Xu Fuxian returned from the Escort Agency to the mansion, immediately calling his son and daughter-in-law to prepare to mourn his brother.

Xu Fuxian’s son, feeling sorrowful about his second uncle’s death, was also troubled because the two families hadn’t interacted for nearly twenty years. In the past, Xu Fuxian wouldn’t allow him to visit during the festivities.

Xu Fuxian wasn’t at home, and his son didn’t dare to act on his own, but he still secretly prepared mourning clothes and wreaths, ready to persuade his father upon his return.

When Xu Fuxian returned, he saw his son had already prepared everything, and he sighed deeply, saying, "Your heart is indeed a worthy one. The discord between us brothers is our matter, but he remains your second uncle."

Xu Fuxian’s son and daughter-in-law wore mourning clothes, carried wreaths, and Xu Fuxian wrote a couplet himself, and the family went to Xu Shouxian’s memorial.

After paying their respects, Xu Fuxian’s eyes filled with tears, unable to contain his emotions.

As they were leaving, Xu Mansion’s old steward, Ye Tian, approached, bowing deeply and sorrowfully, "Master, you finally came..."

Ye Tian finished speaking and couldn’t control himself, sobbing.

Xu Fuxian, with tears in his eyes, looked at Ye Tian and said, "He left too suddenly; we brothers still had much to discuss..."

Ye Tian, trembling, took out a letter from his chest, saying, "Master, the old master left a letter for you."

Xu Fuxian took the thick envelope, and upon seeing the handwriting on the cover, his heart trembled.

Xu Fuxian returned to the mansion, alone in the study, he locked the door and sat at the desk, gazing at the writing on the envelope for a long time before carefully opening it, pulling out over ten pages of letter paper.

Xu Fuxian wiped the tears from his face and began to read...

As Xu Fuxian read, his emotions fluctuated, causing him to stand up several times, then sit back down in utter desolation...

Xu Shouxian began the letter by praising his brother for avoiding contact with him, saying his own ship would capsize sooner or later.

Having his brother around ensured the Xu family could stay afloat.

Xu Shouxian told Xu Fuxian in the letter that he had returned all the greedily acquired money to Ruan Fengshan, believing Ruan would not make things difficult for their family’s friends and old acquaintances.

Tears welled in Xu Fuxian’s eyes upon realizing why Ruan Fengshan could let bygones be bygones, allowing his colleagues from the Escort Agency to attend Xu Shouxian’s memorial.

It turned out Xu Shouxian had returned all the greedily acquired money to him.

Xu Fuxian sighed deeply at the letter, "Ah, brother, you still retained some wisdom, knowing to leave a way out, saving the descendants from disaster!"

Xu Fuxian continued to read, the letter said: "My few concubines, after I die, they can’t stay. Tell Ye Tian to give them some money, dismiss them. As for the two young sons, Zhi’er and Han’er, I ask my brother to look after them. In the afterlife, I will surely pray for you all."

Xu Shouxian was childless in his early years, consulting many renowned doctors to no avail. Later, he took some medicines from a wandering doctor with a bald head on the street, which miraculously worked.

In his fifties, within three years, he had two sons, a great joy in his later years.

Xu Fuxian saw this and tears welled again. The sibling rivalry pained him dearly, at midnight recalled in dreams, often leaving him sleeplessly tossing and turning.

At this moment, Xu Fuxian reached the letter’s last page:

"One last word from your brother: After my death, you will surely be promoted to the position of General Accountant. But in my humble opinion, my brother’s stubborn and harsh temperament will likely offend the various stewards in charge, eventually leading to disaster! Please pardon my frank words. Upon promotion to General Accountant, after three years at most, you must choose a talented person to succeed you. It would be wise for my brother to remain as the Chief. This would ensure the family’s long-lasting prosperity. People speak good words before passing; I hope my brother heeds my advice from the heart."

"Xu Shouxian bows once more in writing. Twelfth month, twelfth day."

Xu Fuxian gazed deeply at the last page, his eyes flickering, remaining silent for a long time...

The rumors about the Audit Storm gradually subsided, as the year-end approached, drawing closer day by day.

Each household began preparing for the New Year, although Duan Rong said he was a lone man, with both parents gone in this world, he too hadn’t refrained from organizing various foods in Liu’s House these days; preserved fish, sausages, braised beef head...

After the twelfth lunar month, from the first to the fifteenth day of the new year, the shops on the street remained closed. Without some food prepared, he’d go hungry during that time.

In an alley quite a distance from West Main Street, there was a very spacious residence, seemingly out of place with another area’s bustling surroundings, quiet and serene.

Surrounded by high walls and vermilion doors, the mansion remained closed year-round, rarely receiving visitors.

Even the nearby neighbors couldn’t recall who owned the mansion. Servants and maids entered and exited through a back gate.

Occasionally, maids and servants emerged to make purchases, and curious bystanders gathered to inquire, only to find they were all deafmute.

Some well-off families nearby, during the festive season, brought gifts, handed cards to knock on the door to pay a visit.

Yet there was an old gatekeeper who accepted the gifts and cards, thanking politely, saying they’d surely visit once the master returned.

But generally, nothing more came of it, gradually leading to fewer visits.

However, over several years, people gradually learned who owned the mansion. Rumor had it it belonged to Wei Yutian, owner of two gambling houses, one in Weiyang Square, another in Chunming District.

At dusk, Wei Yutian sat in the gazebo by the rockery in the rear courtyard, sipping tea, watching koi in the pond, while the soft breeze passed, his brows furrowed deeply, overwhelmed by unsolvable sorrow.

Approaching the year-end, other mansions were lively, already immersed in the New Year atmosphere, yet this mansion still lay silent, lifeless.

Wei Yutian lived a lifetime of hardship, but beyond his difficult circumstances, more deeply enveloping him was his intrinsically lonely heart!

"Who?"

Wei Yutian held the teacup mid-air, turning to stare at the rockery not far behind, shouting.

Apart from his three personal maids, Bai Ai, Su Di, Pei Qing, and the old gatekeeper Zhou Gu, other servants and maids were forbidden from entering!

Bai Ai, Su Di, Pei Qing, all knew his temperament; without orders, they wouldn’t bother him at dusk while he drank tea.

"What’s so good about tea? Yutian, I brought some good wine."

Upon hearing the voice, Wei Yutian smiled slightly, tension dissipating from his eyes.

Luan Jingfu emerged from the rockery, holding a wine jar, walking slowly.

Wei Yutian looked at Luan Jingfu, smiling, "Didn’t the Squad Leader say, during the recent heightened scrutiny, you shouldn’t come here without a task."

Luan Jingfu entered the gazebo, sat on the stone chair opposite Wei Yutian, placing the wine jar down, "The urge for wine arises, no controlling it. Moreover, the Squad Leader went to the Prefecture City Branch, not in Xianggu County anymore."

"The Squad Leader went to the Prefecture City Branch?"

"Just left yesterday." Luan Jingfu lowered his voice, "I heard in recent months, three branches were swept clean in Yuanyang Prefecture, and the Hall Master is furious."