First Snow in Qin Prefecture
Pei Qingwu felt an unexpected sense of calm.
She held back Wu Niang, who wanted to step forward to argue, and went forward herself, saying, "This guest, please don't get agitated. If there is really a problem with my family's pastries, I will not refuse to compensate you. But if not, I, Pei Qingwu, will never take the blame."
The man sneered, "That sounds nice, but who knows if you're just trying to shirk responsibility? Let me tell you, if you don't give me an explanation today, you can forget about keeping this shop open."
For a moment, Pei Qingwu was both annoyed and amused.
The scenario of claiming someone got sick from eating snacks and then coming to her door to extort money has played out several times already, and these people never seem to get tired of it!
Behind the man, several people carrying the "patient" joined in the commotion, shouting "Pay compensation!" and "Report to the authorities!" This attracted many early-rising neighbors and customers who were preparing to buy snacks to gather around and point at the shop.
Fifth Sister was so angry that her eyes turned red, Yu Yi bit her lower lip tightly, and Manager Zhou and his wife also looked nervous.
Gu Heng clenched his fist, subconsciously took half a step forward, and stood slightly to the side of Pei Qingwu, watching the troublemakers warily.
Pei Qingwu remained calm and carefully examined the person being carried.
The man's face was indeed pale, and he was groaning and crying out while clutching his stomach.
But Pei Qingwu noticed that his gaze was not unfocused, and he even subconsciously avoided her gaze when she looked at him.
In comparison, his voice sounds somewhat deliberate and exaggerated.
"As all the neighbors know," Pei Qingwu raised his voice, addressing the onlookers, "since the opening of my Su Shan Xiao Ji shop, whether it's the main store or this newly opened branch, we've always used the finest ingredients and emphasized cleanliness and hygiene. If there's truly a problem with my pastries, let alone compensation, I'll close this shop immediately, without a second thought!"
She paused, her gaze turning sharply to the man at the head of the group: "But everything needs evidence. You say your brother is like this because he ate my family's Bijian bean cake, then I ask you, besides this cake, what else did he eat and drink yesterday? Did you have a doctor examine him? What did the doctor say? What caused the vomiting and diarrhea?"
A barrage of questions was thrown at him, and the man was clearly taken aback for a moment. He stammered, "He... he only ate this cake! He didn't eat anything else! The doctor said... the doctor said he ate something bad!"
“Oh?” Pei Qingwu raised an eyebrow slightly and approached the “patient” being carried: “Young man, may I take a look at your tongue and eyelids? To be honest, I have some medical knowledge and may be able to see some clues.”
Upon hearing this, the "patient" stiffened and his eyes became even more evasive.
Pei Qingwu sneered inwardly, but showed no sign on his face, and continued, "Furthermore, the main ingredients of my Bijian Bean Cake are rice flour mixed with mugwort juice, red bean paste, and a little bit of chopped walnuts. If it were really due to unclean ingredients or a problem in the production process that caused the diners to feel unwell, it would be impossible for only you, my lord, to be the only one who was affected!"
"Yesterday I gave away no fewer than several hundred boxes of these Bijian bean cakes, and sold countless more. Why are all the other customers safe and sound, but only you, my lord..."
She hadn't finished speaking, but the onlookers already showed thoughtful expressions.
Some people whispered among themselves: "Yeah, I bought some yesterday too, and my whole family ate it, and we were fine."
"These pastries looked so clean, how could they be..."
Seeing the situation was turning sour, the leader's expression changed, and he interrupted Pei Qingwu sharply: "Stop with your sweet talk! My brother is like this because he ate your cake! Who knows if it's because he's weak and can't handle your petty tricks!"
"Weak body? Can't take it?" Pei Qingwu seized on the key words in his words and pressed him for details: "From what you're saying, could it be that your brother is intolerant to certain foods? For example, mugwort, or walnuts?"
She clearly remembers that some people are indeed allergic to mugwort or nuts, and symptoms may include abdominal pain, vomiting, and rashes.
The ancients were not fools; they had the concept of allergies. At the very least, if a normal person ate something that made them feel unwell, they would consciously try to avoid it.
The man's words in his haste almost confirmed her suspicions.
The man and the "patient's" expressions changed drastically at the same time.
Pei Qingwu gave the other party no time to react, his tone suddenly turning stern: "Young man! Tell me honestly, did you knowingly eat this Bijian Bean Cake knowing you shouldn't touch mugwort or walnuts, in order to extort money from me?!"
"I...I didn't!" the "patient" denied in a panic, but his voice was filled with guilt.
"No?" Pei Qingwu sneered. "No? Then let's discuss that!"
