Yan Xia wiped away non-existent tears.
She said, her eyes red.
"I built this shop from scratch. Who would want to harm me like this? My secret recipe isn't even complete. So what if they stole it? I improved the flower cake recipe after buying it before making it for sale. It's unique to the Yan family. The real recipe only exists in my mind. I'm just angry. These people will do anything for money. If they can break into a house to rob someone today, will they kill someone tomorrow? My poor eldest daughter-in-law is pregnant. I wanted to bring her to the shop to take care of her. Now, how can I let her come? They dare to steal in broad daylight! I'm scared!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Jin Fu returned with Zuo Li.
Upon hearing that the secret recipe of Yan's pastry shop had been stolen, Zuo Li brought more than a dozen brothers to investigate.
"Manager Yan, please explain yourself clearly. How did you discover that the secret recipe was missing?"
Yan Xia stood up, trembling.
Several female customers were supporting her.
"It's a long story. A few days ago, I found a strange bottle in the kitchen. I thought it was the fine salt my children had just bought, and I was about to put it in the dishes when I brought it close to my face. But then I smelled something strange. It was clearly a white powder, but the smell was so odd. When I asked them, they both said they had never seen this bottle before. I became suspicious, so I called a doctor to come and check what it was. I was worried that my children would be scared, so I lied to the doctor and said that my son had found the bottle. Guess what? He said it was poison powder made from a deadly herb, and that eating just a little would kill you!"
“I panicked. I locked the backyard door every day and never opened it, thinking that I had unknowingly made an enemy. I checked everything in the backyard of the shop. I dared not use the grain and seasonings anymore and replaced them all with new ones. Today, when I was cleaning the backyard, I suddenly remembered that the secret recipe for the flower cakes was hidden behind the kitchen door. Then I thought of the poison powder and quickly went to check if the secret recipe was there. Sure enough, the secret recipe was gone! This person came for the secret recipe. Not only that, he also wanted to harm my whole family. If we had ingested that bottle of poison powder, my whole family would have died.”
"Officer Zuo, you must do us justice! Our lives are the least of our worries; this villain is so audacious! If my guest had accidentally ingested the powder, how many people would have been harmed? Luckily, I discovered it early. In broad daylight, to treat human life so lightly is terrifying! You must do us ordinary people justice!"
After Yan Xia finished speaking, she wanted to kneel on the ground.
Just as his knees bent, Zuo Li pulled him up.
"Manager Yan, there's no need for that. We know each other. Even if we didn't, I would still investigate thoroughly. Brothers, let's get to work. Go check Manager Yan's backyard for any traces left by thieves."
"Manager Yan, could you please show me the poison powder? And who is the doctor you invited?"
Zuo Li never showed favoritism in official matters, so naturally he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Since Yan Xia dared to pull this stunt, she must have put on a very elaborate show.
After the doctor's confirmation, Zuo Li completely believed Yan Xia's words.
There were still many people watching the play inside the shop.
Many people also lingered outside the gate.
Just as Zuo Li was about to begin his investigation, a voice rang out outside the shop, silencing everyone.
"There was a shop in the next town that sold flower cakes yesterday. It seems to have just opened. Is it related to Manager Yan's secret recipe?"
The person hid in the crowd, finished speaking, and ran away.
It was the beggar that Yan Xia had paid to hire.
"Oh dear, so the thief was in the neighboring town. I just said that whoever sells flower cakes is the thief. Look, he's been exposed."
"No wonder they dared to poison and steal so openly. So they're from a neighboring town. They must be thinking that Manager Yan can't find them, right?"
"This is incredibly audacious! Stealing the secret recipe is one thing, we can even assume it's for money, but poisoning him is murder! If he had succeeded, how many people would have died? Constable Zuo, this kind of thief should be arrested and brought to justice, sentenced to death, as a warning to others!"
"...."
Hearing the noise from these people, Yan Xia recalled a story from the modern internet.
A girl was taking the train home when her phone was stolen. She asked everyone she met where the thief had gone, but no one paid any attention to her.
The girl had a sudden inspiration and lied that the thief was a patient with an infectious disease and that he was holding a syringe with his own blood and was pricking people everywhere.
Well, that was good. In less than half an hour, the thief was caught by the people on the train.
Therefore, onlookers, once they realize they are also potential victims, will feel indignant and want to help others, because they have projected themselves into the situation.
Yan Xia lowered her head, smiled slightly, and then her expression turned angry again.
"Officer Zuo, did you hear that? This thief is so audacious! He opened a shop right after stealing the secret recipe. It seems like it was planned beforehand. No wonder he poisoned us on his first theft. Could he be an expert? Good heavens, what if the flower cakes they sell are poisoned?!"
Yan Xia said, feigning surprise.
Zuo Li's expression immediately changed.
“Brothers, come with me.”
Soon, Zoli left with his officers.
Yan Xia sat in the shop for a while, waiting for the audience to disperse.
She pretended to cheer up and started selling flower cakes again.
"Everyone, please rest assured. My shop has already been inspected by Constable Zuo, and there are no further abnormalities. Fortunately, I was quick-witted that day and noticed something was wrong with the bottle. I hope Constable Zuo can catch this villain and prevent him from harming other shops."
After this incident, Yan Xia gained another wave of goodwill.
With Zuo Li's name attached, it's practically a blatant endorsement that her shop has been officially verified as a safe place to buy from.
This also prevents the emergence of various counterfeit products in the future, as people would think they were made using stolen secret recipes.
After all, Manager Yan himself admitted that the secret recipe was incomplete.
The taste wasn't right when I made it.
That's killing two birds with one stone.
After such a performance, it was already past noon.
The shop will be closed for half an hour.
Yan Xia simply ate a bowl of vegetarian noodles with her children.
The Zhao family in the neighboring town.
Business improved somewhat thanks to Chen Shouzhu's promotion.
Only three pots were left to sell.
"Honey, if we can't sell the rest, we'll keep them until tomorrow and reheat them."
“If you bring it back, the color will be even darker, so you can only sell it at a low price. So, you go to the door and keep shouting that it's being sold cheaply, and you can get a free bag with every bag you buy. That way, you can sell a bag for 150 coins, which is better than selling it for 100 coins a bag.”
Chen Shouzhu's throat was hoarse.
But she dared not disobey the head of the household, so she could only gulp down a glass of water and continue shouting at the door.
"Come in and take a look, everyone! We're opening a new shop, and we're having a buy-one-get-one-free sale on delicious flower cakes! A bag is only 300 coins! These flower cakes are piping hot, and every bite is bursting with flavor. Come on in and check them out, there are only three bowls left. Once they're gone, you'll have to wait until tomorrow!"
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