Lai Er had a black mole at the corner of his eyebrow and was dressed slovenly with dishevelled hair. He was so deprived that he couldn’t have bought almost all the amaranth powder in the shop. The amaranth powder was not cheap, one silver tael per pack. But he had bought three packs at a time.
Since Lai Er was now dead, Xiao Baoshan inquired about who Lai Er had met with lately. He asked one person after another as he walked down to the depths of the alley. According to the neighbors’ descriptions, a glamorous, dignified woman who was in her 40s had once come through the alley. Xiao Baoshan was not sure who she was, so he went to the pub to get more information.
On the day Lai Er died he had paid off all his debts to the pub. He looked quite complacent, so the pub owner asked him whether he had won some money gambling. Lai Er denied that, however, and simply said that he had gained a large sum of money through good fortune. He had also advised everyone to have meals in the Xiang Lin Inn.
Xiao Baoshan lowered his head, lost in thought.
The Xiang Lin Inn?
…
Very soon, news of Ye Xiaoxian’s misfortuneune reached Fang Shanding.
She poisoned her customers?
He sneered. Ye Xiaoxian couldn’t have the nerve to poison her food. Besides, what could she benefit from that? Would anyone destroy their own booming business? It was clear that Ye Xiaoxian had been framed.
In fact, the case was very easy to solve. The county magistrate just needed to check the sources of the food and the people who had touched it. But it was strange that the county magistrate hadn’t questioned Ye Xiaoxian before immediately locking her up.
Fang Shanding quickly understood that the county magistrate was covering up for someone. Someone he was familiar with. She was his darling and Ye Xiaoxian’s rival. Behind all of this was Sister Xiang.
Having put up with Ye Xiaoxian for a long time, Fang Shanding could finally vent his anger. Although he had been removed from office, he had some acquaintances who could let him into the prison. Every dog had its day. It was his turn to humiliate Ye Xiaoxian.
At this moment, Fang Shanding was walking down the long passage, passing a succession of cells to find Ye Xiaoxian.
Ye Xiaoxian was somewhat popular in her circle. Although she was put in jail, she looked relatively healthy with tidy clothes. It was clear that some people had been sending her food from time to time. She was a little messy nonetheless, because she hadn’t combed her hair or washed her face for days.
Fang Shanding tutted at the sight of Ye Xiaoxian and said, “Oh god, I was just wondering who you were? It’s you, Miss Ye! Weren’t you the best chef in the county? Why are you here? Did you offend anyone? I told you that you should be more tactful. If you behave too stubbornly, people will only add insult to your injury.”
Sitting in the cell, Ye Xiaoxian looked at Fang Shanding indifferently. His hair hadn’t grown out yet and even the hat failed to conceal his baldness. He had only come here to humiliate her. Ye Xiaoxian was not in the mood to interact with him. She was inside and he was outside. She couldn’t go out and he couldn’t come in.
Fang Shanding squatted down and asked from the other side of the bars, “Well, I can let you out for a while. Although I can’t promise to release you, you can at least take a good bath, as long as you beg me.”
