eurekapd Chapter 580: This is killing me! Help!
Chapter 580: This is killing me! Help!
After Fang Xiaoxiao finished explaining the precautions to Zhou Wenjian, she looked up and saw a man and a woman walking into the store.
The man was tall and imposing, dressed in a dark blue robe that gave him a composed and reserved air. The jade pendant at his waist swayed gently as he walked.
The woman was dressed in a light purple dress and had a gentle face. The two entered hand in hand, their eyes scanning the shop.
Fang Xiaoxiao immediately put on a friendly smile and quickly stepped forward, her voice clear and enthusiastic: "Welcome to Lingxi Pavilion, esteemed guests!"
Our main business here is various health-preserving medicinal cuisines, all carefully prepared with fresh ingredients, which are very beneficial to the body.
"Are you two here to recuperate or simply to enjoy a delicious meal?"
She bowed slightly, gesturing for them to enter the store.
The man nodded slightly and said, "My wife has been feeling a bit weak lately and would like to find some nourishing food."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes flashed with understanding, and she replied with a smile, "Then you've come to the right place! Our shop has a dish of stewed black chicken with red dates and longan. It uses top-quality black chicken, along with red dates, longan, goji berries, and other ingredients, and is simmered over low heat. The soup is rich and flavorful, and it's especially good for nourishing blood, beautifying the complexion, and moisturizing dryness. It's particularly suitable for you to recuperate."
Upon hearing this, a hint of anticipation appeared in the woman's eyes. Seeing this, Fang Xiaoxiao immediately led them to the display area and pointed to the model in detail: "Look, this black-boned chicken is stewed until the meat is tender and melts in your mouth. The sweetness of red dates and longan is infused into the soup, making it rich and flavorful. It can both fill you up and nourish your body."
The man and woman exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, clearly persuaded.
Just then, the shop door was pushed open again, and a number of customers walked in one after another.
The store quickly became lively, filled with inquiries and conversations.
Some customers inquired about medicinal diets suitable for people who stay up late, while others were concerned about whether there were any dishes that were easy for the elderly to digest.
Although Fang Xiaoxiao was quite busy, she remained enthusiastic, weaving through the crowd, patiently answering every question and recommending suitable medicinal dishes based on the different needs of the guests. Before long, the entire hall was filled with people, and the Lingxi Pavilion was filled with the aroma of medicinal dishes, brimming with vitality.
Fang Xiaoxiao had finally finished a round of work and was about to sit down for a short rest and drink some water to moisten her dry throat.
Just as she brought the teacup to her lips, before she could even take a sip, a sharp scream shattered the previously noisy yet harmonious atmosphere inside the Lingxi Pavilion.
"Something's killing me! Help!" The voice was filled with fear and despair, instantly silencing the entire hall for a moment before being drowned out by an even louder commotion.
Zhou Wenjian was busy organizing the accounts when he heard the scream. His brush fell to the table with a "thud," his expression changed drastically, and after exchanging glances with the other employees, he hurriedly ran towards the source of the sound.
Fang Xiaoxiao's heart sank suddenly. She didn't even bother to put down her teacup and quickly got up to follow.
The man from the couple was kneeling on the ground, his face filled with terror. He was frantically shaking the woman beside him, crying out, "Wife! Wake up! What happened? How did eating your medicinal food turn me into this?!"
His wife was lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth, the foam dripping from the corners of her mouth onto the ground. Her eyes were rolled back, leaving only the whites of her eyes, and her body twitched occasionally.
Her hands gripped her throat tightly, as if trying to tear something apart to get a breath of air; her fingernails turned white from the force.
The surrounding diners were quite frightened by this sudden turn of events. Some covered their mouths in shock, their eyes wide open, their faces filled with disbelief.
Some people stood up in a panic, knocking over chairs with a "crashing" sound;
Some people started shouting, asking what had happened. The voices rose and fell, and the whole hall was in complete chaos.
Even more frighteningly, not long after, several other people developed the same symptoms.
A middle-aged man suddenly clutched his stomach, his face turned deathly pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He then began to vomit, with traces of blood mixed in with his vomit. A young woman collapsed to the ground, her eyes closed, her limbs twitching weakly, and she uttered faint groans.
The light inside Lingxi Pavilion seemed to dim as well as the sudden change in events. The once bright lights were now shrouded in a gloom, turning a dim and yellowish hue. The air was filled with the aroma of medicinal cuisine, the sour smell of vomit, and the atmosphere of fear, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Fang Xiaoxiao stood in the chaotic crowd, her brows furrowed, her heart filled with doubt and unease. She knew that things were becoming increasingly complicated.
Chaos reigned inside the Lingxi Pavilion, with screams and cries mingling together, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension.
Just then, a series of hurried and orderly footsteps came from outside the door, the sound growing louder as it approached, seemingly carrying an invisible sense of pressure.
Immediately afterwards, the Second Prince Pei Changqing appeared before everyone, surrounded by a group of guards.
He was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe embroidered with golden dragons and wore a jade crown inlaid with gemstones. He should have been dignified and imposing, but at this moment, his face showed no trace of the majesty and solemnity of a prince. Instead, he looked worried, but his eyes revealed a hint of excitement and smugness, as if he was looking forward to a good show.
Upon hearing the noise, Fang Xiaoxiao merely glanced at Pei Changqing before quickly turning her attention back to the people struggling in pain before her.
She crouched down, her expression focused and calm, carefully examining the bodies of everyone who showed symptoms.
She first lifted the eyelids of a middle-aged man to observe his pupils, then reached out and placed her hand on his pulse to feel the changes in his pulse.
She then approached the young woman and examined her mouth and limbs.
After a thorough examination, Fang Xiaoxiao frowned even more. She stood up and said with certainty, "The symptoms in this group of people are very likely related to the longan and black chicken soup in the shop."
Zhou Wenjian stood to the side, his face pale and his forehead covered in sweat. He looked at Fang Xiaoxiao anxiously and asked in a trembling voice, "Wife, what should we do? All the ingredients in our shop are carefully selected. How could this happen?"
Before Fang Xiaoxiao could answer, Pei Changqing strode into the store.
His steps were hurried, yet deliberately exaggerated, as if he were showing everyone his "concern".
He walked straight to Fang Xiaoxiao's side, his face full of concern, but his smile was as stiff as a mask.
His eyes narrowed slightly, a complex light flickering within them, seemingly concerned, but actually concealing scheming.
"Miss Fang, are you alright?" Pei Changqing's voice was tinged with anxiety, but his tone seemed deliberately raised, making it sound very affected.
Without even glancing at the poisoned people or asking what happened, he said directly, "I think these people were poisoned after eating the medicinal food from your shop. Miss Fang, this is no small matter; it could cost you your head!"