"You were in the kitchen and didn't see..."
Seeing that everyone's eyes were on her, the shopkeeper's wife quickly said, "I saw an old man come in this afternoon, dressed in rags like a beggar."
"He ordered a bowl of noodles but barely ate, and then he asked me what the kitchen girl's name was and where she was from. I ignored him, and when I went to the kitchen, he had already left..."
Hu Ma tensed slightly and asked, "Did you tell him when he asked?"
The shopkeeper's wife's face turned a bit red, and she hurriedly shook her head, saying, "No... I didn't say."
"I wasn't blaming you." Hu Ma softened his tone and said, "If you did tell him, it's okay, but you need to let me know."
Ordinary people weren't very vigilant in this area, not knowing that some sinister things could cast Magic just by hearing a name.
