Actually, something seems off. Registrar Lin looked at the girl standing in the hall, feeling unfamiliar.
"We've met before," Fang Jinxiu said proactively, "On March third that year at Jin Yun Hall, I was there too."
March third, Registrar Lin cursed inwardly; it wasn't a happy memory for him.
That's where everything went wrong.
Thinking about it, he wasn't exactly on close terms with Miss Jun; on the contrary, they were enemies.
His daughter was ruined by her, still confined in the family shrine, her youthful years wasted. Although Madam Lin had arranged a distant marriage for her daughter, that life was entirely different from what Miss Lin should have had.
If he didn't avenge his daughter, it would be whatever, but he still had to listen to this woman and help her. She spoke so righteously, as if he owed her a favor.
Why!
"She said, Lord Lin, you are a good man," Fang Jinxiu said suddenly.
A good man?
Registrar Lin looked at Fang Jinxiu; this face was unfamiliar to him. He couldn't remember what Miss Jun looked like, but the icy look in this woman's eyes made him shiver.
Back then at Jin Yun Hall, that Miss Jun had once looked at him with that kind of gaze.
He recalled the secret that woman had threatened him with, a secret that truly could end him and implicate his entire family.
Your daughter was bad and has been punished. You are a good person, so I choose not to kill you.
So it seemed he really did owe her a favor in a way.
Registrar Lin reached his hand to his forehead.
"Miss Fang, what are you accusing Fang Family of? Abandonment?" he asked.
If that's the case, it wouldn't be too much trouble; he'd risk losing face to talk nicely to Old Lady Fang.
"No, I want a share of the inheritance," Fang Jinxiu said.
Registrar Lin's hand, pressing against his forehead, slapped directly on it.
Doomed!
The matter of the Fang Family's two young ladies fighting over the inheritance was something he knew well, and had been watching with glee. When Old Lady Fang swiftly dragged the two young ladies back home on the street, reopening De Sheng Chang, he was somewhat disappointed.
If it had gone on a few more days, it would have been more entertaining for everyone watching.
And now this spectacle involved him.
He just wanted to watch the show, not be a part of it!
"Miss Fang, how can a young woman fight for this?" he asked, taking a deep breath.
"I don't understand the laws," Fang Jinxiu promptly said, "That's why I asked Registrar Lin to ensure justice."
Registrar Lin cursed inwardly, his eyes widening, so the idea was for him to figure it out? Just provide the personnel?
You people, Registrar Lin thought this over, it was quite evident this wasn't just Fang Jinxiu's impulsive decision.
This was clearly the idea of that troublemaker.
That troublemaker was really ruthless, actually wanting to snatch inheritance from her grandmother's family. Terrifying.
Registrar Lin's expression changed, this terrible troublemaker could unhesitatingly bite into her own kin, let alone a stranger like him. Before, she could threaten him; now, with her notoriety, crushing him would be as simple as crushing an ant.
The Fang Family was not to be trifled with, but this troublemaker was even worse; better for a fellow to die than oneself.
"Someone, come here," he called out loudly.
A clerk outside responded and entered.
"Go check if Lord County Magistrate is available," Registrar Lin said.
The clerk responded and then returned shortly, saying Lord County Magistrate had just woken up and was playing with his cat.
As a registrar entrenched in Yangcheng for generations, when coming across a county magistrate who knew how to read the mood, many things would go his way.
For those who didn't, Registrar Lin would come up with a way to have them relocated. It was not difficult given his deeply rooted connections with the county's clerks.
Registrar Lin got up to leave, but paused in front of Fang Jinxiu.
"Even though I have a way for Old Lady Fang to respond, Miss Fang, your reputation doesn't sound good either," he said.
The matter of the Fang Family's two young ladies fighting over the inheritance was understandable, being daughters of Lady Fang born of legitimate lineage. But Fang Jinxiu, aside from being born of a concubine, her birth mother even plotted against the Fang Family's heirs.
Such an illegitimate child should be grateful for the Fang Family sparing her life, yet she comes out to fight for inheritance—truly... worse than a beast?
"What use is reputation to me?" Fang Jinxiu said calmly, "Does it nourish or quench thirst?"