"According to the Commentary on the Law, 'Those who make false accusations shall be punished in return!' Today, you have gathered a crowd to cause trouble, tarnished the reputation of my shop, and destroyed my goods. This is a false accusation! If the accusation is verified, the punishment you shall receive for the crime of 'consuming human flesh' shall be your own punishment!"
"The Miscellaneous Laws state, 'Those who manufacture or instruct others to use poison or witchcraft shall be hanged.' Although you are not manufacturing poison, how is this despicable extortion any different from 'using harsh words to intimidate and extort money from others'? The Law on Theft and Robbery clearly states, 'Those who intimidate and extort money from others shall be punished one degree more severely than thieves'! Even if you fail to succeed, your actions are already evident, and you should still be punished with caning!"
With each word she spoke, the faces of those men paled a little more.
The laws of this era were harsh, with severe punishments for false accusations and extortion.
They were just street thugs who wanted to make a quick buck by opening a new shop, but they never expected that the young female shop owner would not only remain calm in the face of danger, but also be so familiar with the law.
Seeing that they had been intimidated, Pei Qingwu pressed his advantage: "Furthermore, you have gathered here today, making noise in the bustling market, blocking the passage, and disrupting order. According to the Miscellaneous Regulations, 'Anyone who deliberately disturbs or causes disturbance in the market or among the crowd shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane!' You are guilty of multiple crimes. Do you want to experience the punishment of being punished for your own crimes and the pain of being caned, or do you want to spend some time in the government jail?"
The man at the head of the group was sweating profusely, and the men behind him also looked fearful.
The one who was faking illness was so frightened that he was trembling all over and almost rolled off the door.
They just wanted to extort some money; they didn't want to face lawsuits or physical harm!
"I...we..." The man opened his mouth, still trying to hold on, but he was already all bark and no bite.
Upon seeing this, the onlookers immediately understood and erupted in an uproar.
"It was a scam!"
"What a heartless bastard! He comes to disrupt someone's new store opening!"
"Report this to the authorities immediately! Arrest this scoundrel!"
When the leader of the group realized he had been exposed, his face turned ashen. As he stammered, a stern voice rang out from outside the crowd: "What's all this commotion about?!"
Two constables dressed in black robes parted the crowd and entered, clearly having come from nearby shops after hearing the news.
Upon seeing the officials, the troublemakers were terrified, like mice before a cat.
The leader of the group could no longer care about anything else, not even the "patient" on the ground. He and the others ran away with their heads in their hands, squeezing through the crowd and disappearing without a trace.
Seeing his accomplice flee, the man feigning illness scrambled to his feet from the door panel. His previous sickness vanished completely, and he bowed repeatedly to Pei Qingwu and the constables with a mournful face, pleading, "I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Please, officers, spare my life!"
After saying that, he scrambled away.
Seeing this, the two constables understood somewhat. The leader bowed to Pei Qingwu and said, "Master Pei, this is..."
Pei Qingwu briefly recounted what had happened, and concluded by saying, "Thank you for coming all this way, officers. It was just a few scoundrels who failed in their extortion attempt; it's all over now."
The constable nodded and called out to those around him, "Everyone, please disperse! Our brothers from the shops on the street often buy the pastries from Sushan Market, they're very clean! If anyone dares to cause trouble here again, feel free to report it to the authorities!"
With the storm gone, Pei Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief and turned to meet the gazes of Wu Niang and Yu Yi, which were filled with reverence.
He couldn't help but laugh and said, "See, it's a good thing I stayed and watched for a day."
Fifth Sister chuckled and said, "It has to be Master. What do you call that? Old ginger is spicier!"
"Nonsense!" Pei Qingwu glared at her reproachfully. "What do you mean by old? Your master is still a flower in her teens!"
Yes, yes.
Pei Qingwu was busy until evening and wanted to go home, but Wu Niang insisted on staying for dinner.
The two of them prepared a table full of dishes, with steamed buns and fried dough twists as the main dishes, along with four kinds of dishes: lotus root with pickled vegetables, fish stuffed with milk, gourd chicken, and shredded sheepskin flowers. There were also desserts such as crystal dragon and phoenix cakes and fragrant sesame cakes.
A dazzling array of dishes, each with its own unique color, aroma, and flavor.
When the meal was over, Pei Qingwu's belly was so full that it was difficult for him to even drink water.
Fifth Sister wanted to keep them, but Pei Qingwu waved his hand and said, "No need. If you want to set up your own shop, you'll have to leave me eventually."
"If you miss me, just come find me. It's not far from here anyway."
As he spoke, Gu Heng took out a cloak and wrapped it carefully around Pei Qingwu.
