CHAPTER 485: CHAPTER 248: THE TRUTH COMES TO LIGHT (PART 2)

Mrs. Li was finally assuaged by these words.

After settling them down, Gu Fangzi went to see Mrs. Wang. She only told Mrs. Wang that Sang Wan’s maternal uncles and aunts had come looking for jobs, and since there happened to be a shortage of people guarding the warehouse, she planned to arrange for them to go there, asking if Mrs. Wang found it appropriate. At the moment, Mrs. Wang’s heart was preoccupied with worries about her injured son, so where could she have the mind for anything else? Hearing this, she nodded her head and did not discuss it further. Gu Fangzi then went to make arrangements on her own.

Subsequently, everything developed exactly as Gu Fangzi had anticipated. Sang Pingliang and his spouse were greedy by nature, and with the convenience of guarding the warehouse, plus some deliberate instigation from others both overtly and covertly, how could Sang Pingliang contain himself?

Initially, tampering and smuggling items with trepidation, after tasting the sweets of success a few times, they grew bolder, almost behaving with reckless abandon. Gu Fangzi coldly sneered in her heart, ordering her people to turn a blind eye; whenever someone came to report the matter, she would suppress it, implying that Sang Pingliang was the eldest madam’s relative. The rest was left to others’ imagination.

Everyone was indignant yet dared not speak up, hindered by the two-layered relationship between them and the eldest madam, and since it was the Shi family’s business after all, whether or not others benefited from theft did not affect them, so why bother with meddling? Gradually, no one raised the issue again, and the few shopkeepers above were completely unaware of it.

It wasn’t until the day the shopkeepers conducted routine inspections that they discovered numerous problems. Once they began questioning, naturally, no one covered for Sang Pingliang. At this point, Gu Fangzi also stopped involving herself in the affairs of the shipment, and seizing this opportunity, everyone started lodging complaints without any hesitation.

The shopkeepers were both shocked and furious, but given Sang Pingliang’s status, it wasn’t appropriate to detain him. Instead, they made up an excuse for him to rest for a few days, planning to report the situation to the young master before making a final decision.

After all, Sang Pingliang bore the Sang surname.

But as soon as Sang Pingliang heard that he was asked to take a few days off, his face turned pale. Hearing the reason, how could he remain calm? Seizing the opportunity, he rushed to the Shi Mansion faster than anyone could. He had to resolve the matter before the shopkeepers, or else wouldn’t that be utterly humiliating? Would the Shi family use him again? He couldn’t afford to lose this job, enjoying good living and eating well, and upon hearing that he was the eldest madam’s uncle, everyone assumed he was destined for a bright future—just temporarily training and familiarizing himself here, as was custom in the Shi family. Who would dare neglect him? Quite the opposite; many tried to curry favor with him!

Sang Pingliang had never received such treatment in his life; it was the best and most glorious time he had ever experienced. Would it not be a shame for it to end just like that?

When Gu Fangzi heard from Lan Xiang that Sang Pingliang urgently sought an audience with her, she knew that the inventory check had revealed the truth, and the matter would soon come to light!

This was the day she had been waiting for, and how could she attempt to suppress the matter for Sang Pingliang? It was best to blow it up big!

"You go and steady him, tell him that I am no longer handling these affairs, and to find the eldest madam!" Gu Fangzi said slowly: "Of course, you must also make it clear to him that the eldest madam is no pushover, and she might get angry upon hearing this matter; he must think of a thorough way to explain slowly. After all, it’s an utter disgrace for an elder to be lectured by a junior! If he refuses to go to the eldest madam, then tell him perhaps he can seek mercy from the Mistress! I am going to my aunt’s place now; do you understand what to do?"

"Your slave understands! Please rest assured, miss!" If she didn’t understand, it would have been a waste of her years serving as a maid. The miss had gone through a lot of trouble to lure Sang Pingliang and his wife into this trap; how could she possibly let him seek rescue from the eldest madam? Naturally, she would lead him to the Mistress!

Lan Xiang bowed respectfully and left. Gu Fangzi’s lips curved in a cold smile, she sighed softly and muttered, "Sang Wan, Sang Wan, I really want to see how you’ll explain this to your aunt!"

Sang Pingliang was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pan; seeing someone coming to summon him, his flustered heart calmed down a bit as he hurriedly followed.

To his slight disappointment, the person waiting at the second gate was Lan Xiang, but he still mustered his spirits and approached with a smile, saying: "Lan Xiang, where is my cousin? I really have urgent matters to discuss with her!"

Lan Xiang smiled, "Just tell me what you need, and I’ll relay it to the miss later! Our miss is currently attending to the Mistress; how could she be free? Perhaps, you can come back tomorrow?"

Sang Pingliang couldn’t possibly wait until tomorrow. Flushing with embarrassment after a while, he bit his lip and finally spilled the beans. Of course, he simplified the process, repeatedly blaming himself for being foolish, guilty, and succumbing to others’ instigations leading to a significant error. He begged his cousin to help him out, or else he would be left with no other choice but death!

It seemed Lan Xiang was shocked and scared by his words and took a moment to compose herself before urgently responding, "How could you be so foolish to do such a thing! Our miss kindly helped you, and instead of making her proud, you’ve caused this mess! Now, our miss might also have to apologize, how could she possibly help you now!"

"Lan Xiang, you must plead on my behalf in front of my cousin! I really recognize my mistake, I won’t do it again! I swear, I’ll work honestly from now on and never disgrace my cousin again!" Sang Pingliang, scolded by Lan Xiang, grew even more anxious and ashamed.

Lan Xiang grumbled reluctantly for a while before sighing, "Master Sang Pingliang, the miss is no longer managing external affairs, even if she wanted to help, she couldn’t now! How about I try to see if the eldest madam is available so you can ask her for help?"

"No, no! You absolutely cannot tell her!" Before Lan Xiang even had time to shift the topic from the eldest madam to the Mistress, Sang Pingliang was already so agitated he almost jumped up, shaking his hands in protest, "You can’t tell her, you mustn’t share this with her!"