In the Ming Dynasty 1498, my restaurant connects two worlds.

Fortunately, the old house wasn't so dilapidated that it was drafty. Song Xiaoyi looked around and realized that when choosing a location, he would definitely have to consider the usage rate of the house in ancient times. The front hall was definitely not suitable because of the constant flow of people, and the main bedroom and side rooms in the back were also unsuitable. The kitchen was also unusable. In comparison, it seemed that the warehouse was the least used room, and the probability of being caught would be much lower.

It's settled then!

That evening, Song Xiaoyi called out to Lao Song, "Lao Song, set up a two-way passage."

[Ding! An additional two-way passage between the modern era and the Ming Dynasty has been established. Please proceed with caution.]

After changing his clothes, Song Xiaoyi "cautiously" stepped into the two-way passageway in the warehouse as instructed. At the other end of the passageway, the night was just as deep.

Song Xiaoyi carefully slipped out of the storeroom, turned around and gently closed the door. He pressed his back against the wall, held his breath and concentrated, pausing briefly to observe. It seemed that no one lived in the house.

Let's wait for an opportunity to climb over the wall and go out to take a look.

After observing the surroundings and finding everything to be in excellent condition, Song Xiaoyi confirmed that the house was indeed uninhabited! He then went out into the street and confirmed that this was indeed Yongjia County of the Ming Dynasty, with the Yongjia Ferry crossing located not far from the Nanxi River.

Song Xiaoyi looked around and was secretly amazed. The prosperity of Yongjia County at this moment far surpassed that of modern Yongjia!

Song Xiaoyi walked along the street toward the ferry, taking the opportunity to observe the local customs and culture of Yongjia County.

After making some inquiries, I learned that there are only two boats a day from Yongjia Ferry to Wenzhou City. The first boat departs at 1:15 a.m. and it takes two hours to arrive.

Song Xiaoyi pondered, it seems I can only find a place to stay in the county town tonight, or... go back to the modern world to rest?

On the way back, Song Xiaoyi caught a glimpse of two short, furtive men surrounding a similarly short woman, talking in hushed tones.

Song Xiaoyi instantly became alert! What he heard was Japanese!

I can't speak Japanese, but at least I know this is Japanese!

The Ming Dynasty imposed a maritime ban, so where did the Japanese come from?

The key point is that she had just helped Old Wu plot against a Japanese man not long ago, and now she's encountered three Japanese men in this small county town of Yongjia in the Ming Dynasty! A short Japanese man handed the woman a small paper package!

There must be something fishy going on!

Even though he couldn't understand Japanese, it didn't stop Song Xiaoyi from secretly following a few people.

The Japanese woman took small, quick steps along the street, leading two Japanese men to the back door of a large house. She mumbled a few words in Japanese, and the two Japanese men slipped into the alley next door.

Song Xiaoyi reacted quickly, slipping into another alley to hide his figure.

Listening intently, first came the sound of the Japanese woman knocking on the door, followed by the creaking of the door opening. Voices came from inside, and the Japanese woman and the person inside answered in the local Yongjia dialect!

Next, there was the sound of the door closing.

Song Xiaoyi avoided the two Japanese men, found a corner of the wall, and climbed over the wall into the courtyard.

Under the cover of night, Song Xiaoyi stealthily made his way and soon tracked down the Japanese woman who had just entered the house. She was busy in the kitchen, and at this moment, the reconnaissance skills that Song Xiaoyi had learned at the military academy came in handy.

The Japanese woman appears to be preparing a midnight snack? A midnight snack? Why would she add that powder from the paper packet?!

Following the Japanese woman, dodging and weaving, they arrived at the main hall of the house. Two tall, thin old men were talking. The woman placed the midnight snack on a low stool to the side and then called out, "Master, the midnight snack is ready."

"Alright, Brother Zongru, come and try the millet porridge I brought from my hometown."

Brother Zongru? Zongru! Isn't that Wenlin's courtesy name? Song Xiaoyi had specifically looked it up before coming!

In a flash, Song Xiaoyi suddenly appeared, swiftly grabbing the Japanese woman by the throat and subduing her. Taking advantage of the two tall, thin old men's moment of shock, he shouted, "Wait! The midnight snack is poisoned!"

"Who are you! Why are you trespassing in the county government office!"

Good heavens! This place is the county government office? That makes things even stranger.

"This is the county government office. I presume you are the magistrate. Please have the guards seize those two short men near the back gate as soon as possible! They are accomplices of this Japanese woman!"

"Japanese!?"

"Someone come here!..."

Although the magistrate had doubts, he acted decisively. After a moment's thought, he made a decision, immediately summoned several guards, whispered instructions, and left two guards to stand between Song Xiaoyi and the two men. The rest followed his instructions and quickly went out to arrest the men.

"And who are you?! You still haven't said why you've trespassed into the county government office!"

"Excuse me, is this Prefect Wenlin?" Song Xiaoyi ignored the county magistrate's question and turned his gaze to another thin man, who was suspected to be Wenlin and was coughing.

"I am Wen Lin."

(Song Xiaoyi thought to himself) It's like searching high and low without finding it!

It seems history is about to be rewritten.

"Uncle Wen, I am a good friend of Brother Wenbi, and I have come all the way from Yingtian Prefecture to Yongjia County to find you!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Lin's face, which had been pale from the poisoning and the shock, instantly filled with concern. His voice trembled slightly, "Are you Bi'er's good friend? From Yingtian Prefecture? Bi'er... how has Bi'er been lately?"

"Uncle Wen, you've asked too many questions. I don't know which one to answer first. Besides, this situation doesn't seem suitable for reminiscing." After saying this, Song Xiaoyi gestured to the Japanese woman he was still holding down.

"Yes, yes, Brother Jinzhi, this is your county government office. What do you think we should do about it?"

"Young friend, what is your name? Why did you say the midnight snack was poisoned, and why are you holding my maid so tightly?"

"Your Excellency, I am Song Xiaoyi. Just now at the ferry, I saw this woman talking to two short Japanese men in Japanese. Out of curiosity, I followed her to the back door. Later, I saw her sneaking around in the kitchen. She took out a small paper packet, poured some powder into your late-night snack."

After Song Xiaoyi finished speaking, he reached into the maid's waist and found a small paper packet. He gestured to Wen Lin and the magistrate, then knocked the Japanese woman unconscious with a slap. He opened the small paper packet, smelled it, and found it sour and bitter!

"Aconite!"

At this moment, the guards who had gone out returned. "Sir, there were indeed two Japanese soldiers, but they were too fast and escaped."

Seeing the magistrate staring at him, the guard explained, "Judging from the movement technique, it's Japanese ninjutsu."

As the situation gradually became clear, the magistrate thought for a moment and then issued an order, "Take Xiao Cui to the jail. I will interrogate her personally in a while."

"Brother Jinzhi, let's find a place so I can have a word with my nephew Xiaoyi."

With the misunderstanding initially cleared up, Song Xiaoyi's first thought was to take Wen Lin's pulse! "Uncle Wen, let's not rush to talk. Please extend your hand so I can take your pulse."

"My dear nephew, you can even take a pulse?"

Song Xiaoyi's expression was grave. Instead of answering directly, he reached out and placed his hand on Wenlin's wrist, his fingertips sensing his pulse. "Indeed! Chronic aconitine poisoning!"