The human body wasn’t as strong or indestructible as one might imagine, nor was it as fragile! Things like an upset stomach usually resolve themselves on their own; a few clean meals would clear it up.

Wei Fu thought so too. The next day, seeing that his wife, children, and elderly relatives were noticeably better after a day of simple porridge and vegetables, he returned to the Dali Temple to continue his duties!

After all, the Dali Temple’s affairs were always in waves—idle when there were no cases, and incredibly busy when there were. But being idle didn’t mean officials could simply skip coming to the Dali Temple! Officials were subject to daily attendance checks, and besides, when they came to the Dali Temple, their families had one less mouth to feed, which added up to a considerable expense over time!

Of course, since Chef Wen arrived, both he and his stomach have thoroughly enjoyed the three meals a day.

After lunch, having received Liu Yuan’s “words of experience,” Wei Fu bought a boneless chicken strip early in the morning, paired with caramel milk tea with tapioca pearls. While eating the chicken strip and drinking the milk tea, he flipped through the files of old cases.

The reason old cases were old cases was precisely that they were difficult to solve! No matter how “heaven doesn’t bestow talent,” the Dali Temple was the only department in the entire country that specialized in solving difficult cases.

Those who worked here, even if not geniuses like Lin Shaoqing, were not mediocre in this area. A case that the entire department couldn’t solve must have reached a dead end, lacking crucial clues or evidence. Therefore, the possibility of solving such old cases was slim! However, for Dali Temple officials, it was a daily habit to review these files, sometimes not just unsolved cases but also those that had been solved, always gleaning some experience and insights.

After all, in terms of sheer excitement, the storybooks they held might not be as captivating as these old cases.

Liu Yuan read the storybook, while Wei Fu flipped through the old cases. The two chatted and ate, and just as they were getting into the swing of things, several constables led a commoner in from outside, calling out, “Wei Sicheng”.

Although it was Wei Fu who was called, Wei Fu wasn’t the only one who looked up. Many minor officials who were passing the time flipping through the case files and storybooks, including Liu Yuan beside him, all looked up in their direction.

Wei Fu glanced at the constable, casually pushing aside the old case files in his hand. He exclaimed, “What is it now?”

The constable pointed behind him to a commoner peeking out, seemingly hesitant to enter the Dali Temple’s main hall. The constable spoke from outside the door. “Wei Sicheng, both your families are having stomach problems again. They have called a doctor, and Madam Wei asked me to come to the yamen to call you. She said if you have nothing else to do, please go back and check on them. This constant stomach upset seems like someone is playing a trick on both families!”

Upon hearing this, the Dali Temple officials, who had all looked out, nodded subconsciously. Some couldn’t help but chime in, “That’s right! Someone’s deliberately playing a trick on you!”

If it were just one or two people having stomach problems for several days in a row, perhaps their stomachs weren’t very good to begin with; if it were just two families having stomach problems once or twice, it might be bad luck or eating something unclean.

But now… it was two entire families, having stomach problems several times in a row! It definitely seemed like someone was deliberately playing a trick on them.

“This prank has even targeted the family of our Dali Temple Sicheng.” A minor official couldn’t help but click his tongue, patting the table in front of him. “Wei Sicheng, quickly find that prankster! What will become of us if this continues?”

Liu Yuan, who was reading a storybook nearby, let his imagination run wild. He said to Wei Fu with a serious expression, “We’ve handled similar cases before. Do you remember? First, they gave laxatives. Because it wasn’t a big deal, most people didn’t pay attention. Later, the murderer saw that the victim didn’t take it seriously and was careless, so he added arsenic, causing the victim to lose his life! This matter could be serious or minor. Wei Fu, we should find that thief as soon as possible.”

Although Liu Yuan’s words sounded a bit frightening, they weren’t entirely alarmist. After all, Wei Fu, who had dealt with cases for most of his life, had seen far more cases than Liu Yuan, and naturally, he had seen cases like this before.

Upon hearing Liu Yuan’s words, Wei Fu nodded and said, “I understand!”

Liu Yuan hummed in agreement, put down his storybook, rubbed his hands together, and excitedly asked, “Do you need my help?”

Judging from the excitement in his voice… Wei Fu glanced at him, shook his head, and said firmly, “I, Wei Fu, a dignified man, usually deal with criminals, villains, and scoundrels. If I can’t even find a petty thief who poisoned my family, causing my wife and children to suffer in vain, how can I, Wei Fu, face the world?”

Why should anyone else interfere in this matter? He, Wei Fu, would personally find the villain who had tricked him!

Liu Yuan, upon hearing this, said, “Oh,” somewhat disappointed, but didn’t insist; after all, it was better for Wei Fu to investigate this personally; outsiders like them shouldn’t interfere.

After taking leave, Wei Fu left with his neighbor.

He didn’t return for several days.

It wasn’t until Lin Fei asked, ‘Where is Wei Fu? Is he sick?”

Liu Yuan couldn’t help but twitch his lips as he looked at Lin Fei, who was holding an oil paper package in one hand and a bamboo skewer for chicken strips in the other. He felt that this scene wouldn’t be strange if it were among the students of the Imperial Academy or the clerks and minor officials in the hall. After all, who doesn’t need to eat and drink in this world? But it looked inexplicably comical when it was Lin Fei.

Looking at Lin Fei, who was solemnly focused on eating chicken strips, Liu Yuan suppressed the urge to laugh, coughed lightly, and replied, “A few days ago, Wei Fu’s family and his next-door neighbor all got sick from eating the same food several times. They suspected someone was playing a trick on them. Since there wasn’t much to do these days, Wei Fu took leave to go back and find the culprit!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Fei lifted his eyelids, looked at him, and nodded calmly, saying, “I heard Master Wen say this when I went to buy snacks, so I asked you,” and before Liu Yuan could speak, he added, “It’s been a few days now; has Wei Fu caught anyone?”

Liu Yuan was taken aback, paused, and then shook his head frankly. “I suppose not! Otherwise, Wei Fu would have been back on duty long ago.”

Come to think of it, that culprit who gave them laxatives was quite something; even the Dali Temple SIcheng had been trying to catch him for several days without success!

Originally, Liu Yuan thought it was Wei Sicheng’s “old horse slipping up,” but unexpectedly, Lin Fei, who had been calm just moments before, suddenly frowned upon hearing this. Before Liu Yuan could speak or react, Lin Fei abruptly stood up and said, “Quite a few people have gotten food poisoning lately!”

The sudden chill in his voice sent a shiver down Liu Yuan’s spine.

(End of Chapter)

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