Truth briefing
"Master Ah Xiu wants to test the medicine on himself!"
This news spread like wildfire, spreading throughout the streets and alleys of Shanghai within just half a day. Its explosiveness even overshadowed the "student poisoning" incident itself.
The whole of Shanghai was in an uproar.
Doubt, ridicule, sympathy, curiosity... countless complex emotions intertwined together to form a huge whirlwind of public opinion, and the center of the whirlwind was the old factory of "Zhi Xiu Fang" three days later.
Some people said that she was driven crazy and committed suicide to gain sympathy.
Some people say that this is a gimmick she carefully planned, and she will definitely replace the real thing with the fake one, so that people will just drink ordinary herbal tea.
Some people even set up a gambling game on the Bund, betting on whether Master Axiu would be safe and sound after three days, or die of poisoning on the spot.
For a time, the storm was about to come and everyone was paying attention.
Facing the turbulent waves from the outside world, the interior of "Zhi Xiu Fang" entered an unusually efficient and tense state of preparation under Ling Xiu Qing's unquestionable and resolute attitude.
The first thing Ling Xiuqing did was to "clean up the house."
She gathered all the workers together and distributed double wages for this month to each of them on the spot.
Then, she said calmly, "The press conference in three days is uncertain. The future of Zhixiufang is also uncertain. I, Ling Xiuqing, am deeply grateful to those who are willing to stay and help me through this difficult time. If anyone wants to leave, you can leave now. I will not stop you and I will not complain."
The workers looked at each other in bewilderment. Finally, a few timid ones took their money and left, heads bowed in shame. But the majority, including Uncle Lin and all the veterans, chose to stay.
"Boss! We're not leaving!" Uncle Lin took the lead and said in a strong voice, "We trust the Ling family's craftsmanship, and we trust your character even more! Even if we die, these old bones of ours will die with you!"
"Yes! I won't leave!"
People's hearts are most thoroughly united at the most dangerous moments.
The second thing Ling Xiuqing did was to have a secret conversation with Murong Bai late at night.
"...This is what happened. What I need you to do is not to clarify things for me in the newspaper, but to fan the flames of public opinion to the utmost on the day of the press conference." Ling Xiuqing looked at him with a terrifyingly calm look in her eyes.
Murong Bai frowned. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's too dangerous. The girl named Lily is still in the hospital, and her 'poisoning' symptoms are real. What if... what if there really is some unknown ingredient in 'Baicao Ran' that can cause allergies? You're gambling your life on an unknown variable!"
"No, I'm not betting on unknowns." Ling Xiuqing shook her head, her eyes gleaming with absolute confidence. "I'm betting on Chuntao's stupidity and greed."
She paused, then spoke word by word, "I checked. Lily has a severe, congenital allergy to pollen. And the day she fainted happened to be the day when the flowers in the school garden were in full bloom."
Murong Bai was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood something: "What do you mean...?"
"Chun Tao was very clever. She knew that using a real 'case' to support her fabricated 'toxicology report' was the most deceptive approach. But because she was too 'clever' and too eager for success, she overlooked the most crucial point." Ling Xiuqing's lips curled into a cold smile. "She only knew that Lily was 'poisoned,' but she didn't know what kind of 'poison' she was in."
Murong Bai looked at the girl in front of him who had calculated everything clearly. In addition to worry, he also felt an indescribable shock and...admiration.
He finally understood her whole plan.
This is an ingenious chain of tactics that will allow you to survive at the risk of your own life!
"Okay." He stopped trying to dissuade her, his eyes becoming as determined as hers. "I know what to do. Three days from now, I'll have all the cameras in Shanghai focus on you. You'll be in charge of the performance, and I'll be in charge of setting up the biggest stage in Shanghai for you!"
…
Three days passed quickly amid the waiting and speculation of countless people.
On the day of the press conference, the sky was gloomy, as if foreshadowing the coming of a storm.
The old factory of Zhixiufang was already surrounded by a massive crowd. Reporters from major newspapers, news film studio personnel carrying cameras, representatives from major universities, student parents, and countless citizens who had heard the news and rushed to see the excitement had packed the entire factory area tightly.
The police station even dispatched a large number of police forces to maintain order at the scene.
Inside the factory, a long table sits on a makeshift platform, displaying dozens of air-dried herbs used in the "Herb Dye" process.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ling Xiuqing, dressed in the simplest white dress, slowly walked onto the platform.
She was not wearing any makeup, and her face was bare. Her complexion looked a little pale due to the hard work in recent days, but it added a sense of detached and tragic beauty to her.
She walked to the front of the stage, picked up the microphone, and calmly scanned the thousands of faces with different expressions in the audience.
The noise at the scene miraculously quieted down under her gaze.
"Today, I invite everyone to come here for one thing only."
Her voice, through the loudspeaker, was clearly heard throughout the entire factory.
"Prove your innocence."
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