Yan Qingqing and Doctor Zheng arrived at the farm, where Wei Laosan was standing among the chickens and ducks, carefully observing them.

Yan Qingqing saw that he looked exhausted; he probably hadn't slept since returning home.

Iron Head, standing to the side, seemed somewhat absent-minded.

When Wei Laosan saw Yan Qingqing leading an old man past, he quickly came over to greet her and said, "Benefactor, I noticed that these chickens seem to be better than yesterday. The medicine they were given must be working."

However, some of them were listless, presumably due to severe poisoning.

Wei Laosan was meticulous in his work. He hadn't taken a break because he was checking whether the medicine had any effect on the chickens.

Yan Qingqing nodded and said, "This is Dr. Zheng from Renshantang. He is a highly skilled physician, and I specially asked Erlang to invite him."

Wei Laosan knew Doctor Zheng, and after greeting him, he caught a chicken and showed it to Doctor Zheng.

Dr. Zheng held the chicken in his hand, somewhat embarrassed. He usually took the pulse when treating patients, but how could he take the pulse of a chicken?

Moreover, none of the four diagnostic methods—observation, smelling, palpation, and questioning—are needed.

Seeing that Doctor Zheng was at a loss, Yan Qingqing said, "Animals are different from humans, there's no way around it. We have to observe, smell, feel, and ask. If we slaughter this chicken and open its stomach, can we determine what kind of poison it has been poisoned with?"

Upon hearing this, Dr. Zheng's eyes lit up, and he said, "That's a good idea."

As long as the chickens and ducks still show symptoms of poisoning, there will definitely be residual toxins in their bodies.

Upon hearing this, Wei Laosan deftly snapped the chicken's neck, and then I used a knife to cut open the chicken's stomach.

Dr. Zheng didn't mind the dirt and examined it carefully.

The chickens' internal organs were dark red, which was clearly an abnormal color.

Dr. Zheng picked it up and smelled it; it still had a pungent odor.

Then Doctor Zheng took out the silver needles he always carried and inserted them into the chicken's stomach.

By the time the silver needles were taken out, they had turned completely black.

Doctor Zheng nodded and said, "It is indeed poisoning, but the dosage was not large. Otherwise, these chickens and ducks would have died long ago."

Yan Qingqing nodded and asked, "Doctor Zheng, can you tell what kind of poison is in these chickens and ducks?"

After thinking for a while, Doctor Zheng said, "Heartbreak Grass and Trapping Herb."

If a person is poisoned by this drug, they will experience unbearable abdominal pain and hallucinations. In large doses, it can even be fatal.

This is the first time I've ever seen these two medicines used on chickens and ducks.

Before Yan Qingqing could ask, Wei Laosan asked first, "Doctor Zheng, do you have a solution? Our benefactor's family is waiting to sell these chickens and ducks."

Wei Laosan felt extremely guilty for not taking good care of the chickens and ducks when he went home for the Chinese New Year.

Dr. Zheng stroked his beard and said, "I think you must have given these chickens and ducks some medicine, probably licorice?"

Just give it a few more rinsings. You can also add some vinegar to the chicken and duck's food.

It will be fine in three to five days.

Yan Qingqing and Wei Laosan both breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

Yan Qingqing repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Doctor Zheng, and then asked Li Xiang'an to send the person back to the city.

That evening, while Yan Qingqing's family was having dinner, Tie Tou and his father arrived.

As soon as Tie Tou arrived, he knelt down on the ground with a thud and said, "Auntie, I have failed your trust and have come here to apologize to you."

Yan Qingqing glanced at him indifferently and said, "Oh, what makes you say that?"

Seeing this, Li Xiangjian looked at him and asked in a trembling voice, "Tie Tou, did you poison my chickens and ducks?"

In fact, Li Xiangjian had this thought ever since he learned about the chicken and duck poisoning, but he couldn't believe that it was his best friend who did it.

Tie Tou looked at Li Xiangjian with a heartbroken expression and said, "Xiangjian, we are best friends, how could you doubt me?"

Seeing how heartbroken he was, Li Xiangjian felt a pang of guilt. Tie Tou was his best brother; how could he possibly do such a thing?

Yan Qingqing's eyes flashed with a cold light, but she smiled and said, "What are you doing, child? Your aunt is already very busy today, don't make things worse."

Tie Tou stubbornly knelt on the ground and said, "It's all my fault for not keeping a close eye on the chickens and ducks at the farm, which allowed bad people to take advantage of the situation. Although I didn't poison them, I am still responsible for causing such serious losses to Auntie's family."

My aunt only asked me to work here out of pity, but now that this has happened, I have no face to work at her house anymore.

Fortunately, Uncle Wei discovered it in time, preventing too much damage to Aunt's family; otherwise, Tie Tou would have been more than guilty of a crime deserving of death.

After saying that, he glanced at Yan Qingqing cautiously.

Yan Qingqing looked at him and suddenly smiled, then said, "You're right. Fortunately, my family didn't suffer any major losses. Since you've made up your mind, I won't force you."

"Huiniang, go and fetch some copper coins to pay Tietou's wages for this month."

Upon hearing this, Tie Tou quickly declined, saying, "No need, Auntie. You've already shown me how magnanimous you are by not blaming me for such a big thing. How could I possibly accept your wages again?"

I only beg my aunt not to report this to the authorities, otherwise I will also be punished.

Tie Tou ultimately didn't accept the money, and when he left Yan Qingqing's house, he seemed to be fleeing in panic.

Seeing that Tie Tou had left with his father, Li Xiang'an looked at Yan Qingqing and called out "Mother".

Yan Qingqing waved her hand to stop him from saying anything more, and then said, "Let's eat!"

While eating, Li Xiangjian kept saying, "I knew it wasn't Tie Tou, he's my best brother."

Yan Qingqing glanced at him but didn't say anything; he was a sentimental child.

After dinner, Yan Qingqing called Li Xiangping and Li Xiang'an into her room. After giving them some instructions, the two brothers came out with solemn expressions.

Apart from the two brothers, no one knew what Yan Qingqing had said to them.

Another day passed, and it was the eighth day of the lunar new year. The embroidery workshop of Li Ji in Canghe officially started work.

But the family was far from happy. The eighth day of the lunar month was an auspicious day, and their shop was originally scheduled to open on that day, but now they couldn't.

Although the embroidery workshop started smoothly, Zhou Shi staged that scene again during the New Year. Old Madam Yan was also in the know, and Yan Qingqing embarrassed Old Madam Yan on the spot. It is unknown whether Old Madam Yan will come after the New Year.

Seeing the family looking so worried, Yan Qingqing scolded them, "What are you all doing? You're all so young, yet you're all so gloomy!"

I'm not dead yet! The sky isn't going to fall!

Seeing that Yan Qingqing was angry, the children quickly perked up. Yuan Huiniang explained, "Mother, the embroidery workshop has started work. I don't know if Grandma will come."

Yuan Huiniang replied, "What does it matter whether you come or not? Our cooperation with Jinsheng Pavilion will continue as usual."

You've only learned embroidery from her; there are plenty of embroiderers in the world. If she doesn't do it, we can just hire another one.

Yuan Huiniang didn't expect Yan Qingqing to be so open-minded, but thinking about it, it made sense. Even without Old Madam Yan and her embroidery workshop, things would still have to continue.