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The mountain village was shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning, but the atmosphere in the courtyard in the center of the village was unusually solemn.

When Tao'er was summoned here, she immediately saw Chef Wang kneeling on the ground, as well as Zhang Fei, the Boss, sitting in a grand chair with a gloomy face, and the First Madam with a calm expression.

She pretended to know nothing, with a somewhat bewildered expression.

However, after making eye contact with Chef Wang for just a second, I knew that Chef Wang had done a good job.

At least the fact that the leader summoned her meant that half the battle was won.

Tao'er then pretended to look around at everyone in the courtyard, and finally her gaze fell on Chef Wang kneeling there. She asked in confusion, "Master, Madam, what has Chef Wang done wrong?"

And why did the chief summon me here? Is there something urgent?

I'm currently in the kitchen figuring out what new dish to cook for the head of the household!

Zhang Fei stared at Tao'er for a long time, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

Although the chieftain had scars on his face and looked somewhat fierce, the air of authority between his brows remained undiminished.

He spoke slowly, his voice low: "Chef Wang said that the second-in-command, Hu Biao, poisoned my food, and you discovered it. After you found out, you replaced the food. Is that true?"

Tao'er felt a chill run down her spine, thinking to herself: The fact that the chief asked this means he is half-believing and half-doubting, half-doubting the loyalty of the second chief Hu Biao, and half-doubting that she and Chef Wang are conspiring to deceive him.

As expected of the leader of a stronghold, he was not so easily trusting of others.

It's alright, she'll make him completely believe in the second-in-command's ambition.

Who would want to be number one forever and always be number two?

Although Hu Biao is a bit stupid, it doesn't mean he's willing to be just a lackey forever.

"Little Peach, don't be nervous, just tell the truth."

The boss just wants to understand the specifics; he won't make things difficult for you.

The First Madam suddenly spoke, her voice gentle and calm.

The woman, who appeared to be around thirty, was dressed elegantly, with neatly styled hair and an enigmatic glint in her eyes.

Tao'er understood that this was a veiled message to her: speak your mind, don't be timid.

It seemed like the First Madam was helping her; Tao'er could tell.

To be honest, she was a little confused about this First Madam and didn't know what kind of person she was.

However, regardless of the circumstances, since the First Madam was making overtures, she couldn't refuse her kindness.

So Tao'er bowed and replied, "Madam, what Chef Wang said is true."

When I saw him put drugs in the chief's food, I quietly switched the food.

Then I threw away the food, and who knew that in the afternoon I would find several dead rats next to the food.

I only found out then that Chef Wang had actually put deadly poison in the food he fed the head of the household.

Tao'er, neither humble nor arrogant, recounted the events of that day in detail.

"And then, why didn't you tell me about this back then?"

Zhang Fei pressed on, his gaze fixed on Tao'er's face, trying to find a flaw in her expression.

Tao'er met his gaze frankly: "At the time, I wasn't sure what kind of drug was in it, and besides, I was new here and didn't dare to offend Chef Wang."

After all, I've already offended the second-in-command. If I offend Chef Wang too, how am I supposed to continue living in Tiger Head Village?

Even if I disregard myself, I have to think about my husband and sister!

Then he thought that he could just change the food so that the head of the household wouldn't get an upset stomach.

Who knew it contained a deadly poison?

But if I ran to tell the boss back then, he might not believe me...

The boss will definitely wonder why I didn't say anything then. Now, whether I speak up or not, it will be wrong.

"Master, I think Miss Xiaotao is right. Even if she said it, you might not believe her."

Having offended the second-in-command before, she naturally wouldn't dare offend Chef Wang again.

The First Madam chimed in again.

"Then why did you ask Chef Wang to report Hu Biao, the second-in-command?"

Everyone knows that Hu Biao is loyal to me; we're like brothers.

Why do you think I would believe that Hu Biao would poison me?

Zhang Fei's voice carried a hint of doubt, clearly indicating that his resolve was beginning to waver.

He had actually come to believe it to some extent, but he found it difficult to accept emotionally.

Tao'er continued clearly and calmly, "Boss, I didn't expose Chef Wang back then. I've already made myself very clear."

Since the leader didn't understand, I'll say it again.

Firstly, I didn't want to offend anyone, and secondly, I wasn't sure if it was poison, so I thought that changing the food would solve the problem.

Thirdly, I don't have conclusive evidence, and he could easily deny it.

I didn't report it.

The courtyard was quiet; even the sound of the wind blowing through the flagpole could be clearly heard.

Several elderly people from the village stood aside, their faces filled with worry, whispering among themselves, mostly discussing Hu Biao, the second-in-command.

Some say he's confused, others say his ambitions are growing.

Tao'er continued, "Until the night before last, Chef Wang actually came to attack me at night and followed me. My husband and I discovered him and caught him."

I then realized that this guy was acting on the orders of the second-in-command to have someone ruin my reputation.

I simply told him that he had put poison, not laxatives, in the food he had given the leader, and only then did he realize that he had been used by the second-in-command.

That's how it is.

After hearing this, the First Madam exclaimed, "Master, Hu Biao has gone too far! You treated him like a brother, but he tried to poison you!"

He was always so respectful to you, I never imagined he could be so vicious…

Zhang Fei's face turned ashen, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He roared, "Does this second son have a death wish?"

Then he glared fiercely at Chef Wang, "Chef Wang, how dare you attack Miss Xiao Tao in the middle of the night!"

Tell me, is this your own idea or the second-in-command's?

Zhang Fei turned to Chef Wang, who was kneeling on the ground, and glared at him with a flourish.

Chef Wang's body was trembling, and there were bloody marks on his forehead from hitting the ground.

His voice was trembling with tears: "Reporting to the chief, this is of course the second chief's idea. I don't have the guts to do that."

Besides, Miss Xiaotao already has a husband, and I also have a wife and children. How could I possibly have such thoughts about her?

Although Xiao Tao is young and beautiful, my wife is the most beautiful in my heart!

The reason was that the second-in-command hated Xiao Tao to the core and ordered me to bring that mute man over to humiliate Xiao Tao.

The second-in-command also told me to put the poison in the first-in-command's food. He said it was a laxative. I was too stupid and didn't suspect anything. I became a knife in the second-in-command's hand.

The second-in-command also said that this way they could teach Little Peach a lesson and get revenge.

"Boss, everything I've said is true, there's absolutely no falsehood in it!"

Please forgive me this time!

Chef Wang kowtowed desperately, the blood from his forehead staining the bluestone slabs of the courtyard red.

"Madam, please plead for me! Please forgive me this time, considering my utter loyalty to the Master!"

If the head of the household really refuses to let the younger brother go, then just let the younger brother's family go.

Chef Wang turned to the First Madam, his eyes filled with despair.

The First Madam sighed softly and looked at Zhang Fei: "Chief, although Chef Wang was wrong, there was nothing we could do. After all, the Second Master threatened him with his wife and daughters..."

"What you say makes sense."

Zhang Fei nodded, then changed the subject, "But I can't completely believe their one-sided stories; I have to ask the Second Leader first."

Seeing this, Tao'er knew that things were half successful, but the final blow was still needed.

She stepped forward and said respectfully, "Master, what the First Madam said makes sense."

Why don't we go see the second-in-command? A face-to-face confrontation will reveal the truth.