How many days.
Zhu Shenzui came to Kang's tofu workshop again, but this time he saw that the tofu workshop, which was usually doing good business, was closed and closed.
Looking at this scene, Zhu Shenzui was slightly stunned. He walked closer and took a closer look. It was true that the door was closed and the door panel was closed. Moreover, the Kang family sign hanging outside the door was taken down at some time.
Frowning, Zhu Shenzui looked at the closed tofu workshop. At this moment, the owner of a nearby shop happened to go out and saw Zhu Shenzui standing outside the Kang family's workshop.
"Do you want to buy tofu?" the boss asked.
"Yes, why is the Kang's workshop not open today? Is the shop owner busy?"
"It's not that the shop owner is busy, it's just that he can't open the door during these days. If you want to buy tofu, go to another store, Kang's Workshop...hey..." the boss shook his head.
"What happened to the Kang family?"
"Something happened to the Kang family. Boss Kang and his second son were arrested and taken to the Yamen. Don't you know?"
"I don't know. I don't live here. I only come here every now and then. When did it happen? Why did you go to the Yamen to arrest him? What happened to the Kang family?" Zhu Shenzui asked.
The boss told Zhu Shen in a low voice that Kang's tofu had killed people and caused a life-threatening lawsuit, so Kang Tai and the tofu maker Kang Youlu were all arrested and sent to the Yamen. The Kang family has stopped doing business these days, and the lawsuit is quite serious. The Kang family has encountered such a big trouble, and I don't know what will happen in the future.
"What? Tofu can eat people to death? This is impossible! How can this tofu eat people to death?" Zhu Shenzui said in surprise.
"Who knows this? Logically speaking, it shouldn't happen, but the person is indeed dead. This matter..." The boss shook his head and added: "It's hard to say... It's hard to say..."
"So there is no one left in the Kang family now?"
"That's not true. Boss Kang has not been taken away, and the old woman from Kangtai's family and the wives of the two brothers are here. Boss Kang has been looking for connections to hire people to handle things these days. How can he take care of the business of the shop? And this As soon as the incident happened, the government might have closed the shop that day, and the business would definitely not be possible. By the way, if you want to buy tofu, go to Qianqian Street. There is also a tofu workshop on the corner just a block away. The craftsmanship is not as good as Kang’s, but it’s not bad either.”
The boss pointed in the direction of another street. Zhu Shenzui cupped his hands and thanked him. Then the boss shook his head and went back to his shop.
After the boss left, Zhu Shenzui did not leave. After thinking about it, he stepped forward and knocked on the door several times. Finally, there was movement inside.
A small door opened, and it was Kang Youfu who opened the door.
After not seeing each other for a few days, Kang Youfu had changed a lot. He was usually neatly dressed and now had a shaggy beard and a haggard look on his face. He was even more skinny and had some of his cheeks shaved off.
Seeing Zhu Shenzui coming outside, Kang Youfu was slightly startled, and then forced a smile: "Sixth Master, why are you here..."
"I originally came here to buy tofu, but you... Brother Kang, I heard that something happened to your family?"
"Have you heard about it too? Hey..." Kang Youfu sighed with a frown.
"I just heard the guy next door say something like that. By the way, what's going on?" Zhu Shenzui asked.
"Come in... let's talk." Zhu Shenzui and Kang Youfu have a good relationship these days. The two can barely be regarded as friends. Zhu Shenzui is here today. It's not normal to stand at the door and talk. Moreover, the Kang family is facing such a situation. The news about the incident has spread around the area in the past few days, and there are many rumors about the Kang family. Kang Youfu didn't want anyone to pass by and see him and Zhu Shenzui talking like this.
After saying thanks, Zhu Shenzui went inside. Kang Youfu closed the door smoothly, took a bench from the table and asked him to sit on it.
Look at the deserted shop. Because the door panels are closed, the light in the shop is not good and it is very dim. The usually bustling workshop looks very depressed. There is still a faint fragrance of beans in the air, but the busy figure of the past is gone.
Kang Youfu made a pot of tea. Zhu Shenzui thanked him, took the teapot from his hand, poured two cups of tea, and then asked Kang what happened to his family.
Kang Youfu didn't hide it from Zhu Shenzui, and immediately told him what happened at his home. After hearing this, Zhu Shenzui couldn't help but frowned, and asked Kang Youfu directly how such a thing could happen.
"Our Kang family has been making tofu for so many years, and the whole Pingyang Prefecture knows how good the tofu is. Besides, the tofu is freshly ground and made every day, how can it be eaten to death? My family produces so much tofu in a day, and so many guests eat it It’s okay, but it just happened to be..."
"This is strange. Logically speaking, this is unlikely, but why did this person die? Have you asked about this?" Zhu Shenzui also asked doubtfully.
"I have inquired about it. The person is indeed dead, but it is absolutely impossible to die from eating our food."
"Do you think it is...?"
Kang Youfu said: "I don't think I died of a sudden illness, or I died after eating something else. But the trouble now is that the host family insists that they died after eating my tofu. This matter is completely There’s no way to tell!”
"What did the Yamen say about this?"
