Chapter 648 - 650: Clever Anti-counterfeiting Tactics
Chun Tao was a bit stunned, asking, "Miss, don’t you need to prepare anything?"
Bai Ruozhu smiled, "Bring a few new items from home, along with some pearls and garnishments, and join me in the court later."
Hearing that they were going to court, Chun Tao, a child sold by a common farmer’s family, felt her legs wobble with fear. Seeing this, Fang Guizhi said, "I’ll accompany you. I’ll prepare immediately."
Bai Ruozhu looked at Chun Tao helplessly. These little maids still needed more cultivation. However, Guizhi had been excelling excellently.
Jiang Yichun, hearing the commotion, came over and asked, "Is someone trying to harm you? I’ll accompany you."
"No need, I can handle my own shop’s affairs. You stay at home and look after the child." She said while handing Dengdeng to Jiang Yichun, who immediately cheered up and stretched his small chubby hand to touch his father’s chin.
Jiang Yichun gave a bitter smile. He had fallen to the state of staying at home and looking after the child, while his wife went out to earn money for the family. However, he soon cheered up. At least Ruozhu’s tone suggested that they were a married couple, acknowledging him as the child’s father.
Jiang Yichun was overjoyed with this phrase. Bai Zepei, not far away, gave him a scornful look.
"You go early and come back early. If you need help, send me a message." He said softly, looking at her.
There were maids watching. Bai Ruozhu, not used to this rhythm, felt a flush creeping over her face. She mumbled in agreement before turning to find Guizhi.
Soon, an officer came to the door, saying, "Who is Bai Ruozhu, the owner of Hua Xiangrong? A customer accuses your shop of selling counterfeit goods. The Prefect invites you to investigate."
Bai Ruozhu bowed to the officer, "Alright, I’ll go with you right now."
The officer had been present maintaining order during the press conference of Hua Xiangrong. Seeing how calm Bai Ruozhu was, he admired her and became more sure that Hua Xiangrong was not in the wrong.
Thinking this, the officer treated Bai Ruozhu with more courtesy. As he left, Jiang Yichun watched him unhappily, frowning. What was he implying? Daring to flatter his wife, did he no longer want to live in Beiyu City?
Soon, Bai Ruozhu and Fang Guizhi were taken to the Government Office. They saw a woman in her thirties standing in court. Judging by her attire and demeanor, she was not from a wealthy or prestigious family.
Fusa was standing on the side. She looked pleased to see Bai Ruozhu, but it was quickly replaced with shame. She felt she hadn’t managed the shop well and hence gave people the opportunity to strike.
Bai Ruozhu smiled at her, indicating that she shouldn’t blame herself. It was normal for Hua Xiangrong to attract envy due to its success.
She bowed to the court, "Commoner Bai Ruozhu pays respect to the Prefect."
Guizhi also bowed and stood quietly on the side. She wanted to learn how to handle such situations from Ruozhu.
"Bai Ruozhu, Mrs. Deng in court accuses Hua Xiangrong of selling inferior goods, deceptively using counterfeit gemstones to swindle money. How do you explain this?" The Prefect, hitting the courtroom wooden block, declared.
After bowing, Bai Ruozhu said, "Lord, please wait while I inquire a bit." She then looked at Fusa and asked, "Did this woman buy anything from the shop? Do we have a record in the account book?"
Fusa had brought the account book with her. She hurriedly showed Bai Ruozhu a page, "Indeed, she bought a waistband with a few coral beads before the press conference."
The accuser, Deng Shi, started gloating, saying to Kuai Minglang, "See, Lord, this waistband was indeed bought from Hua Xiangrong. It’s not too long since it came apart, but worst of all, the coral beads are fake!"
Bai Ruozhu looked at her. She was indeed holding a waistband, identical to the one produced by Hua Xiangrong.
"Bai Ruozhu, officers have already inspected the waistband. The coral beads on it are indeed fake," Kuai Minglang said.
"Lord, may I see the waistband this woman mentioned?" Bai Ruozhu continued calmly.
Kuai Minglang nodded, "You can go and check."
As Bai Ruozhu came over to take the waistband, Deng Shi glared at her. Suddenly, she spat at Bai Ruozhu, who managed to dodge. Still, the spit landed on the hem of Bai Ruozhu’s skirt.
"Con artist, I despise people like you the most, selling counterfeit goods to swindle people’s money. Aren’t you afraid of karma?" Deng Shi snarled.
Bai Ruozhu, who had a slight obsession with cleanliness, stared at the spit on her skirt hem, wishing she could take it off and throw it in this woman’s face.
"Humph, it’s not yet clear who is in the wrong. If you are falsely accusing Hua Xiangrong, I will ask the Lord to judge you for your crime of false accusation!" Bai Ruozhu snorted, throwing the waistband back into Deng Shi’s arms.
Actually, without closer examination, she already knew that the waistband wasn’t a product of Hua Xiangrong. The inspection was merely a formality.
"Lord, that waistband is not our product at Hua Xiangrong. Perhaps this Deng Shi got a similar-looking one and is trying to frame us by passing it off as a product of Hua Xiangrong." Bai Ruozhu said to Kuai Minglang.
"Oh? Do you have any evidence?" Kuai Minglang asked.
"In response to your question, Lord, since the beginning of Hua Xiangrong, I had considered the issue of counterfeit prevention. That is, to prevent others from imitating. So, those counterfeits can only replicate the exterior, not the content," Bai Ruozhu said, pointing to the waistband in Deng Shi’s arms, and continued, "The weave of this waistband is simple, otherwise, this Deng Shi would not have been able to counterfeit it."
Deng Shi shouted, "You’re accusing me of theft when you are the thief! Clearly, it’s your shop’s product. Now that there’s trouble, you’re denying it and even biting me back. Do you think you can fool the Lord?" She said and sneaked a glance at Kuai Minglang.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, "I haven’t finished my words yet." She picked up a spool of thread that she had brought and said, "Lord, you can see in our threads at Hua Xiangrong. Each contains a strand of a different color. There are standards for what color is hidden in which thread, all recorded in the book. Does her fake waistband have this?"
Actually, Deng Shi and the people behind her weren’t smart enough and lacked the technique. If they had dismantled the waistband sold by Hua Xiangrong and reassembled it, adding the fake coral beads, they would have been more convincing.
However, Bai Ruozhu had anticipated even this.
She showed a proud smile and took out the beads she had brought, revealing to Kuai Minglang, "Lord, regarding gemstones, our shop takes it very seriously. Even these coral beads have anti-counterfeiting marks."
Kuai Minglang was intrigued; he raised an eyebrow and asked, "What anti-counterfeiting mark?"
Bai Ruozhu picked up a small bead, lifted it, and looked into its hole, smiling, "It’s hidden in the hole of the bead. If the Lord looks, he’ll know."