Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Wei Wu and Ma Qian immediately went back to tell Huang Yazi about the matter.

Huang Yazi also found it suspicious and sent two men to continue watching the person while he personally went to Lu's Wine House to discuss the matter with Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan.

"Did you say this person was very poor before, but suddenly became wealthy after visiting Quanfu Restaurant?"

"Yes, this person happens to be a neighbor of one of my subordinates, living in Ma Family Alley. They've been neighbors for over ten years, so there's no way he could be mistaken."

Lu Yao frowned slightly. "Thank you, Brother Huang, for your efforts."

"It's nothing, just a small favor."

"I still need to trouble Brother Huang to keep an eye on this person. If there are any other developments, please let me know."

"Certainly, certainly."

*

Ma Dequan, carrying a pile of things, limped back home. "Kuan, Xiufen, come out quickly and see what I bought!"

Two people emerged from the small, dilapidated house. The woman, heavily pregnant, walked with difficulty, followed by a thin, pale teenager who looked frail.

The woman took the coarse cloth and looked puzzled. "Where did you get the money to buy all these things?"

"Hehe, it's not just these things." He took out the remaining ten taels of silver from his chest and handed them to his wife.

"Husband, don't do anything foolish... Our Kuan is not well, and the second child hasn't even been born yet. We rely entirely on you."

"Don't worry, this is money I earned by helping a nobleman. Take it and spend it with peace of mind. This time, we'll definitely cure Kuan's illness!"

"You even bought medicine. I'll boil it later!"

Ma Kuan, standing behind, smiled. If he could be cured, he would be able to work like a normal person and help support the family!

Ma Dequan also bought two pounds of meat. Today, he was happy and had his wife stew it all, satisfying their craving. Having gone without meat for a long time, the family of three greedily savored the aroma.

Boiled in plain water, the meat was fished out and sprinkled with a spoonful of salt—this was how ordinary families ate meat.

"Delicious, this meat is so fragrant!" Ma Dequan, while eating, picked out the fatty pieces and gave them to his wife and son. To the poor, fatty meat was the best, each bite bursting with oil and flavor.

Tian Xiufen ate a few bites and suddenly couldn't control her nausea. She quickly grabbed a bowl to catch it, afraid of wasting the meat.

Ma Dequan patted her back. "Why are you still having morning sickness at this stage?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm older. I didn't have such problems when I was pregnant with the first one."

Ma Dequan gently patted his wife's belly. "Brat, if you keep bothering your mother, I'll spank your bottom."

Tian Xiufen laughed and pushed him away. The family was enjoying a warm and harmonious moment, unaware of the abyss they were about to fall into.

After dinner, the couple sat in the courtyard to boil medicine for their son. Their eldest son was unwell, and with the weather getting colder, his body couldn't withstand the cold, so he went to bed early.

Tian Xiufen fanned the fire with a broken fan, looking at the bubbling medicine in the pot. "Speaking of which, why did this nobleman give you so much money?"

Ma Dequan lowered his voice. "The owner of Quanfu Restaurant asked me to do something."

"What is it?"

Ma Dequan took out a paper packet from his chest. "This thing is called a fake death pill. After taking it, one foams at the mouth and appears to die. However, after three hours, one will gradually wake up as if nothing happened."

"Is that true?"

"Of course! I saw him feed a little bit to a puppy, and the dog foamed at the mouth and appeared dead, but it slowly recovered within an hour."

Tian Xiufen exclaimed, "That's amazing, but why did he give you this fake death pill?"

Ma Dequan coughed lightly. "Mr. Feng wants me to go to the newly opened Lu Family Wine House, eat a meal, and put this pill in my drink to pretend I died from poisoning, ruining their reputation!"

"Oh no! We can't do that. If someone finds out, they might beat you to death!"

"Don't worry, everything is arranged. During the time I appear dead, he will swap my body with a corpse. No one will find out."

Tian Xiufen was still worried. "Maybe we shouldn't do it. Return the cloth and the silver, and let's not do this immoral thing."

Ma Dequan held his wife's hand. "We can return the cloth, but the medicine has already been boiled, and the meat has been eaten. Besides, this is a great opportunity. If we miss it, it will be gone forever! The nobleman said he will give me another fifty taels of silver after the job is done. Then we can renovate our house, arrange a marriage for our eldest son, and save some money for the baby in your belly."

"But it's too dangerous..."

