Chapter 397: Retribution
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Shuiyun County, Shen’s Pastry Shop.
A raucous crowd had gathered outside the pastry shop, loudly demanding refunds.
“Give us our money back!” they yelled.
“These mooncakes you sold us, are they even fit for human consumption? They’re covered with mildew – how long have they been sitting around?”
“Exactly! We can handle a bad taste, but inedible? Do you even have a conscience?”
Inside, the shopkeeper was sweating bullets. Hiding initially, he finally decided to confront the situation and sent an employee to inform First Madam Shen of the debacle. Wiping his sweaty forehead with his sleeve, he emerged with a stern face and barked, “Who allowed you to cause a scene here? Scram, or I’m calling the authorities!”
The crowd wasn’t deterred. “Go ahead, call them! We’d love for the magistrate to see your shady business practices.”
“We paid a premium for these mooncakes and they’re inedible. If you don’t refund us, we’re not leaving!”
“I’m not leaving either. You have to give me an explanation today.”
The shopkeeper, feeling cowardly inside but putting on a tough exterior, retorted, “Trying to scam us for money, are you? Why aren’t others asking for refunds, just you lot?”
“Others are others. We bought our mooncakes from you and you owe us an explanation.”
The shopkeeper argued back, “You’re being unreasonable. Who knows where you bought those mooncakes? We’re not the only shop selling them in town.”
“We’re not heartless like you. Besides, these mooncakes have your shop’s mark on them. It’s obvious!”
The shopkeeper, reluctant to admit fault and fearing the financial loss, hesitated. Just then, another group joined in.
“The mooncakes are moldy and inedible refund!”
“Right, refund! The mold covered the entire cake. It’s expensive and inedible!”
“Refund! Refund!”
The crowd grew more agitated, unanimously demanding their money back.
The shopkeeper, stubbornly denying responsibility, yelled, “Our mooncakes are always perfect. It’s impossible for them to be moldy!”
One customer challenged him, “Eat our mooncakes, and we won’t ask for a refund.”
Pushing a moldy mooncake into the shopkeeper’s hand, they shouted, “Eat it, eat it!”
“Eat the mooncake!” the crowd roared again.
Their voices grew louder, echoing down the street and beyond.
Meanwhile, First Madam Shen, already ill, fainted upon hearing the news about the mooncakes.
Han Xinyu rushed to call a doctor and to summon Shen’s second son to deal with the shop matter.
Old Master Shen, delighted to hear of First Madam Shen’s fainting, hurried to see her. First Madam Shen mistook his concern for care, but his next words were a gut punch, “Did you have a stroke from anger?”
Before First Madam Shen could say a word, rage surged to her head, and she indeed suffered a stroke.
Old Master Shen, seeing her like this, was overjoyed, “You’re really paralyzed?”
First Madam Shen, unable to move or speak, glared at him furiously.
Old Master Shen clapped his hands joyfully, “Excellent!” He called for the maids, “Clean up the most remote courtyard and move First Madam there.”
Old Master Shen, seeing that the maids were moving, commanded, “Do it now, or I’ll sell you off.”
The maids, frightened, complied immediately.
Old Master Shen, sitting by First Madam Shen, said, “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day?”
First Madam Shen stared at Old Master Shen. She didn’t expect Old Master Shen to hate her so much. She had always worked hard for this family, but in the end, she was repaid with hatred. She couldn’t help but feel sad.
Master Shen understood what Madam Shen was thinking. “You must think you’ve always cared for this family. Why am 1 doing this to you?”
He was lost in his memories. “In the beginning, 1 didn’t want to marry you. 1 wanted to marry my cousin. But in order to marry me, you pressured my family and even got someone to destroy my cousin. My cousin committed suicide because of that. She was only sixteen years old at that time. You’re so vicious.”
He continued, “You had my eldest son drowned, didn’t you?”
He listed her crimes, turning First Madam Shen pale with horror.
Han Xinyu reported at the door, “Madam, the doctor has arrived.”
Old Master Shen glanced at First Madam Shen, “Tell the doctor she’s fine. Send him away.”
Han Xinyu hesitated and did not move.
Old Master Shen sneered. “I’ll arrange for First Madam to go to the side courtyard to recuperate later. You will go with her.”
Han Xinyu’s expression changed and she immediately knelt down. “Master, please show mercy. I’ll listen to you in the future.”
Old Master Shen firmly said, “Then show the doctor out.”
Han Xinyu’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly said, “Yes, Master.”
Despair filled Madam Shen’s eyes – she couldn’t end like this!
Eventually, First Madam Shen was moved to the desolate courtyard, cared for by an old maid. She spent her last days in despair, abandoned by her sons.
Meanwhile, Han Xinyu informed Shen’s second son of the shop’s trouble. He hurried there.
At the shop, the shopkeeper, cornered and desperate, opened a mooncake package. The smell of mold hit him instantly. The mooncake was covered in mold spots.
“Eat the mooncake!” the crowd roared again.
The shopkeeper, trembling, tried to eat but couldn’t stomach the mold. Frustrated, he threw the mooncake, “This isn’t from our shop!”
“Beat him up, beat him up!”
The crowd, enraged, pounced and gave the shopkeeper a good thrashing. Shen’s second son, witnessing the scene, ran for his life.
And so, the Shen Family Pastry Shop closed its doors, leading to the gradual downfall of the Shen family’s other businesses, one by one…
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