Chapter 141 No matter which piece of wood she set her sights on…
"My dear niece, you're being too rude! What do you mean by bastard? This child is a member of the Shao family!"
Shao Minqing's second uncle, Shao Yongzhen, had a long face and looked displeased.
He glanced at Wu Yusheng, who was being protected by Shao Minqing and could barely stand, and scoffed, "My sister-in-law comes from a wealthy family, but she refuses to be filial to her mother-in-law, and she's also jealous by nature. She can't have a son herself, and she won't allow my brother to take a concubine... Minmin, your father has no choice but to hide your sister-in-law by your grandmother's side. This matter has been made public in our hometown, and everyone knows about it. Do you want to disobey your elders and go against your grandmother's wishes?"
"You, you're talking nonsense!"
Wu Yusheng retorted, her emotions running high. She coughed violently after only a few words, gasping for breath, "Yongkang and I made a pact long ago that even if we only have her as our daughter in this lifetime, she will always be the apple of our eye, and the Shao family business will only be handed over to her. My husband would never lie to me!"
When she married Shao Yongkang, he was just a penniless young man who had run away from home to work as a teenager. He eventually came to the Wu family's boat company. Because of his intelligence, studiousness, and hard work, he gradually caught the eye of Wu's father, who even insisted on marrying his daughter to him despite his wife's objections. He also fully supported Shao's business in the timber industry, which eventually led to the Shao family's timber company selling timber to the palace decades later.
The Wu family had done Shao Yongkang a great favor. After he married Wu Yusheng, he lived in the Wu family's house. Because he often had to go south with the fleet to personally purchase and transport timber, which would take several months at a time, it was better to let his wife stay with his parents so that they could take care of each other.
As for the so-called blood relatives of the Shao family... Wu Yusheng covered the itching in his throat with a handkerchief, his eyes darkened slightly, and he said in a hoarse voice, "If you hadn't heard that Yongkang had made a fortune selling timber outside and hadn't swarmed over here, calling him 'Big Brother' so affectionately, you would probably have assumed he was dead out there long ago."
When Shao Yongkang left his hometown, he was penniless. The only valuable thing he owned was his clothes, which he had painstakingly saved up with his own money from harvesting wheat and building houses for his neighbors. He had also secretly asked his neighbor's aunt to make them for him. Otherwise, given his mother's stinginess, he would have worked like a slave at home and wouldn't have received any benefits.
After marrying Wu Yusheng, Shao Yongkang treated his parents-in-law as his own parents with filial piety and respect. Sometimes when he was drunk, he would pull her aside and wipe away her tears, saying that he only understood what "home" meant after marrying her.
Wu Yusheng had complete trust in such a caring and considerate husband and father who doted on and nurtured her daughter. He could never betray her, much less collude with the Shao family to let her down.
"Jade, help my mother back to her room to rest."
Shao Minqing patted Wu Yusheng's back to help her catch her breath and whispered, "Your cold hasn't fully healed yet. Don't get angry with these bastards. It's not worth it. I can handle them all by myself."
She took Wu Yusheng's hand and softened her voice: "Father is gone, how can you bear to leave me alone? Don't you want to see the day I get married?"
Wu Yusheng touched her face. "I promised your father that even if I'm reluctant to leave him, I won't leave our Minmin all alone in this world. I'm still waiting to take care of your child."
Shao Minqing pictured that silly yet exceptionally sincere and beautiful face in her mind. A confident smile curved her lips. "Yes, I won't keep you waiting too long."
No matter which piece of wood she sets her sights on, she is determined to get her hands on it.
With the help of her maid, Wu Yusheng returned to her room, not giving the woman hiding behind Uncle Shao a single extra glance, as if she didn't exist.
The woman bit her lip in frustration. What made her so confident that Shao Yongkang would not betray her?
The next second, Shao Minqing's sharp gaze shot straight at him.
“Feng Xiaozhen, back when you were kneeling on the street selling yourself to bury your father, and some thugs were harassing you, and no one else dared to intervene, it was my mother who couldn’t bear it and saved you. She gave you some money for your funeral and couldn’t resist your pleading, so she took you into the mansion as a maid. Later, seeing that you had a talent for accounting, she sent you to a merchant’s shop to learn how to use an abacus from the accountant, hoping that you would have a skill to rely on instead of being a slave for the rest of your life.”
