Chapter 964: Competitor's Evil Schemes

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Shen turned to Gu Zi and said calmly, “Wait here in the car. I’ll go check what’s going on.”

Without waiting for a reply, he stepped out and strode towards the source of the stench.

From the passenger seat, Gu Zi watched him go. His tall frame and long strides made quick work of the uneven path. He stopped at a suspiciously elevated mound of earth, standing still as if he’d found something.

Gu Zi’s heart tightened. Moments later, Su Shen returned, his expression unreadable but composed.

Sliding back into the car, Su Shen glanced at her and offered an explanation before she could ask, “There are several dead pigs in the ditch near that mound. Their necks are blackened, a clear sign they succumbed to the recent outbreak of swine fever. They aren’t from our farm.”

That last sentence sent a chill down Gu Zi’s spine.

If the pigs weren’t from Su Shen’s farm, why were they left near it?

Her mind raced, piecing together the malicious intent.

This had to be the work of Su Shen’s competitors—deliberately dumping diseased carcasses near his farm to contaminate the area.

The recent rains only worsened the situation, as the virus could easily spread through the water system. The nearby ditches connected to the village’s main river, which the farm also relied on for its water supply. If the water became infected, Su Shen’s prized pigs would be at risk, wiping out the farm’s competitive edge.

This wasn’t just underhanded—it was vicious. A real-life business war, darker and dirtier than she had imagined.

“Su Shen,” Gu Zi urged, unable to keep the worry out of her voice, “don’t bother driving me back. Go back to the farm and deal with this immediately. If it rains throughout the night, it might be too late.”

But Su Shen simply started the engine and resumed driving toward town, his face stoic yet touched with a flicker of anger.

“Don’t worry,” he said firmly. “I’ll handle it. Besides, if I hadn’t stepped out to drive you, I wouldn’t have discovered this. I’ll drop you off at the station and return right away. There’s still time.”

His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, cold and sharp. Gu Zi couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease. She had never seen him this serious—or this furious.

She nodded silently, sensing the storm brewing within him.

At the station, Su Shen watched her board the bus, his intense eyes following her until she was out of sight. Only then did he turn the car around and head back to the farm.

Upon arrival, he wasted no time calling the local police and rallying his employees. His voice was clipped and authoritative as he issued orders, ensuring every precaution was taken to contain the contamination.

Meanwhile, Gu Zi tried not to worry. She knew Su Shen was more than capable of handling such crises. His business success wasn’t luck; it was built on sharp instincts and unwavering resolve. Still, she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling as she returned home.@@novelbin@@

When she arrived, Su Li and Gao Ming were in the yard, playing with Su Le and their loyal dog, Big Yellow. The moment they spotted her, the children rushed over, chattering excitedly.

Su Li tugged on her sleeve and said, “Mom, you’re just in time! Xu Sheng’s mom came over again, and Auntie Jing almost got into a fight with her. She’s in the house now, super mad.”

Gu Zi sighed internally. What did Huang Fei want this time? That woman seemed to have a knack for creating drama. Thankfully, she had been out all day and didn’t have to deal with it herself.

Stepping into the house, Gu Zi found Su Jing pacing, her expression sour. “What happened?” Gu Zi asked, already bracing herself for the tirade.

Su Jing wasted no time unloading her frustration. “That woman is insufferable! She came looking for you again, and when I answered the door, she insisted I call you out. Said she wanted to learn your cake recipes! I told her you weren’t home, but she accused you of hiding from her.

“She actually said neighbors should be friendly and share their skills. Can you believe that? As if you owe her your recipes just because she asked! And her attitude—so entitled! It wasn’t even a request; it was practically a demand. I told her you genuinely weren’t here, but she kept saying you were avoiding her. Honestly, does she even understand human language?”

Su Jing threw her hands up, exasperated. “Talking to her is like arguing with a brick wall. She almost drove me insane!”