夜晚再次笼罩了沈府,但沈若心的心境与昨晚的惊慌和不安完全不同.账簿上的数字,那些冰冷而确凿的证据,给了她一种前所未有的自信.刘诗看似在一步步逼近,但实际上,她外表凶猛,内心柔弱.锦绣阁的巨大赤字是一把悬在她头上的利剑,而那次与锦绣布店的荒谬的棉麻布业交易,就是她自挖坟墓留下的致命缺陷.
她不能直接去面对刘家.那和试图用鸡蛋打碎石头没什么区别.我们也不能指望我们的哥哥沈仲康会改变主意.他长期以来一直与刘家勾结.父亲病得很重,无法负责.此时此刻,唯一能够平衡刘家,关心沈家的名声和祖规的,是宗中那些平时低调却在关键时刻能大放异彩的长辈.
沈家成员很多,但真正有分量,敢于发声,相对公平的人只有一个.经过深思熟虑,沈若心发现只有一个人——三叔,沈万山的三叔,他现在是沈家最资深,最受尊敬的长辈.山叔早年也从事经商.虽然后来他的家族财富下降了,但他的远见和洞察力仍然存在.他最看重家族的声誉和统治.如果他得知刘家敢拿沈家的合法女儿（外在地位）和家族财富进行交易,败坏家族名声,他绝不会袖手旁观.
要说服三叔,空谈是行不通的;必须有确凿的证据.关键是记录了与锦绣布店虚假交易的购买账号.
就在天色渐亮的时候,沈若欣又找到了刘的会计办公室.这一次,她没有提到锦绣阁的整体账目.反而直接指出:"刘叔,我想仔细查一下我们上个月从锦绣布店买的那批棉麻布的仓储凭单,还有..."合同.记得那批货的价格还不低,不过好像我们在我们锦绣阁的店面都没看到.我想确认一下它到底在哪里使用,这样我就可以给我的老大哥交代了.
她特意提起"跟哥哥解释",然后指出"价格不低"和"没见过",暗示可能有什么可疑的事情,把自己放在一个填补空白,考虑家庭利益的位置.
刘的表情微微一变,显然明白了这背后的深意.他犹豫了片刻,用复杂的眼神看了沈若欣一眼,低声说道:"二小姐,那批货物..."确实有点奇怪.合同和仓库收据文件都在这里.你...自己看看.他从一个不起眼的角落里拿出了一份单独的文件.
沈若欣接过案卷,快速翻阅了一遍.果然,黑白相间的记载,锦绣阁以比市场价格高出近 30% 的价格,从锦绣布店购买了大量普通棉麻布.合同的条款简单粗暴.他们对面料的等级,用途和交货细节含糊其辞,乍一看就有什么不对劲.最关键的一点是付款方式是 - 验货前付清全部金额喔!
这简直就是一份明目张胆的转移利益的合同!
刘叔叔,这份合同...我可以复制副本吗?沈若欣抬起头,目光平静.
刘章芳嘴唇微微动动,终于点了点头:"你..."小心.
沈若心不再多说.她赶紧找来纸笔,一字不差地把合同的关键条款写下来,尤其是价格,数量,付款方式,还有双方的签名（虽然是她的哥哥沈仲康代为签字的,但加盖了锦绣阁的大章）.
有了这个关键的"证据",沈若心一刻也没有耽搁.她寄给石头,以最快的速度将一封诚挚的信送到了三叔的住处.她只说了一句,她的侄孙女沈若心有件事事极其紧急,恳切地请求三叔抽出时间,下午再见她.地点设在城外一家僻静的茶馆.她必须避免被刘夫人和她的哥哥注意到.
下午,城郊有一家茶馆.
沈若欣早早到了,在远处的角落里选了一个包间.她有些紧张,手心微微出汗,但更重要的是,她有一种全力以赴的决心.
就在约定的时间到了,包间的帘子被掀开了,一个精力充沛,面容憔悴的老人走了进来,搀扶着一个仆人.正是三叔.
"姑娘,为什么这么急,要在这个偏僻荒凉的地方约个约?"三叔坐下,目光锐利地看着沈若欣,语气中带着一丝询问.
沈若欣站起身来,恭敬地向三叔鞠了一躬,然后又坐了下来.她的声音带着一丝恰到好处的哽咽和委屈:"三叔,曾侄女..."我真的已经束手无策了,所以我别无选择,只能提醒您,先生.
"哦?"三叔微微挑眉,"可是府里有人欺负你了?你爸爸病了.你的哥哥和继母...
不完全是.沈若欣摇摇头,深吸一口气,开始温柔流畅地解释她早就准备好的话,"三叔,你知道你侄孙女已经十五岁了吗?昨天...我继母突然提起来,说她已经为我安排了婚事,而且是西城锦布店掌柜的儿子.
"王掌柜?"三叔皱起眉头."我记得他的家人只是马马虎虎.那个儿子..."似乎也没有什么了不起的.妈当年嫁妆丰厚,你是沈家的合法女儿.这桩婚事似乎...它不太匹配.
