Mr. Chen Liu to "dig for treasure."

Xianjin scratched her head. "He wouldn't dare. He still wants to leave something good for his son and grandson."

She had only taken two rolls of eight-zhang Xuan paper and two rolls of six-zhang Xuan paper. She didn't believe that Mr. Chen Liu only had that much! If she had demanded more, asking for all of Mr. Chen Liu's stock, would he have given it to her without haggling over the price?

Mr. Chen Liu must have more.

If he dared to report her for using the ledger to extort him first, then he wouldn't be able to keep a single piece of paper from what he had left!

His son and grandson would hate him to death!

Chen Jianfang pondered for a moment, understanding. Then he continued walking with his hands behind his back. After a few steps, he hesitated and stopped again, turning around completely. "...Everything requires careful thought and prudence. Do not act rashly or recklessly, using chaos to control chaos or violence to suppress violence, as it may harm yourself instead."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Jianfang felt it was inappropriate.

Who was he, anyway?

But this girl was originally of humble birth, with a mother who was a concubine. Her actions were driven by a bold spirit and innate wit. Not flipping now didn't mean she wouldn't flip later.

In this world, could a girl bear the cost of such a crash?

Since Third Uncle had taken the pressure to keep this girl, he should shoulder the responsibility of educating her. Third Uncle...

Chen Jianfang's mind conjured up the image of Chen Fu holding two wine jars in each hand, standing in the middle of the main room, looking oily and confused. He couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

Third Uncle's attitude, let's just forget it.

When Chen Jianfang looked up, she saw Xianjin with her neck stiff and eyes askew, looking at her, causing an inexplicable anger to well up from the depths of her heart.

What kind of appearance is this!

Still stubbornly sticking her neck out, refusing to back down!?

This appearance was eerily similar to Third Uncle's defiance before Grandmother, their stubbornness echoing each other in a strange way.

Chen Jianfang sighed and spoke gently, "My words were only due to our shared misfortune, both having lost our parents, bereft of blessings and protection. As fellow fallen souls, I spoke rashly. Miss He may choose to listen to what is good and discard what is not, my abruptness was uncalled for."

After saying this, Chen Jianfang turned around and walked out of the flower hall, leaving Xianjin, with her crooked neck, bewildered in the wind.

What...what did she say...

She didn't say anything!

...

The Chen family had opened the ancestral hall, a matter that couldn't be concealed in the small old residence, and by dinnertime, the news had spread like wildfire.

Mom Zhang was still pounding rice cakes.

Yes.

She was still pounding rice cakes.

The Chens were merchants, with a greater desire for the God of Wealth than ordinary families, and their wish to retain the God of Wealth with rice cakes was even stronger. Thus, the unfortunate Mom Zhang was caught again to pound rice cakes.

Mom Zhang, who had pounded rice cakes for half a month: I really feel like I've been screwed over.

The God of Wealth, who had eaten rice cakes for half a month: I also really feel like I've been screwed over.

Mom Zhang held a wooden pestle as tall as a person, pounding hot rice expressionlessly. As she pounded, she bent down to grab a steaming ball of rice and stuffed it into Xianjin's mouth, "…This time, Sixth Master might really die."

Xianjin, with her cheeks puffed out, struggled to chew the rice cake, "Who did you hear that from?"

"The second uncle's great-aunt's cousin from the front yard is my sister-in-law."

Mom Zhang showed off her network of relationships without any expression, nodding towards Xianjin, "As you know, your Mom Zhang has been entrenched in the Chen family for many years, my network is extensive."