Chapter 371 : Tragic Event (2)

Good news never went beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide. This truth was not only practical in the capital but also in Yu City. The matter of the old couple hanged themselves at the Qin residence’s main gate spread throughout the entire Yu City within a day. There were widespread comments about it from everyone as they scolded the Qin family with everything they knew. However, because of the status of the Qin family in Yu City, people talked about it in secret, not daring to mention it openly.

Er Nainai Zhao came to the Yun residence and talked to Yuxi about this matter. “Meimei, don’t you think this old couple is too pitiful? They had no way to appeal and finally had to use this method to ask for justice.”

Yuxi was also full of sympathy as she commented, “Who says they are not! It’s a pity that they died in such a tragic way, and they still couldn’t convict the Fourth Master Xu!” The death of this old couple would not cause substantial harm to the Qin and Xu families, except for people condemning them.

In response, Er Nainai Zhao could only sigh. “Who says they are not, right? The most pathetic thing is that the Qin House people wouldn’t allow the corpses to be collected. They pulled the bodies down and buried them in a mass grave.”

Yuxi was full of shock. In this case, the old couple should have been buried properly to minimize the damage. However, Xu Shi not only didn’t do that but also threw the bodies into the mass grave. She wasn’t even afraid that it would chill her subordinates’ hearts. Yuxi had always thought that Xu Shi was a brilliant person, but now Yuxi knew that Xu Shi only looked strong in appearance but weak in reality. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have done such a foolish thing. “When did that happen?”

Er Nainai Zhao nodded. “I heard it from my mother-in-law before I went out. That old couple’s only daughter was harmed by her cousin, the Fourth Master Xu. Instead of advising him, she even aided Zhou Wang of Shang in his tyrannical rule. If not, that old couple would not have hanged themselves in front of her home.”

Yuxi felt puzzled that she had to ask. “Aiding Zhou Wang of Shang in his tyrannical rule? Why did Jiejie say that? Could it be that Madam Qin had warned Assistant Prefect Mu regarding this lawsuit?”

Er Nainai Zhao: “What, Meimei doesn’t know about this?” After saying that, she laughed and told her, “Now that Meimei is at ease raising the child, I am afraid that General Yun has been unwilling to share these kinds of things with you. I won’t conceal this matter from Meimei. It was Madam Qin who wrote a letter to Assistant Prefect Mu, asking him to suppress this case. After that, both the big things and the small things were put to rest.”

In response, Yuxi felt so embarrassed for playing dumb that she immediately changed the topic. “Officials only know how to protect each other, while the ones who suffer are ordinary people.”

Er Nainai Zhao did not know how to respond to this statement.

Yuxi waved her hand. “No need to talk about this anymore. We are already at the last third of the month. Soon, it will be the twelfth lunar month and the time for us to prepare for the New Year. Tu Jiejie, what are you preparing for the New Year?”

Er Nainai Zhao answered with a smile, “Just melon seeds, peanuts, crispy rice candy, and walnuts. In addition, there will be dried fruit and some southern roasted seeds and nuts. When you were in the capital, you would have more New Year’s Eve goods than here.” The capital was prosperous, and there was nothing one couldn’t ask for.

CRISPY RICE CANDY

Yuxi responded with a smile. “It can not be said that the capital is good, and each place has its own customs.” The main thing was one had to have money on hand. As long as there was money, one could have a good year in any place. It was the same for the opposite.

Er Nainai Zhao smiled. “That’s true. By the way, Han Meimei, these days, quite a few people have told me that they want to donate and do their part for these poor children. I told them that you don’t take any money. But if they send a lot of rice and white flour, the school will accept them.”

Yuxi smiled as she explained, “The school will only run for three months and will be closed at the beginning of spring. So how can I accept any monetary donations? Besides, I’m just getting started. And I’m currently wading across the river, feeling for footholds as I go, and some of the things I’m dealing with are an awful mess. I’m afraid that if I receive money from everyone, I won’t be able to keep track of the accounts.”

