50 Chaos Dream
◎He acted coquettishly in a hoarse voice◎
The clerk didn't understand her intention and hesitated, not daring to speak clearly.
Tian Nongxi took over the conversation.
When these words were spoken, the whole audience was in an uproar, but she was the only one who remained calm and composed.
Before the big man could react, the three doctors had already opened the curtain and walked out, heading straight towards the crowd.
They first bowed to everyone and their eyes fell on Tian Nongxi.
Those invited by the host must obtain the host's consent before speaking.
Tian Nongxi nodded, and the three of them looked at each other. The doctor standing a little closer to the front said, "You two have stomach upsets. The three of us have discussed it, and I have prescribed a prescription for you. You can take it daily." After he said that, he handed the prescription in his hand to Tian Nongxi.
The younger man snatched it away, his fierce eyes flashing strangely as he stared straight at Tian Nongxi, "What else do you have to say?"
She took a sip of tea and said indifferently, "Did you have an upset stomach? You can probably tell what you ate."
It's not that she is shirking responsibility, but this matter is so serious and there are so many doubts. Even if she thinks about it, she can feel that something is wrong - her mother became seriously ill after eating the food in her house, so why did she wait until the funeral to come and ask for an explanation? Was she afraid that she would accidentally cure the person after getting the compensation?
"The two girls had pale complexions, thick yellow tongue coatings, constant night sweats, and excruciating abdominal pain. The three of us took their pulses, and they were all very fast, stringy, and slippery. It's likely they ate something spicy."
"That's right, my mother can never handle spicy food."
Tian Nongxi smiled. "The other day, I was talking to the old woman. Even though she was a little hard of hearing, she didn't stop us from chatting. It shows how filial you two are, taking good care of the elderly."
"Of course. I, Fan Chong, am not afraid of anything. The only thing I fear is that my mother will suffer." The younger man, named Fan Chong, looked very pleased with himself and even brushed away his brother's hand that was stretched out to stop him.
Tian Nongxi praised him lightly again, and even found out their names, where they lived, and when they came to the capital to make a living.
It was not until his brother Fan Bing shouted angrily that Fan Chong fled in panic due to Tian Nongxi's flattering reaction.
He touched his head and chuckled, looking at Tian Nongxi with a silly smile.
Tian Nongxi stared at her intently, the smile on his face disappearing at some point. "You said she was still conscious, but why would an old woman with filial children and a happy life eat a large portion of pickles when she knew she couldn't handle spicy food? She should have put them down after the first bite—or was it that the pickles weren't spicy enough for her? If they weren't spicy, why did she vomit and have diarrhea, and even die?"
"Oh! Don't waste your time talking to her. She just doesn't want to admit it." Fan Bing finally spoke, but he was talking to Fan Chong.
"Then let's report it to the police." Tian Nongxi raised his palm and pointed his five fingers in the direction of the two little girls who were hanging their heads. "Your witnesses."
Fan Bin sneered, "What do two illiterate girls know? The shopkeeper is so rich, he can bribe them with just a bag of candy."
This was so unreasonable that it was outrageous. Tian Nongxi stopped Jiang Chang who was about to make a move and pinched her nose and said, "Tell me your demands." She had to know what they were trying to do.
Fan Bing and Fan Chong exchanged a glance, but before they could say anything, a young doctor standing in the corner suddenly stepped forward, clenched his fist, and said, "Here, here... could you please let me take a look at the pickled vegetables you mentioned?"
Tian Nongxi nodded and motioned Jiang Chang to get the pickles.
"Stop." Fan Bing strode forward to stop the two men. His tall and strong figure blocked their way, frightening the doctor so much that his legs went weak and he almost fell to the ground. "How can you prove that your store is not colluding with these three people?"
"No, you..." You are sick.
After finally swallowing the words that were unfavorable to him, Tian Nongxi smiled like a butcher facing a fat pig to be slaughtered during the New Year, with a hint of anticipation in his impatience, "Then report it to the police."
She stood up.
"As for the pickles, I will keep a few portions for each of you and send them to the government office. If you are worried that I may have concealed something, you can come with me to get them immediately."