"It wouldn't be worth so much if it weren't dangerous. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing! Tomorrow, sew the clothes for me. I'll find an opportunity to visit the Lu Family Wine House."

"Ah..."

The next day, Tian Xiufen made a new set of clothes for her husband. Though made of coarse cloth, the stitching was tight and the fit was good, making it look quite nice.

Ma Dequan hadn't worn new clothes for many years. Since his son fell ill, the family had been struggling financially. Now, life finally seemed to have some hope. He felt a mix of embarrassment and joy, smoothing out the wrinkles in his new clothes and asked, "Do I look good?"

"You look good." Tian Xiufen adjusted his belt. "The inner pocket isn't sewn yet. Take off the clothes, and I'll sew it for you."

"No need, wait until I come back. Use the remaining cloth to make new clothes for yourself and Kuan. It's getting cold, don't let yourselves freeze."

"Understood, go and come back soon."

"Alright." Ma Dequan limped out the door and ran into two ruffians right outside.

"Uncle Ma, where are you going?"

Ma Dequan, recognizing them, didn't take it seriously and replied casually, "Going out for a meal."

"Uncle Ma must have hit it big recently, wearing new clothes now."

Ma Dequan said with a sour expression, "What? You only allow them to wear new clothes, but I can't wear new ones?"

"Hey, I was just asking casually. Why so much anger?"

Ma Dequan, with a guilty conscience, was naturally afraid of any little disturbance. He ignored the two and walked quickly towards the alley.

Meanwhile, Ma Qian and Wei Wu exchanged glances and quickly took a shortcut towards the Lu Family Eatery.

*

Elsewhere, Lu Yao was arranging today's side dishes when he suddenly received news that the man was heading towards their shop.

He immediately stopped what he was doing, instructed the boys to send letters to each household, and announced that the restaurant would be closed for the day due to unforeseen circumstances and that all orders would be moved to the next day with complimentary wine.

While the boys were delivering the letters, Lu Yao had Zhao Beichuan gather all the wine shop staff. They sat around five tables, pretending to be customers.

As noon approached, several more guests arrived. Lu Yao managed to persuade them to leave. He didn't know what the man was up to, but it was better to be prepared.

Finally, Ma Dequan arrived. He stood awkwardly at the door, looking around. He had never been to such a nice place in his half-century of life and didn't dare to step forward.

Only when a young waiter asked if he was there to eat did he nod, realizing it. "I... I'm here to eat."

"How many in your party?"

"Just... just me."

"Please, have a seat here." Lu Miao guided him and winked at Third Brother. Lu Yao quietly gave him a thumbs up.

"What would you like to eat, sir?"

Ma Dequan had no idea what to order, but the nobleman had told him that he wouldn't have to pay for anything he ate that day. Once he drank the fake death potion, chaos would ensue, and someone would report to the authorities, who would take him to the morgue where someone was already arranged to meet him.

Ma Dequan took a deep breath. "Bring me all your signature dishes."

"Sir... you probably can't finish all that."

"Can't I try a little of everything?"

"Of course, sir. Please wait a moment." Lu Miao stepped away and passed the message to his brother-in-law in the kitchen.

Zhao Beichuan took off his apron and had Xiao Chun prepare the dishes while he quietly slipped behind a screen to observe the hall discreetly.

The staff from the wine shop put on quite a convincing act, asking for more wine and additional dishes, which kept Ma Dequan from suspecting anything.

After half an hour, six dishes were served one after another. Ma Dequan, seeing the delicious food, couldn't help but salivate and started eating heartily with his chopsticks. Remembering the nobleman's instructions, he quickly asked for a pot of Lu wine.

Lu Yao personally brought the wine over. "This is our eatery's wine. It's stronger than most, so please drink it slowly."

Ma Dequan looked up at Lu Yao, feeling a slight twinge of guilt, but it was quickly overshadowed by thoughts of money. After completing this task, he would receive fifty taels of silver, enough to cure his son's illness and improve his family's life!

When no one was looking, he quietly took a paper packet from his chest and poured the "fake death potion" into the wine pot, all while continuing to eat and drink.

The food was delicious, and the wine was excellent. To eat such fine food was worth living for!

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in his abdomen. He gritted his teeth and drank another cup of wine, sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

"Something's wrong! Help! There's poison in the Lu wine! Save me, quickly report it..." Ma Dequan shouted as he fell off his chair. He looked desperately at the other customers, but no one moved to report it.

