Chapter 45 A murder caused by a piece of tofu

Chapter 45 A murder caused by a piece of tofu

Chapter 45 A murder caused by a piece of tofu
After going out, Kang Tai walked quickly forward. After just two steps, he saw the eldest daughter-in-law coming out of the house with a child in her arms. The second daughter-in-law also opened the window and looked out, not knowing what had happened.

Kang Tai turned around and scolded his two daughters-in-law, telling them to hurry back to the house and not to worry about him solving the problems ahead. Then he told his wife, Sun Shi, to watch over his two second daughters-in-law and grandchildren, and not to go out, let alone go to the front.

After giving the instructions, Kang Tai continued walking forward, and soon he was out of the backyard and arrived at the workshop in front.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Our Kang family has been operating here for generations, and our Kang tofu workshop is famous throughout Pingyang City!" Before anyone arrived, the extremely angry voice of the second son Kang Youlu came over, and then the eldest son Kang Youfu also said: "Liu Lizhang, my second son is right, our Kang family has always been doing business honestly, especially this tofu, who knows how much we sell every day. Not to mention ordinary people, even Mr. Liu's family uses our tofu."

"Our Kang family's tofu workshop has been operating in Pingyang City for so many years. It is a time-honored business. How could we destroy our own rice bowl by doing such a thing? Head of the village, Liu, you know our old Kang family. This is absolutely impossible! Are you mistaken?"

"Big Boss Kang, Second Boss Kang, I'm not here to argue today. To be honest, I myself don't believe that something like this would happen to the tofu from your Kang family, but it just happened like this."

"Now someone used your Kang family's tofu and got into trouble. They wanted to report it to the police, but I helped to suppress it temporarily for the sake of the neighbors. I came here today to inform your Kang family of this matter and seek an explanation for the victim. If you don't admit it, it's your business. It's a fact that something happened. No matter what, this matter must be resolved, right?"

Liu Qi's unique duck voice sounded, with a hint of gloating in his words.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Kang Tai finally arrived. He lifted the curtain and walked out from behind and asked directly.

"Dad!" Kang Youfu and Kang Youlu shouted hurriedly.

"Dad! Liu Qi brought people to my house and said that there was something wrong with my tofu and that it made people sick. This... how is this possible! He also wants our Kang family to pay compensation. Isn't this extortion?" Kang Youlu was a first-class tofu-making expert, but he was not very good at dealing with people. He told the situation directly in front of Liu Qi, shouting with an indignant expression.

"Kang Lao Er! You jerk! Speak your mind clearly! Blackmailing you? Who blackmailed you? Someone bought the tofu made by your family, ate it and suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and now he's half dead. How can it be considered blackmailing us when we come here to ask for an explanation on behalf of the victim?" A white-collar servant with a fat face and a big beard slammed the table heavily, took two steps forward and started cursing loudly.

"Brother Ma, please don't be angry. My brother is a straightforward person. Please forgive me if he said something wrong. I am not blackmailing you, absolutely not. Today we are just discussing the matter at hand."

"You idiot, you are talking nonsense even when I am talking nicely? Do you believe that I will detain you and take you to the yamen? You are so shameless, there is no law around you?" The bearded Ma Ge rolled up his sleeves and cursed, while Kang Youfu kept saying nice things to apologize.

Kang Tai recognized at a glance that the two white servants who came with Liu Qi were Liu Qi's brothers. In addition to the bearded Ma Ge, there was also a sturdy man named Liu Jiu, who was Liu Qi's cousin.

These two people are both white-collar workers. The so-called white-collar workers are non-regular yamen runners. In other words, they are auxiliary police officers or similar roles.

Although he was not a formal worker, he was considered an official to ordinary people. Just now, Kang Youlu said the wrong thing because of anger. If Kang Youfu hadn't stopped him and kept saying nice things to apologize, the bearded Ma Ge's words of detaining him to the yamen would not have been considered a threat.

"Brother Ma, the child is ignorant, don't be angry, let's talk it over nicely..." Kang Tai hurried forward to smooth things over, took the hand of bearded Brother Ma and stuffed a few copper coins into his hand. Feeling the things in his hand, Bearded Brother Ma did not pursue what Kang Laoer had just said, but his expression was still very unhappy.

After finally persuading Ma Ge, Kang Tai turned around and scolded Kang Youlu for not being able to speak well, then kicked him and scolded him again, "Why didn't you entertain the Seventh Master and his friends when they came? Why didn't you serve a pot of tea? Why don't you go to the back and make some tea?"
Kang Youlu was about to explain something with his neck stiffened, but Kang Youfu quickly pulled him by the hand, winked at his brother, and then took Kang Youlu and went behind.

"Brother, why are you pulling me? This matter is clearly..." After going to the back, Kang Youlu said unconvinced.

Before he could finish, Kang Youfu glared at him and said, "You have already offended someone with your words just now. Don't you know who Liu Qi, Liu Jiu and Lao Ma are? They are always making trouble even when they are unreasonable. Wouldn't it be a disadvantage to go against them directly? What if Lao Ma really arrests you and takes you to the government office?"

"I...I...am I just going to watch them blackmail people like this? Is there any law in this world?" Kang Youlu is simple but not stupid. He came to his senses after being asked this by Kang Youfu. He was just too angry just now.

