"Thank you so much, boss! Waaah, thank you so much, boss!"
Ignoring his hand injury, Chen Xi kowtowed forcefully, then wiped away his tears and began to speak.
"The salt shaker was originally on the cutting board, but somehow it ended up inside the stove. At the time, the pot was full of hot oil, and my master insisted that I bring the salt shaker over. I said the oil was too hot and I would get it later."
"He started cursing at me, saying that I had gained the boss's favor and no longer respected him. I couldn't avoid it, so I held onto the stove with my left hand and reached for the salt jar with my right."
"At that moment, my whole body was lying across the oil pan, my legs were giving way, but suddenly I was kicked and fell into the oil pan. My right hand went in..."
Speaking of the danger and suffering at that time, Chen Xi's eyes reddened again, and he choked up, saying, "When they heard me scream, the shopkeeper and the others rushed in and dragged me out. My master even said that I was too rash in my work."
"The shopkeeper called a doctor to treat my injuries and told me to rest, but I was in so much pain that I fainted. When I woke up, my master was beside me. I asked him why he had hurt me, and he said that his son could also paint and was the most suitable person for the shop."
"He also said that he wasn't afraid of me telling the boss and manager the truth, because I had no evidence. He would even make me lose my odd jobs and have to beg on the streets for food..."
Everyone frowned as they listened.
Chen Xi didn't embellish anything; he simply recounted his experiences, but anyone could tell that his words were genuine.
Peng Chuan, in particular, was so angry that he gritted his teeth.
He also had some doubts yesterday and specifically asked Chen Xi's master, Gao Peng.
Gao Peng had sworn an oath and even shed tears for Chen Xi's injury, seemingly very reluctant to let her go. Little did he know...
He quickly knelt down, "Master, it's all my fault for not paying attention, and this happened."
Jiayin glanced at Chen Xi's arm and also disliked Peng Chuan.
The shopkeeper is the backbone of the shop, and Peng Chuan actually watched helplessly as a master chef made a mess of the shop; he was really incompetent.
"Get up first. We'll talk about your questions later. First, call Chen Xi's master over. I need to ask him a few questions," Jia Yin instructed.
Peng Chuan immediately responded, turned around and went out to see Gao Peng peeking out from outside the kitchen, so he called him over.
As soon as Gao Peng entered, before he could say anything or look around, Jia Yin asked directly, "Master Gao, I haven't even used Chen Xi yet, and he's already burned himself to the point of being crippled. He's so stupid!"
"You're the head chef of the shop, do you have any good candidates? Quickly recommend one to this princess. We're about to start baking pastries, and if we delay business, none of you will get paid!"
Her words were spoken in the spoiled tone of a little girl, as if she were unhappy about being interrupted while playing a game.
Gao Peng was overjoyed and said without hesitation, "Princess, when recommending someone, one should not avoid relatives. This servant does have someone in mind—this servant's son."
“He has learned a lot about making pastries from me since he was a child, and he also likes to learn to paint. He has a great talent. If the princess trusts him, I will call him over now and let the princess do as she pleases.”
Jiayin glanced at Peng Chuan, who coughed and asked in a low voice, "Master Gao, isn't your son studying, waiting to redeem his indenture and then take the imperial examination? Why is he thinking of coming to work at the shop?"
Gao Peng quickly replied, "This child is useless. He has been studying for several years but still hasn't learned anything. I was just thinking about finding a way out for him, but I didn't expect that the princess would be short of manpower. Isn't this a coincidence!"
Chen Xi, who had been keeping his head down, could no longer hold back and shouted in a hoarse voice, "It's not a coincidence! You deliberately caused my death to make way for your son!"
Gao Peng was startled and quickly scolded him, "Xiao Xizi, I'm still your master, I've been training you for several years, you can't make false accusations! I know you're injured and upset, but it's your fault for being careless!"
"As long as you behave yourself, I, as your master, will definitely beg the employer to let you stay and do odd jobs in the backyard. I won't leave you with no way out..."