"Oh, who doesn't know about the collusion between officials and businessmen? How can we, the people, suffer any consequences if we report it to the authorities?"
"Shang—me?" Tian Nongxi smiled his first genuine smile of the day. "You're worrying too much. How would I know anyone in the government?"
I was concentrating on watching the show when a fierce argument suddenly broke out in the crowd, where only the faint sounds of people were heard. One person shouted loudly: "This store is bullying customers!"
One person responded: "Yes, she is so aggressive that it gives me chills."
One person cursed: "You damn bitch, I told you not to go to a shop owned by a foreigner, but you refused to listen to me. If my eldest son gets sick from eating this, I will skin you alive."
Tian Nongxi: “…”
She reacted quickly and realized in an instant that these people were talking too loudly. She squinted her eyes to see their faces clearly.
Jiang Chang ran out of the door with a spatula in hand.
Perhaps he was too impatient, and the spatula in his hand looked like a sharp blade, causing the crowd to scatter like frightened birds.
Tian Nongxi, who failed to stop him, put down his futile hands, feeling both amused and helpless.
In the chaos, the only person stood straight in place, his relaxed eyes met Tian Nongxi's eyes. Seeing her frowning at him, he walked into the door calmly with his hands behind his back.
Jing Wenshu glanced around before he leisurely found the token representing his official status and said jokingly, "The official is here."
Tian Nongxi: “…”
This world will never end.
The three words "Affiliated with the Dali Temple" were clearly engraved on his token, which seemed to indicate that he had been rising rapidly in his career during this period.
Tian Nongxi was very confident in his words just now, but now he is deeply trapped in the quagmire of collusion between officials and businessmen. His thin and black eyebrows are almost twisted into two upright chopsticks.
Jing Wenshu wasn't much better either.
Fan Bingfan grabbed one of his legs and knelt down. Someone's snot and tears mixed together and smeared on his clothes. The scene was so tragic that Tian Nongxi couldn't bear to watch it.
She looked away and naturally didn't see Jing Wenshu's look asking for help.
"Please, Your Excellency, make the decision—"
"Please... wuwua ...
"This official and Shopkeeper Tian are old acquaintances, so I should have recused myself. However, I've been listening outside for a long time, and I really can't do you two justice if I don't hand this matter over to Kaifeng Prefecture." Jing Wenshu pulled the hem of his clothes out of his restraints, lowered his head and smiled at the two of them, "This official will accompany you on this trip."
Fan Bing and Fan Chong got up as if nothing had happened, their eyes wandering.
The girl called Xiaojue suddenly spoke: "We are willing to go to the government to testify." She held her sister's hand and looked straight at Jing Wenshu, her eyes red but her tone firm.
After hearing this, the two men felt reassured and said no more. They each pulled a little girl out of the house like a chicken, and glanced at Tian Nongxi to follow.
Tian Nongxi first asked his servants to clean up the mess, and then he was the last one to go out and follow slowly.
They were arguing with each other just now, but now they were walking side by side. People on the street were watching them with their eyes and their eyes were all on these people.
Jing Wenshu was quite self-satisfied, his voice as usual: "I've known for a long time that Miss Tian would come to Beijing, but I never thought I'd meet her here. It's truly fate."
Tian Nongxi was thinking about how to defend herself in Kaifeng Prefecture when she heard this, and she took the time to reply, "Yes, Lord Jing, what a coincidence." After she finished speaking, she realized the perfunctory tone in her words, pursed her lips and smiled, and added, "When a scholar has been away for three days, he should be treated with new eyes. Lord Jing is truly enviable, having achieved the status of a top scholar in the imperial examination in the morning and the emperor in the evening."
"Vulgar." Jing Wenshu said seriously, "I just want to win the beauty and lie on the couch to massage my wife's shoulders - by the way, my wife is your ex-aunt."
"Congratulations." Tian Nongxi's thoughts had already returned to the things he was worried about, but when he heard these words, he was suddenly pulled back. He didn't know what expression to make for a moment, and after thinking for a while, he added congratulations.
"Your second uncle was executed a long time ago, and he must have passed through the underworld by now."
"Kyou-hmm?" She raised an eyebrow. "So soon?"
