The Fang Family's courtyard was much more lively than usual.
Old Lady Fang was opening the silver vault, a very troublesome task. Especially since it hadn't been touched for a long time, she personally reviewed a thick stack of ledgers for four or five days and picked out several accounts.
Then, they awaited the delivery of the silver-loading carts from the other party.
De Sheng Chang naturally had carts, but Old Lady Fang simply said to wait for the other party's carts to come. Several days later, they arrived, clearly newly made.
Although no one knew the origin of this guest, everyone guessed their background was considerable.
"The silver to be transferred must be substantial."
"Otherwise, there's no need to use the Tianzi vault."
"Perhaps the entire Tianzi vault was prepared for them."
"Several carts, indeed."
Such discussions occasionally erupted in De Sheng Chang.
For the staff, this was a rare major event.
Though there was chatter, it ultimately did not affect the money business. The money business continued as usual; everyone performing their duties. People came in with silver banknotes, the greeter stepped forward, the banknotes were sent to the counter, but the money was not delivered as usual.
"The vault says the accounts are sealed," a staff member said, sweat breaking out on his forehead.
The staff hearing this were shocked.
Sealing the accounts in the money business meant ceasing operations? How could this be?
Crash! The door was pushed open.
"Seal the accounts? Why didn't the shopkeeper tell me?" asked the front counter manager, frowning.
The accounting room manager held a teacup leisurely sipping tea.
"Ah, this," he said, "was Miss Fang Yuxiu's instruction."
Miss Fang Yuxiu?
"How can Miss Fang Yuxiu seal the vault?" the front counter manager was astounded.
The accounting room manager set down the teacup, producing a crisp sound.
"Oh, Old Wei, are you saying Miss Fang Yuxiu isn't in charge?" he said.
Miss Fang Yuxiu certainly was in charge.
Not to mention, before Fang Chengyu recovered from his illness, the two Misses had been working in the money business, and Old Lady Fang completely regarded them as sons, training them. Even when Fang Chengyu later took over the money business, the two Misses not only didn't return home but their responsibilities in management grew increasingly significant.
The discharge of the silver vault from the money business was always in the hands of Miss Fang Yuxiu.
With her seal, even Fang Chengyu didn't need to be involved.
The front counter manager's expression was solemn.
"Why would Miss Fang Yuxiu seal the vault?" he asked. "Is it Old Lady Fang's wish?"
The accounting room manager shook his head.
"We don't know why, we simply follow Miss Fang Yuxiu's orders," he said.
We.
The front counter manager's face turned pale.
"Do you mean by any chance all the money businesses are sealing their accounts?" he stammered.
The accounting room manager shook his head.
"Of course not," he replied.
The front counter manager breathed a sigh of relief, but the accounting room manager's following words made his face flush again.
"Only the money business under Miss Fang Yuxiu's control," he said.
That's still significant! In Ze Prefecture alone, there were no fewer than ten!
The sudden refusal to exchange money in the money business, something De Sheng Chang had never experienced since its establishment, not even when Old Master Fang Shouyi and Grand Old Master Fang died.
"This matter is indeed escalated," the front counter manager said.
What was Miss Fang Yuxiu up to?
Did the family know?
The family was unaware.
Old Lady Fang was busy with the Tianzi vault matters, and Lady Fang had always been confident in her two daughters. By the time the news reached them, it was already two days later.
Outside the rumors had spread widely, with many people even blocking the money business.
"What nonsense is this?" Lady Fang thought she'd misheard. "I've never said to seal the vault, and neither has Old Lady Fang."
"Madam, of course you haven't, it was Miss Fang Yuxiu," Concubine Yuan said, stamping her foot. "Not only Miss Fang Yuxiu, but Miss Fang Yunxiao also caused a stir and had the accounting room seal the ledgers."
Fang Yunxiao had always been managing the ledgers, she certainly had the ability to seal accounts.
Lady Fang blinked, feeling somewhat amused.
"I don't understand," she said.
"The shopkeepers don't understand either, thinking it was the family's intention, nobody dared ask," Concubine Yuan said. "It's been dragged out until today, but it's truly become a major issue, that's why they came to inquire, and the gatekeepers were even ordered to stop them by the two Misses."
Indeed?
Lady Fang's expression gradually darkened; this matter seemed no joke.
"Luckily enough, they blocked it, or the managers and shopkeepers outside would've realized something was wrong and managed to send the news in," Concubine Yuan said urgently, "Otherwise, we would still be kept in the dark."
Lady Fang slapped the table.
"Call them here," she barked.
Concubine Yuan hurried to fetch the maidservants, and soon they returned.
"The two Misses have gone to Grandma," they said, their expressions uneasy, "It seems like they're arguing."
