Chapter 79: There's Always Room for Discussion

What nonsense!

Fang Jinxiu turned and glared at him fiercely.

Seventh Chen hastily shrank back and made a shushing gesture by his mouth.

The noise of commotion rose on the main street because officials from the county government had arrived.

County Magistrate Li had been executed, and after a thorough investigation of all the officials and clerks in the county, those found without issues had been released. With no county magistrate for the time being, the deputy magistrate temporarily took over the role; moreover, considering the significant upheaval in Yangcheng, the officials from Taiyuan prefecture had even left two of their number to preside before leaving.

Who would have thought that just this morning, County Magistrate Li had been beheaded at the execution ground, the Fang Family had caused a sensational incident that resulted in three beheadings, and yet in the afternoon, they had gone on to smash Registrar Lin's front door.

Now, members of the Fang Family were all being looked at with suspicion and wariness, and many eyes were watching. News of the event quickly reached the county office.

However, seeing that no conflict had erupted and that Fang Chengyu and the Clan Leader of the Lin Family had entered for a discussion, everyone was somewhat relieved. It was only when they heard that people were coming out did they hastily arrive to offer their advice and inquire.

"No matter what the matter is, let's talk about it tomorrow. If you have something to say, please speak kindly," said the leading official to Fang Chengyu.

Fang Chengyu did not reply.

Youngsters can be so stubborn, acting impulsively without considering the consequences. The official was about to speak again when another commotion arose, and a group of people escorting Old Lady Fang in her carriage approached.

The officials let out a sigh of relief; now that an elder from the family had arrived, the situation would be easier to handle.

Old Lady Fang arrived and neglected to give the officials any greetings.

"Still not found?" she went straight to the point, asking Fang Chengyu.

Fang Chengyu bowed his head for a moment before lifting it again to look at Old Lady Fang.

"Grandmother, I must find her," he said, not answering directly. "I cannot allow anything to happen to her."

Fang Chengyu's voice was already hoarse, and when he said "anything to happen," his words were somewhat blurred and unclear.

But to Old Lady Fang's ears, they struck like a thunderclap. Her already pale complexion turned deathly white in an instant.

"Anything to happen."

That phrase—she had heard it far too many times over the decades.

Old Lady Fang's taut body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The lord of the house met with disaster.

The eldest master met with disaster.

The young master met with disaster.

She had endured it over and over again and had finally reached a moment of clarity, with justice being served.

Hadn't everything been resolved? Wasn't everything fine now? How could trouble have arisen again?

Old Lady Fang's body swayed a few times.

Fang Jinxiu, standing at the street corner, could not help but step forward, but Fang Chengyu had already supported Old Lady Fang.

"How could anything happen?" Old Lady Fang took several deep breaths, struggling to calm herself down. "Registrar Lin couldn't possibly harm her—not before, and certainly not now."

Now, when the Fang Family was in its prime, with the officials and army from Taiyuan prefecture all well-arranged, how could Registrar Lin, a mere clerk from Yangcheng County, dare to make a rash move?

"She said there was something strange about the affair," Fang Chengyu explained. "She doesn't lie."

Old Lady Fang nodded.

"I know she doesn't lie," she replied. "I'm saying Registrar Lin wouldn't be so bold—there shouldn't be anything strange about the affair."

Fang Chengyu was silent for a moment.

"Grandmother, there truly is something strange about it," he insisted.

Old Lady Fang looked at him, her expression solemn and tinged with melancholy.

He believed her words; since his return, his heart and eyes had been filled with her. When he saw her, he was joyful; even when not in her presence, he remained cheerful. He was no longer the young man whose gaze once held nothing but disdain.

Now, his illness and injury had been cured by her. If she were to come to any harm, it was likely that half his life would be snuffed out along with hers.

"Grandmother, do you remember why I killed Li Changhong in the cell?" Fang Chengyu continued.

Why had the conversation returned to this point?

Back then, Fang Chengyu had heeded her words in the cell to take action and commit the killing. And she had uttered those words to prevent Li Changhong from speaking about something.

