Chapter Sixty: Strike Out

In the afternoon, trouble broke out at the Rouge Shop.

Someone had used the shop's rouge, and by evening their face was covered in red blotches. They came to demand an explanation.

Meng Yun went to the front of the store to handle the situation. Meanwhile, Fubao was in the backyard playing with Dahei and Xiaohei—now that Xiaohei had grown up, she could no longer call him "Little Black," but had to call him "Big Black" instead.

Xiaobai was missing again. These days, Xiaobai was often nowhere to be found, and Fubao had grown used to it. The duck, now fully grown, was no longer a little duck but a big one—though a bit peculiar. Its legs had grown longer, its neck stretched out, its beak had become long and sharp, and its wings flapped energetically, all covered in snowy white feathers.

Ah, truly the most beautiful duck! Yet these days, it seldom stayed home. The duck had taken a fancy to Old Gu's lotus pond, lingering there every day, refusing to come back.

The duck thought: "Here there's food, drink, and fun. Why should I return home?"

Old Meng lamented, "My fish! Spit them out!"

At that moment, a vulgar man barged into the shop, dragging along a short woman with crossed eyes, half her face covered in pockmarks and the other half concealed. He loudly accused, "You unscrupulous merchants! This rouge shop has harmed us. My wife's face has been ruined by your products!"

"Bah! So-called famous rouge—who knows how you make this stuff!" he sneered. Claiming the Lin family’s Rouge Shop sold fake goods and cheated honest folk, he made a ruckus.

Meng Yun...

Lin Sanlang...

Such people buying rouge? Would even flour cover that?

Several women had been browsing the shop, but upon hearing the commotion, they put down their items at once. Better not touch it—it might ruin them!

Though the woman looked rather unsightly, what if the claim was true?

Just as Lin Sanlang was about to speak, Meng Yun stopped him with a look, signaling she would handle it.

Lin Sanlang... Well, I’m not good with words.

---

Meng Yun spoke calmly, "Sir, on what grounds do you claim our rouge caused this? Our rouge is known far and wide for its quality; it’s a reputable brand. You come in here and accuse us with nothing to back it up. What proof do you have?"

She wasn’t the least bit flustered—after all, she knew her own products well. It was obvious they were trying to extort money. The woman’s shifty eyes betrayed her.

"My wife’s face is proof! Look at her—her beautiful face is ruined. You must compensate us," the man demanded.

Everyone...

"Beautiful face? This lady is... quite unique. But how can you prove her condition was caused by our rouge? Our products have never caused any issues."

Meng Yun leaned against the counter, spelling it out, "Either you used someone else’s rouge and are here to slander us, or you used inferior rouge."

"Bah! My wife bought a box of rouge here yesterday. She used it and this happened. Are you still going to deny it?"

"Oh! So she did buy from us yesterday. Very well, let’s compare. I forgot to mention, we record every sale of each kind of rouge. Tell us exactly when you purchased it, and we’ll check the records. We’ll give you a proper explanation," Meng Yun said, fixing her gaze on the cross-eyed woman.

Hearing there were records, the woman’s eyes darted nervously. The man hadn’t expected there to be an account book.

By the time Fubao arrived at the shop front, the farce was nearing its end.

Meng Yun hadn’t anticipated that the cross-eyed woman would be so shameless and fierce, rolling on the ground in a tantrum. The vulgar man wore a face that said, "I won’t leave until you pay me," driving away all the young girls in the shop.

Only a few vegetable-selling aunties remained to watch the spectacle, leaving their produce behind to gossip at the shop door.

Just as Meng Yun was about to lose her temper!

"Are you leaving or not?" Lin Sanlang asked one last time. This had gone too far; if they didn’t leave, he would bring out the law.

"I won’t leave unless you pay me," the man insisted.

---

"That’s what you said."

"Whatever."

The vulgar man was fearless.

"Very well. I can’t save you now. Farewell," Lin Sanlang said, then disappeared.

Fubao, peering out from the inner room, suddenly saw a group of men in plain clothes rush out past her, each more muscular than the last. Before the vulgar couple could react, they were beaten and thrown out of the shop.

The vulgar couple...?

Whether they would dare return remained to be seen.

Across the street, the Deng family enjoyed the spectacle. Deng Xiaohua was munching sunflower seeds at her shop door.

She watched as two figures flew through the air and landed sprawled in front of her.

Seeing their bruised faces, Deng Xiaohua spat in disgust, "Useless trash! Couldn’t even handle such a simple matter."

Who had hired them? So ugly!

She had hoped these two would stir up trouble and topple the Lin family’s Rouge Shop, but they hadn’t even managed that before being tossed out. Useless!

Deng Xiaohua spat toward the Lin family’s shop, muttering, "Just wait and see!"

As for Meng Yun, she already knew who was behind the mischief. It seemed it was time to deal with Deng Xiaohua.