The deceased was Song Dazhi, a notorious local slacker, in his early thirties and still unmarried. His parents had frozen to death two years earlier, and his two younger sisters, one married far away and the other still in the county, were both helping to make the ointment in the Cao family's courtyard.
After Jian Ning and Qiao Feng went back to cook, Cao and the others finished canning all the ginkgo paste from the pots. They were about to go back to their rooms to cook and resume work in the afternoon when Song Dazhi ran in, cursing. He kept cursing the old man selling fried cakes on the street, saying that he didn't know what kind of dead food he used to fry the fried cakes. He was so sick of eating them that he clamored to buy a can of the cheapest ginkgo paste to relieve the nausea.
His sister immediately told him that the cheapest dish cost 180 coins, and asked him if he could afford it. He patted his chest and said that he had collected two taels of silver from the government office when Huo Jincheng came last time, and he still had some money left, so how could he not afford it?
His sister immediately spat at him, saying it was a miracle that a mouse could save food the next day! She also said that if he wanted to buy something, he had to pay first and she would not be responsible for cleaning his ass.
Unexpectedly, he sneered twice and actually took out a pile of copper coins from his arms. His sister and Cao counted them and found that there were exactly one hundred and eighty coins, no more and no less.
Ginkgo paste would be sold to anyone, and since he was rich, there was no reason not to sell it to him. His sister asked Cao to collect the money, and then personally brought him a jar of thin ginkgo paste containing one pound of liquid.
He immediately peeled off the seal, picked up the can and gulped down a few big gulps. Then he raised the can and smashed it on the ground, cursing, "What a shit! It smells so fishy!" His sister glared at him angrily and was about to grab him to argue, but he grabbed his throat with both hands, stumbled a few steps, and fell to the ground.
After falling to the ground, he still had his hands tightly clutching his neck, his eyes staring at his sister, his throat making "Ahhh" sounds but unable to utter a single word.
Before the women in the yard could react, he kicked his legs violently several times, his eyeballs almost popping out of his sockets. Seeing this, his sister spat at him again in anger, thinking that he was pretending to have epilepsy and trying to extort money as before.
As a result, as soon as he spat, blood came out of his mouth, ears and nose. The women in the yard screamed. His sister woke up from her daze, shouted and rushed over.
Cao was a hermit with some experience and courage. She walked forward with a look of surprise and leaned over to check his mouth and nose. There was no breath, and he seemed to be really dead.
The commotion in the courtyard attracted quite a few people, who rushed in to ask what was going on. After Cao explained what had happened, someone suddenly shouted, "Ginkgo paste can kill people!"
Upon hearing this, Cao was so angry that she jumped up and down and cursed, saying that they had all tried it and no one had died. An old man walked out from the crowd, pointed at the jars of ginkgo paste, and asked Cao if she dared to open a jar and eat it on the spot to prove her innocence.
The old man's words stumped Cao. After all, Song Dazhi was a healthy man, but he died after eating a few mouthfuls of ginkgo paste.
She was undecided and panicked, then she remembered to send her daughter-in-law Xiuqin to call Jian Ning.
Jian Ning was scolding Erniu and Sanniu in the kitchen, telling them not to interfere in the affairs of the adults and ordering them to pick up the discarded clothes and take them back to their rooms.
Erniu and Sanniu went out to pick up clothes. As soon as they brought the clothes back to the room, Xiuqin ran over in panic, holding the baby.
Upon hearing that ginkgo paste could kill people, Jian Ning threw away the kitchen knife, took off her apron and ran out. Erniu and Sanniu called out "Mom" and followed her.
Qiao Feng put out the fire, ran to get Jian Ning's medicine box, and chased after her master, calling him.
Cai Sibei was talking with Lu Da in the yamen in the front yard. When they heard that someone had died, they rushed out and followed Qiaofeng to the Cao family's yard.
From a distance, Jian Ning could hear the commotion in the Cao family's courtyard. Before she could even get close, someone shouted, "The official's wife is here. Tell her why she would make this harmful thing when there's no grudge against her."
Jian Ning glanced at the people crowded outside the courtyard gate and saw several unfamiliar faces. After the news of the imperial court's disaster relief in Danyang spread, small vendors had recently come to Danyang with their poles on their shoulders to set up stalls and do business. Those who had no money could even exchange goods. If these vendors from other places really came here mainly to make money, they would definitely not say such obviously inflammatory words and try to provoke conflicts between the people and the government.
As the wife of the county magistrate, she naturally represented the government in the eyes of the common people. She was also familiar with this tactic; Ding Youtian had used it before at the Yancheng Prefecture government office. Her heart sank. This incident seemed to be targeting her and Ding Youtian. She wondered if it was someone sent by Prince Yong or Prince Rui. She wasn't so anxious, however. Since the other party was intent on causing trouble, they were undoubtedly dead.
"Oh, I forgot to bring the medicine box." Jane Ning shouted deliberately, then hurriedly turned around and walked back. When she turned around the courtyard wall and saw Xiuqin who was catching up with the baby, she whispered to her to go back with the baby first, then waved to Qiaofeng who was catching up from behind, signaling her to stand still.
Qiaofeng hurriedly called out to Erniu and Sanniu.
Jian Ning walked over quickly and took the medicine box from Qiao Feng's shoulder. Even though the person was dead, he still had to put it away.
"Uncle Lu, Brother Cai." Jian Ning greeted Lu Da and Cai Sibei who had come up from behind, and then asked Lu Da, "Where's my husband? Why didn't I see him coming?"
When she asked about Ding Youtian, Lu Da suddenly remembered that he hadn't told Jian Ning yet, and hurriedly said, "Someone came to report earlier that some of us who were selling apples in the neighboring county had a quarrel and a fight. Lord Ding led Xu Dali, Niu San and the others to the neighboring county. I was going to let you know, but he happened to come."
Lu Da nodded towards Sisley Choi.
Jian Ning sneered inwardly. How could it be such a coincidence? It seemed that the other party had brought quite a few people this time. Did they know how difficult Ding Youtian was to deal with and specially sent him away?
"Did Guoguo and Baimei go with my husband?" Jian Ning asked Lu Da. He said, "I only saw Guoguo go with him, but didn't notice Baimei. I guess they went together. They always play together."
Jian Ning felt relieved. With Xu Dali around, she didn't have to worry about Ding Youtian's safety.
"Uncle Lu." Jian Ning lowered her voice, "Something's wrong today. They're targeting me and my husband. Please take the three of them to a safe place for the time being. I'll take care of this here. Thank you very much."
"Brother-in-law, listen to Madam Jian and take the children to hide quickly." Cai Sibei knew Jian Ning's ability and knew that she was now Princess An Ning, but she was still used to calling her Madam Jian.
Seeing her serious expression, he knew that this matter was of no trivial importance, so he persuaded Lu Da to take Qiaofeng and the others away quickly.
"Master, be careful." Qiao Feng took one girl by the hand, and then pulled Erniu and Sanniu together. "Don't distract your mother. Follow your sister."
Seeing this, Erniu was a little scared and wanted to cry, but she heard Sanniu shouting to Jian Ning, "Mom, be careful." She looked at Sanniu with a stern face and hurriedly held back her tears. She was the older sister, so she also shouted, "Mom, my sister and I will be obedient."
"Well, be good." Jian Ning nodded, "Follow Sister Qiaofeng and Uncle Lu, Mom will come to find you."
"You take care of yourself, and you can rest assured by leaving them to me." Lu Da didn't say much and returned with the three of them and the two little silver foxes.
After watching them walk away, Jian Ning invited Cai Sibei to go to Cao's house together.
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