Xilaifu was merely a mid-tier tavern, and the chopsticks were nothing more than ordinary bamboo and wood. Yet at this moment, as they pressed down on Qiao Zhao’s chopsticks, she felt their weighty significance.

Those were Chi Can’s chopsticks.

Qiao Zhao raised her eyes to look at him.

Chi Can, however, wasn’t looking at Qiao Zhao. Instead, he asked Coroner Qian with a smiling expression: “When wine and dishes are served at the table, there’s no reason not to let people have a taste, right? If I take a bite, Coroner Qian wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Coroner Qian coldly swept Chi Can with a glance.

He knew this young man wanted to lighten the burden for the little girl beside him. According to his temperament, he naturally wouldn’t agree.

However—

Coroner Qian’s eyes swept over the seated young lady, remembering her conduct at the morgue had been quite to his liking, and ultimately didn’t voice his objection.

Coroner Qian’s tacit approval made Chi Can breathe a slight sigh of relief. Without looking at Qiao Zhao, he directly picked up a large portion of stir-fried pig tongue with his chopsticks and placed it in his bowl.

The half plate of stir-fried pig tongue that Qiao Zhao had wasn’t too much to begin with, and after he took away such a large portion, it naturally reduced her burden considerably.

Another pair of chopsticks reached over. Shao Mingyuan similarly took away a large portion of stir-fried pig tongue and quietly began eating.

Coroner Qian’s eyes flickered slightly as he said neither coldly nor warmly: “The dishes you take must be eaten. Stir-fried pig tongue has a wonderful flavor – I can’t stand to see waste!”

These words were directed at Chi Can.

Coroner Qian had observed Chi Can’s performance at the morgue in its entirety and had particularly noticed his expression of wanting to vomit when this dish of stir-fried pig tongue was served.

He suddenly found watching this young man eat stir-fried pig tongue even more interesting than watching the little girl eat it.

There was no helping it – he was just such a grudge-holding person. Who told this young man to have such a sharp tongue?

Detecting Coroner Qian’s eyes watching the spectacle, Chi Can smiled coldly: “Of course, I only took it because I love eating it. How could there be waste?”

After saying this, he lowered his eyelids, picked up a portion of stir-fried pig tongue with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed bit by bit.

The texture of the stir-fried pig tongue overlapped with the scene from the morgue in his mind. Chi Can’s face alternated between pale and green, veins bulging at his temples, and even his hands under the table were tightly clenched into fists as he desperately suppressed the urge to vomit.

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but glance at Qiao Zhao.

Shixi showed such deep affection and loyalty toward Miss Li, yet he wondered why Miss Li insisted on keeping him at arm’s length.

He ate the stir-fried pig tongue with a calm expression, feeling no discomfort whatsoever.

So indeed, habit was a terrifying thing.

Chi Can finally finished eating, picked up his teacup, and drank several gulps, wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, and slowly uttered two words: “Delicious.”

After saying this, he sat upright and motionless, never picking up his chopsticks again.

Coroner Qian turned his gaze back to Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao felt somewhat stifled inside.

She thought she had spoken enough – why was Chi Can still so persistent?

The better he treated her, the more uncomfortable she became, knowing this kindness could never be repaid.

Qiao Zhao picked up a portion of stir-fried pig tongue with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, nearly spitting it out immediately. Meeting Coroner Qian’s scrutinizing gaze, she quickly pressed her lips tightly together, suppressing her body’s instinctive reaction.

One chopstick after another, her hands moved continuously, numbly stuffing food into her mouth, afraid that any hesitation would make it impossible to continue eating.

Chi Can felt somewhat heartbroken watching Qiao Zhao’s appearance, thinking to himself: If he had known it would come to this, he should have taken an even larger portion with his chopsticks earlier.

The plate of stir-fried pig tongue finally reached the bottom. Qiao Zhao wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and gave Coroner Qian a strained smile.

At this point, she could no longer speak, fearing that opening her mouth would make her vomit and ruin everything.

Coroner Qian reluctantly nodded: “Let’s eat.”

This was essentially acknowledging that Qiao Zhao had passed the test.

He picked up a bowl of white rice and ate with relish. Among those present, only Shao Mingyuan could accompany him in eating. Neither Qiao Zhao nor Chi Can had the courage to pick up their chopsticks again.

After finishing the meal, the four left the tavern. Outside, lanterns were already being lit.

Not far away, under a tree, a dark figure strode over, his voice mixed with anger and disgust: “What are you doing here?”

“Awen—” Coroner Qian’s lips moved, calling out his son’s pet name.

The person blocking their path was indeed Coroner Qian’s son.

Both Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Zhao had met him before, and they looked toward Coroner Qian.

Coroner Qian couldn’t help taking a step forward.

Awen immediately stepped back, his face showing undisguised disgust: “Why did you come here?”

“I came to eat.” In front of his son, Coroner Qian no longer had the commanding attitude he showed toward Qiao Zhao and the other two. Instead, there was a hint of humility in his voice.

Awen sneered coldly, raising his voice: “Eat? I’ve told you before – don’t appear in front of me anymore. Haven’t you harmed me enough? I finally managed to secure a stable position as an accountant at Xilaifu, and you insist on making it impossible for me to stay here, living under others’ contemptuous looks for the rest of my life. Will that satisfy you?”

Coroner Qian’s lips trembled, but he remained silent.

Chi Can scoffed: “Hey, do you believe that with your attitude, I can have you lose this job right now?”

Awen’s expression changed: “Who are you?”

Chi Can shook the money pouch in his hand, saying coolly: “Who I am doesn’t matter. It’s enough that the owner of Xilaifu knows who this is.”

Money could make ghosts turn millstones. An accountant wasn’t some remarkable figure – throw down some money, and he could be replaced just like that.

Awen clearly understood this point and asked Coroner Qian with alarm and suspicion: “Why are you with them? Who are these people?”

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but speak up: “Brother Qian should still remember us. We are people who came seeking your father’s expertise with great admiration. It’s normal for you to have questions, but when speaking to your father, shouldn’t you at least call him ‘father’?”

What a meddlesome person!

Awen glared fiercely at Coroner Qian.

Coroner Qian sighed deeply: “Forget it, let’s go.”

He had chosen to eat at Xilaifu just to see his son one more time, harboring that slight hope deep in his heart: perhaps seeing these distinguished people treat him with respect would make his son set aside his prejudices? Now it seemed he had been foolishly delusional. His obsession with everything related to coroner work destined him to never have ordinary family happiness.

Coroner Qian looked deeply at Awen once more, then turned and walked away.

Awen, constrained by Chi Can’s threat, only stared hatefully at Coroner Qian’s retreating figure without making a sound.

Qiao Zhao suddenly turned around: “Accountant Qian, you keep saying Coroner Qian harmed you. I’m quite curious – how did someone from a coroner’s family like you become an accountant?”

Years ago, when Grandfather Li had brought her to visit Coroner Qian, Coroner Qian’s son was already over twenty but still hadn’t gone out to work, nor had he inherited Coroner Qian’s profession. Instead, he attended school every day.

Coroner Qian had said his son had no talent for studying, but since he was unwilling to follow in his father’s footsteps, he would let him continue studying. Learning a few more years than others, he could become an accountant in the future, which would also be good.

Now, Coroner Qian’s son had indeed become an accountant, but he had forgotten the father who had supported his education.

Coroner Qian paused in his steps and looked deeply at Qiao Zhao: “Little girl, don’t talk so much. Let’s hurry along.”