"The Yamen is currently detaining my father and my second brother. The county magistrate hasn't officially opened a trial yet. I asked someone to inquire about it. He said that this matter is not very good. If it doesn't happen, my father and my second brother will have to suffer. Once the lawsuit is really decided, it will be caused by eating my family's tofu. My father and second brother may..." As he spoke, Kang Youfu shed tears and raised his hands to wipe them away. In the past few days, he begged his grandfather to sue his grandmother to find a relationship. On Tuomen Road, I wanted to fish out my father and younger brother, but no one was willing to help. As the days passed, the situation became more and more unfavorable for my family. If it was really judged because of their Kang family’s tofu If they eat people to death, what will their father and second brother do?
In addition to this, there is also the inheritance passed down from the ancestors. The Kang family tofu workshop has been passed down for three generations, and Kang Youfu is the fourth generation.
The centuries-old foundation of several generations has been ruined. What will the Kang family do in the future?
Although Kang Youfu is smart, he is an ordinary person. Such a big thing happened to his family, especially since his father and younger brother are now locked up in the yamen, and most of the family has collapsed.
Now, the whole family is in tears. My mother has fallen ill after learning about the situation, and my sister-in-law is not doing well either, especially since she is pregnant with a child. As for himself, although he was not detained, he has been running around for his own family these days, spending a lot of money, but it has not been effective for a long time.
"This matter is indeed strange. I think what you are thinking makes some sense." Zhu Shenzui said a fair word, which comforted Kang Youfu a little.
"How about running down here these days?"
"It has no effect. We are just ordinary people. We don't know anyone who is an official, and we have no good connections. Besides, our family is now involved in a life-threatening lawsuit, and it's too late for everyone to hide." Kang Youfu said in frustration.
Zhu Shenzhui nodded. This is a true statement. Such a lawsuit is indeed troublesome, especially if there is no clear relationship. Looking at Kang Youfu's current appearance, you can see how difficult it is for him.
"By the way, you haven't gone to see the Liu family? Haven't you guys, the Kang family, always sent tofu to Liu Shancheng and Mr. Liu's family? The Liu family is not an ordinary family. Mr. Liu has a wide circle of friends. After so many years of interaction, he always has some affection. As long as the Liu family comes forward to help your family, this matter should be over." Zhu Shenzui suddenly asked, this matter is indeed strange, and as Kang Youfu said, it is definitely not their family's tofu problem. Now The key is that the master of suffering is biting the Kang family and won't let go.
But this is not without a solution. As long as someone with some weight says hello, this kind of thing shouldn't be difficult to find out. It's not like there are no coroners in Pingyang Mansion. Find an old cooper to test it out, and things will come to light. Of course, even if there is a real problem, isn't it still somewhere between two choices? Many situations are actionable, the key is to have someone on top.
Judging from the situation of the Kang family, the most suitable one is the Liu Shancheng family. Liu Shancheng is a big family in Pingyang Mansion. The Liu family has connections in the officialdom. Moreover, although the Kang family and the Liu family are just a tofu maker, the other is an old man. Customers, but after all, the two families have been in contact for many years, and they are neighbors across the street. For this reason, helping the Kang family is an easy thing for the Liu family.
But who would have thought that when Zhu Shenzui asked this question, Kang Youfu's expression showed disappointment, unwillingness, anger and resentment.
"What's wrong? Have you looked for the Liu family?"
Kang Youfu nodded silently.
"Meet Mr. Liu? What did the Liu family say?"
Kang Youfu clenched his fists and said with an ugly face: "The day the incident happened, I went to Liu's house to visit him. I finally met Mr. Liu, told him about the matter, and begged him to help. At that time, Mr. Liu was actually He nodded and told me to go back and wait patiently, and he would ask about this..."
"Isn't this okay? Since Mr. Liu is willing to help ask, there should be hope for your family in this matter." Zhu Shenzui said with a slightly relaxed expression and said with a smile.
Kang Youfu shook his head: "I thought the same way at first. I thought my father and second brother would be saved if Mr. Liu took action, and I kowtowed to him respectfully. However, later I realized that Mr. Liu didn't do this at all. Don’t worry about it, I waited two days and then went to Liu’s house to ask about the situation, and unexpectedly... unexpectedly..."
"What happened?"
"You can't even enter the Liu family's door..." Kang Youfu looked extremely ugly.
"Is there something going on with the Liu family and it's not convenient to see you?" Zhu Shenzui asked.
"I thought so at first, but then I went two times and was blocked from the door. An old servant who was familiar with the Liu family secretly confessed to me because of our past friendship. Mr. Liu said he was asking about it that day just casually. Having said that, I have no intention of helping the Kang family at all."
"That's not all. I heard that after I left that day, the housekeeper of the Liu family asked Mr. Liu if he wanted to do this. He was scolded by Mr. Liu, saying that the life and death of our Kang family was none of their business. , the Kang family has been sending tofu for decades, and it’s not like the Liu family didn’t give them money. It’s just a relationship where you sell and I buy. Now that the Kang family has been involved in a life lawsuit, there is no need for the Liu family to get involved in this lawsuit. "
"The Liu family's old servant also said that Liu Qi has been to the Liu family in the past few days and met Mr. Liu. As for what he said, he doesn't know. Anyway, he doesn't think it's anything good. The Liu family will definitely not care about the Kang family's affairs. He will take action and advise me not to put my hope in the Liu family, but to find other connections as soon as possible."
