Chapter 26: It Was Simply No Challenge for Her

Hearing the crowd speaking up for him, the man kneeling on the ground felt a secret sense of triumph. He had initially been skeptical, but to his surprise, the shopkeeper’s method actually worked. Now, how would they respond to this?

He intensified his performance, his expression filled with sorrow. “I never intended to harm your esteemed establishment. I offer my sincere apologies and earnestly beg for your forgiveness.”

Lü Hongzhuo cursed them silently for their despicable and shameless manipulation of people’s hearts. He was troubled; this matter was difficult to handle. If mishandled, the public’s impression of them would reverse completely—what had been good before would turn bad in the future.

Unless they swallowed the loss in silence to settle the matter peacefully.

Fine, let it be. Continuing to stall would achieve nothing but waste time.

He was about to step forward to help the kneeling man up, pretending to be moved by his sincere repentance and exchange a few polite words, at least to establish a positive image for the bookstore.

Suddenly, Xu Chengyue shouted angrily beside him, “You brat, shut your mouth! How dare you spout nonsense here!”

Her words carried such authority that the crowd fell silent, turning to look at the speaker.

Lü Hongzhuo was dumbfounded, stunned by the sudden display of her aura, unable to react in time.

Xu Chengyue was furious at the shameless act—plagiarizing others’ work without shame, then brazenly coming before the real owner to morally coerce them. Did they think no one could deal with him?

In her rage, the words slipped out naturally.

She became the center of attention.

Unable to withstand the gazes, her social anxiety flared up and the boldness that had swelled within her instantly receded.

The man finally regained his composure. Seeming unable to bear the humiliation, he endured and said, “If madam refuses to forgive me, so be it. But how can you say I speak nonsense? I might as well dash my head against this wall here to prove my innocence.”

As he spoke, he tried to stand and strike the wall.

“Sir, don’t, don’t!” Some kind-hearted bystanders quickly came to restrain him.

“You little lady is really something. This gentleman is apologizing to you so politely, how can you respond with harsh words?”

Xu Chengyue, shrinking back as if to retreat, then stepped forward again.

These onlookers couldn’t tell right from wrong but liked to champion justice for others.

Who could endure that?

“Fine, you say you have no livelihood and life is hard. Then what did you live on these past years? You can’t survive on air, can you? Where did you get the money to buy books to plagiarize? And they were all complete!” Xu Chengyue questioned sharply.

“That young lady makes a good point!” one passerby said.

“Books aren’t cheap. Where did he get the money?” another added.

“I—I...” The shopkeeper hadn’t prepared for these details and couldn’t think of an excuse. Afraid the crowd would see through him, he again pretended to be humiliated and tried to dash his head against the wall, diverting attention. “I have lived enough and might as well die here!”

The good Samaritans continued to restrain him, “Sir, think carefully. You have elderly and children at home. How can you abandon them like this?”

Ignoring his pity act, Xu Chengyue sneered, “When others ask you straightforward questions, you evade and refuse to answer directly. If not for a guilty conscience, what else? You mention your mother at every turn—are you truly filial, or just using her as an excuse to justify your misdeeds? Or is it all a lie?”

“That young lady accuses me of wrongdoing, which I admit, but do not question my filial piety toward my mother,” he insisted stubbornly.

Where did this foul girl come from? Why was she so difficult?

“You claim filial piety? You use her as a raft to drag her into disgrace. You have hands and feet but refuse to find honest work to support yourself? If everyone had such ‘filial piety,’ chaos would soon follow. Knowing you’ve done wrong yet coming here to force others’ forgiveness—how can you be so shameless?” Xu Chengyue fired back, her sharp wit flowing seamlessly.

“Sounds about right. Though the young lady is blunt, she’s reasonable,” someone remarked.

“But the gentleman still hasn’t answered where his money comes from. If he’s so poor, how does he afford to buy books?”

“In my opinion, he’s definitely lying, just repeating the same lines,” another said.

