Chapter 2939 - 2940: A Single Character’s Difference

Chapter 2939: Chapter 2940: A Single Character’s Difference

This is her sincerity towards the people of the Su Family Village, and it is also the business principle of the Bai Family.

Tian Feng saw that she was no longer busy and stepped forward to bow solemnly, saying with a face full of shame, "Lord Bai, we misunderstood you. I’m sorry."

"It’s fine once the misunderstanding is cleared up. You should go back and rest as well; it’s been a busy day." Bai Ruozhu said.

"If you need any help, just let me know." Tian Feng said.

"Alright."

Tian Feng took his leave, but instead of hurrying home, he went to the Village Chief’s House.

The Village Chief was smoking a dry tobacco pipe, his mood very gloomy.

"Don’t smoke if you’re not feeling well." Tian Feng went over and snatched his pipe.

The Village Chief didn’t say anything either; the two of them just squatted under the Roof Eave, not saying a word, squatting for a long time.

After a while, the Village Chief sighed deeply, "I have lived my life with a clear conscience to the world and my village, not expecting to make such a mistake in my old age. I can’t hold this position anymore; I’ve become muddleheaded. In a few days, I’ll announce to everyone that you will succeed me as the Village Chief."

Tian Feng had a certain prestige in the village, partly because he was the successor to the Village Chief.

Considering the Village Chief’s health, he didn’t refuse and nodded, "Alright, I’ll work hard for the village."

The Village Chief responded with a hum, and in an instant, he seemed to have aged several years.

"How do you think we should resolve this situation? Now everyone outside thinks the Bai Family’s Toothpaste Shop is selling fake goods, and we have wronged them." The Village Chief said as he started coughing. Tian Feng hurriedly patted his back but was also worried deep down.

The Village Chief’s family started to eat, and Tian Feng got up to leave, saying he should go home and check on things too.

He didn’t stay home long before his son Tian Bing returned.

"Dad, Su Zhen and I just got to the city and saw two long lines outside the Bai Family’s Toothpaste Shop, stretching all the way to the end of the street; they’re all there to return goods!" Tian Bing was still panting, "Our shop promised to refund them, even if it’s used up; as long as they have the box, they’ll get a refund. How much silver will this cost us?"

With a bang, the teacup in Tian Feng’s hand fell to the ground, spilling hot tea everywhere, and the cup shattered into pieces.

Tian Bing’s mother rushed into the Room, distressed, "What happened? Don’t move, I’ll sweep it up."

She turned to get the broom and dustpan, but Tian Feng strode outside.

Tian Bing hurriedly chased after him, neither heeding the shouts of Tian Bing’s mother from behind.

Tian Feng’s face was very somber; they had made a grave mistake!

It was them who wronged the Bai Family. This was going to ruin their shop and destroy their reputation.

"Tian Bing, go notify several of the elders and have them come to the Village Chief’s House; there’s an urgent matter to discuss." Tian Feng said.

"Alright, but Dad, maybe we shouldn’t tell the Village Chief about this; I’m afraid he can’t handle it." Tian Bing said worriedly.

Tian Feng didn’t speak, remaining silent for a few seconds.

"The Village Chief is very regretful now, and making amends will put him at ease. If we don’t tell him and handle it in secret, he’ll feel even worse."

...

As night fell, the children, after a day of mischief, were all tired. Gouwa’s mother and several village women took the children back to sleep.

A shadow flashed past, but Bai Ruozhu’s mouth curled up into a smile.

"Aren’t you nervous? So unaware of danger." Jiang Yichun appeared before her and said.

"I can smell your scent a mile away, what am I guarding against?" Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

"That’s why I say you’re a dog with a nose." He said, reaching out to pinch her nose, which she swatted away, "Annoying, stop fooling around, have you found anything?"

Jiang Yichun laughed, "You would never believe who it is."

"Stop being secretive, who is it?" Bai Ruozhu pinched him lightly, not intending to exert much force.

"Remember Qin Kaichang?" Jiang Yichun said.

Bai Ruozhu really didn’t remember at first; she thought for a long time before finally recalling.

"Isn’t he the scumbag who deceived Guizhi?"

"Back then, he was very close to your second brother, and later he tricked your friend Fang Guizhi’s affection, but then he sided with Prince Duan and disappeared with him." Jiang Yichun began to explain slowly.

"Rumor has it that Prince Duan went to the Turkic regions, or perhaps he hid in his former fiefdom, rarely appearing. So people gradually forgot about Qin Kaichang. Unexpectedly, Qin Kaichang gave up studying for business, and his business has been doing quite well these past few years. It seems like when we went to Fusang, we missed these developments."

Bai Ruozhu nodded, almost not asking about business matters in the past year, and any sudden situations had already been made clear to her associates, who learned her handling attitude and methods and could resolve them by themselves.

"Qin Kaichang ventured into the medicinal materials business and also into the toothpaste market. Coincidentally, his toothpaste shop is called Baiyao Toothpaste Shop, just one word different from ours."

"Baiyao?" Bai Ruozhu burst into laughter, "Could it be he used a kind of Baiyao from Yunnan to make the toothpaste? It helps stop bleeding and reduce swelling, quite effective for oral ulcers?"

"You guessed it right, how did you know?" Jiang Yichun asked.

Bai Ruozhu laughed, "Where I lived before, there was a special type of Yunnan Baiyao toothpaste, which was quite famous, though not as good as my toothpaste."

"How did Qin Kaichang know that? Could he be..." He frowned, recalling having met Qin Kaichang before, without realizing a thing.

"Probably not; he’s likely got other business tricks up his sleeve. Why bother competing with me, who’s already captured the market? Baiyao originates from Yunnan, so it’s likely he got the formula somewhere in South Chu and incorporated it into the toothpaste." Bai Ruozhu said, "Is he in Luohe City now? Have we caught him?"

Jiang Yichun shook his head, "We captured someone under him who confessed, but he had made arrangements and left a few days ago; reportedly, he headed south. I’ve already arranged for people to investigate further, but if he entered Chengshui Country, it will be hard to find him."

"Baiyao Toothpaste Shop?" Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes, "It’s fine if we can’t find him; as long as the monk hasn’t escaped, we’ll just ruin his business."

In terms of the toothpaste industry, she certainly had the capability to strike at her competitors.

"I also suspect that the first child to fall ill in Su Family Village was also Qin Kaichang’s doing. I just found out that a woman from Su Family Village died a month ago, and she had contact with Qin Kaichang’s people. It appeared on the surface that she hanged herself because she couldn’t bear her husband’s beating, but the specific cause of death might not be that simple. However, the person has been buried for over a month, so it’s not easy to investigate now." Jiang Yichun continued.

Bai Ruozhu blinked at him, "Who says it’s not easy to investigate? Open the coffin for an autopsy."

"The villagers are superstitious and conservative; they won’t agree to open the coffin for an autopsy." Jiang Yichun dampened her enthusiasm.

Bai Ruozhu laughed again, "Who says they won’t agree? Just let the Astrologer speak."

Noticing Jiang Yichun’s confusion, she explained that when they entered the village, the Astrologer cleverly mystified things, and the Village Chief already requested the Astrologer to dispel misfortune.

"Alright, let’s talk to the Astrologer."