Chapter 288: Chapter 289: Resolved
The people inside and outside the shop all chuckled when they heard that.
Even the customers who had been a little tense relaxed.
"Then you definitely didn’t buy it here. Everyone from the Shopkeeper to the assistants can read, write, and do sums. There’s no one illiterate here like you claim."
The woman exclaimed, "How is that possible?"
"Why don’t you point out the assistant who served you?" Manager Liu suggested. "We can have a face-to-face confrontation."
Seeing the growing crowd outside, the woman grew flustered, her voice trembling. "I don’t remember. Everyone here wears the same uniform, so how could I remember who it was?
Look at my face! It’s in this state, and you’re still trying to deny responsibility."
"Then what is it you want?" Manager Liu asked, playing along.
"You have to compensate me, don’t you? My face is a mess. You need to give me silver to get it treated."
Manager Liu felt even more assured now. ’It seems she’s just a lone extortionist, not part of some gang of ruffians.’
"You don’t need to worry about that. We’ve already sent for a doctor, and the officials will be here shortly. They will see that justice is done for you. If this is truly our fault, it’s not like we can run away."
The woman panicked and tried to leave, but the gawking crowd at the entrance blocked her way.
"You need to clear this up first! Many of us shop here. If there’s really a problem, we’ll stop buying your products."
"That’s right, let’s get to the bottom of this. Don’t you be afraid of the Shopkeeper; there are plenty of us here watching."
Manager Liu stepped forward. "Thank you, everyone, for bearing witness today. If this is truly our shop’s fault, we will certainly take full responsibility.
However, if someone is just here to cause trouble, thinking we’re an easy target, then they are sorely mistaken.
I have also sent for a doctor and an official. I ask you all to please stay and watch."
"Good. Things need to be cleared up for everyone’s sake," many people chimed in.
As the doctor was led through the parted crowd, the woman’s expression grew panicked. "Maybe... maybe I was mistaken. It probably wasn’t your soap. It could be something else..."
"Regardless, the doctor is here now. Let him take a look first." A lady standing right next to her grabbed her hand and pulled her further inside. "Doctor, please come over and check her pulse!
See what’s causing this rash on her face!"
The doctor glanced at the woman, stared intently at the bumps on her face for a moment, and then gestured for her to extend her arm so he could take her pulse.
...
"So these bumps are something that developed from her own body due to a problem with her diet," Manager Liu asked loudly. "It has nothing to do with our shop’s products, correct?"
The old doctor nodded. "If this were caused by an external substance, her face wouldn’t look like this.
Even someone with spring allergies wouldn’t have a reaction that looks like this.
For her condition, a couple of medicinal brews should clear it right up."
"You’re all in this together—" Just as the woman started to speak, an assistant ran out holding the registration log.
"We can check the date. Everything is recorded right here."
Just then, the official arrived. After being briefed on the situation, he said to the woman, "State your name." Then, to the crowd, he said, "What’s the meaning of all this crowding? Disperse, all of you."
"I... I might have misremembered," the woman’s voice trailed off. "The doctor just said I probably ate something that disagreed with me. I’ll just be going."
But Manager Liu blocked her path. "It’s better to clear this up. Please, Madam, tell me, what name did you register under?"
"Just tell the Shopkeeper. There’s no harm in checking," someone in the crowd urged.
"I..."
"Don’t tell me you never even bought anything here and just came to extort money when you had a skin problem?" someone in the crowd shouted, causing an uproar. "So that’s what’s going on!
This is extortion, right at their doorstep!
That explains it! We use their products every day with no issues. Good thing this Shopkeeper is sharp and called for a doctor and an official, otherwise he would’ve been swindled."
"As small business owners, we fear people like this the most. They blame everyone else for their problems. It’s a good thing this shop keeps a register, or they’d have no way to defend themselves."
...
Amidst the crowd’s accusations and the woman’s confession, the farce finally came to an end.
After watching the government officers lead the woman away, Manager Liu calmed down the remaining customers before hurrying to the back courtyard.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Mrs. Gu looking at him with an expression of satisfaction.
"You did an excellent job. That was handled very well. Go to the accountant later and collect some reward silver," Jin Qianqian said. "Everyone else in the shop will get a share too. You all performed admirably."
"Thank you, Madam. This was just like the examples Little Hu Shopkeeper always taught us. I was just putting his lessons into practice," Manager Liu said respectfully.
"Regardless, you reacted quickly and handled it well. Keep up the good work. The Master and I will not treat any of you unfairly."
Jin Qianqian offered a few more words of encouragement, then took her leave.
’I’ve heard about people causing trouble so many times, but I never expected to run into it myself.’ Jin Qianqian shook her head. ’These tricks are so overused. It’s as if they all get together and decide to use the exact same strategy, without even trying to change it up.’
The training she had organized for the shopkeepers had unexpectedly come in handy.
Thinking of the two young shopkeepers who had just been appointed, Jin Qianqian turned to Qing Mei and told her to have Tianbao and the others find time in the evenings to study under Manager Liu. That way, they would be better prepared to handle such a situation if it happened again.
Qing Mei acknowledged the order. Just then, the carriage arrived at the main gate.
Jin Qianqian had just stepped through the main gate when Gu Benluo came rushing toward her. She quickly opened her arms and caught him.
"You little rascal, what are you doing playing all the way out here?" The little one in her arms hugged her neck tightly, giggling.
"Madam," Gu Benluo’s nanny hurried over and curtsied. "The Young Master was missing you terribly. He wouldn’t stop calling for his mother, so I had no choice but to coax him into waiting for you here."
Jin Qianqian smiled and nodded. "This little one has too much energy. It must be very difficult for you all."
Jin Qianqian felt Luo Luo’s clothes; they were dry. "Luo Luo, did you miss Mommy?"
"Want to play," Gu Benluo said, pointing at the carriage outside the gate. "Mommy didn’t take Luo Luo."
Jin Qianqian stroked his head. "Once Mommy is done with this busy period, I’ll take you and your little brother out to have some fun, alright?"
"Liar! Little brother doesn’t even know how to play."
Jin Qianqian tilted her head, looked at him, and said with a serious expression, "Then what should we do? Should I only take you and leave your little brother at home all by himself?"
Gu Benluo actually considered it seriously. "Then let’s have little brother come with us, and we’ll make Daddy carry him."