"三叔,请明确警告!"沈若欣抓住了这个机会,眼里噙满了泪水."如果只是家庭背景不合适的问题,侄孙女认为爸爸病重,哥哥过得不好,会接受的."但...但这次婚姻绝不是正式的订婚;相反,这是一个...交易!
"交易?"三叔的脸色一沉.
"Yes!" Shen Ruoxin presented the copy of the contract with both hands and said, "Uncle SAN, please take a look." This is a purchase contract signed by the eldest brother with that Jinxiu Cloth Store in the name of Jinxiu Pavilion last month. Our Jinxiu Pavilion purchased a large quantity of ordinary cotton and linen from his store at a price 30% higher than the market rate. Even before the goods were inspected, we had already paid off the full amount of several thousand taels of silver! This sum of money is almost the annual income of Jinxiu Cloth Shop! May I ask my third uncle, how could there be such a way to do business in this world?
Uncle SAN took the copy, his gaze fixed on the glaring figures and terms, and his expression grew increasingly gloomy. Although he has not been in charge for many years, his basic business common sense still remains. The problem of this contract is obvious at a glance.
"Ridiculous!" Uncle SAN suddenly slapped the table, and the teacup jolted. "This is simply a waste of the Shen family's money!" Zhong Kang is confused! Mrs. Liu... Even more presumptuous!
Seeing this, Shen Ruoxin knew that the time was ripe and was on the verge of tears: "Third Uncle, this confusing account has only been settled for a few days, and my stepmother has brought up this marriage." The great-niece ventured to guess that this was simply... It's the stepmother and the eldest... Big brother, with our Shen family's money, I bribed the Wang family to marry me. What they were after was nothing but the dowry left by their great-niece's mother! Even... It's to use the Wang family's hands to completely control the great-niece so that they can rest easy... "Empty the Shen family!"
She didn't directly say that Liu Shi and her elder brother had begun to empty the family business. Instead, she pointed out their motives and possible consequences, portraying herself as a pitiful orphan girl who was about to be sacrificed but still had a deep understanding of the conspiracy.
"They dare!" The Third uncle was so angry that his beard trembled and his eyes were filled with rage. "Taking advantage of Wan Shan's serious illness, he so humiliated the orphan girl and embezzled the family property. This is simply a disgrace to the conscience and a disgrace to the family's reputation!" The face of our Shen family has been completely ruined by them!
Shen Ruoxin hurriedly stood up and prostrated herself on the ground again: "Third Uncle, Father is now in a coma. Big Brother has been deceived by the stepmother." The great-niece was all alone and really had no strength to resist. I earnestly beg my third uncle to speak up for his great-niece and for the Shen family! At least... This dirty deal, which was obtained with the daughter and family wealth, mustn't succeed!
She lay on the ground, her shoulders trembling slightly, vividly depicting the helplessness and fear of a weak woman in the face of power. Yet, in her words, she always maintained the defense of the family's reputation.
Uncle SAN looked at Shen Ruoxin lying on the ground. Her thin shoulders seemed unable to bear the burden, but there was an unyielding tenacity in her eyes. He thought of his nephew Shen Wanshan, who had died young and was shrewd and capable, and of his younger sister-in-law, who had been gentle and virtuous and married into the Shen family with a generous dowry. His heart was filled with both regret and anger.
"Good child, get up quickly." Third Uncle personally helped Shen Ruoxin up, his tone carrying a touch of pity and determination. "Don't worry. With Third Uncle around, you will never suffer such injustice!" This marriage must not succeed! Liu Shi and Zhong Kang... Humph! I'll go and ask them myself if they still remember the rules of the Shen family!
Shen Ruoxin's heart was finally lifted by a huge burden. Tears could no longer be held back and streamed down her face: "Thank you, Third Uncle!" Thank you very much, Third Uncle!
The tears at this moment are half aggrieved and half excited at the success of the plan. She knew that with the intervention of her third uncle, Liu Shi at least dared not openly force her to marry the Wang family immediately. She managed to gain a precious breathing space for herself.
More importantly, she successfully planted a seed of suspicion and checks and balances within the Shen family. The intervention of the third uncle is bound to trigger a chain reaction. The situation of the Liu family and the eldest brother will no longer be as carefree as before.
"All right, girl, don't cry." Third Uncle patted the back of her hand and said, "You go back to the mansion first and pretend to know nothing." The rest of the matters are left to Uncle SAN. However... He changed the subject and his gaze became profound. "The thing you presented today and the words you said are no small matter." You must make sure that every word is true. Otherwise...
"Third Uncle, rest assured," Shen Ruoxin met his gaze, her eyes clear and open. "Every word my great-niece said is true." If there is even a single false word, I am willing to accept any punishment. The account books are in the mansion. Just check them and you'll know.
Uncle SAN stared at her for a moment and then nodded slowly, "Good, good!" No wonder she is the daughter of Wan Shan! Courageous and responsible! You go ahead. Be careful in everything.