Three people with cold and warm feelings

  In the prosperous Tang Dynasty, law and order were very good. In ancient times, there was no entertainment program at night, and it was quiet all around except for the sound of watchmen beating their drums in the dead of night. Yangzhou also had a curfew at night, so when a loud cry for help rang out in the middle of the night, it attracted everyone's attention, and the neighbors nearby all came running to offer assistance.

  In the past, there was a practice of "guilt by association". If you saw a thief and didn't catch him, people would say you're an accomplice and take you to report to the authorities. If others have troubles and you don't help, when you have troubles yourself, who will help you?

  When Liu Yuan arrived, there were already several people standing by who had run faster. Liu recognized that the ones who came the fastest were a few night watchmen from Jin Yu Zhai.

  Inside the Jin Yu Zhai, there are all sorts of goods on display, including many fine and rare items. At night, someone is always on duty to keep watch. As soon as they hear any noise, they rush over immediately.

  This is also a tradition of Jinshui Street, when one family has difficulties, eight directions support, jointly defend the safety here, let the thieves tremble with fear, knowing that this place is rich and oily, but dare not run wild here.

  "Little girl, little girl, don't cry, what happened, how is Master?" Liu Yuan asked in surprise.

  "What happened?"

  "What's wrong with Manager Yuan?"

  "Oh no, someone's been killed! Quick, quick, report it to the authorities!"

  "What's going on?"

  As more and more people gathered, they asked in a flurry of questions.

  The little girl sobbed and said: "It was Zhao Yuan and Li Fang, the two brothers. They are not human, they are beasts. In the middle of the night, they wanted to steal things from the store and run away... were caught by my dad. When they saw that their plan had been exposed, that Zhao Yuan..."

  I saw him stab my dad with a knife and then he ran away.

  Liu Yuan was taken aback and froze for a moment.

  He knew that Zhao Yuan and Li Fang were dissatisfied with Yuan Fugui, harboring resentment in their hearts. He didn't expect them to take such a radical path, embezzling funds and fleeing in secret. When discovered, they became enraged and even used violent weapons to kill people, it's simply outrageous and deranged.

  Recalling Li Fang talking to himself before sleep, being interrupted by Zhao Yuan, I reckon he wanted to say this matter, not wanting to suffer from Yuan's boss's temper anymore, at night stealing some valuable things and sneaking away, as for committing murder, nine out of ten it was discovered afterwards a shock, head heated up, and then committed the crime of murder.

  As soon as the young girl's words fell, the scene suddenly exploded, and everyone scolded her loudly.

  "It's really a wolf cub that can't be raised."

  "He is a man who would kill his ruler, his parents, and even his teachers; he is worse than an animal."

  "Fainted, didn't expect those two people are so vicious, really know the person but not the heart."

  "Hurry, spread the word, it was these two little bastards who did this, catch them and flay their skin and scrape their bones."

  Everyone was scolding and rebuking, Liu Yuan hastily felt the pulse of Yuan Guan's wrist, there was no movement, looked at his pupils, he was already dead.

  As soon as he saw where the knife was inserted and the fresh blood on the ground, Liu Yuan knew that Yuan Zhang was beyond salvation. The knife had pierced his heart, a wound even gods couldn't cure.

  "Little girl, little girl, don't cry, or you'll make yourself ill." Liu Yuan hastily comforted her.

  The big one can't be saved, don't grieve too much for the small one, or it will be miserable.

  Senior Brother

  The little girl suddenly threw herself into Liu Yuan's arms, crying and saying: "Brother, my dad is gone, my dad died, all gone, what to do, what to do?"

  .......”

  The lovely child in her arms had cried until she was a tearful person.

  Liu Yuan patted her back painfully and said: "Don't cry, don't cry, aren't you still with me?"

  "Senior brother~~~~"

  The little girl shouted loudly and rushed into Liu Yuan's arms, fainting away.

  For a girl of only twelve or thirteen years old, encountering such an event is a blow that's too great, too cruel.

  Liu Yuan's mind was also in a mess, holding the fainting little wife, suddenly didn't know what to do.

  At this time, more and more people came, including officials, night watchmen, and many onlookers who had heard the news. Liu Yuan inadvertently saw that some idlers were staring straight at the gold and silver jewelry on the counter, and one of them quickly stretched out his hand to grab the decorations on the counter.

  No good!

  Liu Yuan's heart skipped a beat, there were many people around and some of them had sticky fingers, if someone casually took something, it would be a huge loss, because these things were either gold or silver, all precious metals, the loss wouldn't be small.

  Yuan Fugui walked away with a flick of his hand, and all these things would be Xiao Niang's. Xiao Niang's, that is to say, his own. How could they let others take their own things? That wouldn't do!

  "Halt!" Liu Yuan shouted loudly.

  The people who were making a racket in the venue suddenly fell silent.

  Liu Yuan immediately said loudly: "Thank you very much for your help, our Jinyu family has encountered misfortune today, everyone has seen it. Mr. Yuan, who is my master, unfortunately passed away. Now that the orphan and widow are left behind, I hope that those present will not take advantage of the fire to loot and make the Yuan family's snow even thicker."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yuan saw that the hand reaching for the jewelry had withdrawn.

  Nowadays people still have some sense of shame.

  Liu Yuan continued: "Boss Zhang, everyone knows that you are the most enthusiastic person on our Golden Water Street. You are a kind and honest man who is always willing to help others, and your reputation as a great philanthropist is well-known far and wide. Your family's business is thriving, and you have many employees. Tonight, something has happened in our Jin Yu Shi Jia, and we need to ask for your help. We will never forget your kindness and generosity."