Old Lady Fang focused, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

"Chengyu," she said with a pause, "there's something I cannot tell you right now..."

She glanced at the officials still standing around.

The listening officials appeared slightly embarrassed.

Of course, they knew the Fang Family had secrets, but it was clear the family did not want others to know these secrets.

"Old Lady," said an official after pondering for a moment, "it's getting late, and both the Lin Family and your family have sent people to search for Registrar Lin. Why don't you go back and wait for news? Whatever you have to say or do can be discussed calmly at home. Please, no more impulsiveness."

"Yes, Old Lady Fang, one must know when to stop," another official said earnestly.

"Old Lady, you and County Magistrate Li have a long-standing feud, with evidence and witnesses already established. Shanxi and Henan provinces have both vindicated you," remarked another official. "But you cannot use this as a pretext to take liberties, to seek revenge on anyone with whom you've had disputes."

"We have not been using this as an opportunity to strike out in revenge," Old Lady Fang responded.

"I know," the official straightened and continued, "but others might think so. The people of Yangcheng might think so."

Old Lady Fang remained silent.

Indeed, the recent events involving the Fang Family were startling and instilled fear.

They were businesspeople, and who could guarantee over these many years they hadn't had some dispute with others? Their grievances against County Magistrate Li and Song Yunping were as victims; that was understandable. But with Registrar Lin, they had not reached the point of breaking into homes. As Miss Jun had initially stated, it was merely a spat between young ladies.

Due to a quarrel between girls, breaking into homes was excessive and irrational to others, and the Fang Family would be seen as the unreasonable party.

Especially at this time, such action was indeed not wise.

Seeing that Old Lady Fang was deep in thought, the officials once again reasoned with her and appealed to her emotions.

"Look," they said, pointing towards Lin Family's Alley, "the Lin Family people are also making every effort to help with the search. They are not deceiving you or acting perfunctorily; they are truly sincere."

Old Lady Fang looked in that direction and saw the Clan Leader Lin and others standing at the entrance to the alley.

"Old Lady, please listen to us. If there's an issue, let's go home and discuss it calmly. There's no need for such a display of force," the officials urged. Then, straightening their backs, they added, "Old Lady, too much is as bad as too little; moderation is key."

It was both consolation and a warning.

Old Lady Fang remained silent.

"Old Lady Fang," Clan Leader Lin approached at that moment, "I assure you, my Lin Family harbors no unresolved hatred against your family. I understand my Third Son very well; he would not commit such an act at this time. Old Lady Fang, my Lin Family has been in Yangcheng for over a century; we have no intention of doing anything to destroy our own foundation."

He gave her a slight bow.

"Please rest assured, we will find Third Son and give the Fang Family an explanation."

Old Lady Fang was still silent, her expression showing some indecision.

Standing to the side, Fang Jinxiu clenched her hands.

"Hey, what do you all mean?" Liu'er's shrill voice came from the crowd, and she seemed to appear from nowhere, her hair in disarray under the torchlight, her face still showing the imprint of a slap, though less swollen, and covered in a sweaty mixture of dust and grime.

Clearly, she had been running around searching with them.

"Are you still looking for our Miss or not?" she exclaimed, glaring at them, "What are you doing standing around here? Tear down the Lin house, flatten Yangcheng, turn the world upside down—hurry up and search!"

What ridiculous talk.

Utterly preposterous, the officials thought disdainfully, frowning.

As if turning the world upside down, who do you think your Miss is?

"Don't panic," Old Lady Fang finally spoke up, her voice deep as she addressed Liu'er, "We are searching, aren't we? Come back with us and go over the details again to see if there are any oversights."

Go back?

Liu'er suddenly sprang up.

"What do you mean?" she shouted, "Are you saying you're giving up on our Miss? What's there not to understand? What oversights could there be? It's crystal clear - our Miss is missing, missing for half a day now, half a day! Do you know what half a day means? In that time, our Miss could have died dozens of times over."

As she said this, she broke into loud sobs.

"Do you want to wait until it's time to collect her body?"

The cries of the girl echoed through the late-night streets, piercing and unsettling.

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