"You, you will suffer in the future if you just stand there like this. Okay, dad is here. I will discuss the next matters with him. You stay behind and don't go over there." Kang Youfu sighed and said this to his brother. Then he went to find tea leaves and water to make a pot of tea. When the tea was ready, he hurriedly went back to the front with the tea.

"Seventh Master, I just learned about what you are talking about, but it should have nothing to do with our Kang family..." In front, Kang Tai had already heard the purpose of Liu Qi's visit. He frowned and spoke in a friendly manner.

"Whether this matters or not is not up to me or you. The problem is that someone has taken advantage of your company and is now in trouble," Liu Qi said slowly.

"I understand, I understand." Kang Tai nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Our Kang family has been making tofu for so many years, and this has never happened before. But since you said so, I would like to trouble Master Qi to help. Don't worry, you will get the tea money." As he spoke, Kang Youfu came over with tea and served it to Liu Qi and the other three. He also smiled and said, "Master Qi, my father is right. This is probably a misunderstanding. People eat grains, so how can they not get sick? We sell so much tofu every day, and you often eat it. Everyone is fine after eating it, so why did this family have a problem? Could it be other reasons?"

"We have been neighbors for so many years, and you are the head of the village. You came here today with good intentions, and our Kang family will definitely appreciate this favor. However, we still need your help to deal with this matter. As for the rest, you don't need to tell us. Our Kang family will definitely remember your kindness."

Kang Youfu's words were neither arrogant nor humble, which made Kang Tai nod slightly. He still had to be the eldest brother. If the second in command, that young man, continued to quarrel with the other party, the matter would be difficult to handle.

Seeing that Liu Qi looked a little hesitant, Kang Tai quickly reached out and stuffed a handful of silver into his hand, then took Liu Qi's hand and said sincerely, "Master Qi, I'm sorry to trouble you. Please help me with this matter."

After receiving the silver, Liu Qi's expression eased a lot. He weighed it carefully and found that the silver Kang Tai stuffed into his hand was about two taels, which was a considerable amount of silver.

After thinking for a while, Liu Qi coughed. When he was about to say something, a man suddenly ran in from outside. As soon as he entered the workshop, he went straight to Liu Qi, leaned over and whispered something in Liu Qi's ear.

Liu Qi's expression suddenly changed when he heard this, and he asked, "Really?"

Seeing the visitor nod, Liu Qi stood up suddenly with an extremely serious expression.

"Kang Tai, Boss Kang, this matter cannot be left vague, come with me."

"What's wrong, Master Qi? Go? Where to?"

"Where else can we go? Of course we have to go to the government office!" Liu Qi said coldly.

"yamen?"

Kang Tai was shocked. Why did they suddenly have to go to the government office? Kang Youfu hurriedly asked what happened. Liu Qi did not hide the truth from them and said that the person who ate their tofu had just died. Now it was not a matter of stomach upset, but a death. The nature of the matter was different. Taking them to the government office now was just for the sake of the old neighbors. It would be different if the government office officially issued a warrant of detention.

When they heard Liu Qi say this, the father and son were dumbfounded. Someone died from eating the tofu of their Kang family? How could this be possible! But Liu Qi didn't seem to be talking nonsense. After all, a life was not something that could be said carelessly. Now Liu Qi was going to take them to the government office. When they heard the result, they couldn't help but panic.

At this time, Kang Youlu, who had been listening to the noise in front, couldn't help but run back and stopped Liu Qi from taking his men away.

But how could Liu Qi give Kang Youlu a good face? Moreover, Kang Youlu was also a member of the Kang family. There was a murder case in the Kang family tofu shop. Not only Kang Tai, but also Kang Youlu was taken away. The bearded Ma Ge and Liu Jiu on the side stepped forward directly. The two men sandwiched Kang Youlu in the middle and subdued him in an instant.

Seeing that the situation was not right, Kang Tai hurriedly shouted, "Don't be violent, don't be violent," and said that he could go with Liu Qi, but his two sons hoped that Liu Qi would show mercy and let them go.

Liu Qi shook his head and said that this would not work. The problem was caused by their family's tofu. Since the people who made tofu in this way had to be taken to the yamen, he had no say in this.

Hearing this, Kang Tai hurriedly said that his eldest son did not make tofu and had always been taking care of the business in the front, and the tofu was made by himself and the second son. In that case, please let his eldest son go.

After hearing this, Liu Qi hesitated for a moment, then looked at Kang Tai who had a pleading look on his face. Liu Qi stopped talking, waved his hand, and asked Ma Ge and Liu Jiu to escort Kang Youlu, while he took Kang Tai out.

"Dad! Second brother!" Kang Youfu didn't know what to do for a moment after this happened. He watched his father and brother being taken away by Liu Qi and his gang. He was anxious and took two steps forward, but was stopped by the man who had just run to inform Liu Qi.

"Big brother! It's okay! Remember to take good care of your mother and the second brother's wife at home..." Kang Tai's voice came from outside. The following words were blown into pieces by the cold wind and could not be heard clearly. Watching his father and second brother being taken away from afar, Kang Youfu felt as if the sky had fallen down.

(End of this chapter)