  "Alright, alright, what needs help? You tell me. With so many people in Jin Yu Zhai, I can lend a hand if needed, and I won't refuse, hehe~~~"

  Fat and prosperous Zhang Guan smiled slightly and said with enthusiasm.

  In ancient times, people valued reputation over gain.

  Scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants, with merchants having the lowest status. It was a common occurrence for wealthy tycoons to humble themselves before poor but educated scholars.

  Unable to achieve fame, having some reputation is good too. Especially for merchants with low social status, the desire for reputation is even greater. Normally, Zhang would not be interested in these trivial matters at all. After all, it's not something he did himself. One less incense burner means one less ghost, one less business competitor, and he wouldn't have time to be happy about it.

  But Liu said so many nice things, Zhang's face lit up with joy, especially when he called him a great philanthropist, his chubby face broke into a wide smile, and he immediately patted his chest and repeatedly agreed.

  If it were another apprentice, they would have been scared speechless by now. Fortunately, Liu Yuan was from the 21st century and had seen the world, knowing what was important and what wasn't.

  At Liu Yuan's request, soon, the pursuers pursued, the officials reported, some helped maintain order here, some went to help buy coffins and invite undertakers, etc., and finally got things done in an orderly manner.

  The next day, the government sent someone to inform them that after investigation, some people saw Zhao Yuan and Li Fang fleeing by boat, but they were not caught. The government sent a painter to the Jin Yu family to communicate and paint their portraits, preparing to issue a nationwide wanted notice for these two murderers. Xiao Niang was still in grief, so this matter had to be handled by Liu Yuan instead.

  Yangzhou is known as the "water town" with its four benefits and eight reaches. Since Zhao Yuanneng was able to find a boat to escape in the middle of the night, he must have planned it in advance. Liu Yuan could only hope that they would catch them before they spent too much of the stolen silver, otherwise, the Jin-Yu family would be hard-pressed to survive.

  When the two of them ran away, they took almost all the valuable things from the store. In order to handle Manager Yuan's posthumous affairs, Liu had already run several trips to the pawnshop to pledge things and exchange money to handle Manager Yuan's funeral.

  Yuan Zhanggui's funeral was held in the shop.

  Because the location is good, it's a golden area, the shops are not very big, and they use narrow and long buildings. In the back, there are the master's room, workshop, young lady's room, apprentice's room, kitchen, etc. The space is small and can't be used as a funeral parlor, so they just clean up and hold it in the shop.

  Looking at the young woman kneeling there with tears dripping down, Liu Yuan felt uncomfortable. A tiger wouldn't eat its own son, let alone how good Mr. Yuan was to her before he passed away, treating her like a treasure in his palm and afraid of losing her. When she gave birth to the child, it was a difficult labor and only the younger one survived, after which Mr. Yuan never remarried. The relationship between father and daughter was extremely close.

  Liu Yuan is worried about Xiaoniang's body, she has fainted several times from crying.

  "Little girl, offer incense to Master, can't let the incense go out." Liu Yuan often found something for Xiaoniang to do, lest she sit idle and think too much.

  "Hmm..."

  The young girl responded softly and stood up somewhat stiffly, getting up to burn incense for her deceased father.

  This was what the fortune teller said last night, that the incense cannot be extinguished after death, or else the soul will not be able to return. Liu Yuan thought this was a bit ridiculous, but Xiao Niang deeply believed it and kept glancing at the incense, also reminding Liu Yuan to make sure the incense didn't go out, or else her father wouldn't be able to rest in peace.

  Looking at the lonely figure of the young woman, Liu Yuan also felt sorry for her. Yuan Fugui was a person who handled things poorly and had turned against his own relatives for the sake of a little benefit. As a result, when he died, there were hardly any people to pay their respects or help with the funeral arrangements. The large mourning hall was left to be managed by only two teenagers in their early teens, who were trembling with fear as they struggled to cope, and it was clear that they were barely holding on.

  Classic failure in being human.

  Just as Xiao Niang was lighting the incense, a man who looked like a fellow worker walked into the mourning hall.

  "Is anyone there?"

  Liu Yuan hastily went forward to greet him.

  At this time, those who can come are mostly here to pay their respects. All the visitors are guests, and being able to come here is the best way to show respect for the deceased.

  The shop assistant hastily handed the gift box to Liu Yuan's hand and said, "I am a partner of Zhengji Jade Shop. We heard that Mr. Yuan had an unfortunate encounter. Our boss is deeply sorry for this and has sent his condolences with this small token. He couldn't come himself due to some matters, so he asked me to apologize on his behalf."

  After finishing speaking, as if afraid of being contaminated by the filthy air here, Xiang didn't even light incense and ran away like flying.

  "Big brother Shī, who is it?" This was asked by a young girl who came over upon hearing the words.

  Liu Yuan said in a low voice: "It's Zheng Ji, with whom we have business dealings, who sent over a gift box via his partner."

  "What's the use of a gift box? He used to call my father 'brother' and now his body is still warm, not even a single incense stick has been lit." The young woman sneered, without looking at the gift box, and returned to her original position kneeling in mourning.

  Alas! ~~

  Liu Yuan put the gift box in the corner, shook his head and walked over to Xiaoniang's side to keep vigil with her.

  In that corner, there were only about ten gift boxes that could be counted on one's fingers, all of which were sent by people with whom he had business dealings. Afraid to offend him in any way, none of them came personally, but instead sent an employee to symbolically present a cheap gift box. Even the gold jewelry store just sent someone to deliver a gift box and considered it done, what an irony.

  There was also an unexpected one, Zhang the shopkeeper of Jinyuzhai, I don't know if it was because Liu Yuang praised him as a great philanthropist or something last night, even his usual arch-nemesis sent over a small piece of silk and gold.

  People leave and tea grows cold, but this affection has cooled down too quickly.

  ;