Chapter 615: Unscrupulous Business
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yang Tao watched as Mother Lin spoke, making a promise that she was now fully capable of fulfilling. He found himself unable to argue further.
He signaled to the woman beside him, and his wife stepped forward, addressing Mother Lin with a distinct lack of courtesy. “Aunt An,” she began, “I remember Yang Tao mentioning how poor your family used to be. You were an outsider, constantly oppressed. My mother-in-law helped you quite a bit, didn’t she?
“Now that she’s fallen on hard times and you’ve come into money, shouldn’t you help her? But my mother-in-law is old and frail. What help could she possibly be to you? Are you just trying to take advantage of her? You’re well-off now, but if your shop fails, my mother will be the one to suffer.
“You say you’ll provide for her in her old age, but words are cheap. I fear you’ll promise more than you can deliver. And it makes Yang Tao and me look like we’re neglecting our own mother, leaving her care to a stranger.
“Your words are causing discord in our family. It’s as if you’re repaying kindness with ingratitude. Just because your daughter is wealthy now, does that make her superior?”
Mother Lin’s eyes reddened at the accusations, and she was momentarily at a loss for words. How could she be accused of taking advantage of Aunt Yang?
The salary she paid Aunt Yang was likely higher than what most restaurant workers in the city earned. Yang Tao’s wife was grossly misrepresenting the situation.
Unfortunately, Gu Zi was not present to defend her. Mother Lin was at a loss for words against this woman.
Seeing her close friend nearly in tears, Aunt Yang became genuinely angry. She knew how unjustly Mother Lin was being treated.
“Enough!” she shouted. “Stop this nonsense. My decision to stay is my own. Mother Lin is simply asking you to respect my wishes. Why can’t you let it go? If you want me to return, go find the village committee to mediate!”
As she spoke, Aunt Yang picked up a broom to shoo them away. Yang Tao, feeling humiliated, wore a grim expression. But there was nothing he could do. He left Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop with his wife and child, and the others dispersed. Mother Lin, realizing she wouldn’t be able to continue business for the day, reluctantly closed the shop.
Meanwhile, Gu Zi, accompanied by Gong Xin and Captain He, arrived at the police station to meet with the family members. As soon as they got out of the car, they saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance of the station, their attention focused on the eye-catching banners across the street.
There were about a dozen agitated family members at the entrance, ranging from young children to elderly individuals in their seventies or eighties. It seemed like a full family mobilization. Their faces were marked with anger as they held up banners, as if they had a grave injustice to publicize.
Upon closer inspection, the banners bore bold letters: ” Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop, Unscrupulous Individual Business, Causing Great Harm, Demand Justice!”
“Poppy-Infused Braised Meat, Unscrupulous Business Practices Killing People, Down with the Black-Hearted Individual Business!”
Gong Xin was taken aback. She tugged at Gu Zi’s sleeve, exclaiming, “Wow, they’ve already laid all the charges against you. It’s quite a spectacle.”
Gu Zi also realized that this was a concerted effort to bring down Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop.
Before she could say anything, several people rushed over from the crowd, both men and women, shouting at Gu Zi, “Are you the person in charge of Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop? It’s about time you showed up. You better give us an explanation, or this matter won’t be over!”
“Everyone, come and see! This is the person in charge of the shop that was featured in the newspaper. Don’t eat or buy anything from this shop. They add toxic substances to their food.”
“My son also went to their shop for breakfast this morning after seeing their advertisement. He started vomiting and having diarrhea as soon as he got home. The hospital said it was food poisoning, and he had to be rushed to the emergency room!”
“My poor son has both elderly parents and young children to care for. Now he can only lie in a hospital bed, unable to do anything. You people are too heartless. How many innocent families do you plan to destroy just to make money?”
The family members took turns speaking, with a group of them holding up banners and protesting loudly in the background. They seemed determined to spread the news of Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop’s poisonous food to the entire world.
The police were understaffed. The officers inside had their own matters to attend to, so Captain He and his subordinates could only protect Gu Zi, fearing that the agitated crowd might harm her.
Watching the scene unfold, Gong Xin felt uncertain. She pulled Gu Zi aside and whispered, “Gu Zi, what’s going on? It seems like they’re telling the truth. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to doubt you, but I’m a little scared.”