CHAPTER 417: CHAPTER 417: MANAGER LIU GETS BEATEN

Pei Shu’er looked indifferently at Manager Liu and followed him to see.

The Commerce Association was located in a small courtyard in the city, elegantly decorated with pavilions and towers.

The association had a large front hall, as big as a basketball court.

In the hall, various trademarks were hung, along with many people’s names.

But the names were hung up. If someone wanted to withdraw from the association, they could simply take back their placard and write a withdrawal letter.

Manager Liu dawdled as he finally entered the front hall, but he dared not remove the trademark, just stood there dazed.

His decision to withdraw from the Commerce Association was already foolish enough. If he was the one to take down the placard, he guessed Manager Liu would kill him.

Pei Shu’er smiled while watching Manager Liu, not urging him as the government officers were sure to be impatient first.

As expected, the government officer spoke quickly.

"Manager Liu, please don’t delay official duties."

The officer’s tone was already somewhat fierce, eyes glaring like a tiger, making Manager Liu quite afraid.

Eventually, Manager Liu backed down under the glares of the officers, trembling as he walked to the placard, reaching out to take it down.

The moment his hand touched the placard, an elder voice sounded.

"Wait."

Everyone turned to see an elderly man in luxurious clothes walking over, leaning on a cane.

As he walked, his back was straight and dignified, still full of vigor, well-maintained.

"Manager Liu, do you have the authority to take down this placard?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed and walked behind Manager Liu.

"Shopkeeper, what should we do about this matter?"

Manager Liu glared fiercely at Manager Liu, but when he looked at Pei Shu’er, he wore a smile with a hint of intimidation in his eyes.

"Young lady, I think it’s unnecessary to withdraw from the Commerce Association over a competition."

Pei Shu’er smiled and shrugged, unaffected by Manager Liu’s intimidation.

"It was your Manager Liu who proposed the bet; I was just following his decision. Now that he lost, he should accept the outcome, don’t you think, Manager Liu?"

Manager Liu looked at the unyielding young lady before him, his smile more benevolent, carrying some elder-like advice to the youngster.

"Manager Pei, leaving some room for future encounters is wise."

Pei Shu’er continued smiling politely, completely unaffected.

"When saying that, did Manager Liu ever consider himself? Your relentless pursuit doesn’t seem generous at all."

Manager Liu also smeared Pei’s and spread the false claim that Pei’s was stealing Liu’s recipes and even stole recipes.

This tactic of a thief crying thief was exceptionally strong.

Pei Shu’er would be insane to spare him.

Manager Liu chuckled, still appearing amiable, as he came over and patted Pei Shu’er on the shoulder.

"Young friend, Liu’s has never done such things, and your slander of Liu’s makes me uncomfortable."

Pei Shu’er shrugged.

"It’s a fact. Previously, it was your people who bullied Pei’s, wasn’t it? And then stole Pei’s recipes for yourselves, right?"

"These have been verified, Manager Liu, are you denying it?"

Manager Liu looked at Manager Liu: "Is there such a matter?"

Manager Liu said: "No... no."

The officer frowned: "Quickly withdraw. Before, that Mrs. Liu Zhang was yours and has confessed, saying Manager Liu arranged for her to do it."

As these words were spoken, Manager Liu’s face fell, and Manager Liu raised a hand to slap Manager Liu’s face.

"You rogue Liu Nian, how could you do such dirty deeds?"

Manager Liu was stunned, unable to understand why Manager Liu, who instructed him, now blamed him.

Sister Xian laughed: "This recipe theft of the cake, we all present can testify."

The crowd spoke out.

"That’s right, your Liu’s did steal Pei’s recipe."

Manager Liu was slapped again, his cheeks swollen high, yet he had to endure it.

He dared not blame Manager Liu, attributing all the grievances to Pei Shu’er.

If Pei Shu’er hadn’t pressed for it, he wouldn’t have faced these slaps.

Manager Liu chuckled as he looked at Pei Shu’er.

"Young friend, are you satisfied? It’s my fault for poorly supervising Liu Nian, leading to his temperament. I’ve scolded and hit him; let’s forgo this withdrawal from the Commerce Association?"

The officers looked towards Pei Shu’er.

Pei Shu’er smiled and shook her head.

"No, accept the loss."

Manager Liu felt Pei Shu’er was impervious to persuasion. Despite all his efforts, she still resisted.

The officers were much more courteous to Manager Liu.

"Manager Liu, please, we’ve been waiting here quite a while."

Manager Liu sent one hundred silver to the head officer.

"This is a small token, no offense."

The officer was tempted but knew orders were strict, a rarity even for Prefect Xie, who was usually mediatory, to go this far.

"No, Manager Liu, don’t put us in a difficult position."

Manager Liu’s smile immediately faded as he looked at Manager Liu, fiercely striking his head with the cane.

"Go remove the placard."

This Liu Nian was Manager Liu’s eldest son, and since managing Liu’s, he had never made mistakes until now.

It was his first public reprimand.

When he took down the placard, he felt incredibly down.

Then, prompted by the officers, he wrote the withdrawal letter, crying in humiliation as he finished the final stroke.

He never imagined he would be driven to such a state by a junior.

"Pei Shu’er, just wait, I won’t let you remain complacent for long."

Pei Shu’er’s expression was indifferent.

"I’ve never been complacent; I have only acted with conscience."

As Manager Liu passed in front of Pei Shu’er, he paused to solemnly glance at her.

The smile didn’t reach his eyes: "I’ve been in Jingzhou City for so long, never taken such a fall, youthful prowess indeed."

Pei Shu’er smiled and said: "Thank you for the compliment, Manager Liu. I’ll keep working hard."

Manager Liu was choked. This Pei Shu’er was clever, surely she understood his underlying meaning.

Manager Liu said: "Let’s go."

Once seated in the carriage, Manager Liu’s smile faded.

"Liu Nian, you’ve made such a huge mistake, you’re dismissed from Liu’s steward position, reduced to clerk."

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu immediately cried and hugged Manager Liu’s leg.

"Father, please give me another chance, I’ll make Pei Shu’er regret!"