Insufficient balance

  He Jiuzuo was doing his job as a coffin maker at the same time, and his family also ran a business selling paper people, paper horses, coffins, and longevity clothes, which were unique to Qinghe County.

  So Pan Jinlian came to claim Wu Dalang's body, and He Jiu provided a timely dragon service.

  Moreover, it was Ximen Qing, also known as County Magistrate Sir, who accompanied him.

  Those rumors and gossip, He Jiu had also heard them all, looking at Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian's appearance, He Jiu secretly verified his own thoughts in his heart.

  This couple is lucky! Wu Dalang died at just the right time!

  Ximen Qing would not be foolish enough to have the idea of hastily cremating Wu Dalang, the murderer Guan Gong was already locked up in prison, and his own pharmacy did not sell arsenic to Pan Jinlian.

  On the contrary, Ximen Qing somewhat looked forward to meeting Wu Song, relying on his own "Pig's Foot" halo, and might even be able to persuade Wu Song to surrender and offer up his sister-in-law Pan Jinlian.

  The county magistrate's family was given a friendly price for the coffin and funeral expenses by He San, who also sent a pair of paper men and horses as a gift, which made Ximen Qing very satisfied.

  Pan Jinlian was young and inexperienced, so she didn't know what to do in this situation. Ximen Qing was also at a loss, so it was still Wang Po who took charge, setting up the mourning platform, lighting the soul-guiding lanterns, and putting out the incense burner. The funeral parlour was starting to take shape.

  Apart from his sworn brother Wu Song, Wu Dalang had no relatives in Qinghe County. The mourning hall was just a formality, and apart from a few neighbors who came to take a look around, there were basically no visitors.

  Pan Jinlian set up a spirit tablet on the case, with the words "The place of my late husband Wu Dalang" written on it. In the basin, she burned some paper money. At night, Wang Po also came to accompany her, so Pan Jinlian wouldn't be afraid.

  Ximen Qing had no choice but to temporarily avoid suspicion and not come to Purple Stone Street for the time being. These two days, he happened to have some free time to go to the pharmacy and discuss the matter of the Ten Complete Great Supplement Wine with Anshen Doctor and Fu Zhanggui. The first batch of Jingyang Spring had already been added to the medicinal materials, and it would only take a few more days.

  Wu Song gazed at the distant Qinghe County town, wiped his sweat and took a deep breath: "Brother, I'm back."

  Along the way, Wu Song got up early and worked late, with his heart set on returning to Qinghe County as soon as possible to complete his task and reunite with Wu Dalang. For the past two or three days, he didn't know why, but Wu Song always felt a little uneasy and distracted. Now that he saw the city of Qinghe County in front of him, he finally felt a bit at ease.

  "Everyone's back." The teacher greeted actively, his eyes darting around: "The county magistrate has been waiting for a long time in the house."

  Wu Song found it somewhat strange that after entering the city, everyone's gaze towards him seemed off, and some even deliberately avoided eye contact with him. What was going on?

  Anyway, let's get the task done first.

  Wu Song strode into the house, took out Zhu Taigong's reply from his bosom and presented it: "Your Honour, the Commander-in-Chief's letter is here."

  Zhu Zhi Xian took it with a smile: "You've had a hard journey, hurry back home now."

  Wu Song saw that the county magistrate was also pleased, and considered the matter settled. He returned to his lodgings, changed his clothes and shoes, put on a new headscarf, locked the door, and went straight to the Purple Stone Street.

  The neighbors on Purple Stone Street were shocked to see Wu Song return, and they looked at his expression, still unaware that their brother had already passed away. One by one, they turned their faces away, closed their doors, and refused to speak to Wu Song.

  Wu Song felt even stranger in his heart, but he only wanted to see his brother as soon as possible and didn't have time to think carefully, and before he knew it, he had already arrived at the door.

  Before he could enter the door, Wu Song smelled a scent of incense and felt very strange in his heart: Could it be that my brother is no longer doing the pancake business, but has instead changed to an incense shop?

  As Wu Song raised his eyes to take a look, he saw that the interior was decorated as a mourning hall, but he didn't pay attention at first. Then, seeing the coffin on the bier and the spirit tablet with the seven words "The place of the late husband Wu Dalang", he let out an "ah" of surprise and couldn't help but be stunned.

  "Am I seeing things?" Wu Song muttered to himself, thinking that even if he was in the incense business, he couldn't have his name written on a signboard. He shouted loudly, "Sister-in-law, Wu Er is back!"

  Pan Jinlian was chatting with Wang Po next door when she suddenly heard the noise and turned pale: "So it's Wu Song who has returned?"

  Wang Po's face also changed color, no matter what to say, when Wu Song left, Wu Dalang was fine, now Wu Song is back, but Wu Dalang lies in the coffin.

  Ximen Qing had said: Wu Song will be back in three to five days. But unexpectedly, Wu Song was anxious and hurried, and actually arrived two days ahead of schedule.

  "Sixth Lady, rest assured and go first. I'll accompany you." Wang Po gave Pan Jinlian a reassuring pill and accompanied her out of the back door of the tea house, rushing to the backyard.

  "It's actually Uncle Wu who has come back!" Pan Jinlian saw Wu Song and felt a little afraid in her heart: "Uncle Wu has come back just in time, just in time to preside over the funeral procession."

  Wu Song's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Pan Jinlian again. Although she was wearing mourning clothes and didn't have any makeup on, her face didn't show any signs of crying. He felt a bit suspicious: "Sister-in-law, when did my brother die? What illness did he get? Whose medicine did he take?"

  Pan Jinlian saw Wu Song ask her, remembering Wu Dalang letting Yan'er take the place of Yuan'er, she choked with sobs without answering first. Wang Po beside her asked: "The captain is back, he must have seen the county magistrate, didn't the county magistrate mention this matter?"