Before Jing Wenshu could explain, she convinced herself: "It would be better if I died."
Jing Wenshu shrugged slightly and couldn't help laughing, "You two are really..."
Tian Nongxi looked at him, asking with his eyes what he meant.
"By the way, Miss Tian is imprisoned, why can't I see Your Highness?" Jing Wenshu suddenly changed the subject.
"He's not in the capital." She had selected fabric some time ago and had clothes made. She happily went to the palace, but was told that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had left the capital not long ago.
I don't know what's so urgent, I can't even inform her.
"Oh, men." Tian Nongxi shook his head and said half-jokingly.
Adhering to the mentality of "it is better to demolish ten temples than to ruin a marriage", Jing Wenshu comforted her with witty words that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was always elusive and might have something urgent to tell him.
Tian Nongxi nodded obediently as he spoke casually.
Before reaching the street where Kaifeng Prefecture was located, Jing Wenshu looked up at the position of the sun seriously and said that he was going back to the Dali Temple.
Once he left, there was no possibility of speaking for Tian Nongxi. The Fan brothers calmed down, swallowed their saliva, and stood in front of the guard in front of the Dali Temple.
After the two men finished talking incoherently, one of the guards rushed in to report.
The five people stood at the door for less than a cup of tea before being taken in.
Kaifeng Prefecture is more magnificent than Ruiyang County Government Office. Its roof is soaring into the clouds, and once you enter, you are isolated from the noise of the outside world.
He followed the constable with a dagger for a long time, passing many yamen runners but not seeing any citizens coming to report to the authorities.
Fan Chong nudged his brother and whispered to himself, "Why are there so few people here today?"
Fan Bing glanced at him and didn't respond.
When they reached a certain place, the constable put his hand on his knife and looked back, saying in a businesslike tone: "We're here, everyone, please go in."
The prefect of Kaifeng was a middle-aged man with a long beard, wearing a purple official robe. He looked dignified while listening to the Fan brothers speak.
He spoke only after listening to what happened, and asked the two witnesses to tell the story in detail.
After the two of them finished speaking haltingly, Tian Nongxi was allowed to speak.
The process is official and impeccable.
But Tian Nongxi was a little dissatisfied.
After hearing what they said, the prefect immediately decided to seal the place temporarily and make a decision after the matter was clarified.
It is only natural to close the store for investigation, but why close both stores at the same time?
She squinted her eyes and looked at Fan Bin who said he had two stores, and raised her doubts.
The prefect only said that this was the law of the Yan Dynasty.
When she hurried back, the government had already sealed off Hao Zai Lai.
Looking inside through the window paper, the clerk had cleaned the store as if nothing had happened, but the door was sealed and no one could enter.
The waiter stood at the door with a dejected look on his face, and was about to cry when Tian Nongxi patted his shoulder.
Jiang Chang, who was squatting nearby, saw her and stood up shakily. The way he shook his head was even scarier than stepping into a mud puddle.
She understood what was happening, and pulled them both under the eaves. After confirming that they were blocked by wooden pillars, she asked softly, "Didn't you catch him?" in a tone of certainty.
Seeing Jiang Chang nod with an expression that looked like he was ready to die, he consoled him with a few words before stopping laughing. "Are you sure this dish is okay?"
"Of course!" they said in unison.
"Yes." Tian Nongxi nodded. She had seen all these dishes before. If there was any problem at all, they would not be sent to the kitchen. After cooking, the dishes had to be tested by the chef before they could be served. There was a possibility that the problem was with them, but it was too small.
She took out three purses and said the words she had prepared on the way back: "There is something fishy about this matter, I don't think it will end easily.
"The money here is your wages, three months' wages. This shop will reopen, but I don't know how long it will take. If you trust me, you can stay. If you don't, I don't have to force you to stay. You can leave if you want."
The clerk took the purse, tears welling up in his eyes. He apologized with a sobbing voice, "I'm sorry, boss. I have a wife and children at home. I really... I really can't help it."
"It's okay, see you again if we have the chance." Tian Nongxi replied with a smile.
The guy left with drooping shoulders, the bulging purse in his hand making him feel even emptier inside.
