But today's performance is neither storytelling nor song and dance.

Standing on the stage was the articulate young manager of Bazhenlou, with a gentle yet solemn smile on his face.

"Greetings, esteemed guests! Today, my humble shop will not be putting on a new play or introducing a new book. I simply wish to tell you a few short stories for your amusement, hoping to bring a smile to your faces or perhaps prompt you to ponder them."

He cleared his throat, and his loud, clear voice echoed throughout the hall.

"In a certain place during a previous dynasty, there lived a wise man named Zengzi. One day, a wicked neighbor, who had a grudge against Zengzi's mother, devised a malicious plan and rushed to Zengzi's house, exclaiming, 'It's terrible! Your Zengzi has killed someone!' Zengzi's mother, upon hearing this, continued spinning thread as if nothing had happened, and scolded the wicked neighbor, saying, 'How could my son kill someone?' Seeing that she didn't believe him, the wicked neighbor rushed over again and said, 'Zengzi really has killed someone!' Zengzi's mother paused slightly in her hand, but still didn't believe him."

"When the wicked neighbor came to tell the news for the third time: 'Zengzi has indeed committed murder, and the authorities are arresting him!' Zengzi's mother was terrified, dropped the thread, and jumped over the wall to escape!"

"Dear readers, even a wise mother like Zengzi deeply believed in her own son. However, rumors can become truth with repeated slander, and even a loving mother can have doubts! This is one of the most frightening aspects of rumors!"

The story was told vividly, and the diners below listened intently, nodding thoughtfully.

Then, the steward changed the subject and told the story of the neighbor who doubted the axe.

The man who lost his axe suspected his neighbor, finding his neighbor's walk, speech, and demeanor suspicious of a thief. But after finding the axe, he looked at his neighbor again and found everything about him to be suspicious.

Finally, another story, more relatable to ordinary people, was told about the gossip and troubles that often plague a widow's home.

A chaste widow, simply because of her beauty, was falsely accused by a gossipy woman of having an affair with a peddler. The rumors eventually drove her to commit suicide by jumping into a well.

Each story is short and concise, yet it touches the heart.

After finishing his speech, the manager bowed deeply to the audience.

"Distinguished guests, our shop is open to the public with the sole purpose of entertaining you with delicious food and treating you with sincerity."

"However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Recently, some unfounded rumors have been circulating in the streets, causing my small shop to feel both fear and disheartened! Rumors are like knives, killing without a trace!"

"We hope our distinguished guests will see clearly and not believe the falsehoods spread by word of mouth. Seeing is believing! Our shop is here every day, ready to be inspected at any time! The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty!"

The entire set of punches contained not a single rebuttal or a trace of anger, but only a few thought-provoking stories and a statement that was neither humble nor arrogant.

After a brief silence, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers!

"The innocent remain innocent, and the guilty remain guilty! What a great saying!"

"That's right! The Eight Treasures Pavilion is spacious and bright! What's there to fear from gossip!"

"Those who gossip should listen to these thought-provoking stories!"

The diners were talking amongst themselves, their eyes filled with scrutiny and understanding as they looked at each other.

All the unfounded rumors I'd heard before seemed so pale and laughable in the face of such a story that gets to the heart of the matter.

In the private room on the second floor, several noble ladies and wives of prominent families who had been whispering about whether the Eight Treasures Restaurant was immoral turned red and white in turns.

Yes, how are they any different from the ignorant people in those stories when they doubt Bazhenlou like this?

The young men at the next table, who had just been discussing safety issues, also awkwardly shut their mouths.

Looking at the excited scene downstairs, and then at the half-eaten spicy crab on the table, I felt my face burning.

The crowd was in high spirits, and even the mouthpiece that Xia Momo had planted in the crowd fell silent, not daring to even raise its head.

Helian Jue stood by the window, looking down at the young manager who was using stories to dispel rumors, and then glanced at the figure in the back kitchen who was rolling up his sleeves and instructing the chefs to try out new dishes.

The rumors can be resolved without bloodshed; no wonder she's the woman he has a slight crush on.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, and pondered that Miss Liu's criteria for hiring people seemed to be based on their appearance.

His appearance...isn't it to Miss Liu's liking?

Tsk... Could it be that Miss Liu still prefers those thin, pale-faced scholars?

*

In the courtyard, a fine white glazed teacup was smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces, and warm tea was splashed all over the ground.