Inheriting a Farm Made Me an Internet Sensation - Chapter 52

“I know everyone has many doubts in their hearts, so if the trainees who came here to learn wish to leave, I will respect that decision; if everyone is willing to believe in me, the course will continue,” Tan Xiao said with a voice that resonated with strength.

On that day, the amount of Chinese cabbage sold from the farm reached two tons. It just so happened that only the cabbage from one specific stall caused problems after being consumed by customers; this matter was inherently suspicious.

The farm helpers understood this better than anyone. Even the six reporters from CCTV were aware of it, simply because their soup for the past few days had been Chinese cabbage meatball soup.

If there were truly something wrong with the cabbage, wouldn’t those of them who ate it have kicked the bucket long ago?

However, relying on this point alone was fundamentally insufficient to prove the innocence of Peace Farm. As for what exactly was going on, a detailed investigation was still required.

As for when the results would finally come out, no one knew.

The trainees looked at each other; the longest any of them had been there was only three days.

Even in those short three days, they had still learned a great deal and felt quite confident about the coming year’s planting.

Seeing that no one raised a hand or stepped forward, Tan Xiao knew the trainees’ choice. Gratefully, she said, “Thank you all for being willing to trust me.” She bowed, then stood up straight and continued, “Everyone, please return to your positions now.”

A trainee stepped out from the crowd and said loudly, “Actually, before coming here, I had always been following Peace Farm.” He smiled and scratched his head. “To be honest, it’s the first time I’ve realized that farming could attract so much attention. Every time something happens, the commotion isn’t small—just like this time.”

Once these words landed, everyone nodded in agreement. One after another, they spoke their minds.

“It’s too strange. I feel like someone has been watching Peace Farm from the shadows the whole time.”

“Once the cabbage leaves the farm, who knows how long the vendors stored it or how many hands it passed through in between?”

“I don’t have much schooling and don’t know fancy words. I only know that I ate the cabbage, and I’m perfectly fine right now.”

“My family is in the countryside, and at the very least we have two dishes per meal. Are those poisoned people poorer than my family? How can they conclude the cabbage is toxic?”

For a time, the courtyard was bustling with excitement as everyone expressed their views.

Zhu Quanyong had long ago selected a good vantage point to record everyone’s words and reactions.

In fact, his view aligned with these people. This matter was too fishy—so fishy that everything seemed like a pre-arranged setup.

Meanwhile, at Huangtian International.

Jiang Mo swayed her graceful figure as she walked to the sofa in Su Han’s office and sat down. Looking at Su Han, who sat in her office chair appearing calm and composed, the corners of her lips curled slightly: “Little Su-Su, you aren’t panicked at all.”

Without waiting for Su Han to reply, she leaned her body sideways, propping her chin on the hand resting on the sofa arm: “Let me guess, Little Su-Su has already thought of how to break this predicament, right?”

Su Han put down her pen and leaned back in her chair. “Jiang Yue has been making many moves lately. Why aren’t you at Huatai keeping an eye on her instead of coming to my place?”

“Isn’t it because I’m worried about you, Little Su-Su?” Jiang Mo threw a flirtatious wink at Su Han. “After all, I am your person.”

Su Han’s face remained unchanged, but a ripple stirred in her heart.

To the outside world, she was indeed tied to Jiang Mo, and Jiang Mo was indeed hers. But this was merely a tactic of convenience.

Jiang Mo stood up, stepped in her seven-centimeter-high boots, and came behind Su Han. She leaned down to embrace Su Han from behind, stopping by Su Han’s ear to breathe like a blooming orchid: “That dear younger sister of mine has always been good at seizing opportunities delivered to her door. Guess if she had a hand in making things escalate so quickly?”

The hot breath spraying on her ear made Su Han’s brow furrow slightly. She reached up and grabbed Jiang Mo’s hand that was holding her. “Get away from me.”

“How can you push away your own fiancée?” Jiang Mo bit down on Su Han’s earlobe. “Compared to now, I still prefer you in bed—wild and untamed.”

Su Han’s ears burned, and her other hand at her side had already clenched into a fist. “Jiang Mo.”

Acting as if she didn’t hear that Su Han was already angry, Jiang Mo released her, moved her steps, and sat directly across Su Han’s lap. She reached out a finger to hook Su Han’s chin: “No matter how I think about it, this incident feels strange. Little Su-Su, can you clear up my confusion?” While speaking, her other hand was already placed on Su Han’s leg, rubbing it gently.

Though the two had only shared one night, it didn’t stop her from knowing every single one of Su Han’s sensitive spots.

Su Han gritted her teeth. “If you don’t want to be thrown out by me, leave immediately.”

“Is this anger out of embarrassment, or are you having a reaction?”

Su Han: “…”

“Then let me guess again. Those two idiots have been restricting Huangtian International everywhere, so you simply let their fire burn even brighter to let them play with fire and perish by it.” Jiang Mo voiced the guess in her heart. She absolutely believed Su Han was capable of doing such a thing.

