Chapter 8 — Judge's Debt Book

She rushed forward and wanted to grab my skirt, but Lam Bach quickly stepped up to stop her. I didn't turn around and told the manageress as I walked: "Tell her, I've been preparing for this day for her for ten years." Behind me came the mournful cry of Concubine Lieu. Even more pitiful than the mother's cry when she fell in a pool of blood in the past. Madam Xiu came, looked at Aunt Lieu from top to bottom a few times, frowned and said: "Mrs. Tham, this person is a bit old, I'm afraid he can't do that kind of job..." "A handyman." I said: "Lighting a fire, washing clothes, emptying the compost bin, doing any dirty or heavy work. I don't take money from you, just consider it a gift to you." Ma'am's eyes rolled around, then laughed: "Okay, then thank you, Mrs. Tham." Mrs. Lieu Day was dragged away, I didn't come to see. I was just standing on the steps of the main street, from afar I heard a series of screams and curses ring out outside the courtyard gate, followed by a pitiful cry, which finally turned into a choking sound, not sure if it was begging or despair. The sound gradually faded away, blending into the noisy carriages outside the palace gate, and could no longer be heard. Lam Bach stood behind me, asking in a low voice: "Miss, just let her go like that?" "Go?" I turned and walked into the palace: "She can't walk." My steps were neither fast nor slow on the blue tile floor, the sound was gentle but steady. "There are hells that are not located elsewhere, but right in the days of my life." 10Three years later. In the capital, whenever the Tham family is mentioned, there is no one who does not know the female leader of the family. Under the hands of Tham Lan Thu, the duchy's palace transformed from a noble family that only relied on its old inheritance, into a force in the capital's business market that no one dared to underestimate. Food production on the estates doubled, the number of stores expanded more than three times, and the brand's merchant fleet traveled as far as the Western Regions. At first, the longtime shopkeepers did not accept a young lady as the owner, saying that women were not compatible with the business system. I smashed the books in front of them, pointing out every deficit and shady item over the years, then asked them: Those who want to stay must follow my rules. If you want to go, go now. Not many people left. Those who stayed are now all prosperous. Sister Tham Lan Am also completely stands firm in the Tong family. She took the position of a widow to take over the Song family's property, and based on that rich inheritance, became my most effective ally in the marketplace. The two of us sisters, one morning and one night, one from the Tham family, one from the Tong family, joined forces to take account of everyone who bullied and looked down on us. On Thanh Minh day, I went alone to my mother's grave. Don't bring incense, candles or paper money, just a jar of medicinal wine brewed by yourself. I poured a cup and poured it on the ground in front of the grave. "Mother, have you seen it?" The mountain wind blew, the pine forest echoed in waves. Green grass all over the mountains and hills undulate in the wind like waves. There's still no expression on my face. But the moisture in the corner of the eye is visible only to the plants and trees throughout the mountain. In the distance, Lam Bach stood leading his horse, quietly waiting for me. I stood up and went down the mountain. The sunlight falls on me, drawing my shadow very long. When passing by the market at the foot of the mountain, I accidentally saw an old woman with messy hair, huddled at the foot of a castle wall. In front of her was a broken bowl, with only two coins in the bowl. Her hair was white and tangled like a bush of dry grass. His face was full of dirt and wrinkles, his cotton shirt was torn, revealing the cotton inside, his hands were swollen like baking powder. A drunk man staggered out of the castle, glanced at her, threw a coin into the bowl, and sneered: "I heard that this old woman used to be

is also the concubine of the duke's palace. Now it's turned out like this, it's really killing me." The old woman trembled and reached out to pick up the coin, not even daring to raise her head. I reined in the horse, bowed my head and looked at her. As if sensing something, she slightly raised her eyelids. The moment those cloudy eyes saw my face, they immediately widened. She recognized me. I also recognized her. We looked at each other for a moment. Then I withdrew my gaze and gently clamped the horse's stomach. The sound of the horse's hooves stepping on the green stone road calmly passed in front of her. From behind came a hoarse, choking sound, unable to tell whether it was crying or laughing, then was blown away by the wind amidst the noise of the market. My sister stood in front of the palace gate, waiting for me. Seeing me, she stepped up and asked: "What did you say to your mother?" "I told mother, the debt has been paid." Tham Lan Am was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. We walked side by side into the main gate of Tham mansion, blocking out the noise of the whole capital outside. The sky above the palace was finally clear.