Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Disown

Translator: 549690339

His lips quivered but no rebuttal came out.

“Without any evidence, you accuse me of deception. Manager Feng, your words invite suspicion.”

Zhuang Qingning pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing into thin slits as she stared at Feng Ershu. “But 1 can’t really blame Manager Feng for throwing a tantrum here. I’ve noticed a similar dark aura enveloping you, not unlike the little ghost. I wonder if it was you who summoned it here.”

“You… Stop spouting nonsense!” Feng Ershu snarled, his eyes emitting a fiery glare. “You’re spitting blood!”

“Whether I’m spitting blood or not, the people around are neither blind nor foolish. They can see for themselves.”

Zhuang Qingning said, “The peculiar actions of Manager Feng make it hard not to suspect that he summoned this little ghost.”

“Earlier, I spoke to the owner of this shop, Aunt Deng. Initially, Manager Feng was eager to rent this shop but offered a very low price. Aunt Deng didn’t agree and a quarrel ensued. Holding a grudge, Manager Feng tried to ruin the shop’s reputation so he could buy it cheaply later.”

“Manager Feng sought out an expert, summoned this little ghost, and caused misfortune to those who rented the shop afterwards. His intention was to make people associate bad luck with this shop, allowing him to buy it at a lower price.”

“Manager Feng, am I right?”

Zhuang Qingning’s gaze, piercing and icy like a sharpened blade, was hard to meet.

Her powerful and resonating voice drew silence from the crowd.

Her words stirred up a huge commotion amongst the onlookers.

“I thought Manager Feng was decent, who would have thought he could cause such harm for personal gains, his heart is truly malicious!”

“Right, in business one must know when to act and when not to. He, on the other hand, desires to coerce others into selling to him when they ask for more than he’s willing to offer. Isn’t this just causing trouble?”

“If that’s the case, then Manager Bai’s broken leg in the shop and Manager Song’s rapid illness caused by renting the shop were all part of Feng Ershu’s scheme, right?”

“That’s definitely correct, the little ghost he summoned has been causing nothing but harm.”

“People like him should not stay in our town. He has harmed so many people. He should be bound and sent to the pavilion chief to face the consequences!”

“Exactly, bind him, bring him to the pavilion chief!”

II II

The calls around grew louder, as a hand grabbed Feng Ershu’s wrist, pulling him towards the Pavilion Chief Gong Qingsheng.

At this moment, Gong Qingsheng was making his way through the crowd.

When he heard that the tofu shop was bustling with activity because Zhuang Qingning was catching a ghost, he brought two officials with him, fearing that the large gathering could stir up trouble.

Upon arriving, he encountered a three-layer crowd and could hardly see what was happening inside, so he struggled to squeeze his way through.

Before he could reach the middle, he heard someone shouting about taking someone to him, he immediately called out, “What’s going on?”

“The pavilion chief is here!” Someone shouted, and the crowd quickly parted to make way for Gong Qingsheng.

Gong Qingsheng moved to the front, glanced at Zhuang Qingning holding a peach wood sword, and then at Feng Ershu, who was as pale as a sheet and being detained by someone. He frowned, “What’s going on?”

“Pavilion chief, Feng Ershu harbored ill-will because Mrs. Deng wouldn’t rent him the storefront. He wickedly summoned the little ghost in the shop and caused harm to others.”

“Earlier, Manager Bai’s leg injury and Manager Song’s sudden illness are all connected with Feng Ershu. He is malicious, harming others and disturbing our entire town. Our anger has led us to bind him and bring him to you.”

A tall, square-faced man who was holding Feng Ershu spoke.

“Is this true?” Gong Qingsheng, looking at Feng Ershu, appeared displeased.

It is characters like these who harm others that cause unrest in the whole town!

“Feng Ershu, you are so audacious!” Gong Qingsheng barked angrily. “What punishment do you think you deserve?”

“Pavilion Chief, I am wronged!”

Upon hearing about the impending punishment, Feng Ershu was terrified. He knelt on the ground and bowed to Gong Qingsheng, “I did not summon the little ghost, nor did I harm anyone!”

“All I wanted was to acquire this shop. I gave Mrs. Bai some money and asked her to make Xiao Liuzi cause trouble in the tofu shop. I wanted them to think that there was a ghost in the shop in order to ruin its business and solidify its reputation for bad Feng Shui. Then it would not be able to be rented, and I could buy it at a lower price.”

“What I’m saying is the truth. I only instigated Mrs. Bai. If the tofu shop really had a ghost, it would be Mrs. Bai’s doing, not mine. The incidents with Manager Bai and Manager Song have nothing to do with me…”

“Everything I’ve said is the truth!”

Feng Ershu added another line.

Zhuang Qingning watched Feng Ershu, now sobbing bitterly, and her lips curled into a slight smile.

He had admitted everything at this moment. Although it seemed foolish, he undoubtedly exhibited a cunning mind. Knowing he could not escape punishment, he chose to reveal Mrs. Bai in order to absolve himself from the incidents involving Manager Bai and Manager Song and possibly obtain a more lenient penalty.

It must be said, Feng Ershu is quite clever.

“So, you admit to having an accomplice.” Gong Qingsheng glared at Feng Ershu and motioned towards the officials, “Go fetch Mrs. Bai, the fortune teller. I need to question her.”

As for Feng Ershu…

At this point, he was frantically dragging others down with him. This could mean that the matter at hand was no small thing, and it would be best to inquire it carefully.

“Take Feng Ershu with you!”

On the side, a tall and robust official, following Gong Qingsheng’s orders, escorted the weeping Feng Ershu. The other officials went to find Mrs. Bai and Xiao Liuzi.

“Manager Zhuang,” Gong Qingsheng turned to Zhuang Qingning, “This incident involves your tofu shop. I’ll inquire about it first, and if there are unresolved issues, I will need to question you as well.”

“Rest assured, Pavilion Chief, I will tell you everything I know,” Zhuang Qingning replied loudly.

“Thank you.” Gong Qingsheng walked away with his hands behind his back to deal with Feng Ershu’s case, followed by the officials.

The spectators gradually dispersed, their conversations rumbling in the distance.

They discussed Feng Ershu’s malicious intent and Mrs. Bai’s complicity, condemning their black hearts. But more importantly, they were astounded by Zhuang Qingning’s abilities..