Yang Cui gave the children a few instructions, and then actually borrowed a donkey cart and went into town.
It wasn't that Yang Cui was petty or liked to argue, but once Old Lady Qian spread these rumors, even falsehoods could become truths. In this era, the practice of collective punishment was common. If Yang Cui's reputation was tarnished, her children would also suffer criticism, which would affect their future marriage prospects. Moreover, Qiuqiu still had to go to school.
On the other hand, Yang Cui also wanted to make an example of him.
By the time they arrived in the county town, it was already noon. Her stomach was rumbling. Yang Cui bought two steamed buns by the roadside, intending to eat them before going to the Star Gazing Tower. Her current financial situation didn't allow her to indulge in lavish spending at a restaurant.
At this moment, Yang Cui saw a familiar face ahead—Wu Xinhui.
Wu Xinhui stood in the center of the crowd, smiling as he introduced their troupe's new play, "The Third Scholar's Son-in-Law," to the locals.
Wu Xinhui, true to his background as a storyteller, quickly captured the audience's interest by explaining the highlights of the play in just a few words.
"In short, this play is very exciting, even better than 'Du Shiniang'. Please come and support us tomorrow."
So this play is going to premiere tomorrow.
Yang Cui decided to come and check tomorrow.
After finishing her steamed buns, Yang Cui stepped into the Star Gazing Tower.
This is the busiest time at the observatory.
Why hasn't my roast duck arrived yet?
"Where's the herbal jelly? It's been so long and it still hasn't arrived. Manager Yu, why is your Guanxinglou restaurant so slow these days? Are you even trying to do business?"
"Manager Yu, please bring two more servings of turtle jelly to my table, and also prepare two more to take away."
"Manager Yu..."
As soon as Yang Cui entered, she heard customers constantly calling out to Manager Yu, asking for this and that; business was booming.
Shopkeeper Yu couldn't stop smiling: "Sorry everyone, the herbal jelly is sold out."
"Manager Yu, why didn't you prepare more? What kind of business is this?"
"I'm so sorry, everyone. The ingredients are really too rare. However, our boss has gone through a lot of trouble and spent a lot of money to buy the ingredients from elsewhere. We can guarantee 160 servings every day for the next two days. You can make a reservation in advance by paying half the price."
"I want ten servings."
"I also want twenty portions, to be picked up over two days."
"I want eight servings."
"I want……"
Customers eagerly paid to make reservations.
Yang Cui saw that Manager Yu's smile stretched all the way to his ears.
Actually, the ingredients used in turtle jelly are not particularly rare, and the hawksbill turtle is not a rare or endangered animal here.
Manager Yu said this simply to increase the value of the turtle jelly, limiting its daily sales. Yang Cui admired the wisdom of the ancients, who even knew how to use scarcity marketing.
When Yang Cui asked about the price, oh my goodness, a bowl of herbal jelly cost five hundred coins!
This is more than two months' worth of living expenses for an ordinary person!
That's incredibly extravagant!
After a while, Manager Yu stopped being busy and came up to Yang Cui: "I'm sorry, Miss Yang, you've kept me waiting."
"It's alright, Manager Yu. Your restaurant is doing really well right now. Congratulations!"
"Thanks to you, thanks to you," Shopkeeper Yu said cheerfully. "Miss Yang came today to..."
"I have something to trouble you with today, Manager Yu. Do you know anyone in the government?"
"What happened to Miss Yang? Is it the Lin family?"
"It's not the Lin family, it's some people in Anjia Village who are jealous, I want to scare them."
“It just so happens that Chief Constable Tan from the county government is having lunch here. I’ll have him go with you. You can tell him what you want to do.”
"Thank you very much, Manager Yu. You've been a great help to me."
Soon, Manager Yu brought Officer Tan over.
Yang Cui briefly explained the situation.
"Is that all? Miss Yang, don't worry, we'll take care of it."
"Thank you for your trouble, gentlemen."
Yang Cui, imitating the characters in martial arts dramas, clasped her hands together in thanks to them.
Afterwards, Yang Cui, Officer Tan, and another constable returned to Anjia Village together.
When Yang Cui first said she would report to the authorities, Old Lady Qian was quite scared. But then she thought, "The word 'official' has two mouths, and if you have a reason, don't let money get in." Yang Cui couldn't possibly spend money to report to the authorities for such a small matter.
More importantly, the villagers have a natural awe of the government and never thought of going to the "police" if they had any problems. So not long after Yang Cui left, Old Lady Qian started talking nonsense to the villagers, saying how Yang Cui had bullied her and how she had been involved with men. She also said that Yuan Qiu was actually Yang Cui's illegitimate son and that the Lin family didn't want her because she was unfaithful.
Old Mrs. Qian spoke with great relish, and the listeners were equally engrossed. When Yang Cui returned, she happened to witness Old Mrs. Qian talking animatedly with a group of village women, her spittle flying everywhere.
"Officer Tan, Officer Li, you both heard it. It was she who spread rumors everywhere, ruining my reputation and causing me great harm. As the saying goes, 'three men can make a tiger,' who knows what kind of rumors will spread about me in the future? How can my child find a spouse? How can my son go to school? Please, gentlemen, do justice for me."
Yang Cui looked aggrieved.
Everyone realized that Yang Cui had indeed reported it to the authorities, and that Constable Tan and Constable Li were still wearing their constable uniforms.
"I didn't say anything."
"Yes, yes, we didn't say anything. Xiao Cui, we believe you. It was all her who said it. We don't believe her."
...
When the villagers saw the constables, their legs went weak with fear, and they all began to blame Old Woman Qian, trying to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing.
"I...I..."
Once someone goes into the county jail, will they ever come out? Old Mrs. Qian was truly frightened now, and she stammered as she spoke. She had initially thought that Yang Cui was just trying to scare her by saying she would report it to the authorities.
"You've been living too good a life, spreading rumors and slandering respectable women. Come on, let's go to the county jail and have a proper talk."
After finishing speaking, Officer Tan reached out to pull the old woman with the money.
"No, no, no!" Old Mrs. Qian's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, struggling and begging for mercy, "I didn't, I didn't say that."
Officer Tan glared at Old Lady Qian and shouted sternly, "Do you think we're deaf and can't hear us?"
"No, no, no." Old Mrs. Qian's gaze fell on Yang Cui. "Little Cui, Grandma was wrong. I was just spouting nonsense. Please ask the two officials to forgive me this time."
"What if you start talking nonsense again after the official leaves?"
"No, no, absolutely not! If I'm lying again, I'll... I'll get mouth sores and die a horrible death!" Old Mrs. Qian immediately swore a solemn oath.
“But you’ve already been spreading rumors, so it’s hard to guarantee that no one will spread them behind your back…” After saying that, Yang Cui glanced meaningfully at the other villagers around her.
"No, no, we definitely won't."
"Xiao Cui, we definitely won't say anything carelessly."
"We believe you too, really. When Old Lady Qian was saying that just now, I didn't believe her at all, really!"
...
The village women who had been chatting just moments before immediately expressed their determination, fearing that the flames of war would spread to them.
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