Having a Baby Before Marrying a Wicked Husband - Chapter 80

The second-in-command and a few minions went to jail. The authorities took the opportunity to indict many of the crimes they had committed before. As a result, they were convicted of multiple offenses. It’s likely that they will now face exile to the northwest.

Upon hearing this news, the leader of the Changqing Gang became restless. How did they end up in the hands of the authorities when they were supposed to be causing trouble for others? What useless fools.

According to their original plan, catching a few bugs to affect the business in the store would definitely not land them in jail. To put it plainly, the trouble they caused may not be considered a major offense, but for a restaurant that deals with food and beverages, it is a serious offense.

The few things that diners’ values most are taste, price, hygiene and service.

According to their plan, customers would eventually be so disgusted that they wouldn’t want to come near Ji Xiang Ju anymore, and the owner of Ji Xiang Ju wouldn’t be able to find fault with them.

If the shop drives them away, they will start making a scene, accusing the shop of mistreating customers and not letting them eat. By then, everyone will know who’s at a loss.

Passersby won’t verify the truth of the matter. As long as they catch a snippet while watching, like the food being problematic or the staff being rude, those words will stick. The next time they make a choice, they’ll subconsciously avoid Ji Xiang Ju.

However, when things suddenly shift from causing trouble to poisoning, the crime changes significantly. The former is just a private dispute, which authorities overlook, but the latter is a criminal act. It’s definite that they’ll be caught for it.

The leader furrowed his brow, pacing anxiously, cursing the second-in-command inwardly. He usually seemed sharp, so why did he suddenly act stupid now?

What’s the point of poisoning anyway? He’s just digging his own grave!

The second-in-command knew too much; he was usually involved in the affairs of the gang. The word was that he had confessed to many crimes. What an idiot! Isn’t he basically revealing everything the gang has done over the years?

Unable to sit still, the leader suddenly stood up and retrieved a box from under the bed. He took out some silver coins from it, closed the lid, opened it again, hesitated for a long time, and then found a small porcelain bottle underneath.

“You do the dirty work; I pay the price. If you betray me, don’t blame me for not recognizing brotherhood.”

He took the small porcelain bottle and strapped it to his body, then had someone prepare a meal and put it in a food box, carrying it to the prison.

The sunlight made the jailer drowsy. When he saw another family member carrying food, he didn’t bother to look closely. He lifted the big knife that had been leaning against the ground and blocked the path of Chang Bai, the leader of the Changqing Gang.

“Stop!” The jailer glared at Chang Bai with narrowed eyes and pointed with his toes to a wooden sign stuck diagonally in the mud. “See that? This is a high-security prison. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed. Don’t you understand the rules?”

Even the local snake was just an ordinary citizen without official status, and in front of government officials, he had to bow and scrape.

“Brother, I’d like to visit and bring some food.”

“Bring food?” The jailer opened the food box and saw it was indeed food. He stretched out his hand indifferently, “Visiting is fine, but follow the rules.”

Chang Bai took a deep breath, reminding himself not to lose his temper. He obediently handed over a silver ingot to the jailer, who tested its authenticity with his teeth and then let him in.

“Who are you visiting?”

“A guy named Chen Song who came in yesterday afternoon. Do you know where he is?”

“Oh, him. I know.” The jailer gestured inside and said, “Walk straight ahead, you’ll find him there.”

Chang Bai thanked him and was about to move forward when the jailer suddenly called out sharply.

“Stop. That box of yours…”

Chang Bai’s forehead broke into a cold sweat. He couldn’t possibly…

“Put down the food and wine and show some respect to me first.” The jailer sat down on a bench, one foot resting on the stool, growing impatient as Chang Bai hesitated.

Chang Bai reluctantly put down the food box and wine, a hint of fierceness in his eyes, but the jailer was too preoccupied with opening the wine bottle to notice.

Taking a sip, the jailer let out a satisfied sigh. This was the life. Chang Bai clenched the small bottle in his fist. He was furious!

Chen Song, seeing his big brother arrive, jumped up from the ground with joy.

“Big brother, you finally came! Are you here to get me out? Big brother, I don’t want to stay here anymore. It’s damp, and there are rats and cockroaches everywhere, even the food is rotten,” Chen Song exclaimed.

Chang Bai replied casually for a few moments before getting straight to the point, “Did you tell the authorities about me?”

Chen Song’s expression changed suddenly, realizing that something was wrong. Chang Bai’s earlier nonchalant attitude was suspicious. Could it be that Chang Bai didn’t want to get him out of prison?

“What do you mean, big brother? We’re like brothers, are you suspecting me?”

“How could that be? Big brother trusts you. I’ve already arranged for someone to intervene in your case. Just stay calm in there for now, don’t rush, and don’t trust anyone else,” Chang Bai realized he had been too hasty earlier, his words had raised suspicions in Chen Song’s mind.

Chen Song was no longer as anxious as he was at first. He released his hands from the bars of the cell door and put on a fake smile, “Big brother, what are you saying? We’re brothers, how could I betray you? Big brother needs me so much, he definitely wouldn’t abandon me. I’ve done so much for big brother, I hope you won’t forget.”

“How could I forget? We’re good brothers.” Chang Bai also faked a smile. Both of them were playing Tai Chi, and at the same time, they knew that they did not trust the other.

