Chapter 104: Unwilling to Testify

When Lin Sangqian came to the noodle shop that morning, Shopkeeper Wang next door told her that everything could be moved out today.

That worked out perfectly, because the things she needed to prepare for opening the milk tea shop were almost ready as well.

She had already spoken with the owners of the dairy shop, the tea shop, and the fruit shop, and they would deliver fresh goods to her at regular intervals.

Because her demand was so large, each shopkeeper had given her quite a generous discount.

At this rate, the milk tea shop could open at any moment.

But she and Lin Wenyan would not be able to manage it alone. Zhao Laner spent most of her time at home making chicken feet with Aunt Niu and the others. Liao Shuxia had to do embroidery and also cook for the workers. Lin Hongda was at the Yu residence, so no one had the time to help at the milk tea shop.

Lin Wenyan and Lin Yanbei were still at the academy, and it was out of the question to make them give up their studies.

So they could only hire a few more people.

That afternoon, Lin Sangqian first went to Fuman Restaurant and asked Lu Chengren to help her find three more hardworking and honest assistants. Lu Chengren naturally agreed without hesitation.

As repayment, Lin Sangqian taught Fuman Restaurant the recipe for Peach Oolong.

This would not affect her milk tea shop at all, since she still had many other kinds of milk tea.

But for Fuman Restaurant, having one more new specialty meant business could only improve.

After leaving Fuman Restaurant, Lin Sangqian and Lin Wenyan headed toward the Xiji Pharmacy.

...

At the Yu residence.

An Yu reported to Guan Yanqing everything his men had told him the night before.

"This little girl, what on earth is she trying to do?" Guan Yanqing laughed softly. "Forget it, none of that matters. Tell the men below that all they need to do is ensure her safety, and the safety of her family."

"Yes."

Yu Jingxiao was standing nearby listening. At that, he said in surprise, "You actually sent people to protect Miss Lin? No one has ever gotten that treatment from you before."

Then he pretended to wipe away tears. "Not even me."

Guan Yanqing glanced at him and said coolly, "If I remember correctly, two years ago I wanted to send two hidden guards to stay by your side, but you refused."

"Oh, well, I was too naive back then. Who could have guessed I'd run into danger?" Yu Jingxiao scratched his head awkwardly. "But now I have Lin Huwei, so I'm not afraid of anything, hmph."

Then he added, "Zicheng, if you have time another day, how about sparring with Lin Huwei?"

"Why would I spar with Lin Huwei?"

"Oh come on, I just want to see which of you is stronger!"

"Not interested."

"Zicheng, please!"

"Get lost."

"Right away!"

...

Xiji Pharmacy was not large, but its stock of medicinal herbs was fairly complete. Lin Sangqian looked around upon entering and nodded repeatedly.

It seemed that if she ever needed medicine in the future, she could come here to have it dispensed.

A young assistant stood at the counter. Seeing the two of them enter, he asked with a smile, "What can I get for you both? Do you have a prescription?"

"We're not here for medicine. We'd like to ask you about someone," Lin Sangqian said as she stepped up to the counter.

"Who do you want to ask about?" The assistant did not seem impatient, probably because there were no other customers in the shop at the moment.

"About two months ago, did anyone come here to buy arsenic?"

As soon as she asked, the assistant's expression changed at once. "Young lady, you can't speak recklessly! We never just sell arsenic to people."

"But I've already heard that someone did buy it here," Lin Sangqian said with a smile. "Don't be nervous. I'm only asking."

The assistant looked at a loss, then turned and shouted toward the back room, "Shopkeeper! Please come out here!"

"I'm coming! Must you keep shouting? Are you summoning a ghost?" From the inner room came a middle-aged man with a long beard and bleary eyes, who emerged and slapped the assistant on the head. "I had just fallen asleep before you woke me. What is it now?"

The assistant lowered his voice and said, "Shopkeeper, these two are asking whether anyone has ever come to our shop to buy arsenic."

"Is that so?" Shopkeeper Xu yawned, then looked at Lin Sangqian and Lin Wenyan with a smile. "And why are you asking about that?"

"Because it concerns a murder case," Lin Sangqian said without further detour. "So I hope you can tell me everything you know."

At that, Shopkeeper Xu's expression changed abruptly.

After a moment, he slammed his hand on the counter in anger and barked at the assistant, "I knew it! You were fooled by that woman! How many times have I told you arsenic must never be sold carelessly? You still wouldn't listen!"

The assistant's face went white with fright, and he said miserably, "I didn't know... I thought..."

"Thought what nonsense!" Shopkeeper Xu's chest rose and fell heavily.

The arsenic incident truly had nothing to do with him.

When that Lady Gao came to buy arsenic, he happened to be away, and only the assistant was there.

Lady Gao had slipped the young man some money and said she only needed it to poison rats. The assistant was foolish and tempted by the money, so he sold it to her.

But afterward, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and he told Shopkeeper Xu.

Shopkeeper Xu scolded him severely on the spot, but by then it was already too late.

He also clung to a bit of hope. What if she really had bought it just to poison rats?

But now that Lin Sangqian had come and brought up the matter, he understood that something had truly gone wrong...

"So, someone really did come to buy it, didn't they?" Lin Sangqian asked. "A woman, right?"

"Yes." The assistant hung his head miserably. "She was in her thirties, maybe, and dressed quite neatly. She looked kind and gentle, not like a bad person at all. And she kept assuring me it was only for rats... How was I supposed to know she meant to kill someone with it!"

"They killed an innocent woman," Lin Sangqian said, "my friend's mother. In that case, when the time comes for the case to be heard in court, would you be willing to testify?"

"What? I, I don't want to!" Terror flashed in the assistant's eyes. He quickly looked to Shopkeeper Xu as if begging for help. "Shopkeeper..."

He had been the one to sell the arsenic to that woman. Would he also be thrown in prison, or even beheading?

"You were deceived by her as well, so you won't be implicated," Lin Sangqian said gently.

"No, I won't go!" The assistant nearly hid behind Shopkeeper Xu.

At that moment, Shopkeeper Xu spoke up. "Young lady, I hope you won't force others into impossible positions. You said yourself that we were deceived, so this matter has nothing to do with us. We don't want to get dragged into it."

"You!" Lin Wenyan said with some anger. "That was a human life! If you hadn't believed her lies and lusted after money, and sold her the arsenic, would she have succeeded?"

Shopkeeper Xu's gaze seemed to waver slightly, but he still said nothing.

Just then, a violent fit of coughing suddenly erupted from the inner room. Shopkeeper Xu's expression changed instantly. "Father!"