Ruan Jiu walked up to Chen Jiaojiao and stopped. She hung her head and leaned against the railing.
When she looked up again, the corners of her mouth drooped, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She looked even more pitiful than Chen Jiaojiao.
"Miss, I understand how you feel. Just like today, when the silk store was involved in a scandal, I wished I could die to prove its innocence."
Ruan Jiu's words instantly left Chen Jiaojiao stunned.
What did she mean?
"If you really insist on taking your own life today, then I'll jump into the moat with you. We can keep each other company on the road to the underworld."
Ruan Jiu pursed her lips. As she blinked, big tears rolled down her cheeks.
Chen Jiaojiao thought something was wrong. Was this woman crazy? She didn't really want to jump!
She quickly winked at the woman beside her.
The woman understood immediately and said, "Shopkeeper Ruan, you mustn't! The most important thing now is to persuade Jiaojiao not to jump!"
"But I see that the miss is determined to die. Why don't I accompany her..." After saying that, Ruan Jiu directly reached out her hand to pull Chen Jiaojiao.
Chen Jiaojiao was so scared that she quickly took a few steps back, afraid that this crazy woman in front of her would really pull her down.
"What? Have you changed your mind, miss?" Ruan Jiu asked.
Chen Jiaojiao glanced at the crowd. She was really in a dilemma now.
She nervously swallowed her saliva and pretended to be calm. "Even if I don't take my own life today, it's a fact that I've been disliked by my husband's family because of the faulty wedding clothes you made."
Just then, Chuntao trotted over and whispered the information she had just found out into Ruan Jiu's ear.
As Ruan Jiu listened, it was exactly as she had thought.
A flash of coldness passed through her eyes.
She turned to Chen Jiaojiao and said, "Miss, since you said you were disliked by your husband's family because of the faulty wedding clothes we made, then why don't you call your husband here? I'd like to have a good talk with him. Since you're already married, you should stand together as husband and wife."
"He... he... Since I've been disliked, how could he come!"
"Is he not coming, or is there no such person at all?" A mysterious smile flashed in Ruan Jiu's eyes.
When the crowd heard this, they looked at each other in surprise.
Could it be that this woman who was threatening to kill herself didn't have a husband?
In other words, they were trying to extort money.
"You... What are you talking nonsense about!" Chen Jiaojiao's pupils shrank slightly, and a look of panic flashed in her eyes.
But she quickly recovered and said firmly, "Do you mean that I'm lying to you with my own reputation?"
Seeing this, the woman beside her quickly echoed, "Which girl would slander you with her own reputation!"
"Everyone, look! They're so bullying! Their products are of such poor quality, and they even frame others!"
"My poor daughter. Not only did she encounter such a bad thing, but she's also been framed!"
The woman cried and made a scene. She was almost rolling on the ground.
Chuntao wanted to step forward to stop her, but Ruan Jiu quickly raised her hand to stop her.
The more they made a scene now, the more embarrassed they would be later.
"Mother, I'm unfilial. I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of you in the future."
"Jiaojiao, don't leave mother. It's all the fault of those heartless people! It's not your fault!" As the woman said, she glared at Ruan Jiu resentfully.
At this moment, everyone present was deeply touched.
Ruan Jiu had already been despised by the crowd because of the poor - quality brocade. Now, she had really angered the crowd.
They all cursed the Xie Family Silk Store for harming a young girl for their own self - interest.
Finally, Ruan Jiu couldn't help laughing. Did Chen Jiaojiao threaten to kill herself because of her?
Ruan Jiu's laughter attracted everyone's attention.
Many people thought Ruan Jiu was really hateful. How could she laugh after harming others like this?
They never knew before that under her beautiful appearance was a heart as vicious as a snake.
After hearing the angry curses of the crowd, Ruan Jiu smiled. There was no trace of anger on her face.
She clapped her hands and said with a smile, "The mother - daughter bond is deeply shown. You've acted very well."
The woman's crying suddenly stopped. She looked at Chen Jiaojiao nervously.
This action inevitably aroused the crowd's suspicion.
Could it really be an act?
"You're not from Qinzhou, are you?" Ruan Jiu asked directly.
"So what?" Chen Jiaojiao raised her head. "Do outsiders deserve to be bullied?"
"Then why did you come to Qinzhou to order wedding clothes?" Ruan Jiu continued to press.
"Can't my husband be from Qinzhou?"
Ruan Jiu's eyes sharpened, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
This was exactly what she was waiting for.
Then she turned to the crowd and remained calm.
"I'm sure everyone knows that when getting married in Qinzhou, one needs to report to the government office. I just sent someone to check, and surprisingly, there wasn't a single wedding in Qinzhou City yesterday."
After saying that, Chuntao handed something in her hand to Ruan Jiu.
Then, Ruan Jiu unfolded it and showed it directly to everyone.
The crowd stepped forward and took a closer look. Sure enough, there was no record at all.
It turned out that it was all fabricated by them!
The scene was in an uproar. Everyone cursed the mother - daughter pair of swindlers.
Many people even shouted to drive them out of Qinzhou City. Such vicious people couldn't stay in Qinzhou.
Those who had spoken up for the mother - daughter pair covered their faces in regret and wished they could slap their own mouths.
Chen Jiaojiao suddenly widened her eyes, filled with shock.
What? Getting married in Qinzhou required reporting to the government office?
Even worse, in the large Qinzhou City, there wasn't a single wedding yesterday!
Seeing that they were about to be exposed, the woman closed her eyes and fell to the ground.
A sneer appeared on Ruan Jiu's lips. Was she in such a hurry to faint?
Suddenly, she noticed Chen Jiaojiao hanging her head and shrinking back, trying to escape in the chaos.
She had forgotten about the one who was threatening to kill herself.
Then, Ruan Jiu quickly stepped forward and grabbed Chen Jiaojiao's wrist. "What? Don't you want to die anymore, miss?"
"N... no..." Chen Jiaojiao averted her eyes, looking anxious.
She had been swindling for so many years, but she didn't expect to meet a tough opponent this time.
"Then please come with me to the yamen."
Although this matter was resolved, the problem of the brocade hadn't been solved yet.
It couldn't be a coincidence that these two things happened together today. They must be taken to the yamen for interrogation.
When Chen Jiaojiao heard that she was going to be taken to the yamen, she panicked.
She not only failed to extort money this time but might also end up in prison.
What should she do!
Chen Jiaojiao glanced at the moat under the bridge, gritted her teeth, and with a sudden determination, she jumped into the water.
Her jump wasn't a big deal, but it dragged non - swimming Ruan Jiu into the water.
Chuntao was so scared that her face turned pale. She shouted at the crowd, "Who can save my cousin!"
But the river water was bone - chilling cold in winter. Even if there were people who could swim at the scene, they didn't want to jump into the river to save people.
They were afraid that they would freeze half to death before they could save anyone.
Just as Chuntao was on the verge of crying from anxiety.
"Plop!"
A figure jumped directly into the river.