The villagers watching understood immediately why Tao Lao San refused to drink.
"That's top-grade chicken soup. Not only did Tao Lao San ruin it, but he also tried to poison them. Truly despicable."
"The Tao family is really willing to go to such lengths. To marry their daughter to a noble young master, they even made chicken soup. Just smelling it, you can tell they raised the chickens for years."
The first and second branches of the Tao family were forcing Tao Lao San's family to drink the poisoned chicken soup, their malicious intent to kill the other party evident.
"Enough!"
Village Chief Luo roared, his voice filled with anger, "Murder is punishable by beheading. Do you want to be beheaded?"
At the mention of beheading, the chicken soup in the hands of the first and second branches of the Tao family clattered to the ground as they frantically shook their heads in fear.
"Village Chief, we didn't mean that. We just wanted to teach the third branch a lesson."
"Yes, yes, how could we dare to kill someone? It was the third branch who went too far, which is why we did this."
Village Chief Luo drew on his pipe, letting out a heavy snort from his nose, "You know best what you want to do."
"Stop making trouble at my house. Resolve this properly."
Although some people supported the Tao family, the Tao family dared not completely offend the village chief.
"Village Chief, we want to send the third branch to prison."
Tao Da's eyes were filled with malice and calculation, "This time the third branch dared to drug and poison my daughter. Who knows what more vicious things they might do next."
The other members of the Tao family agreed, "We must send the third branch to prison."
"If you dare send me to prison, I won't let you off."
Tao Lao San crawled up from the ground, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Eldest brother, two years ago, you stole a neighbor's chicken, causing the neighbor to break his leg, and then you framed him."
"Second brother, last year you molested a young lady, causing her to drown herself, but you slandered her, saying she seduced you..."
He viciously exposed the wicked deeds committed by Grandpa Tao and his wife, the first and second branches of the Tao family, and Tao Fangfang's family over the years.
Hearing this, the surrounding villagers angrily rushed forward to beat the Tao family members.
"So it was you who followed my daughter and made her sick for days. Tao Lao Er, I will beat you to death today."
"You good-for-nothing Tao Da, you dared to break my grandson's leg. Today I'll break yours."
The Tao family members were no match for so many villagers. They cried out in agony, refusing to admit what they had done.
Tao Leng Shuang, who was watching, held Xiao Feng close and observed with cold eyes. The Tao family had committed many wicked deeds.
Seeing the Tao family in such a miserable state now made her truly happy.
"Mother, the Tao family is so miserable, but Xiao Feng is very happy," Xiao Feng said softly.
Tao Leng Shuang understood the reason and stroked his head, "Xiao Feng, when you are alone, stay as far away from the Tao family as possible, understand?"
Xiao Feng nodded repeatedly, promising to stay far away from the Tao family.
Suddenly, Tao Leng Shuang spotted Ah Bo, who was hiding behind the door. A smile played on her lips.
She would ask this person another day to see if she could get any useful clues.
In the end, the Tao family members were beaten half to death and then driven out by the village chief.
"If you dare come to my house again, you'll regret it," the village chief said, slamming the door shut.
The Tao family never expected things to turn out this way.
"It's all Third Brother's fault!"
Tao Fangfang said angrily, "If it weren't for what Third Brother did, our family wouldn't have become a laughingstock, nor would we have been kicked out."
As soon as she said this, the entire Tao family blamed Tao Lao San, accusing him of being vicious and the like.
Tao Lao San sneered, "If you say one more word, I'll reveal more of your misdeeds and send you to jail."
"Let me tell you, if I don't have a good time, you won't either."
The Tao family was truly afraid that Tao Lao San would stop holding back and expose their wrongdoings.
The few of them dared not say anything more, fixing him with hateful glances.
Tao Lao San suddenly grabbed Tao Fangfang by the collar with one hand and threatened her ferociously, "Make the noble young master marry my daughter, do you hear me?"
Before Tao Fangfang could say anything, the first and second branches jumped up in protest.
"Why? Lao San, what kind of trash is your daughter? Everyone in the village knows. How dare you expect the noble young master to marry her."
"Lao San, dream on. The noble young master will never marry your daughter."
The Tao family started fighting again over whose daughter the noble young master would marry.
This gave Tao Leng Shuang and Xiao Feng another good show to watch.
At this moment, Tao Fangfang noticed Tao Leng Shuang and her son and scrambled over.
"Leng Shuang, did the noble young master say anything to you? Did he say who he would marry?"
At this, the entire Tao family's attention turned to Tao Leng Shuang and her son, and they swarmed over.
They all asked which family's daughter the noble young master intended to marry.
This was accompanied by them belittling each other's daughters and slandering each other's daughters, neither willing to give the other an advantage.
"Shut up!"
Tao Leng Shuang's sharp reprimand immediately silenced the Tao family members, who dared not make a sound, lest they anger her.
Tao Leng Shuang surveyed the greedy Tao family members, a smile on her lips, "The noble young master's requirements are very simple."
"She must be well-behaved and good-looking."
She pointed to the daughters of the Tao family, "Look at the daughters of the Tao family. They are thin and timid. How can they catch the noble young master's eye?"
Upon hearing this, the Tao family members clamored for Grandpa Tao to bring out silver to buy the best tonics for their daughters.
Grandpa Tao was unwilling. In his opinion, a granddaughter was just a granddaughter, and she was already good enough. There was no need to spend money to raise her further.
"Leng Shuang, aren't all the village girls like this? Are you spreading rumors?"
Tao Leng Shuang scoffed, "Are you comparing the village girls to the young ladies from wealthy families that the noble young master has met?"
"Your face is truly thick."
"Father, what are you babbling about here?" Tao Fangfang pulled Grandpa Tao away, smiling fawningly at Tao Leng Shuang, "Don't listen to Father's nonsense. He's senile."
The entire Tao family glared at Grandpa Tao with blame, cursing him as an old fool who shouldn't talk if he didn't understand.
What if they offended Tao Leng Shuang and she said something to the noble young master?
Seeing Grandpa Tao's aggrieved expression, Tao Leng Shuang's smile widened. "Take good care of your daughters."
"Raise them to be fair and tender, and the noble young master will like them.
Think carefully about the good life you will have once you marry the noble young master."
This grand promise made everyone in the Tao family fantasize about a so-called beautiful future.
Yes, once married to the noble young master, they would have whatever good life they desired.
Seeing that the Tao family had taken the bait, Tao Leng Shuang said she would let them raise their daughters for a while before inviting the noble young master over again, then she left with Xiao Feng.
The Tao family, no longer concerned with their internal strife, urged Grandpa Tao and his wife to bring out silver to raise their granddaughters.
At this moment, the daughters of the Tao family were more valuable than the sons.