Chapter 245: The Government Officers Have Come
When the diners saw the vicious-looking government officers, who would dare to keep eating? They all scrambled over each other, flooding toward the entrance.
Gu Fei’s heart bled. ’None of them have paid their bills yet!’
With them gone, she had lost at least ten to twenty taels of silver.
However, the customers didn’t leave after exiting. They gathered at the entrance, one and all, to watch the commotion.
Gu Fei looked at the Government Officials and understood immediately. ’These men must have been sent by Housekeeper Wu. "Harboring a fugitive" is just an excuse. All they want is to drive me out.’
’He said he’d give me half a day, but he couldn’t even wait a moment.’
After driving everyone out, the Government Officials began flipping tables and chairs. The plates and bowls on them went CRASHING and CLATTERING to the floor, shattering into pieces.
After flipping the tables and chairs in the main hall, these Government Officials, sabers in hand, started walking upstairs.
Gu Fei was burning with rage and wanted to step forward and stop them. But the moment she moved, Lian’er and Aunt Liu grabbed her, one on each side.
Aunt Liu whispered, "Girl, these are government officers. You can’t fight them, no matter what."
Of course Gu Fei knew that. But how could she just stand by and watch them destroy everything she had poured her heart and soul into?
In the blink of an eye, the government officers were upstairs. All that could be heard were chaotic footsteps and the sound of furniture toppling over. A moment later, several guests were chased downstairs.
They were all terrified, with no idea what was happening.
A guest with disheveled hair came downstairs, found Gu Fei, and started shouting, "Shopkeeper, what the hell is going on with your inn? Is this any way to treat your guests? Damn it, I was sleeping soundly when the government officers kicked my door in and dragged me out of bed!"
"They said they’re searching for a fugitive. Is this how you search for someone?"
Gu Fei’s heart was filled with bitterness. She gave the man a small curtsy. "My apologies, sir. I’m afraid my inn is no longer a place you can stay. Once the government officers leave, I will refund your silver for the room."
The man tossed his head, his disheveled hair flying. "Damn it, I knew I shouldn’t have stayed at this inn."
Just then, Young Master Zhou and Sister Dan from next door, having heard the news, rushed over.
Young Master Zhou pulled Gu Fei aside, his expression grave. "What’s wrong? I heard Government Officials came to search. Is this the work of the Prince Qi Mansion?"
Gu Fei gave a bitter smile. "Yes. I went to see him this morning. He told me to close the inn and leave. I still hadn’t decided whether to shut down, but who knew he’d be this impatient to drive me out."
Just then, Old Huang was also chased out from the backyard. Seeing the overturned tables, toppled chairs, and shattered crockery all over the floor, his brows knitted together fiercely.
He looked at Gu Fei, opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.
After a chaotic racket upstairs, the Government Officials came back down. Their Chief pointed at Gu Fei. "We didn’t find the fugitive. Now I suspect you’ve hidden him somewhere else. You’re coming with us to the government office."
Young Master Zhou grew secretly anxious. ’Going to the government office... even if you don’t die, you’ll be skinned alive.’ He quickly slipped a silver ingot into his sleeve and stepped forward with an appeasing smile. "Officer, sir, don’t you think this is all a misunderstanding? This Manager Gu is just a young girl. How could she possibly harbor a fugitive?"
The Chief of the Government Office shot Young Master Zhou a sideways glance and shoved him. "Get lost! Don’t interfere with my investigation."
Young Master Zhou stumbled and nearly fell. Sister Dan rushed forward to steady him.
Gu Fei looked at Young Master Zhou apologetically. "Thank you, Brother Zhou. You don’t have to say any more to them. It’s clear I can’t keep this inn open any longer."
"I’ll just go with them."