Chapter 152: The Back-Order People

The seated apothecary was not surprised; he waved to those still queuing and said, "My apologies, everyone. Today the Heart-Weighing Scale and the Hundred-Ailments Cabinet are exhausted. Please come back tomorrow."

"How can this be? The sick in our homes are waiting for medicine to save their lives!"

The seated apothecary spread his hands: "These two artisan-tools refuse to work; I have no choice. You are all city folk; you should know the rules of our Fire-Virtue Saving-the-World Hall."

The seated apothecary repeatedly apologized and saw the medicine-seekers out, feeling somewhat puzzled himself: Why did they refuse to work so early today?

After closing the door and hanging the "Closed for Business" sign, the seated apothecary returned to look closely; the bamboo cage had already embedded itself into the green bricks, and his expression inevitably changed.

This was certainly abnormal; otherwise, the green bricks on the apothecary hall's floor would have been replaced dozens of times already.

Xu Yuan and the others were invited into a refined room; not long after, a middle-aged woman entered. The shop assistant introduced her: "This is Wei Yunhua, the Third Wei Wei Huoshi."

Lang Xiao Ba also introduced Xu Yuan: "This is Inspector Xu; he has a case that needs the help of Third Lady."

The Third Wei Wei Huoshi glanced at Lang Xiao Ba and corrected him, neither soft nor hard: "The Three-Fire Old Mother Society."

Lang Xiao Ba pouted, explained the case again, then said: "Disperse your people; report any suspicious individuals immediately."

The Third Wei Wei Huoshi frowned and said: "Inspector Xu, do you intend to absorb our Three-Fire Old Mother Society? Such a major matter cannot be decided by this Wei Wei Huoshi alone; I must..."

Lang Xiao Ba flew into a rage: "Wei Yunhua! What do you mean?"

The Third Wei Wei Huoshi sneered coldly: "Disperse our people, and we Three-Fire Old Mother Society stop doing business? Working only for your Filth-Dispelling Bureau?"

Xu Yuan raised his hand to stop Lang Xiao Ba; this fellow had the same temper back when he directly blocked Xu Yuan and Yu Yunhang.

"We have come to ask the Three-Fire Old Mother Society for help," Xu Yuan said politely; first, he truly needed their assistance, and second, he was doing it for Aunt Wang's sake: "If those suspects can be found, this Inspector owes you a favor."

The Third Wei Wei Huoshi's expression improved slightly: "Helping is easy to discuss; we will do our utmost."

Xu Yuan asked: "How long until we have news?"

"We cannot guarantee that."

Xu Yuan nodded; indeed, it was not good to impose a deadline on them.

He then asked about another matter: "Additionally, we must ask you to help find someone: the appraiser of the North City's Yilihe, Zhang Laoya."

The Third Wei Wei Huoshi looked at Xu Yuan with a strange expression: "What does Inspector Xu want with him?"

"Naturally, there is a matter."

"Very well. If we find Zhang Laoya, we will tell him that Inspector Xu wishes to see him; whether he is willing to appear, we cannot guarantee."

Xu Yuan frowned and added: "May I ask Master Wei to inform me what mystery surrounds this Zhang Laoya?"

"This... I am not in a position to say. If he is willing to see you, ask him directly."

Xu Yuan glanced at Lang Xiao Ba, who blushed with shame.

"Very well, then I shall not disturb you further." Xu Yuan turned and left.

"Inspector Xu, take care on your way." The Third Wei Wei Huoshi remained seated, only having the shop assistant escort them out.

Outside the main gate, Xu Yuan ordered Lang Xiao Ba: "Besides the Third Lady Society, which other group is obedient?"

Lang Xiao Ba's face flushed red; he apologized: "This subordinate is ashamed. Previously, the Third Lady Society was the most cooperative; today, this..."

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Find another one."

"Yes, this subordinate will think." Lang Xiao Ba weighed the options and said: "Then let us go to the Iron Boat Gang."

Beneath the northeast corner of the rear hall, six circular pits were arranged in the shape of a plum blossom.

Each circular pit was built with "golden bricks" similar to those in the Golden Hall!

Inside, it was clean and fresh, with dedicated staff cleaning it regularly.

The feeding troughs were fired in the imperial kiln, featuring blue-and-white glaze with red underglaze! And it was always ensured that various delicacies were inside.

