With the county magistrate's intervention, Pei Yuezhi breathed a sigh of relief. She had just been thinking about how to make a scene at a higher level, but now she had a way out.
It wasn't that Pei Yue was stupid or unintelligent; the other party clearly had powerful backers. She was just an ordinary citizen, and the common people couldn't fight against officials, nor could they win.
"The shop has already produced meat and vegetables to prove its innocence, and so many customers have testified that there is nothing wrong with the food in the shop. You have no evidence, no arrest warrant, yet you call it a black shop."
"If all officials were like you, how could they possibly serve the people?"
Zhao Wu was furious with him and pointed at his nose, cursing him.
"My lord, I know I was wrong. It was these people who spoke so confidently and misled me! It has nothing to do with me!"
Head Constable Sun never expected to see the county magistrate here. He had just cursed the magistrate again, and was extremely nervous. Under such interrogation, he immediately revealed the identities of all these people.
"No, no, no, that's not it! It's the restaurant's fault! They're the ones who made us sick!"
"Yes, we are the victims. It's all this shop's fault. Please, sir, help us!"
These people are still trying to argue their way out of it.
Zhao Wu spoke to these people in a relatively polite manner: "You said there was a problem with the food from this shop, has there been any inspection?"
"Yes, I got the medicine at the clinic, and the doctor can testify to that."
"My lord, I have also said that there is nothing wrong with the food here, but we cannot rule out the possibility that the hot weather has weakened their spleen and stomach, or that they have accidentally eaten something that does not suit them. However, I am willing to take them to a clinic for treatment."
Pei Yuezhi said neither humbly nor arrogantly.
It's not that I want to pay this money, but with so many guests here, and the county magistrate in attendance, I'm not worried about being ripped off. In fact, I can leave a good impression on the guests.
Zhao Wu nodded and continued, "They said they'd take you to the clinic. Do you have anything else to say?"
"She...she's cooking here is all rotten, it's made people sick! You have to stand up for everyone!"
"Yes, although I received compensation, I really suffered!"
"What do you think?" Zhao Wu turned to Pei Yuezhi and asked.
Pei Yuezhi had already guessed that they would say these things: "This humble woman is willing to let you, sir, go and inspect the kitchen."
Zhao Wu nodded: "That's fine. May a few more people come with me to inspect the area?"
“Please do as you wish, sir,” Pei Yuezhi replied confidently.
What a joke! With two more employees in the kitchen, if they don't behave properly, they're bound to give themselves away.
Therefore, the shop had long been tidied up, with goods placed in cabinets and rice and flour packed in clean cloth bags.
However, this case seems a bit hasty. But I've never lived in ancient times, and I've heard that some cases were judged by tricking people into revealing information.
Several people volunteered and followed them into the kitchen.
Zhao Wu also had his elder brother pull the troublemaker inside as well.
The already cramped kitchen suddenly felt even more crowded.
"Sir, this is the stock in the shop. These are all cut up and prepared for use. We don't cut too much at once, so there won't be any left over. We'll eat the leftovers ourselves," Pei Yuezhi explained.
Those who came in to look around noticed how clean the kitchen was and how neatly the ingredients were arranged.
"You probably won't find another kitchen this clean."
“I used to work as a handyman at Baiweiju. It’s as clean and tidy as a big restaurant, and everything is so well arranged.”
The people who followed in all spoke highly of it, and even Zhao Wu nodded repeatedly.
"It is indeed clean and tidy here, not as you say, and the food is fresh and clean."
These people stammered and couldn't give a coherent explanation.
Of course they couldn't say anything; what could they possibly say in defense of those who were trying to frame and spread rumors?
"Please, Your Honor, do justice for me! I have been working diligently and honestly since I opened my shop, but I have been repeatedly slandered by these malicious people."
Pei Yuezhi bowed respectfully and addressed Zhao Wu.
Liu Yuanyuan seized the opportunity to say, "Sir, if you weren't here, we would probably have been taken away today. Once this label is on us, it'll be hard to get it off!"
Zhao Wu frowned and said to the four men, "This shop, which was suddenly inspected, is so clean and tidy. It's definitely not what you said. Do you have anything else to say?"
No matter how strong their mental fortitude was, they couldn't help but feel afraid when facing an official. They had lied about wanting to see the official before, but now that they were being questioned by a real official, the two timid ones lowered their heads and trembled.
"If you deceive the county magistrate, do you know what the consequences will be!" Zhao Wu shouted at the group.
One of them, terrified, immediately knelt down, stammering, "Sir...Sir, this has nothing to do with me! I was also...I was also accused..."
There was more to say, but he felt he should say he was giving orders. However, he was interrupted by another person: "Sir, I know I was wrong. It was a misunderstanding. Perhaps we ate something wrong and misunderstood that the food in the shop was unclean."
Another person, who was also relatively calm, chimed in, "Yes, sir, we were wrong. Boss lady, we made a mistake. We're sorry."
Seeing that they had admitted their mistake, the onlookers also started criticizing them.
"You don't even understand the situation yourselves, yet you want to report it to the authorities."
"That's right, we all know that the proprietress uses high-quality ingredients, yet you're still slandering her."
"Alright, quiet down." Zhao Wu interrupted their discussion, turned to Pei Yuezhi, and said, "Shopkeeper, do you accept their apology?"
Pei Yuezhi lowered her head and said in a slightly lower voice, "Of course I accept it. As a woman, I dare not offend anyone. Otherwise, if someone misunderstands a few more times, I'm afraid I won't be able to continue doing business."
The diners nearby felt sorry for her: "Sir, it's so hard for a woman to run a business. The proprietress is so dedicated, yet she's been targeted time and time again. It's no misunderstanding at all."
Once one person steps forward, another will follow, until everyone in the room is speaking out for Pei Yuezhi.
The people crowding at the door were all agreeing.
Treating customers with care will always bring some reward.
After listening to what these people said, Zhao Wu waved his hand and said, "Alright, I have heard what everyone has to say. From now on, I will send people to conduct surprise inspections of various restaurants and snack shops to ensure cleanliness and safety, and I will never allow such a wrongful incident to happen again."
Zhao Wu's efficiency and responsible attitude towards the people are quite surprising.
Those around him were delighted to hear this and exclaimed that the county magistrate was wise.
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