Chapter 154: A Good Home (3,000 Chapters)

Chapter 154: A Good Home (3,000 Chapters)

Chen Fu and his mother argued until the sky was dark and the sun and moon shone together.

From when Chen Fu stole chicken wings at three years old, it was clear that "this child would surely steal and do no good in the future";

to when he wet the bed at six and was beaten severely, only to continue wetting the bed for half a month, it was evident that "this child disrespected elders and could be considered unforgivably wicked!";

and finally, when he failed his examination at twelve and didn't even qualify as a scholar, it was concluded that "despite usually writing well, he forgets his words during exams, indicating a life of mediocrity with no prospects!"

Well, strictly speaking, it wasn't an argument.

After all, an argument is like table tennis, back and forth, but this situation was more akin to one-sided verbal abuse—Lady Qu, Chen Fu's mother, spoke nonstop with a cold smile, while Chen Fu leaned against the red-lacquered pillar, pale-faced, as if strangled by an invisible hand, his eyes filled with fear and despair.

Xianjin and Manager Dong were like two tongue-tied quails, quietly huddling in the crevices.

When Xianjin turned her head and met Chen Fu's helpless and terrified gaze through the crack in the door,

Xianjin pursed her lips.

Manager Dong quickly grabbed Xianjin's sleeve, "…A kind mother teaching her son, karma comes around. If you go in, it's a grave overstep."

Xianjin took a deep breath, raised her chin, and saw Chen Wu walking in, immediately stepping forward and calling out loudly, "Mr. Chen Wu, you're back!"

Inside, everything fell silent.

Chen Wu paused, then turned around.

Xianjin hurriedly approached and whispered, "…Old Lady is arguing with Third Master again. You're the only elder here; shouldn't you try to mediate?"

Mr. Chen Wu's brows twitched, "Arguing? What about now?"

Xianjin smiled warmly, "Third Master has a stubborn streak. He worked hard on the shop, only for someone else to benefit. He said a few things…"

Mr. Chen Wu felt a sudden relief: Chen Fu was never one to hide his feelings, and after just recovering from illness, his first reaction was to argue…

Those three thousand taels were well spent!

Mr. Chen Wu sighed deeply.

"What's there to argue about? It's all within the Chen family, isn't it?"

In the art of being a kind elder, Mr. Chen Wu could publish five top-tier papers, all as the first author. With a wave of his wide sleeves, he entered the fray with a smile.

Three moments later, Mr. Chen Wu was leading Chen Fu out with a smile, and Xianjin was about to leave when she heard Lady Qu's low voice from inside, "Jin'er, come in."

Jin'er refused to enter…

Especially when your one-sided verbal abuse of your son hasn't been fully released yet…

"Jin'er!"

Lady Qu raised her voice.

Xianjin looked at Manager Dong, who casually shifted his gaze away.

Alright, Dong Wubo, I'll remember you!

You're such a personal assistant who flies away when trouble comes!

Xianjin bowed her head and walked into the main hall under the courtyard.

Lady Qu leaned on her cane, one hand on the chair back, lifting her eyes wearily, pointing to the left, "Sit."

Xianjin sat down with one-third of her bottom.

Lady Qu coughed lightly.

The contact with the wooden bench instantly reduced to one-quarter.

"…It's been over a year since I last saw you, in the Chen family ancestral hall last year."

For an elderly person, a year leaves visible marks, especially this year, as Lady Qu had not recovered from the loss of her eldest son.

Clearly, the wrinkles on her forehead deepened.

Xianjin replied respectfully, "Yes."

"This past year, you've done well, with those calligraphy books, diaries… even opening a tea room, which is as profitable as the paper shop, and bringing Li Sanshun to produce six-zhang xuan paper."

Lady Qu's voice was weak, "You send detailed reports every season, and all accounts and silver tickets are submitted. I appreciate your efforts and have entrusted you with the Jing County shops and workshops—where else can you find a merchant who entrusts their business, people, and money to a girl with outsider blood?"

Xianjin slightly lifted her head and softly said, "You hired me as the chief manager, so apart from my monthly salary, I take nothing. I must give my utmost to repay your trust."

Lady Qu sighed and nodded, "Hired, that word is very precise."

She continued, "Since you're hired, whether the shops are in my name or Second Son's, it doesn't really matter to you."

Xianjin looked up at Lady Qu.

Does this old lady think Chen Fu's argument was instigated by her?

Xianjin: …

This old lady thinks too little of her!

Is she the type to sow discord?

Moreover…

— Do you need someone to drive a wedge between you and your son?!

How much of a misunderstanding do you have about your relationship?!

Xianjin's original family was one where her nouveau riche father might be unreliable, and her highly educated mother might yearn for freedom, but despite their incompatible personalities, both parents loved their children deeply and with the weight of Mount Tai. Therefore, although Xianjin was often bedridden due to illness since childhood, she grew up in an environment filled with love, without any fear or insecurity. Instead, she had a fearless and bold spirit.

