Chapter 21: What Kind of Man Could Put Up With Her

Cao Deping clasped his hands behind his back and let out a cold snort. "Either way, once she goes there, she'll either die or be left in tatters!"

Cao Chengwen was initially happy, but then asked with a hint of worry, "But those people didn't actually cause any deaths. At most, she can be considered a quack who misled people. Once she's locked up for a few days and released, won't she still..."

"Idiot!" Cao Deping couldn't help but kick him. "Four people have died in just a few short days! If there's more trouble now, how are we supposed to explain it to the County Magistrate!"

One must know when to stop!

The reason the Magistrate was willing to turn a blind eye and help them was partly out of respect for his cousin, and partly because he wanted to close the case as quickly as possible to suppress these matters.

If more people died and caused public panic, someone might inevitably step forward to accuse the Magistrate of incompetence, claiming he couldn't even govern a small place like Jiangling properly.

"The Magistrate's term is nearing its end, and it's rumored he has prospects for promotion this time. Therefore, absolutely no mistakes must be made during this period!"

As long as that man was promoted, wouldn't they be able to bask in his glory as well?

By then, what would a tiny place like Jiangling matter!

Cao Chengwen's eyes instantly lit up. "Really!?"

Cao Deping stroked his beard, a look of pride appearing on his face. "Your paternal aunt told me herself. How could it be fake? But you must never reveal this news to anyone else, do you hear me!"

"I'm not stupid; I know how to handle this!" Cao Chengwen hurriedly patted his chest in guarantee.

But immediately after, the scene of his confrontation with Ye Chutang at the magistrate's office that day flashed before his eyes, and for some reason, his heart felt inexplicably uneasy.

"However, Father, I think that Ye Chutang is quite resourceful. We should still be on guard. Even if we can't crush her, we absolutely cannot give her another chance to turn the tables!"

"Useless!" Cao Deping snorted with disdain. "She's just a woman; how much capability could she possibly have? That one trip to the magistrate's office was likely enough to terrify her! Now, all the major pharmacies in Jiangling refuse to do business with her, and after causing several more accidents, her clinic has been shut down. Even if she gets out, she won't be able to stay in Jiangling. Turn the tables? In her dreams!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but criticize Cao Chengwen again.

"You've had this temperament since you were a child—lacking courage and full of cowardice, always fearing the wolf and the tiger! Unlike Chengwu—"

At this point, his voice paused. He swallowed the rest of his words, let out a cold snort, and turned to leave with a flick of his sleeves.

Only after he left did Cao Chengwen slowly lift his head, his gaze toward his father filled with resentment and unwillingness.

For so many years, he and Chengwu had been constantly compared. Chengwu was always the one praised, as if he were inferior to Chengwu in every single way!

But now Chengwu was dead! And yet Father still—

Cao Chengwen slowly pushed himself up to stand, unable to help but sneer.

That was right. Since Chengwu was dead, no one would ever compete with him again.

Even if Father knew he was the one behind all of this, wouldn't he still have to protect him?

Now, he just had to wait patiently for the outcome.

Ye Chutang...

Recalling that day of drizzling spring rain, the way the woman held an oil-paper umbrella, and the glimpse of her delicate, pale white wrist that was so strikingly eye-catching.

Cao Chengwen narrowed his eyes slightly, a sense of heat rising in his heart.

In all of Jiangling, one could not find another woman with such beauty and temperament. If only—

...

"So, are you all truly not leaving today?"

At the foot of the steps, Ye Chutang asked once more.

Lian Zhou nodded firmly. "Yes."

Since their master had made up his mind to investigate this matter thoroughly here, they naturally could not leave.

Ye Chutang glanced toward the room.

She couldn't see anyone, but could vaguely catch a glimpse of the hem of a moon-white silk robe.

It seemed they really had no intention of leaving.

Having lived two lifetimes, this was the first time Ye Chutang had encountered such people.

When facing trouble, they didn't dodge or avoid; they insisted on charging headlong into it.

Fine then.

Ye Chutang didn't dwell on the matter for long and gave a slight nod.

"In that case, it won't be too late to leave once Young Master Shen has recovered. However, I might not be able to continue helping with the medical consultations for a while."

Lian Zhou immediately said, "Don't worry, Doctor Ye. We understand. Please go about your business; I will take care of our master myself."

Anyway, according to her, it would only take a little more time with the medicine; he could handle these matters.

Ye Chutang gave a faint smile. "In that case, please settle the accommodation and meal fees."

...

"She actually wants to charge us extra!?"

Lian Zhou's face was full of disbelief.

"The medical fees we've given her these past few days are enough to buy another courtyard!"

Shen Yanchuan lay lazily in a wooden rattan chair. Hearing this, the corners of his lips curled up as if he weren't surprised at all. "Since the clinic is closed and she asked us to leave, she has settled our accounts with her. If we continue to stay, naturally, she will charge us again."

Lian Zhou was even more shocked. "That's exactly what she said! How did you know!?"

Was there even a need to think? It was a perfect guess.

Ever since that night during the Spring Lantern Festival, Shen Yanchuan felt that no matter what she did next, he wouldn't find it strange or surprising.

"Just give it to her."

Since his master had given the order, Lian Zhou naturally had to obey.

It wasn't that they lacked money, but rather... with these payments going out bit by bit like flowing water, who could stand it!

Lian Zhou couldn't help but complain, "I wonder what kind of man could stand a woman like this!"

Shen Yanchuan's brow twitched slightly. He suddenly looked up and asked, "Go find out when she arrived in Jiangling and who her former husband was."

To clarify her relationship with Xu Fengchi, he first had to understand her identity and her background.

The fastest way, naturally, was to start with the people around her.

...

After arranging the matters at home, Ye Chutang went to the magistrate's office with Wu Xu and the others.

While walking, Ye Chutang suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, what happened with Liu Si's case?"

Wu Xu was somewhat surprised. At a time like this, shouldn't an ordinary person be most concerned about their own affairs? Why was she asking about someone else's situation?

On second thought, he figured Ye Chutang might still be worried about Ye Yunfeng being implicated, so he comforted her, "Don't worry, Doctor Ye. Liu Si has already confessed, saying that he was the one who killed Cao Chengwu and that no one else was involved."

Approaching Ye Yunfeng before had been a pure mistake.

"Oh?" Ye Chutang seemed somewhat surprised. "Didn't Lady Zhou testify publicly that Cao Chengwen was the one who instigated it?"

Wu Xu explained somewhat helplessly, "That's true, but the key is, she had no evidence! So after all the questioning, they still released Cao Chengwen."

Ye Chutang lowered her eyes slightly.

Cao Chengwen had likely prepared for this day for a long time, so he had been extremely cautious at every step. Although there was Lady Zhou's testimony, without physical evidence, they ultimately could not convict him.

And Liu Si was destined to die.

Soon they arrived at the magistrate's office. Wu Xu whispered, "Doctor Ye, it's just a routine inquiry, don't be nervous."

Ye Chutang looked up, only to see the figure of a woman flash past the door.

She wore elegant clothes and fine ornaments, possessing a certain charm.

It was none other than the current Magistrate's wife, Cao Deping's cousin, Liu Yiyi.

Lian Zhou: *I wonder what kind of man could stand a woman like this!*

Shen Yanchuan:...

(End of Chapter)