Chapter 60: Repay Hatred with Hatred, Repay Kindness with Kindness

Xiang Xiang Junzheng stated clearly:

"Wu Shi has embezzled a total of 500,000 taels of public funds. Regarding Fang Mengru's dowry, return the items if you have them; if you truly cannot return items, convert them to silver. Second Young Lady, calculate the amount, and the Wu family must repay it all together, delivering it to the Jun Manor within three days."

"What?" Wu Shi never expected Xiang Xiang Junzheng to pin all this silver on the Wu family. Wu Shi, who had been sitting on the ground, was so shocked she suddenly stood up.

"My brother spent 200,000 taels just to buy an official post. How can the Wu family possibly come up with so much money?"

Li Shi became displeased:

"Everyone knows what the Wu family's situation was back then. Where did the Wu family get the money to buy your brother's post? The Wu family's mansion, shops, silver, your brother's several concubines, and the silver used to flatter the powerful... Wasn't every single one of those things the Jun Manor's silver? If you say the Wu family truly cannot produce the silver, then sell the mansion, sell the shops. In any case, not a single coin shall be missing!"

"Xue Nainai hiring an assassin to make things difficult for Second Young Lady, I'm afraid that is also inseparable from you, isn't it? Everyone knows the truth deep down." Li Shi simply felt that as long as she could trample Wu Shi into the ground, she would say anything, whether there was evidence or not.

Hearing Li Shi's words, Wu Shi trembled with rage all over and pointed at Li Shi, cursing loudly:

"You harridan! Without proof, you slander me with a bloody mouth!"

Li Shi felt a bit uneasy in her heart, but still spoke stubbornly:

"Everyone knows that if no one had instructed her, how would she dare to make things difficult for Second Young Lady? Moreover, how could an assassin from the Bright Pavilion be hired by a mere Nainai?"

The Eldest Lady could no longer bear to listen; she took several steps forward, intending to tear Li Shi's mouth apart.

"Enough."

With a "Bang," the Matriarch grabbed a teacup and smashed it on the ground. The teacup shattered into pieces everywhere, finally stopping the commotion.

"Today I will leave these words here: I may have a lame leg, but my eyes are not blind. Do not think I know nothing. I do not care what you do outside; past matters can be let go for now. But in the future, if anyone dares to harbor any evil thoughts against Second Young Lady again, do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

Upon hearing the Matriarch's words, everyone fell silent as if frozen by cold; Wu Shi was even more terrified. So the Matriarch knew. How much did she know exactly? Wu Shi's heart sank deeper and deeper, and her previous arrogance gradually subsided.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin felt a warmth in her heart, and her eyes stung slightly. She gently held the Matriarch's hand; in this world, perhaps only her grandmother treated her this way. The Matriarch patted Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's hand and said:

"Do not be afraid. From now on, your grandmother will certainly not let anyone bully you at will."

Although Wu Shi was full of resentment, she did not dare to be presumptuous again. Now that she had lost power in the Jun family, as long as she remained in the Jun Manor, there was still a chance to turn the tables.

Jun Jun Yiyi glared fiercely at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin holding the Matriarch's hand, her jealousy driving her mad; all these troubles were caused by this younger sister.

Jun Jun Yiyi resented Seeing Jun Jun Zijin in her heart and also resented Wu Shi. Now she was implicated and became a concubine-born daughter; now she could not rely on her mother, nor could she rely on her brother. She could only rely on her father, and her father was filial to the Matriarch, so he had to listen to the Matriarch on some matters. But the Matriarch did not like her much. In the end, it was still Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, that cheap woman, who stole her favor.

Enough. Now that she was just a concubine-born daughter, she would endure for now. With her beauty, rising rapidly to a high position was not difficult. She would calculate everything back, one by one, when the time came.

Jun Jun Yiyi glared fiercely at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin again. Looking at Wu Shi, she said:

"Mo... Zhou Yiniang, please let my maternal grandfather and uncles send the silver back to the manor as soon as possible. Just do it for your daughter's sake."

Wu Shi gritted her teeth, unwilling in her heart, but could only agree. She only said she would return to write a letter to the Wu family, then hurriedly withdrew.

As soon as she left, Li Shi became happy again. The money was about to return, and her son Jun Jun Zhihao was about to return. She could not leave an empty shell for her son.

After everyone left, the Matriarch kept Seeing Jun Jun Zijin behind.

The Matriarch handed over the manor's account books to Seeing Jun Jun Zijin to reorganize. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin knew this was the Matriarch's trust in her and also an intention to cultivate her. She was already fourteen; when she married in the future, she would also need to manage the household finances.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin organized various accounts meticulously and systematically, one by one, and carefully made data backups. She happened to organize the advanced accounting methods from the modern era. The entire set of accounts was clear, logical, and easy to see at a glance. When the Matriarch personally reviewed these accounts, her eyes lit up with surprise, her heart filled with joy and praise, and she kept muttering: "My Second Young Lady is indeed a smart and clever good child!"

What surprised the Matriarch even more was Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's flowing, cloud-like handwriting with a fountain pen. The Matriarch was deeply captivated by this unique writing tool and the beautiful script. She could not help but pick up the fountain pen Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had used, holding it in her hand to examine and stroke it repeatedly, savoring its wonders in detail. After quite a while, the Matriarch was still immersed in her curiosity about this fountain pen, unable to put it down.

Seeing this, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled slightly, then took out a brand-new fountain pen from her bosom. She handed it respectfully to the Matriarch with both hands and said:

"Grandmother, this is a little trinket I figured out and tinkered with in my spare time. It has a special name called 'Fountain Pen'. If you like it, please accept this one. You can also try using it to write and draw in the future."

The Matriarch nodded repeatedly:

"Good, good. If your father had a pen like this..."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled lightly and said:

"Grandmother, rest assured. I have also prepared one for Father. I will send it to him shortly." Seeing Jun Jun Zijin never cared about such small matters. In fact, she had already instructed Nainai Dong to arrange mass production. It was just right for Xiang Xiang Junzheng to do some free promotion for her.

"Good child. Having such a filial child as you is your father's blessing and also the Jun family's blessing. One day, your father will surely feel your sincere filial piety and will surely understand all your contributions and efforts. At that time, he will definitely be proud of you and feel immense pride because of you. So, child, wait patiently. The recognition and praise that belong to you will come sooner or later."

The Matriarch said these words with deep feeling, her kind and gentle gaze falling upon Seeing Jun Jun Zijin like the warm sun of spring.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin rested her head in the Matriarch's palm. She also hoped it would be so. Xiang Xiang Junzheng was the Matriarch's only son, and the Matriarch was Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's only relative in this world. She always repaid hatred with hatred and kindness with kindness.