Miss Jun stood by the river, forcefully thrusting a spearhead into the water.
With a splash, water flew everywhere.
As the spearhead was lifted, a fish emerged along with it.
"I can't fish," she said.
Before she finished speaking, there was another splash, and Zhu Zan also speared up a fish on the other side.
"I can't fish either," he said. "I can only catch fish."
Fang Chengyu, sitting by the river, pursed his lips, looking uneasy like a student reprimanded by a teacher.
Is fishing for fish, or is posing a waste?
Miss Jun glared at Zhu Zan.
"That's not what I meant," she said.
Zhu Zan seemed puzzled.
"What do you mean?" he asked. "I don't understand what you're saying."
Playing dumb!
This brother was really too bad.
Miss Jun shot him a sideways glance.
"Do whatever is needed," she said, sitting down in front of Fang Chengyu and tossing a fish to a guard. "I needed fish, so I caught fish. If you don't need fish, then don't catch them."
Fang Chengyu instantly laughed and nodded.
"Then I feel like eating fish," he said enthusiastically. "How should we eat it?"
"Of course, grilled," Miss Jun said, then looked at Zhu Zan.
Zhu Zan glanced at her.
"Why are you looking at me?" he asked.
"You promised to come here. You're in charge of food, lodging, and drink. What do you think you're supposed to do?" Miss Jun said.
Zhu Zan grunted reluctantly, bent down to pick up the fish, and walked to the side. He urged Fang Chengyu's guard to light a fire while hearing Miss Jun speak behind him.
"He grills fish deliciously."
Of course, anything he does is delicious. Zhu Zan smiled slightly, feeling a bit proud. Such an impressive person, everything he does is the best.
Fang Chengyu sighed softly.
Suddenly, he lost his appetite for fish.
The fish was grilled quickly, but only having two was not quite enough.
"It's truly delicious," Fang Chengyu praised repeatedly. "Brother is amazing."
"Eat more if you like it," Miss Jun handed him another piece.
"You eat it, gongzhu," Fang Chengyu shook his head and pushed it back.
"I will eat it."
An elderly voice spoke.
Fang Chengyu turned his head, unexpectedly delighted as if he had just discovered something.
"Grandmother," he called out, standing up.
Old Lady Fang's carriage was parked in the distance. She signaled to the guard not to disturb the three grilling fish by the riverside and walked over herself. Naturally, the three at the riverside had also noticed her arrival.
Miss Jun stood up and called out, "Grandmother."
Old Lady Fang said nothing, walked over to sit by the campfire, and indeed took the grilled fish from Miss Jun's hand to eat.
Fang Chengyu sat down next to her, smiling cheekily.
"Grandmother," he called out again, obediently massaging her shoulders.
Old Lady Fang ignored him and looked up at Miss Jun.
"I need an explanation," she said.
"Grandmother, how did you know gongzhu was back?" Fang Chengyu picked up the conversation, asked with a smile.
"Apart from Miss Jun, who else could make my family's children do such absurd things?" Old Lady Fang said, looking at Miss Jun.
Miss Jun bowed to her.
"I apologize for the disturbance, grandmother. It's my fault," she said.
"Actually, this matter is also my..." Fang Chengyu continued to say, but before he finished, Zhu Zan interrupted him.
"Young one, don't interrupt when adults are talking. Come, let's go catch fish," he said.
Fang Chengyu was unwilling but couldn't resist Zhu Zan's strength, who easily dragged him aside.
"Don't claim credit. Such remarkable things could only be accomplished by her," Zhu Zan said.
Fang Chengyu's face showed neither smiles nor sadness, and for the first time, there was anger in his calm demeanor.
"She won't like you," he suddenly said.
Zhu Zan scoffed.
"Impossible," he said. "With someone like me, who wouldn't like me."
Not waiting for Fang Chengyu to speak, he waved his hand again.
"Young Master Fang doesn't like me," he said, raising his eyebrows. "Then Young Master Fang isn't human."
After saying that, he laughed heartily.
Infuriated, Fang Chengyu glared at him, missing Tenth Noble Son Ning terribly.
