Fu Zhen was moved and couldn’t help but reach out to embrace her: "Mother."
In her previous life, she spent her days with rough n and hardly interacted with many young ladies.
Mrs. Fu, being over thirty, was still so fragrant and soft, as well as gentle and kind. In a past life, her age would equate her to just being a big sister to Liang Ning. How could Fu Zhen not love her from the bottom of her heart and want to protect her well?
After nestling in the beauty’s embrace for a while, she sat upright and asked, "Do you have a count of the money that Father and the old lady have embezzled over the years?"
"Naturally, I have it. We rchants always keep records."
Fu Zhen said, "Then show these accounts, so I can calculate what we have."
Without further ado, Mrs. Fu asked Jin Zhu to fetch the account books and said, "I haven’t calculated carefully, but there are at least tens of thousands of taels. They are very shrewd; the money they get is not saved in banks but imdiately used to buy fields, houses, and shops. So, after getting married, they have accumulated quite a few such properties.
"But most of them are rented out, because I manage the household, and they worry that the earned money would flow back into my hands. They have specific servants to collect the rent, without even needing account books.
"Although these are small amounts to us, they’re still Ning Family assets, earned through your grandfather’s hard work and left for us. In the past, I thought if your father had any conscience, these wouldn’t matter, and I wouldn’t mind.
"But as things stand now, they are truly unworthy of even a single coin of mine! We must seize the opportunity in the future to reclaim them one by one."
Fu Zhen flipped through the books and then said: "I am coming of age; it’s ti I learn to manage the accounts. Mother, please allow to review these."
"If you want to learn, then you should certainly do so."
If not for her illness, Mrs. Fu would have let her learn to manage the household a long ti ago, but in the past, they didn’t know if she would survive to adulthood, so how could they confine her to learning this and that?
Now Fu Zhen increasingly fulfilled what Cheng Kong said, "Heaven’s fate has changed." Two days have already passed in the three-day trial; tomorrow should go without a hitch, right?
"Just stay in the mansion tomorrow and don’t go out!"
Fu Zhen knew her thoughts and smiled: "Mother, don’t worry, I have a plan. Tomorrow, I will only visit Taishan Hall to thank Mr. Li. As for Zhang Cheng and Yang Tong, you’ve t them; with them around, nothing will happen."
The work went so smoothly today, and Li Yi and his disciples deserve half the credit; she must go and thank them.
Moreover, since the Hu Family brothers worked so hard, although Li Yi said no reward was necessary, how could she be stingy with this expense?
Besides, she also wanted to ask Mr. Li for a few apprentices to co back as household guards.
Mrs. Fu saw the sense in this and didn’t insist on stopping her.
She only strictly reminded her to take her health supplents on ti, rest regularly, and other such matters. Just as Jin Zhu ca to report, Fu Zhen was released to return to her room.
Holding the ledgers, Fu Zhen stepped out, only to see Zheng An and Qi Quan kneeling in the courtyard, waiting for their punishnt.
The maids from Rongfu Hall were peeking and inquiring under the Baopning Sect gate.
While from the direction of Rongfu Hall behind them ca indistinct yet shrill cursing.
The west cross courtyard where Mrs. Liu and her daughter lived was silent, only occasional shadows flitting past the perforated lattice windows.
Fu Zhen smiled slightly and walked lightly toward her Yixin Hall against the heavy twilight.
Next, Mrs. Fu was going to deal with the unruly servants in the mansion one by one according to family law. Nanny Qi was Grandmother Fu’s own servant; Zheng An and Qi Quan no longer count! They were the Fu Family’s house-born servants; what Mrs. Fu ant by ’killing the chicken to scare the monkey,’ these two were the ’chickens’ in question!
Fu Zhen wasn’t afraid of the old lady and the others stirring up trouble; only when they acted could she have the chance to sweep away these evil spirits thoroughly!
Although Grand Preceptor Fu was an official of the previous dynasty, his good na was well-known; Fu Zhen respected him.
So she couldn’t let these scum tarnish the reputation of this residence. Fu Jia still had to test for a governnt position one day; he had to be a clean and honest gentleman!
Thinking of this, Fu Zhen couldn’t help but picture Fu Jia’s face. Before entering the courtyard gate, she stopped and took a note from the three hundred taels of silver given by Mrs. Fu, handing it to Bixi: "Go check on Brother Jia over the last two days. This is for him to buy snacks.
"And then tell him that my health is no longer an issue, and he can co to see if he’s free tomorrow."
With Fu Jia’s wet nurse falling ill, he also beca a sensitive figure. Mrs. Fu feared he might indirectly pass the sickness to Fu Zhen, so during such tis, he wasn’t allowed near her.
Thus, though he often used to co to Yixin Hall to accompany Fu Zhen, he hadn’t shown up these past days, so much so that this new sister hadn’t even spoken to him yet. Even the temporarily dispatched Ziyan hadn’t returned.
Now it was ti to et up.
After Bixi left, Fu Zhen took a bath. When she was done changing and sat in front of the mirror wiping her hair, the window was knocked on.
Turning her head, Fu Jia’s childlike yet brilliantly sunny face appeared at the window.
"Sister!"
Fu Jia waved at her joyfully.
Fu Zhen said, "Co in quickly!"
Fu Jia agreed and then quickly lifted the curtain and entered the room.
"I’ve heard about everything over these past two days and have been wanting to see you but feared you couldn’t handle it."
Every word Fu Jia said was filled with happiness; he even took a small bundle wrapped in a silk handkerchief from his pocket. "Qing Zhu brought this delicious dried pork from ho; I saved so for you!"
The twelve-year-old youngster carefully opened the silk handkerchief, picked a piece of at, and brought it to Fu Zhen’s mouth.
Fu Zhen bent her knee and opened her mouth, biting it steadily. Then she nodded heavily: "Delicious!"
Fu Jia’s eyes shone like morning stars with satisfaction; he affectionately pulled her down to sit and then looked at her intently before nodding, imitating adults: "You seem much better. You didn’t lie to . That’s great! Bixi said it was the blessing of Bodhisattva, and even the Grand Tutor has blessed you; she didn’t lie."
Fu Zhen touched his head, rembering this little boy who had taken punishnts for his sister several tis when Mrs. Fu wasn’t around. She asked worriedly: "Mother hasn’t had the ti to take care of you these past two days; is there anything amiss? Have you finished your dicine? Is there anything lacking?"
Due to Fu Zhen’s illness, Mrs. Fu devoted most of her energy to her over the years, inevitably neglecting Fu Jia.
But this child never complained, instead being extrely considerate, studious, never mingling with others, and focusing only on his studies. Whether to his mother or his sister, he was filial and affectionate. To say sothing impudent, Fu Jun, that wretched man, didn’t even deserve such a good son.
"My illness is fine now, still taking the dicine, as I want to co see you early. These two days, I’ve been going to and from school like usual, doing my howork and not going out. I lack nothing. The fifth young master of the Lan Family asked several tis to visit his place, but I didn’t dare agree, fearing I might be needed by sister."
Fu Zhen asked, "Is it the grandson of General Lan from the alley next door?"
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