Tian Nongxi was still looking at his back when Jiang Chang, who was unusually silent beside him, suddenly spoke.
"I won't leave." Jiang Chang crossed his arms and looked at her with a firm expression.
"Okay." Tian Nongxi was not surprised. He smiled and patted him. "Good brother, I have it in my heart."
"Take Ge Liming's back and let him make his own decision." Ge Liming is Jiang Chang's friend and he has been on leave for the past few days.
"...Okay." Jiang Chang nodded.
After seeing him off, Tian Nongxi went to Xindian again, took out the prepared purse and did the same thing again.
Tan Xiang was the only one willing to stay in the new store.
The two couldn't even get through the door, so one leaned against the wall and the other sat on the steps in front of the door.
They looked at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"You can still laugh?" Tan Xiang snorted.
"If I don't laugh, am I going to cry?" Tian Nongxi raised the corners of his mouth mechanically.
"Oh, what's going on?"
"It's just something upsetting." Tian Nongxi thanked her for staying. "Good sister, I'm in your heart."
Tan Xiang smiled at first, then her eyes suddenly fell on a place not far away. She stood up and hurriedly said goodbye to Tian Nongxi.
The place where Tian Nongxi was leaning was blocked by a tall pillar. He took two steps forward before realizing what Tan Xiang was mumbling - the boss's husband.
A subtle smile spread across her eyes. She put her palm to her lips and glanced at Tan Xiang and Wen Tingluan with the corner of her eyes curved to greet them.
The tall figure came closer and closer. Tian Nongxi bumped into Wen Tingluan's deep eyes and pouted for some unknown reason: "You still remember to come back."
After she finished speaking, she felt strange herself. She stood up hurriedly and waved her hands, as if to get rid of what she had just said.
But Wen Tingluan had already heard it and was not about to let her go. He walked over and took her hand, his expression gentle: "I'm sorry, I'm late."
"Huh? It's okay." Tian Nongxi realized that the two were not talking about the same topic, so he casually revealed it.
She concealed her inner suspicion that Wen Tingluan was still sending people to monitor her, and reminded him, "I don't need your help.
"I want correct justice. If you rely on your identity to gain innocence, what's the difference between you and those who wronged me?" She has her own logic. Wen Tingluan doesn't understand it, but follows it instinctively.
The moon was shining brightly and lanterns had been hung in all the restaurants, making the place seem even more deserted.
Tian Nongxi lowered his eyes to look at his reflection at his feet, and in return comforted him, but also said to himself: "I can handle it myself. The worst that can happen is that I can just call it a day. Anyway, I've made enough money."
Wen Tingluan chuckled, "Well, but are you willing to be wronged?"
"That's not possible." She replied with a smile.
Without thinking much, she pulled his sleeve to signal him to lower his head, then leaned close to his ear and whispered her plan.
The warm breath swept across my ears, and the scattered hair kept swaying in front of my eyes. Although it did not touch my body, it made my back feel subtle itchy.
Wen Tingluan restrained his gaze and hummed solemnly.
Burned by his gaze, Tian Nongxi hurriedly distanced herself from him.
The two of them had different thoughts and unknowingly walked to Tiannongxi's courtyard.
"I'll go back to the palace first and come to accompany you tomorrow." Wen Tingluan lowered his eyes, his eyelashes fluttering lightly, dancing like butterfly wings in the moonlight.
"Why don't you come in and have a meal? It's so late, have you eaten yet?" Tian Nongxi hesitated.
"No." Wen Tingluan didn't move and looked down at her.
She opened the door and motioned him in, asking, "What do you want to eat?"
Wen Tingluan, who had walked in, looked back at her and said, "Sorry to bother you."
Tian Nongxi: “…”
She waved her hand and said, "Then I'll make some plain noodles. I'm so hungry."
There are only two rooms in this house, a kitchen and a bedroom.
Because the kitchen was needed, Tian Nongxi took a chair from the dormitory and put it in the yard for Wen Tingluan to sit on, and then he went into the kitchen to get busy.
Yangchun noodles are not only delicious but also quick to make. Tian Nongxi is now very rich, so he even put an egg in each of the two bowls.
The noodles were too hot right out of the pot, so she set the table and called Wen Tingluan to eat, but she didn't get a response for a long time.