Indeed.
Registrar Lin smiled, inwardly admiring that Miss Jun once more.
It was said that after leaving the Fang Family, Fang Jinxiu was taken in by Miss Jun in the capital, keeping this girl around to deal with the Fang Family without tarnishing her own reputation.
"Miss Fang, please wait a moment, I will discuss with Lord County Magistrate," he said amiably.
.........
........
When Fang Jinxiu stepped into the county government, Old Lady Fang once again met that businessman.
"Truly embarrassing, some things happened at home," Old Lady Fang apologized.
The middle-aged man smiled slightly.
"With a big family and big business, and children growing up, these things are inevitable," he said indifferently.
Old Lady Fang thanked him again, said nothing more, and directly got up.
"No more idle chat, we've delayed you for so many days, let's load the carts now," she said.
The middle-aged man no longer put on airs, smiling as he got up.
The servants in the Fang Mansion were all dismissed, the courtyard where the Tianzi vault lay had four carts prepared, the middle-aged man's attendants stood by with folded hands.
Old Lady Fang gazed at the stone slabs on the ground, now stripped of their disguise, her expression a bit nostalgic.
"Old Lady, though the business may cease, the friendship remains," the middle-aged man said with a smile.
Old Lady Fang collected her thoughts, smiled, and nodded.
"Please, let me guide you into the vault," she said, pulling out a key.
The middle-aged man smiled at her, his expression somewhat relaxed. But just as Old Lady Fang was about to unlock the stone slab, someone ran in from outside.
It was an attendant brought by the middle-aged man.
"Sir, bad news, there are many people outside," the attendant said anxiously, "Feudal authority is here too."
Feudal authority?
The middle-aged man and Old Lady Fang's expressions changed.
What's going on?
........
.........
"This is how things are,"
Registrar Lin, ushered in from outside, cleared his throat.
"The third lady of your esteemed family is requesting the return of the rightful inheritance, the county magistrate has sent me to inquire."
Again with the inheritance!
Third Miss?
Old Lady Fang's face sank.
"Lord Lin, you must be joking. We only have two young ladies, there is no third young lady," she said coldly, "Please have the county magistrate drive them away."
With that, she flicked her sleeves to dismiss the guest, but Registrar Lin did not take a step, the government officials advancing to guard against the Fang Family's guards.
"Old Lady Fang, it's best to come along. It's better to discuss matters openly in the hall, for both the public's understanding and yours," he said.
Old Lady Fang was furious.
"My family affairs are none of the public's business," she snapped.
Registrar Lin lightly coughed.
"Third Miss Fang claims she was expelled from the family, and her mother was framed," he said.
That statement hit Old Lady Fang's bottom line; she advanced and spat.
"Nonsense," she cursed.
Registrar Lin calmly wiped the spittle from his clothes.
"So, please follow us, Old Lady Fang, whether it's nonsense or not, let's clear it up with a few words," he said, "I'll be waiting for you outside."
With that, he walked out, indeed standing outside not moving, which made the crowd even more curious, bursting with discussions.
Old Lady Fang was shaking with anger, and the middle-aged man on the other side was also angry, able to see the hordes outside through the door gap, watching the lively scene, then watching the feudal officials peeping into the mansion sneakily.
An expelled illegitimate daughter, fighting over inheritance, accusing her mother's framing—this matter could not be resolved in less than a month.
"Old Lady Fang," his gaze slowly turned grim, "This goes on, are you trying not to return our principal?"
Old Lady Fang took a deep breath.
"I will resolve this matter immediately," she said, "Please trust me."
The middle-aged man looked at her coldly.
"I hope you won't disappoint me again," he said.
Old Lady Fang bowed to him and stepped outside.
"Prepare the carriage for the county government," she ordered.
Passing through the crowd, Old Lady Fang's carriage followed Registrar Lin and his entourage to the county government, Fang Jinxiu turned around to look at Old Lady Fang entering the door.
It's been a long time.
But there was no warmth, nor even anger.
Old Lady Fang stopped in front of Fang Jinxiu.
"Where is she?" she asked coldly.
....
......
(November has ended, last day, please vote for the monthly ticket, sorry for the interruption, thank you, thank you.)