She wanted to see a reaction on Su Han’s face, but other than disgust, there was nothing else.

Could it be that she had guessed wrong?

If it really was as she thought, then she could make good use of this point.

“Are you finished? If you’re finished, then get lost.” Su Han did not hide her loathing at all. Even if her body truly had a reaction to Jiang Mo’s touch, she would never show it.

She hadn’t forgotten that from beginning to end, her relationship with Jiang Mo was a transaction.

Too much involvement would only put her in a disadvantageous position; that was not what she wanted.

Jiang Mo’s lowered eyes concealed the flash of disappointment within them.

“Truly heartless, aren’t you?” She left Su Han, returned to the sofa to grab her bag, and walked out.

Muwen Food.

Lin Muhan, who had finally managed to return to a normal state, frowned as she saw the insults directed at Peace Farm and Tan Xiao on the internet.

She didn’t believe that no one had played tricks behind this incident.

But those people were far too confident—the CCTV reporters hadn’t even left yet, and they dared to frame Peace Farm like this.

She picked up her phone, wanting to call Tan Xiao, but hesitated.

She was the one who left; if she went to show concern now, what would Tan Xiao think of her?

Forget it. Tan Xiao had always been smart; she likely already had a strategy to deal with it.

Just as she thought, Tan Xiao had indeed devised a plan.

She had no confidence in whether the Food Supervision Bureau, the Market Supervision Bureau, or the police involved in the case would clear things up. Therefore, under Gao Jie’s suggestion, she hired three private investigators.

She instructed the first two investigators to uncover the truth of the matter, while the third investigator was responsible for tracking the movements of the first two.

As she guessed, even if the investigators found clues, they might be quickly bribed. So, she simply cast a wide net; she was bound to catch the rat’s tail eventually.

As for the money for the commission, it was naturally charged to Su Han’s account, to be settled all at once when the six-month term ended.

Unknown to her, while Tan Xiao was planning her countermeasures, the government had also dispatched people.

Aside from the agricultural department, members of the Anti-Corruption Task Force and the Tax Bureau had also been mobilized. This was because they had received a whistleblowing call alleging that a local fertilizer factory and another in Bashu were both suspected of tax evasion and bribery.

Of course, they didn’t just mobilize immediately upon receiving a report. They verified the leads provided by the whistleblower first before holding an emergency meeting and dispatching personnel.

Four days had passed since the incident. The netizens’ condemnation of Tan Xiao had not stopped, and even the orders for the farm had seen instances of aggressive price-cutting.

Both Tan Xiao and Chen Cuihua agreed that the vegetables in the fields could still be left for another ten days to half a month, so they rejected the vendors’ demands.

Without the need to harvest, the helpers began sowing seeds in the empty plots, planning to sell for a good price during the New Year period.

Lin Muhan, not knowing the full situation, couldn’t sit still. She went to Su Han’s office and asked directly, “How do you plan to solve the food poisoning incident at Peace Farm?”

Su Han left her office chair, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked outside, answering with a different question: “Did you and Tan Xiao have a fight, or did you break up?”

A flash of awkwardness crossed Lin Muhan’s eyes, and she turned her head away. “The most important thing right now is how to solve this matter.” Thinking of something, she stepped forward a few paces behind Su Han. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“Live your own life well. If possible, don’t look back.”

She understood what Su Han meant. Su Han was telling her that since she had decided to separate from Tan Xiao, she should stick to that decision and not walk the path back.

Su Han still didn’t approve of her and Tan Xiao, just as her parents didn’t approve.

“I will handle the matter of Peace Farm,” Su Han gave Lin Muhan a definitive reply.

Everything was within her plan. Within half a month, this matter would be settled. By then, not only would Huangtian International no longer be restricted by others, but no one else would dare to easily cause trouble for Peace Farm again.

Hearing this, Lin Muhan breathed a slight sigh of relief. She took the coffee handed to her by the secretary and, after some hesitation, still spoke up: “You clearly know that Tan Xiao is different from the person in the records. Why don’t you—”

“I told you from the beginning, you are people from two different worlds.” Su Han turned to meet her eyes. “I know your personality all too well. It was only a matter of time before problems arose in your relationship with her.”

Lin Muhan took a step back. Where she and Tan Xiao really from two different worlds?

She thought Su Han had previously been referring to her and Tan Xiao’s backgrounds. Now she realized Su Han was also talking about their personalities and preferences.

Can two people from different worlds make it to the end? If it were before, she would have certainly answered: Yes.

Now, her heart lacked that certainty. If they really could have, why would she and Tan Xiao have reached this point?

Su Han glanced at her, walked to the sofa and sat down, crossing her legs. “Currently, her world only has her experiments. She cannot spare more thought to give you what you want.” She was silent for a moment before saying earnestly, “I heard the blind date Auntie Zhu introduced to you is quite good and emotionally stable. You could try spending some time with him.”