沈家正殿的侧殿中,一股浓浓的药香夹杂着檀香,一缕缕一缕,暗淡得几乎让空气都凝固了.
大厅里光线昏暗,只有几缕微弱的秋日余晖透过窗棂渗进来,将光线投在主座上用雕刻的红木制成的大床上.沈先生,沈万山,这位曾经江南地区实力雄厚的商业大亨,如今面容憔悴,双眼紧闭,呼吸微弱得像风中摇曳的蜡烛.
几个人围在床边,气氛压抑得让人难以呼吸.
长子沈仲康双手垂下站着,脸上流露出恰到好处的担忧,但眼眸深处,却有一丝难以察觉的不安.在他身边的是他的继母刘夫人,一身古朴典雅的杭绢裙.她保存完好的脸上布满了泪痕.她用手帕轻轻擦着眼角,但目光偶尔会转移到床上,然后迅速从站得稍远的沈家二女儿沈若欣身边擦过.
绰号阿兴的沈若欣静静地站在角落的阴凉处.她穿着一件破旧不堪的蓝色连衣裙,身材苗条,脸蛋清澈漂亮.只有她那双杏仁形的眼睛,本来应该是活泼的,现在却异常平静,平静到几乎无动于衷.看着病床上的爸爸,她心里百感交集.这个曾经为她付出生命,曾经给予她短暂温柔的男人,如今正处于死亡的边缘,似乎即将在最后一刻将她推入预定的深渊.
"咳...""咳咳..."一声尖锐的咳嗽打破了寂静.沈万山挣扎着睁开浑浊的眼睛,目光在每个人的脸上徘徊,最后落在了他的长子沈仲康身上.
刘立刻上前,温柔道:"师父,您醒了吗?您感觉好些了吗?医生刚过来看,说你就需要安静休息...
"扶我起来..."沈万山的声音嘶哑而虚弱,却带着毋庸置疑的尊严.
沈仲康急忙上前,小心翼翼地把爸爸扶了起来半个起来,在身后放了一个厚厚的软枕头.
沈万山花了一点时间喘口气.他的目光扫过刘夫人,然后转向沈若欣,最后落在了沈仲康的脸上.他一字一句地清晰而虚弱地说道:"中康..."我...恐怕不行...沈家的家族企业...从祖先那里传下来...这并不容易...
他停顿了一会儿,仿佛在积蓄最后一点力量.
在未来...沈家...只...这一切都取决于您...你想要...管理得好..."为家庭带来荣誉..."
几句话像霹雳一样在沈若心心中响起.
家族企业属于哥哥.
没有遗嘱,没有证书,甚至没有提到她的女儿或她早已去世的亲生母亲留下的慷慨嫁妆.只是这个随意的口头命令,似乎就要决定她未来的命运.
沈若欣垂下眼皮.她长长的睫毛在她的眼睛下投下阴影,掩盖了她目光中闪过的转瞬即逝的寒冷.她知道,真正的危机只会从这一刻开始.
"爸爸!"沈仲康"扑通"一声跪倒在地,哽咽着."你是个有福的老人.你一定会好起来的!我儿子不孝.请不要说这样的话...
刘氏也擦干了眼泪,靠在床上,控制不住地啜泣着,"师父..."你竟然挖出你的妾...如果你去了,我们孤儿寡妇将如何生活...她说"孤寡",眼神却不由自主地瞥了沈若欣一眼,带着一丝审视和探查.
沈若心沉默不语,只有指尖微微蜷缩,一股冰冷的寒意沿着她的后背蔓延开来.她太了解这个继母了.刘石出身卑微.凭借自己的美貌和技能,她在母亲去世后不久就嫁入了沈家.这些年,她表面上看起来贤惠,但实际上,她从未停止过对沈家事业的贪婪追求.至于前妻留下的女儿,她一直保持警惕,不断压制她.
如今父亲病重,"家业归大哥"的诏书,无疑给了刘石和沈仲康最大的信心.接下来,他们将做什么?那些母亲留下的商店,农田和钞票...恐怕全都成了眼里肉里的刺.
沈晚山似乎已经用尽了所有的力气,疲惫地闭上眼睛,沉默不语.
刘夫人见状,立刻站起身来,对沈仲康眨了眨眼,然后转向沈若欣,脸上强行露出一抹"慈爱"的笑容:"阿兴,你爸爸累了,需要休息.你也累了一整天.先回去休息.只要你和你哥哥在这里照顾你就好了.
这个驱逐令相当"体贴".
沈若心抬起头,平静地与刘夫人的目光相遇:"爸爸病得很重.在他的床边孝顺是我的责任.如果继母和哥哥有什么事情要做,还不如先走.我会在这里照看他们.
刘脸上的笑容愣了一下,然后又恢复了正常,但她的语气却带着一丝难以察觉的冷淡:"傻孩子,你在说什么?照顾主人是我们的责任.毕竟,您是女儿的家人.那么,如果你把自己累得筋疲力尽怎么办?要服从.先回去休息.稍后来代替我.
她一边说着,一边巧妙地侧过身来,在沈若欣和病床之间,仿佛不愿意让她更靠近爸爸.
Shen Ruoxin didn't insist any longer. She knew that standing hard at this moment was meaningless and would instead expose her wariness. She nodded slightly, "In that case, the daughter will come later." If Father has any needs, please ask stepmother and elder brother to inform him in time.
Having said that, she took a deep look at her father on the sickbed, turned around and left the side hall with steady steps.
Stepping out of that dull and oppressive room, the air outside seemed a little fresher. In the courtyard, autumn leaves rustle and fall, carrying a desolate chill.
