Gu Fangzi spoke with indomitable righteousness and heartfelt sincerity, her words resonating deeply that anyone who heard them would be moved.
Yet, Shi Fengju merely glanced at her unimpressed and said slowly, "I am not going to audit your accounts, nor do I need to summon the shop managers to inquire. If I investigate you today without any reason, others might fear they'd be next. You know that I wouldn't do such a thing without evidence. Moreover, the chief shop managers are not fools; you can't tamper with the account books and the major business transactions! There's no need for you to explain your intentions to me. After all, as long as my mother trusts you, that's enough, isn't it? Don't bother coming tomorrow; I trust that the shop managers will report to me what needs to be reported. Also, let there not be a next time, do you understand?"
