Actually, based on the original capital, it would not result in a great loss of Silver, but the pickled vegetables belonged to Yuelai Restaurant. Due to the hype over cabbages, the price of the pickled vegetables skyrocketed, peaking at five hundred wen per catty. Now that the price of cabbages has returned to normal, the price of pickled vegetables remains high due to scarcity, never dropping! As a result, the final compensation reached the astronomical sum of fifty thousand taels.
After hearing this, the Shopkeeper’s face grew solemn, the joy he had just displayed now gone, "This is a major issue, one I cannot decide on alone. I must report to the Young Master before making a decision."
"Shopkeeper, here is a letter, please hand it to your Young Master!"
"This... Alright then!" The Shopkeeper took the letter, which amounted to an agreement.
Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, seeing that the matter had been spoken for, departed, left to await news.
"Yang Ming, what exactly did you write in that letter?"
"I only wrote about Li Fugui’s matter, hoping he would show leniency and accept my proposal."
Xiaoxiao truly had not expected her humble husband to take Li Fugui’s matter to heart. He had already been convinced of Li Fugui’s innocence and even prepared a letter for help. Yet, just the night before, he had comforted her with the possibility of it being Li Fugui’s doing.
Heh, is this truly a considerate man? She felt an inexplicable warmth inside her!
Li Residence’s side house
"Young Master, the pickled vegetables have been declared a national dish; the poisoning incident can no longer affect them," spoke the confidant of the second young master of the Li Residence.
"Hmph! That’s lucky for them!" Li Fuyou clenched his teacup harder and harder, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes.
"Second Young Master, it’s said the old master’s health can’t endure any further shocks. Should we..."
"Hmph, that old man has a really hard heart, doesn’t he? Abandoning his eldest son, choosing the family fortune instead. My brother is truly pitiable!" Li Fuyou put down his teacup and stood up to leave.
"Second Young Master, where are you going?" His confidant followed him out.
Li Fuyou’s lips twisted into a sinister smile, "Where? Of course, to see my dear father!"
Old Master Li’s bedroom
"Second Young Master!" The servants, upon seeing the arrival of the second young master, all bowed in greeting.
"You all may leave now!"
"Yes, Second Young Master." The servants did not dare to contravene the second young master’s order and retreated.
Li Fuyou saw the old man lying on the kang, his usual complexion gone, probably aggravated by his eldest son. Should he, the second son, add fuel to the fire?
"Fuyou has come!" Old Master Li felt a surge of emotions upon seeing his second son, realizing he had always supported his eldest son but neglected the second.
Li Fuyou approached, and while Old Master Li was caught off guard, he slipped a prepared pill into Old Master Li’s mouth, forcing him to swallow it.
"Cough! Cough!" Old Master Li immediately started coughing violently, and just as he tried to speak, he realized he could not make a sound. Amidst his shock, the second son spoke up.
"My dear father, do you want to know why the eldest brother was thrown into prison?"
Old Master Li’s eyes widened. What was Fuyou talking about? Wasn’t Fugui imprisoned for poisoning?
"It was me! I did it! I set him up! Hahaha, you never saw it coming, did you!"
"And there’s something else you didn’t expect! You’re about to die! And your fortune will soon be all mine! Hahaha!"
Old Master Li’s mouth opened wide as he desperately tried to speak, but all that came out were futile squeaks. His body began to convulse, his face turned bright red with strain, and tears streamed down uncontrollably!