The next day, Hong Yingrong got up and washed at dawn.
Facing the bronze mirror, Madam Zhao helped her gently comb her hair. After everything was ready, the two walked out of the room and planned to go to the porridge factory in the south of the city.
Mother Han had been waiting outside the door for a long time. When she saw Hong Yingrong, she hurried forward and asked with concern, "Madam, you got up so early. Have you had breakfast?"
Hong Yingrong shook her head slightly and said, "Mammy, I'm worried about the disaster victims in the south of the city and want to go see them soon. Let's skip breakfast and set off directly."
When Mother Han heard this, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, but she nodded and replied, "Yes, old lady. I will arrange the carriage and servants right away."
The two came to the front yard and saw several carriages ready to go, and servants were busy carrying herbs and pills.
Hong Yingrong walked forward and carefully inspected each bundle of herbs and each box of pills, reminding them as she did so: "These herbs and pills are life-saving. We must ensure the quality and quantity are correct."
A servant in charge of carrying the things straightened his back when he heard what Hong Yingrong said and replied, "Madam, please rest assured. We will be very careful and will not let anything go wrong with these things."
Hong Yingrong nodded with satisfaction, then turned to the driver and said, "Let's go to the Chengnan Porridge Factory."
The carriage slowly drove out of the gate of the Marquis' Mansion and merged into the early morning streets.
On both sides of the street, vendors have already started their day's business, and the cries of hawking can be heard one after another. As the carriage gradually approaches the South City Gate, these sounds are gradually replaced by a heavy and depressing atmosphere.
In the carriage, Madam Zhao looked out the window at the ragged and haggard victims, and a trace of astonishment and pity flashed in her eyes.
"Old Madam, look at all the disaster victims outside the city. How come so many of them have gathered in just a few days? This...what should we do?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Yingrong also looked outside the city gate. The victims were either sitting or lying, each of them pale and thin, and their helpless eyes revealed their despair for life.
The carriage finally arrived at the Chengnan Porridge Factory. As soon as Hong Yingrong got off the carriage, she immediately directed the servants to move the herbs and pills into the porridge factory, and at the same time began to organize people to cook porridge to prepare for the disaster victims.
As the sun rose, more and more disaster victims gathered near the porridge factory. Some of them were supporting their families, while others were carrying luggage, their eyes filled with desire for food.
Early in the morning, when Qiao Heyuan arrived at the porridge factory, he saw the carriage of Xingyuan Marquis Mansion at a glance.
She fixed her eyes and saw Hong Yingrong getting off the carriage and walking out of the porridge shed.
"Madam, I'm in good health!" Qiao Heyuan smiled and saluted. "Thank you for sending herbs and pills to the victims. It's really a timely help."
When Hong Yingrong saw Qiao Heyuan, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, "He girl, so you are here too. No wonder I haven't seen you come to the Marquis' Mansion these days. I miss you." She held Qiao Heyuan's hand, her tone full of affection.
At this moment, Qiao Heyuan noticed Ding Xinwan standing next to her and quickly introduced her to the two of them: "Madam, this is the daughter of the mighty General Ding, nicknamed Xinwan."
Ding Xinwan was wearing an apricot-colored riding suit today, looking heroic and unique. She saluted Hong Yingrong and said, "Greetings, old lady. Thank you for your generous help."
Hong Yingrong smiled and nodded, "You're welcome, Miss Ding. How is your father doing now?"
"Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern, madam." Ding Xinwan replied respectfully.
After a few people exchanged greetings for a while, a long line had already formed outside the porridge factory. People were either standing or sitting, patiently waiting for the porridge distribution to begin. Seeing this, Qiao Heyuan and Ding Xinwan hurriedly quickened their pace and went back.
"Everyone has been waiting for a long time. Let's start distributing porridge now." Ding Xin said in a clear voice, and at the same time directed the servants to start cooking porridge, setting out bowls, and serving porridge. Everything went on in an orderly manner.
However, at this moment, the thug Zhao Si who escaped yesterday appeared again. This time he did not cut in line as blatantly as he did yesterday. Instead, he mixed in the crowd and quietly approached the porridge stall.
Then, while no one was paying attention, he quickly sprinkled a packet of medicine powder into the hot porridge, and then quickly turned and left.
All this happened so suddenly and covertly that most people present did not notice anything unusual. Only a few sharp-eyed people saw Zhao Si's actions, but they did not realize the seriousness of it.
"Oh, that person seemed to have sprinkled something into the porridge just now." An old man said in surprise.
"Don't talk nonsense. The girl was kind enough to give us porridge. How can you talk like that?" A woman next to her immediately retorted.
"But I really saw it..." The old man wanted to explain but was interrupted by others.
"Okay, okay, don't be so hasty. Hurry up and line up for the porridge. If you're late, there won't be any left." Another person urged.
So, everyone stopped talking and continued to queue up to wait for the porridge. Seeing this, Zhao Si felt secretly proud in his heart, because he knew that he had completed most of his mission this time.
All he had to do was wait for the people to drink the drugged porridge and cause trouble, and then he could take the opportunity to slip away.
Among the crowd gathered at the porridge factory today, there were also some ruffians from the capital. Someone recognized Zhao Si with sharp eyes and followed him all the way to the dilapidated temple outside the city.
"Fourth brother, where have you made your fortune recently?" A voice sounded behind Zhao Si.
Zhao Si turned around. The man who came had a nickname called Li the Gambler. He was a well-known gambler in the gambling houses in the capital. However, he lost nine times out of ten and even mortgaged his wife and children as stakes.
"There's no such thing as getting rich. I'm just collecting money to earn a few meals." Zhao Si responded casually.
But gambling addict Li obviously didn't believe it. "I saw with my own eyes what you put into the porridge. There are young ladies from government families at the porridge dispensary. If I hand you over to them, maybe I can get some money."
As the gambler Li spoke, he pulled out a small knife from his pocket and waved it in front of Zhao Si, his face full of greed and ruthlessness: "Or maybe you can just give me some money and let me go back and try my luck again. Maybe I can turn the tables."
Zhao Si was also a scoundrel who valued money more than anything else. He was so naive that he would give up his life if he wanted it, but he would never give up on the money. He immediately refused to give in and said, "That's just some laxative. It'll give you a few days of diarrhoea, and it'll just cause some trouble at the porridge factory. If you hand me over, the most you'll get is a beating from the Jingzhao Yin. I don't care at all!"
Zhao Si had already received two hundred taels of silver from Manager Liu. As long as he put some laxatives in the porridge and create some chaos, he would get another four hundred taels after the task was completed.
Having failed last time, he had been waiting for a new opportunity, and today he finally succeeded. However, this gambling addict Li unexpectedly became his trouble.
The gambler Li stared at the bulging purse on Zhao Si's waist. When he thought of the twenty taels of silver he still owed to Dacheng Casino, he felt excited.
Seeing that there was no one around, he suddenly pounced on Zhao Si, trying to snatch the silver in his purse.
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