This time, the troublemakers didn't seem to care much about the diners' attitudes. It seemed they wouldn't give up until they shut down the shop and took the people away.
Those who hadn't believed the others earlier were even more indignant when they saw Pei Yuezhi bring out the unprocessed, fresh vegetables. They retorted, "Didn't you say their food wasn't fresh? This looks like the best food imaginable to me!"
"Yeah, isn't this just picking a fight?"
“I think you’re definitely in cahoots with that guy from last time. Otherwise, we all know that someone framed you last time, and nobody took it seriously. But you guys come up here and start talking about what happened last time.”
In fact, the public is quite easily swayed. Now that Pei Yuezhi has proven her innocence, even those who were initially skeptical have started to change their tune.
That's just how people are; they change their minds easily.
"What use are these things to you? Who knows if they're even food for your own family? What does this prove? All four of us brothers got sick from eating them and went to the clinic. We have witnesses. Just wait for your shop to be shut down! You heartless shop!"
"Wait until Officer Sun comes and investigates, then let's see how you try to deny it!"
"Do people believe her or the officials? Why are we reporting this to the authorities? Isn't it for the sake of us ordinary people? What if one day you and your families get sick from the food?"
That's brilliant, absolutely brilliant. They've elevated the act of causing trouble to the level of acting in the interest of the masses.
This time they actually used their brains, unlike last time when the plot was full of loopholes.
"We run our business honestly and cleanly. We make sure all our ingredients are spotless. We offer a variety of dishes for dinner and lunch boxes. How many restaurants around here care about their customers like we do?"
"I use the finest ingredients, and you can get meat for just over ten coins. Isn't the point that everyone can afford to eat their fill?"
“You say you got sick from the food. Although I have a clear conscience, it's still because you ate here. Even if it's a misunderstanding, I'm willing to take you to the doctor for a check-up. But you're being so aggressive and insisting that I close down the shop.”
“I’ve brought out all the evidence to prove it, but you’re still not letting it go. So I’m willing to go to the government office to prove myself properly, so that the guests won’t have any doubts.”
"However, I'm only doing this to reassure my customers, it doesn't mean I admit there's something wrong with my shop!"
Pei Yue spoke each word clearly, her eyes filled with determination.
I can't let them take me to the government office. I have to propose it myself. And I absolutely can't go with their head constable Sun. I don't know if they'll use torture indiscriminately.
Moreover, they had to explain their reason for going to the government in a way that would put everyone at ease and make them feel that they had a clear conscience.
After saying this, Pei Yuezhi turned to Liu Yuanyuan and said, "Yuanyuan, I'll leave these things at the shop to you for now. There are no dishes to cook right now, so don't worry, I'll be right back."
As she spoke, she got up and started to leave. Pei Yuezhi was a little worried that Constable Sun would come, so it was best to go to the government office as soon as possible before he arrived.
When the men saw that she was about to leave, they quickly stopped her. If she really caused a scene in court, things would get complicated. The three of them cursed inwardly, wondering why this kid hadn't brought Constable Sun with him yet.
The Zhao couple, who were in the corner, saw the three of them reaching out to stop them and quickly got up to pull them apart. Zhao Wen asked coldly, "Don't lay a hand on them. Didn't you want to sue them? They went to the government office themselves, why are you stopping them?"
Zhang Hongying snorted coldly: "I've worked here for so many days, and the boss's house is always clean and tidy, with the best and freshest vegetables and meat. I'm afraid they're worried that if the boss's wife really goes to court and proves her innocence, they won't be able to take the responsibility."
"Nonsense! We...we're afraid she'll run away!"
"Then you guys follow along," one of the onlookers chimed in.
"Brother! Officer Sun is here!" The man they went to find the person returned at that moment.
If the head constable comes, things might get a bit complicated.
This constable, Sun, was tall and fat, with an oily face and a malicious look. When he saw Pei Yuezhi, his eyes lit up and he said, "You're the owner of this shady inn? You're quite pretty, but I didn't expect you to be so wicked. Someone said your ingredients have gone bad and made several people sick. Come with me."
Liu Yuanyuan ran over from behind the counter to protect Pei Yuezhi: "You said yourself that someone said it, but there's no evidence, nothing at all, and you just call it a black shop! How can you do that?"
When Constable Sun saw Liu Yuanyuan confronting him, he got a little angry: "Someone reported me, so I'm investigating. Stop making excuses and don't delay my work!"
Not content with that, she turned to the crowd and said, "Stop eating here! Didn't you see the authorities coming to arrest people? How dare you eat their food?"
Seeing his arrogant face, Zhang Hongying was so angry she gritted her teeth: "Arrest someone? Do you have an arrest warrant?"
Unexpectedly, Zhang Hongying knew quite a lot. Neither Pei Yuezhi nor Liu Yuanyuan knew that in ancient times, arrest warrants were required to apprehend people.
"Yes, of course there is, but I didn't take it. I'm right here; doesn't that prove what the government means?"
"I had no idea that Officer Sun could represent the government?" A voice tinged with anger came from a corner near the kitchen.
When Constable Sun saw that someone was causing trouble and demanding an arrest warrant, and now that someone dared to speak to him like that, he became even more furious.
"Who do you think you are? I'm the head constable, of course I represent the government! Anyone who dares to cause trouble again, take them all back!"
Those who had initially wanted to speak up for Pei Yuezhi fell silent upon hearing this, daring not to say anything more.
The man who had just spoken sneered a few times after hearing what Constable Sun said, and walked out from the corner.
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly who I am!"
Pei Yuezhi noticed this man's seat and the dishes on the table when he was speaking. He was sitting at the same table as Zhao Wen and his wife, so he must be his younger brother. She remembered that Grandpa Zhao had mentioned that his name was Zhao Wu.
"Your Excellency... County Magistrate!"
I never expected that this old man Zhao would have such a background. His youngest son is actually the county magistrate, the second-in-command of the county!
"How could I not know that you, a mere constable, could represent the government?"
"Your subordinate... Your subordinate dares not."
"You still want to take me back?"
"No...no." Officer Sun broke out in a cold sweat from Zhao Wu's two questions, and stammered as he spoke.
In reality, ordinary people see constables as government officials, and they are afraid of them. But in front of those who are truly in power, constables are no different from ordinary people.
Moreover, these ancient constables weren't officially employed; Pei Yuezhi had previously investigated this in her spare time and found that they weren't government employees.
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