Intimidation

"Ziran, Fourth Concubine heard that you intend to return all the IOUs to those farmers. Is that true?" Before the three days were even up, An Changfu's three concubines received the news and hurried over. Wang Qinglan was the first to speak. Childless, she could only curry favor with An Ziran to secure her place in the An Family.

The news had shocked her deeply. Although she did not know exactly how many IOUs there were or how large the total sum was, she knew it would not be small. Returning them all to the farmers of Anyuan County would cause the An Family considerable losses. Part of the An Family's wealth came from the interest paid by farmers.

Fang Junping and Zheng Bi entered the study behind her, their expressions equally unpleasant. As An Changfu's concubines, they knew more or less how much the master had valued those IOUs while he was alive.

Now, with a single word, An Ziran wanted to return every IOU to those farmers. Did he think the An Family was a charity hall dedicated to good deeds? If this was not madness, what was?

An Ziran glanced at them indifferently, his gaze sweeping over their faces and taking in nearly every expression. Even without a word from them, he could read their thoughts. Lowering his eyes, he said without a trace of emotion, "Now that Father is dead, have you all forgotten the An Family's rules?"

The three women froze, only understanding what he meant after a moment.

While An Changfu had been alive, concubines were not permitted to meddle in any matters concerning the An Family's business. Even an accidental slip of the tongue was forbidden, or they would face family discipline. Another rule concerned the study.

The study was also the accounting room, and An Changfu had attached great importance to it. He had therefore included it in the An Family rules. Aside from the principal wife, Liu Meixiang, and Steward Su, no one else was allowed to enter the study unless the head of the family gave permission. They had now violated two rules in succession. If An Changfu were still alive, they would certainly have been berated viciously, and being subjected directly to family discipline was not impossible.

The three women were immediately intimidated.

After thinking it over, Wang Qinglan still said nothing. Offending An Ziran was not a wise move.

Fang Junping, however, was not as clever as Wang Qinglan. An Changfu had often neglected her, and her temperament had always been somewhat problematic. She frequently wore a cold expression, with every displeasure written plainly on her face. She immediately blurted out a retort.

"An Ziran, don't think that just because your father is dead, you can disrespect your elders. No matter what, we are still your elders!"

"Elders?" An Ziran did not stop writing with his brush. He merely raised his head and fixed them with a stare. "Does being an elder mean you can ignore the An Family's rules? Does it mean you can throw your age around? Then what use are family rules? Without rules, nothing can be properly ordered. You should understand that principle. Father is dead, but I am not. If Second Concubine feels life is too peaceful and wants a little excitement, I will have someone find you a courtyard. You can move there, and you may bring your daughter to live with you if you wish!"

Fang Junping's expression changed as she shouted sharply, "You dare!"

This was disguised house arrest. Once she was separated from the An Family, there would be no hope for the rest of her life. Even An Qiaoe might be implicated.

"As the head of this family, what would I not dare?" An Ziran said calmly. "Second Concubine, do not forget that Sister Qiaoe is not married yet. If you do not want to damage her reputation and make it impossible for her to marry in the future, you had better follow this family's rules."

Fang Junping's eyes widened. He actually dared to use An Qiaoe to threaten her? An Qiaoe truly was her weakness. She had been hoping to marry her daughter into a good family. If she ruined her daughter's life because of herself, she would live with regret for the rest of her days. At that thought, all desire to resist vanished from her, and she completely backed down.

Zheng Bi, who had originally harbored some thoughts of her own, immediately abandoned them as well. An Ziran was clearly using Fang Junping to warn both her and Wang Qinglan at the same time—killing a chicken to frighten the monkeys. If she continued to be so oblivious, she might truly end up unable to bear the consequences. The changed An Ziran had undergone a drastic shift in temperament. He acted with great decisiveness and was no longer the useless, cowardly fat man he had once been.

The three women left the study dejectedly.

Not only had they failed to get the answer they wanted, they had also brought trouble upon themselves.

Wang Qinglan felt deeply that An Ziran was becoming harder and harder to deal with. It seemed she could no longer rely on her old methods.