Er Nainai Zhao said with a smile, “Your concern is also right. Don’t worry. I have explained it to them. By the way, I heard that the words on the front door of the school were all inscribed by you. Is this true? I didn’t go to see it, but I heard that the two writing pieces are excellent.”

Yuxi smiled. “Just barely passable. They’re not worthy of such a compliment.”

After the two people talked for a long time, Yuxi smilingly invited Er Nainai Zhao. “Stay for lunch! Two days ago, my farmland sent over some bacon and sausage. Jiejie should try them. If Jiejie likes them, Jiejie can bring some back home.”

Er Nainai Zhao readily agreed. “I have long heard that the bacon and sausage made in your house taste particularly good. I would like to try them out today.” When the sausages and bacon were ready, they were first sent to the restaurant. The restaurant opened by Yuxi was now very famous in Yu City. Not only for the excellent wine, but the food was also very delicious, and more importantly, the price was not too outrageous. Therefore, the business had gone extremely good.

At noon, a plate of steamed bacon was placed on the table. Er Nainai Zhao’s appetite rose as soon as she saw it. These pieces of meat, with their glittering and translucent fat, were cut thin, revealing their fine and smooth reddish parts. She picked up the chopsticks, clipped a piece and put it into her mouth. The unique aroma of the bacon instantly permeated the air.

STEAMED BACON

The bacon was full of fat but not greasy, lean and not dry. Furthermore, it had a faint distinct fragrance. The taste and the smell made Er Nainai Zhao clip another piece. After eating three pieces in a row, Er Nainai Zhao gave up. She had to restrain herself when she was a guest in other people’s homes. Otherwise, she would have finished the whole plate. “Han Meimei, how did you prepare this bacon? How come it smells so good? It smells so delicious that I almost swallowed my tongue just now.” The practice of making sausage and bacon had long been spread to the northwest. Therefore, it was not a rare thing, but it was the first time that Er Nainai Zhao had eaten such tasty bacon.

Yuxi smiled and explained, “To make good bacon and sausage, the curing process is critical. How much salt is used in a catty of meat, and the ingredients such as Sichuan pepper, cinnamon and star anise are all very critical. The curing time and the boiling part during curing are also significant. Each procedure can not be wrong, or the taste will worsen if you do it wrongly.”

HOMEMADE SICHUAN CHINESE PORK BACON AND SAUSAGE

Er Nainai Zhao asked, “But the bacon has a light fragrance. If I’m not wrong, this should be the distinct fragrance of honeydew melon. Meimei, how did you do that?”

Yuxi explained smilingly, “It’s not difficult. Just add the melon skin when smoking the meat. When it’s done, there will be a faint fragrance of honeydew melon on this meat.” Of course, the bacon sent to the Yun residence had this fragrance. The ones delivered to the restaurant did not. The ones at the restaurant were smoked with cypress branches, so the bacon had a unique scent of cypress.

Er Nainai Zhao praised with a smile, “Meimei’s mind is really clever.”

Yuxi smiled. “I’m not the one who came up with this. It was my former Momo who taught me. Although this stuff tastes fresh, it shouldn’t be eaten too much.” To maintain one’s good health, it was inadvisable to have too much marinated food, and one should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. However, in the northwest, this was very difficult to do. Besides cabbages, there was only radish as the option. The good thing is that Mama Bai would come up with some bean sprouts and other things to adjust the menu. As for building a greenhouse, Yuxi didn’t even think about it. The cost was too high, and it was not cost-effective.

After lunch, Er Nainai Zhao went back. Yuxi had just turned around and entered the house when she heard the maid inform her that Xu Wu requested an audience with her.

Xu Wu walked in and reported, “Madam, Fourth Master Xu was assassinated in the restaurant. Whether he is alive or dead is still unknown for now.” Yuxi had also been to that restaurant. It was the one that Yun Qing had taken her to when they were newly married.

