Chapter 59: Shutting Down the Shop!
On Zhu Yan’s plump face, her smile grew even warmer. “Mr. Tang, what could I possibly want?”
She continued, “It’s all just a misunderstanding between me and Mr. Ye here. The blame lies with Wu De for stirring things up. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been any quarrel. If you deal with Wu De, everything will be cleared up.”
Turning to Ye Tianci with a friendly smile, she said, “Young man, isn’t that right?”
Ye Tianci’s lips curved into a faint smile. “My fiancée took a liking to that eighty-thousand yuan dress. She wanted to try it on, but you wouldn’t let her touch it or try it, and instead you insulted me to the utmost. Is that a misunderstanding?”
“You claimed I dirtied the dress I wanted, blocked our way when we tried to leave, and even bit me. Is that a misunderstanding?”
“You called Wu De to back you up, demanding I pay and apologize, even threatening jail. Is that also a misunderstanding?”
Zhu Yan’s expression froze, and she gave an awkward laugh. “Young man, you must be exaggerating. I was only joking with you.”
Ye Tianci smiled slightly. “Joking? Sorry, I took it seriously.”
He turned to Tang Ying and instructed coldly, “There must never be such a store again in Guli Commercial Street. No more tyrannical service policies.”
“Seal her shop. Make her pay compensation, then close it and leave!”
Tang Ying, the manager of the commercial street for the Tang family, was the boss, but Ye Tianci was the true master of the commercial street!
Zhu Yan rolled her eyes disdainfully. “You say close my shop, and it’s closed? You say leave, and I leave? Who do you think you are?”
“This commercial street is under Mr. Tang’s authority. Even if you know him, he won’t take your side.”
“I’m a contracted tenant here! There’s a contract! Mr. Tang would never break the rules just to please you.”
Her words were veiled threats to Tang Ying.
Tang Ying gave a cold laugh and immediately addressed Zhu Yan, “Your operation is not up to standard, violating the rules of Guli Commercial Street. One million fine!”
“You bribed my company’s management, which you admitted yourself. Willful misconduct—another million fine!”
“You insulted my elder brother, which is an insult to me, Tang Ying. One million fine!”
“Total fine: three million!”
“Pay the fine and you’re allowed to withdraw your shop and inventory. If not, all goods will be confiscated!”
Zhu Yan’s face froze, her eyes wide. “Mr. Tang, what do you mean by this?”
Tang Ying narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you understand plain language?”
“Someone! Seal her shop! Throw her out!”
Several security guards stepped forward, ushered out all employees, sealed the front desk computer, and confiscated everything in the shop!
Zhu Yan was forcibly escorted out by security.
A seal was pasted on her shop door!
Seeing her store sealed, Zhu Yan was dumbstruck.
“Why are you confiscating my shop?”
“You’re violating the contract! This is illegal! I’ll sue you! I’ll make the Tang family pay!”
Zhu Yan protested indignantly.
Tang Ying unlocked his phone, pulled up a number, and handed it to Zhu Yan coldly. “Here’s the number for Su, the Master of Xuntian Pavilion. Call and report.”
Zhu Yan’s lips trembled, fear flickering across her face. She knew well the Tang family’s influence in Shu City.
Not only could the Tang family seal her shop, they could even raid her home and leave her penniless—and she’d still lose in court!
The people backing her had some power, but compared to the Tang family, it was worlds apart. She dared not offend them.
Only now did Zhu Yan truly feel fear; her face turned pale, pleading with a bitter expression, “Mr. Tang, I... I realize my mistake, please forgive me.”
“Three million is too much—I don’t make that much in a year.”
Tang Ying ignored her pleas, holding up two fingers. “You have two days. Pay the fine and clear out, or everything in your shop will be confiscated!”
“Guli Commercial Street will sue you!”
“If this goes to court, the fine will be much more than three million!”
At these words, Zhu Yan’s face became ashen, her expression lifeless.
“Get out!” Tang Ying thundered.
Zhu Yan didn’t dare utter another word, fleeing like a beaten dog.
Tang Ying walked up to Ye Tianci, grinning, “Brother, are you satisfied now?”
Ye Tianci nodded calmly. “You act decisively. Very good. I’ll teach you a few things next time.”
“Manage Guli Commercial Street well—don’t let your grandfather down.”
Praised by Ye Tianci, Tang Ying beamed with pride, like a schoolboy praised by his teacher, unable to hide his joy.
“Rest assured, brother, I won’t let you or my grandfather down. I’ll manage this street perfectly!”
Tang Ying patted his chest in assurance.
He even put Ye Tianci ahead of his grandfather, Tang Zhanguo.
“Qingqian, let’s go across the street,” Ye Tianci said to Lin Qingqian.
They entered a women’s clothing store across the street, with Tang Ying tagging along eagerly.
Ten minutes later, the two emerged, Tang Ying trailing behind, laden with shopping bags.
Not only did he willingly act as their assistant, but he also paid the bill.
Ye Tianci couldn’t even find a chance to spend his own money!
They visited several stores in succession, and Tang Ying thoroughly enjoyed his role as the “lightbulb” assistant.
Almost every shopkeeper recognized Tang Ying, knew he was the Tang family heir and the owner of Guli Commercial Street.
His status was intimidating, yet he carried bags for Ye Tianci and Lin Qingqian, paid their bills, and acted like a servant.
Witnessing this, everyone was shocked, speculating about the identities of Ye Tianci and Lin Qingqian.
“Tianci, maybe we should stop buying things—look, he can barely carry them anymore.”
At the end of the commercial street, Lin Qingqian spoke thoughtfully.
Tang Ying’s hands were full, and several bags hung around his neck; he was indeed struggling.
Ahead lay the street’s end, flanked by a dozen antique and jade shops. Ye Tianci was about to speak when he sensed a strange presence.
His brows twitched imperceptibly as he murmured, “Wait for me in the car. I want to check out that antique shop up ahead. I’ll be quick.”
Lin Qingqian nodded.
“Tang Ying, help your future sister-in-law put the things in the car,” Ye Tianci instructed.
“Sure thing, brother!” Tang Ying replied cheerfully.
Lin Qingqian blushed, casting Ye Tianci a shy glance before heading off.
Ye Tianci walked toward the antique shops, and the closer he got, the stronger the strange aura became.
“This seems to be... a baleful energy!”
Ye Tianci muttered softly, “Strange—why is there baleful energy here in Guli Commercial Street? Is there something sinister?”
Since ancient times, all things between heaven and earth carry spirit—there’s spiritual energy, miasma, and baleful energy.
Baleful energy is considered a form of spiritual energy, but differs greatly from it.
Spiritual energy benefits everyone. It makes martial artists stronger and ordinary people healthier.
Baleful energy can empower those who know how to harness it, but for ordinary people, it’s a curse—harmful and potentially deadly!
Baleful energy comes in many forms: naturally occurring earth baleful, man-made blood and poison baleful energy.
The baleful energy Ye Tianci sensed was blood baleful.
If his intuition was correct, the strange blood baleful energy was attached to some antique object here, cultivated as a “seed of evil.”
Ye Tianci walked slowly, stopping in front of an antique shop.
“Tonggu Studio!”
The blood baleful aura was emanating from this shop.
Ye Tianci stepped inside.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he unexpectedly saw a familiar face.