Lin Yuan asked three consecutive questions, knocking on the hearts of those gathered at the door to watch the commotion. Perhaps many had already harbored such doubts, but none had voiced them. Lin Yuan’s words undoubtedly sounded an alarm bell for everyone, telling them that this rumor was not to be trusted!
However, since it concerned food safety, it was not easy for people to be easily convinced by just a few words from Lin Yuan.
An older woman, clutching her grandson’s hand, expressed her concern, "Actually, we don’t distrust Boss Lin, but this is, after all, Five Stones Powder, you know. I have bought your pastries for my grandson before! He loves them very much, and after hearing that rumor, I really thought he had become addicted."
Another younger woman chimed in, "Exactly, who would admit to doing wrong in public? They all hide and cover it up, don’t they? Besides, everyone is saying the same thing, we don’t know who to believe anymore."
"Yes, indeed," others agreed.
"Aren’t we all just concerned for the safety of our families?"
Listening to the crowd’s complaints and helplessness, Lin Yuan nodded slightly and clapped her hands, "So, today I’ve invited you all to serve as witnesses, to put your minds at ease."
Saying this, Lin Yuan pointed to an elderly gentleman standing behind her, who was over the age of sixty. Dressed in a long robe, his smile radiated kindness, filling onlookers with a sense of reassurance.
"This is Doctor Hu from Shande Hall. I trust you have all heard of him. Today, I have invited Doctor Hu to verify the pastries from Rice Flower Fragrance, to see if there is indeed any trace of Five Stones Powder in them."
Doctor Hu was Shande Hall’s chief physician and was quite renowned in Zhuma Town, revered not only for his excellent medical skills but also for his integrity. He was not like other doctors who casually cheated patients out of their silver. Such a doctor would not have come to offer his services if Shande Hall had not offered a good price!
At first, Lin Yuan was surprised to have secured such a reputable doctor. In her mind, she had thought of Shande Hall as merely profit-driven; it seemed the corpulent man was an exception.
Upon hearing it was Doctor Hu from Shande Hall, a stir went through the crowd. Such a well-regarded doctor wasn’t someone one could hire with just money alone.
It was said that an old landlord from a neighboring town once fell ill and sought out Doctor Hu, but the doctor refused to tend to him due to the landlord’s notorious reputation for swindling tenants and abducting village girls. No matter the wealth of the landlord—who offered ten taels of gold—the esteemed doctor would not relent. This demonstrated the high moral character of the physician.
Lin Yuan, who respected the old doctor’s integrity, personally helped him to the desk. The doctor, not a man of social niceties, simply gave the crowd a slight bow before taking out his tools to examine several pieces of pastries on the table with meticulous care.
The crowd immediately fell silent, hundreds of eyes fixed intently on Doctor Hu’s hands. He pinched a piece of pastry, sniffed it near his nose, then pinched a bit and tasted it.
After repeating the process several times, Doctor Hu inspected every single pastry on the table.
When Doctor Hu placed the last piece of pastry back on the plate, an impatient voice from the crowd immediately asked, "Doctor Hu, how is it, is there any Five Stones Powder?"
Wiping his hands with a clean kerchief, Doctor Hu nodded to Lin Yuan in thanks, then turned to the crowd and announced loudly, "Five Stones Powder, also known as Cold Food Powder, contains cinnabar in its formula, giving it a faint garlic scent when smelled closely. The pastries I have just tasted had a variety of sweet and savory flavors, yet lacked any hint of garlic. Moreover, those who consume Five Stones Powder exhibit symptoms such as flushed complexion, bright eyes, increased appetite, food consumption, and a spirited demeanor. Everyone, look at me, do I exhibit any of these symptoms?"