The discussion between the elder lady and Miss Jun was unnoticed amidst the antics of the big and the little.
"Initially, I wasn't sure, but Yuxiu is impressive. Yet, it's impossible to act so thoroughly, as if everyone belonged to her overnight," Old Lady Fang said. "I knew this had to be Chengyu's doing. I know he's always eager to leave you everything, but seeing Jinxiu here shows this was your intention."
Miss Jun nodded.
"Yes, this was my intention. I asked Chengyu to slow down and let the older sisters and younger sisters compete for the family inheritance," she said.
"I don't think you're doing it for money," Old Lady Fang said, looking at her. "Even though you need money."
Miss Jun's eyes brimmed with amusement.
"Indeed, grandmother," she said, her voice softer than before.
"Because you want to open the Tianzi vault?" Old Lady Fang asked. "What do you know?"
"I actually don't know anything," Miss Jun said. "That's why I couldn't immediately convince grandmother not to do this, after all, others are reaching out to you. However, I know that this is not advantageous for the Fang Family, so I had to stall to have time to return."
Old Lady Fang remained silent for a moment.
"What do you intend to tell me?" she asked. "No matter what you say, business people value integrity. Debt must be repaid."
"What if they lack integrity?" Miss Jun asked.
Old Lady Fang was aware of what she meant, having discovered that Head Shopkeeper Song and County Magistrate Li were involved after several attempts by Miss Jun. She suggested that there were still people causing harm in the Fang Family, and the danger wasn't eliminated.
"Initially, you said it was because of an encounter with a eunuch," she said. "A eunuch appeared in Yangcheng, but when I produced the imperial decree, surely you should know that a eunuch's appearance around our Fang Family is not unusual."
Miss Jun nodded.
"I'm not surprised by this. My point is, this doesn't mean there isn't danger," she said. "Grandmother, you have to guard against this."
Old Lady Fang looked at her and suddenly smiled.
"Zhenzhen," she said, "there's something you've always forgotten."
Miss Jun paused.
"What is it?" she asked.
Old Lady Fang's expression was serene.
"When the ruler requires a subject to die, the subject cannot refuse," she said.
Miss Jun's face changed.
"You," she said, opening her mouth but unsure of what to say.
She seemed both amused and annoyed.
She had not expected Old Lady Fang to actually be not disbelieving there was danger.
"What do you mean by this?" she said. "Does it mean everything I've done was in vain? Am I meddling? Should I not have saved Chengyu?"
She pointed at Fang Chengyu not far away.
Seeing this, Fang Chengyu immediately sensed something was wrong. He instinctively wanted to approach, but Zhu Zan held him back once more.
"Sit tight," he said. "It's woman's talk; men shouldn't interrupt."
Fang Chengyu was visibly irritated.
"They're arguing," he said.
"What's there to be afraid of? Who can out-argue her?" Zhu Zan said indifferently.
Pah, Fang Chengyu thought to himself, feeling extremely frustrated.
Miss Jun was undoubtedly very angry.
"I shouldn't have exposed Head Shopkeeper Song or captured County Magistrate Li. I should have let them continue to exist and continue to harm you," she said. "Seeking revenge for grandfather and uncle? Dying honorably and rightfully."
"Grandmother, did you already think I was causing trouble back then? That I was complicating things?"
Miss Jun had scolded people and mocked people. Her expression had been indifferent and composed, playful, yet never before had she acted so petulant.
It showed how truly upset she was.
Old Lady Fang smiled.
"Don't say such childish things," she said. "You know we don't think of you that way."
She stood up and waved her hand.
"Alright, that's my message. Don't stir up trouble over this matter. You've returned, so if you want to stay at home for a while, do so. If not, go back."
In waving her hand, she noticed she was still holding the grilled fish, having taken just one bite. She handed it to Miss Jun.
"It's quite tasty," she said, turning and striding away.
Miss Jun watched her back, threw the grilled fish back into the campfire with a smack, and smoke and sparks rose up, filling the air with the fragrant aroma of grilling.