Chapter 50: Sleight of Hand, Finding a Fall Guy

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Sleight of Hand, Finding a Fall Guy

Because of the small white fish incident, the public suspected the Lin family’s restaurant of having hidden food safety hazards. Although Lin Zhenxiang had already responded to this and most of her fans chose to believe her, it was obvious that her reputation on the Star Network was trending toward polarization. Lin Zhenxiang could not tolerate those negative voices.

Furthermore, Empress Yudola had issued a mandatory order that day, demanding the Lin family give the public a clear explanation regarding the food safety issue within seven days.

The Lin family stood their ground firmly, refusing to admit to any food safety risks at the restaurant. At the same time, Lin Zhenxiang’s competitors didn’t sit idle; they quickly investigated and discovered that some diners who had previously eaten at the Lin family’s restaurant also experienced health issues afterward, and they exposed this on the Star Network. For a time, the topic grew increasingly heated, and the Lin family expended a tremendous amount of effort to suppress the unfavorable comments.

Facing pressure from both public opinion and the Imperial Family, while also wanting to maintain her image, Lin Zhenxiang had no choice but to make a public pledge in her live stream, promising her tens of millions of fans that she would definitely uncover the source of the diseased fish. She thought everything would go smoothly if she handled it personally. However, after going around, she ended up being pointed at and cursed out like a rat crossing the street!

Fortunately, she had ended the stream early, so her fans didn’t see this scene. Otherwise, the noble goddess image she had painstakingly cultivated for years would have been completely destroyed in this reeking, fishy Luoxing Port!

First, she had been given attitude by that trashy woman from the Lower Star District, and then she was cursed at by the fishmongers in Luoxing Port. Suppressing a stomach full of anger, Lin Zhenxiang called her uncle, Zhen Gui, directly.

Unexpectedly, the first video call didn’t connect. The second and third times, it was still rejected. Lin Zhenxiang was furious!

Half a minute later, Zhen Gui returned a voice call.

Lin Zhenxiang questioned angrily, "Uncle Zhen Gui, what are you doing! It took you forever to call back!"

"What’s the matter? Spit it out!" Zhen Gui’s voice was gruff.

Faintly hearing a woman’s flirtatious whimper in the background, Lin Zhenxiang almost fainted from anger. She massaged her forehead and then vented furiously at her Light Brain.

"Look at the good deed you’ve done! I told you not to be cheap! Now look, the restaurant is closed! And you actually have the mood to fool around with women right now!?"

Zhen Gui said impatiently, "Isn’t it all because you control the costs so tightly every time? You only give me a meager amount of Star Coins for restocking, yet you expect me to get all the ingredients in the entire market for you with that little money!

"You’re really so used to living a life without worrying about food and clothing in the Lin family that you’ve turned yourself into a spoiled young lady who knows nothing of the common people’s suffering! Do you know how much the prices of ingredients fluctuate, especially fresh ones from the Outer Star System?"

Lin Zhenxiang’s expression grew even more rigid and cold.

Zhen Gui continued complaining, "Every time I go restock for you, I have to act like a complete bootlicker begging people just to bring the price down! We used the exact same ingredients before and nothing happened. Now that something went wrong, if you want to blame anyone, blame that legitimate daughter of the Lin family for being your natural nemesis!"

At this moment, Lin Zhenxiang’s expression was as ugly as it could be. She said coldly, "Uncle Zhen Gui, I never thought you’d say such things to me just to shirk responsibility. Don’t think I don’t know where the money for your usual eating, drinking, and playing around comes from! If you had skimmed a little less when buying goods, this wouldn’t have happened!

"It seems I’ve been too lenient with you in the past!"

Hearing the threat in her words, Zhen Gui immediately softened. "Xiangxiang, we’re all family. I’m in a bad mood too because of what happened. Uncle said some harsh words just now out of desperation, but I didn’t mean them. Forgive Uncle, okay?"

Cutting ties with Lin Zhenxiang was equivalent to cutting off his source of income. Zhen Gui wasn’t stupid enough to completely offend his cash cow. In order to maintain this relationship, he didn’t mind kneeling at his niece’s feet and acting like a sycophant.

But even though she heard the apology in his voice, Lin Zhenxiang was still in a terrible mood, and her expression didn’t improve.

At this time, Zhen Gui suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Oh right, Xiangxiang, don’t you have a very skilled interstellar hacker among your fans? He’s the one who helped you hack into the Imperial Hospital’s surveillance system last time..."

Lin Zhenxiang said gloomily, "Don’t mention it! He’s also someone who can’t accomplish anything but is more than capable of ruining things!"

"Also?" Zhen Gui wondered. Feeling offended, he fell silent.

His silence made Lin Zhenxiang notice something was wrong. "Uncle Zhen Gui, what are you trying to say?"

Zhen Gui replied, "I actually have an idea, but I just don’t know if that fan of yours would be willing to help."

Lin Zhenxiang grew a bit eager. "What idea? Tell me, quickly!"

Zhen Gui said, "I heard the price of small white fish has dropped drastically lately. Last time, I bought 100 kilograms and it cost me 100,000 Star Coins..."

"What!?" Lin Zhenxiang angrily cut him off. "You told me you spent 150,000!!"

Her uncle had actually embezzled 50,000 Star Coins in one go!!

Zhen Gui coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject. "That’s not important anymore. What’s important is that buying 100 kilograms of small white fish now wouldn’t even cost that many Star Coins! Aren’t you going to Luoxing Port to live stream today? Buy another 100 kilograms of small white fish while you’re there. Buy them from a single fishmonger and make sure the boss provides you with complete receipts!

"Then, get that fan of yours to tamper with the receipts on both sides—change the date, price, and whatever else. After that, we’ll claim that the batch of diseased fish from last time was bought from this boss! As long as your fan is willing to help, the crisis we’re facing now will be resolved!"

In fact, halfway through Zhen Gui’s explanation, Lin Zhenxiang realized he wanted to shift the blame and find a scapegoat to take the fall. The reason she didn’t interrupt him was that she also felt this method was feasible.

Seeing her hesitate to speak, Zhen Gui thought she didn’t want to go against her conscience and violate her principles.

"I know this method is a bit underhanded. But isn’t this... a last resort!" Zhen Gui’s voice sounded distressed. "The Empress gave us too little time. You also made a promise to your fans. If we still can’t find that unscrupulous fishmonger by the last day, think about it—how will you report back to the Empress, and how will your fans look at you?"

Lin Zhenxiang hesitated for a moment before saying reluctantly, "...Alright, I’ll give it a try."

After ending the call with Zhen Gui, she quickly found her scapegoat: a fishmonger who had hoarded quite a lot of small white fish.

When she came to ask around for information earlier, this fishmonger’s attitude toward her had been extremely rude! It was still the same now. However, the moment he heard she wanted to buy 100 kilograms of small white fish, the fishmonger’s attitude did a complete one-eighty!

Lin Zhenxiang bought the 100 kilograms of small white fish from him, spending less than 15,000 Star Coins, and requested all sorts of receipts.

As if afraid she would go back on her word, the fishmonger was extremely cooperative, completely unaware that an abyss was awaiting him!

After completing the transaction, Lin Zhenxiang immediately contacted her interstellar hacker fan, leaving a private message in a sweet voice:

"Brother Xiao Ma, I’ve recently developed a few delicious new dishes, but I haven’t made them public yet. If you’d like, I can cook them and mail them all to you..."