Chapter 4

The boy thought that he was at least a teenager, and it should be easy for him to get away from a young girl.

But no matter how hard he struggled, Shen Yu held his wrist with only one hand, and her grip was as strong as an iron hoop, so he couldn't budge her no matter how hard he tried.

"What's going on? Where did the knife come from?" Qiu Chiyan took the knife away from Maiya, even though it was a clever little monkey, it was still better to keep a distance.

"Who hit your face?" Shen Yu asked, staring intently at the boy.

"...None of your business!"

"Then where are you going with this knife? What happened to your sword?"

As if his sore spot had been touched, he struggled violently, his face turning red with anger, and he even opened his mouth to bite Chen Yu's hand.

Shen Yu then gently lifted him up, turned him around, and pressed his arm behind his back.

"...I...I am your customer! Your big store is bullying its customers!" he shouted angrily.

"You've only learned a few words and you're already using them carelessly? How big is our shop?" Shen Yu secretly exerted more force, causing the boy to scream in pain.

Malt, standing nearby, also started howling, mimicking him.

Qiu Chiyan found the two noises too loud, so he told Shen Yu to relax.

But seeing that the boy was not behaving himself, Shen Yu secretly changed his approach: "You're staying at my shop, and if you go out with a knife and cause any trouble, do you think it has anything to do with me?"

The boy's anger was shattered into pieces.

A wave of grievance and helplessness washed over him, and he opened his mouth, tears welling up in his eyes.

"...It's not like I bullied you, why are you crying in front of me?" Shen Yu was taken aback by his crying, and her hands paused for a moment, but she didn't feel sorry.

However, if something really happens, just go and resolve it.

What's wrong with crying?

Qiu Chiyan stepped in to smooth things over, using his cane to separate the two and asking the boy, "What's your name? What happened?"

"I... my name is Xu Dahe. My things were stolen, and they even beat me up!"

"Who are they? What did they steal?" Qiu Chiyan asked slowly, guiding the conversation.

"My evidence is that my sister died from overdosing on medication, but Yan Yu Ge denies it!"

Xu Dahe's words were incoherent and illogical.

Logically speaking, how could Yanyu Pavilion have any connection with children from poor families like them?

"You mean, your sister took the medicine from Yanyu Pavilion and died?"

He nodded vigorously.

Shen Yu interjected, asking, "What illness does your sister have? What medicine is she taking? Where did she get the medicine from?"

Xu Dahe sobbed as he answered, "Xiao Sui only had a common fever and chills, a minor illness. I got some medicine from the local doctor, but Xiao Sui died soon after..."

"What does that medicine have to do with the Misty Rain Pavilion?"

Seeing that he was crying so hard he could barely breathe, Shen Yu was afraid that outsiders would see him, so she simply dragged him into the kitchen.

Xu Dahe wiped away a tear with the back of his hand and struggled to sort out his thoughts—

He and his sister were orphans and had relied on each other since childhood. They made a living by hunting in the mountains and doing odd jobs at the market.

After Xiaosui fell ill, he wanted to buy some good medicine, so he came to Huichuntang in Sanhe Town and bought ordinary antipyretics and sedatives.

After taking the medicine, she was initially drowsy, but soon developed a high fever and became delirious. He rushed to fetch a doctor, but it was too late to save her.

After Xiaosui passed away, he had no savings to handle his funeral arrangements, so he would go to town at night to collect some oil paper.

While tidying up, he inadvertently discovered that one of the oil papers had a faint begonia pattern on the edge, and the paper surface was also stained with the same red medicine stains as the medicine packet.

He was cautious and went to find an old doctor to have him examine the residue in the medicine packet.

As it turned out, the old doctor said there were some medicinal herbs inside that he didn't recognize, and that they weren't for treating colds and fevers.

He immediately returned to Huichuntang to demand an explanation, but was naturally met with insults and chased away by the shop assistants, who accused him of spreading rumors and causing trouble. Reporting to the authorities was also hampered by insufficient evidence, and after several twists and turns, all efforts yielded no results.

Today, he finally managed to sneak into Yanyu Pavilion disguised as a vegetable deliveryman in order to find some real evidence, but he was recognized. Not only did they beat him up, but they also broke the sword he had picked up to show off. They were all fierce and menacing.

"The paper you lost, was it the one with the Yanyu Pavilion logo? Where's your sister's medicine packet?" Qiu Chiyan asked in a low voice, his eyes darkening slightly, but his tone unhurried.

Xu Dahe had been in a state of shock and panic these past few days, his mind a complete mess. Whenever someone asked, he blurted out the whole story. But as soon as the words left his mouth, a sudden tightness gripped his heart—

He didn't recognize either of them. The world was a dangerous place; how could he know if they were birds of a feather?

"Don't be afraid, I am Qiu Chiyan, the head constable of the Six Doors. I came to Sanhe Town to investigate the drug case." Qiu Chiyan revealed the truth.

But Xu Dahe still didn't believe it.

That's it? It's so difficult to even walk. It doesn't even look as impressive as the shopkeeper.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm just a businessman." Shen Yu immediately raised her hands after being glanced at by his gaze, pretending to be honest and law-abiding. "He really is a constable, an undercover agent, you know? It's easier to make a move by acting in the shadows."

A flicker of anticipation rose in Xu Dahe's heart: "You really can get into Yanyu Pavilion and Huichun Hall to investigate?"

