"Bring them to me," Kuai Minglang immediately ordered someone to present the thread and bead.
He took the bead and carefully looked into the hole. Since the hole was small, he had to hold it up to the light. It took effort and squinting to finally spot a simple mark inside the hole. After closely studying for a while, he recognized the mark to be a crudely drawn bamboo shoot...
He couldn’t help but glance at Bai Ruozhu. A bamboo shoot, he found it funny that she thought of this. Shouldn’t it be some sort of flower or something?
Actually, when Bai Ruozhu initially ordered the jewelry from the supplier, Deng Gongquan, she made this request. Deng Gongquan thought that adding a mark that would be difficult for most people to see would increase the cost and was not worth it.
However, Bai Ruozhu insisted on doing this. She wanted to create Hua Xiangrong as a brand, so she didn’t mind spending a bit more.
Of course, the reason they chose to engrave a bamboo shoot was that it was easier to carve than a flower.
"Bring the belt from Deng Shi." Kuai Minglang instructed.
Bai Ruozhu’s eyes turned, Deng Shi? Could she be related to Deng Gongquan? But thinking about it, probably not. she had investigated Deng Gongquan. While he was a bit cunning, he was highly trustworthy.
Deng Shi’s eyes were spinning round and round. The belt was presented to Kuai Minglang. He examined the broken thread and, as expected, didn’t find any other colored threads mixed in. He then examined the coral beads on the belt and had one of them dismantled. There was no bamboo shoot emblem.
He passed it to an officer next to him to see, who also confirmed that there was none.
"Deng Shi, this belt did not come from Hua Xiangrong. Can you explain this?" Kuai Minglang asked.
Deng Shi cried out loud, "Sir, you can’t just believe her. She said all of her products use anti-counterfeiting measures, does that mean all of them do? If she wanted to sell both real and fake items, the fakes of course wouldn’t have the emblem. But I really bought it from Hua Xiangrong."
"Sir, you can order someone to inspect my shops now. Check all the goods to see if they match what I’ve said." Bai Ruozhu spoke loudly.
Kuai Minglang nodded. "I have already ordered someone to monitor your shop. Now they will conduct the inspection."
Because inspecting the shop would take time, Kuai Minglang ordered a recess. He went to the back hall to rest while Bai Ruozhu and the others were to continue waiting in the hall.
Bai Ruozhu then brought out some dimsum for Guizhi and Fusa to eat, and while they ate she said, "Don’t worry. The other party didn’t expect my preparedness. They won’t benefit this time, but I fear they’ll create more schemes to deal with me in the future."
Both Guizhi and Fusa sighed. Fusa even said, "Doing business is not easy, do well, and others become jealous."
Bai Ruozhu thought it was more than just jealousy over business success; perhaps this was all instructed by Wang Miaoshuang.
When Deng Shi noticed they were chatting happily and eating pastries, she began to curse and scold again. Bai Ruozhu signaled Guizhi and Fusa with her eyes, hinting for them to ignore such an idiot.
Would Bu Er stoop so low as to do this? Was he being used as a pawn?
The officer who had escorted Bai Ruozhu here could not bear it any longer. He addressed Deng Shi, "What are you doing? As a respectable lady, you should behave appropriately in the public hall. Is this a place to spit as you please?"
Another officer also chided, "What are you spitting for? Don’t feel disgusted, spit again, and you’ll have to clean it all up with your clothes!"
Deng Shi immediately wilted, apologizing to the officers, and no longer dared to act pompously.
Bai Ruozhu and the others laughed quietly. Bai Ruozhu felt a wave of disgust when she glanced at the spit on the hem of Deng Ji’s skirt.
After a while, the officials who had left to inspect the shop had finally returned. Officer Kuai recollected everyone in the court, reporting that Hua Xiangrong’s products indeed matched what Bai Ruozhu had said. Through their inspection, they did not discover any counterfeit goods either.
"Deng Shi, why is the problem only with the product you purchased? Is it possible that you’ve vindictively manipulated this situation?" Kuai Minglang smashed his gavel, and asked sternly.
Despite this, Deng Shi stubbornly insisted that the belt was indeed purchased from Hua Xiangrong.
Bai Ruozhu took a step forward and said, "Who doesn’t know that Hua Xiangrong’s business is booming? What we sell are designs and exquisite weaving technology, and we don’t lack for money. Do we need to create a single counterfeit product for such a small profit? Honestly, it’s not worth the trouble."
"Right, none of the products in the shop are fake. If we were to sell a fake product to her alone, would that make us rich?" Fusa also added disapprovingly.
"Deng Shi, confess quickly. Otherwise, I will have to take you into custody and conduct a thorough search of your home," said Kuai Minglang.
Deng Shi shifted uncomfortably, but still responded, "Sir, this is unjust, I did not commit any fraud. And if you ask the clients from that day, they could confirm that I bought this belt from Hua Xiangrong."
"Customers from that day? I will allow you to present a witness," said Kuai Minglang.
Deng Shi began to recount, explaining that on the day of the purchase a lady of an official was also in the shop. The woman had admired the belt and greatly praised its brilliant color.
"Go bring Mrs. Wang here," Kuai Minglang ordered the officials to locate this person.
Bai Ruozhu sighed. She had initially thought that the issue could be smoothly resolved, but it seemed that another witness had surfaced. It looked like she would have to deal with this unforeseen hurdle.
However, judging from Deng Shi’s behavior, it seemed that this witness was not her accomplice, and she may have just received help from a chance encounter.
Today, Hua Xiangrong was seen by government soldiers, and the shop was temporarily closed. The people from the neighboring shops began to wonder what crime Hua Xiangrong had committed.
Not far from the outside of the shop, a plain figure stood on the street, holding a paper umbrella to shield her from the sunlight.
"Ha, Bai Ruozhu, finally it’s your turn..." she whispered, but suddenly turned her head. An innocent-looking man with moon-shaped eyes was smiling at her with an inscrutable expression.
"Junior sister, why are you here again? Didn’t expect that Miss Bai’s shop would have such an appeal?" Xu Huilin chuckled.
"Xu Huilin, that’s enough. Did Jiang Yichun send you here to keep an eye on me?" Wu Wanqing’s face darkened. "I didn’t realize when you became his watchdog. Or did you fall for Bai Ruozhu’s charms and became her protector?"
Xu Huilin also didn’t look angry, and said with a smile, "That’s none of your concern, junior sister. I just happened to run into you and thought I would ask if you wanted to have lunch at Yongke. I heard Miss Bai has a new dish, aren’t you going to give it a try?"
Wu Wanqing’s face contorted, she narrowed her eyes and glared at Xu Huilin. "Keep saying ’Miss Bai’. If Jiang Yichun doesn’t want her, are you ready to be her suitor?"
Xu Huilin knew Wu Wanqing was trying to provoke him, so he shrugged, smiled, and replied innocently, "What are you talking about junior sister? Doesn’t my affection for you remain unchanged after all these years?"