To their astonishment, it turned out to be a real person, who appeared to have fallen from above. It was none other than Qi Guze, who had accidentally fallen off the cliff earlier.
"It's amazing I didn't die from the fall, but it's even more amazing that you met me," Zhang Ting thought to herself.
There was a clearing behind the bushes, and Zhang Ting used all her strength to pull Qi Guze there, mainly because she was worried he would fall.
After a quick check, Zhang Ting discovered that Qi Guze's condition was not optimistic; his legs and arms were basically broken, which meant that it was impossible for him to get down from there on his own.
However, he was still quite conscious. He could endure such intense pain as having his arm and leg broken. Zhang Ting was filled with curiosity about Qi Guze's background.
But now was definitely not the right time to talk. Zhang Ting was about to go back to the village to get help when she saw Qi Guze staring intently at her.
She quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, I'm looking for someone to help. This place is too high, and your legs and arms are broken. I can't bring you down with my strength."
Qi Guze seemed to understand and tried to speak, but after trying for a long time, he couldn't utter a single syllable.
Zhang Ting said, "Your meridians are probably all damaged from the shock, so it's normal that you can't speak. By the way, I have some food and drink here. Eat and drink something to replenish your strength."
As she spoke, she broke off a small piece of dry food and placed it near Qi Guze's mouth. Qi Guze immediately ate it, and Zhang Ting laughed, "Eat slowly, I'm not going to take it from you." Then she gave Qi Guze a sip of water.
After that, Qi Guze's gaze became much more relaxed.
Zhang Ting said, "I'm going to find someone to rescue you now. Blink if you understand."
Qi Guze blinked obediently.
Zhang Ting quickly climbed down and ran back home. Old Zhang was drinking at home and saw Zhang Ting rushing in. He asked in confusion, "Why are you so fast today?"
"Dad, I found a man." Zhang Ting replied without turning her head.
"Huh?" Old Zhang thought he had misheard.
Zhang Ting then recounted her encounter with Qi Guze.
Old Zhang was stunned by what he heard. Seeing that he was still standing there in a daze, Zhang Ting urged, "Hurry up, Dad! Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!"
Old Zhang hurriedly went to call his neighbors, saying that someone had fallen off a cliff and that they should quickly go with Tingting to rescue the person. The villagers here are very kind and honest; as soon as they heard that someone had fallen off a cliff, almost everyone who could move went.
Several young people hurriedly climbed to where Qi Guze was lying, tied him with ropes, and lowered him down.
After getting down, Qi Guze kept looking at his right side, his chest. Zhang Ting tentatively reached in and touched a wallet. Zhang Ting asked, "You mean, this money is for us to thank us for saving your life?"
Qi Guze blinked, but Zhang Ting asked around and no one wanted it, so she had no choice but to keep it for herself and save it to buy some meat for Qi Guze to nourish him. After all, it takes a hundred days to recover from a bone injury, and it won't heal properly if he doesn't nourish himself.
The responsibility of taking care of Qi Guze fell on Zhang Ting.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister decided to take action against Tianxiang Tower. He summoned the Minister of Revenue and asked him to find a pretext to shut it down.
The Minister of Revenue patted his chest and said that he often did this kind of thing, and that he could handle it.
He was indeed very shrewd. He would usually send people to Tianxianglou restaurant under the pretense of eating there, but in reality, he would put moldy rice and gutter oil in many places. Then he would investigate under the pretext of receiving a report. This method always worked and never failed. He also made a lot of money off the people by doing this.
As usual, the Minister of Revenue sent people to make preparations in advance. However, when they were putting the gutter oil in, they didn't notice that Anan had seen it clearly. After they finished putting it in, they secretly hid the oil.
He had barely hidden himself when the Minister of Revenue arrived, swaggering in with an air of importance.
Xu Yuehuai came out to greet him and asked, "Oh, Minister, you never visit unless you have a reason. What brings you to my Tianxiang Pavilion today?"
“If an official doesn’t serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes. I received a report from the people that your Tianxiang Restaurant is using gutter oil for cooking. I’m just here to investigate according to the law. If it’s just a rumor, then so be it. But if it’s true, your restaurant probably won’t be able to stay in business.” The Minister of Revenue said, shaking his head.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuehuai laughed loudly and replied, "Gutter oil? I've always used the finest peanut oil and the best lard here. Who has the audacity to frame me like this?"
"Manager Xu, don't be nervous. We're reasonable. Let us search. If we don't find anything, I'll personally bring the whistleblower to apologize to you. If we do find something, I'm afraid your restaurant will have to close temporarily for a while," the Minister of Revenue said with a smile.
"Since that's the case, then go ahead and search. But let me make this clear: if you find nothing, Minister, you must bring me the person who framed me. I need to see who it is." The Minister of Revenue nodded guiltily. Goodness, are you suggesting I be brought to you?
The Minister of Revenue's two subordinates searched Tianxiang Tower for a long time, but they couldn't find the gutter oil they had hidden earlier. Not to mention gutter oil, there wasn't even a single rat or cockroach.
The two men returned empty-handed with long faces. The Minister of Revenue immediately understood that they had failed.
He quickly changed the subject, saying, "I knew it! How could there be a problem with Manager Xu's place? Please wait a moment, and I will personally bring you the person who framed you."
"Then I'll trouble you, Minister," Xu Yuehuai said with a smile.
"Of course, of course. I have important matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer. I'll definitely come to support you next time." The Minister of Revenue made a polite promise and then turned away.
After turning a corner, he gave his two subordinates a thorough dressing-down. One of them said, "If you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. You must have been discovered hiding the gutter oil, so you secretly hid it again."
"Two useless men! How am I supposed to explain this to the Prime Minister?" The Minister of Revenue was furious and gave his two subordinates a severe beating.
This plan has failed, and we have to think of another solution.
Xu Yuehuai's face fell immediately after they left, seemingly because of Qi Guze. It appeared that someone in the court was already plotting against her.
If that's the case, then the Minister of Revenue must have made thorough preparations.
How could the things they prepared just disappear into thin air like that?
"Manager Xu, I have something to tell you."
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