The air in the ancient city seems to have been thrown into an invisible pebble, with ripples spreading out in circles.
Since Wang Bo's casual remarks at the Baiwei Teahouse, the term "alum thread" has been like a leech with legs, quietly creeping into the idle chatter on the streets and in the alleys.
At first, they were just whispering and vague, but they couldn't resist the power of human words and spread the false information. In just two or three days, the flow of people in front of Zhang Ji Embroidery Shop had significantly decreased. Some women who had originally intended to buy some loose threads at a lower price hesitated and pulled their feet back when they reached the door.
In the back hall of the Splendid Pavilion, Shen Ruoxin listened to Xiao Cui's report. There was no sign of joy on her face, only composure. The seeds of public opinion have been sown, but for them to sprout quickly and grow into towering trees capable of shaking the opponents, a timely "timely rain" is still needed - a living "victim", and a "piece of evidence" that can confirm the rumors.
Has everything been arranged? Shen Ruoxin looked at A Xing who was standing by her side. Her voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable weight.
A Xing slightly lowered her head, her voice still carrying that imperceptible hoarseness, but it was unusually clear: "Reply, Miss Er, everything is fine." Yesterday, Li's wife had already given her the silver and the explanation. Her man is addicted to gambling and has accumulated a huge debt with the money shop. There is also a one-year-old child at home waiting for the money for milk powder. Fifty taels of silver is enough for her to fill the hole and also enough for her to go all out.
A Xing paused for a moment and added, "As you instructed, I deliberately chose her." Last month, she did buy a batch of the cheapest multicolored threads from Zhang Ji to embroider her child's bellyband, and her child's skin is a bit delicate and prone to redness. As long as she insists that the rash was caused by using Zhang Ji's thread, and considering the rumors we spread before, there's no way for others to disbelieve her.
Shen Ruoxin nodded slightly. Choosing Mrs. Li was not a casual decision. She needs a woman who seems ordinary, is in a difficult situation and has "reasonable" motives.
Those who are too rich won't risk such a small amount of silver. Those who are too tricky are likely to be seen through by others. Irrelevant. The accusation lacks a foundation. Mrs. Li, who has been cornered by life but happens to have a purchase record, is the best candidate. Truth and falsehood, illusion and reality, can only weave a web that is the hardest to Pierce.
It's about time. Shen Ruoxin glanced at the sky outside the window and said, "Let her go." Remember, make a big fuss, but be honest with your words. Don't exaggerate and talk about things that have no trace. Just insist, "I used the thread from Zhang Ji. The child has developed a rash. I suspect the thread is not clean. I need an explanation." The location is right in front of Zhang Ji. The more people, the better.
"Yes." Ah Xing stepped back in response.
Shen Ruoxin walked to the window and gazed at the brand-new but already shadowy sign of Zhang Ji Embroidery House across the street, her eyes deep and solemn. She knows what this move means.
Taking advantage of the predicament of a struggling woman to frame a business rival runs counter to the business ethics education she received in her previous life. But for now, she has no choice. The warehouse of the Brocade Pavilion was growing increasingly empty. Wang Ermazi and that batch of life-saving supplies had vanished without a trace. Zhang Ji was pressing on her step by step. If she didn't take any more aggressive actions, she would be trapped in a deep abyss.
Survival is the overriding law at this moment. She could only console herself that Zhang Ji had made profits by counterfeiting with inferior raw materials and should have learned this lesson. This is not only a business war, but also a kind of "rectifying the chaos" in a certain sense. Although the means she used were not so blatant.
At this moment, it is the time when the number of people is gradually increasing in the afternoon at the entrance of Zhang Ji Embroidery Shop.
Boss Zhang, Zhang Defa, was standing behind the counter with a slightly protruding belly, looking at the door with a sultry expression. The desolation of these few days was not something he failed to sense.
Those damned rumors emerged from some nook and crump, buzzing like flies and disturbing him. What alum wire, toxic wire... What nonsense! His wire is cheap, but that's because he has a wide range of channels and a low purchase price! As for brightness? That's craftsmanship!
"Boss, don't get angry. The innocent will naturally be innocent..." The fellow beside him advised cautiously.
"Bullshit!" Zhang Defa cursed crossly, "It must be the mischief of that little hoof-hooves surnamed Shen!" Look, don't I...
Before the words had even finished, a sudden burst of shrill cries came from outside the door, instantly catching the attention of all the passers-by.
What a heartless boss! "Give justice to my son!"
A woman in a coarse cloth dress that had been washed so white and her hair was somewhat disheveled, holding a swaddling cloth in her arms, was crying and Shouting while staggering to the door of Zhang Ji, as if she were about to rush in.
"Hey, hey, hey!" What do you do! The clerk at the door hurriedly stopped her.
I'm looking for your boss! Where is Zhang Defa? Let him out! The woman was Li's wife. Her face was streaked with tears and her voice was hoarse. The baby in her arms seemed to be infected by her excitement and burst into tears as well.
What do you want to see our boss for? Let's have a good talk! The fellow was startled by her posture, but still tried his best to stop her.
"Speak nicely?" How can I speak properly! Mrs. Li suddenly raised one of the baby's little arms. She saw that on the delicate skin, there were indeed a few not very obvious red marks.