Qiu Chiyan was about to make a solemn promise when Shen Yu interrupted, "What's so difficult about getting into Yanyu Pavilion? Just jump in tonight."

Qiu Chiyan coughed lightly and quickly added, "Manager Shen means that we have our own methods. Moreover, since this involves human life, we will definitely investigate to the end."

Xu Dahe pouted, almost bursting into tears again, and knelt down abruptly: "Thank you... thank you both, heroes! If you can truly help my sister clear her name, I will... I will..."

He couldn't think of any grand words of thanks before Shen Yu helped him up: "Let's not say anything more for now. If you trust us, stay here for now. Your constable Qiu is very capable; he single-handedly infiltrated their black medicine production area and took on dozens of people by himself!"

Hearing this completely unfamiliar explanation, Qiu Chiyan was too embarrassed to deny it, while Xu Dahe was already starry-eyed with admiration.

“But…” Xu Dahe regained some of his composure, wiping away his snot and tears, “I can’t just eat and drink for free here at the shopkeeper’s place. I can work! I can… wash the dishes!”

"Okay," Qiu Chiyan agreed on behalf of Shen Yu.

It's safer for him to stay in the kitchen and avoid being in the public eye.

Shen Yu made him a simple bowl of noodle soup. Crying is the most exhausting thing, and this half-grown boy is also the easiest to get hungry.

While waiting, Xu Dahe gave Qiu Chiyan the oiled paper from Xiaosui's medicine packet.

He really didn't know anything about medicine. Instead of asking around and looking for some quack doctors, it would be better to just let the head constable handle it.

While he was showing off his food, Shen Yu leaned close to Qiu Chiyan and whispered, "There are still marks on this?"

"The bright red powder is most likely the hallucinogen I'm investigating."

"Let me have a taste."

As Shen Yu was about to put the oiled paper in her mouth, Qiu Chiyan quickly stopped her, saying, "This medicine is very potent. Even if you know medicine, don't take the risk."

"It's alright. Even if it's poison, it depends on the dosage. This little bit won't kill me."

Shen Yu first smelled it, then dipped his finger in it: "Fire Amber Sand, something produced near the volcanoes of the Western Regions, a slow-acting medicine."

"Does the shopkeeper know about this item?"

“When I was little, my parents took me all over the place, including some places in the Western Regions. My mother was a doctor, so she collected rare medicinal herbs everywhere. But when I grew up, my father didn’t want to take care of me anymore.”

Qiu Chiyan was quite impressed with this young shopkeeper.

Even the government offices in the capital had to consult numerous books and ask many experienced elders before they could find out the key drug.

Indeed, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.

"But... how could Dahe have bought such expensive medicine? Did Huichuntang pack the wrong medicine?" Shen Yu couldn't understand, but this kind of medicinal material, not to mention its conspicuous color, is so rare that it would be hard to mistake it for something else.

"It's hard to say right now. We'll ask Zhao Ze to check on him when he comes." Qiu Chiyan turned to look at Xu Dahe, who was still just a child who forgot everything once he had something to eat.

But then again...

"Has the shopkeeper really been to the Misty Rain Pavilion?"

"yes."

How did you get in?

"I'll just climb over the wall, but I don't have that much money. Besides, they don't cater to female customers."

Shen Yu admitted it very frankly, and did not hide his act of breaking and picking locks in front of a constable.

Fortunately, Qiu Chiyan did not intend to cause trouble.

"Tell me, what's it like inside?"

Shen Yu's eyes shone brightly, unable to hide her excitement, but she still thought of Xu Dahe beside her, so she lowered her voice a little:

"I went there at midnight, when the place was bustling with activity. It was incredibly luxurious inside; I could smell the enticing fragrance even from the rooftop..."

Of course, these weren't what the constable wanted to hear, but Qiu Chiyan didn't want to spoil her fun; he listened to whatever she said.

She said she ran around on the roof of the Misty Rain Pavilion and even jumped into the courtyard, but no one noticed her.

To be able to move in and out of such a den of iniquity as if it were none of one's own suggests that the young shopkeeper must be quite skilled, at least in terms of lightness of movement.

In Sanhe Town, you might not be able to make money, but you'll definitely be able to support yourself.

"Chen Yu, come catch me! I'm so heavy!"

Yao Liuliu's voice came from inside the courtyard, and Shen Yu quickly ran out.

"Today, many things are being sold cheaply at the West Street market. Guess what? Some households are even clearing out all the dried goods they had left over from winter, at more than half price."

As Yao Liuliu unpacked the goods, she chattered on, her face beaming with the joy of getting a good deal. Gong Er stood by, handing her things without saying a word.

Hearing the noise, Xu Dahe also peeked out from the kitchen.

Yao Liuliu glanced at him and nudged Chen Yu with her elbow: "Oh, the guest went to cook for himself?"

Shen Yu then beckoned him out and introduced him to the two men: "He plans to work here first, helping with things like washing dishes. He'll be staying in the room by the door."

Yao Liuliu readily agreed with an "Aiya!" and then casually handed Xu Dahe a small string of radishes: "We have plenty of people and hands here, so please don't be shy."

Yao Liuliu was bright-looking and very approachable. Being so close to her, Xu Dahe's ears turned slightly red, and he stammered as he began to help her with her work.

Shen Yu also deftly unpacked the packages, but when she handed the last bag of rice to Gong Er, she suddenly asked, "Why are you acting like you've lost your soul today?"