The carriage sped along, heading straight for Qingshui Town.
Chen Qingqing frowned, her face full of doubt, and asked, "Mr. Wang, what's wrong with my brother? Is he sick?"
Wang Decai sighed with regret and told the lie he had prepared long ago.
"Here's what happened: yesterday, a few of our shop's employees got together for a small gathering, and your older brother suddenly got the urge to have a drink with everyone."
He said he was leaving the restaurant soon and wouldn't be working there anymore, and he said goodbye to everyone.
We didn't want to drink at the time, but your older brother wouldn't allow it, saying that not drinking would be disrespecting him. So, we each had no choice but to drink a glass with him.
I thought your older brother would stop there, but he wouldn't let go of the wine jar.
We tried to persuade him to drink less, but he wouldn't listen. We had no choice but to let him drink to his heart's content.
He was so drunk he was swaying from side to side, so we tried to help him inside to sleep, but your older brother wouldn't have it. He said he had plenty of money and insisted on finding a place to have some fun.
He also said you're capable, know how to make sugar and have medical skills, and that you'll be a rich young master in the future, with three wives and four concubines to serve you. Today, you're going to that brothel to learn the art of controlling women.
We were afraid something would happen to him, so we practically dragged him back into the house.
But your older brother was cursing and pointing at us, telling us not to meddle or he would get rough. We were so scared that we didn't dare to go forward.
He staggered out of the restaurant. Seeing that it was almost dark, we were worried he might have an accident, so we urged him to go back to sleep. Unexpectedly, he picked up a stone and threw it at us, which frightened us so much that we didn't dare follow him…”
As he continued speaking, his words became increasingly outrageous, Chen Qingqing frowned slightly. As far as she knew, Chen Feng was upright and ambitious, and would never utter such extraordinary words.
After carefully observing Wang Decai, noticing his shifty and uncertain gaze, she interrupted him coldly, "Mr. Wang, my elder brother is an upright man and could not possibly be the kind of person you describe. Don't talk nonsense."
Wang Decai's heart skipped a beat. He saw Chen Qingqing staring sharply at him, and his breath caught in his throat, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Miss Chen, why would I lie to you? Your older brother really said that, and it was because we didn’t dare to go with him that this terrible thing happened.”
After your older brother left the restaurant, we went back to the shop to get busy.
As it was nearing closing time (around 7 PM), and we realized your older brother hadn't returned, our shopkeeper got worried and asked me to take a few people out to look for him.
We searched almost every street and alley, but couldn't find your older brother. Just as we were walking back...
We heard someone say that the handyman from Qingfeng Restaurant was lying in the ditch, so we quickly went over and shone a lantern on him.
Then I saw your older brother lying in the stinking ditch, covered in injuries.
"What happened? Why was he injured?" Chen Qingqing was extremely anxious.
Wang Decai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"That man said that Chen Feng was harassing and molesting a young woman on the street, and the woman's husband saw it, so he called a few people to beat your older brother up, and after beating him, they threw him into a stinking ditch."
When we arrived, your elder brother was barely breathing. The shopkeeper called a doctor, who told us to inform the family to prepare for the funeral.
The shopkeeper was anxious, that's why he sent me to inform you, Miss Chen, you must hold on!
"No, my brother will be alright," Chen Qingqing murmured to herself. Her brother couldn't possibly be dead.
She didn't believe a word Wang Decai said.
In the original owner's memories, Chen Feng was honest and kind, and would never do such a vulgar and despicable thing.
But what exactly happened to him? Why was he beaten up?
Various guesses kept flashing through her mind.
Is it really as this person says, that Chen Feng, while drunk, harassed a respectable woman? Or is there another hidden story?
Chen Qingqing couldn't wait to get to town, and kept urging, "Hurry up, hurry up!"
Finally, the carriage stopped at the Qingshui Restaurant.
Before the carriage had come to a complete stop, Chen Qingqing jumped off impatiently, nearly falling over.
She ran towards the side entrance of the restaurant.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Wu Shiren came out to greet her in a panic. "Miss Chen, you've finally arrived! Hurry up and go see your elder brother one last time. He's probably about to pass away."
Although Chen Qingqing was anxious, she still maintained her composure and nodded slightly, "Thank you for your trouble, Manager Wu."
Wu Shiren felt uneasy. "Miss Chen, please come with me."
In the shack.
Chen Feng lay on the makeshift, dilapidated wooden bed, curled up and motionless, as if enduring immense pain.
Blood gushed from his cracked mouth and forehead; his swollen eye sockets obscured his eyes; and his filthy face bore numerous bright red handprints.
His clothes were tattered, and his exposed skin was covered in wounds.
Chen Qingqing's heart clenched; she had no idea what Chen Feng had gone through.
Her heart was breaking; she forced her trembling hand to gently place Chen Feng's pulse.
The pulse was weak, almost imperceptible, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment.
She knew that Chen Feng's injuries couldn't be delayed; if they weren't treated soon, he could stop breathing at any moment.
But with so many people in front of her, she couldn't activate her spatial ability; she had to get these people away first.
If we can save his life, all the questions will be answered.
Chen Qingqing's eyes regained their usual wisdom and tranquility as she coldly said to Wu Shiren, "Manager Wu, please leave first. I need to see my elder brother for his injuries."
Wu Shiren's face turned pale. This girl really knows how to treat illnesses. What if she can save Chen Feng with her medical skills? No, we must stall for time. We absolutely cannot let Chen Feng live.
He feigned sorrow and said, "Miss Chen, your elder brother is dying. You should take him home quickly so your parents can see him one last time."
Chen Qingqing's expression turned cold and sharp. "Nonsense, my brother will be fine."
“Oh, Miss Chen, I know you’re heartbroken over your brother and can’t accept this fact.” Wu Shiren started spouting nonsense. “We’ve already called a doctor, but he took one look and turned away, saying that even a miracle worker couldn’t save him. That’s why I’m in a hurry to tell you to come and take your brother home.”
"I told you, my brother is fine. Please leave immediately, I need to see a doctor for him," Chen Qingqing insisted.
Wu Shiren didn't give her a chance at all, and immediately turned cold. "No, you'd better get rid of him right away. It would be such bad luck if he died in our shop."
Wang Decai also spoke up to persuade her, "Miss Chen, we run a shop and are in business. If someone dies here, who will come to eat here in the future?"
Others followed suit.
"Luckily we found him in time, otherwise your older brother would have been eaten by wild dogs."
"That's right, we went through so much trouble to bring him back, and you not only don't say a word of gratitude, but you also want him to die in the store. Do you have any conscience at all?"
"That's right, how could this girl not know what's good for her? If we had known this would happen, we would have been better off leaving her alone. She might have been eaten by wild dogs and left with only a pile of bones by now."
"We're not after fame or fortune, just consider this nonsense. You'd better get rid of them quickly."
......
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