Chapter 860 Chapter 9: Darkness
Wang Lichun, a simple name yet full of stories, just like her simple yet tenacious life.
She was born in a green countryside with blue sky, white clouds and fresh air.
Wang Lichun's childhood was spent running in the fields, catching small fish in the stream, and listening to ancient stories told by her elders at night.
Her growth is filled with the fragrance of the earth and the purity of nature.
After graduating from junior high school, the family’s financial situation could not support the two daughters and one son to continue their studies.
As the eldest sister, Wang Lichun decided to put down her books, leave her hometown, and came to a textile factory in the county town and became a female worker.
There, she learned diligence and perseverance, and her heart became stronger amid the roar of machines every day.
When she was 18 years old, she met Lao Zhong, a simple and honest dim sum chef with great skills.
Their meeting was like fate, and sparks flew between their two hearts inadvertently.
Wang Lichun was attracted by Lao Zhong's sincerity and craftsmanship, and Lao Zhong was also moved by her simple yet tenacious character.
Their love has no fancy words or earth-shaking vows, but it has the most sincere emotions and the most firm commitment.
Wang Lichun resolutely quit her job at the textile factory and followed Lao Zhong to start a new life.
In the dim sum shop run by Lao Zhong's father, Wang Lichun not only learned the craft of making dim sum, but also learned how to run a business with heart and how to warm every customer with love.
Her craftsmanship, from being unfamiliar at first to becoming proficient later, every dessert contains her hard work and emotions.
I heard that Lao Zhong’s ancestors were imperial chefs who specialized in making dim sum in the palace. Although that glory is long gone, the craftsmanship has been passed down from generation to generation.
Lao Zhong's father was an old man who had an immense love and persistence for dim sum. He suffered from a chronic illness and passed away soon. Before his death, he handed over this important task to his son and daughter-in-law, hoping that they could continue to pass on this craft.
In front of his father's mourning hall, Old Zhong made a solemn vow that he would make the name of Zhong's Dim Sum Shop passed down through the ages.
Wang Lichun stood silently beside him, her eyes firm and powerful. She knew that no matter what difficulties she would encounter in the future, she would work with Lao Zhong to protect this craft and this love.
The dim sum shop business was getting better and better, so the two left the county town and went to Tianhai City, which was under development, where they had their own home and gave birth to a lovely daughter.
But at this moment, fate's favor quietly shifted its gaze and no longer looked towards this simple and hardworking family.
Then misfortunes followed one after another.
After Lao Zhong died, Wang Lichun held on for a while, but in the end she could not hold on any longer and had to sell the shop which had been converted into a commercial center street at that time. She then opened a very simple dim sum shop in the small bungalow area on the outskirts of the city.
...
...
Li Muhan bought a large table directly from the restaurant next door, and carried the table with one hand and placed it at the door of the store.
Because Wang Lichun's store is too small, the inner hall cannot accommodate so many people.
So Li Muhan suggested eating outside.
Xia Yue moved a few stools, while Xia Lingyue and Li Lingsheng were responsible for placing the packed meals on the table.
Then Li Muhan went to a small supermarket not far away and bought two bottles of white wine and several large bottles of Coke.
Seeing this group of people busying around, Wang Lichun felt both moved and confused.
She gently supported her daughter's shoulders and stood aside. The two thin bodies seemed like they would be swallowed up by the night at any time.
"Mom... Lingyue's parents are, they are good people. Last time at school, someone beat me up, and it was Lingyue and Lingsheng who saved me."
Zhong Ke said to his mother cautiously.
Mother nodded slightly, her nose feeling a little sore.
She limped over and wanted to help, but was rejected by Li Muhan with a smile. He asked Zhong Ke to take care of his mother and sit down, while he went about his business.
After a while, a large table of dishes was ready.
Wang Lichun is not very good at speaking, and her voice is very hoarse for some reason, but she also tried her best to express her gratitude to Li Muhan's family.
"Zhong, Zhong Ke...I'm sorry to trouble you."
"Trouble?" Li Muhan said with a smile as he handed out chopsticks, "This is the first time I've seen such a sensible child. Come, talk while you eat."
Wang Lichun took the chopsticks tremblingly, but looking at the table full of delicious dishes, she was just like her daughter and didn't dare to pick up the chopsticks.
So Xia Yue gave Xia Lingyue a wink.
Xia Lingyue quickly sat next to Wang Lichun.
"Auntie, come, let's talk while we eat~"
"Thank you... kid, why are you wearing a mask while eating?"
"Ah? Ah! I, I just had a tooth pulled. Yes, I had a tooth pulled, so I can't eat now~"
Although she was drooling over the food on the table, Xia Lingyue could only sit aside and pick up food for Wang Lichun and chat.
Then Wang Lichun discovered that they might really be a family.
Because Xia Lingyue and Li Muhan have exactly the same personalities, they both speak like they are performing crosstalk.
The boy named Li Lingsheng was as quiet as his mother.
