Komentar di siaran langsung terpecah. Ada yang bilang itu udang karang, ada pula yang membantah.
"Peduli apa mereka? Orang-orang dari Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan kan sudah di sana sekarang, kan? Lihat saja mereka menghadapinya."
"Apa benar ada yang menelepon dan melaporkan mereka?"
"Maksudmu apa? Apa kita tidak boleh?"
"Kalau menurutku, zaman sekarang terlalu banyak cara untuk memalsukan barang. Kelihatannya saja asli. Sejak awal aku nggak pernah percaya sepatah kata pun dari pemilik Kuliner Rusa Kecil."
"Tapi bukankah ada orang yang sedang makan di dalam sekarang?"
"Mungkin mereka bayaran."
"Tetap fokusin kamera ke mereka! Lihat saja sebenarnya Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan datang untuk apa."
Xiao Zhen menganggukkan dagunya ke arah juru kamera. Juru kamera itu mengerti, lalu mengarahkan kameranya untuk fokus ke petugas penegak hukum yang sedang berjalan melewati kerumunan dan masuk ke toko.
Melihat itu, Shen Lu terpaksa menghentikan kompetisi dan pergi menyambut mereka.
"Kamu pemilik toko ini?" Pria di depan berusia sekitar tiga puluhan. Namanya Liu Liang, dan dua garis dalam di sekitar mulutnya membuatnya tampak tegas dan sulit didekati.
Shen Lu mengangguk. "Benar. Boleh tahu siapa Bapak-Bapak ini?"
"Kami dari Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan." Liu Liang menatap Shen Lu dari atas ke bawah, matanya dingin dan nadanya kaku. "Apa kamu tidak tahu bahwa untuk membuka toko kamu harus memiliki izin usaha dari Dinas? Siapa yang memberi kamu izin untuk beroperasi tanpa melengkapi dokumen? Kamu melanggar hukum!"
Ucapannya membuat kerumunan penonton tersentak kaget.
"Hah? Toko ini tidak punya izin usaha?"
"Ini bangunan ilegal?"
"Dia masih muda, tapi beraninya. Pemerintah akhir-akhir ini sedang gencar menindak hal seperti ini."
"Dia akan kena batunya sekarang."
"Kalian orang-orang Distrik Kota Bawah ini memang tidak tahu apa-apa. Kalian pikir ini cuma soal izin usaha? Pemerintah melakukan ini demi keselamatan kalian! Kalian semua lupa sama orang-orang di Distrik Kota Bawah yang mati mendadak karena keracunan setelah makan Kue Serangga yang tidak terdaftar?"
"Oh, benar. Izin usaha itu untuk memastikan para pemilik toko ini tidak main-main dan melanggar aturan."
"Berarti udang karang yang barusan kita makan... mungkin bermasalah?"
"Aku sudah curiga ada yang tidak beres! Udang karangnya beracun!"
"Beracun?"
"Iya! Pasti beracun!"
Begitu saja, kabar bahwa udang karang itu beracun mulai menyebar.
Para penonton yang tadinya tidak mau membayar biaya untuk ikut kompetisi tiba-tiba menegakkan punggung. Bukan karena mereka pelit, oh tidak. Mereka sudah melihat dari awal bahwa toko ini ada yang aneh dan hanya menghindari tawaran murah itu demi keselamatan mereka sendiri.
Sedangkan mereka yang mengikuti kompetisi, tampak seperti orang yang kehilangan orang tercinta, yakin mereka akan mati keracunan. Ketakutan dengan cepat berubah menjadi kebencian. Seseorang menendang kaca jendela toko untuk melampiaskan amarahnya, sambil mengumpat.
Yang lain mengikuti, menghujani toko Shen Lu dengan tinju dan tendangan. Sesaat, dinding kaca itu bergemuruh keras, seolah-olah sedang dikepung binatang buas mutan.
Ekspresi Shen Lu menjadi gelap. Dia melirik ke arah para kontestan di area tunggu. Tidak ada satu pun yang terlihat senang; mereka sepertinya terpengaruh oleh kabar tersebut dan sekarang benar-benar percaya bahwa udang rebus itu beracun.
