As soon as she finished speaking, the onlooking commoners also felt that she had spoken quite reasonably, and many of them began to waver.
"Yes, if Qi Miss really is a demon, she should just directly turn into silver and spend it, right?"
"Moreover, the food and dishes that Qi Miss sells are not expensive, and we have been benefiting from them. Why bother digging into the roots and asking about her business secrets?"
"...I've been eating at Qi's for so long, and I haven't had any problems. If I have to say there's an issue, it's that I've grown a bit thicker around the waist, and the young ladies that the matchmaker introduced to me all found me too fat..."
"I also believe in Qi Miss. She has never harmed anyone, and she often makes charitable donations - how could she be such a kind-hearted demon?"
Hearing the words of this old lady, Qi Huan felt a warmth in her heart.
Many times, she did good deeds with a bit of a selfish motive, because she was bound to a system of doing good deeds daily.
Doing good deeds, earning points, so that she could enjoy modern items that money couldn't buy.
So she kept doing as much good as she could.
However, she didn't expect that her kindness would be repaid, and the impoverished people who had received her grace came rushing over, kneeling at the county government office and pleading in unison.
"Please, Your Lordship the County Magistrate, investigate and confirm that Qi Miss is not a demon, but a living bodhisattva!"
Their cries echoed through the entire street.
They truly believed that Qi Huan was a living bodhisattva who saved the suffering, for only she would frequently provide them with porridge.
At this time, Zhong Hu, carrying his son Zhong Guzi, also pushed his way in and loudly said, "My son Guzi was rescued by Qi Miss using some Heimlich maneuver, so I also believe in Qi Miss. Qi Miss is beautiful and kind-hearted, and absolutely not a demon!"
Tao Su also rushed over: "I was also rescued by Qi Miss from the hands of my birth father and stepmother. She takes care of my food and clothing, and even gives me a monthly allowance.
My mother said that hearsay is false and seeing is believing, and the Qi Miss I have seen is a kind and good young lady. Your Lordship the County Magistrate, do not be misled by the words of petty people!"
Next, it was Doctor Sun who hurried up, drew close to County Magistrate Chen, and whispered, "Your Lordship the County Magistrate may not know, but the pain medication I prescribed for you was prepared by Qi Miss."
As he said this, he also winked at County Magistrate Chen: "I buy all my medicines from Qi Miss. If anything were to happen to Qi Miss, then this wonderful pain medication would be gone!"
Hearing this, County Magistrate Chen unconsciously touched his old waist with its lingering injuries, and his gaze towards Qi Huan gradually softened.
The voices supporting Qi Huan in the crowd grew louder and louder.
The Liacai family from the spicy snack shop, the servers from the restaurants, and even the relatives of the gambling addicts who were obsessed with mahjong and had no interest in gambling, all stepped forward one after another, speaking up for her with firm and powerful voices.
They had also once harbored doubts about Qi Miss's peculiarities, but they knew good from evil and understood the importance of repaying kindness.
Qi Miss had never harmed anyone, but instead had always been helping and saving people, so they believed in her!
At this time, Chen Jinyou also ran in from the back door, grabbing his father's official robe and pleading, "Father! Ahuan is a good person. When I embarrassed myself before, it was she who helped me, and she even gave me medicine.
I don't care, you can't help others bully Ahuan, or else...or else I'll tell Mother where you've been hiding your private money!"
County Magistrate Chen tugged at his clothes but couldn't budge them, kicking his good son with distaste and saying, "You're really killing me with your 'filial piety', hurry up and get out of here!"
In the courtyard.
Seeing more and more people standing up to speak for her, Qi Huan was deeply moved, and she spoke the words she had already prepared: "Thank you all for your trust. I am a human, not a demon woman.
As for the things you've been suspicious about, such as the tomatoes, or even that rare thing called yarn, I can only say that this is a commercial secret.
But in order to clear the suspicion, I am willing to reveal a bit, to prove my innocence.
Just like Qixiang Street is only a small corner of Mo County, and Mo County is just a small county under the city of Lingzhou, and going even broader, there is also the Capital City, the Li Country, and the whole world.
The world is so vast, there is nothing unusual. What has not been seen in Mo County does not necessarily mean it does not exist in the world.
