CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 114: SMASHING THE SHOP

When the elderly lady of the Pan Family fell ill, it was the day after her birthday banquet. At that time, her face was just slightly flushed, and everyone thought it was because the old lady had just celebrated her birthday and was in a good mood.

A few days later, half of her body appeared as though it had been dyed with fresh blood.

Although she felt no pain or itching, the entire Pan Family was scared out of their wits.

Pan Jinrong called in a doctor, but the more they treated her, the worse she got. The elderly lady of the Pan Family not only suffered from unbearable itching and pain, but even the maidservant who served her closely contracted the same illness.

For a while, the news that the elderly lady had a contagious disease spread throughout River Bay Town.

The local doctors, knowing Pan Jinrong’s character, avoided involvement and none were willing to visit the Pan Family to treat the elderly lady.

When the Pan Family found Doctor Zheng, he hesitated somewhat but, adhering to his healing heart, could not ignore a life in danger.

When Doctor Zheng saw the elderly lady, he was shocked, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Indeed, as soon as he took over, the elderly lady was at the end of her rope, and he had no choice but to keep her alive with ginseng and various tonics.

No one else was affected, only the elderly lady and her maidservant had this strange disease, which aroused suspicion in Pan Jinrong’s mind.

By the time the elderly lady died, the maidservant was also on the brink of death.

Through a screen and holding his breath, Pan Jinrong carefully questioned the maidservant.

He then learned that on the day of the birthday banquet, the Moonlight Jade Pendant he had gifted was particularly liked by his mother.

However, upon learning that the original owner of the pendant was a farmer, a mud-legger, the elderly lady felt it was dirty.

She had the maidservant wash the pendant repeatedly with clean water before she was willing to wear it.

Pan Jinrong suspected there was something wrong with the pendant and had Doctor Zheng inspect it.

When Doctor Zheng found nothing wrong, Pan Jinrong deemed him incompetent, for he could neither save his mother nor ascertain the cause of her death.

He became enraged, harboring thoughts of revenge against Doctor Zheng.

Pan Jingui asked, "So how did you later find out there was something wrong with the pendant?"

Pan Jinrong replied, "I only found out a while ago and haven’t had the chance to tell you yet.

I have someone by my side named Zhao Kuo. He brought a white porcelain bottle containing Gu worms, saying that Mother was not poisoned but afflicted by Gu.

Later, I found someone who was knowledgeable in Gu techniques to examine the pendant, and he said that inside the pendant were dormant Gu worm eggs. These Gu worm eggs hatch upon contact with water... In the end, it’s all my fault, it’s I who harmed Mother. Why did I have to snatch that wretched Jade Pendant from Yu Changhe?"

Pan Jingui comforted his brother and pressed on, "So the matter with the herbal witch’s tomb at the second peak of River Bend was also told to you by Zhao Kuo?"

Pan Jinrong nodded, "It was him. This guy has many tricks up his sleeve. I’ve now kept him by my side as an advisor."

Thanks to Zhao Kuo, he successfully established connections with the Crown Prince.

Now, he has joined forces with the Crown Prince and successfully injured the Princely Heir of Prince Huainan, achieving great merit.

Presumably, the reward promised by the Crown Prince is on its way?

Under the shade of a big tree, it’s easy to find cool. As long as they follow the Crown Prince, the power of the Pan Family won’t be confined to this small place. Perhaps after the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the brothers could have a position in the Capital. The Pan brothers raised their glasses in celebration, dreaming of a bright future together.

Yu Xiaolian had been paying close attention to the malicious competition between Zuixiang Building and Mountain Moon Residence. With the weather getting warmer, fewer people were eating hotpot.

Without air conditioning, eating charcoal hotpot was too hot. She discussed with Zheng Yuanfeng about switching the main offering to barbecue.

Summer is the perfect season for barbecue.

Iron and wooden skewers were ordered in large quantities, along with two big barbecue grills.

In the kitchen of Mountain Moon Residence, Yu Xiaolian had the pre-marinated lamb and pork she’d prepared moved over, then had Master Ma and several apprentices start skewering them.

Once the skewers were ready, they lit the fire and began grilling.

The lamb skewers sizzled over the red charcoal, emitting a smoky, enticing aroma that filled their noses, causing everyone to swallow involuntarily.

Once the lamb skewers were sizzling with oil and golden brown, Yu Xiaolian sprinkled them with barbecue seasoning and removed them from the heat.

Master Ma and the kitchen helpers each took one eagerly and began to taste them.

Despite the simple preparation, the aroma was tantalizing, and they looked incredibly delicious.

Master Ma devoured a skewer in a few bites, and then noticed that Yu Xiaolian was placing skewered chicken wings on the barbecue grill.

Yu Xiaolian expertly flipped the chicken wings while discussing preparations and precautions with Zheng Yuanye.

Zheng Yuanye, the current shopkeeper of Mountain Moon Residence, is a cousin of Zheng Yuanfeng and precisely one cycle older, turning twenty-nine this year.

Recently, Yu Xiaolian spent more time with Zheng Yuanye than with Zheng Yuanfeng.

It was from Zheng Yuanye that Yu Xiaolian learned that Doctor Zheng’s hometown was not in Jiangnan but the Capital.

Moreover, Doctor Zheng had served as an Imperial Physician at the Imperial Hospital.

Zheng Yuanfeng had never mentioned any of this to her.

"Besides meats and fish, vegetables can also be barbequed, like eggplant, vegetable rolls, and salted eggs..."

As Yu Xiaolian spoke, Zheng Yuanye took notes.

"Oh, the recipe I gave your brother has a method for making salted eggs. Copy it later and have Master Ma prepare them." Salted eggs cooked this way are quite delicious.

Just as Yu Xiaolian finished grilling the chicken wings and was about to share them with Zheng Yuanye, a worker ran into the kitchen shouting that something bad had happened.

"Shopkeeper, someone in the front courtyard got burned eating hotpot. I said everything I could, but they didn’t calm down and threatened to smash our place!"

Zheng Yuanye’s expression changed; he tossed the chicken wings aside and swiftly headed to the front hall, with Yu Xiaolian quickly following.

It seemed that Zuixiang Building finally couldn’t resist making a move.

When Zheng Yuanye arrived at the front, Mountain Moon Residence was already in chaos. Some diners, frightened by people Pan Jinrong had brought, fled without paying the bill.

The thugs Pan Jinrong brought with him had already started smashing desks and chairs in Mountain Moon Residence.

"Stop!" Zheng Yuanye shouted angrily.

It was useless; unless Pan Jinrong ordered them to stop, they continued to smash.

Zheng Yuanye saw Pan Jinrong sitting in the back corner with a smug look on his face, and his anger flared.

He grabbed a sword from behind the counter and pointed it directly at Pan Jinrong.

Pan Jinrong hadn’t seen how Zheng Yuanye moved, but suddenly there was a sword above his neck.

"I said... stop!" Zheng Yuanye said coldly, pressing the sword downward.

Feeling a chill on his neck, Pan Jinrong reached up to touch it.

He saw blood.

"You dare to harm me?" Pan Jinrong sneered, "Such audacity."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Pan Jinrong unexpectedly threw a concealed weapon from his sleeve.

The weapon aimed straight at Zheng Yuanye’s face.