Seeing the crowd siding with Xu Chengyue, the man grew anxious, abandoning his plaintive act. He pointed at her and shouted, “How am I lying? You’re slandering me! You little brat! Bullying the weak, never yielding when you’re right, with no tolerance at all. I spoke politely to you, and you refuse to forgive me and retort harshly. If that’s the case, why pretend to be magnanimous?”

His domineering demeanor was a stark contrast to his earlier pitiful guise. The crowd was shocked by his sudden change, exchanging glances.

“Hmm, his way of cursing sounds a bit like the owner of Mountain River Bookstore,” someone who enjoyed stirring trouble said. He had also been present during that incident.

The man stiffened upon hearing this, no longer arguing. “Fine, if you won’t forgive me, I won’t trouble you further.”

With that, he hurriedly left.

“That's the owner, exactly the same as that day!” someone recalled.

“He really is a liar? Already owns a shop yet dares to come here and play the victim? Pfft!”

“My goodness, he spoke so convincingly. If not for that young lady, I almost believed him!”

Rotten vegetable leaves and scraps were thrown at him.

Seeing the situation exposed and the crowd’s wrath, he dared not stay and fled quickly.

“That dog ran fast!”

“I’ve memorized his face. Next time I see him, I’ll scold him again!”

With the culprit gone, Xu Chengyue’s fierce demeanor softened. She smiled and cupped her hands in thanks to the onlookers, “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for upholding justice.”

“Not at all, young lady. Your quick wit was impressive. That scoundrel’s words sounded so true, I almost believed him.”

“You’re too polite, young lady. It was your due.”

These replies came from those who had remained silent at first, merely watching.

Those who liked to play the role of righteous arbiters sensed trouble and had long since slunk away.

Xu Chengyue emerged victorious, returning triumphantly amid cheers.

“Lady Xu, you were so impressive just now—undaunted in crisis and eloquent.”

“Lady Xu is usually gentle and kind, but when she scolds, she doesn’t hold back.”

“Hah, I said it long ago, but none of you believed me,” the shopkeeper said with a smug “I told you so” expression.

“It’s not that we didn’t believe, it’s just that your words were exaggerated, so we doubted. Now we’ve seen it for ourselves.”

“Good thing I never offended Lady Xu. Being scolded like that would be unbearable.”

If it had been mere insults, it would be one thing, but Lady Xu didn’t utter a single curse word. She struck directly at his vulnerabilities, leaving him speechless.

Xu Chengyue was exhilarated by her verbal victory but soon reverted to her usual social anxiety, retreating to a less crowded spot.

Her sharp retorts came only when provoked beyond a certain limit.

It was a state of complete immersion, a natural realm where self and other were forgotten.

The crisis was extinguished before it even took form, and the crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

Such ready-made news material could not be wasted. The next day’s entertainment section featured the incident as the headline, though Xu Chengyue’s identity was concealed, while the exchanges between the two were made clear.

No wonder the shopkeeper had a knack for storytelling! When everyone else struggled to recall details for their reports, he flawlessly reenacted the scene, the crowd’s reactions, and the exact words spoken.

Those who hadn’t been present felt as if they had witnessed it themselves, clicking their tongues in admiration.

Xu Chengyue commissioned a custom iron frying pan at great expense, demanding such precise specifications that the blacksmith nearly lost his temper but didn’t turn her away.

The craftsman’s reproachful gaze made her feel guilty.

Heaven knows she only wanted a decent stir-fry!

“Master, it must be thin, as smooth and flat as possible, about this size,” Xu Chengyue demonstrated with her hand and arm.

For the sake of her palate, she shamelessly pressed on, ignoring the blacksmith’s stern look.

Had she not already handed over the money, the master might have sent her away.

Doesn’t he know how precious iron is? And she was using it for cooking!

An utter waste! These aristocratic kids don’t work and waste resources!

In the end, the master agreed, helpless against the generous payment she offered.