Chapter 98 Part 3: Disturbance
Jiang Li asked: “Then for what reason did they smash the shop? Without any cause, did Li Zheng Tang provoke them? Why did they come and cause trouble?”
“It’s said that it’s because of the ancient fragrant satin matter.” Ah Fu’s complexion was somewhat grave, “the ordinary people that came said that rashes came up after wearing the clothes made from our ancient fragrant satin. Now the ready-made clothes shops no longer accept our ancient fragrant satin, but the batch that has come out still inflicted disaster. A few days ago, someone wore the ancient fragrant satin and died.”
Died?
Ye Jia Er covered her mouth. As a merchant’s daughter, she understood clearly, once the rumor that “ancient fragrant satin causes people to die” came out, there was no longer any possibility for the Ye family to turn over.
And now, this rumor had already circulated.
Zhuo-shi and Guan-shi almost collapsed.
Ye Ru Feng tightly clenched his fists.
Ah Fu looked at the people in the room and, unknown as to why, he unexpectedly felt desolate. Currently, eldest master Ye and second master Ye were invited into the government office. The third master Ye had earlier gone to look for people and it’s not known how he was now while old madam Ye was sick and bed-ridden. The remaining people in the room, Ye Ru Feng was still young and tender and the other people were weak women. The Ye family’s crisis was coming in a torrential rush but what should be done?
“I’m going to Li Zheng Tang.” Ye Ru Feng said.
“Ru Feng, what can you do by going at this time?” Zhuo-shi stopped him.
“Mother, what can I also do by not going? Li Zheng Tang is the foundation laid down by our ancestors, it cannot be destroyed in our hands. I am the only male in the house now, I want to go.” He said: “I must go.”
Zhuo-shi released his hand in a daze.
Jiang Li had a bit of appreciation. Even though Ye Ru Feng really didn’t look that mature, he could recognize his responsibility and duty, which was a rare quality. Not shrinking back during a crucial time, this point resembled Xue Zhao very much.
Her gaze suddenly turned soft.
“Why don’t I go together with you.” Jiang Li said: “Don’t be afraid, I’ll think of a way.”
“You…..” Ye Ru Feng was about to speak but Ye Jia Er already pulled Jiang Li’s hand: “I’m going too.”
……
At this moment, there’s chaos outside of Li Zheng Tang.
The street was encircled by an impenetrable crowd, the surrounding shops’ shopkeepers were reclining by their doorways, watching the play. Previously, Li Zheng Tang stood on the best land in Xiangyang, the business was excellent and inevitably made people jealous. People of the same profession hold each other in low regard, even if they are not of the same profession, many will also be jealous. Now, as they witnessed Li Zheng Tang go out of luck, they sympathized on the outside, but their hearts couldn’t help being extremely delighted.
Couldn’t stand the sight of people doing well.
Ah Shun was blocking the door. Although he wasn’t very tall, he had followed Ye Ming Yu and traveled extensively in the last few years, thus more or less knew a bit of martial arts. He also gave out the vibe of being a person of the rivers and lakes. The doors of Li Zheng Tang were not destroyed precisely because of him guarding. Despite that, the cabinets near the doors were thoroughly smashed, the cloths torn to shreds and laid on the ground in disarray. The excited crowd flocked and new people kept coming incessantly, their hands holding wooden sticks.
It’s hard for two fists to resist four hands. If this continued, he would soon be unable to continue blocking.
Ah Shun was bitter inside. It would be pretty good if Ye Ming Yu was here, he could probably scare the people. But Ye Ming Yu, contrary to expectations, disappeared at this time. Even if he exerted the utmost effort, just by him alone, it’s impossible to block the constant crowd that came.
There were servants dispatched by big families in the crowd, also common people who didn’t look like rich families. Each and every one was shouting in anger.
“The Ye family kill for money, wearing ancient fragrant satin makes people dead!”
“Fraudulent Ye family! Call the person in charge of the Ye family to come out!”
“The Ye family must not have a good death!”
The Ye family was kind and charitable in Xiangyang, never swindling guests. This was the first time encountering this evil reputation. Ah Shun’s head ached and his eyes dimmed upon hearing. Someone pulled their sleeves back to let the people see the dense red rashes on his arm, drawing surprised cries from the surroundings. As a result, the actions of smashing the shops grew harsher and wilder.
Ye Jia Er and the others had just arrived at Li Zheng Tang and precisely saw this scene.
Guan-shi and Zhuo-shi did not come. Guan-shi went to the government office to find Ye Ming Yu, while Zhuo-shi stayed at home to wait for news. Before leaving, Jiang Li called out all the Jiang family bodyguards that came along with her.
Fortunately, Jiang Li ordered all the bodyguards out. Because when their group had just arrived in Li Zheng Tang, someone spotted them and immediately said: “The Ye family’s young lady and the Ye family’s young master are here!”
All at once, the crowd, without any exception, ran towards them in torrents. Upon seeing this, Ah Shun secretly shouted “not good” in his heart. However, soon the bodyguards behind Jiang Li all of a sudden simultaneously brought their shining blades out with a swish.
The bodyguards of the chief a.s.sistant’s family didn’t seem to speak or smile much, compared to the bodyguards of the Ye family. It’s still possible to casually take them out to scare people. At least there wasn’t much difference with the government officials who came to the Ye family home to arrest people. People bullied the soft and afraid of the strong. Looking at so many devilish bodyguards, they unconsciously stopped.
There’s timidity in their heart and they did not dare to advance.
Ah Shun and the shopkeeper relaxed their breaths. If the young master, the young lady and the miss cousin from the capital met with something here today, they, as the subordinates, certainly could not escape the blame.
The bodyguards protected Jiang Li and the others as they walked over to Li Zheng Tang. Those common people who were causing trouble were still thinking of following, but were afraid of the long blades in the bodyguards’ hands. Thus they could only do what everyone else was doing and came to the encirclement.
When they reached Li Zheng Tang’s doors, Jiang Li took a look inside the doors. The interior was already a mess. Shopkeeper Qian was holding a handkerchief to cover his forehead that was oozing blood, probably hit by something. It seemed that these people creating disturbances came to him abruptly. The people who got hit in Li Zheng Tang were caught unprepared.
“Everyone…….” Ye Ru Feng picked up his courage to say: “You must not be anxious, be a bit calmer. I’m the Ye family’s young master, if there’s anything, sit down and discuss it properly. The Ye family will not avoid responsibility…..”
Before he finished his speech, an egg flew towards Ye Ru Feng to smash him. It was blocked by Jiang Li’s bodyguards, otherwise Ye Ru Feng would have already been completely hit by it.
“What will not avoid responsibility. Your ancient fragrant satin made people die, you harmed human lives, and still want to cheat the money of the common people in Xiangyang. What you swindled is black money, that is a life debt!”