Chen Song still had to rely on him for support, couldn’t do without him. But if Chen Song went crazy and insisted on a mutually destructive situation, dragging him down with him, that would be troublesome.

“Yes, good brothers. Please, big brother, try to get me out of prison as soon as possible. Otherwise, I don’t mind talking to others about the hardships we’ve shared over the years.”

Shared hardships! Chang Bai knew Chen Song was mocking him. Sharing joys and sorrows may not mean sharing the same fate.

Chang Bai hurriedly left. The jailer, full from his meal, was picking his teeth when he saw Chang Bai coming out. He even had the mood to greet him.

“Oh, you’re out so soon. The food was good. Remember to change the roast chicken to braised duck next time you come. This old man prefers braised flavors.”

Chang Bai shook his head imperceptibly. It seemed he was still too soft-hearted; he hadn’t even put the medicine in the food box. If Chen Song died, it would be for the best, then no one would know his secrets.

Just as he was thinking this, a refreshing male voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

Chang Bai turned around in fear, who was it? Turning around, he saw Yan Cai sitting high on the tall wall, his two straight legs dangling, swinging up and down.

“Are you the one sent by Jiang Mantian to cause trouble in our restaurant?”

Chang Bai is also a martial artist. Although his martial arts skills were not top-notch, he had some skills, at least enough to deal with ordinary people.

However, when this person appeared behind him, he hadn’t noticed at all until the person spoke.

When did he appear behind him? Why was there no sound at all?

As a dedicated thug, Chang Bai was still very serious about completing Jiang Mantian’s tasks. Naturally, he knew the owner of the shop they were targeting.

He knew who Yan Cai is.

“What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t know,” Chang Bai decided not to admit anything.

Yan Cai didn’t expect him to admit it, it wasn’t important anyway.

“How about striking a deal? I know you want to avoid jail, so I had someone look into your situation,” Yan Cai said leisurely. Lin Shu conducted the investigation himself. They both agreed not to involve any of their family members. “Given the case you’re dealing with, you’ll likely be exiled to the northwest indefinitely and work as an unpaid laborer for the rest of your life.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Chang Bai’s eyes. The owner of Ji Xiang Ju had already investigated his affairs.

“Don’t be surprised.”

“What you’re talking about is nonsense.” Chang Bai sneered. Who would want to be exiled to the northwest? Unfortunately, he was likely to be exiled there. Compared to being exiled to the desolate and uninhabited northwest, doing compulsory labor every day, he would rather die.

“I have a plan to keep you from being exiled. The condition is that you have to work for me.”

Chang Bai felt insulted. Leaving aside other things, this young man had boasted that he could keep him from being exiled.

“I can keep Chen Song quiet, keep him from talking.”

“You want to kill…”

Yan Cai was surprised. “What are you thinking about? Chen Zhao is a country with sound laws, I wouldn’t resort to such methods.”

“What if I don’t agree?” Chang Bai still didn’t want to easily succumb to Yan Cai’s demands.

“You don’t have a choice.” Yan Cai lightly jumped down from the high wall, moving gracefully like a cat.

“If you don’t want to die… don’t you feel an itch in your throat, an itch all over your body that you want to scratch until it come out with bloody marks…”

Chang Bai coughed, scratching his whole body, itching so much he felt like rolling on the ground. He lay there, rubbing his skin against rough stones. He looked at Yan Cai in disbelief. This kid hadn’t even come near him, how did he poison him?

Could it be… the poison…

Yan Cai maintained a cool expression, but inside, he wanted to pat himself on the back. This was one of his newly developed abilities, inspired by the toxin in his son’s body. Somehow, he could release toxins that never caused death, at most just some pain and discomfort.

The recent test looked terrifying, but in reality, it was nothing, fooling those who didn’t understand poisons.

But Chang Bai believed it.

“W-what do you want me to do?”

Yan Cai squatted beside him, using his mental power to reinforce his words. “I want you to cause trouble for Jiang Mantian’s shops, just like you did to others before.”

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Treat others the way they treat you.

Chang Bai felt his life was at stake, so he naturally hurriedly agreed.

“Second, I want you to donate the money you’ve cheated from others over the years. Third, I want you to follow Jiang Mantian to his new position and monitor him. I will pay you extra for this task.”

So, Jiang Mantian, who spent all day playing catch-the-goose, was finally pecked once. He didn’t expect his family’s shops to start facing trouble every day.

In the month before Jiang Mantian left the capital to take up his new position in the county, he felt extremely uneasy.

The second son might only be a minor county magistrate, but Jiang Nan began to worry about his eldest son. Although the eldest son had been removed from the Jiang family genealogy, when it came to Jiang Manyue, who doesn’t know they’re father and son?

Especially now, Jiang Manyue has gained the Emperor’s favor, and the Emperor has entrusted such important matters to Jiang Manyue. Jiang Nan feels extremely stifled.

At this point, he also knows about Jiang Mantian complaining to him about the shop being maliciously disturbed. Jiang Mantian is convinced it was Yan Cai’s doing.

“The eldest son’s wife is so ignorant, deliberately bullying the Jiang family’s stores. What an uncultured wild child.”

Jiang Nan sneered coldly, feeling extremely dissatisfied with Yan Cai, a daughter-in-law who lacks manners, comes from a poor family background, and hasn’t even been educated.