Chapter 10 The Second Encounter
Madam Chen stepped forward to smooth things over, but her words were full of calculation: "Shu'er, that's true, but we really don't want anything from this mansion."
He paused slightly, then said, "But your grandmother, as you know, only has your uncle as her son now. We took the things simply to leave behind a memento."
Look at what he said, so insightful.
"Clap clap clap—"
Ji Shu clapped her hands and chuckled: "It's a real shame that your family doesn't set up a stage for a play. Since that's the case, let's do some serious calculations."
"Chunzhi, bring the account books from the study shelf."
Chunzhi glared at them fiercely a few times, and Ji Shu pushed open the door and went into the inner room.
The three of them were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
When Chunzhi handed the account book to Ji Shu, Chen was secretly alarmed. What kind of account book was this?
The question was quickly answered: "It looks unfamiliar, doesn't it? These are the money and items that my second uncle took from Grandmother's yard last year. They are all recorded."
"Actually, there's a lot more. Let's skip the previous ones and consider it a support for Uncle. How about we calculate the whole year's amount?"
Ji Congwen was furious. "Ji Shu, what do you mean? These were all gifts from my mother. Who do you think you are, daring to boss your elders around and even demand an explanation!"
Ji Shu nodded calmly, then slapped the account book onto his chest with a snap. "Second Uncle, even brothers keep clear accounts, let alone how you knew this was a gift from Grandmother?"
Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear: "Those were clearly gifts I gave to my grandmother; they never became yours."
"I advise you to take a good look; it's all recorded here."
Chen took it with suspicion and saw a thick stack of books. He casually flipped through a few pages and was initially incredulous, almost fainting from the sight of these valuable items.
Chen's breathing became increasingly rapid, and she screamed, "Well, Ji Congwen, you've taken so many things from your mother behind my back all these years!"
"Where did these gold hairpins go? And where did these jade bracelets go?"
"If you're not using these things to buy a dowry for your daughter, are you going to gamble them away again?"
"No, did you send these things to that woman? Tell me, didn't you?"
With a series of angry roars, the ledger struck Ji Congwen's arm and chest, as if he wanted to vent all the resentment he had accumulated over the years.
As Ji Congwen dodged, he cursed angrily, "You shrew, you shrew, what business is it of yours where I put those things? So what if I gambled?"
It was this shout of "shrew" that completely ignited Chen's fury. She cried out and lunged at him.
“Ji Congwen, I took care of the household chores for you and bore your children, yet you treat me like this. I’m going to fight you to the death.”
Ji Yunbai never imagined that just an account book would cause her father and mother to be in such a state.
They even started fighting.
She took a look and her eyes went black; all of them were rare and valuable items she had never seen before.
He was speechless. He could no longer describe the gold dragon and phoenix pearl bracelet, the white jade hairpin inlaid with rubies and eight treasures, the blue and white porcelain vase.
Looking at her dear cousin again, her delicate face remained calm and expressionless, as if she had expected this all along.
Ji Shu lowered her eyes, adjusted her cuffs, and slowly said, "This is only one year's account book. If I were to take it all out, how much of a chance do you think you would have if we went to court?"
“These are all nice things I bought for my grandmother, but my second uncle took them all. As far as I know, my second uncle has a lover at Chunhua Brothel, and he often spends a fortune in one night. If my second aunt goes to ask for them back, there is a chance she can get them back.”
After saying that, she blinked innocently and said, "At least we can't give it to outsiders, right, Auntie?"
Ji Congwen was so angry he almost had a heart attack. "You...you wretched child..." He fainted before he could finish speaking.
I don't know if I'm really dizzy or just pretending.
After they left, a heavy rain began to fall.
The wind blows fiercely, the winter rain is cold, and the spring branches watch the rain-soaked dusk.
Chunzhi said cheerfully, "Young lady, this second master is too shameless. He can even think of such a thing. Today is truly gratifying."
Ji Shu said indifferently, "I can't control what my grandmother does with the things I gave her, but someone will deal with the person who got the benefit and is now acting innocent."
“They’ve seen the account books too. My grandmother’s seven-day mourning period hasn’t even passed yet, and they’re already thinking about these things. Since they’re so despicable, go find some debt collectors and get everything back from the account books. If my good second uncle doesn’t have the money, he can mortgage the house to me.”
Chunzhi smiled and replied excitedly, "Okay, this servant will go and do it right away."
Ji Shu walked to the window and looked at the cold winter rain outside, but she felt no joy at all, only a deep-seated weariness.
The next day, the sun rose and the east turned white.
The silent county was awakened by the morning light. On the fourth day after the Yanzhou army broke through the city, the people of Chongzhou had returned to normal and continued to live their lives as usual.
Ji Shu, wearing a veiled hat, went to Chongming Temple in the suburbs with Chunzhi.
As she climbed the steps, she saw guards standing outside the temple, and Ji Shu felt a chill: Could it be that some important person had arrived?
There was enough land to set up camp on the outskirts of Chongzhou, and it was only about ten kilometers away from the city gate.
Fortunately, although there were troops stationed there, it did not prevent pilgrims from entering. Ji Shu lit three sticks of incense in front of the Buddha statue, and the smoke rose up.
One person knelt in front with their hands clasped together.
Stepping out of the main hall, the crisp, cold winter wind, carrying a hint of floral fragrance, immediately greeted me.
Her steps remained light as she passed a small plum grove near the temple, where plum blossoms were in full bloom, their colors ranging from deep red to light purple, their fragrance wafting through the air.
Seeing the dappled sunlight in the courtyard casting the outlines of bamboo leaves onto the cobblestone path, I couldn't help but look ahead.
Unexpectedly, there were people on the back mountain at this time. The sound of voices could be faintly heard. Ji Shu did not look carefully, but when she saw that there were people there, she wanted to retreat.
"Who is there?" Lu Changming demanded sharply, his sword already drawn.
Ji Shu looked up and saw an ancient and vigorous autumn mountain made of yellow stones, with pine branches growing horizontally on it, hiding a small four-cornered pavilion.
When Chunzhi saw someone there, she was startled. It was just a physiological reaction because she had seen too many dead people when Chongzhou City fell a few days ago.
Pei Yanzhi slowly turned his head and looked towards Ji Shu from afar.
Upon seeing a familiar face, Pei Yanzhi narrowed his eyes slightly and made a gesture of raising his hand.
Lu Changming looked closely and realized that it was Madam Ji. He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I'm sorry, I thought you were a thief. I hope I didn't frighten you."
Ji Shu stood there, and when she realized she had been recognized, she had no choice but to take two steps forward and shake her head.
A moment later, seeing that the person in the pavilion was still looking this way, she pinched her palm hard, telling herself not to panic, and slowly walked over, lifting her skirt.
Upon reaching the pavilion, Chunzhi was stopped from entering, and Lu Changming shook his head apologetically.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com