Chapter 91: Stirring Trouble
The customers in the shop all came out, and Zhang Zhaodi and the others followed them out, and closed the shop door to prevent anyone from going in and pilfering.
Zhang Zhaodi put her hands on her hips and glared furiously at that man.
“Speak up, when did you buy it, how many things did you buy, how much money did you spend? We’ve sold so many goods from our shop, and you’re the first one to come to our door making trouble. If our things really had a problem, how come no one else has come to make trouble? Don’t think that just because you picked up a bottle from somewhere to frame us, people will believe you. Everyone’s eyes are sharp; no one will believe your slanderous words.”
Zhang Zhaodi said this, and the onlookers calmed down a bit.
Yeah! Although Peach Blossom Workshop just opened, their products have already sold quite a lot. If there really was a problem, it couldn’t be just one person’s problem; this is indeed a bit strange.
That man saw the people around him believing Zhang Zhaodi’s words, and pointed at the woman’s face, saying, “Could I have turned her face into this?”
“I happen to know medical skill; I can check her pulse to see why her face became like this.” Jiang Jing spoke up.
“Right, treat it as giving you a free consultation. Do you dare let our female physician here examine her?” Su Yaoguang asked. “If you don’t dare, it means you’re guilty and don’t dare to confront us.”
The man opened his mouth, braced himself, and said in an unnatural tone, “What do we have to fear? Of course we dare…”
Oh no, this family is so tough; I’m afraid we’re done for today.
Jiang Jing stepped forward and took the woman’s pulse.
The woman looked anxiously at the man, who signaled her with his eyes not to panic.
Jiang Jing said, “Your rash is because you used excessive amounts of inferior cosmetics, which has nothing to do with our shop’s products. Even if our shop’s products are for makeup, they have the effect of beautifying and nourishing the skin.”
“You say it has nothing to do with us, and so it doesn’t? We became like this only after using your shop’s products. Everyone heard it; they themselves admitted it’s from using inferior cosmetics. We only used their shop’s products, so these inferior cosmetics must have been bought from their shop.” The big man shouted loudly, taking advantage of the moment.
“The smell on this lady’s face is pungent; our shop couldn’t produce such rouge and powder. Since we don’t admit it and you don’t believe us, then we have no choice but to report to the authorities.” Jiang Jing said, “Yaoguang, report to the authorities directly. We’re just open for business; our reputation is so important. Someone deliberately came to make trouble, clearly wanting to shut down our shop. We can’t tolerate such people.”
“If the official finds out it’s slander, they’ll have to compensate us with quite a bit of silver, right?” Zhang Zhaodi asked the onlookers.
“If it’s really slander, each gets thirty strokes of the board and has to compensate for your losses. If you’re really wronged, report to the authorities directly; no need to waste time with them.”
Su Yaoguang clapped her hands and cheered, “That’s settled then. Which elder brother can help us report to the authorities? I’m willing to pay a running fee.”
The woman said fearfully, “What to do? I told you early on this method wouldn’t work, that this money couldn’t be earned, but you wouldn’t listen. If they were that easy to deal with, Manager Chen wouldn’t have paid you to step forward.”
Wang Huanzhi leaned close to the man and said in a low voice, “If you don’t want to get the board, you can leave now while there’s still time. But you have to tell us who sent you to make trouble. If you tell me, I’ll give you a tip so you don’t have to go through the government office.”
“It was Jin Le Fang’s manager; he said as long as we came to make a scene, he’d give us five taels of silver.” The woman confessed honestly.
“You stinking woman, why tell him?” The man saw the woman confess and his face changed drastically. “Can we afford to offend Jin Le Fang’s people?”
“I don’t want to go to the yamen and get the board either!” The woman cried. “For making trouble, my face became like this; if I don’t hurry back to apply medicine, it might really get disfigured.”
The man saw the matter was exposed and continuing was useless; a sly look flashed in his eyes. “I can change my tune right now, as long as you give me a little hardship fee—how about two taels of silver?”
“The officers are here.” Someone shouted.
“Who reported to the authorities? Even if the little boss just sent someone, this is too fast—who has such quick legs?”
Su Yaoguang saw Zhou Wangshu walking over from opposite and happily went to greet him. “How come you’re here?”
“It happens to be my rest day.” Zhou Wangshu said. “Isn’t it the address you left me? I just arrived and saw someone making trouble, so without greeting first, I went to the government office and got someone to come.”
“Not bad, young man, sharp brain.” Su Yaoguang patted Zhou Wangshu’s shoulder, turned to the several officers and said, “Officer lords, it’s these two people who came to our shop to extort and slander our products as bad, ruining our reputation. They just seemed to reveal this matter is related to Jin Le Fang’s Manager Chen. I want to report to the authorities and investigate this matter in detail.”
The nearby people gossiped, “How is it related to Jin Le Fang too?”
“Jin Le Fang sells rouge and powder. I heard after Peach Blossom Workshop appeared, Jin Le Fang’s business plummeted; now in ten days they sell less than before in one day. This is jealousy, right?”
That man and woman wanted to escape, but with the officers here, they couldn’t escape. Both looked like the sky was about to fall.
The man knelt before Zhang Zhaodi, crying, “Big sister, please have mercy and spare us. We just saw your business was good and wanted to earn some silver to spend. We won’t dare again!”
“Everyone heard it, these thieves admitted themselves they deliberately extorted us! Our products are genuine and reliable; this kind of thing absolutely won’t happen. Everyone must testify for us.” Zhang Zhaodi shouted to the people around. “Today is our shop’s opening day; I didn’t expect to encounter such bad luck.”
“Mom, you guard the shop’s business; I’ll go with the officers, send these two to see the official, and handle this matter.” Su Yaoguang said.
“I’ll handle it.” Zhou Wangshu said. “The shop can’t be without you; if you leave, they’ll lose their backbone, and today’s opening will become a regret. I don’t know anything else; leave these miscellaneous matters to me!”
“Can you do it?”
“Yes, leave it to me.” Zhou Wangshu said.
After Zhou Wangshu followed the officers and took away those two troublemakers, Zhang Yingdi came over and said to Su Yaoguang, “This little husband is really good; Yaoguang, you have good taste. Before, when I heard people in the village say you didn’t pick that Mr. Xiao the scholar, but bought the cheapest one who only has a good-looking face, I almost believed it. Now it seems their eyesight isn’t good; our Yaoguang’s eyesight is very good.”
Zhang Zhaodi liked hearing others praise Su Yaoguang the most. Before, she liked hearing them praise how capable Su Yaoguang was; now she liked hearing them praise her good taste in picking a good husband.
“That Wangshu boy is very smart. We sent him to study so he could become literate and support this family. That boy unlike other scholars, when he comes back he helps with work.”