"Help... save me... someone report it..."

He rolled on the ground, clutching his stomach, feeling as if his insides were being cut by knives. Fear spread in his heart. Was the fake death potion real? Had the nobleman deceived him?

Lu Yao approached him and, realizing something was wrong, immediately ordered the servants to close the main door and sent a waiter to fetch a local doctor.

Zhao Beichuan came to the table, sniffed the wine pot, and said, "He put something in the wine."

Lu Yao, recalling that ancient poisons were often arsenic-based and contained sulfide impurities that reacted with silver, quickly took a piece of silver from the cash box and dropped it into the wine pot. Soon, the entire piece of silver turned black.

"It's poison! Quickly, bring some lime water to make him vomit!"

Unfortunately, Ma Dequan had drunk too much, and they couldn't get enough out. Soon, the doctor arrived, checked his pulse, and shook his head. "He's gone. Prepare the funeral."

Lu Yao stepped back, horrified. "Such a vicious scheme!"

Fortunately, he had been prepared. Otherwise, if this man had died in his restaurant, his reputation would have been ruined. No one would dare to eat at a place where someone had been poisoned.

Zhao Beichuan looked at the body on the floor. "What do we do now?"

"First, report to the authorities. We need to find the mastermind behind this. Even if we can't bring down Quanfu Restaurant, we'll make sure Feng Deyou suffers!"

The authorities soon came and took the body away. Thanks to his connection with the Northern Pacification King, they didn't trouble Lu Yao much, only asking a few questions before leaving.

Lu Yao quickly went to Ma Dequan's home with his men.

At that moment, Tian Xiufen was still unaware that her husband had died and was waiting for him to return.

*

Her son had taken the medicine the day before and looked much better. If her husband could bring back enough silver to buy more medicine, perhaps their son's health could be restored.

"Wan'er, which fabric do you prefer, the brown one or the dark blue one? I'll make you a new outfit."

"Either is fine, Mother. As long as you make it, I'll like it."

Tian Xiufen smiled and gently patted her son's head. "Then I'll make it with the dark blue fabric. It suits young people."

"Yes."

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door. They stood up nervously as seven or eight strange men filled their yard.

"This... What’s going on..."

Lu Yao stepped forward and said, "Are you Ma Dequan’s family?"

Tian Xiufen nodded, her hand trembling as she held her son's hand. "Who are you? Why are you here at my house?"

"Your husband is dead."

"Ah?!" Tian Xiufen screamed in terror, her eyes rolling back as she fainted.

Ma Kuan hurried to support his mother, but his weak body couldn’t muster the strength, and they both fell to the ground.

Lu Yao instructed Lu Shiliu and the others to help, carrying them inside and giving her a bowl of water. She gradually regained consciousness, first sobbing silently, then crying out loud, and finally wailing in despair. The sound of such hopelessness made everyone’s hearts ache.

Ma Kuan, though also grieving, forced himself to ask, "My father... How did he die?"

"Poison. He poured arsenic into his wine and drank it."

"No, that’s impossible! Why would my father do that?!"

Lu Yao looked at Tian Xiufen and said, "I’m curious too. I have no grudge against your family. Why would your husband come to my restaurant to commit suicide with poison?"

Tian Xiufen shuddered, realizing that the person before her was the owner of the Lu family restaurant.

She cried loudly into the quilt, "Dequan was deceived... He was deceived! He said the nobleman gave him a fake death potion, which would make him wake up after three hours. How could it be arsenic..."

Ma Kuan widened his eyes and pulled at her sleeve. "Mother! What exactly happened?!"

Tian Xiufen recounted everything her husband had told her the previous day. As Lu Yao had suspected, the nobleman she mentioned was Feng Deyou, the owner of Quanfu Restaurant.

"Do you want to avenge your husband?"

Tian Xiufen lifted her head sharply, then slowly shook it. "We commoners have no power or influence. How can we fight those people? We can only blame our fate..." She sobbed again.

Lu Yao frowned, surprised that she wouldn’t even report it to the authorities.

"Mother! Can we just let Father die like this?" Ma Kuan clutched his chest and stood up, suddenly kneeling before Lu Yao and his companions.

"My father made mistakes and doesn’t deserve forgiveness from the nobleman, but since he’s dead, I, as his son, will take responsibility. I know you want to catch the person who instructed my father. If there’s anything I can do, I’m willing to help!"

