Chapter 569 Eavesdropping
In the end, Niu Yi signed the agreement.
He could never forget the chilling smile on Leopard's face when he picked up that piece of paper.
But he had no other choice.
If he doesn't sign, he's finished; if he signs, he still has hope and can have a three-day reprieve.
He had three days to raise the money, even if he had to borrow from others, to avoid the fate of having his hands chopped off.
But who can he borrow it from?
Who else could spare ten taels of silver to help them out of their predicament?
The shops along the street were all closed, and it was pitch black everywhere except for one or two lights that were on occasionally, which gave you a rough idea of where to go.
Niu Yi wandered the streets with his eyes closed, oblivious to everything around him.
He couldn't see the road ahead, his legs were weak, he tripped several times, and his knees were scraped.
But he seemed oblivious, got up, and continued walking.
He wasn't incapable of feeling pain; he was numb with pain. Every part of his body ached.
But at this moment, he felt no pain; all he wanted was to find someone to raise the money.
Immediately, the image of Wan Qiqi flashed through Niu Yi's mind.
Although Manager Wan is usually quite strict, she is very kind to everyone in the restaurant.
Take today for example, she went out for a walk and brought back a lot of food, which she shared with everyone.
The food alone would cost at least several taels of silver.
Manager Wan treated them extremely well. Even when he was very busy, he would come to the kitchen to help out, care about the staff's health, and share good food with them...
Could Manager Wan also help him out by lending him some money to resolve his current crisis?
Then, Niu Yi sighed again and muttered to himself, "How long have I been doing this? Will Manager Wan take over for me?"
He wasn't sure; he wasn't sure if the employer was willing.
Before they knew it, Niu Yi had arrived at the alleyway behind Zuijianglou.
Several figures flashed by in the dim light. Niu Yi was so frightened that he immediately hid, hugged his knees, and buried his head, trying to calm his fear.
Then he heard the group of people talking.
"Ugh, I'm so busy at this hour, I really can't take it anymore!"
"It's all because Xinglong Restaurant stole our business, otherwise we wouldn't be working so hard."
"That's right, when business was good, we weren't busy this late."
"Hey, have you guys memorized the recipe? The boss said he's going to modify the Mid-Autumn Festival limited-edition signature dessert and sell it now..."
Niu Yi vaguely heard words like "Xinglong Restaurant," "recipe," and "limited edition," and couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen.
He makes dim sum, so he knows the importance of dim sum recipes and the appeal of exclusive signature dishes.
Zuijianglou's signature dim sum is something that people from all over the city buy when they come here. If I could learn how to make it, maybe I could get a raise.
If I use this to talk to Manager Wan, will I have a chance to get the money and replace the gambling den's money?
The thought that without hands he would lose his survival skills emboldened him.
He looked around and saw a dying beggar at the alley entrance, but no one else was there.
Finally, Niu Yi mustered his courage, hid in an alley, and eavesdropped on the conversation of the Zuijianglou waiters, hoping to learn about Zuijianglou's exclusive secret recipe.
The moon hid behind the clouds, plunging the entire county into darkness, without a single ray of light.
The lights were still on in the master bedroom of the courtyard where Wan Qiqi lived.
After Wu Gousheng reported the gift-giving incident, he wanted to tell Chen Yongnian about meeting Xiao Huai that day, but before he could say anything, Wan Qiqi kicked him out.
Wan Qiqi didn't want Chen Yongnian to worry about her.
Even if someone is to say something, it should be her who says it, not Wu Gousheng.
Chen Yongnian lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought, unaware of the unusual behavior of Wan Qiqi and Wu Gousheng.
Wan Qiqi shut Wu Gousheng out of the door, turned around and sat down at the table. Looking at the flickering candlelight, she asked, "What's on your mind?"
"I went to the jail today to inquire, and the thief who was arrested is not dead, he's still alive." Chen Yongnian raised his eyes, a hint of doubt in them. "But I asked around, and Miss Xiao's personality is as you described. Is there another possibility?"
Wan Qiqi immediately became serious and asked earnestly, "Have you inquired about who Old Master Xiao is?"
"He was highly regarded by the Emperor during his tenure and was said to be a member of the upright faction in the capital, loyal, courageous, and aloof—these were the common assessments of him. However, it is said that he disliked merchants, and after retiring to Yunhe County, he stayed home to raise flowers and birds. Even if Lord Fang were to visit, he might not be able to see him..."
Chen Yongnian tried his best to present the information he knew, while also pondering why his wife had asked Old Master Xiao.
Wan Qiqi probably knew that Old Master Xiao was a proud and aloof person who had lived a clean life and probably didn't want his children to tarnish his reputation.
However, it seems that neither Miss Xiao the Second nor Young Master Xiao the Third has a good reputation in Yunhe County.
As for Young Master Xiao, she has only heard about him from others and has never met him in person.
Wan Qiqi felt that she didn't want to have much contact with any of the Xiao family members, nor did she want to get involved in this mess. She just wanted to do her business peacefully and wait for news from Wan Ziyan.
"Husband, let's not inquire about the Xiao family anymore. They are nobles from the capital, and we can't get close to them. I believe they wouldn't care about people like us. Let's just do our own thing peacefully!"
Faced with Wan Qiqi's words, Chen Yongnian hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.
He then said, "I checked on Tang Qiwen. He's quite honest at the post station. He's always on time for his shift and leaves the office on time. After leaving the office, he goes to a restaurant for a drink and then goes back to his lodgings. There's nothing unusual about him."
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