Untungnya, tokonya cukup kokoh; serangan acak seperti ini tidak akan menyebabkan kerusakan berarti.
Xue Can memberi isyarat ke anak buahnya untuk waspada. Sebagai tentara bayaran, menghadapi pejabat pemerintah bukanlah hal baru baginya; dia tidak takut pada beberapa orang dari Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan.
Ancaman yang sebenarnya adalah massa yang percaya mereka sudah makan udang karang beracun.
Saat Shen Lu masih diam, Liu Liang menganggap itu sebagai pengakuan bersalah. Dia memberi isyarat kepada anak buahnya untuk membawanya pergi.
Tepat ketika para petugas hendak menyentuh Shen Lu, wanita muda itu tiba-tiba angkat bicara.
"Siapa yang bilang aku tidak punya izin usaha?"
Alis Liu Liang berkerut. "Kamu punya hak untuk diam, tapi setiap kata yang kamu ucapkan akan dijadikan saksi. Jangan bilang aku tidak memperingatkanmu—berbohong juga ada hukumannya!"
"Saya yakin petugas tidak akan salah menuduh orang yang tidak bersalah. Bekerja samalah dengan baik dan jangan menambah masalah."
Tanpa disadari, Shen Lan sudah menyelinap masuk ke area tunggu. Dia berbicara dari balik kerumunan, dengan suara yang sengaja disamarkan.
Shen Lu tahu suara itu disamarkan. Pandangannya beralih ke seorang pria dengan ekspresi marah, tapi dia menangkap kilatan secarik pakaian putih di belakangnya.
'Cuma pengecut yang bersembunyi di balik bayangan.'
Shen Lu mengonfirmasi lagi dengan sistem. 'Izin usaha yang kamu kasih itu... pasti bisa dipakai, kan? Bukan berarti kalau aku keluarkan, mereka tidak mau mengakuinya?'
[Pasti, benar, dan tidak diragukan lagi. Tuan dapat menggunakannya dengan percaya diri penuh.]
Agar lebih aman, Shen Lu mengaktifkan Alat Penilai Baik dan Buruk untuk memeriksa tingkat niat baik Liu Liang terhadapnya.
Dia mengira akan berwarna abu-abu, tapi di luar dugaan, hati di atas kepala Liu Liang berwarna putih bersih!
Dan itu tidak berubah-ubah sama sekali—hanya putih polos yang stabil.
Dia tidak punya niat buruk terhadapnya. Itu sudah cukup untuk membuat Shen Lu tenang.
"Nah, Bos Shen, ada apa ini?" Bos Cao berkata sambil memaksa masuk melewati kerumunan dengan senyum penuh kemenangan. "Bukankah ini Sdr. Liu dari Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan? Sdr. Liu, apa yang membuatmu datang jauh-jauh ke sini hari ini?"
Liu Liang tidak terjebak oleh sanjungan Bos Cao. "Ada toko baru yang buka di sini," katanya kaku. "Saya dengar mereka belum melengkapi prosedur yang benar, jadi saya datang untuk memeriksanya."
"Tidak punya izin usaha? Kalau begitu memang seharusnya diselidiki. Produk dari bengkel-bengkel ilegal itu akhir-akhir ini banyak yang memakan korban. Dinas hanya mencoba melindungi keselamatan rakyat biasa."
Bos Cao berpidato dengan ekspresi kebenaran yang mendalam, nadanya penuh celaan. "Bos Shen, aku benar-benar harus berkata sesuatu. Apa kamu tidak bertanya-tanya dulu sebelum buka? Buka toko itu beda sama jualan di pinggir jalan; kamu butuh izin usaha. Kamu masih terlalu muda dan belum berpengalaman, kamu tidak tahu aturan."
Bibir Shen Lu melengkung menjadi senyuman yang tidak sampai ke mata, dan dia diam-diam menonton pertunjukannya.
"Akan jauh lebih baik kalau kamu menyewa tokoku yang lama," katanya. "Aku bisa memberimu nasihat. Tapi kamu nekat membeli bangunan terbengkalai ini. Dan lihat apa yang terjadi. Kamu sudah investasi banyak uang, dan sekarang semuanya akan sia-sia."
