Mojing, the city that never sleeps
"You're really tough. You've persisted for so long."
After hearing this, Qin Niang felt impressed. These people from the martial arts world had just come to Mojing a few days ago, and it seemed like they were being chased by someone and were fleeing here.
Mojing is a city of bright lights and feasting, with many new things attracting them, and hibiscus slices are no exception.
They heard that it was something that could make people addicted after eating it, and it was described too absolutely, so they thought it was just an exaggeration.
I don't think there is anything that can make you addicted just by taking it once. Even if it is possible, it must be because those people are too weak and lack strong willpower.
So these people refused to believe it and wanted to try the power of the hibiscus slices.
Everyone started practicing martial arts before they could even speak, and after completing their studies, they were often involved in sparring matches and life-and-death duels with their peers. Naturally, the more they won, the more arrogant they became.
Not long after the first use, I started to feel manic and itchy.
Knowing that this was a symptom of addiction, they became even more dissatisfied. After learning that Hibiscus slices were also sold in the ghost market, they angrily went to the top floor of Jilefang.
Seeing that Qin Niang was just a woman, they were even less afraid.
Because of the drug addiction, he was in a very bad mood and even more aggressive. His words were inevitably out of control and he almost started a fight.
Of course, Qin Niang would not tolerate such a person. She directly ordered her men to arrest him and send him to the basement of the pottery factory.
Since it is a tough nut to crack, feed it more hibiscus slices than an ordinary person within a few days.
This approach has indeed worked, and they have become complete addicts.
Zhang Gusheng continued, "I was planning to ask you to come over these past two days, but today is just a coincidence."
"Really?" A light flashed in Qin Niang's eyes, and the curve of her whole face was rising.
"Those Jianghu people, when they were tortured beyond recognition by drug addiction, presented this thing to us, saying it was an important token of the Wulin Alliance. We don't know if it's true or not. Take it and inquire about it in the Ghost Market. It might be useful to us in the future."
As Zhang Gusheng was speaking, he had already walked to the wall. He pressed his fingers on it a few times, and a brick moved slightly outwards, revealing a hidden world inside.
He took out a small box from it and handed it to Qin Niang.
Qin Niang took it with both hands, looking a little lonely. She thought that she was called for some other private matter, but it turned out to be just these things.
She lowered her head, snapped her fingers, opened the box, and saw an iron sign inside.
Although it can be seen that it is well-made, it is not a rare treasure and there is nothing worth paying attention to.
However, since it is a token of trust, it must have some use on her. Qin Niang has decided to make good use of it. If she can develop the master's Hibiscus slice business in the martial arts world, the master will definitely value her more.
Most martial artists move around freely in the world, which can help them open up the situation.
Qin Niang had already made some calculations in her mind: "Master, rest assured, Qin Niang will definitely live up to your expectations."
"In that case, you should go back first. I have something important to deal with here."
Zhang Gusheng still had an indifferent expression on his face, without any unnecessary emotional fluctuations.
Holding the box in her arms, Qin Niang stood up slowly and said, "I'll take my leave."
"You forgot to close the door when you came in." Shi Yan heard that she was leaving, and thought that they had just focused most of their attention on exploring the basement. After entering the downward staircase, they did not close the door again.
Xia Jialian had already started off when he heard this: "I'll go find the off switch. We'll meet in the small warehouse later."
As long as he hid next to the shelf in the small warehouse, Qin Niang would walk out the door without noticing him.
He crouched down and returned along the same route, leaving faster than Qin Niang.
"How has the progress been these days?" Zhang Gusheng looked at the workers who were working hard.
Most people are still producing the commonly used hibiscus slices. As for the latest developed products, only a few skilled people are left to make them.
Zhang Li placed his hands on his waist and answered seriously, "At the latest, a new batch of finished products will be available the day after tomorrow. The senior engineer in charge of R&D said that there will be no mistakes this time."
"We've been more cautious recently. Workers can't leave the small warehouse. They eat and sleep here."
"Yes, I have already given instructions. There will be no mistakes. Don't worry, Patriarch."
Zhang Li took Zhang Gusheng with him and walked towards the production area to take a look.
The place where Ding Can and the other two were hiding became quiet.
She remembered what the Shu brothers and sisters had said about the mission of finding a token in Mojing, which coincided with what she had just heard.
Probably, the martial artists entrenched in the city would never have thought that the person whom they could not find anywhere in the city had his mind affected by the Hibiscus Piece and was imprisoned underground.
Now, as long as I go out and tell them this news, it can be considered as accidentally helping others complete the copy mission.
Not hearing any more important information, and guessing that Qin Niang had left, the three of them returned to the entrance of the secret passage.
They didn't know how to find the martial artists imprisoned downstairs, and it wasn't related to the mission, so they were just waiting for others to rescue them.
At present, the most important thing is to communicate the information we have found with Yang Pu and then report it to the government.
Back in the small warehouse, Xia Jialian, who was hiding, saw that it was them and came out from the dark.
He had not been idle during this short period of time. He found the smallest piece of pottery on the shelf that was suitable for carrying around.