Jiayin has seen her share of bad people since she was a freshman at Tianwu, but she has never encountered anyone as shameless as Gao Peng.
Intentionally harming someone to the point of near death, climbing over them to get ahead, and then claiming to be their benefactor—it's utterly disgusting.
She was unwilling to act anymore, so she asked Peng Chuan, "Were you previously considered servants of the royal family? Were your indentures with the Imperial Household Department?"
Peng Chuan quickly replied, "Yes, Master. Our indentures are all with the Imperial Household Department. We are royal servants for life, and if we make a mistake, we will be returned to the Imperial Household Department."
Jiayin nodded and called out to Ye Shan outside, "Uncle Shan, break Gao Peng's hands so he won't have to make pastries anymore. A villain like that probably can't make good pastries."
"Furthermore, Manager Peng, use my invitation to have the Gao family members tied up and taken back to the Imperial Household Department for severe punishment."
"Yes." Ye Shan immediately responded, stepped forward, pulled Gao Peng, and walked out.
Manager Peng probably didn't expect his boss to handle things so decisively, and hesitated for a moment.
Gao Peng was originally delighted, thinking that his son would join the shop and take over the new pastry business, and that the father and son would dominate the pastry shop!
Suddenly being pulled away, he was still confused, but then he realized what was happening and started shouting, "What's going on? Why are you pulling me?! Help! Princess, Manager Peng, you can't do this!"
He clung desperately to the doorframe, struggling like a koala, screaming and shouting, which attracted everyone in the yard to come out and look, their faces turning pale with fright.
Fearing that everyone might misunderstand the master, Peng Chuan hurriedly said to everyone, "Gao Peng was jealous that Chen Xi was favored by the master, so he plotted to frame Chen Xi and burned his arm. He also wanted his son to take over Chen Xi's job. The master saw through it all and has dealt with it now."
Everyone was astonished and couldn't believe it.
After all, Gao Peng was Chen Xi's mentor, and Chen Xi usually served him diligently. How could Gao Peng be so heartless as to commit such a heinous act?!
Gao Peng panicked completely, but refused to admit it, and dared not admit it.
He vehemently protested, "You can't wrong me like this! I didn't do it at all! Chen Xi was just being careless. You have no evidence, you can't frame me like this!"
One of the young apprentices in the courtyard, perhaps because he was on good terms with Chen Xi, mustered up his courage and stepped forward, spitting hard at Gao Peng and cursing, "You started treating Chen Xi like dirt the day before, and we all saw it!"
"That heartless, rotten-hearted bastard! Chen Xige was only a teenager, and he was almost fried alive!"
Those around them, perhaps recalling the harrowing experience of the previous night, began to curse.
"Exactly! How old is Chen Xicai? He's so heartless!"
"If your son wants to learn a skill, it wouldn't be difficult for him to come in as a shop assistant. Why did you harm Chen Xi?!"
"You're despicable! Chen Xi's arm is crippled now, how will he survive? Your son is your son, but other people aren't born of parents!"
Seeing them like this, Gao Peng was furious. Not only did he have no outside help, but he was also being beaten like a dog in distress. He glared at them as if he wanted to eat them alive.
Impatient with his continued nagging, Ye Shan kicked him and dragged him away like a dead dog.
Gao Peng remained defiant, struggling on the ground and shouting, "You have no evidence! You're framing me!"
Jiayin walked to the door and said, "I'm the boss. I'm just dealing with a master craftsman. What evidence do I need? Do you think this is a government office?!"
"Besides, you know in your heart whether you did something wrong or not! Go to the prison of the Imperial Household Department and talk to them. Someone will explain things to you."
Gao Peng was quickly dragged away, and Peng Chuan also sent everyone away to do their own thing.
Chen Xi stepped forward and kowtowed, weeping with gratitude for his employer's intervention.
Jiayin watched as he deftly wiped away his tears with his left hand and suddenly asked, "Are you left-handed?"
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