Shen Ruoxin did not return to her embroidery shop. Instead, she turned her steps and headed towards the accounting room.
She didn't walk fast, but her mind was working rapidly.
The father's oracles, though sudden, were actually inevitable. Over the years, the "filial piety" and flattery of the eldest brother have long laid the groundwork for today. The absence of a written will means there are great variables. If her father really passed away, just by a single oral edict, the property she and her mother left behind would probably be immediately swallowed up by them under the name of "Shen Family Business".
The most crucial point is that the dowry of my mother back then not only included several lucrative shops and farmlands, but also a secret account that recorded the covert transactions and human relationships with several major business firms. That was her true trump card, the capital for her to establish herself and even stage a comeback in the future.
This secret account was handed over to her by her mother before her death and hidden in a place known only to her.
Liu seemed to have heard of the existence of this account book, but she had been struggling to find any evidence. Over the years, she had tried many times, both openly and covertly, but each time Shen Ruoxin dealt with her with great caution.
Now that the father is critically ill and his last will has been issued, the mother and son of the Liu family are likely to take action soon. They would never allow this account book, which might threaten their absolute control over the family property, to remain in their hands.
We must get ahead of them to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Outside the accounting room, two burly servants stood guard at the door, their eyes wary. These two people are close confidants of the Liu family and have never been here before.
Shen Ruoxin's heart sank. Sure enough, they have already begun to act.
She didn't stop and walked straight over.
"Second Miss." One of the servants tried to stop her with a forced smile, saying, "Madam has given the order. The accounting office is an important place and no outsiders are allowed to enter."
"Miscellaneous people, etc.?" Shen Ruoxin raised her eyebrows, her cold gaze sweeping over the servant's face. "Part of the dowry account left by my mother is also kept here. Am I also an ordinary person?"
The servant was looked down upon by her, but relying on the support of Lady Liu, he sternly said, "This is the lady's order. We are also following it." If the second young lady wants to check the accounts, please go and inform the madam first...
"Report?" Shen Ruoxin interrupted him, her voice not loud but with a compelling air, "When I check my mother's dowry account, who should I report to?" Has the rules of the Shen family been changed, or is it that just by filling in the house, the Liu family can bypass the mistress and interfere with the legitimate daughter's right to view her deceased mother's belongings?
Her words were resounding and carried an unquestionable dignity. The two servants were momentarily stunned and didn't know how to deal with it. Although the Shen family was a merchant family, its rules and regulations still remained, and the hierarchy of legitimate and illegitimate children was deeply rooted in people's hearts. Shen Ruoxin brought out the identity of the eldest daughter of the deceased mother, and they really didn't dare to openly stop her.
Shen Ruoxin no longer paid any attention to them. She pushed open the slightly ajar door of the accounting room and walked in.
The accounting room was brightly lit. Several accountants were buried in their accounts. When they saw Shen Ruoxin come in, they were all somewhat surprised. Liu Zhanfang, the leader, hurriedly stood up and asked, "Second Miss, why are you here?"
Shen Ruoxin's gaze quickly swept over the accounting room, but she didn't see her elder brother Shen Zhongkang's figure, which made her feel a little more at ease. It seems that they haven't had the chance to do it themselves yet.
"Accountant Liu," Shen Ruoxin walked up to a row of rosewood bookshelves, her voice calm. "Could you please take out the account books of the several shops and villages where my mother was given as a dowry back then, as well as the related deeds and documents? I need to check them."
Liu Zhangfang showed a hint of difficulty on his face: "Second Miss, this..." The young master just instructed that there have been numerous accounts in recent days. All the account books...
"Has my mother's dowry account also been taken over by the eldest young master?" Shen Ruoxin's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Or does Liu, the accountant, also think that I, the second daughter of the legitimate family, don't even have the right to take a look at my mother's belongings?"
Cold sweat broke out on Liu's forehead. He hurriedly waved his hand and said, "I dare not, I dare not!" The second young lady is too harsh! Just... It's just that the eldest young master...
"Big Brother, I'll go and talk about it myself." Shen Ruoxin's tone was beyond doubt. "Now, immediately, bring me the account books and deeds." If a page is missing or there are any alterations... She paused for a moment, her gaze as sharp as a cold knife. "Accountant Liu, you've been doing accounting in the Shen family for twenty years. You should know the consequences."
Liu, the accountant, was intimidated by the coldness in her eyes and dared not say any more. He hurriedly bent down and walked to the accounting cabinet. Following Shen Ruoxin's instructions, he began to search for the corresponding account books and land deeds.
Shen Ruoxin stood aside, quietly watching. Her heart was beating a little fast, but she still remained calm on her face. She knew that this was only the first step. The Liu mother and son will never give up easily. They will soon come to their senses and use every means to stop her, even... It's not good for her.
That verbal edict from her father was like a sharp sword hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment. And she must find a way to break the deadlock before this sword falls.
Outside the window, the sky was getting darker and darker, and the wind was getting stronger and stronger, making the window lattice rattle. A silent war surrounding family property and survival has already begun.
Liu, the accountant, finally brought over a stack of account books and several volumes of deeds, his hands trembling slightly. "Second Miss, they are all here."
Shen Ruoxin stretched out her slender fingers and gently brushed over the yellowed papers. A cold touch came, but her eyes gradually became resolute.
"Thank you, Mr. Liu, the accountant." She said indifferently, with no emotion in her voice. "Find a quiet room. I want to take a close look."
Her gaze turned to the deep night outside the window, with only one thought in her mind: her father's words were not only a will but also a declaration of war. She's Shen Ruoxin. Take it! She can't lose this battle and can't afford to lose it.