The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 860 - 859: Thought I Was The Gullible Big Head?

Anyway, she’s just a wild rural girl; even if something really happens, no one will stand up for her.

With those thoughts in mind, the shopkeeper sidled up to the two government officials and whispered a few words, discreetly slipping two pouches into their hands.

The officials felt the weight of the pouches, and upon a slight squeeze, estimated that each silver ingot inside must weigh about five taels.

Immediately, the two officials wavered. Their salaries were low, only earning one tael of silver a month. Such a sudden fortune in their hands was quite tempting.

To be honest, none of the shopkeeper’s little movements or whispered words to the officials escaped Wang Yongzhu’s watchful eyes and ears.

The shopkeeper hoped that the officials would consider the shop’s usual offerings and ensure the Tian Family saved face today, promising generous gifts in the future. He emphasized that Wang Yongzhu was merely a rural girl without influence or power. Even if she were taken to the Yamen, she wouldn’t be able to file a grievance.

The two officials, clutching the silver, glanced at Wang Yongzhu, their eyes full of hesitation.

Seeing that the officials didn’t reject him outright, the shopkeeper knew there was a chance. He immediately sweetened the deal by twenty percent.

Unable to resist their greed, the officials decided to accept the tangible benefits. That poor rural girl had no money or power and had foolishly smashed up the shop; she had to bear the consequences.

This beautiful young lady, if taken to the Yamen, might...

The officials shook their heads and discreetly pocketed the silver. Their previously sympathetic expressions turned official as they said, "This young lady, we understand what happened. Even if Lady Fang was at fault, you should have explained instead of wrecking the shop. Look at the shop now; the damage must be worth a few hundred taels of silver! You can’t just ruin someone’s livelihood because of a moment of carelessness."

"Here’s a fair solution. Shopkeeper, estimate the damages, and let the young lady compensate according to the value. This matter can be settled that way. What do you think?"

The officials tried to appear impartial in front of the crowd, fearing to show overt bias.

However, it was clear to discerning listeners that they were siding with the Rouge Shop. Making the young lady pay a few hundred taels of silver? Where would she get that kind of money?

If she couldn’t pay, she would surely end up at the Yamen!

The crowd outside murmured in concern, and even Hu Laoer looked worriedly at Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Yongzhu merely smiled. "Alright, you want compensation? How much?"

Hearing this, the shopkeeper perked up and exaggerated the value of his rouge and powder, claiming it was exceptional and the damage amounted to a hefty sum of five hundred taels of silver.

Before Wang Yongzhu could react, the people around them gasped.

This shopkeeper was too shameless! Five hundred taels? He’s trying to ruin her!

Wang Yongzhu sneered, "Your shop’s worthless goods are worth that much? You think I’m a fool? You’ve got it all wrong!"

She then bent down, picked up a piece of shattered porcelain with her fingertip, scooped out some rouge, examined it, sniffed it, and disdainfully threw it to the ground, wiping her hands with a handkerchief.

With a cold smile, she said, "Take this rouge, for example. You sell it for half a tael per box, but it’s just ordinary stuff. Good rouge is made from pure petals of Roselle or Dyer’s Knotweed, Malva verticillata, and Pomegranate Flower, extracted into pure juice, with other colors sieved out, leaving a vivid red, mixed with Insect White Wax to form a paste."

"Such rouge is worthy of half a tael per box. But the Rouge Shop’s product is a mix of various flowers, with impurities in the extract, not pure enough in color."

"While others use beeswax or Insect White Wax for consistency, your product uses Bovine Marrow, which was phased out long ago. This rouge loses color within half a day and turns from red to yellow, making one’s skin look dirty."

"And let’s talk about the Palace Powder! High-quality Palace Powder is made from fresh rice soaked in water for over ten days until it ferments slightly. Good powder retains a slight acidity despite being infused with fragrances. Your powder here looks fine at first, white and smooth, providing coverage and whitening. But it’s laced with lead powder! Long-term use turns skin sallow and tired-looking, making users reliant on it!"

"Also, this Osmanthus Hair Oil—" Wang Yongzhu talked fervently, garnering the attention of not only the shop’s occupants but also the onlookers outside.

Especially upon hearing about the lead in the Palace Powder, several women in the crowd turned pale. They frequently bought cosmetics from the Rouge Shop, particularly fond of the Palace Powder, which promised them fair skin. They noticed their skin turned dull and yellow without it, making them reliant on the powder.

Wang Yongzhu’s words planted seeds of suspicion. Several women whispered instructions to their maids, then turned back to listen intently to Wang Yongzhu.

The shopkeeper was horrified, wishing he could rush over to silence her!

Although he didn’t know the exact formulas of the Rouge Shop’s products, being in the business for nearly twenty years, he had heard things.

These recipes had not always belonged to the Tian Family.

The shop initially sold popular products like any other, with mediocre business.

Later, they acquired some new formulas from an unsavory source, which improved their business.

The original owners of those formulas had long since disappeared or scattered.

The shopkeeper’s first thought was, could this girl be a descendant of the original owners? How else could she know so much?

Sweating nervously, he frantically signaled the officials.

The officials, worried their own wives might be using these questioned powders, eagerly listened to Wang Yongzhu.

If the rouge and powder had issues, it would be a significant problem.

The two officials exchanged looks, finding the silver in their pockets suddenly hot and cumbersome.

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