Chapter 986: Just Don’t Eat It in the Future

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Shen had just started preparing the fresh pork ribs he’d brought home when Su Li’s words froze him mid-motion. He exchanged a glance with Gu Zi before setting down the large cleaver and turning his full attention to his son.

“What’s this sudden interest in the family business? And why are you crying?” Su Shen asked gently. “Tell me what happened first.”

Gu Zi watched from the side, feeling a flicker of admiration for the man. At that moment, Su Shen seemed taller, steadier—a father who not only cared for his child but was also trying his best to fulfill the role.

It reassured her. It wasn’t just her struggling to be the perfect parent; Su Shen was making the same effort. And that, in her eyes, made all the difference.

Su Li hesitated, then blurted out the whole story. “The kids from the tenement building said our family is finished. They said we’re all going to have to move back to the village. And even one of the adults said so! Dad, is it true? Are we really going back to the village?”

Before Su Shen could respond, Gao Ming burst in, equally concerned. “Uncle Su, are you really taking Su Li back to the village? Can I go too? I don’t want to be separated from him!”

The two boys stood side by side, hand in hand, their shared anxiety written all over their faces.

Su Li, for all his bravery, couldn’t hide the slight quiver in his voice. And although he didn’t hate the idea of going back to the village, he couldn’t bear to leave Gao Ming, Grandma Gao, or even the martial arts club at school.

Gu Zi finally understood what had been gnawing at her the past few days. She’d sensed whispers and sidelong glances whenever she walked by certain groups, but the moment she turned around, the chatter always ceased. Now it made sense—it was all because of these ridiculous rumors.

“No wonder I felt like people were talking about me behind my back,” she said, her voice firm. “So it started with the tenement building. Su Li, Gao Ming, don’t believe a word of it. It’s all nonsense. Don’t cry over such silly gossip.”

She reached out and gently wiped the tears from Su Li’s face.

Meanwhile, Su Shen’s expression darkened as he recalled what Gu Zi had mentioned earlier about Su Li’s struggles in the tenement building. Clearly, those rumors had spiraled out of control.

“It’s probably because Da Qing Farms didn’t participate in the vaccine program,” Su Shen said, his tone low but steady. “They assumed our pork wouldn’t pass inspections and wouldn’t sell. If they’re so worried, they can stop eating it altogether.”

With that, he picked up the phone and made a call. Gu Zi listened carefully—it was brief and to the point. Da Qing Farms would immediately halt pork deliveries to the tenement building’s butcher shop.

By the next morning, chaos erupted in the tenement building. Instead of hearing about the downfall of the Su family, the residents were blindsided by news that pork prices at their local butcher had doubled overnight.

“What kind of joke is this? We’ve known each other for years! You can’t just hike the price like that!” an irate customer shouted at the butcher.

The butcher, clearly fed up, slammed his cleaver onto the cutting board with a loud thud. “Hike the price? Are you kidding me? I’m barely making anything as it is!” He spat to the side before continuing, “Some big mouth among you spread rumors that Daqing Pig Farm’s pork wasn’t safe, that it wasn’t tested or vaccinated. Well, guess what? Su Shen heard about it and pulled his supply. Now I’m stuck buying from other suppliers—at prices double what I used to pay. So unless you want to buy pork somewhere else, this is what it costs!”

The crowd erupted with questions.

“What? You were selling Su Shen’s pork all this time? Didn’t you know it wasn’t vaccinated? What if it’s unsafe?”

The butcher shot them a look of pure disdain. “You people have no idea what you’re talking about. Daqing Pig Farm produces top-tier pork that doesn’t even need vaccines—it’s certified special-grade meat. Half the city’s restaurants are begging to buy from them, but they can’t even get an order in. I was lucky to have their supply—until some busybodies ruined it for everyone!”

The butcher pointed his cleaver at the crowd. “You think this is my fault? It’s you lot spreading lies that got me into this mess!”

Suddenly, the self-righteous indignation in the crowd evaporated. The women who had been leading the charge fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances.

None of them had any idea that Su Shen’s pork was so highly prized. And now? Now they were the ones left stranded.

Sure, Su Shen couldn’t pull his pork from every butcher shop in the city. But in this neighborhood? This was the only butcher within walking distance. The alternative was trekking across town, hoping to find pork that hadn’t already sold out. And in this shortage, there was no guarantee they’d get any at all.

As the crowd was mulling over their misfortune, an exquisitely dressed woman stepped into view.

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