My father Qi Yue was a renowned doctor from the Capital City, highly skilled in the medical arts and saving lives, and he has saved many influential people. After my father's death, these people, feeling pity for my loneliness and destitution, have been secretly helping me a great deal.
For example, the yarn was secretly transported from a faraway place through trade routes.
The seasonings used to make the spicy snacks are also my father's secret recipes.
As for the tomatoes, I use a special technique to store them in the cold cellar, so that they do not rot.
These techniques are all family secrets, so I won't go into the details.
However, I can take you all to the cellar to take a look for yourselves, and see whether what I've said is true, that I can store seasonal vegetables like tomatoes."
The crowd was half-convinced, full of curiosity, and followed her in a grand procession to the entrance of Qi family's cellar.
Lifting the wooden cover of the cellar, everyone leaned in to look, and sure enough, they glimpsed the tomatoes and other vegetables neatly stacked inside the cellar.
The extremely low temperature had frozen these vegetables, but they were indeed there.
Over the past few years, Doctor Qi could be considered the most eminent doctor in Mo County, and the commoners all had heard of him and respected and trusted him. Combined with the sight before their eyes, they gradually accepted Qi Huan's explanation.
Seeing that they no longer doubted her, Qi Huan was overjoyed. It seems the twelve taels of silver she spent hiring people was not wasted.
After closing the cellar cover, she said crisply, "Now do you all believe that I'm not some demon woman? Please help clear the rumors for me."
"Believe, believe, of course we believe!" Chen Jinyou ran over and sidled up to her, saying, "Ahuan, I've always believed in you. I've seen in my father's secret picture books that demons are all busty and curvy. With your figure, you can't even tell the front from the back, how could you be a demon?"
Qi Huan looked at him, at a loss for words, gritting her teeth as she said, "Well, thank you for your trust."
She then looked down at herself, indeed a bit underdeveloped.
During the mourning period, she could not eat meat, only vegetables, and the nutrition was not enough. But no matter, the future is promising!
Seeing her suddenly fall silent, Li Shuchen leaned in and whispered softly, "I don't mind."
"..." Qi Huan gave him a reproachful look, her face slowly reddening.
Nearby, the crowd had dispelled their doubts and were about to leave.
Catching a glimpse of their retreating backs, Qi Huan suddenly came to her senses and loudly pleaded, "Please, everyone, wait a moment. Please go to the county government as witnesses, I want to file a lawsuit against this person!"
She pointed a slender finger at Dong Geqiu, then continued, "I want to accuse him of defaming my reputation and trying to incite the crowd to burn me! I'm fine now, but that's because of County Magistrate Chen's sharp eye and your ability to discern right from wrong.
Attempted harm is still harm, we in Mo County cannot allow this unjust wind to rise. Please, County Magistrate Chen, speak up for this young lady, and severely punish this person, as a deterrent!"
As her words fell, the crowd wearing the symbolic hats of the commoners echoed in agreement.
"Qi Miss is right, we can't let this kind of person manipulate words, he needs to be taught a lesson."
"Exactly, Dong Geqiu not only spread rumors, but also caused a ruckus at the county government. It's obvious he was trying to put Qi Miss to death. His malicious intent must be severely punished!"
There were even more direct voices: "Ugh! Bullying the weak and orphaned Qi Miss, what kind of person is he?!"
Familiar with these national treasures, Qi Huan felt a sense of catharsis.
However, as a little fairy, it was not proper for her to curse, so she shifted her feet and edged closer to listen to others curse on her behalf.
On the other side, Dong Geqiu was surrounded, with spittle flying at him from all directions.
In the crowd, his accomplices saw the situation, and hurriedly crouched down and tried to sneak away.
Seeing this scene, Li Shuchen gave a meaningful glance to the distant Yan Jiu.
Yan Jiu led his subordinates to track and surround the individuals one by one, intending to give them a good scolding in the alleyways.
Under the uproar of the public, Chen the county magistrate waved his hand and ordered the constables to take Dong Geqiu back to the county yamen for interrogation on a later date.
The crowd dispersed, satisfied.
Amidst the throng, Qi Huan and Li Shuchen walked side by side, about to return home, when they suddenly saw Lu Yueming leading a group of guards rushing over.
