"My stomach hurts. Ever since I bought … the vegetables from this store, I've had diarrhea after eating them. I can't take it anymore …"
In the morning, in Xi City, Zhou Gui didn't come to the place where he used to sell vegetables. Someone else took it.
The person who took it was also selling vegetables in a greenhouse. Behind him was … the Li Family Zhuangzi.
A man in his forties was carried there on a stretcher. Then, he held his stomach and cried out.
Both the people who set up the stall and the people who bought things were looking at him.
The vegetable seller was puzzled. He was late today. It was the tenth day of the Chinese New Year. Everyone was preparing for a good day. Some of the vegetable sellers took up several stalls.
He was here. Why did someone say that there was something wrong with his food?
He didn't know how to argue and just watched.
Diagonally across was the Jiang family's vegetable stall. Because they had a lot of vegetables, they took up three stalls. They had to pay for three stalls and there was also tax.
The Jiang family also built some greenhouses. Most of the vegetables that Zhou Gui sold last night were bought by them. They needed to recoup their costs.
The vegetables weren't very fresh, but they could be sold.
The stout man who had been buying Zhou Gui's vegetables stood there. At this moment, he saw that Xiao Lan's Zhuangzi wasn't here. Instead, it was the Li Family Zhuangzi's people. His pores opened up.
He didn't care about anything else. He rushed over in a few steps and looked like he was checking on the person's condition.
At the same time, he lowered his head and whispered, "Get up. It's not this one. This is the Li Family Zhuangzi's stall."
"Ah, I ate the vegetables here. My stomach hurts."
The person lying on the ground continued to hold his stomach and rolled around. After shouting, he lowered his voice and said, "Give me more money. If you don't give me more money, I won't get up. I don't care if it's the Li Family Zhuangzi's stall."
The stout man was instantly dumbfounded. He understood that he was being threatened.
The other party was single. If he offended the Li Family Zhuangzi, he would sell him out.
"I'll give you 20 more money. Get up." The stout man squeezed the money out from between his teeth.
"Yi Jin, ah, I can't take it anymore. I'm going to die." The person lying on the ground continued to shout.
"Do you want to die?"
"It's his house. I ate his vegetables and my whole body hurts. I remember the appearance of the person who sold the vegetables."
"You're good. Get up quickly." The stout man knelt down.
"Where is the money?"
"Here, hurry up. Otherwise, we'll be in big trouble."
"Aiya, I want to see a doctor. I can't take it anymore." The man quietly took the money and stood up. He dragged the stretcher and left while groaning.
Everyone: "…"
"Hahahaha ~" Finally, someone couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The others also laughed. Seeing the rich man's flushed face, they felt very happy.
The stall owner next to them understood. The Jiang family had sent someone to frame Zhou Gui and Zhuangzi, but they had run into the Li Family's Zhuangzi.
It was fine if the government didn't get involved. Once the matter blew up and the government arrived, the Li Family Zhuangzi wouldn't even need to do anything himself. Someone would naturally take care of it.
If one were to fall ill after eating someone's food, they would need to submit a letter of complaint to the authorities.
Then, someone would take the letter of complaint to the yamen. After the yamen had seen the letter, they would send someone to bring the sick person here and find a doctor.
If they didn't bring the sick person to the yamen and beg for mercy, they would be arrested.
Hence, that person didn't go to the yamen and went straight to Xi City. If he went to the yamen, the person who wrote the letter of complaint would have to bear the responsibility.
The stout man went back angrily and stood there thinking of a solution.
God knows why Zhou Gui didn't come. It was the last day. They had agreed on five days. If not, he would regret it.
What should he do now that his fist had missed?
He left Xi City and ran all the way to East City to look for Jiang Hui, the son of the shopkeeper of Sheng Xu's shop.
He was Jiang Hui's good friend. In other words, he was Jiang Hui's best friend since childhood.
He was depressed. He didn't make proper arrangements and couldn't use his follow-up plan.
When he reached East City, he was panting. When he saw the shopkeeper, he continued to pant: "Uncle Jiang, something happened. Zhou Gui didn't come. The Li Family Zhuangzi took a spot in a cooperative's greenhouse. That person extorted money from me."
With just one sentence, Shopkeeper Jiang understood. Indeed, it was easier to invite the devil than to send the devil away.
"How about this, you and Xiao Hui go to the yamen and tell them that the vegetables Zhou Gui sold to you last night are not fresh. Many of them have rotted."
Shopkeeper Jiang was also in a bad mood. He bought the warm invitation but didn't see the barbarians. He was waiting. If they didn't come tonight, he wouldn't give the barbarians the 1,500 yuan.
However, he bought them for 50 yuan each. He lost money.
He had to sell them for 35 yuan each to break even. But how could he sell them?
Jiang Hui left and followed his good friend to Wannian County's yamen.
It wasn't far. Pyong Kang Square was to the north of West City. South of Pyong Kang Square was Wannian County's yamen in Xuanyang Lane.
The closest place to Pyong Kang Square was the bathhouse owned by Li Longji.
South of the bathhouse was Wannian County's yamen.
It was just a short walk from East City.
The two of them brought their coupons and went to the yamen. Jiang Hui always said that he was Jiang Jiao's relative and had treated them to drinks before.
Seeing that the two of them wanted to see the yamen, he led them to the county magistrate.
"County Magistrate Hong, there's a Zhuangzi in the West City. The vegetables they sold to us are not fresh. Many of them have rotted this morning."
Jiang Hui said as he stretched out his hand and took out a stack of coupons.
The county magistrate's name was Hong Liyong. He didn't stretch out his hand and looked at Jiang Hui, "If you're doing business in West City, you should go to Chang 'an County. Forgive me for not being able to help you."
"County Magistrate Hong, you …" Jiang Hui and his good friend were stunned. Why did he say that he could solve everything when they were having a meal? Now that he was in trouble, he was trying to shirk responsibility?
Hong Liyong opened the drawer of his new desk and took out a stack of coupons. He counted them and gave them to Jiang Hui.
He grabbed Jiang Hui's hand and stuffed it into his sleeve, "You treated me to drinks. I've calculated that I've spent around 300 yuan. Here you go."
"County Magistrate Hong, look at you. This is far from enough. Why bother? It's not like …" Jiang Hui was anxious.
Hong Liyong waved his hand, "His Majesty has given me many benefits. The yamen runners work hard. Chang 'an is right under His Majesty's nose. My house is in the south of the city and His Majesty has given me a courtyard.
I've heard about your affairs and have been looking for an opportunity to return the favor. I've been busy with work and you're here now.
Some things can't be done, but lawsuits are free. Aren't you afraid that Zhuangzi's people will kneel at the Ba River Bridge and beg Li Dongzhu? "
Hong Liyong explained the situation clearly. He was afraid and didn't dare to interfere with what they had done.
If the people had no way to sue, they would have gone to Li Yi. Li Yi promised that he would investigate. If he found out …
Could you bribe him? The Prime Minister and the Minister had personally paid him a visit. He had money and power.
"But …" Jiang Hui was unwilling to give up. He had already made the promise. If he couldn't take care of the other party, he would lose face.
"Go. Watch your actions carefully. Don't implicate Duke Jiang. "Hong Liyong added.
Although he was only a county magistrate, he was the county magistrate of Wannian County. He knew a lot about the affairs of the imperial court.
Duke Jiang was a first-rank official, but he couldn't compare to the Li Family Zhuangzi's Li Yi. If the people were forced to a dead end, they would go to Li Yi.
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