CHAPTER 231: CHAPTER 231: WINE WORM?

Yun Jiao hurriedly said, "Quickly untie him and help him into the house."

Ah Hu and Lin Shuo quickly put down their bowls and untied Lao Jiu from the pillar.

Lao Jiu waved his hand, "I’m fine."

He stood for a moment, then squatted down and looked at the wriggling insects in the basin, "Is my alcohol addiction because of these things?"

Yun Jiao could only say, "Probably."

She wasn’t sure if these were wine bugs or maybe just some sort of parasite?

Could it be a psychological effect on Lao Jiu now?

She looked at Lao Jiu, "Still craving alcohol?"

Lao Jiu made a disgusted expression, waved his hand, "I smell this scent now, and it makes me want to throw up."

He didn’t mind the dirt and fished out the worm, smashed it on the ground, and stepped on it, squashing it into a mush with a "splat."

Lao Jiu moved too fast for Yun Jiao to stop him.

She regretfully said, "I heard that if you put this worm into clean water, it turns into wine, but who knows if it’s true."

The worm was already dead, so Yun Jiao would never know.

Liu Zhu exclaimed, "Lao Jiu, this is quite a loss for you."

"Otherwise, you could’ve made a fortune selling wine."

Lao Jiu waved his hand, "I don’t have the luck to get rich."

"I’m hungry, time to eat."

Yun Jiao smiled at him, "Really not drinking anymore?"

Lao Jiu frowned, "Don’t mention this word to me ever again."

Yun Jiao smiled sweetly, "Alright, then I’ll calculate your wages next month."

She chuckled, "Save up a few taels of silver and you could marry a wife, maybe even have a chubby son."

Lao Jiu paused his steps, sighed, and headed to the hall.

He’s forty now, and his years of not marrying were also because he couldn’t save up silver.

Whenever he had silver, he exchanged it for alcohol.

Listening to Yun Jiao mention marrying a wife and having a chubby son made him feel a little warm inside, and he glanced at Guihua as if compelled by a mysterious force when he entered.

After eating, Mrs. Chen instructed Ah Tie to carry the basin of water far away to pour out.

After returning, she scrubbed the basin and water ladle several times.

She smelled the ladle repeatedly and shook her head, "No, this ladle still has a wine scent."

Guihua laughed, "No problem, leave it outside to air overnight, and it’ll be fine."

······

Meanwhile, in Mr. Qi’s courtyard.

Mr. Qi was listening to someone report to him.

"I’ve sent people to inquire everywhere, this family came from the Nanzhou area."

"That little girl Doctor Gu is also the shopkeeper."

"Some say they have no roots here, others say maybe they have some connection to Prince Kang Mansion."

"They say someone once saw the young master from that family leaving Prince Kang Mansion."

Mr. Qi’s expression became serious, staring at Jin Laoer, "Did you hear? You are no longer allowed to go near Renxin Hall, or else I’ll beat you."

Jin Laoer muttered, "What Prince Kang, who knows if it’s true or not!"

Mr. Qi sneered, "Whether true or false, as long as there’s any connection to Prince Kang, it’s beyond our reach, don’t even think about it!"

"You’ve become bolder these days, not even considering the Prince."

Jin Laoer’s face twitched, but he remained silent.

Mr. Qi’s wife kicked Jin Laoer, "Don’t worry, dear, he knows his limits."

Mr. Qi took a sip of tea, "Tomorrow, I’ll go with Old Wang to Renxin Hall for a visit. No matter what, this can’t be brushed aside; we have to regain some face, or else our gang won’t be able to survive in Xiang City."