Semakin Bos Cao berbicara, semakin senang dia. "Toko kamu ditutup itu masih untung. Kamu bisa saja masuk penjara! Ah, Shen sayang, lihat masalah yang kamu buat... *Hhh*..."
'Ia bagus!'
'Luar biasa!'
Dia sudah bertahan berhari-hari, menjual tokonya dengan harga murah, merendah sambil memberi hadiah dan mentraktir Wakil Direktur Liu dari Dinas makan malam. Akhirnya dia bisa melihat kejatuhan Shen Lu.
Frustrasi yang selama ini menggerogoti dadanya hilang, dan dia merasa beban berat terangkat dari pundaknya.
Setelah Shen Lu membiarkan dia menikmati momennya, dia dengan santai mengeluarkan izin usahanya. "Tapi aku punya izin usaha," katanya dengan pura-pura polos. "Apa pendengaranmu bermasalah? Apa aku harus mengulanginya agar kamu mengerti?"
"Shen!
The livestream chat was divided. Some said they were crayfish, while others disagreed.
"Who cares what they are? The people from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce are here now, right? Let’s see how they handle it."
"Did someone actually call and report them?"
"What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying we’re not allowed to?"
"If you ask me, there are too many ways to fake things nowadays. It only looks real. I haven’t believed a word the owner of Little Deer Cuisine has said from the very beginning."
"But aren’t there people eating inside right now?"
"They’re probably hired shills."
"Keep the camera on them! Let’s see what the Bureau of Industry and Commerce is actually here for."
Little Zhen nudged her chin toward the cameraman. He took the hint, adjusting the camera to focus on the law enforcement officers passing through the crowd and entering the shop.
Seeing this, Shen Lu had no choice but to pause the competition and go to meet them.
"You’re the owner of this shop?" The man in the lead was in his thirties. His name was Liu Liang, and the two deep lines etched around his mouth made him look stern and unapproachable.
Shen Lu nodded. "I am. May I ask who you are?"
"We’re from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce." Liu Liang looked down at Shen Lu, his gaze cold and his tone stiff. "Are you unaware that you must obtain a business license from the Bureau to open a shop? Who gave you permission to open for business without completing the paperwork? You are breaking the law!"
His words sent a wave of gasps through the crowd of onlookers.
"What? This shop doesn’t have a business license?"
"It’s an illegal establishment?"
"She’s so young, but she’s got some nerve. The authorities have been cracking down hard on this lately."
"She’s in for it now."
"You people from the Lower City District are so clueless. You think this is just about a business license? The government is doing this for your own safety! Have you all forgotten about the people in the Lower City District who dropped dead from poisoning after eating unregulated Insect Cakes?"
"Oh, right. The business license is to make sure these shop owners don’t mess around and break the rules."
"Then does that mean the crayfish we just ate... could be a problem?"
"I knew there was something fishy going on! The crayfish are poisonous!"
"Poisonous?"
"They are! They’re definitely poisonous!"
Just like that, the rumor that the crayfish were poisonous began to spread.
The onlookers who had been unwilling to pay the fee to enter the competition suddenly straightened their backs. It wasn’t that they were stingy, oh no. They had seen all along that there was something strange about this shop and had only avoided the cheap deal for their own safety.
As for those who had participated in the competition, they looked as if they’d lost a loved one, certain they were about to be poisoned to death. Fear quickly turned to malice. Someone kicked the shop’s plate-glass window to vent their anger, shouting a few curses.
The others followed suit, raining their own fists and feet on Shen Lu’s shop. For a moment, the glass wall rang with loud BANGS, as if a mutant beast were laying siege to the city.
Shen Lu’s expression darkened. She glanced over at the contestants in the waiting area. None of them looked happy; they had likely been swayed by the rumors and now truly believed the braised shrimp were poisonous.
Fortunately, her shop was quite sturdy; this kind of random assault couldn’t cause any real damage.
Xue Can shot his men a look, signaling them to be on high alert. As a mercenary, confronting government officials was nothing new; he wasn’t afraid of a few people from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce.
