Chapter 124: A Lawsuit Involving Lives

Chapter 124: A Lawsuit Involving Lives

"In any situation, A Yan, I’ll always make sure I’m safe first."

"And Mother has always protected me well."

Lu Mingchao slightly turned her head, her gaze falling on Xie Yan, who was softly lit by the setting sun.

Xie Yan's eyelashes were long, casting shadows like spring willows by the riverbank.

"The rockfall incident on the mountain path, A Yan and Second Brother did a great job."

"It was Second Brother’s plan," Xie Yan said softly.

"Second Brother told me a lot about Lu Chunhe and his family. The more I heard, the more I worried about you."

Lu Mingchao smiled, "I’m too tired to beat around the bush."

"Without tearing down this facade of peace, we can’t openly escape."

"With Lu Minghui stepping in, Lu Chunhe and his family can only hope for the best."

"Did the hidden guards recognize Huaiqian?" Lu Mingchao changed the subject.

Xie Yan nodded, "They did."

Two days later, it was a clear, sunny day.

No fog, with a gentle breeze.

Lu Mingchao's Chaofu Grain Store opened.

Red silk draped over the plaque, the clanging of gongs adding to the excitement.

Three days before the opening, the store offered discounts and a buy-ten-get-one deal.

For every ten liters bought, the store would give an extra liter as a token of appreciation.

Sun Zhiye lightly touched the plump, shiny rice grains, his expression grim.

Even the premium rice from Sun's store, which was supplied to wealthy families, couldn’t hold a candle to this small package before him.

Chaofu.

Lu Mingchao's grain store.

He’d always had people keeping an eye on the two shops he had given away, but he never expected Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan to quietly open a grain store right under his nose.

So much grain moving in and out of Changhe County, and he was completely unaware of it.

He slammed his palm down on the table, scattering the rice grains.

"Tian Dong, did you find out where Chaofu Grain Store gets its grain?"

The grain supplied by Chaofu Grain Store was of high quality and affordable, comparable to the most common grain prices on the market.

Therefore, it was only a matter of time before Chaofu Grain Store slowly gained a foothold in the market, gradually taking over Sun's grain market share.

Moreover, there were several small to medium-sized grain stores in Changhe County also selling the same grain.

It was obvious that they had secretly struck a deal with Lu Mingchao long ago.

Lu Mingchao!

Sun Zhiye gritted his teeth, seething with anger and hatred, yet he couldn't help feeling a twinge of temptation.

"Eldest Young Master Sun, I, Tian Dong, am incompetent; there is no news at the moment." Tian Dong knelt on the ground, rice grains still scattered on his head and shoulders.

Sun Zhiye exhaled softly, "Dig deeper. Once you find out, even if we have to give up some profit, we must control the source of this grain."

"This is a matter of life and death for Sun's Rice; there's no room for ambiguity."

"But, Eldest Young Master Sun, the funds are already running low." Chuan Bai cautiously reminded.

A few days ago, Eldest Young Master Sun withdrew thirty thousand taels of silver all at once, converted it into banknotes, and sent it to the capital.

Sun Zhiye pursed his lips, rubbing his temples wearily, "I'll figure out the money issue. Right now, the priority is to track down the grain's source."

"Go."

Sunlight filtered through the window, casting shadows on his somber face.

His chest rose and fell slightly, his breath heavy.

At the thought of the money, Sun Zhiye's expression turned even more exhausted.

The Marquis of Yongning's true daughter has a narrow vision and an insatiable appetite.

Short-sighted and greedy, she's hardly a suitable business partner.

But there's no choice; in terms of status, Lu Minghui is the best fit.

Lu Minghui and Lu Mingchao are natural adversaries, and that's all that matters.

He must find a way to bring down Lu Mingchao's flourishing grain store.

Buying grain fills the stomach, and filling the stomach means survival, but what if the grain from Chaofu Grain Store leads to a fatal incident?

Sun Zhiye slowly formed a plan in his mind.

Another day.

Lu Mingchao was in the small courtyard behind the grain store, meticulously going over the account books, when she suddenly heard a commotion from the front, accompanied by the sound of heavy objects falling.

Xie Yan listened more closely.

After a moment, his expression shifted, and he quickly explained to Lu Mingchao, "Mingchao, someone was poisoned by the rice from Chaofu Grain Store, and their family is making a scene outside."

"It's quite a commotion; I'll handle it."

Lu Mingchao set down the account book, smoothed her dress, and donned her cloak, "Let's go together."

"A Yan, on opening day, I expected this move, just waiting for Sun Zhiye to make his move."

"He certainly hasn't disappointed me."

Lu Mingchao's voice was calm, laced with heavy mockery.

What a Jade String Gentleman, this Sun Zhiye.

Xie Yan felt his heart settle.

After passing through two doorways, he entered the front hall of the grain shop. Rice grains were scattered everywhere, leaving the place in complete disarray.

"The owner of Chaofu Grain Shop is a greedy swindler preying on the common folk!"

"My wife ate their rice and started foaming at the mouth, convulsing uncontrollably. The doctor said it was poisoning!"

"This is horrifying! That rice could kill someone!"

"Everyone, don’t go to their shop to buy anything anymore."

A gray-haired old man sat on the shop’s threshold, pounding the ground and wailing at the top of his lungs.

Nearby, a red-eyed young man stood, clutching a thick wooden stick, and smashed it heavily into the box containing the rice grains.

Xie Yan raised his hand, effortlessly grabbed the stick, snapped it in two with a quick twist, and tossed it aside.

The young man’s eyes darted around as he shouted, "The greedy boss is attacking people!"

"Call the officers," Lu Mingchao said calmly, glancing at the shopkeeper.

Then, raising her voice, she spoke to the crowd in a steady tone. "I’ve already called the officers. Chaofu Grain Shop won’t tolerate baseless accusations, and I promise you, our rice is perfectly safe."

"If you’re still unsure, stay here and let the officers investigate thoroughly."

"You’ll feel better once you see and hear the truth for yourselves."

The old man wailed, "Who knows if you’ll bribe the officers? Life’s tough for us common folk. My wife’s nearly dead—that’s proof enough! What’s left to investigate?"

"You’ll pay for this! There’s no way around it."

Seeing the crowd’s anger rising again, Lu Mingchao had the accountant set up a large pot of hot water outside the shop and added two packs of sugar.

She set a basket of bowls on the steps.

"It’s cold out here. Why not sit down and warm up with some hot sugar water while you wait?"

"There’s enough for all."

Lu Mingchao served herself first, blew on the water, and took a sip. "See? No poison."

"Anyone causing trouble before the officers get here, I’ll suspect they’re behind this."

Sugar was a luxury, and many were eager for a taste.

On a cold winter day, a sip of sugar water was pure comfort.

With sweetened mouths, warm stomachs, and calmed hearts, the tension eased.

When the county officers arrived, they were met with this strange sight: the firewood burning brightly, the large pot steaming and boiling continuously, no one blocking the road, and a crowd of common folk squatting by the roadside walls, holding bowls and slurping contentedly, some even accompanied by large flatbreads.

It felt less like they’d come to settle a dispute and more like they’d stumbled into a village feast.

No wonder no one was blocking the road.

It was a habit ingrained in the bones of the Daqian common folk: when eating while squatting with a bowl, one must stay to the side. Squatting in the middle of the street was as shameful as defecating in public. A magnet for lawsuits.