Yuxi’s heart jumped when she heard the word restaurant, but when she saw Xu Wu’s calm appearance, she put her mind at ease and asked, “Did they catch the assassin?”

Xu Wu replied, “The assassin was killed on the spot by the Fourth Master Xu’s guards. As for the identity of the assassin, it is not clear yet.” When he got the news, he immediately came to tell Yuxi.

Yuxi wondered, “Now that he’s in the limelight, and the people behind-the-scenes haven’t made their appearance yet. Why did Fourth Master Xu still swagger to a restaurant for a meal? This boldness is not something that ordinary people can have.” But this Fourth Master Xu had enough good luck, so there was no way he would die.

In response, Xu Wu explained, “Listening to the person who reported the news, the assassin was the restaurant’s waiter. Since he carried dishes inside a box, the guards were not guarded against him, which let him enter smoothly.”

That evening, Yuxi knew the assassin was no other than the fiancé of the woman who had been r*ped by Fourth Master Xu. The two had grown up together since childhood. They became childhood sweethearts and had even set a wedding date. That woman was buying things for the wedding when she was seen by the Fourth Master Xu. After the woman committed suic*de, his fiancé disappeared. Everyone did not expect that he had changed his appearance and entered the restaurant as a manservant.

This was strange. In an industry like the restaurant, the primary requirement for employees was trustworthiness. Otherwise, the restaurant would be in big trouble if the employee poisoned the food. Hence, how did this man get into the restaurant without any problem? This matter was questionable.

Yuxi frowned and asked, “What about the man’s family?”

Xu Wu shook his head. “He was the only one left in their family. He changed his appearance and hid in the restaurant, probably waiting to assassinate the Fourth Master Xu.”

Yuxi did not respond to Xu Wu’s words but only said, “Since he died, the identities of people behind the scenes will not be able to be exposed.” The death of the old couple, as well as this assassination, were all carefully designed by someone. She just didn’t know whose handiwork it was. The water in Yu City was getting even muddier.

In the evening, Yun Qing returned and saw that Yuxi did not look well, so he asked, “What’s wrong? Is it because you are not feeling well?”

Yuxi shook her head. “No.”

Zijin answered, “Madam is feeling uncomfortable after hearing about the old couple who hanged themselves.” A family that should have been happy and content, but because of this beast of a family, the Xu family, all four members of the family died horribly.

Yun Qing’s face turned ugly, and he asked, “Who told these things to Madam?” After saying that, his face became even colder. Mama Qu and others had always been in the inner courtyard and seldom went out, so how would they know these things? In all probability, it was Xu Wu who told them. It seemed that the bodyguard team needed to be fixed. T

/C

Yuxi waved her hand and let Mama Qu and others withdraw as she said, “I am just a little worried. I do not know what kind of person designed all this.” The events of the past few days were enough to show that the person behind the scenes was ruthless.

Yun Qing was silent for a moment before saying, “This time, it was planned by the Xu family’s enemies. You don’t have to worry.”

Yuxi was a bit alarmed. “You know who it is?”

Yun Qing shook his head. “The Xu family has acted recklessly over the years and has offended many people. With that many enemies. I’m not sure exactly who it is.”

Yuxi was relieved to hear this. She was not worried if it was indeed the Xu family’s enemies. She was afraid that the person was Yan Wushuang, who was hiding in the shadows. Everyone heard of his name, but no one had ever seen him. It was really the feeling that Yan Wushuang gave her that was too bizarre. Now it seemed that she had thought too much. “If I have to say, the reason Xu Shi threw that old couple’s corpses into a mass grave, it turned out to be a continued tradition of the Xu family.” It was disgusting that they had to face the Song family in front of them, and now they had the Xu family following from behind.

Unless necessary, like the last time Fu Qingluo caused a problem, Yun Qing never commented on how other women were acting. This time, he didn’t echo Yuxi’s words either.