"But how did you repay my mother? You studied for a few months and then said you wanted to get married. My mother even gave you a dowry to marry into the family. And now you're telling me that the 'out-of-town merchant' you said you wanted to marry was actually my father's mistress?"
Feng Xiaozhen's eyes reddened, and she said timidly, "Miss, I thought you and Madam had long forgotten me. I didn't want it to be like this either. It was Master who took a liking to me first. He said that Madam had injured her health in her early years and could not have more children, but the family business he had built could not be left without an heir, so..."
Uncle Shao immediately chimed in, "That's right, Minmin. You have to understand your father. Although he loves you, you are still a daughter and will get married sooner or later. Are we supposed to just give the Shao family business away to outsiders? What will happen to us uncles and elders then? We all depend on your father for our livelihood."
The Shao family members who had come to support them also nodded in agreement.
Shao Yongkang was a soft-hearted and nostalgic man. Although he suffered a lot at home when he was young, when his timber business grew and some of his relatives came to seek refuge, he couldn't bear to let his relatives do hard labor like outsiders. He arranged some management positions for them, and they could also participate in the profit sharing at the end of each year. He also went back to his hometown and spent money to rebuild the ancestral hall, bought a large area of sacrificial land, built a school for the Shao family children, and hired teachers.
After all, returning home in wealth and honor is like wearing fine clothes at night.
Now that he was doing well, he wanted to give back to his clan, and he also harbored a bit of a desire to show off and feel triumphant.
However, Shao Minqing was different. She grew up in the Wu family. After her maternal grandparents passed away, she and Wu Yusheng rarely returned to the Shao family or interacted with their relatives.
Just because she was a daughter, she was not favored by Old Madam Shao. Even though she was Shao Yongkang's only child, she was not allowed to enter the ancestral hall during the New Year and could only stay in the kitchen with her aunts and uncles to prepare offerings.
After that, the mother and daughter never went back to celebrate the New Year again. In the first few years, Shao Yongkang would run back and forth between his hometown and the Wu family. But in recent years, he wanted to cultivate his daughter to take over his family business, so he stopped going back to his hometown altogether. He would only send his steward to deliver New Year's gifts back home. The gifts were very generous, so as not to give people something to talk about.
Until last year, when Shao Yongkang was escorting a batch of timber to Beijing, an accident occurred. Some river pirates robbed the cargo ship. During the struggle, Shao Yongkang accidentally fell into the water and was hit by a reef, injuring his internal organs. He dragged his last breath to get back, and only had time to make arrangements for his death before passing away.
However, in recent years, Shao Yongkang has kept his daughter by his side and has publicly stated several times that the Shao family business will be inherited by Shao Minqing in the future. The managers who have worked in the Shao family for many years all know this.
After Shao Minqing took over the family business, the first thing she did was to "persuade" all the Shao family members who did nothing but take kickbacks, sell inferior goods, and act arrogantly and bossy towards other managers and employees just because they were surnamed Shao, to go home and eat on their own.
These are the main people who came with Shao Yongzhen to cause trouble today.
Shao Yongzhen promised that as long as they worked together to oust Shao Minqing, their future benefits would double, and they would all share the money.
“Who said I’m getting married?” Shao Minqing stared at the motley crew opposite her and sneered. “I swore an oath before my father’s bedside that I would marry after giving birth, and that my children would take my surname, Shao. I will never give up the business that my father worked so hard to build.”
Shao Yongzhen's eyes darted around, and he added, "But you are, after all, a girl. Look how hard your father has worked these past years, traveling back and forth between the north and south, braving wind and rain. Just listen to your second uncle's advice, settle down and be a good young lady, and leave the business to your younger brother to manage."
“My mother only gave birth to me, I don’t have any younger brothers or sisters.” Shao Minqing’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Second Uncle, what benefits have you received for being so attentive and helpful? In the end, it’s clear that you all want to join forces to divide up my father’s family business!”
Shao Yongzhen was furious that she had exposed his little scheme. "Shao Minqing, don't be so stubborn. Your father has a son, so this family business should be inherited by the son. That's only natural!"
