He started by killing his abusive father, and from then on, he embarked on the road to wealth.

Chapter 191 'Making the best use of people'

Niu Er brought a man from the bandits who knew some basic carpentry to Meng Fuqing's house. After some tinkering, the furniture was reassembled and carried into the house.

Fortunately, when Meng Fuqing was choosing furniture in the space, she took into account that the room she was currently living in was not very spacious, so she picked out the smallest pieces. Even so, the room still felt a bit cramped.

While he was busy working, Lu Zhi stood at the gate of the courtyard and knocked on the door.

“Meng Fuqing”.

Meng Fuqing walked over, "Qi..."

She paused for a moment, then called Qi Liang by his new name, "Lu Zhi, has the matter of the craftsman been settled?"

Now everyone in the village calls the person whose household registration has been changed by their new name, so that they can adapt as soon as possible.

Lu Zhi's expression was not good. "Things are a bit troublesome. Today we went to the craftsmen's quarters in the prefectural city. As soon as the craftsmen heard that we were from Hanhua Village, they were unwilling to come. They said that our Hanhua Village was strange and that they were afraid of being tainted by evil spirits."

Offering more money wouldn't work, and offering too much would only benefit them, so we didn't press the matter further. However, an old carpenter urgently needed the money and could come tomorrow.

Meng Fuqing lowered his eyes in thought. It seemed that the normal news about Hanhua Village should not be known only to them, but also to outsiders as soon as possible.

With a white wolf and his wolf cubs patrolling the village from time to time, there's no need to worry about anyone spying on the village.

She said to Lu Zhi, "Let's put this matter aside for now and spread the news that Hanhua Village is back to normal."

Lu Zhi stood to the side with his arms crossed. "You've already come up with a plan?"

Meng Fuqing smiled and said, "It's just about making the best use of people."

Based on Lu Zhi's understanding of Meng Fuqing, it's clear that someone is being targeted again.

Yan He, who was idly teaching Meng Ranran and Meng Ali to read, suddenly sneezed. She rubbed her nose and muttered, "Who's thinking about me?"

After Niu Er and the others left, dinner was quickly prepared.

At noon, Shan Qiyu rendered lard at home and used the freshly rendered lard to fry some shepherd's purse and lean meat balls. In the evening, she used these balls, along with meat and vegetables, to cook a stew.

While eating, Meng Fuqing held a bowl and a flatbread in one hand and chopsticks in the other, squatting at the courtyard gate like Yan He, talking about his plans as he ate.

After listening, Yan He choked on his soup, coughed a few times, and asked with a slightly conflicted look, "You still want me to lie?"

"No, it's giving you the opportunity to demonstrate the profound methods of Taoism, helping you to build your reputation, without cheating people out of their money."

Yan He was speechless at her answer, which was so selfless. "Meng Fuqing, don't you feel ashamed saying such high-sounding words?"

"Are you willing or not?" Meng Fuqing asked directly.

Yan He didn't hesitate for a moment, "I'm willing!"

After a pause, she added, "Actually, there's no need for such trouble. My master, Master Xuanyi, should be well-known in Jing'an Prefecture. He knows the abbot of Qixia Temple in Jing'an Prefecture, so I can use his identity to come out of seclusion."

This is an unexpected surprise.

However, Meng Fuqing hesitated before saying, "The news of your master's passing..."

"No one knows except me."

Seeing that she was in low spirits, Meng Fuqing stopped asking her questions.

The two were eating quietly when they suddenly heard a scream from next door, followed by crying.

"Grandma Yao, what's wrong? Wake up!"

"Mother...Quick, quickly take Mother to Doctor Zheng!"

……

The two stood up at the same time, turned their heads and saw Ji Dalang carrying Yao Shanyun out of the door and hurriedly walking south.

Upon hearing the commotion, Shan Qiyu and Meng Ranran jogged out, their faces betraying their anxiety. Meng Ali, with her short legs, arrived late.

"Zhao'er, what's wrong with Aunt Yao?"

Meng Fuqing called out to Zhao'er, who was lagging behind.

Zhao'er looked completely bewildered. "We had just finished eating when Grandma Yao wanted to talk to my aunt and uncle. Before she even went inside, she suddenly said she wasn't feeling well, and then she clutched her stomach and vomited..."

Yan He guessed, "Could it be that they ate something bad?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Ranran, who was standing to the side, frowned and tilted her head to carefully recall what her master had taught her that day.

