Chapter 307 - Found Something

“Do you all eat the same food?”

Su Xiaolu asked again. She also knew that the old woman was very sad now. Every time she asked, she would expose her scars, but she had to do this. Only by investigating could she save more people.

The old woman took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She nodded and replied to Su Xiaolu, “Yes, our family eats the same pot of rice. Those days, my eldest son’s family also came for a meal. Their family is fine, but my youngest son…”

As the old woman spoke, tears flowed out again.

They could not find any problems with the food, but he had lost his life in vain.

Huang Xingliang sighed softly. As long as there was a plague, such things happened everywhere.

Su Xiaolu looked at the old woman and asked, “Think about it again. There’s nothing wrong with the things in your house. What about the things outside? Did you go to a restaurant to eat? Did you have friends treat you to a meal? Did you eat anything given by others?”

Su Xiaolu asked about several possibilities.

The old woman wiped her tears and shook her head subconsciously. “No, no…”

However, she suddenly stopped and seemed to have thought of something. She looked at Su Xiaolu and said, “I think so. He came back and said that he ate two buns from Minister Li’s house.”

The old woman looked a little excited. “Yes, I remember now. My son ate two buns from Minister Li’s house. When he came back, he even said that Minister Li was too good. He worked for his family and could get food from them. Sometimes, it was buns, and sometimes, it was steamed buns.”

“Minister Li?”

Huang Xingliang muttered in confusion. He did not expect that he would really find something this time. At least he had a breakthrough.

The old woman nodded. “Yes, it’s Minister Li’s family. His firewood has always been provided by my son. He gave me a lot of money and was straightforward.”

As she thought about it, the old woman felt hurt.

Could it be the problem with the buns? The old woman looked at Huang Xingliang as if she wanted an answer.

Huang Xingliang could not give her an answer, so he looked elsewhere in the room.

Zhou Zhi and Su Xiaolu checked around the house. Su Xiaolu did not ask further and checked the house.

They did not find anything else. All the records were the same as those found by the government.

After checking, Su Xiaolu said, “Let’s go to the next shop.”

Zhou Zhi nodded.

Huang Xingliang said to the old woman, “Madam, you can’t go out for the time being. Just stay at home.”

The old woman seemed to want to ask, but she didn’t dare to.

Huang Xingliang said, “Auntie, the imperial court will definitely investigate this plague.”

The old woman nodded and sent them out. To her, her son’s family of three was already gone. All of this could not be salvaged. If she knew what illness it was, it was just to have peace of mind.

—-

The few of them got into the carriage and went to Wu Pingan’s house. Huang Xingliang closed his eyes to rest as soon as he sat down.

Su Xiaolu looked at Zhou Zhi, who also closed his eyes to rest.

Su Xiaolu also closed her eyes and circulated her internal energy in her body. However, as soon as she circulated her Internal Breath, she felt Zhou Zhi looking at her again.

…

Su Xiaolu could not be bothered. She circulated her Internal Breath in her body over and over again. When the carriage stopped, she happened to retract her aura and open her eyes. Zhou Zhi looked at her all the way and their gazes met. He smiled and said gently, “We’re at Wu Pingan’s house.”

Wu Pingan’s family raised poultry. He lived a little far from home. His wife brought the three children to stay at his parents’ home.

In Wu Pingan’s family, Wu Pingan and his son had died.

Jin Wu went forward and knocked on the door. Soon, an inquiring voice came from inside. “Who is it?”

Huang Xingliang shouted into the room, “The government is investigating the case. Open the door and assist in the investigation.”

After Huang Xingliang spoke, the door opened very quickly. The person who opened the door was a tired-looking middle-aged woman with a small white flower in her hair.

She looked at Su Xiaolu and the others and bowed. “Greetings, sirs.”

Madam Qin turned around and invited Su Xiaolu and the others into the courtyard.

Teacher Wu Pingan had passed away and they could not retrieve his corpse. They could not even hold a funeral. They could only hang white sails and white flowers at home as a memorial.

The cold and quiet courtyard had lost its liveliness, leaving only coldness. This was another family that needed a long time to heal.

Huang Xingliang shook his head and sighed.

Madam Qin said gently: “Please forgive me, sir. My father-in-law and mother-in-law are both hurt. The child is still young and it is not convenient for him to come out to meet people. If you have any questions, just ask me.”

Su Xiaolu said, “Then try to recall. Did they eat anything else during those days? Something from friends or treats.”

As the first few patients, their families were not all infected. This meant that there were certain conditions for the plague to spread.

All the investigative testimony was clear and there was nothing suspicious. It was just that Zhang Yimin’s mother had said that Zhang Yimin had eaten the bun given by Minister Li. This could be a breakthrough.

Regardless of whether these families had something in common, they had to go to Minister Li’s house in the end.

Su Xiaolu pondered.

When Madam Qin heard Su Xiaolu’s question, she also recalled carefully. As she thought about it, tears subconsciously flowed out. She quickly wiped them away and choked. “He didn’t eat anything special. During that period of time, he sent some chickens and ducks to Minister Li’s house. Minister Li gave him two buns. He ate one and left one for home… My eldest wanted to eat it when he saw it, so I let him eat it…”

“Minister Li’s buns?”

Huang Xingliang asked excitedly.

Madam Qin did not understand and nodded nervously. “Yes, yes. Other than that, there’s nothing else. He didn’t go out for a meal. I sent the food to him.”

“Doesn’t he live at home?”

Su Xiaolu looked at Madam Qin and asked.

Madam Qin nodded. “My family raises chickens, ducks, and live poultry. Those things are dirty and smelly, so we set up a plot of land outside the city to raise them. We send him food every day. That day, my eldest son ate a bun and said it was delicious. He wanted to help his father raise chickens and ducks, so he went…”

Madam Qin could not continue. Her tears fell like rain as she covered her face and started to cry.

It was the buns again. Those who ate the buns were all infected and died. Zhang Yimin’s wife and children lived with him, so they were the most contagious after being infected. His family had escaped because they paid attention to hygiene and heating.

There was something wrong with Minister Li’s buns. Huang Xingliang’s expression was solemn.

He looked at Zhou Zhi, who looked at Su Xiaolu. Su Xiaolu pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s go to Wang Dongzi’s house to take a look.”

Su Xiaolu and Zhou Zhi turned around and left.

Madam Qin wiped her tears.

She said weakly, “Sir, after you’ve found out. Can you tell me?”

Huang Xingliang nodded. “I’ll tell you.”

Huang Xingliang agreed and instructed Madam Qin not to go out for the time being. She had to be well-protected and obey the government’s arrangements.

After saying that, Huang Xingliang followed Su Xiaolu and Zhou Zhi. After getting into the carriage, Huang Xingliang closed his eyes to rest.