Lu Yao’s eyes lit up. This young man had some courage and spoke clearly and logically, a pity he was born into such a family.

"Your father took the ‘fake death potion’ given by the manager of Quanfu Restaurant and was poisoned at home. Go to the authorities and seek justice for your father."

"I understand!" Ma Kuan slowly stood up and walked out step by step. He was just sixteen, looking weaker than his peers due to his illness, but his expression was more resolute than any adult’s.

After he left, Lu Yao returned to the restaurant with his companions. Next, he used his connections to gather evidence against Feng Deyou. With Lu Yao’s financial backing and the authorities’ efforts, the evidence was quickly uncovered.

Three days later, Quanfu Restaurant was sealed, and Feng Deyou was arrested for poisoning Ma Dequan. He thought his plan was foolproof, but he didn’t realize he was already caught in the net.

Throughout the process, Lu Yao never showed his face. Only his own staff knew that Ma Dequan died at the restaurant; everyone else only knew that the Lu family restaurant closed for a day and reopened the next day.

*

With this matter resolved, Lu Yao felt relieved. It happened to be a rest day, and Douzi had returned. He took the whole family to Changshui Alley for a reunion.

They hadn’t seen each other in a while. Hu Chunrong fried a pot of sunflower seeds, and the family sat on the kang, cracking seeds and chatting about the business.

Lu Yao didn’t mention the troubles of the past few days, only sharing interesting stories with the old lady.

"The old man who delivers fish to me caught seven or eight turtles recently and asked if I wanted them. They’re great tonics, so I kept them. But when I stewed them, the guests were too scared to eat. Da Chuan and I ended up eating them, and we both got nosebleeds from the nourishment."

"Oh my, hahaha." Everyone laughed heartily.

"Second Brother, how’s business on your side?"

Lu Lin replied, "Business has been good these past few months. Last month, we made 260 taels. We split 100 taels among us, used 60 taels to buy new kitchen utensils, firewood for winter, and new window paper. We plan to save the remaining 54 taels for next year’s rent."

Lu Yao nodded. "That’s a good way to manage. When the weather warms up next year, I’ll teach you how to make cold noodles. Business will definitely boom then."

Lu Yun’s face lit up. He now had nearly 200 taels saved up.

For the first time in his life, he had earned so much money, making him feel invigorated!

Reflecting on the years he spent with his sisters-in-law, he felt even more grateful to have a good brother.

Once he saved enough, he planned to buy a house in Prefecture City and settle down, eventually bringing his in-laws to live with them. As for those two sisters-in-law, they could cool off elsewhere; there was no way he’d let them come to him!

The old lady said, "Besides the restaurant business, there’s another piece of good news. Your second sister-in-law is pregnant again."

Hu Chunrong rarely showed a shy expression. "It’s just over three months. I’m announcing it now."

This was wonderful news. The Lu family had few descendants, and by Lu Lin’s generation, there was only one male child, and in the next generation, only Little Stone. Normally, families their age would have at least two or three children.

Actually, Hu Chunrong had been pregnant last year, but she miscarried due to overexertion while carrying buckets. Now, with the second pregnancy, she was being extra careful.

Fortunately, she didn’t do heavy work at the restaurant, so she hadn’t announced her pregnancy until now.

Lu’s mother advised, "Take good care of this pregnancy. I’ll be holding another grandchild next autumn."

"Yes."

The family then discussed Lu Miao’s wedding. It was almost the twelfth lunar month, and in three months after the New Year, Ge Changbao would return. The wedding should be planned accordingly, and preparations should start soon.

Lu’s mother, having never arranged a wedding in Prefecture City, didn’t dare to make decisions. Everyone agreed to let Lu Yao handle Lu Miao’s wedding.

Lu Yao had never done this either, but he could ask around. Ge Changbao had no elders, and if he didn’t properly arrange the wedding, it wouldn’t look right.

Lu Miao, blushing, sat beside his nephews and nieces, as if the one getting married wasn’t him.

Lu Yao teased, "If you’re not in a hurry, we can move the wedding to next autumn."

"No way!" Lu Miao urgently refused. "Let Third Brother arrange it... We'll get married when Changbao comes back. He's already given me the money, so we can spend his then..."

The brothers and sisters-in-law burst into laughter; it seemed the younger brother was truly eager to get married.