"Miss!" Seeing more onlookers gathering, the shopkeeper shouted even louder. "I've served the Meng family for so many years. How could you dismiss me out of the blue just for that cousin of yours!" His words were ambiguous, and his expression was a mix of grievance and indignation. His eyes were filled with pain as he looked at Meng Ruyi.
It sounded as if Meng Ruyi had dismissed him for the sake of her cousin Song Huai. It made Meng Ruyi seem like a thoughtless girl, impulsive and ungrateful.
The onlookers, sensing there was some hidden story, exchanged ambiguous glances and let out a few chuckles, curious about the relationship between the cousin and Miss Meng.
Meng Ruyi's gaze fell ahead. She saw several servants running towards them in a hurry, carrying something in their hands.
"Make way! Make way!" the servants shouted as they pushed through the crowd. One of them said to Meng Ruyi, "Miss, we've found the things."
Hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared in Meng Ruyi's eyes. She nodded slightly, signaling them to lay out the things.
"Miss!"
The shopkeeper immediately sensed something was wrong. His face showed panic, and his heart started pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.
What... What had Meng Ruyi found?
Despite his unease, the shopkeeper tried to console himself. Maybe it wasn't a big deal. Maybe Meng Ruyi was just putting on a show.
As long as he remained calm, everything would be fine.
As long as he remained calm, everything would be fine!
The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and stared firmly at Meng Ruyi, only to find that she completely ignored him. She was just calmly watching the servants move the things.
The things were covered with black cloth, so it was impossible to tell what they were.
"What's going on? What is the Meng family up to today?"
The onlookers whispered to each other and shook their heads. One of them said to his companion, "Miss Meng is almost fifteen. It seems the situation in the Meng family is about to change."
"Really?" Another person curled his lips. "I don't think so. How could the Meng family be so foolish as to let a girl take over the family business? It would be better to hand it over to that cousin of theirs."
"Who knows?"
Hearing the onlookers' comments, Meng Ruyi found it quite amusing. A hint of sarcasm unconsciously appeared on her face.
It was her family's business, and how they handled it was their own business. Yet these people were already worrying about it on her behalf.
It was almost time.
There were quite a few things. After the last item was placed, a servant wiped the sweat off his face and looked up at Meng Ruyi, shouting, "Miss, everything is in place."
"Uncover the cloth," Meng Ruyi said. Then she turned to the shopkeeper, who was sweating profusely, and smiled. "Shopkeeper, I won't wrong you."
"But why do you have so many items from the store at your home? And they're all the ones that were sold at a low price."
At this point, Meng Ruyi let out a long sigh and continued, "I guess you've had quite a lot of help from your subordinates. There are so many things piled up, but you haven't had the chance to sell them yet. I've caught you red - handed."
As the cloth on the items was gradually removed, the shopkeeper felt as if his face was being peeled off layer by layer. His face turned red and then white, and he felt a burning sensation.
"The store got damp, so I took them home to dry. Miss, you've wronged me!"
Seeing that the shopkeeper still refused to admit his guilt and didn't even sound nervous when he spoke, Meng Ruyi actually felt a bit of admiration for him.
He was bold and lucky. Fortunately, she had discovered his misdeeds this time.
"It's been sunny for days. Where did the dampness come from?"
"Exactly!"
"I really didn't expect the shopkeeper, who looks so honest..."
Seeing this, the onlookers immediately changed their tune. Now it was the shopkeeper who was being pointed at and criticized.
"Your mouth is just as surprising as your guts, shopkeeper," Meng Ruyi said with a smile. "Do you really think we're fools?"
"Lianqiao, take this man, the account books, and all these things, and send them to the yamen."
After Meng Ruyi finished speaking, the smile on her face disappeared, and her expression gradually turned cold. She said to the shopkeeper, "The Meng family won't tolerate you. Not only did you resell the store's items, but you also slandered my cousin."
"What do you think you are! Do you think the Meng family belongs to you? You're really being presumptuous!"
Seeing this, Xu Fanglian raised her eyebrows slightly. She noticed the anger in Meng Ruyi's eyes and felt a slight stir in her heart.
"That Song guy is just a poor wretch!" The shopkeeper realized the situation was turning against him and started spouting nonsense. "He's clearly here to mooch off the family, yet he's been allowed to stay!"
"Who knows if you're having an affair with him! That Song guy is also ridiculous. He relies on a woman to get all this wealth, yet he acts so high - and - mighty in front of others!"
"What is he anyway!"
Hearing this, Meng Ruyi's face became even colder. Her eyes were as sharp as knives, cutting into the shopkeeper's body.
"He's my cousin. And who are you?"
"I'm also a relative of the Meng family. I even held your father when he was a child!" The shopkeeper's face turned bright red, and the veins on his forehead popped out. "Why can't I take over these shops?"
Meng Ruyi found this extremely ironic.
This man reminded her a bit of Meng Chengcai and her aunt. When they were in the wrong, they would start spreading rumors and talking nonsense, always insinuating that she and Song Huai had an improper relationship.
It was utterly ridiculous.
Just as Meng Ruyi was about to speak, she heard a cold laugh from behind. Then a voice said, "What?"
"I didn't know I could rely on my looks to make a living."
It was Song Huai!
Meng Ruyi's eyes widened in surprise. She never expected that Song Huai, who had been so busy these days that she hardly saw him, would appear here.
She was stunned for a moment. She saw Song Huai nod slightly at her. The smile in his eyes flashed by, and then he turned to look at the shopkeeper.
He was just a junior! The shopkeeper felt a chill run down his spine when Song Huai looked at him. It was as if he was being stared at by a wild beast. The cold sweat on his back instantly soaked his clothes, and he unconsciously avoided Song Huai's gaze.
He didn't know why, but he just felt terrified. His teeth chattered, making a clicking sound.
"Yuyu, Auntie."
Song Huai withdrew his gaze from the shopkeeper and greeted the two of them. Then he continued, "The Meng family has been kind to me. I, Song Huai, will never forget it in my lifetime."
"But I definitely won't tolerate the slander of this ungrateful man!" Song Huai raised his voice. "If anyone says I have my eye on the Meng family's wealth, may I meet a terrible end!"
"Brother Song!" Meng Ruyi was anxious, but she saw a faint smile in Song Huai's eyes as he glanced at her.
"I, Song Huai, will never have any illusions about the Meng family's property in my lifetime. And Meng Ruyi is my family. No matter what, I will protect her for the rest of my life!"
"Huai has been managing the Meng family's business for so many years and has multiplied their wealth several times," Xu Fanglian couldn't stand it anymore and said. "What are you anyway? How dare you compare yourself with him!"
The shopkeeper's face turned as pale as paper. Hearing the onlookers' comments, his whole body went limp.