“My father has no sons,” Shao Minqing said calmly. “I will not take on any illegitimate child for him.”
Hearing her call her a bastard child over and over again, Feng Xiaozhen couldn't help but shout, "We have been recognized by the old lady and have kowtowed in the Shao family ancestral hall. You have no choice but to acknowledge it!"
Shao Yongzhen winked at the clansmen behind him, "Let's go to my eldest brother's study and snatch the account books and seals!"
"What are you doing? Don't you dare bully Minmin!"
Shen Mingda broke free from Shen Lingyue's hand, unable to bear it any longer, and rushed out, blocking Shao Minqing's path. He mustered his courage and shouted, "I am Minmin's future husband. If any of you dare to take her things, I will, I will tell my father to come and arrest you!"
Shao Yongzhen stopped in his tracks, looking at the young man who had appeared out of nowhere with surprise.
He was good-looking, and judging from his clothes and demeanor, he didn't seem to come from an ordinary family.
He remained somewhat cautious and asked Shen Mingda, "What does your father do?"
Shen Mingda raised his chin and said, "My father is the Minister of Rites, a second-rank official!"
He thought that revealing his identity would scare the other party, but Shao Yongzhen only paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Where did this liar come from? He doesn't even bother to think before he lies. How could the son of the Minister of Rites become someone's live-in son-in-law!"
He stared at Shao Minqing with ill intent and said, "Niece, if you're going to hire someone to act, at least make it believable. This is too fake."
"Who said my second brother is fake?"
Shen Lingyue walked over unhurriedly, her arm linked with Qingchan's. She flipped her palm and revealed the ivory token of the Marquis of Changning's residence.
Qingchan cleared her throat, adopted the air of a head maid of Danyue Pavilion, and said arrogantly, "My young lady is the daughter of the Minister of Rites, the granddaughter of the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, the second young mistress of the Marquis of Changning, the wife of the Vice Commander of the Left Guard of the Golden Guard, and a fourth-rank lady bestowed by the imperial court. Why don't you all quickly pay your respects and greet her!"
This series of titles had a rather impressive effect.
Shao Yongzhen and the others immediately dared not force their way in, and bowed their heads respectfully with lowered eyes.
Shen Lingyue secretly gave Qingchan a wink.
Well done! I'll give you a bonus when we get back!
Shao Minqing was only surprised for a moment when she saw Shen Lingyue, but quickly calmed down.
She tugged at Shen Mingda's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Why are you here?"
Shen Mingda proudly took out the book "The Story of Qi Lan" from his bosom.
"I came to bring you books. I'm so glad I came, otherwise these people would have continued to bully you!"
Shao family members: ...
Which eye of yours saw us bullying her? Does she look like someone we could bully?
Shao Minqing's expression softened slightly, and she secretly squeezed Shen Mingda's palm when no one was looking, "I knew you were good to me."
Shen Mingda's handsome face instantly turned bright red, and he could only stare at her and chuckle foolishly.
"Cough cough!"
Shen Lingyue coughed twice, interrupting the romantic atmosphere between the two, and stepped forward, saying, "Miss Shao, I am Shen Mingda's sister."
Shao Minqing nodded generously, "I know you. I bought all the new stories published by Langhuan Pavilion. And... I also worship the Goddess Xuan Nu."
Shen Lingyue was taken aback and looked at Shen Mingda.
Shen Mingda chuckled, "I carved it for Minmin to bless her with good health and a smooth life."
Shen Lingyue: Well, that's fine too...
She originally came to see who had kidnapped her second brother, but upon entering, she witnessed a dramatic inheritance dispute.
Even if Shao Minqing wasn't Second Brother's sweetheart, but just a stranger, Shen Lingyue wouldn't allow such a thing as clan evil forces ganging up to bully orphans and widows to happen.
She deliberately raised her voice so that the Shao family members could hear, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Shao Yongzhen felt a pang of panic and exchanged a glance with Feng Xiaozhen.
They had originally planned to incite these clansmen who were dissatisfied with Shao Minqing to unite and cause trouble, and use Feng Xiaozhen's son's name to first seize the most important account books and seals of the Shao family business, and gradually turn their elder brother's business into their own.
