"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Qi Shengwen slammed the table, his body filled with rage.
He had known about Song Qinglan's minor flaws before, and as long as they weren't too excessive, he had indulged her.
But by indulging her, these flaws grew larger and larger, until today he heard something that crossed the line.
"Tell me, what is considered stealing!"
Song Qinglan was stunned by his roar and mumbled, "Taking without asking is considered stealing."
"Zhou Qi's actions, aren't they considered taking without asking? He is indeed the child you raised, but now that he has made a mistake, you shouldn't just think about protecting him. You should tell him that this is wrong!"
Song Qinglan lowered her head guiltily. She wasn't thinking of using this opportunity to show off her mother-in-law authority in front of Cheng You.
After Qi Shengwen finished scolding and his anger subsided a bit, she carefully asked, "What do we do now? Cheng You said if he doesn't pay, he'll go to jail."
Qi Shengwen sneered, "I'm not dealing with this. Let him solve it himself!"
"After all, he's a child of our Qi family. If outsiders know that A Qi stole ginseng, we'll lose face."
Song Qinglan occasionally went out to play mahjong.
She had been severely ridiculed because of Qi Chengyan's matter, and she hid at home for several months without going out.
Now, with Zhou Qi, she would truly have no face to go out.
Qi Shengwen gave her a cold look, "You know about losing face, yet you still dared to trouble Cheng You!"
Song Qinglan shrunk her neck and dared not speak further.
After Qi Shengwen went upstairs, Zhou Qi, who had been eavesdropping from the side, dared to come out.
"A Qi..."
"Mom, it's okay."
Compared to his own issue being unresolved, Qi Chengyan's matter surprised him more.
His heart sank heavily.
Qi Chengyan's legs had actually healed. Nothing could be more surprising than this.
"A Qi, what are you thinking about?" Song Qinglan suddenly felt his expression was somewhat ferocious.
Zhou Qi smiled slightly, "It's nothing, Mom, I'll..."
"Teacher Song, the police are here and say they need to take A Qi back to cooperate with the investigation," Lin Sao ran in.
Song Qinglan's face changed drastically. She hadn't expected them to be so quick.
"What should we do then?"
It would be bad if Zhou Qi really went to jail for this matter.
Zhou Qi's expression was ashen, and he hated Cheng You to the extreme.
Song Qinglan quickly said, "A Qi, go back with them first. Mom will find your eldest aunt. Your uncle knows people in the public security system."
If he could help speak a word, it shouldn't be a problem.
Song Qinglan no longer cared about face; she would beg anyone who could help.
"Mom, what if Uncle doesn't help me?"
Even Qi Shengwen refused.
Song Qinglan felt tired. "Then you return the ginseng to Cheng You! It wasn't yours to begin with. What is it to take it as your own?"
Zhou Qi's expression changed slightly, and he gritted his teeth tightly.
He had finally gotten it, and at this point, he was very unwilling to return it.
"Mom, can't you help me pay the money back?"
Song Qinglan rubbed her temples. "Do you know how much she wants? Ten thousand!"
It wasn't that she couldn't afford it, but it was all her savings.
If she used it all to cover Zhou Qi's mess, what would she do for herself?
She waved her hand, "A Qi, go with them and cooperate with the investigation."
Zhou Qi couldn't refuse and was finally taken away by the police.
Today was definitely the most humiliating day of his life, as he was handcuffed and led out of the family compound.
...
Song Qinglan's visit to Song Qinghe was at an inconvenient time, as Cheng You was eating at home.
Jin Wenxin was mainly seeking her out for information about Zhen Shan Tang.
The Health Bureau had already discreetly sent people to collect Zhen Shan Tang's medicine and had experts study it.
The formula was exquisite, but what truly elevated the medicine's efficacy to such a level was definitely not the formula itself.
However, after much investigation, the Health Bureau hit a bottleneck and could not proceed further.
Jin Wenxin was the first person they sent to probe.
For medicines like hemostatic powder, if they could be used in some military missions, it would be a significant advancement for them.
Just as the conversation became lively, Song Qinglan arrived.
The atmosphere cooled down as if a basin of cold water had been poured on it.
Cheng You closed her mouth and did not greet Song Qinglan.
Song Qinghe put down his chopsticks and smiled, "Why are you here at this time? Have you eaten?"
Song Qinglan nodded stiffly, "I'm not here to eat, I have something to ask Brother-in-law."
"We are eating. If you have something to say, let's talk after the meal," Jin Wenxin waved his hand.
"It can't wait until after the meal! Brother-in-law, can you speak to the public security bureau and ask them to release A Qi?"
Although Cheng You was here, which made her feel embarrassed, she still had to say it.
Jin Wenxin was stunned, "What happened to Zhou Qi now?"
Song Qinglan said awkwardly, "He made a small mistake."
"A small mistake? Stealing my ginseng, how can that be a small mistake?"
"Ginseng?" Jin Wenxin inwardly thought "this is bad." "It's not the ginseng you lent to the Agricultural Research Institute for research, is it?"
The Health Bureau had sent people to see it then.
Cheng You nodded, "That's the one."
Jin Wenxin was furious, "Zhou Qi, that bastard, how dare he!"
He had always maintained a gentle, scholarly image in public.
This was the first time Song Qinglan had heard him curse like this, and she was startled into silence.
Song Qinghe advised, "You shouldn't have asked for leniency. Cheng You's ginseng has very high research value. The Health Bureau values it greatly. It was stolen by Zhou Qi in the blink of an eye. This matter is not so easily dismissed."
Song Qinglan didn't quite understand. It was just a piece of ginseng, what research value could it have?
And when did Cheng You become so friendly with the Agricultural Research Institute and the Health Bureau?
It was truly strange.
Their attitude made Song Qinglan uncomfortable.
She lowered her face, "If you're not going to help, then forget it. There's no need to make excuses."
She snorted and turned to leave.
Song Qinghe and Jin Wenxin exchanged a glance and secretly shook their heads.
No wonder Zhou Qi turned out crooked. It was a typical case of the rotten foundation causing the whole building to collapse.
"Cheng You, I will report this matter and ensure that your ginseng is found."
Cheng You nodded and smiled, "I naturally believe it will be handled impartially."
However, she didn't value the ginseng that much, but rather disapproved of Zhou Qi's actions.
If you steal something, you should pay the price.
She had originally thought she was easy to bully.
"Aunt, Uncle, we've almost finished eating. I need to go to the pharmacy today, so I might have to leave first."
Jin Wenxin rose with her, "I heard you've found a place to open a pharmacy. Is it convenient to go and take a look?"
Cheng You smiled, "Of course. On the opening day, I'll have to ask you two to grace us with your presence."
Song Qinghe readily agreed, "That's for sure!"
Jin Wenxin then left with Cheng You to go to Zhen Shan Tang.
Upon arriving, they found the signboard had already been hung, looking quite imposing.
Walking inside, the first thing they saw were tiered glass shelves.
The left side had two walls of medicine cabinets.