Chapter 182: Framing

In the evening, back at the bar, Chen Mo kept thinking the day's events were strange.

He had already learned from Da Dou the reason Big D went to the factory to cause trouble.

Regarding Big D's claim that he wanted to seize the factory, Chen Mo found it a bit far‑fetched.

The A‑grade goods business has no real technical barrier.

Chen Mo's A‑grade goods trade has been running for several months and is no longer exclusive.

Many merchants and Triad Societies have copied the model, all dealing in premium A‑grade goods.

Moreover, Chen Mo's A‑grade goods are supplied to the boss of Great Prosperity.

Even if Big D snatched the factory, he couldn't take Chen Mo's distribution channels, and might not earn as much as Chen Mo does.

And Chen Mo is no longer an unknown nobody in the underworld.

Since the Jianshazui showdown, his subordinates' fighters have become famous.

Big D's people are a bit reckless, a bit impulsive, but they're not stupid.

For an uncertain monthly profit of two to three million, offending Chen Mo could even risk offending Great Prosperity.

That is not wise.

Given Big D's strength, if he simply wanted to run a clothing business, he could easily open his own factory.

Even if he wanted to save money, Quanwan has other garment factories; dealing with them would be simpler.

There's no need to pick on Chen Mo, a tough guy.

Big D's seizure of Chen Mo's factory must have his own reasons.

It's just that Chen Mo can't think of them at the moment.

At that thought, Chen Mo called Shen Guodong.

"Guodong, assign a few people to keep an eye on Big D, see if he's been in contact with anyone lately, and whether any of those contacts have a grudge against us."

"Mo Ge, do you think Big D will still target our factory?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "Big D keeps his word; he shouldn't cause trouble at our factory anymore.

However, he might still set traps for us elsewhere."

And I feel today's matter isn't over yet.

Watch him for a few days; if Big D makes no move, pull the team back."

"Understood, I'll arrange it right away."

Shen Guodong nodded and immediately began assigning personnel.

His subordinates kept watching Big D for two consecutive days, and nothing unusual occurred on Big D's side.

Besides his own men, the people he interacts with most are merchants doing business in Quanwan, who have virtually no ties to Chen Mo and certainly no grudges.

Just as Chen Mo was about to tell Shen Guodong to pull back the watch on Big D, something happened.

"Mo Ge, Big D was assassinated last night."

"What?" Chen Mo was shocked at the news.

"Is Big D dead? Have they caught the assassin?"

"He didn't die; apparently a subordinate shielded him from a bullet, and he only suffered minor injuries. The shooter wasn't caught, and no one knows who it was. But there are many rumors outside now."

"What's the rumor saying?"

"The rumor says you sent people to our factory to sabotage it in revenge against Big D, and the director sent a shooter to kill Big D."

"Someone also claimed they saw that shooter enter our Yinhejiuba."

After hearing Shen Guodong's account, Chen Mo furrowed his brows.

"Can we find out where the rumor originated?"

Shen Guodong said: "I've already assigned subordinates to investigate, but the rumor spread so fast that someone must be fanning it; it may be hard to trace."

Chen Mo's fingertip tapped lightly on the table unconsciously.

This is a blatant frame‑up.

As for the purpose of the framing, Chen Mo has also guessed it.

Someone wants Chen Mo and Big D to become enemies.

If the framing succeeds, Chen Mo and Big D will inevitably clash.

Chen Mo and Big D, Great Prosperity and Lian Sheng, are all closely matched in strength.

When that happens, it will inevitably be a mutually destructive outcome.

"Guodong, first inform the team to stay cautious these few days, so Big D doesn't get hot‑headed and act against us."

"Also, find a way to trace that shooter and the rumor's source; I want to know who's pulling the strings behind this."

"Alright, I'll assign people to investigate right away."

Just as Shen Guodong turned to leave, Chen Mo called him back.

"Has there been any movement on Jiang Tiansheng's side lately?"

"Jiang Tiansheng? Apart from Fang Ting, hardly anyone comes or goes from his villa each day."

"Mo Ge, do you suspect Jiang Tiansheng is behind this?"

"Investigate together, just in case!"

Prejudices in people's hearts are a mountain.

When conspiracy arises, Chen Mo instinctively thinks of Jiang Tiansheng.

Moreover, if Chen Mo fights Big D and his strength is weakened, that's exactly what Jiang Tiansheng would like to see.

To prevent Big D's men from attacking, Chen Mo decided to stay at the bar tonight.

Time passed minute by minute until three a. m.; the bar was about to close.

There was still nothing going on at the site.

In the office, Chen Mo sat in the boss's chair, holding Liu Li Li in his arms, his face buried in her chest, frantically gossiping.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

Chen Mo lifted his head and picked up the phone.

"Who?"

From the phone came Li Jie's voice: "Mo Ge, it's Li Jie. Something's happened at the clothing factory."

Chen Mo patted Liu Li Li's butt, signaling her to get up.

"What happened? Is it serious?"

"Just now someone came and set fire; the person has been caught."

Upon hearing that someone had set fire at the clothing factory, Chen Mo panicked.

"How's the fire? Has it been put out? Is anyone hurt?"

The clothing factory is full of clothes and fabric; once it catches fire, it can easily spread and burn down the whole factory.

"The fire has been put out, nobody is hurt.

"However, a lot of clothing in the warehouse was burned; the exact loss will have to wait until tomorrow when Da Dou comes to tally it."

Hearing Li Jie say that, Chen Mo immediately let out a sigh of relief.

"As long as nobody is hurt, burning some clothes is no big deal. You just said the arsonist was caught, right?"

"Yeah, he himself said he's from Da D."

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then said: "Keep an eye on him; I'm coming over now."

By now it was almost midnight, and there were basically no people on the street.

Chen Mo pressed the accelerator to the floor and sped all the way.

After ten or so minutes, Chen Mo arrived at the clothing factory's gate.

The gate was unharmed, but the air still smelled of burnt fire, showing the earlier blaze wasn't small.

At that moment, Li Jie and his people were waiting at the gate; seeing Chen Mo's car stop, they immediately went up to meet him.

Li Jie pointed at a bound man nearby and said: "Mo Ge, this is the arsonist; he himself said he's a lackey of Da D."

Chen Mo nodded, walked over to the man, and crouched down.

Before Chen Mo could even speak, the man began begging for mercy.

"Mo Ge, I was wrong, Mo Ge. Please spare me! I won't dare again.

"It was Da D Ge who sent me; I was just following orders."

Chen Mo gave a cold smile: "Since you say Da D sent you, fine—I'll take you now to confront Da D."

"Stuff his mouth, put a sack over his head, and load him into my car."

"Everyone else, go rest. Ah Jie, you come with me."