Chapter 91: What Nerve! Who Sent You to Do This?

Hearing that, Qiao Sheng opened his mouth and said, "Dad, Mom just got pregnant; how can you not be by her side? Alright, alright, won't it be fine if I go buy a dog tomorrow?"

Her words just fell.

Qiao Hushui spoke up, "What tomorrow means today; a family in our village just had a litter of puppies and they're about to sell them. I'll go back later and catch one for you."

"Alright!"

Qiao Sheng had no objection and agreed.

The matter soon reached Zhang Yun's ears; he narrowed his eyes and said, "Naïve! Do you really think this will hold them off?"

He hired people to act.

Of course they didn't act today; they waited a few days before moving.

The men he hired set foot carefully during the day, and at night, when it was deep and quiet, they threw food laced with additives into Qiao Sheng's rented house; the dog inside noticed something thrown in and barked.

After barking for a short while, the sound ceased.

The man who tossed the food waited outside for about a quarter of an hour before climbing over the wall.

He got onto the wall top.

He looked toward where the dog lay on the ground, confirming his success, surveyed the surroundings, and with a light leap jumped into the courtyard.

Qiao Sheng only lit a single lantern at night, so the courtyard was dim.

The man looked around carefully for a moment before heading to the kitchen; once inside he pulled a firecracker from his waist and lit it.

He set it aside to illuminate.

He looked around, took a paper‑wrapped packet from his chest, and walked toward where the rice and flour were stored.

Just as he was about to pour it in,

Yun Tian rushed in, accompanied by a young man; the young man was Yun Tian's friend and also a Yamen clerk under him named Liu Sanjin.

The man's face changed; he tried to jump out the window, but Yun Tian reached out and pulled him back.

He still had some skill; he raised his hand and struck at Yun Tian.

Hearing the commotion, Qiao Sheng left the room, grabbed the wooden stick they had prepared, and ran over; the three of them worked together briefly and subdued the man.

They bound him.

Qiao Sheng thanked Yun Tian and Liu Sanjin: "Brother Yun Tian, Brother Liu Sanjin, thanks for today; once this matter is settled, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Sure, sure."

Liu Sanjin smiled and said.

Yun Tian patted his shoulder and said, "Sanjin, go to the Yamen and summon people; I'll stay here and wait for you."

"Mm."

Liu Sanjin, aware of his limits, didn't overstay to watch the man; after all, they'd been waiting here for many days before catching him.

If he escaped.

All the effort these days would be in vain.

The Yamen clerks didn't know about this until Liu Sanjin spoke; then they learned what had happened.

They immediately sent someone to report to the Town Magistrate.

The Town Magistrate, who had been worrying about how to handle the case, was pleased to see progress; he kept two Yamen clerks at the Yamen and dispatched the rest to Qiao Sheng's place.

Yun Tian and the others brought the man back.

The Town Magistrate asked clear questions, then had a forensic examiner test the powder; the analysis showed it wasn't ordinary powder but one refined from poppy.

"What nerve! Who ordered you to do this?"

The man didn't dare conceal anything and confessed everything; through a portrait, a man in his thirties appeared before everyone.

A Yamen clerk recognized the portrait and said, "Sir, I recognize the person in the portrait."

"Who is he?"

(End of chapter)