The real threat, however, was the mob that believed they had eaten poisonous crayfish.
When Shen Lu remained silent, Liu Liang took it as an admission of guilt. He gestured for his men to take her away.
Just as the officers were about to lay a hand on Shen Lu, the young woman suddenly spoke.
"Who said I don’t have a business license?"
Liu Liang’s brow furrowed. "You have the right to remain silent, but every word you say will be used as testimony. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—lying also carries a penalty!"
"I’m sure the officers won’t wrongly accuse an innocent person. Just cooperate and don’t add any unnecessary charges."
At some point, Shen Lan had squeezed into the waiting area. She spoke from behind the crowd, her voice deliberately disguised.
Shen Lu could tell the voice was disguised. Her gaze swept over to a man with a furious expression, but she caught a flash of a white corner of clothing behind him.
’Just some coward hiding in the shadows.’
Shen Lu confirmed with the system again. ’That business permit you gave me... it’s definitely going to work, right? It’s not like I’ll pull it out and they’ll refuse to acknowledge it, is it?’
[Positively, absolutely, and unequivocally effective. Host may use it with complete confidence.]
To be on the safe side, Shen Lu activated the Good and Evil Judgment Device to check Liu Liang’s level of goodwill toward her.
She had expected it to be gray, but to her surprise, the heart above Liu Liang’s head was pure white!
And it wasn’t fluctuating at all—just a steady, solid white.
He held no ill will toward her. That was all the reassurance Shen Lu needed.
"Well now, Boss Shen, what’s all this?" Boss Cao said, forcing his way through the crowd with a gloating smile plastered on his face. "Isn’t this Brother Liu from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce? Brother Liu, what brings you all the way out here today?"
Liu Liang didn’t fall for Boss Cao’s schmoozing. "A new shop opened here," he said stiffly. "I heard they didn’t complete the proper procedures, so I’ve come to inspect it."
"No business license? Then you absolutely should investigate. The products from those unregulated little workshops have been killing people lately. The Bureau is just trying to protect the lives and safety of us ordinary folk."
Boss Cao pontificated with an air of profound righteousness, his tone laced with blame. "Boss Shen, I really have to say something. Didn’t you ask around before opening? Running a shop isn’t like setting up a street stall; you need a business license. You’re just too young and inexperienced, you don’t know the rules."
Shen Lu’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and she quietly watched him put on his show.
"It would have been so much better if you’d just subleased my old shop," he said. "I could have given you some advice. But you just had to buy this abandoned building. And look what happened. You invested all that money, and now it’s all about to go down the drain."
The more Boss Cao spoke, the more delighted he became. "Getting your shop shut down would be getting off easy. You might even go to jail! Ah, Xiao Shen, look at the mess you’ve made of things... *Sigh*..."
’This is great!’
’Absolutely brilliant!’
He had endured for so many days, selling his own shop at a low price, groveling while giving gifts and treating Vice Director Liu from the Bureau to dinner. Finally, he was getting to see Shen Lu’s downfall.
The frustration that had been festering in his chest was swept away, and he felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Once Shen Lu had let him enjoy his moment, she unhurriedly took out her business permit. "But I do have a business license," she said, feigning innocence. "Is there something wrong with your hearing? Do I have to repeat myself for you to understand?"
"Xiao Shen!" Boss Cao cried, his expression a mask of anguish. "You went and got a fake license? This... I can’t help you with this!"
’BWAHAHAHA! That stupid little bitch, Shen Lu, actually got a fake business license and had the gall to show it to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. This was going to kill him!’
Boss Cao struggled to hold back his laughter, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably. His eyes shone with a crazed, ecstatic light.
’Perfect, just perfect. Forging a license was an even greater crime. Shen Lu was going to be locked up for a year, maybe more.’
"Fake? Do you have proof?" Shen Lu asked.
"Of course! I gave..." Boss Cao nearly blurted out that he had given gifts to have Shen Lu’s application blocked. But he was a slippery old fox and caught himself quickly. "Whether it’s real or fake, isn’t that what Brother Liu is here for?"
Liu Liang held out his hand to Shen Lu. His meaning was clear. He was going to inspect the license’s authenticity.
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