Chapter 28: Get Out of Here, This Shop Is Mine Now!

"Brother, you know how to read feng shui too?!"

Zhang Wei nearly spat out the tea he was drinking. He looked at Su Chen in disbelief, stood up, hurried over to his side, and asked, "What's your take on the feng shui here?"

Su Chen glanced at him suspiciously. "Brother Wei, didn't you say you didn't believe in such things?"

"I don't believe in ghosts, but I do believe in feng shui. Tell me about it?"

"The terrain here is elevated, which makes it more exposed to the wind. However, it faces south, preventing the sea breeze from the east from blowing directly in, which avoids drafts. The wall at the back blocks the cold northern winds. With brick and tile on the exterior and wood on the interior, it should stay warm in winter and cool in summer. Although there are messy shacks nearby, the persimmon tree in front blocks them, so it's not an issue..."

Zhang Wei walked under the persimmon tree to take a look, then stepped back. "You're right. Those messy shacks were an eyesore, but with this tree blocking them, it’s much easier on the eyes."

The middle-aged man said proudly, "My grandfather planted this persimmon tree when I was born. My grandfather also built this house. It’s a pity he didn't live to see me start a family and establish a career."

Zhang Wei asked, "Where are your parents? Are they not home?"

The middle-aged man pointed toward the back. "They're probably tidying up in the vegetable garden. My wife is at work, and the children are at school." He then looked at Su Chen with anticipation. "Master, would you like to take a look in my room?"

"I'll start by checking the kitchen."

"...Huh?"

Su Chen patiently inspected the water, rice, seasonings, and even the firewood used in the house. Finding nothing wrong, he turned his attention to the dried goods and cured meats hanging from the ceiling.

"Master, do you suspect my wife poisoned these?" the middle-aged man asked cautiously, then immediately shook his head. "That can't be right, can it? My family eats these too, and they haven't had these symptoms."

Su Chen glanced at him indifferently. "Do you have any particular food preferences?"

The man was stunned, then slapped his forehead. "Mushrooms. I've loved mushrooms since I was a child. If my mother stir-fries a plate, I can eat the whole thing. It couldn't be..." His face turned deathly pale as he spoke. "This woman is too vicious! She actually poisoned the mushrooms I eat!"

Zhang Wei was also indignant. "Brother, once we confirm she really did poison them, you must report her to her workplace. A woman like that is no good, and you shouldn't let her get away with it."

The man gritted his teeth. "That's right, I'm the pillar of this family, that wicked woman!"

As the two were venting their shared hatred, Su Chen said softly, "Forget it. Your marital palace is full and bright; there is no trouble between husband and wife. Even if there is poison, it wasn't her who put it there."

The man was dazed. "Master, then... who could it be that wants to harm me?"

Su Chen paused, holding the bag of dried goods, and handed it to the man. "Here, it's this bag. Where did it come from?"

"This bag?" The middle-aged man pulled out a few dried red mushrooms and recalled carefully. "I got this from the village chief when I returned from Jiangtian Village half a month ago. He said the villagers picked them themselves on the mountain and dried them, so they didn't cost anything. Why would he poison me? I haven't done anything to him."

The man was utterly confused, then asked, "Wait, Master, what kind of poison is this anyway?"

Su Chen picked out a few of the red mushrooms. "Here, this is the poison."

"...Huh?"

"These aren't the red mushrooms we people in Cuicheng eat. They are smaller than ordinary red mushrooms, and their appearance is very similar, so it's easy for someone who isn't a professional to confuse them. I suspect the villagers didn't distinguish them correctly and picked the wrong ones. However, they taste very different from regular red mushrooms; they are a bit spicy."

The middle-aged man's face changed slightly. "This..." He recalled the situation carefully and nodded repeatedly. "That's right, that's right! I was wondering why my wife had been adding chili to the pork rib soup lately. The mushrooms tasted a bit spicy. So that's why..."

