She knew her father's methods; back when he was the director of the education bureau, he had ruined countless families and caused deaths.
"Dad, what are you planning to do?"
Zhang Meiling asked cautiously.
Zhang Erhe did not answer immediately, but got up and walked to the window, silently gazing at the courtyard.
He pondered for a moment.
"Isn't your husband the principal of the First Elementary School?"
Zhang Erhe suddenly spoke, his voice low and deep.
Zhang Meiling was taken aback.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"Have him place a large order at Su's Vegetable Shop tomorrow, saying the school cafeteria needs them."
Zhang Erhe turned around, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Zhang Meiling's eyes widened.
"Dad! Weren't you going to deal with Su Jianguo? Why are you giving him business opportunities?"
"idiot!"
Zhang Erhe rebuked him sternly.
"I have my reasons for having your husband order the food."
He approached his daughter and lowered his voice.
"What would happen if...the vegetables supplied by the Su family caused mass food poisoning among the students, or even...resulted in deaths?"
Zhang Meiling's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the handkerchief in her hand fell to the ground.
She understood her father's unspoken meaning all too well.
This is an attempt to frame someone!
"Dad...this...this is too dangerous..."
Zhang Meiling's voice trembled.
"In case it's found out..."
"Found out?"
Zhang Erhe sneered.
"Who would investigate? Half of the people in the Education Bureau are my old subordinates, and I have connections in the Health Bureau too. Besides, your husband is the principal. If something like this happens in the school cafeteria, he's the person primarily responsible. Who would suspect he set it up?"
Zhang Meiling trembled all over as she recalled her husband, Principal Liu's, honest and simple face.
That cowardly man probably wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken, let alone participate in such a conspiracy.
"Dad, Liu Zhiqiang... he won't agree..."
Zhang Meiling stammered.
Zhang Erhe squinted his eyes.
"He dares to disagree? Don't forget how he became principal! If it weren't for my connections in the Education Bureau back then, he'd still be just an ordinary teacher!"
He grabbed his daughter's wrist.
"Tell him that if he succeeds, I guarantee he'll be promoted to deputy director of the education bureau next year. If he fails..."
Zhang Erhe pinched Zhang Meiling hard, causing her pain.
"I'll make sure he can't even be a teacher!"
Zhang Meiling was in so much pain that tears were almost streaming down her face, but she didn't dare to break free.
She knew her father meant what he said; back then, to pave the way for her eldest brother, he had even plotted to frame a deputy bureau chief.
"I...I'll tell him tonight..."
Zhang Meiling agreed with trembling hands.
Zhang Erhe then released his grip and nodded in satisfaction.
"Remember, order the leafy greens that are most prone to causing problems, preferably the kind that rots quickly. Have the school organize a sports day, and parents can participate too. The children are more likely to...get sick when they eat after exercising."
Zhang Meiling lowered her head, not daring to look into her father's eyes, and just nodded mechanically.
She was already starting to plan how to tell her husband about it.
That honest man is probably too scared to sleep.
"Dad...this...this could kill someone..."
Zhang Meiling mustered her courage and said.
Zhang Erhe sneered.
"It has to be dead! How can Su Jianguo be ruined without a few deaths? How can he taste the bitterness of losing loved ones?"
He patted his daughter on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll have someone control the dosage. At most, one or two weak children will die. Besides, they're children from poor families; if they die, they die. We'll just pay some compensation and that'll be it."
Zhang Meiling bit her lip and remained silent.
She knew her father had gone mad. Ever since her eldest brother was executed and her second brother was sentenced to life imprisonment, her father had gone completely insane.
But she dared not rebel. From childhood to adulthood, she had witnessed the fate of too many people who defied their fathers.
"Alright, let's go back."
Zhang Erhe waved his hand.
"Remember, the food order must be placed by next Wednesday. I want Su Jianguo to suffer the most painful fall when he's at his happiest!"
That evening, at Zhang Meiling's home.
Liu Zhiqiang sat at the dining table with several home-style dishes in front of him, but he didn't touch a single bite.
He was in his early forties, wore black-rimmed glasses, and looked refined, but at that moment his face was deathly pale.
"Did your dad really say that?"
Liu Zhiqiang's voice trembled, and his eyes behind his glasses were filled with fear.
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