Look! Look! This is the bellyband embroidered with your Zhang Ji's multicolored thread. After wearing it for just two days, my son has developed a rash all over his body! I was itchy and cried all night long! The doctor said that it was because of something unclean that I got "skin poison"! What harmful stuff did you add to the thread of your Zhang Ji? "!"
Her words were like pouring a ladle of cold water into boiling oil, and the crowd burst into an uproar with a "buzz".
What? Have you really developed a rash?
Oh my God! This red seal... It looks like an allergy!
Didn't someone say there was something wrong with Zhang Ji's wires just two days ago? Say what... "Soaked in alum?"
Yes, yes, yes! I've heard about it, too! It is said to cause the skin to rot!
The rumors instantly combined with the "facts" before one's eyes, and the emotions of panic and anger spread rapidly.
Zhang Defa heard the commotion and came out from behind the counter with a dark face. Why are you arguing? Where did this crazy woman come from? She's talking nonsense here!
"Am I talking nonsense?" When Mrs. Li saw the real owner, her emotions became even more agitated. She pointed at Zhang Defa's nose and scolded, "Boss Zhang!" Touch your conscience and say! Have those outrageously cheap wires in your home really been soaked in alum? In order to make a few more ill-gotten gains, they even disregarded the health of the Suckling babies! Aren't you afraid of retribution? "!"
You... You are spitting at people! Zhang Defa was so angry that he was shaking all over. Pointing at Mrs. Li, he said, "I think you were sent by the opposite family to deliberately extort money!" The lines of our Zhang Ji are clear and clean! How could there be any problem!
"Innocence?" Mrs. Li gave a cold laugh and took out a baby bellyband that was only half embroidered from her bosom. The colorful threads on it were bright but slightly stiff. "This is the evidence!" I bought the thread at your place last month! I keep all the receipts! If you don't recognize it, let's go and see the authorities! Let the official judge and see if there is any problem with your line!
"See the official if you meet them!" Who is afraid of whom! Zhang Defa was also pushed to the limit and spoke without thinking. But in fact, he felt a little uneasy in his heart. His thread did indeed use some unconventional methods in pursuit of low price and color. Although it might not be alum, if it were really sent to the authorities for inspection, who knows if any problems would be found?
Just as both sides were deadlocked and the crowd was abuzz with discussions, a middle-aged man who seemed to be passing by pushed his way in and shouted loudly, "Oh, isn't this the sister-in-law of the Li family?"
What's going on? ... Hey? The red dots on this child's body... The symptoms that Mr. Wang from the east of the city described in the teahouse two days ago are somewhat similar! He also said that some inferior threads, soaked in alum, are prone to causing rashes on the skin when exposed to sweat, especially for children...
This seemingly casual "reminder" was like the last straw, completely crushing the doubts in people's hearts.
So what was said in the teahouse was true!
"I told you, there must be something fishy about such a low price!" "
So heartless! Even children are harmed!
"Come on, come on! I'll never come to Zhangji to buy anything again!"
Refund the money! The thread I bought the day before yesterday hasn't been used yet. Return it to me right away!
The emotions of the crowd were completely ignited, and voices of doubt, accusation and demands for returns rose and fell one after another. Several customers who had just bought something and had not yet gone far immediately turned back and surrounded the counter tightly. The entrance of Zhang Ji Embroidery Shop was instantly plunged into chaos.
Zhang Defa watched the out-of-control scene before him, his face changing from red to white and then from white to blue. He tried to explain and to scold, but his voice was completely drowned out by the angry crowd.
He knows. It's over. No matter whether there was anything wrong with his thread or not, after such a commotion, the reputation of Zhang Ji Embroidery Shop has completely collapsed. Who will dare to buy things from his family in the future? Once trust is lost, it is extremely difficult to regain it!
Amidst the chaos, no one noticed that outside the crowd, Ah Xing's calm eyes scanned the area. After confirming that the effect had met expectations, she quietly turned and left, blending into the flow of people.
In the Splendid Pavilion, Shen Ruoxin sat upright by the window, holding a black chess piece in her hand, remaining motionless for a long time. The faint noise coming from outside seemed to be separated by a water curtain, indistinct and distant.
Xiao Cui ran in excitedly: "Second Miss!" It's done! It's done! There was a huge commotion at the entrance of Zhang Ji! That Mrs. Li was really bold. She held the child and cried and made a fuss, pointing at Boss Zhang's nose and scolding him! So many people are clamoring for returns!
Shen Ruoxin slowly placed the chess pieces back into the box, making a soft "click" sound. She didn't turn around. She just gave a faint "Mm-hmm".
It's done. With the tears of a woman and the skin of a child (perhaps just a slight red mark, deliberately magnified), along with elaborately woven rumors, the foundation of the opponent - trust - was successfully destroyed. In this battle, she won, won decisively and also won... Not so glorious.
She stood up, walked to the writing desk, spread out a piece of rice paper, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink. On the snow-white paper, she wrote four words:
Honesty is the foundation.
The ink is vivid and forceful, penetrating the paper. This is the business principle she adhered to in her previous life, and it is also the deepest irony in her heart at this moment.
Shen Ruoxin put down her pen and rubbed her eyebrows. Zhang Defa will never just sit and wait for his fate. His counterattack is likely to come soon.