But who would have thought that Shao Minqing would quietly get involved with such a high-ranking official?
He didn't believe the son of the Minister of Rites would become a live-in son-in-law. But what if Shao Minqing was marrying him off with her entire fortune?
Who would refuse a daughter-in-law with such a generous dowry?
Seeing his prize about to slip away, Shao Yongzhen was heartbroken. Ignoring his fear of the powerful official, he couldn't help but say, "Minmin, if you want to get married, then get married. Your second uncle also hopes you'll rise to a high position. But the Shao family business belongs to the Shao family. You absolutely cannot take it with you. Even if it goes to the authorities, I'm not afraid!"
"Yes, you can't take it with you!"
"A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; the Shao family business can only be managed by members of the Shao family!"
The Shao family members joined in the commotion, as if Shao Minqing were painfully taking money from their pockets.
"Second Uncle, are you deaf? Which ear heard me say I'm getting married?"
Shao Minqing's patience ran out, and she was even more unwilling to expose her family's dirty laundry in front of Shen Mingda's family, which made her feel unhappy that her plans had been disrupted.
She turned to look outside, estimating that it was about time.
Just then, her other maid, Pearl, ran back from outside, breathless, and said, "Miss, the officials from Shuntian Prefecture will be here soon!"
Shao Yongzhen's expression changed: "Minmin, you actually reported this to the authorities?"
Shao Minqing breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, "You guys stormed into my house shouting and killing, and even tried to steal my father's account books and seals. Why can't I report this to the authorities?"
Soon, a team of officials arrived.
"Who reported it to the authorities? What happened?"
Shen Lingyue looked up at the sound and met the gaze of Lü Lin, who was leading the team.
Lu Lin's eyes widened as soon as he saw her, "Chen..."
Shen Lingyue immediately interrupted with a cough, her face hardening as she said, "Xiao Lü, why are you so slow?"
Lü Lin: ...
He wasn't stupid; he reacted quickly, plastering a fawning smile on his face: "So it's Madam Shen. I didn't expect to see you here. My apologies for the neglect... May I ask what your instructions are for today?"
Shen Lingyue, with an air of arrogance, gestured with her chin toward Shao Yongzhen and his group opposite her, "They broke into a private residence and caused trouble, even shouting for violence. Who knows if there are some notorious bandits mixed in with them? Why don't we arrest them all and take them to the yamen for a proper interrogation?"
Shao Yongzhen immediately cried out that he was innocent. Pointing at Shao Minqing, he said, "I am her second uncle, her own second uncle. Today, I am here on my mother's orders to bring my sister-in-law and nephews and nieces to recognize their ancestors!"
Fearing that Lü Lin might actually believe Shen Lingyue's words and arrest them, he quickly and clearly explained, "Sir, this is our own family matter, so please don't trouble yourselves."
As she spoke, she moved closer to Lü Lin, trying to slip some silver into his hand, and said with a fawning smile, "I'm so sorry to have made you and all the officers come all this way for nothing. Let me treat you to some drinks..."
With a righteous and awe-inspiring expression, Lü Lin flicked his sleeve and threw away the silver ingot that Shao Yongkang had stuffed into his hand.
"Get to the point, don't give me that nonsense!"
After hearing the whole story, and seeing that Shen Lingyue and Shen Mingda were standing beside Shao Minqing, making a protective gesture, he roughly understood the situation.
With his hands behind his back, Lü Lin asked Shao Yongzhen, "You say this mother and her two children are your elder brother's mistress's offspring, do you have any evidence?"
Shao Yongzhen was stunned. "What evidence do we need? Everyone in our clan knows, my mother knows, and my sister-in-law has been serving her all these years. Isn't that enough?"
"Oh, have their names been recorded in the family genealogy?"
"……No."
Shao Yongzhen harbored resentment. Ever since his elder brother became successful in the timber business, even the elders in the clan looked up to him and strictly controlled the registration of the family genealogy, leaving no room for him to tamper with it.
Lu Lin sneered: "Since it's not recorded in the family genealogy, how can you prove that this is Master Shao's bloodline?"
The continuation of bloodlines is crucial to the purity of a family's lineage, and not just anyone can get involved.
