Chapter 23
To prevent prisoners from escaping, the prison had only one small window for ventilation, besides the main gate.
Just then, a flock of crows passed by the small window, cawing loudly as they flew away, as if in response to something.
Yu Wan pretended to think, still somewhat doubtful, "I think so too. Even if I didn't agree to your request, you wouldn't be so heartless and inhuman."
Qian Jindai's face twitched.
Yu Wan added, "But the coachman also said..."
Qian Jindai, his face tense, pressed on impatiently, "What else did he say?"
This brat can't believe how she twists her words!
Yu Wan looked at him with her beautiful, innocent eyes, her expression regretful. "I didn't hear you clearly. So I'd like to trouble you, Mr. Qian, to do me this favor and find out who is trying to kill me. I'm really not at ease until this matter is resolved, mainly because I'm worried that I might implicate you, Mr. Qian. If you can help me find out the truth, I'll definitely sign and seal this contract, and then we can cooperate properly."
Qian Jindai pondered for a moment, then squinted and asked, "You're not deliberately playing a trick on me, are you?"
Yu Wan looked terrified and anxiously explained, "Someone wants to kill me! I can't sleep soundly every night until I find out what's going on. Before, I had no status or background, so I thought I'd just let it go. But after we started working together, you became my protector. You have such prestige in this county, can't you even handle such a small matter?"
Qian Jindai took a deep breath and patiently said:
"Alright, I'll check it out for you."
After he left, his fellow inmates breathed a sigh of relief.
"You scared me to death, Madam Yu. We thought you actually believed his nonsense."
“I observed Mr. Qian’s reaction just now, and he definitely did what happened on New Year’s Eve. Did you see how nervous he was when Madam Yu said the coachman left a few words?”
“Madam Yu, we’re going to be your witness.”
Yu Wan told them to be patient, that this was just a test, and that it was still a long way off.
She fabricated the story about the coachman to arouse Qian Jindai's suspicion.
"Now I would like to ask you gentlemen for a favor."
Before she could even say what she was doing, everyone eagerly agreed.
“Madam Yu, just say it. You’ve worked so hard for the whole family at such a young age, and you finally have a way to make a living, yet someone is eyeing you and even trying to kill you. It’s simply outrageous!”
“That’s right! We brothers have nothing but our lives. Rather than starve to death in this world, we’d rather do something meaningful. I’m going all out to help you with this!”
"Tell me, what do you want us to do?"
Yu Wan was deeply moved. "Thank you all. I can't get out now. Could you brothers do me a favor? No matter the outcome, I will definitely repay you."
Everyone agreed in unison.
A moment later, the group started clamoring to find the jailer, saying they had seriously reflected on their actions and promised not to fight again, begging the magistrate to be lenient with them.
The jailer was already an old acquaintance of theirs, and upon hearing their words, he immediately took out his key and opened the cell door.
"The weather is gradually getting warmer, and you lot should find some work to do. If all else fails, go to the mountains to chop firewood and hunt a pheasant or a rabbit. If you all come to the prison to mooch food when you can't afford to eat, what will become of you? The magistrate himself is not doing well, and there's not much left in the granary. He can't afford to feed you all."
The five of them quickly agreed with smiles, gave Yu Wan a wink to reassure her, and then ran off like the wind.
Before leaving, the jailer glanced at Yu Wan, said nothing, and only shook his head and sighed.
Yu Wan was left alone in the prison. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. There wasn't a single person to talk to. The prison warden simply brought her food on time and didn't say a word to her.
However, the jailer would try his best to fulfill her requests. For example, if she wanted paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones, the jailer would quickly bring them over.
She wasted no time, taking the opportunity to transfer the drawing she had made on the ground to paper, creating a magnificent five-story building, much larger than Fu Man Ju and Zui Xian Lou combined. This was an ancient version of the shopping mall building she had drawn in her previous life, a vision of hers.
"It will happen sooner or later!" She admired her work with satisfaction.
I just wonder what's going on outside.
Three days later.
Qian Jindai came to visit me in prison again, seemingly bringing good news. He spoke with a smile.
“Madam Yu, I have completed the task you entrusted to me. We can sign and seal the document today.”
Yu Wan was curious about what kind of nonsense this person was going to make up this time. She didn't rush to ask about the coachman, but instead inquired about Zhu Zhifeng's situation.
"Mr. Qian, how is Miss Zhu? The magistrate has been offering a reward for days, is there really no one who can save her? Also, why hasn't the magistrate held court yet? It must be you who's been intervening and stalling for time for me, right? You're such a kind person!"
Qian Jindai was overjoyed, thinking he had victory in his grasp, and inadvertently told the truth.
"She won't wake up anytime soon."
Then, his expression changed drastically, and he tried to justify himself, "What I mean is, the magistrate is extremely busy and has no time to spare for you. He has consulted many doctors, but none of them can help. Madam Yu, I have heard that the magistrate's wife is now crying every day and has already threatened to punish you. Now that no other suspects can be found, you are the most likely person to have poisoned her, so even if you cry out that you are innocent, it will be useless."
Yu Wan chuckled inwardly; this man's true colors were about to be revealed.
She pretended to be very scared.
"Mr. Qian, what should I do now?"
Qian Jindai narrowed his eyes and took out the written contract again.