"It's not just the spiciness," Su Chen glanced at him meaningfully. "Eating these poisonous mushrooms doesn't just cause delirium—the impaired consciousness, emotional instability, delusions, and hallucinations you've been showing—but the most significant symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Don't tell me you haven't had those?"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled. "Well, every time I come home, I'm drunk. Isn't it normal to vomit when you're drunk? And it's been cold lately; I've had a sensitive stomach to the cold since I was a kid..."

Zhang Wei was speechless. "So you ate poisonous mushrooms, got poisoned yourself without knowing it, and thought a ghost was haunting you?"

The man laughed awkwardly. "I... how was I supposed to know there were poisonous mushrooms in the dried mushrooms someone gave me?" He paused. "So, Master, it really wasn't someone poisoning me?"

Su Chen nodded. "I'll help you pick out the poisonous mushrooms and burn them. I'll write you a prescription later. Go get the medicine and take it; you'll be fully recovered in two days at most."

"Yes, yes, thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

The middle-aged man beamed, but when Su Chen handed him the sorted-out mushrooms, his mouth twitched. "Maybe... maybe we should just throw these red mushrooms away," he muttered. "What if they weren't picked clean? I don't want to spend another three days and nights unable to sleep."

"You really don't want them?" Su Chen asked.

The man nodded decisively. "No, I'm afraid of getting poisoned again."

"Fine, I'll take them then." Su Chen sat down. "Do you have paper and a pen?"

"Yes, yes, I do."

Su Chen wrote out the prescription for the man. After hesitating, he told the man to sit down and checked his pulse. "Your kidneys are also weak. Do you want me to treat that as well?"

Zhang Wei immediately perked up. "Brother, can kidney deficiency be cured too?"

Su Chen gave him a strange look. "Since it's an illness, it can naturally be cured. However, this brother's case is relatively severe. To be cured, I estimate he'll need about fifteen doses of medicine. It's best not to touch cigarettes or alcohol while taking the medicine."

He looked at the middle-aged man, signaling for him to make a decision.

The man chuckled. "Master, go ahead and write it out. I'm already ill, so I might as well take a long sick leave. I guarantee I won't touch alcohol for half a month."

Su Chen scribbled the prescription quickly. The man was sensible and went upstairs, returning shortly after to gratefully hand Su Chen a red envelope. "Master, thank you so much. Thank you truly."

"By the way," he turned to Zhang Wei, "buddy, please help take the Master back later. Here is the fare for you, still 7 units."

On the way back, Zhang Wei kept wanting to say something but held back. When they arrived at Chunming Street and he watched Su Chen get out of the car, he finally sighed.

"Can it really be cured... Forget it, I know where that guy lives anyway. I'll go ask about the results in half a month. If he really can regain his vigor, I'll ask him to write me a prescription too."

After all, Su Chen had a stall on Chunming Street and was familiar with A-Yu and A-Biao, so he wouldn't run away. A week or two didn't matter. With that thought, Zhang Wei felt cheerful.

Old Zhang looked up and saw Su Chen passing by. He hurriedly asked, "Young man, how is that fellow? Was he really being poisoned by his wife?"

Su Chen laughed. "No, he loves red mushrooms, but some poisonous ones were mixed in. He was just suffering from mushroom poisoning."

"There are poisonous red mushrooms mixed in with the regular ones?" Old Zhang asked, surprised.

"Yes, the poisonous ones taste quite spicy; they are easy to distinguish."

"Oh, oh, you are truly knowledgeable, young man."

Su Chen waved at Old Zhang and returned to the front of the hardware store.

A-Biao's shop was open, and Lin Jingyu's stall was set up. Even his own fortune-telling stall was out, but the two of them were nowhere to be seen. He looked into the distance and saw them burning paper in front of the Ye Family Noodle Shop. Su Chen shook his head slightly.

Just then, a young man charged in from the other end, looking aggressive.

Before he even got close, he started shouting, "That old man is finally dead! Get out of here, this shop is mine now!"