"Surely, Grandma is aware," Concubine Yuan said quickly.
Lady Fang hesitated no longer and rushed with Concubine Yuan toward Old Lady Fang.
As they entered the courtyard, they heard the sound of a teacup being smashed inside.
"Do you know what you are doing?" Old Lady Fang was furious, staring at her two granddaughters seated before her.
Fang Yunxiao immediately stood up, looking uneasy, her face flushed and pale.
But Fang Yuxiu remained seated calmly, her expression composed, with a teacup still in her hand.
"Do you know what this means? This is causing big trouble," Old Lady Fang said angrily.
Closing the accounts and refusing to cash banknotes—such measures are only taken when a money business faces a shortage of silver and cannot turn around. For such a large business as De Sheng Chang to suddenly do this is bound to attract immense attention.
Especially at this moment, attracting attention is to be avoided at all costs.
Were these two girls crazy?
"What are you thinking?" Old Lady Fang asked.
Fang Yuxiu put down the teacup.
"Grandmother, we have thought very simply," she said, "We just want a guarantee."
"What guarantee?" Old Lady Fang asked.
"Grandmother, you promised us before, to raise my sister and me as boys, so shouldn't we have a share in the family wealth too?" Fang Yuxiu said.
Family wealth?
Is this a fight over inheritance?
Lady Fang listened in astonishment, finding it absurd, and felt a bit disoriented.
We guarded day and night against outsiders causing trouble and threatening us, but now it's our own family causing the ruckus?
And it's two daughters?
"Outrageous!" Lady Fang could no longer bear it and rushed in, shouting.
Concubine Yuan hurried to drive out the maidservants from the courtyard.
But it was already too late, as the summer windows and doors were wide open, with beaded curtains hanging low, and everything spoken inside was heard outside, leaving the maidservants in shock as they retreated out, driven by Concubine Yuan. She realized the news would soon spread throughout the household.
The two Misses wanting to fight over inheritance is an unheard-of absurdity.
What kind of situation is this?
Concubine Yuan patted her chest.
"What's so outrageous about this?"
Facing her mother, Fang Yuxiu remained calm and composed, as was her usual demeanor.
Compared to Fang Yunxiao's dullness and Fang Jinxiu's recklessness, Fang Yuxiu was the wisest and most astute, the one in whom both Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang had placed their greatest expectations.
Yet, what seemed like intelligence and astuteness in the past now appeared cold and devoid of some human warmth and emotion.
Fang Yuxiu wore a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, her eyes cool and detached.
"Mother, we are family, but we must speak business when it is business. My sister and I've done a lot for the family and the money business over the years," she said, "Now, looking at our brother being in good health and having received the dynasty's awards, our Fang Family can be said to have finally overcome hardships. Our brother is no longer young, we're no longer young, now it's time for those who should marry to marry, those who should be wed to be wed. With our brother at home, we can't exactly stay here to bring in a husband. If we're to marry, does the money business count as part of the dowry?"
Old Lady Fang and Lady Fang looked at her, their expressions shocked.
"Yuxiu, how did you come to think these things?" Old Lady Fang took a deep breath and asked, with a hint of exploration in her expression, "Who taught you this?"
Otherwise, how could a perfectly good granddaughter suddenly turn out this way?
Fang Yuxiu leaned back into the chair.
"Grandmother, of course, you taught me," she picked up a fan and gently fanned herself, "Didn't you say back when you were fighting for family wealth with your maiden family and my great-grandfather's family, that our Fang Family women could not be governed by emotions, that even close brothers should settle accounts clearly, that in matters of money, there should be no recognition of familial ties."
Old Lady Fang's face turned dark, pointing a finger at Fang Yuxiu, wanting to say something but unable to, as her breath caught and she fell back into her chair, trembling all over.
"Mother," Lady Fang rushed over.
Outside, Concubine Yuan dared not listen further, calling out urgently for a doctor to be summoned, and rushed inside.
Maidservants and employees filled the room, shouting, as Old Lady Fang's courtyard immediately descended into chaos.
Fang Yuxiu remained sitting calmly in the chair.
"You are really ruthless," Fang Yunxiao said pale-faced, in a low voice.
Fang Yuxiu murmured in response.
"The women of our Fang Family must indeed be ruthless," she said, "Only by being ruthless to oneself can one be ruthless to others."
Fang Yunxiao looked at the encircled Old Lady Fang and couldn't help stomping forward, taking a few steps then stopping to look back at Fang Yuxiu with some unease.
"You... wouldn't really think this way, right?" she hesitated and asked in a low voice.
Fang Yuxiu smiled slightly and picked up the teacup to take a sip.