Outside the six circular pits, iron bars as thick as an arm formed a large cage; every single iron bar was gilded and painted with silver flowers.

Inside the circular pits, six people as fat as earth pigs were kept.

For most of the time, they curled up their limbs, lying in the pits and snoring loudly; when they woke, they would stick their heads into the feeding troughs and eat voraciously.

Just at the moment Xu Yuan stepped over the threshold of the Fire-Virtue Saving-the-World Hall's main gate, the six people in the six circular pits suddenly had their lips pierced by invisible sharp blades.

They screamed in pain, but since the invisible blade seemed still present, they could not open their mouths or make much sound, only grunting like pigs.

After a while, a large chunk of fat on their bodies suddenly vanished.

The invisible blade piercing their lips disappeared accordingly, and the six of them let out pig-like screams of agony.

The guards outside rushed in frantically; seeing the six people's condition, they turned pale with shock: "A major incident has occurred! Go quickly and inform the Great Wei Wei Huoshi!"

After seeing Xu Yuan off, the Third Wei Wei Huoshi returned to the rear hall to meet the Great Wei Wei Huoshi.

"He has been sent away."

The Great Wei Wei Huoshi nodded: "News has already come out regarding the Zancheng Bureau; Lin Zi has fallen. Who will take control of the Zancheng Bureau in the future is uncertain. This young man comes knocking at this time; let us not get too deeply entangled with him. If the new Chief Lawmaster suppresses him, it will implicate us."

"What about the matter he asked us to handle..."

Master Wei Hu asked: "Then the thing he asked us to do…"

"Very well."

Just as the two had finished discussing, the seated apothecary knocked and entered to report: "My lords, the Heart-Weighing Scale is behaving strangely today."

Both immediately stood up: "Let us go see."

The Heart-Weighing Scale and the Hundred-Ailments Cabinet are currently the core artisan-tools of the Three-Fire Old Mother Society.

The Three Fire Goddesses left three sets back in the day; only then could the Three-Fire Old Mother Society establish halls in three prefectural cities.

There must absolutely be no problems; otherwise, the Third Lady Society will surely be driven out of Zancheng.

The seated apothecary accompanied the Third Wei Wei Huoshi and the Great Wei Wei Huoshi toward the main hall to inspect the anomaly of the Heart-Weighing Scale. Halfway there, a society disciple came running wildly from the rear courtyard, out of breath: "Great Wei Wei Huoshi, n-no! All six 'Back-Order People' have been bitten hard!"

The hall pharmacist accompanied Master Wei Huo and Master Da Huo toward the main hall to inspect the anomaly of the Heart-Weighing Scale; halfway there, a disciple from the rear courtyard came sprinting after them, gasping for breath: "Master Da Huo, i-it's bad! All six 'Back-Bearers' have been bitten hard!"

"What?!" The three Great Fire Masters' faces changed drastically. The Weighing Heart Scale had detected an anomaly, and trouble had also erupted on the Backed by Fate side; these two craft artifacts were about to rebel!

"Quick, quick, quick! Replace the Backed by Fate one immediately!"

"I will go offer incense to the Weighing Heart Scale and the Hundred Ailments Cabinet to ask what exactly they are dissatisfied with..."

"Alas, today was no different from any other day. How could these two ancestors suddenly start causing trouble?" The Great Wei Wei Huoshi repeatedly stamped his feet.

Xu Yuan's discussion with the Iron Boat Gang went very smoothly. The Vice Gang Leader promised that whether or not they could find the person, they would give a definite answer within three days.

As Xu Yuan and his group returned to the Zhan City Office and were just about to head to their own rooms, Di Youzhi quietly approached: "My lord, we've caught a slip of the road by that turtle grandson, Lu Xiang!"

Xu Yuan was surprised: "So soon?"

"Zhou Leizi is keeping an eye on him. I've come to report to my lord," Di Youzhi said. "After this fellow gets off duty, he always likes to gamble a few rounds."

"I had people investigate, and recently, in several gambling houses in the city, the silver this fellow has lost adds up to more than five hundred taels."

"Our Purification Bureau's salary is quite good, plus the usual tributes; an ordinary Captain can have twenty-seven or twenty-eight taels a month."

"There is no way he could possibly have that much money!"

Xu Yuan nodded and said, "Do not startle the snake."

"Your subordinate understands!"

(End of this chapter)