Chapter 91: Stirring Up Trouble
The customers inside the store all came out, and Zhang Zhaodi and the others followed, closing the store door to prevent anyone from going in and stealing.
Zhang Zhaodi stood with her hands on her hips, angrily glaring at the man.
"So, tell me, when did you buy it, how many things did you buy, and how much did you spend? We sell so many goods, yet you’re the first to come here causing trouble. If there were really problems with our stuff, why hasn’t anyone else come to cause trouble? Don’t think that just because you found a bottle somewhere and are framing us, people will believe you. Everyone has clear eyes; no one will believe your slanderous words."
Zhang Zhaodi’s words calmed down the onlookers.
Yeah! Although Taoyao Square just opened, they’ve already sold a lot of products. If there were really problems, it couldn’t be just one person’s issue. This indeed seems strange.
Seeing the surrounding people believe Zhang Zhaodi’s words, the man pointed at the woman’s face next to him and said, "Could I have made her face like this?"
"I happen to know some medical skills. I can check her pulse to find out why her face turned out like this," Jiang Jing said.
"Right, consider it a free consultation. Would you dare to let our female doctor check it?" Su Yaoguang asked, "If you don’t dare, it shows you’re guilty and afraid to confront us."
The man opened his mouth, bracing himself awkwardly, "Why wouldn’t we dare? Of course, we dare..."
Damn, this family is so tough; it seems we’ll be in trouble today.
Jiang Jing stepped forward, holding the woman’s wrist.
The woman looked at the man nervously, who signaled her not to panic.
Jiang Jing said, "Your rash is due to using too much low-quality face powder. It has nothing to do with our store’s products. Our products, even if cosmetic, have beautifying and skincare effects."
"You say it has nothing to do with it? We used your products, and that’s why it turned out like this. Everyone heard them admit it was because of low-quality face powder. We only used their stuff; this low-quality face powder was bought from their store," the man seized the opportunity to shout loudly.
"The smell on this lady’s face is pungent; our store can’t produce such rouge and powder. Since we do not admit it, and you don’t believe it, then we have to report to the government." Jiang Jing said, "Yaoguang, report to the government immediately. Our store just opened; reputation is extremely important. They are clearly trying to prevent our store from operating by causing trouble like this, and we can’t let them go unchecked."
"If the official finds it to be slander, they have to compensate us a lot of silver, right?" Zhang Zhaodi asked the onlookers.
"If it is indeed slander, each person would receive thirty lashes and have to compensate for your losses. If you are truly innocent, report to the government directly; no need to waste time with them."
Su Yaoguang clapped her hands, cheering, "That’s settled then. Which gentleman will help us report to the government? I’ll offer a reward for your trouble."
The woman said fearfully, "What should we do? I told you this method wouldn’t work, and the money can’t be earned, but you wouldn’t listen. If they were easy to deal with, Manager Chen wouldn’t have paid you to stir up trouble."
Wang Huanzhi leaned close to the man, lowered his voice, and said, "If you don’t want to get whipped, it’s not too late to leave. But, you have to tell us who sent you to cause trouble. If you tell us, I can give you a trick so you won’t have to go through the government office."
"It was the steward of Jinle Square. He said if we came to cause trouble, he would give us five taels of silver," the woman confessed honestly.
"Damn woman, why did you tell him?" The man’s face changed drastically when he saw the woman confess. "Can we afford to offend people from Jinle Square?"
"But I don’t want to get whipped at the government office!" The woman cried, "To cause trouble, my face has ended up like this. If I don’t quickly apply medicine, it might really get disfigured."
Seeing the situation exposed, the man realized it was no use to continue causing trouble. A cunning expression flashed in his eyes, "I can change my story right away if you give me a small fee. How about two taels of silver?"
"The government officers have arrived," someone shouted.
"Who reported it to the government? Even if the little Boss invited someone to report to the government, how could they come so quickly? Who’s got such nimble legs?"
Su Yaoguang saw Zhou Wangshu approaching from the opposite side and greeted him happily, "What brings you here?"
"It’s my day off," Zhou Wangshu said, "Didn’t you leave your address with me? I just arrived and saw someone causing trouble, so instead of saying hello, I went to the government office to find someone."
"Not bad, young man, you’re quite sharp," Su Yaoguang patted Zhou Wangshu’s shoulder, turning to the officers and said, "Officer gentlemen, these two people came to our store to blackmail us and slander our products, damaging our reputation. They just seemed to reveal that this matter is related to Manager Chen of Jinle Square. I want to report it to the government and thoroughly investigate this matter."
The people next to them started discussing, "How is it related to Jinle Square?"
"Jinle Square sells rouge and face powder. I heard since Taoyao Square opened, Jinle Square’s business plummeted; now they don’t even sell as much in ten days as they used to in one day. They’re jealous, for sure."
The man and woman wanted to escape, but with the officers there, escaping was impossible. Both of them looked as if the sky was about to fall on them.
The man knelt in front of Zhang Zhaodi, crying, "Big sister, have mercy on us, we just saw your business was good and wanted to earn a bit of silver for spending. We won’t dare to do it again!"
"Everyone heard it, this scoundrel admitted to deliberately extorting us! Our products are genuine and of high quality; such a thing wouldn’t happen. Everyone must testify for us," Zhang Zhaodi shouted to the people around her, "Today’s our store’s opening day, and we didn’t expect to meet such people bringing bad luck."
"Mom, you all guard the business in the store. I’ll go with the officers and deal with these two and the case," Su Yaoguang said.
"I’ll handle it," Zhou Wangshu said, "The store can’t do without you. If you leave, they lose their backbone, and today’s opening will be regrettable. I can’t do much, but leave these miscellaneous tasks to me!"
"Can you handle it?"
"I can, leave it to me." Zhou Wangshu said.
After Zhou Wangshu followed the officers and escorted the troublemakers away, Zhang Yingdi came over and said to Su Yaoguang, "This little husband is really good; you have good taste, Yaoguang. I heard people in the village say you didn’t choose that scholar named Xiao, but bought someone with only a decent-looking face at the lowest price. I almost believed them. Now it seems, their judgment is off, and our Yaoguang has excellent vision."
Zhang Zhaodi loved hearing others praise Su Yaoguang. She used to love hearing others praise Su Yaoguang for being capable, and now she loves hearing them praise Su Yaoguang’s good vision for selecting a good husband.
"Wang Shu is very smart. We sent him to study, hoping he can read and write and support this family. Unlike other scholars, he helps with chores when he returns home."