When I went out, I saw that he was sleeping against the wall.
Tian Nongxi walked closer in disbelief, staring quietly at the sleeping face of the person in front of him, even slowing down his breathing.
The moonlight shone on his face, blurring the sharp edges and giving his originally stern features a hazy softness.
There was a thin patch of dark blue under his stretched eyebrows, but because of his handsome face, Tian Nongxi didn't even notice this "embellishment" that could easily overshadow his handsome face.
She tapped his straight nose and called softly, "Wen Tingluan?" Her voice was so soft and small that it sounded more like a lullaby than an attempt to wake him up.
After watching for a while, Tian Nongxi slowly walked back to the kitchen and finished two bowls of plain noodles with eggs.
After washing the dishes, she still couldn't wake him up, so she had to carry him back to her dormitory and take off his shoes and boots for him.
After doing all this, he was sweating all over. Tian Nongxi bent over and stood beside the bed, looking at Wen Tingluan's sleeping face while relaxing.
Suddenly, she reached out and pulled his slightly pursed lips upwards until they appeared to be an upward arc, then she withdrew her hand with satisfaction.
After admiring his masterpiece for a while, Tian Nongxi turned around and walked out with satisfaction.
After hearing that Luan had occupied her dormitory, she had no choice but to fetch water and wash in the kitchen.
After using hot water to relax his tired body, Tian Nongxi, wearing only his underwear, fell into endless silence at the door of the dormitory.
She bit her lip and looked at Wen Tingluan, who didn't know how much trouble she had given him, but she couldn't get angry because of his face. She had to put on her shirt and walked to the other side of the bed to lie down and sleep with her clothes on.
Moonlight shone through the window lattice onto the bed where Wen Tingluan was sleeping on and off. Tian Nongxi turned her head to look at Wen Tingluan who was sleeping soundly, reached out to brush away the rare messy hair on his forehead, then turned sideways with her back to him and tried to sleep.
Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she got up in a sullen mood, thought for a moment, and took out the quilt that had been put away from the cupboard because of the hot weather and placed it between the two of them.
-
In the early morning, sunlight shines into the quiet cottage.
Feeling the light, the girl sleeping soundly on the small bed trembled her eyelashes and opened her eyes reluctantly after a while.
? !
When his eyes fell upon the handsome face so close to him, Tian Nongxi's confused mind suddenly became clear.
She sat up suddenly and observed the situation calmly.
She didn't know when she fell asleep soundly on Wen Tingluan's arm, her head still buried in the crook of his neck, being hugged by someone.
Tian Nongxi: “…”
If she remembered correctly, she had clearly put a thick quilt between the two of them before going to bed, but when she woke up, the quilt was kicked to the end of the bed, and the two people who were sleeping in separate corners inexplicably rolled into the middle of the bed.
A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Tian Nongxi suppressed his shock, crouched down and got out of bed, being so careful that he didn't make any noise.
She pretended to be fine and washed up, then went back to the dormitory to get her coat.
The cabinet was facing away from the bed, and she was trying her best to reduce her presence. When she heard a sound behind her, she was so frightened that she almost dropped her clothes.
I slowly turned around and found that Wen Tingluan had woken up and sat up without me noticing.
He pinched his nose with sleepy eyes, his voice still hoarse from just waking up: "Why did I fall asleep here? I'm sorry."
Tian Nongxi replied hesitantly: "It's okay."
"By the way," he asked casually, "you only have one bed here, how did you sleep last night?"
"..." Tian Nongxi said nonsense: "What do you care about me? I slept with the pickle jar in my arms."
Wen Tingluan laughed silently, then stood up and hugged her.
"Don't move, let me hold you." He said coquettishly in a hoarse voice, "I'm sleepy."
Perhaps because of the generous sunshine, Wen Ting Luanben's crisp breath seemed especially warm and dry at this moment, enveloping her every sense like an unavoidable sunny day.
Tian Nongxi hesitated for a moment, then stretched out his hands to lightly embrace the peace of mind he longed for during his busy days.
【Author’s words】
Brook (growls): Is that right?
Luan (Innocent): It was the quilt that moved first
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