"My divine healer friend has arrived here and is now waiting for your word."
Yu Wan looked at the contract. This unscrupulous merchant had added two clauses to it, not only forcing her to sell herself into slavery, but also forcing her to sell her restaurant and her younger brother to her at an extremely low price.
She pretended not to know how to read, "Boss Qian, what's written on this? It seems like there are a few more lines than last time."
Qian Jindai chuckled and said, "I added a few more clauses when I got back. Don't worry, we're partners, this benefits both of us. You should have heard of the saying 'even brothers should keep clear accounts,' so naturally I'll write it all down clearly. I won't treat you unfairly. Everyone knows my name, Qian Jindai, why would I lie to a young girl like you?"
Yu Wan looked hesitant, as if she had already been persuaded.
"What about the coachman? How's your investigation going?"
Qian Jindai was overjoyed to see that she had lost her previous arrogance. Now, as long as this girl signed a contract, from now on, she would only be his slave and help him earn a lot of money!
“I was just about to tell you that I don’t need to investigate the coachman’s matter. Someone has already found out for you. It was Young Master Jin. He sent someone to find the coachman. Once Miss Zhu is cured of the poison, we can ask the magistrate to try the case and avenge you.”
At this moment, Jin Yifei, accompanied by two constables, escorted a prisoner into the jail.
The prisoner kept begging for mercy and crying out that he was innocent, "Young Master Jin, it wasn't me, I really didn't do it. Please, have mercy and let me go!"
Yu Wan looked closely and realized that this man was Zhang Pu, the husband of Wan Niangzi's best friend from the cloth shop.
The person who came to the restaurant to pick her up and take her to the county town that day was indeed him, but he was not the coachman who took her away from the county town and abandoned her and the carriage in the wilderness.
As soon as Zhang Pu saw Yu Wan, he hurriedly explained.
"Madam Yu, I really wasn't the one who saw you off from the county town that day! You have to be my witness! Young Master Jin said I plotted to harm you, but this has nothing to do with me!"
Before Yu Wan could even speak, Qian Jindai jumped out to testify against him.
He was furious and pointed at Zhang Pu's nose, yelling insults.
"You, Zhang Pu! I always thought you were honest and upright, but I never expected you to be so wicked. That day, I clearly saw Lady Yu get into your carriage and leave the magistrate's residence. Why would you harm a young girl like that? What did she do to you? Even if it was the New Year and you were given less reward money, it didn't warrant taking someone's life!"
Yu Wan knew, of course, that Zhang Pu wasn't behind it, but the situation was rather delicate.
At that moment, she noticed Jin Yifei winking at her, and she understood.
Zhang Pu tried to protest his innocence, but Jin Yifei scolded him and silenced him.
As Qian Jindai watched Jin Yifei and the constables leave, he felt that victory was just around the corner.
"How is it, Madam Yu? The matter you were worried about has been resolved. Can you sign and put your fingerprint on it now?"
Yu Wan was still hesitant. "But, was it really this driver who harmed me? Why does his voice sound so strange? It's a pity I didn't see his face clearly that night, I only heard his voice."
Hearing her say that, Qian Jindai felt even more relieved. "It was freezing cold back then, and her voice might have become hoarse from the cold."
Yu Wan smiled and said, "Mr. Qian is right. However, I can't sign this contract right now."
Qian Jindai's expression changed. "You brat, you're playing me!"
His patience had run out. After several days of back and forth, if he weren't in prison right now, he would have torn this girl apart with his own hands.
His eyes flashed with a fierce light as he stared angrily at Yu Wan's face, attempting to intimidate her with his aura.
Yu Wan smiled and said, "You've misunderstood. I'm just worried that the miracle doctor won't be able to save Miss Zhu. Do you really think he can?"
Qian Jindai asked, "Are you afraid I'll cheat you? Business is about integrity. What if I save someone first and then you go back on your word and refuse to sign the contract with me?"
Yu Wan said, "Then let's compromise. Bring that miracle doctor to see me tomorrow. As long as I know that such a person really exists, I will believe you and sign the contract immediately. But you can't find a fake one to deceive me. I've been getting medicine and seeing doctors for my mother recently, and I've learned about some medicinal herbs and their uses from the doctors. I'm going to test him."
After a few rounds of verbal sparring, Qian Jindai stormed off in a huff to find the miracle doctor he had been talking about.
There were two people left in the cell.
Zhang Pu sobbed softly in his cell, crying and shouting that he was innocent.
"Madam Yu, what have I done to offend you? Why didn't you prove my innocence to the constables just now?"
Just as Yu Wan was about to say a few words of comfort, she noticed someone hiding in the shadows eavesdropping.
"Brother, let's wait for the magistrate to hear the case. He will surely give us a fair and just result."
The next morning, Yu Wan had just finished breakfast when she saw Qian Jindai and a middle-aged man arrive.
Qian Jindai introduced with a smile, "Madam Yu, this is the miracle doctor I was talking about. Just call him Dr. Zhao."
Yu Wan asked a few questions related to pharmacology, and the other party answered them readily.
Seeing that she couldn't get anything out of him, Qian Jindai urged, "Since there's no problem, just sign it. I still need to take Doctor Zhao to save Miss Zhu."
Suddenly, Jin Yifei rushed in with several constables.
"Take them down immediately!"
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