Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1417 - 236, Lao Fan? (33)

"Isn’t Magistrate Pingxi supposed to love her people as if they were her children? How could she put something like Five Stones Powder in the meal to harm people? Sigh, really, rumors can’t be trusted!"

Several people were taking turns talking, slandering Dong Tian and Lin Yuan while elevating Drunken Immortal Tower in the process, achieving their goal.

Lin Yuan let out a cold laugh, turned to Sir Jingzhao and said, "Sir, they say to catch a thief you must catch them with the evidence. Since something not supposed to be there was found in the meal of Dong Tian, my duty as the Boss naturally grants me the right to thoroughly investigate."

Sir Jingzhao nodded in agreement, showing his approval.

Giving the fat-faced man a meaningful look, Lin Yuan continued, "Just now, these few people first disparaged our Dong Tian’s meal for having flies, and now they say it contains Five Stones Powder. Sir, since we don’t have such substances in Dong Tian, I suspect that the Five Stones Powder, like the earlier flies, was stealthily added by someone with an agenda."

As for who that person was, there was no need for Lin Yuan to spell it out. Everyone present understood; if someone was able to sneak flies into the food, what more a substance like Five Stones Powder?

Lin Yuan’s remark immediately made her cohorts uneasy, and they started raising a commotion.

"Magistrate Pingxi, isn’t this all just baseless harassment? Who on earth would poison themselves with Five Stones Powder?"

"Exactly, it looks like you’re just trying to shift the blame!"

"Sir, you cannot listen to this nonsense from Magistrate Pingxi. If we were to put Five Stones Powder in our own food, wouldn’t we be mad? Why would we do such a thing?"

Lin Yuan’s lips curled slightly, her expression icy, "Why you’re doing this you know very well! Since you don’t want to be searched, I have every reason to believe you’re feeling guilty!"

It was then that Shopkeeper Liu also figured things out, backed up Lin Yuan with a few of his workers, "That’s right, denying a search just means you’re guilty. Who knows, maybe you are carrying Five Stones Powder on you!"

"Guilty people never admit their misdeeds! If you’re brave enough, let the Sir search you!"

"Cowards! We at Dong Tian were searched without fuss, what’s with all your babbling?"

Sir Jingzhao, having seen many situations, was naturally aware that this matter was fishy, and immediately spoke up, "I too find this matter to have many questionable points. If you gentlemen are innocent, there should be no harm in letting me conduct a search."

Now that even the Sir Jingzhao had spoken, if they still refused to be searched, wouldn’t they be validating Lin Yuan’s accusation of guilt?

The group exchanged looks and eventually nodded in agreement.

Sir Jingzhao waved his hand, commanding the two doctors to examine everyone carefully—not just the initial troublemakers, but also those who later found the Five Stones Powder on the table.

The great hall fell silent, everyone focusing intently on the doctors, the air almost seeming to freeze.

Shopkeeper Liu even felt as if his breathing had stopped, and he sneakily glanced at Lin Yuan, noticing her face was also very grim, as if she was making a desperate last stand.

This must be the last chance! Something has to turn up from the search!

Regrettably, to his disappointment, after a thorough search, the two doctors found nothing incriminating on any of the men.

The group of men smiled smugly, exchanging remarks as if they had won a victory.

Sir Jingzhao also appeared disappointed as he looked at Lin Yuan, "County Master, the search has been conducted, but..."

Lin Yuan simply smiled faintly, for she knew as soon as those men agreed to be searched that they must have hidden the item well, making the chance of finding Five Stones Powder extremely slim.

However, her keen observation was not in vain, as it at least let her identify which parts of their bodies the men tensed up during the inspection.

"Sir, I earnestly request that my own physician be allowed to conduct another examination."

This...

Sir Jingzhao was under the impression that Lin Yuan doubted the skill of the doctors he had brought, which was why she desired her own people; he was thus growing somewhat impatient.

The group started laughing out loud, "Today we’ve truly witnessed Magistrate Pingxi’s reputation firsthand, even doubting Sir Jingzhao himself! Ha-ha, don’t think just because you’re a County Master you can do whatever you please, hmph, after all, you’re nothing but a little country girl with no experience! Do you really think you can have your way in the Capital city?"

"That’s right, if you want to cover the sky with one hand, go back to your Zhuma Town! With the title of Magistrate Pingxi you can bluff quite a few people!"

In sum, they spouted all kinds of unpleasant remarks, sparing no effort, making even Shopkeeper Liu frown.

At a loss, Sir Jingzhao turned to Lin Yuan and said, "Is the County Master worried that the physicians I’ve brought aren’t skilled? If that is the case..."

"You misunderstand, Sir," Lin Yuan quickly interjected. "The physicians you’ve brought are naturally highly skilled, it’s just that some people use despicable means that aren’t easily detected by ordinary checks."

Sir Jingzhao felt better on hearing this but still puzzled, he asked, "Does the County Master have someone capable for the task?"

Of course, she did.

Just as Lin Yuan was about to speak, she looked up and saw someone walk through the door. Her face suddenly changed.

Lao Fan!

Why had he come? Wasn’t he supposed to send someone to find Xiao Linshuang? Why had he been summoned instead?

Lin Yuan was not very clear about Lao Fan’s past, but she knew enough to understand that he did not want people in the Capital city to know of his return, hence his hiding out in Lin Mansion. Even when Sister Chang had left after teaching her manners, Princess Anle herself had personally intervened to ensure the secrecy was maintained.

And now, why had he carelessly shown up? Had he heard about the trouble here?

The worker who was sent was oblivious to all this and quickly approached Lin Yuan’s side, saying, "Boss, I went to Lin Mansion, but the young Miss has run off somewhere to play, and then this Old Mr. Zhen came upon hearing of the trouble at our shop."

Xiao Linshuang had run off to play again?

Hearing that Lin Yuan’s requested help had arrived, everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance.

When they saw the old man with the white beard and hair at the door, Sir Jingzhao was shocked and quickly went forward to pay his respects, "Old Mr. Zhen, you’ve returned to the Capital?"

Actually, Lao Fan himself had other reasons for coming out today, and not just for Lin Yuan. Now that he was back in the Capital, it wasn’t like him to keep hiding. So he decided it was as good a time as any to reveal himself.

Lao Fan nodded, looked around the hall with a hint of dissatisfaction and said, "I hear someone has been poisoned with Five Stones Powder in a meal at Dong Tian? Tsk tsk, such an interesting event, why didn’t anyone inform me? You sly girl, you only think to call your sister and forget this old man! Deserves a spanking!"

Lin Yuan felt thankful and chuckled, "Right, deserves a spanking! Once this is settled, you can spank me however you like!"