bookcurios Chapter 145 Stop the Car
Chapter 145 Stop the Car
"Have you decided?"
Yu Rui understood what she meant. It was a risky move to lure the snake out of its hole. The chances of winning were fifty-fifty.
But it is better than hiding like this all day and making people at home worry.
"Yes, I have decided."
Zhao Qiqi bowed with both hands to thank the person in front of him.
On the street, in front of the carriage, Gu Fanggui lifted the curtain and walked out.
This was his first day in office and he was stopped by someone.
"Who are you and why are you stopping the magistrate's carriage?"
Some people nearby recognized who Zhao Qiqi was and started talking to each other.
"In reply to the county magistrate, I have been wronged, and I beg you to make the decision."
Gu Fanggui had an unpredictable expression on his face. He had encountered such a thing on the first day he officially took office. Once this precedent was set, all his subordinates would no longer have to do anything and could just stand in front of his sedan chair every day.
"Do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?"
"I am desperate, so I want to seek help from the county magistrate. Now there are wanted posters for me all over the streets. Even if I am innocent, I have no way to find evidence to clear my name. I ask the county magistrate to re-investigate the case and make a decision."
Zhao Qiqi kowtowed several times in the direction of Gu Fanggui, with a sincere and heartfelt gesture. Everyone was watching, and Gu Fanggui was in a dilemma for a moment.
This case was handled by the people under the former county magistrate. They wanted to arrest someone without a thorough investigation, and they acted like a murderer. Zhao Qiqi understood that the former county magistrate was probably bribed, and he had to let Gu Fanggui take over the matter as soon as possible.
"I am also willing to cooperate with the government investigation."
She raised her head so that everyone could see her face, and so that Gu Fanggui could also see her face.
Zhao Qiqi couldn't see it clearly, but she could feel that there were emotional fluctuations on Gu Fanggui's face.
"You stand up first. I will take over this matter and conduct a thorough investigation!"
Gu Fanggui signaled to the people around him to take Zhao Qiqi with them and went to the yamen.
"Take the suspect, Joo Hyuk."
Someone presented the case files to Gu Fanggui, who read them one by one and frowned.
"Can you tell what kind of poison it is?"
"Reporting to the county magistrate, after the accident, the man's family took him back and cremated him."
Gu Fanggui frowned. Isn't it obvious that there is something wrong? Cases like this with so many flaws are more likely to have difficult interpersonal relationships behind them.
"Everything else has been tested, and only the peppers are poisonous."
"Sir, I am innocent. I am just a cook. It is none of my business whether the pepper is poisonous."
The 200-pound man sat on the ground, beating his chest and stamping his feet, crying and sobbing, with fear and anger clearly visible on his face.
"Sir, our boss said that this chili was provided by this woman. There is no other place to get it. If there is a problem, it must be her!!"
"quiet!"
Gu Fanggui slammed the gavel loudly, and the whole hall became quiet. Even the crowd gathered outside dared not make any sound.
Zhu He instantly wilted: "Yes."
"Zhao Qiqi, tell me, what is this chili?"
"To answer your question, my Lord, this chili pepper is something I accidentally discovered in the mountains. It can be used in cooking to add flavor just like dogwood, and it is more versatile than dogwood. In other words, chili peppers are suitable for any dish. They can dispel cold and dampness, stimulate the taste buds, increase appetite, have bright colors, and taste spicy and refreshing. As for why only I can provide it, I dare to guess that it is just that we have not found it here, and more distant places can eat it."
The people watching outside started to make noise again.
"Hey, is it the chili peppers from the restaurant in Qixian Town? I've eaten them before, and what the woman said is true. They are really spicy and refreshing, and the fragrance lingers on your lips and teeth, making you linger for more."
"Since you have eaten it, then it must be fine. This woman must have been wronged. I will try it tomorrow to see if it is as delicious as you say."
"What a pity, the little woman didn't see her husband here. As I just said, she is the only one who has this pepper. Maybe she wants to take it away for her own use. Otherwise, why would she be in such a hurry to destroy the body?"
Gu Fanggui retracted his gaze and thought about the clues he had already known: "Zhu He, let me ask you, how long has this chili been available in your restaurant?"
"This..." Zhu He was a little anxious. He also understood something. This pepper has been sold for a long time, how could something go wrong? And from what the people outside said just now... Could it be that the boss really wanted to... Then he couldn't let this woman win. If it goes on like this, he would probably become a scapegoat.
"Tell the truth!" Gu Fanggui shouted loudly, trying to scare Zhu He with his momentum first.
"Sir, I don't know either. I just entered Penglai Pavilion yesterday."
His original intention was to shirk responsibility, but as soon as he said this, Zhu He knew that he was even more doomed. He couldn't stop sweating and his face turned red.
"This pepper is not only sold in Penglai Pavilion, and it's so coincidental that someone died as soon as you went to Penglai Pavilion, Master Zhu... It's not because of you..."
Zhao Qiqi didn't finish her words, but no one present knew what she meant.
Many people outside the hall felt that this was very true. How could it be such a coincidence? These peppers have been sold for a long time. If there was a problem, it would have occurred long ago. Why did it occur only now? It seemed that the woman was really wronged.
"You are so slanderous!"
"Since Master Zhu didn't do it, who else could have come into contact with the ingredients and be able to poison them?" Zhao Qiqi pressed the issue again.
"There are only a few chefs in the kitchen, who else could it be..."
He seemed to have thought of something... and became excited again: "Please investigate, sir. Many people in the kitchen were able to come into contact with the pepper. They should be brought here for questioning. I have no grudge against that person. Why should I kill him?"
"It is impossible that there is no grudge or hatred, but what if there is a conflict of interest?"
Zhu He was so angry that he just wanted to come over and hit Zhao Qiqi: "You bitch, I'm not picking on you, but you're just bitching everywhere!"
"Master Zhu, don't be impatient. I'm not talking about you."
After saying that, Zhao Qiqi looked at Gu Fanggui again and said, "Sir, this matter was not originally handled by you, but by the previous county magistrate. However, he is about to leave his post and directly arrested people without any evidence. There are interests involved. I believe you will be able to see clearly."
"How dare you! You slandered the imperial officials without any evidence. Do you know the consequences?"
Of course Zhao Qiqi knew it, but his life was at stake at the moment, so he had to make the matter as big as possible. Anyone could guess that there must be something fishy about what happened today.
"Besides, speaking of Penglai Pavilion, after such a thing happened, the owner was immediately replaced. Judging from the motive, it really makes me wonder if someone wants to push someone down and benefit themselves!" Zhao Qiqi stiffened his neck. Facing the solemn county magistrate, he was not afraid at all and said all he wanted to say in one breath.