After lunch, Li Wanming continued to sit by the window, weaving a bracelet.
She had always been the most impatient with such trivial tasks and had never spent much time on them. So, she weaved very slowly. After half a day, she had only managed a short section.
Chuntao was still in high spirits, happily calculating what to have for the New Year's Eve dinner that night.
"Miss likes chestnut cake. I've already bought it. Sister Liu said she learned a new dish this year, squirrel mandarin fish, and she'll cook it for you..."
Li Wanming just lowered her head, studying the bracelet and saying nothing.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. It seemed that a lot of people had come to the front gate.
Li Wanming's hand paused, and the light in her eyes dimmed for a moment.
"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?"
Chuntao was a bit puzzled. She put down the scissors in her hand, turned around, and said to Li Wanming, "Miss, wait a moment. I'll go out and have a look."
...
It was really noisy outside the front gate of the Cheng Mansion. There were actually dozens of people, crowding the front gate tightly.
Wu Yao, with Sister Liu and Aunt Song, was standing in front of the gate, desperately trying to hold back the angry crowd.
Wu Yao was sweating profusely. He shouted hoarsely, "The wine from our Li Family Wine Shop is fine! It can't be fake wine! Besides, if you want a refund, you should go to the wine shop! What do you mean by coming to someone else's house to make trouble?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
The leader of the trouble - makers was a big and stocky man with a bean - sized mole on his right cheek. He shouted menacingly, "You sold fake wine, and now you want to run away? I think you just want to fool us and then pack up and leave!"
"Don't talk nonsense with him!"
Next to him was a tall and thin young man with slanting eyes. He spat and said, "Call Li Wanming out. The wrongdoer should bear the blame. We'll find the one who sold the wine back then!"
Sister Liu was so anxious that her face turned red. "You all bought the wine from the wine shop. The shop is just in the alley ahead. Go and find them there..."
"The wine shop has been surrounded by the soldiers from the Ministry of Revenue! If we go there now, we won't get any answers!"
The brute pushed forward. "Where's Li Wanming? Let that woman come out! She boasted so much when she sold the wine. Now that something has gone wrong, she's hiding inside like a turtle?"
Wu Yao was angry. "Watch your mouth! If you insult my cousin - in - law again, I won't be polite to you! You said the wine from our Li Family Wine Shop is problematic. I ask you, do you have any evidence?"
Aunt Song also said anxiously from behind, "Dear villagers, our Li Family Wine Shop has been in business for so long. We've always been honest in our dealings. You all know that our lady has always been honest and kind - hearted. She couldn't have brewed inferior wine..."
The tall and thin young man with slanting eyes narrowed his eyes. "Honest and kind - hearted? Haha, if she is, then I'm the most honest man in the world! Besides, if you had no problems, would the Ministry of Revenue have surrounded your shop?"
"Now the news that your Li Family Wine Shop made fake wine has spread all over the capital. I queued for half a month to buy the Jin Yutang wine. But you made fake wine! If you don't give me an explanation today, I won't let it go!"
The people around also became more and more excited:
"Yes! Don't let them off!"
"Compensate us!"
"Make them compensate us!"
"Selling fake wine during the New Year. It's a sin..."
"Greedy merchants! They'll surely be struck by lightning!"
...
The crowd became angrier and pushed forward forcefully, making it impossible for Wu Yao and the others to close the gate.
The veins on Wu Yao's forehead bulged. He could only stretch out his arms, holding tightly to the iron rings on both sides of the gate, blocking the surging crowd.
He was shocked and angry, but more than that, he was scared and helpless.
Although he had a token in his hand, he couldn't mobilize the Black Armored Cavalry.
Because all the trouble - makers in front of him were common people. If he rashly mobilized the cavalry from the prince's mansion to suppress them, and if there was a bloodshed, it would be a real disaster and bring great trouble to the Ning Prince's Mansion.
Wu Yao had no choice but to brace himself with all his strength and at the same time argue hoarsely.
"You're completely spreading rumors and slandering us!" Wu Yao shouted. "The investigation by the Ministry of Revenue has not reached a conclusion yet. How can you slander us for making fake wine?"
But the excited crowd couldn't hear what he said, and more and more people gathered around.
Wu Yao was gradually losing his strength. Seeing that the angry crowd was about to break through the gate...
"Ayao, give them the money."
A clear voice came from behind.
Wu Yao turned his head and saw Li Wanming standing behind him.
"Cousin - in - law?"
Li Wanming was standing in the courtyard, looking lonely and frail. Her small face was extremely pale, as if she would melt in the wind at any moment.
Her eye sockets were slightly sunken, and her pupils were as black as a deep pool.
"Compensate them with the money."
Li Wanming said again.
"Cousin - in - law..."
Wu Yao swallowed hard, and his eyes instantly turned red.
When the people outside the gate saw Li Wanming coming out, they were stunned for a moment. Then they shouted again, "Greedy merchants! Making fake wine to harm people. Your conscience has been eaten by dogs! Compensate us! Spit out all our money!"
Li Wanming stood in front of them, expressionless. She just said, "You said you bought wine from our Li Family Wine Shop. Well, as long as you can bring the wine jars from your homes, I'll compensate you. How about that?"
"No matter when you bought it or how much you bought, as long as the wine jar has the special flower mark of our Li Family Wine Shop, I'll compensate you."
These words were spoken in a calm tone, but there was an undeniable determination in them.
Some people in the crowd around had heard that Li Wanming was really going to compensate them.
However, they became even more hesitant.
Because Li Wanming's request was reasonable.
Since they wanted compensation, they should first prove that they had bought wine from the Li Family Wine Shop. It couldn't be that anyone could just come and ask for money without any proof... That would make her a fool.
The problem was that the Jin Yutang wine from the Li Family Wine Shop was not cheap. Many of the people who had come to besiege the Cheng Mansion couldn't afford it at all. Even if they bought it occasionally, they only bought a little. Where could they get the jars?
They simply didn't have the wine jars...
But they were reluctant to give up the silver that seemed to be within their reach.
The tall and thin young man with slanting eyes rolled his eyes and spat on the ground.
"Li Wanming, stop your sweet talk!"
"I think you're just trying to deceive us into going back so that you can run away!"
"No wine jar means no compensation? Your fake wine has ruined our health. We haven't even settled the score with you, and you're already nitpicking about the wine jars?"
"Who would keep those useless wine jars after finishing the wine? They've long been smashed and used to line the chicken coop!"