Chapter One Hundred and Three: Xu's Apothecary

"Alright!" Yu Chun nodded eagerly.

Lin Sangqian exchanged a glance with Lin Wenyan, and together they brought Yu Chun to the Fortune Banquet Restaurant.

Yang Shi was puzzled as to why the two suddenly brought a stranger to dine with them, but Lin Wenyan didn't explain much—he simply asked Yang Shi to find them a secluded table.

Once seated, Lin Sangqian ordered a few dishes and even requested a pot of wine for Yu Chun.

"Young lady, you truly are a kind soul," Yu Chun sighed. "There aren't many as good-hearted as you nowadays."

"I just feel we were destined to meet," Lin Sangqian replied. "Besides, I'd like to ask Uncle to bring more people to buy from my place in the future, so I can earn a bit more."

"Hahaha, certainly! Leave it to me, I'll take care of it."

Soon after, Yang Shi brought out the dishes and wine.

What Yu Chun didn't know was that this was the strongest wine in Fortune Banquet Restaurant—even those with a high tolerance would feel lightheaded after a few cups.

Predictably, after only two cups, Yu Chun was already tipsy and began chatting with Lin Sangqian and Lin Wenyan.

"Youthful girl, young lad, Uncle was quite popular when he was young!" Yu Chun slurred. "But alas, my family was poor, couldn't afford a wife! Time dragged on until I was thirty, and then—hic—ended up as a companion to an older woman..."

"Uncle, who's your companion then?" Lin Sangqian asked.

"Hic, you wouldn't know her! It's the owner of Little Zhang's Tavern, surname Zhao, my companion works for the Zhao family."

"Oh, so that's how it is," Lin Sangqian said. "But didn't you say she was wealthy? Does the Zhao family pay her a lot?"

"Not much in wages! Hic, she just did some work for others and got paid well. Let me think—must be more than a hundred taels!"

More than a hundred taels... Lin Sangqian sneered inwardly. Those two wretches really spared no expense to get rid of Zhao Lan'er's mother.

"What sort of job could earn so much?" Lin Wenyan asked. "I'd like to earn that too! Could I do it?"

"Heh, it's not the kind of thing you can easily do," Yu Chun grinned slyly. "Besides, I can't tell you—come on, let's drink! Oh, you two can't drink..."

Lin Sangqian and Lin Wenyan exchanged a glance. Lin Wenyan raised his cup and said, "I can drink a little. I'll join you."

"Hahaha, that's the spirit, lad! Cheers!"

Yu Chun drank with gusto, never noticing that Lin Wenyan had quietly switched his wine for tea.

After another two cups, Yu Chun was thoroughly muddled, clapping Lin Wenyan on the shoulder. "You siblings—hic—are good people. I swear, I'll repay you someday! If it weren't for you, I'd have lost my arm!"

"We're all friends, no need for thanks," Lin Wenyan said. "I'm just curious—what exactly did your companion do to earn so much?"

"Hahaha... You're a naive lad, so I'll tell you..."

Yu Chun leaned in, and Lin Sangqian quickly moved closer as well.

With the wine clouding his mind, Yu Chun forgot everything else. He lowered his voice and whispered, "She helped the mistress's concubine poison the lady of the house and killed her! Once the lady died, the concubine could move up—of course she'd pay more!"

"Heavens, such things happen?" Lin Sangqian feigned fright. "Did the master know?"

"Of course! It was their plot. But don't tell anyone, alright?"

"Don't worry, we won't," Lin Sangqian lied smoothly. "Where did they get the poison?"

"Bought it at the pharmacy! My companion tricked the shopkeeper, saying she had mice at home so she needed extra arsenic, and paid him more—then brought the arsenic back."

"Which pharmacy?" Lin Sangqian pressed.

"The one near my house, what's its name... hic... Xu's?"

As soon as Yu Chun finished, the wine finally got the better of him; he collapsed onto the table, fast asleep.

"At last, we've coaxed the truth out," Lin Sangqian muttered through gritted teeth. "It wasn't easy!"

She'd wasted so much time, spent twelve taels and a meal—yet the intelligence gained from Yu Chun made it worthwhile.

"Brother Yan, Sister Sangqian, he's drunk? What shall we do?" Yang Shi approached.

"Find a nearby inn and rent him a room. Brother Yang, could you help us take him there?"

"No problem! I'll find a place right away."

Yang Shi quickly arranged a room at a nearby inn, and together they helped Yu Chun over.

Lin Sangqian instructed the innkeeper to take good care of him, then returned home with Lin Wenyan.

After all, Yu Chun had done them a great favor this time.

Once home, as expected, Liao Shuxia told them someone from the Zhao house had come again.

But today, they hadn't dared to barge in. Instead, they lurked outside the gate, until Liao Shuxia spotted them and drove them off with a sharp tongue.

She didn't idle afterwards either. She had Aunt Niu and the others stay with Zhao Lan'er at home, while she went to inquire near the Zhao house about why Zhao Xu Wei was so eager to bring Zhao Lan'er back recently.

From the neighbors, she learned that Zhao Xu Wei had recently befriended a wealthy merchant who traveled far and wide. To curry favor and get taken along to make money, he actually planned to send Zhao Lan'er to please the merchant.

Liao Shuxia trembled with rage. "I can't fathom how such a father exists! For profit, he'd let his own daughter be ruined!"

"Mother!" Lin Sangqian glanced into the house, where Zhao Lan'er was resting. "Keep your voice down."

Liao Shuxia realized she was too agitated and quickly lowered her tone. "Alright, I understand."

Lin Hongda looked grim as well—he doted on his daughter and simply couldn't comprehend Zhao Xu Wei's intentions.

As for Lin Wenyan, his fists were clenched tight.

If not for his usual restraint, he'd have stormed the Zhao house already.

"It's alright, don't be angry," Lin Sangqian gave a sinister smile. "Their days of freedom are numbered."

With that, she told them everything she'd learned from Yu Chun.

"Hmph, as I said, evil deeds always get exposed in the end!" Liao Shuxia said with satisfaction. "Little Dog, what will you do next?"

"Tomorrow, I'll go to Xu's Pharmacy and ask. Not many people buy arsenic, and the pharmacy doesn't sell it lightly—the shopkeeper will surely remember Aunt Gao."