  "Wu Song rolled his eyes and said: 'I'm asking my sister-in-law, what business is it of yours, you old busybody?'"

  Wu Song's tone was quite severe, and Aunt Wang had a thousand words to say, but they were all stuck in her throat and couldn't be spoken.

  On the other side, Pan Jinlian cried for a while and sighed: "My husband originally had chest pain, but after taking medicine, he was fine. But I don't know why he's been drinking every day, neglecting his business. Who would have thought that on that day when he got drunk with Geng Daquan in the lower floor, that scoundrel got lustful after getting drunk...

  "Da Lang heard the noise and came upstairs to reason with him. As a result, he was pushed down the stairs by Yuan Ge, coincidentally smashing the wine jar, and fell to his death."

  "Ah!" Wu Song heard this and let out a loud shout: "Where is that dog thief now?"

  "Has been locked up in a big prison, just waiting for the governor to come back and ask questions." Wang Po interrupted.

  "Sister-in-law, has this scoundrel ever sullied your body?" Wu Song asked again.

  "Big Brother arrived just in time, and didn't come too late." Pan Jinlian cried: "Uncle can go to the prison to ask questions, and will know what's going on."

  "Don't rush!" Wu Song walked up to the bier in big strides, and with a light pat on the coffin lid, he knew it wasn't nailed down. He exerted force from the side and pushed the lid open halfway, revealing Wu Dalang's corpse inside.

  "Brother's ghost is near! Brother, I see you've arrived!"

  Wu Song carefully examined Wu Dalang's corpse, although it had been cleaned and dressed in mourning clothes, there were large bandages on his head, especially a deep stab wound on his forehead that penetrated into the brain, which was consistent with what Pan Jinlian had said.

  But how would Wu Dalang drink with someone he didn't know? He must be an acquaintance. But the name Yu Ge, to Wu Song, was one that his brother had never mentioned before.

  Wu Song turned over a few thoughts in his mind, sighed, and pushed the coffin lid back into place, turning around.

  "Sister-in-law, wait here for a moment, I'll go to the prison and get to the bottom of this." Wu Song gritted his teeth, making a cracking sound: "If it's really that scoundrel's doing, I'll bring back that scoundrel's head and offer it at my brother's spirit tablet."

  "Brother Yang is already in prison waiting for his fate to be decided, don't act rashly!" Wang Po reminded Wu Song.

  Wu Song didn't hear, rushed out of the door in two or three steps, returned to his residence, changed into a white outfit, found a hemp rope and tied it around his waist, hid a sharp-handled short knife with a thick back and thin blade on his body, locked the door, and went alone to the Qinghe County prison.

  "The Grand Mansion is changing its sign and reopening, Young Master Ximen must come!" In the face of Magistrate Zhu's invitation, Ximen Qing had no choice but to accept with pleasure.

  When they arrived at the Haomen Building, it was already crowded with people, a joyful and festive scene, firecrackers were ringing out in unison. The original signboard of the Haomen Building had been covered up by a red cloth, and the master of the house was standing at the entrance, greeting guests with his attendants. At this moment, he saw Zhu Zhi County and Ximen Qing arriving, and hurriedly went forward to welcome them.

  "Oh dear, Magistrate Sir, County Lieutenant Xi Men, it's been a long time! The landlord beamed with joy: "Today our restaurant has changed its signboard, and Magistrate Sir is just in time to preside over the ceremony!"

  "Alright! I'll help you unveil it. You have to treat me for free today!" Zhu Zhixian seemed particularly excited today.

  "What's going on here? Normally you can't even get an invitation, of course it's free! As long as the adults are willing to come, everything is free!" The host rubbed his hands together and smiled.

  "The auspicious hour has arrived." The assistant beside him reminded.

  "Oh, Magistrate Zhu, please!" The landlord respectfully presented a red cloth-wrapped bamboo pole. Magistrate Zhu weighed it in his hand, walked to the front, raised the pole, and gently lifted off the covering red cloth.

  "Lion Building! What a great name!" Zhu Zhixian looked at the characters on the signboard and praised them highly: "Ximen Xian, what do you think?"

  Lion's Building!

  Looking at the three big characters with a black background and golden color, Ximen Qing's heart suddenly thumped. Inside, Wu Song was actually searching for himself in this Lion Building. No, this body, directly beheaded and gone.

  The three words "Lion's Building" now seemed like the Yama Temple in Xi Menqing's eyes.

  Since crossing over, Ximen Qing also secretly inquired whether there was a Lion's Building Hotel in Qinghe County. After repeated confirmation, Ximen Qing let out a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, the Haomen Tower, which he had visited several times before, suddenly changed its name to Lion's Building, making Ximen Qing look at the owner with hatred and gnashing teeth.

  If it weren't for Zhi County being here, Ximen Qing would have directly gone up and given the owner of this building two slaps on the face, then kicked him to the ground and trampled him a few times.

  Good old mansion, well-run, no need to change its name!

  Why change it to something else? Zui Tai Bai is fine, why bother changing it to Shi Zi Lou for no reason!

  Is this what they call Murphy's Law? The more you fear something will happen, the more it will happen!

  Where is your brother's pig foot halo?

  The Lion's Building has suddenly appeared, where is Wu Song?

  With a strange idea in mind, Ximen Qing couldn't help but secretly ask Zhu Qian: "Has Wu Dui returned?"

  "Ah!" Zhu suddenly remembered: "Wu Song has returned! Right, the county had forgotten to inform Wu Dalang of his death."

  "What!" Ximen Qing was so shocked by Zhu Daizhi's words that his face turned pale: "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"