Lady Fang had only been married into the Tian Family for a few years, so naturally, she wasn’t aware of their long-standing secrets.
Upon hearing Wang Yongzhu’s words, she immediately rushed forward: "You wild country girl, talking nonsense! What do you know? Our Tian Family’s cosmetics are of the highest quality! We’ve been selling them for decades, who doesn’t praise our Rouge Shop? Say one more word, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!"
Although she wasn’t very knowledgeable, she understood that saying their cosmetics were expensive was one thing, but claiming there was a problem with them in front of so many listening ears and watching eyes could potentially ruin the business!
Wang Yongzhu sneered coldly, just waiting for Lady Fang to take the bait.
Lady Fang rushed forward fiercely, but two government officials blocked her with their knives: "This young lady hasn’t finished talking yet. Why are you in such a hurry? Step back! We’re from the Yamen, and if you cause more trouble, we won’t be polite!"
Seeing that Lady Fang was so hasty to resort to violence, the two officials couldn’t help but suspect there might indeed be an issue with Tian Family’s shop, leading Lady Fang to want to shut Wang Yongzhu up.
In matters affecting his wife’s reputation, what are Five Taels of Silver? The two officials were in perfect sync as they blocked Lady Fang.
Lady Fang’s heart was indeed wavering; although she didn’t know if there was a problem with the cosmetics, she remembered that when she first married into the Tian Family during their honeymoon phase, she had taken advantage of her husband’s good mood to ask him to bring some cosmetics back from the shop.
Before marrying into the Tian Family, she couldn’t afford their products.
Now, as a Tian daughter-in-law, she had decided to use the best cosmetics to treat herself.
Unexpectedly, her husband vaguely said that their female family members only used handmade products and never used the shop’s cosmetics.
At the time, she thought her husband was just being stingy.
Later, seeing her mother-in-law and sister-in-law never used the shop’s products, she gave up on the idea.
Once, while helping at the shop, she couldn’t resist taking home some trial samples and felt more radiant and attractive after using them.
That night, her husband couldn’t take his eyes off her.
But the next day, upon seeing the cosmetics on her dressing table, he exploded in anger, throwing everything away and forbidding her from taking anything from the shop again.
He argued that they were already envied for managing the shop, and stealing from it would only fuel gossip. If she really liked it, he would give her money to buy it elsewhere.
His scolding left her humiliated and angry.
Later, he secretly bought her two boxes of high-quality cosmetics from another brand to make amends, and they reconciled.
Now, hearing Wang Yongzhu’s words, Lady Fang couldn’t help but doubt her husband’s actions back then.
So, when the officials blocked her, she didn’t have the courage to push forward, especially not against blades.
She could only stand with her hands on her hips, cursing Wang Yongzhu: "You country girl, what do you know about cosmetics? I know you! You’re just jealous because your mother had issues with my mother-in-law. Now that we’re doing well, and you’re still suffering in the countryside, you’re envious! Spreading such lies! Your heart is completely rotten! Aren’t you afraid of going to the eighteenth level of hell after you die?"
Wang Yongzhu interrupted with a cold laugh: "I’m only telling the truth, fearing that everyone might continue to be deceived by you! The truly rotten-hearted ones are your Tian Family! Selling inferior products at such high prices and ruining people’s faces! Aren’t you ashamed?"
"Of course, the root of your Tian Family is rotten! Do you think your mother-in-law is a good person? Have you ever inquired about her family before marrying? Her parents, childless for years, stole someone else’s child to raise as their own!"
"That stolen child was treated like a maid, made to wash diapers at the age of three or four, and later worked inside and outside the home! In the end, she was sold as a concubine, and your mother-in-law even took the wedding gown off the bride’s back on her wedding day to use for herself!"
"With such people in your family, no wonder you’re so unscrupulous in business!"
Wang Yongzhu laid bare Zhang Qiuju’s entire history.
Lady Fang was stunned, trembling as she stuttered: "You’re lying!"
"Lying? If you don’t believe me, go ask your mother-in-law if she’s from Zhang Family Village in Shiqiao Town. Although her family moved, Zhang Family Village is still there. Go ask around, everyone knows!"
Lady Fang was left dumbfounded, standing there like a needle-pierced cushion.
Everyone present, having heard everything, was in shock.
They exchanged looks, realizing they’d just uncovered a major scandal. Who knew that the seemingly amiable Rouge Shop owner had such parents? It was appalling!
And the fact that she took the bridal gown off a bride on her wedding day was beyond belief.
The onlookers, initially skeptical, found Wang Yongzhu’s detailed recount convincing.
Moreover, some women had sent their maids to get the cosmetics tested at a pharmacy. Not long after, the maids returned, whispering to their mistresses, faces pale with shock.
Their mistresses’ faces changed.
Seizing the rouge, they stormed to the shop’s entrance: "How dare you? Selling products with lead! My maid tested the palace powder, it contains lead! No wonder my face looked pale whenever I stopped using it! It was all your doing!"
"Yes, get the shopkeeper here! You’ve been terribly deceitful! Unless you explain, your shop won’t continue!"