I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 512: Encountering Trouble and Solving It in One Move

"No rush," Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head. "Let's have a few people try it first and see how it goes."

For the next few days, Fang Xiaoxiao was extremely busy. She not only had to research new medicinal cuisine but also train the staff and handle various affairs of the shop. But this busyness made her feel fulfilled and temporarily forgot the shadow cast by Li Fu's death.

One evening, Fang Xiaoxiao was in the kitchen researching new recipes when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.

"What happened?" Fang Xiaoxiao put down the medicinal herbs in her hand and quickly walked out.

A middle-aged man was standing at the shop entrance, holding a food box in his hand, his face ashen.

"There's something wrong with your medicinal food!" the man shouted. "My wife ate your food and is now vomiting and having diarrhea. You're responsible!"

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned and stepped forward: "Esteemed guest, may I ask which dish your wife would like to order?"

"This is it!" The man opened the food box, inside was a bowl of "beauty soup" that had gone cold.

Fang Xiaoxiao carefully examined the color and smell of the herbal soup and had already made her judgment. She turned to Hongxiu and said, "Go and get the ledger of the 'Beauty Soup' sold today."

Hongxiu quickly brought the ledger. Fang Xiaoxiao glanced at it and said to the man, "Sir, according to our records, your wife did not purchase any 'Beauty Soup'."

The man was taken aback, then flew into a rage: "What do you mean? Do you think I would falsely accuse you?"

Fang Xiaoxiao calmly said, "Please don't be hasty, sir. This 'Beauty Soup' is a new dish we've just launched today, and it's only been offered to three of our regular customers. And your wife isn't one of them."

The man's expression changed, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Fang Xiaoxiao continued, "Furthermore, the color and smell of this 'beauty soup' are off; it's clearly been tampered with. Sir, haven't you been used?"

The man's face flushed red, and he glared fiercely at Fang Xiaoxiao before turning and leaving.

"Miss, you are amazing!" Hongxiu said admiringly.

Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head: "These are just petty tricks. However, it seems someone is watching us."

Over the next few days, Fang Xiaoxiao strengthened security measures at the shop and instructed Hongxiu to keep an eye out for suspicious individuals. Sure enough, they discovered several strangers loitering near the shop, seemingly trying to find out something.

"Miss, should we report this to the authorities?" Hongxiu asked worriedly.

Fang Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "Not for now. We don't know their intentions yet, and acting rashly would only alert them."

Just then, Pei Yan suddenly appeared at the shop entrance.

"Young Master Pei?" Fang Xiaoxiao was somewhat surprised.

Pei Yan's expression turned serious: "Miss Fang, I have something important to tell you."

Fang Xiaoxiao invited Pei Yan into the inner room, and after closing the door, asked, "What happened?"

Pei Yan said in a low voice, "I've found some clues about Li Fu. His death is very likely related to a mysterious organization."

Fang Xiao's head jumped: "What organization?"

Just as Pei Yan was about to answer, he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

The two quickly followed the sound and went outside the room.

"What's going on?" Fang Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward and grabbed Hongxiu's wrist. Her pulse was erratic and her breathing was rapid; these symptoms were unusual.

Li Wan'er's eyes were brimming with tears: "She was fine just a moment ago, then suddenly she collapsed, her whole body convulsing, and she was foaming at the mouth..."

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned, her fingertips probing Hongxiu's neck before examining her eyelids: "Dilated pupils and a bluish complexion are signs of poisoning."

"Poisoned?" Li Wan'er exclaimed in shock, "How could this be..."

"Don't panic." Fang Xiaoxiao took out silver needles from her waist and quickly inserted them into several acupuncture points on Hongxiu. "First, stabilize her heart pulse."

As the silver needles were inserted, Hongxiu's convulsions gradually subsided, but her face remained deathly pale. Fang Xiaoxiao took out an antidote pill from her medicine box and placed it in Hongxiu's mouth.

"Wan'er, go and make a bowl of mung bean soup." Fang Xiaoxiao instructed as she carefully checked Hongxiu's clothes.

Inside the cuff of Hongxiu's sleeve, she found a small patch of pale yellow powder. Bringing it closer, she was greeted by a sweet, cloying fragrance.

"This is..." Fang Xiao's pupils contracted, "Datura pollen!"

Li Wan'er returned with a bowl of mung bean soup, and upon hearing this, her hand trembled in shock: "Datura flower? Isn't that a highly poisonous substance? How could Sister Hongxiu..."

“Someone tampered with her clothes.” A cold glint flashed in Fang Xiaoxiao’s eyes. “This kind of pollen, once it gets on the skin, will slowly seep into the body and poison a person without them even realizing it.”

"Then...will Sister Hongxiu be alright?" Li Wan'er asked nervously.

Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head: "It was discovered in time, so there shouldn't be any danger to her life. However..." She paused, "Where did this pollen come from?"

Li Wan'er thought for a moment: "Oh, right! A stranger came into the shop just now, saying he wanted to buy medicinal cuisine, and he even went so far as to get close to Sister Hongxiu and say a few words to her."

"A stranger?" Fang Xiaoxiao frowned. "Do you remember what he looks like?"

Li Wan'er tried hard to recall: "He was wearing a bamboo hat, so I couldn't see his face, but there was a scar on the little finger of his right hand..."

Fang Xiao's heart skipped a beat. There was a scar on the little finger of his right hand, a feature she had seen before in Li Fu's study—it was mentioned in a secret letter.

"Wan'er, take good care of Hongxiu." Fang Xiaoxiao stood up. "I'll go investigate this person's background."

“But…” Li Wan’er said worriedly, “that person doesn’t seem to have good intentions. It’s too dangerous for you to go alone.”

Fang Xiaoxiao smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Fang Xiaoxiao left the shop through the back door and carefully searched the street. She knew that whoever could poison Hongxiu's clothes must be very familiar with the shop.

Soon, she found a string of fresh footprints on the street corner, with some pale yellow powder remaining next to them.

"Sure enough." Fang Xiaoxiao followed the footprints, passed through several alleys, and arrived at a secluded courtyard.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and low voices could be heard coming from inside.

"How's it going?"

"We've succeeded. The girl has been poisoned and collapsed; Fang Xiaoxiao will definitely panic."

"Very good. While she's distracted, let's catch her off guard..."

Holding her breath, Fang Xiaoxiao peeked through the crack in the door. She saw two men talking, one of whom had a noticeable scar on his right little finger.

"It really is you." A cold glint flashed in Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes. She quietly took a few steps back and took out a packet of medicine powder from her sleeve.

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from behind.

Who's there?

She turned around and saw Pei Yan standing at the alley entrance, looking solemn.

"Pei Yan?" Fang Xiaoxiao was somewhat surprised.

Pei Yan strode over: "I heard Hongxiu was poisoned, so I came to check on her. What are you doing here?"

Fang Xiaoxiao pointed to the courtyard gate: "I suspect the person who poisoned us is inside."