So she couldn't understand the suffocating mother-son relationship between Old Lady Qu and Chen Fu!

What does Old Lady Qu really want?

Does she want her son to reach for the moon or catch turtles in the ocean?!

Let this love-struck person be!

He just wants to live an ordinary and peaceful life!

Who says living an ordinary life isn't happy?!

Sympathy for her stepfather overcame her fear of the menopausal boss.

Xianjin swallowed the tea in one gulp, raised her head, and said word by word, "If you tell me to go to Jing County, I will go to Jing County; if you tell me to return to Xuancheng, I will return to Xuancheng. When I achieve something, you reward me with gold bars, and I am genuinely happy. I don't think you are ignoring me or dismissing me with money—simply because, as you said, I am an outsider without blood ties, and I have no more expectations from you."

"But Third Master is different."

"Third Master is your son, naturally affectionate. Your evaluation of him, even a single word, can affect his entire life."

Xianjin smiled, "Stealing chickens at three, wetting the bed at six, failing at twelve... Think about it, has there ever been anything in your memory that Third Master did that made you completely happy?"

Old Lady Qu looked at Xianjin in disbelief and instinctively rebutted, "How could there not be?"

Xianjin straightened her back and smiled, indicating she was ready to listen.

Old Lady Qu tried several times to speak but couldn't get the words out.

Auntie Qu stared dumbfounded at Mama Zhang behind Xianjin: Your Jin girl has gone mad! She is standing up for Chen Fu and defying the old lady!

Mama Zhang rolled her eyes: So what if she stands up?! We do business based on performance! She's the top salesperson! Just with those account books from Jing County, she has the right to speak up in the Chen family! What is confidence? This is confidence!

Xianjin took a deep breath and spoke gently, "Third Master did well in Jing County. He went to the workshop every day to take attendance, and when busy, he helped move paper, clear inventory, and boil water. You didn't know this, did you? Third Master secretly wrote two volumes of stories and earned nearly eighty taels, which he put into the shop's accounts."

Old Lady Qu gripped the chair arm, staring at Xianjin in shock.

Xianjin stood up and bowed to Old Lady Qu, "Third Master doesn't seek unearned benefits or idle enjoyment. He is my father. Hearing you speak of him like this makes me uncomfortable too."

Old Lady Qu held her cane sternly, turned her face away stiffly, and after a while, changed the topic, "...Arrange Miss Qiao in Yiyuan, give her your monthly salary, and assign two efficient maids."

Why did she suddenly jump to this...

Xianjin didn't understand the intention but nodded, acknowledging it as a good thing.

Old Lady Qu continued, "Think carefully about Miss Qiao's situation. The Chen family can help, but we shouldn't get ourselves involved. Miss Qiao is young, and our family can raise her for a few years, but once she comes of age, where she ends up is not our concern!"

She paused, then softened her tone, "In the future, think thrice before acting! Don't be rash and self-willed!"

This... must be what Old Lady Qu called her in to discuss, right?

Xianjin belatedly realized that her defense of Chen Fu had overshadowed the original purpose...

Xianjin nodded, "Day by day, year by year, we need to find a solution for the Qiao family."

Old Lady Qu sighed, "What else can we do? Since she's already here, we'll just have to take it one day at a time." She waved her hand, rubbed her forehead, and dismissed Xianjin.

Once Xianjin left, Auntie Qu hurried to help rub her forehead and cautiously asked, "...Didn't you intend to confront her about taking in Miss Qiao without permission?"

Old Lady Qu narrowed her eyes, silent for a long moment, then said, "Jin girl... was boldly defending her father..."

Auntie Qu didn't understand the cause and effect.

Old Lady Qu exhaled, "Although Third Master is a troublemaker, Jin girl is a piece of jade..."

She opened her eyes, thinking about the younger generation of the Qu family, "I remember Mang'er is two years younger than Xianjin. Last year, he passed the medical examination in Xuancheng Prefecture."

Auntie Qu's eyes sparkled, "Mang'er is the most capable among the next generation of our Qu family!"

Old Lady Qu smiled contentedly, "Isn't that true? He follows in his father's footsteps but surpasses him. Even becoming a court physician in Capital City is possible. Marrying Xianjin to him wouldn't be unfair. When she marries, she can leave the Chen family with a third of the wealth she has accumulated for us as her dowry."

Auntie Qu laughed, "You truly like Jin girl now."

Old Lady Qu smiled, "Wouldn't you like someone who brings fortune and defends your son?"

Auntie Qu quickly demurred, "I don't have such great fortune!"

The aunt and niece chatted for a bit, and then Old Lady Qu looked towards Yiyuan with lingering thoughts—there was still one more thing she hadn't said: If Xianjin marries back into the Qu family, she can still officially manage the Chen family affairs.