Shao Yongzhen stubbornly insisted, "It's mainly because my sister-in-law is jealous, and my brother only became wealthy by relying on his wife's family's influence, so I dare not let her know..."
“Shao Yongzhen, if you slander my mother again, don’t even think about making me pay back the gambling debts you owe at Taiping Gambling House.”
Shao Minqing coldly threatened, "My father used to clean up your messes countless times out of consideration for brotherhood, but I'm not him. The Shao family timber business I took over doesn't support idlers and good-for-nothings."
Shao Yongzhen, having been hit where it hurt, reluctantly shut his mouth.
Feng Xiaozhen was unwilling to give up and suddenly said, "Then let's do a blood test to prove that my son is of the Shao family bloodline, isn't that enough?"
Shao Minqing's gaze instantly turned sharp. "Who do you think you are, to dare open my father's coffin?"
"No, there's no need to disturb the master's rest. Why don't you just have Xiaobao and you do a blood test to prove kinship?"
Feng Xiaozhen glanced at Shao Yongzhen quickly, "Or let Xiaobao and his second uncle come for a checkup. The uncle and nephew are definitely related by blood."
Shao Yongzhen realized what was happening and said, "Right, Minmin, if you're afraid of the pain, then let me do it."
He started to roll up his sleeves and then asked the Shao family members to fetch a bowl of water from the well.
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes. "Blood test results are completely unreliable. There are so many ways to manipulate them. Besides... if your son's blood mixes with his, then I'd say they're father and son."
Inspired by her words, Shao Minqing had a sudden thought, "Second Uncle, you're so eager to fight for her inheritance, could it be that you two are actually a couple? Does my Second Aunt know about this?"
Shao Yongzhen immediately denied it, "That's not true!"
Shen Lingyue's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, and she suddenly said, "You're lying. I can see the rouge mark on the back of your collar."
Shao Yongzhen's expression changed, and he subconsciously reached out to touch it while looking at Feng Xiaozhen.
By the time he realized that Shen Lingyue was bluffing, it was too late; his subconscious had already betrayed him.
Shen Lingyue clapped her hands vigorously, "Good, good, good! So the real adulterers are someone else!"
She said to Lü Lin, "I think we should arrest them and take them to jail for interrogation. They actually dared to conspire to seize my brother's property."
Shao Yongzhen was terrified and completely at a loss. Suddenly, he looked towards the door and cried out in surprise, "Mother, come and save me, Mother!"
Grandma Shao, leaning on her cane and supported by her maid, walked in.
She glared at Shao Minqing with displeasure. "Your family matters should be resolved behind closed doors. Aren't you ashamed to make it public?"
Shao Minqing immediately retorted, "I haven't done anything heinous or fraudulent, so what do I have to be ashamed of?"
"How dare you! I am your grandmother, how dare you speak to me like that?" Old Mrs. Shao glared at her. "Call your mother out here, I want to ask her how she raised her daughter."
“My mother is unwell and it’s inconvenient for her to see outsiders,” Shao Minqing said calmly. “Some people can ignore their own son for more than ten years, and only remember they have a loving mother’s heart when he becomes successful. How dare they question others?”
Grandma Shao was almost driven mad with anger, and she stammered for a long time.
Feng Xiaozhen quickly stepped forward to pat her back and soothe her, showing a very filial demeanor.
Grandma Shao patted the back of her hand with satisfaction and said to Lü Lin, "Sir, we don't need you to worry about our Shao family's affairs. May I take them away now?"
Lu Lin's purpose in coming here was mainly to mediate and deter. Without real evidence, he couldn't really do anything to Shao Yongzhen. So he nodded with a stern expression and said, "Go away quickly and don't come here to cause trouble again."
Seeing that they couldn't gain any advantage, Shao Yongzhen and his group had no choice but to slink away.
As soon as the person left, Lü Lin wiped his face and raised an eyebrow at Chen Lingyue, "How was my performance just now?"
Shen Lingyue gave a thumbs up, "You'll be the next Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture sooner or later!"
"Cough cough cough!"
Lu Lin was overwhelmed by her heavy "blessing" and waved his hand helplessly, "Then I'll have to work for at least another ten years."
After chatting for a few minutes, he asked Shen Lingyue why she was here.
"Oh, let me introduce you, this is my future sister-in-law."