"I don't know either. The whole family eats the same things, only Grandma Yao had an accident..."

Dan Qiyu was worried and wanted to go with Zhao'er to check on things.

The two left quickly. Meng Fuqing intended to go into the courtyard to put down the bowls and chopsticks, but someone tugged at the corner of her clothes.

“Sister, today Master taught me that aconite is poisonous, and that poisoning can cause numbness of the mouth and tongue, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting… Aunt Yao’s symptoms seem to be similar to these…”

Meng Fuqing seemed to be deep in thought, then asked, "When you were saying these things, did anyone hear you?"

Meng Ranran was taken aback, then suddenly realized something and answered firmly, "Sister Miao."

Meng Fuqing asked her to explain in detail, so Meng Ranran recounted what had happened during the day.

After hearing this, Meng Ali and Bai Lang were left at home to watch the house, while Meng Fuqing and the other two rushed to Doctor Zheng's house.

Upon entering, the first person seen was Meng Bochang, who was wearing a cotton coat. Meng Fuqing asked him in a low voice how Aunt Yao was doing. He learned that she had been given medicine to induce vomiting and that her condition had improved. She was resting in her room at the moment, which put his mind at ease.

"Don't blame me for being blunt, but you just found out at noon that aconite is poisonous, and then your mother-in-law was poisoned by aconite that evening. What a coincidence!" Doctor Zheng frowned, his brow furrowing deeply.

Cui Miao'er just kept shaking her head, "I...I don't know, Dr. Zheng..."

As if suddenly remembering something, she said, "Some of the wild vegetables we ate tonight were dug by Pan'er, and some I dug this afternoon. Who knows who dug up that aconite and brought it home? Dr. Zheng, you can't blame me just because I know it's poisonous!"

As if she had gained confidence, Cui Miao'er's voice became louder.

Pan'er looked bewildered when she was suddenly mentioned. Her fingers twisted together, and she was so anxious that she almost cried out, fearing that she had harmed Grandma Yao, who had taken in the sisters.

"You washed the wild vegetables that Pan'er dug up. You just saw what aconite looks like. Didn't you recognize it when you were washing the vegetables?"

Upon hearing Meng Fuqing's voice, Cui Miao'er's face stiffened, and she immediately panicked.

She only thought of using the wild vegetables that Pan'er had dug to cover up her mistake, forgetting that it was Pan'er who washed those vegetables. She felt a surge of resentment; she dared not provoke Meng Fuqing now, yet Meng Fuqing still targeted her.

Gritting her teeth, Cui Miao'er simply said that she didn't recognize him.

As long as she stubbornly refuses to admit it, no one can do anything to her.

Ji Dalang stood aside and watched for a while, then suddenly spoke up: "You brought the vegetable porridge to Mother. In the past, whenever Jinbao wanted to eat something, you would give it to him first. This time, you hit Jinbao's hand."

Cui Miao'er was stunned, her eyes suddenly reddening. She shrieked, "Ji Dalang! Even if you want a divorce, you don't need to pin the crime of murdering your mother-in-law on me! We were husband and wife, after all. Do you already have someone else and that's why you're in such a hurry for me to die?!"

Startled by her shout, Ji Dalang immediately lost his composure. "I...I'm just weird..."

Meng Fuqing gave Yan He a wink, and Yan He raised his hand and knocked the agitated Cui Miao'er unconscious.

Meng Bochang asked in confusion, "Miss Yan, what's going on...?"

"Help her mute manually." Meng Fuqing said casually, and then added, "It's too much of a coincidence that Aunt Yao drank all the poisoned part of the porridge. It's possible that she poisoned it afterward. Yan He, check her hands for any abnormalities."

Seeing that Sister He was helping Sister Miao and it was inconvenient for her, Meng Ranran immediately stepped forward to check on her. After looking at her, she said, "Your fingertips are a little red and swollen, only a little bit."

"It will happen if it comes into contact with aconite juice," Doctor Zheng said with certainty, stroking his gray beard.

"Yan He, search her body. Brother Ji, please go home and search for any cloths stained with the green liquid."

Ji Dalang already had the answer in his heart. He wiped his face and said in a muffled voice, "I'll go back now."

A group of villagers who had come out to check the situation after hearing the commotion gathered at the entrance, and some followed behind Ji Dalang, intending to help.