Three days later, impatient businessmen awaited Old Lady Fang in an inn.
"Can we load the carts now?" he asked with a frown, "Is the matter with your family resolved?"
Old Lady Fang felt somewhat ashamed.
"My apologies, it's still unresolved, but it won't affect business," she said.
Not affect? With so many people and the feudal authority keeping an eye on the family, wouldn't the goods transported out under the incitement of those Misses be looted?
Old Lady Fang laughed.
"You must be joking, that's impossible." she said, her expression slightly embarrassed, "Though I'm old, I still wield some deterrence."
The businessman made a noise of acknowledgment and looked down at her condescendingly.
"Ah, so that's how it is, Old Lady Fang, you indeed live up to your reputation." he said with a half-smile.
This remark wasn't particularly offensive, but neither was it complimentary.
The reputation he referred to was naturally the ruthless, domineering nature of Old Lady Fang.
Such a woman, surviving the deaths of her husband and son and managing to keep such a large family business standing for decades, surely couldn't be defeated by a few junior women.
Old Lady Fang personally invited him to show her sincerity and left first, but the businessman did not head directly to Fang Mansion; instead, he led his entourage to the main street.
The hottest topic in the streets for these three days was still the Fang Family daughters' dispute over the family inheritance, a subject reignited due to Third Miss filing a complaint with the authorities.
"So now is it Old Lady Fang versus this Third Miss?" the businessman asked with interest.
The chatting townsfolk didn't care whether they knew him or not; they were very eager to share—better to enjoy together than alone.
"No, the Third Miss came out to claim the inheritance, but the two Misses in the family disagreed, so Old Lady Fang had Lady Fang take the two Misses to the feudal authority to stir up trouble with the Third Miss." a townsfolk said with a laugh.
The businessman laughed.
"This Old Lady is truly quite heartless," he said, "Sending her own kin to fight."
"What's this?" The townsfolk were indifferent, finding it perfectly natural.
"Today has just started, and Yangcheng folks have gone to the county government to watch the spectacle." someone enthusiastically pointed.
The businessman pondered for a moment.
"That Third Miss is alone and at a disadvantage; can she really fight against the Fang Family mother and daughters?" he asked curiously, "I heard the Third Miss's birth mother harmed Young Master, she'd be lucky if Lady Fang didn't tear her apart."
The townsfolk showed a bit of smug superiority.
"Friend, you're not aware, aren't you?" one of them said, "Lady Fang is formidable, but Third Miss isn't alone; she has backing."
The businessman appeared puzzled.
"A person like her, what kind of backing could she have?" he asked.
"You don't know, do you? Her backing is someone even Old Lady Fang fears." another townsfolk spoke quickly, his brows raised and his thumb up, "Miss Jun, Miss Jun, have you heard of her?"
The businessman acknowledged with an 'oh', aware of Miss Jun returning to Yangcheng for this matter.
"Miss Jun wants to help Third Miss?" he frowned and said, "That's not very good."
"Miss Jun must have her reasons," the townsfolk said in unison, showing slight dissatisfaction towards him.
The businessman seemed startled by Miss Jun's popularity, offered a few awkward smiles, and walked away; once away from the crowd, his face showed no trace of embarrassment.
"Turns out, Miss Jun is also a heartless person." he said with a half-smile.
"Sir, Miss Jun received the greatest favor from the Fang Family bank; without De Sheng Chang, she wouldn't have earned military merit, even Duke of Chengguo died in the northern lands." the attendant said, "People's appetites only grow; having it yourself beats anyone having it, though she's just a granddaughter with no legitimate claim to the inheritance, now she's set to have Third Miss step forward while backing her, determined to take a substantial share of the riches."
The businessman laughed even deeper, with a hint of coldness.
"Bite then, bite—fools not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth." he said.
"What now..." the attendant asked for instruction.
"Old Lady Fang is straightforward, sending them to the feud to stir up trouble, not delaying our business." the businessman flicked his sleeves and placed his hands behind his back, "We'll take the goods and leave, regardless of their fate."
.....
....
The silver was personally moved out and loaded onto carts by the businessman and his men; Old Lady Fang didn't accompany them downstairs, and the silver might have been mixed, filling two carts.
"Old Lady, do you want to count? Aren't you afraid we'll take more than what belongs to you?" the businessman asked.
As it was said to take the principal, naturally there were accounts to handle, and the amount was fixed.
Old Lady Fang's demeanor was complex.
"You're joking, without you, there wouldn't be me." she said meaningfully.
The businessman smiled but didn't speak, as Old Lady Fang's gaze fell on the carts, somewhat wistful.
"Old Lady, from now on, everything is yours." the businessman laughed softly, "You should be happy."
Old Lady Fang looked at him, solemnly bowed.
"As always, without you, there wouldn't be me." she said.
The businessman laughed heartily, sighed with some relief.
"Old Lady, business may fade, but loyalty remains." he said.
Old Lady Fang gratefully bowed.
"It's getting late, we must depart." the businessman said.
Old Lady Fang bowed again, personally seeing them off, but was refused at the entrance, only able to stand at the door watching the group go along the street, soon disappearing from view.
"Grandmother, how do you feel?" Fang Chengyu came over and asked.
How does she feel?
Old Lady Fang grasped the cane in her hand.
The cane, which no longer held the imperial decree she fretted over day and night.
She turned to look at the mansion, which no longer held the silver ingots that kept her restless day and night.
Decades of secrets, gone in an instant.
"I don't have to worry about whether you'll be by my side when I die." she suddenly said.
This secret no longer needs passing down, it will go to the grave with her.
"I feel empty." She pressed her hand to her heart, laughed slightly, "But also, relieved."
....
.....
The convoy moved along the road, surrounded by people riding horses, some tossing wineskins to each other, laughter never ceasing.
"They truly are carefree."
Not far off, on a hill slope, Miss Jun, draped in a straw shawl and wearing a straw hat, almost blending in with the hill, said lightly, her gaze fixed intently on the group.
A gust of wind rushed behind her, and a branch struck Miss Jun's head.
"What are you doing?" Miss Jun asked with some annoyance.
Zhu Zan paid no attention to her bad mood, raised his brows with a smile.
"We're going to play." he said.
Miss Jun looked down at him, brows still furrowed.
"Play what?" she asked.