After finishing her sentence, Shen Lingyue asked uncertainly, "...Even if my second brother were to become your live-in son-in-law, I could still call you sister-in-law, right?"
If we don't call him Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, should we call him Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law?
Oh no, this is a knowledge gap...
While Shen Lingyue was still deep in thought, Lü Lin was already in shock.
What?! Young Master Shen is going to become Miss Shao's live-in son-in-law?!
"sure."
Shao Minqing smiled and glanced at Shen Mingda, then asked, "When may I pay a visit to Lord Shen?"
After all, she was about to "marry" someone else's son, so she couldn't continue with the old ways of a woman being self-important; she had to show the Shen family her sincerity.
Shen Mingda was stumped by the question, scratched his head, and whispered, "I... I haven't told my dad about this yet..."
He looked at Shen Lingyue expectantly again: "Little sister, you'll still help me, right?"
She even acknowledged that Minmin was her second sister-in-law...
Shen Lingyue sighed. Oh well, what can she do when she's so kind-hearted?
“There’s no time like the present, let’s do it tomorrow. I remember Father has a day off tomorrow.” Shen Lingyue clapped her hands. “I’ll also call my eldest sister to come back with us, so she can give you some encouragement.”
Putting everything else aside, she was certain that Zhao Lan would fall for Shao Minqing.
When Shen Lingyue first saw her, she was shocked and thought she was seeing Zhao Lan when she was young.
It's not so much their appearance, but rather the similar temperament they share—strong and resilient.
Yes, she believed that her second sister-in-law would take good care of her second brother in the future!
...
The following day, when Shen Hang saw Shao Minqing, he asked the same question as Shen Lingyue:
Son, why do you like this type of girl?
He and Zhao Lan sat at the head of the table, looking at each other in disbelief, both stunned by the sudden news.
It took Shen Hang a long time to find his voice: "Miss Shao, what did you just say? I don't think I heard you clearly..."
Shao Minqing smiled slightly, showing no fear whatsoever, even though they were facing a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court.
"I beg Lord Shen to spare my son's feelings and allow him to marry into the Shao family. I will be devoted to him from now on and will not let him suffer any injustice."
Shen Hang's face slowly flushed red, "You, you let go..."
He was about to slam his fist on the table when Zhao Lan swiftly stopped him, looking at Shen Mingda with a gentle expression: "You were willing to do it yourself, weren't you?"
"I do." Receiving her encouraging gaze, Shen Mingda mustered his courage and loudly declared, "Father, Mother, please grant my wish..."
"I don't want to!"
Upon receiving the news, Aunt Liu rushed over, leaning against the doorframe, and called out breathlessly.
She glared at Zhao Lan, then frowned and said sadly, "Master, Mingda is our only son. How can you bear to let him become a live-in son-in-law?"
Shen Hang finally broke free from Zhao Lan's control and quickly said, "Don't rush me, I haven't agreed yet."
Zhao Lan's face darkened, and she said rudely, "Liu Shi, you have no right to speak here. Go back to your room."
Aunt Liu no longer cared about being subservient in front of her. She straightened her back and looked directly at Zhao Lan, "Madam, Mingda is my son. As his mother, can't I even have a say in his marriage?"
"Recognize your place," Zhao Lan said coldly. "I am Mingda's legal mother, and besides, this was his own choice."
From both a moral and logical standpoint, Zhao Lan had no reason to object.
Aunt Liu gritted her teeth and glared hatefully at Shao Minqing, "Who knows if you deliberately set a trap for Mingda, making him be seduced by this woman..."
Shen Mingda loudly denied it: "Auntie, please don't say that about her. It was my own choice to be with Minmin."
Aunt Liu felt even more bitter. Her son, whom she had raised for more than 20 years, had been bewitched by a little vixen outside and had actually fallen into becoming a live-in son-in-law!
She took a deep breath and said to Shen Mingda, "In short, I won't agree. If you have the guts, then don't acknowledge me as your biological mother. I'll pretend I've never had a son like you!"
Zhao Lan smiled slightly and asked Shen Mingda in a gentle tone, "Since your aunt doesn't acknowledge you anymore, how about registering you under my name?"
Aunt Liu rolled her eyes and fainted.
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