Unable to persuade them to stay, the group had no choice but to bid each other a reluctant farewell.
Feeling too full and not in a hurry to go back, Pei Qingwu didn't hire a carriage. Instead, he used the excuse of digesting his food to stroll leisurely down the street with Gu Heng.
The streets and alleys of Qinzhou are exceptionally quiet on a winter evening, and the bluestone pavement gleams with a moist sheen under the warm light emanating from the shops on both sides.
The warmth from the meal had not yet dissipated, and the white breath exhaled from our breaths drifted away in the cold air.
As she walked, Pei Qingwu suddenly felt a cool sensation on the tip of her nose, and she instinctively looked up.
Against the dark blue sky, tiny specks of white began to fall sporadically, seemingly out of nowhere.
"It's snowing?" she exclaimed in surprise, holding out her palm. A crystal snowflake gently landed in her hand, instantly turning into a cool droplet of water.
Gu Heng also looked up, watching the snowflakes fall like ripped clouds, and his eyes showed a hint of joy: "It's the first snow, Master."
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in no time, the rooftops, treetops, and streets were all covered with a thin, bright white layer.
The noise faded away, leaving only the soft rustling of falling snowflakes.
Looking at the snow-covered landscape, Pei Qingwu's lively spirit surged. She bent down, quickly made a small snowball, and, taking advantage of Gu Heng's unpreparedness, threw it at him with a grin.
"Take this!"
The snowball landed softly on Gu Heng's shoulder, spreading a cool sensation.
Gu Heng was taken aback by the sudden attack. He turned his head and saw Pei Qingwu smiling like a child who had just pulled off a prank. Her eyes were curved and looked particularly lively in the snow.
His heart softened, and the initial shock of being attacked instantly turned into boundless indulgence.
He bent down and made a ball of snow, but deliberately made it loose and slowed down his movements. He then gently tossed it toward Pei Qingwu, so that it was "missing by a hair's breadth".
"Oops, I missed!"
Pei Qingwu laughed and dodged, then quickly bent down and made a ball of snow: "Again!"
The two of them chased and played in the increasingly dense snow.
Soon, the pristine snow was covered with messy yet joyful footprints.
Pei Qingwu was having a great time, and his laughter echoed like silver bells in the quiet streets.
She shoveled snow and threw it, hitting her target every time—most of the time, it was Gu Heng who intentionally let her win, and sometimes he would even "just happen" to catch the snowball she threw.
Gu Heng followed behind her, carefully controlling the force and direction, so that she could have fun while ensuring that the snowball wouldn't actually hurt her or make her slip.
However, an accident still occurred.
Pei Qingwu smiled and looked back at him while running backwards, trying to create some distance so she could make another snowball.
However, he didn't notice a protruding stone slab covered in snow under his feet. He slipped, cried out in surprise, and fell backward.
"Boss!"
Gu Heng's pupils contracted, his heart leaped into his throat, and he charged forward like an arrow released from a bow.
He didn't have time to think; he could only open his arms and use his body as a cushion to catch the falling figure.
With a muffled thud, the two of them fell together onto the soft, fresh snow.
The expected pain did not come. Pei Qingwu only felt himself fall into a firm and warm embrace, which cushioned most of the force.
When she opened her eyes, still shaken, she found herself lying face down on Gu Heng, her hands instinctively bracing themselves on either side of his chest.
And her lips... seemed to have just brushed against his warm skin.
She looked up blankly, meeting Gu Heng's eyes, which were inches away from hers.
The boy was clearly badly hurt by the fall; his brows furrowed slightly from the impact, but his eyes, which were looking at her, shone brightly, clearly reflecting her somewhat flustered face.
His breathing was a little rapid, and his warm breath brushed against her forehead, carrying a hint of the crisp air after the snow.
The two remained in this extremely intimate posture, momentarily forgetting what they were doing.
Snowflakes fell silently on their hair and shoulders, and the only sound in the silence was their slightly disordered heartbeats.
Pei Qingwu's cheeks belatedly began to burn, and even the roots of her ears turned crimson.
Gu Heng was completely stunned.
The young woman's soft body pressed tightly against him, and the fragrance of her hair wafted into his nostrils.
And before that, that soft, almost imperceptible touch made his blood seem to freeze for a moment, before surging even more violently.
Just as Pei Qingwu was at a loss and tried to get up, Gu Heng moved first.
He reached out and gently took her hand, which was already slightly cold from being soaked in the snow.
The boy's hands were large and warm, with calluses from practicing martial arts and other activities, yet his movements were extremely gentle.
"The ground is cold, landlord, don't touch the snow anymore."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
