The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Chapter 1634: Chapter 1634: Case Closed

Shu Yu stayed in the prefecture for another two days as the case was reopened.

However, the officers who went to Donggu County didn’t bring back any useful evidence. Tracing the origin of the rumors from the bottom up resulted in nothing.

The whole Donggu County is so big; some people only heard a bit without knowing who spoke, nor did they recognize them. How would they know where the source came from?

After investigating repeatedly with no results, there was no direct evidence to prove that Qian Fangli was the one who spread the rumors.

Ultimately, after being imprisoned for two months, Qian Fangli was still released back home.

However, there was solid evidence of him instigating others to steal, and he was sentenced to compensate the couple, Madam Liang and her husband, with twenty taels of silver.

Additionally, the Qian family was prohibited from continuing to plant sunflowers, or produce sunflower oil and melon seeds.

Also, Monarch Lu Xiang, whose reputation was tarnished by the rumor, received compensation.

Finally, the magistrate posted notices both in the prefecture and Donggu County’s town warning merchants to compete fairly and not use such despicable methods to disrupt the market environment.

This result was within Shu Yu’s expectations, and she didn’t feel disappointed.

Her aim was to set an example, and now, her objective was achieved.

Many merchants and citizens were concerned with Old Master Qian’s case. Upon learning the result, many sighed with exclamations.

There were some who suspected that Shu Yu was behind this, but no one had evidence. If they spoke nonsense outside, it would be slander against the Village Chief, and they could end up in jail.

Because of this matter, Shu Yu gained fame once again, and Lu’s business prospered even more.

Gradually, in the hearts of the people, it laid a foundation and made them remember that for melon seeds and sunflower oil, Lu’s was authentic.

Since then, for a long time, no one dared to target the sunflower business anymore.

At the very least, even those who were indeed interested in this line of business only tentatively asked Shu Yu to buy some sunflower seeds.

They initially thought Shu Yu would refuse, but to their surprise, after agreeing on the price and conditions, she actually sold some.

Monopolizing the market was never Shu Yu’s goal.

As for Lord Peng, the county magistrate from Donggu County who helped Old Master Qian, he was reprimanded by the magistrate and ordered to reflect deeply upon returning to the county.

Though the punishment wasn’t severe, it was highly humiliating. Also, Lord Peng’s misconduct was recorded in the magistrate’s files, so it’s unlikely he will have any good opportunities in the future.

Compared to him, Lord Xie was much happier. The first fire he set burned brightly and successfully. Henceforth, all the other county magistrates in Dongan Province treated him with respect, and no one dared to openly make things difficult for him.

Once Old Master Qian’s matter was settled, Shu Yu didn’t linger long in the prefecture and soon set off back to Jiangyuan County with Madam Liang and her husband.

Passing by the Manor, upon seeing Lu Sixing and others at their stall, she simply stopped and took Madam Liang and her husband to have a bowl of noodles.

It was the season when sunflowers were in full bloom, and the area became lively again with many people coming to enjoy the scenery and have fun. Lu Sixing, along with Madam Li, Madam Liang, and Cuihua, set up the stall again to sell food.

However, with more and more people selling food around that area, although Lu Sixing’s stall was the biggest and most affordable, the business was still somewhat affected.

Upon seeing Shu Yu, Madam Liang instinctively sat next to her and began to complain, “We should have set up our stall earlier. But because of Lanhua’s wedding recently, we were delayed for a few days. Who knew that both inside and outside, stalls would be everywhere?”