I plan to smash the pottery after I get out to see if there are indeed hibiscus pieces inside.
"Let's go. It's time to tell Zhang Shutang everything."
Several people left the ventilation duct again and restored several abandoned boxes outside the warehouse to their original state to avoid being discovered that someone had been there.
This place is located in the south of the city, not too close to the Bamboo Garden, so Ding Can went to Zhuyemen on the way.
She told Shu Yubei all the news she had heard about the token, hoping to meet him again in the dungeon, and then said goodbye in a hurry.
I got help from Shu Shenan before, and now we are in a relationship of give and take.
This time, when approaching the bamboo garden, Ding Can was more cautious. Knowing that there was Zhang Gusheng's spy at the door, he chose to climb over the wall to go in.
It was already past noon and the sun was shining brightly. Xiaoying squinted her eyes and watered the flowers in the courtyard.
Most of the plants are bamboo, and there are also various flowers as embellishments.
Suddenly she heard a series of sounds of things hitting the grass, and she was startled until several people with leaves on their bodies appeared in the grass.
She recognized that one of them was the criminal detective who had left early in the morning, and she felt less scared.
"Miss Ding? How did you get in over the wall?"
"It's a long story. Your young lady and Yang Pu are both in Zhuyuan now, right?"
Ding Can shook off the dust from his shoulders nonchalantly and smiled.
Xiaoying still held the spray bottle in her hand, feeling puzzled, but still chose to answer first: "The Second Miss is in the room. I don't know about Young Master Yang, but he should be organizing the herbs in the pharmacy."
Ding Can thought for a moment and said, "Take us to find Zhang Shutang first. We have something important to discuss with her."
Although Xiaoying didn't know the details, she could guess that it was related to the master, so she didn't dare to delay and took the person over directly.
When I arrived at the bedroom, Zhang Shutang was practicing calligraphy.
There was a lot of space on one side of her room. Apart from a large desk, there were only a few wide-mouthed porcelain bottles of different sizes placed next to it.
There are many old-looking manuscripts rolled up inside the porcelain vase, and they are all full, which should be the result of many times of practice.
Zhang Shutang stood in front of the desk, his back straight, his fingertips gripping the tip of the brush, his eyes looking downward, but his body still upright.
The non-lazy shape enables the wrist to exert better force. The soft hairs of the small tip of the pen bend downwards several times along with the force, and after passing a smooth angle, it is quickly lifted up. Each stroke is very smooth.
The afternoon sun is still strong, and even with the windows closed, the room still reflects obvious light.
There was incense burning in the room, and white smoke was floating up in irregular patterns, lingering in the light.
Zhang Shutang's face was also shrouded in white smoke, and it was not clear, with his features and outlines blurred.
Perhaps because she was concentrating on the pen, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed and her expression was solemn.
The moment Ding Can saw the incense, he thought of the experience of being infected last night.
However, since Zhang Shutang is the one using this incense, there shouldn't be any problem. It just makes people feel calm and at peace when they smell it.
Zhang Shutang was so focused on writing that he didn't notice several people appearing at the door.
Ding Can glanced at the door and saw that the running script was about to end, so he didn't rush and just waited.
It was not until Zhang Shutang finally finished the last stroke and his body visibly relaxed that he saw it when he lifted up the rice paper to observe it.
She only knew Ding Can, but she also knew the identity of the person next to him.
She put the rice paper back on the desk. The ink was not dry yet, so she couldn't put it directly into the porcelain vase.
Zhang Shutang took a few steps to greet them: "When did you get here?"
"Just for a moment, not long."
It was the first time for Ding Can to come to Zhang Shutang’s room in Zhuyuan. He replied and took the lead to walk to the round table and sit down.
It was still early, and Zhang Shutang knew that since she had returned at this time, she had come to see her first, so there must be something important.
"These are the detectives who came into the city with you, right? They came to see me. Have you made any progress?"
Ding Can clenched his hands on the table and raised his eyes. "Before I tell you about these things, there's a premise you must understand. To be honest, we find it hard to believe either."
Seeing that she seemed a little embarrassed, Zhang Shutang just thought that during the investigation, she found evidence that her father had done some other bad things.
To be honest, if she knew that her father had some unknown crimes, she would not be surprised.
As a child, it is not in line with orthodox filial piety to arbitrarily speculate and judge your parents' behavior.
Between filial piety and justice, she chose the latter.
Zhang Shutang had thought about the possible results a long time ago, which would be nothing more than the emergence of various different voices.
She was praised for sacrificing her own family for the sake of justice, resolving the hidden dangers of Furong Pian and helping many people around the world.
Or perhaps it means that she is selfish and unfilial, and for the sake of fame she would not hesitate to push her biological father, who had raised her in luxury since childhood, into a desperate situation.
But no matter which situation it is, she will suffer from self-blame and guilt for the rest of her life.
A bitter smile appeared on Zhang Shutang's lips: "Okay, go ahead."
"Zhang Gusheng knows you're here. He might even be aware of everything you and Yang Pu planned before."
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