After three rounds of dishes and five kinds of wine, Li Muhan suddenly received a call.
He smiled, said sorry, then stood up and walked aside.
[Section Chief Li]
Gao Nu's voice came from the phone.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'm still making you work overtime so late. I'll bring you something to eat as a reward tomorrow."
[…My duty, um, I've found some clues about the incident at Zhongji Dim Sum Shop that you asked me to investigate ten years ago.]
"Wow, you're getting better and better. Tell me."
Li Muhan lit a cigarette and squatted aside, but suddenly he sensed a sense of danger. He turned his head slightly and found that Xia Yue was looking at him coldly with squinted eyes.
So he quickly put out the cigarette.
"Well, Chief, this matter has nothing to do with the aliens. Can you tell me why you're investigating this matter? According to the rules, we can't interfere in matters unrelated to the aliens."
"Hey, rules are meant to be broken. We work in the Special Management Bureau for what? To protect the peace, right? If we know there's a problem and we don't do anything, wouldn't that be a disservice to our reputation?"
[You're being quibbly, but you're my boss... Never mind, I'll just give you a brief overview of the situation.]
Ten years ago, a food poisoning incident did occur at Zhong Ji Dim Sum Shop, but there's no evidence to support the incident. Instead, a diagnosis report from that year, found in the hospital archives of the poisoned patient, confirmed the cause was food poisoning. However, the doctor's description of the cause of the poisoning was that the patient consumed expired milk and maocai, and had nothing to do with Zhong Ji's dim sum.
In September of the same year, Zhong Ji was investigated by the Food Inspection Bureau and issued a document on food and hygiene safety. However, it is impossible to verify whether Zhong Ji had asked the Food Inspection Bureau to investigate. However, this official document did not play any role.
The incident of poisoned dim sum continued to escalate. In January of the following year, near the Chinese New Year, the owner of Zhong Ji Dim Sum Shop, Zhong Mingxiang, hanged himself in his own dim sum shop. Two years later, Zhong Ji Dim Sum Shop was acquired by the dessert shop next door.
"Tell me something I don't know."
Li Muhan smiled and said, "You should know that I'm not asking you to investigate these superficial things."
[Well, as you said, there is indeed something fishy about this matter. First of all, Zhongji Dim Sum Shop has always had a secret recipe for making dim sum, which is said to be a recipe left over from the imperial court. This is also the reason why their shop can still survive despite the constant impact of new desserts.]
[The following investigation is not conducted through formal means and involves some of the parties involved in the incident that year. Section Chief, please pay attention to confidentiality regulations.]
"Okay, okay, you go ahead."
According to our investigation, Zhong Mingxiang's death may not have been simply due to excessive external pressure.
"Tell me more details."
During the time when Zhong Mingxiang's wife and daughter were away, the owner of the large dessert shop visited Zhong's Dim Sum Shop several times and asked to buy the Zhong Mingxiang family's secret recipe.
Zhong Mingxiang refused several times. An interesting fact: Zhong Mingxiang's wife and daughter were involved in a car accident in their hometown. The driver said it was just a warning and fled the scene. Wang Lichun's legs were also disabled in that accident.
Li Muhan's hands slowly clenched.
"Go on."
Two days later, Zhong Mingxiang left a suicide note and chose to commit suicide. The following is the summary of the incident drawn up by the intelligence department based on the oral account of the person involved.
The Zhongji Poisoned Dim Sum incident was a conspiracy orchestrated by the dessert shop in order to bring down the Zhongji Dim Sum Shop and obtain the family's secret recipe. After being rejected, the shop threatened to cause a car accident to the wife and daughter.
But Zhong Mingxiang chose to commit suicide. Perhaps the boss told him to either hand over the formula or die. If he died, he would not trouble his wife and daughter.
"Stupid." Li Muhan shook his head and sighed. "The fact is that his death did not make his wife and daughter's life better. On the contrary, the infamy still lingers around them until now."
[That's right, Zhong Mingxiang's daughter Zhong Ke transferred schools twice, and each time she was put in a very passive situation due to some groundless rumors.]
"Okay, I got it."
"Section Chief Li, that dessert shop has now been upgraded to a large food company. It's quite well-known in Tianhai City and is said to be controlled by the Jia family, one of the four major families. Given your status, you can't just confront them casually."
"I know."
[Yin Qi, Su Xue, and your former subordinates from the Special Management Bureau are not allowed to do this]
"As long as they're not from the Special Management Bureau, that's fine."
[Well, that's all I can say. Chief Li, can I leave work now?]
"Okay, thanks, Xiao Gao."
【......】
After the call was hung up, Li Muhan turned around and looked at the people who were still eating. Zhong Ke and her mother were not as reserved as before.
But the two of them were still cautious in their actions.
God knows how much injustice and contempt they have suffered.
If this dark cloud is really so unscrupulous, then we will turn the world upside down and no one will be able to live in peace.
but.......
"The Jia family...why does it sound so familiar? I don't think I've ever dealt with anyone from this family."
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