Chapter 104: She Likes Me?

September 19, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

The account book was a little damp, but the handwriting was clear.

On the page with Chu Xuan’s name, there were over a dozen types of fish and seafood listed.

For each type, if the total price had a few dimes in change, it was rounded up to the next yuan; if it had just a few cents, the cents were dropped.

Sea cucumber: 810 yuan, abalone: 606 yuan, ribbonfish: 601 yuan, mackerel: 307 yuan, prawns...

Altogether, it added up to 4,886 yuan.

After Chu Xuan double-checked the total, Li Lin pulled out a bulging bundle from under his raincoat and took out five stacks of cash, one of which was a bit thinner than the others.

“I went to the city to sell the goods today, got paid in cash, so I can settle up with your family. My mother and I counted it twice at home. You and your brother should count it again.”

“Alright.”

Chu Xuan took the money.

She handed two stacks to Chu Feng.

She counted the rest herself.

A few minutes later, they finished counting. It was indeed 4,886 yuan.

Li Lin wrote “Goods payment of 4,886 yuan settled” in the account book, took out the ink pad, and before he could say anything, Chu Xuan had already pressed her fingerprint on the words “6 yuan settled.”

Chu Xuan and her brother invited Li Lin and his mother to stay for dinner, but they politely declined.

After seeing them off, Chu Feng closed the gate and suggested, “Sis, let’s save this money to treat Mom’s illness!”

Without hesitation, Chu Xuan said, “Okay!”

She put the money away herself.

Today had been exhausting, but she was happy.

Still, even after eleven at night, Chu Xuan couldn’t sleep. Chu Feng was sleeping soundly by the kang table.

Outside, the wind howled and the rain poured harder.

She wondered if Mu Chenze had made it back safely from selling goods in the city.

In her previous life, on this very day, Mu Chenze hadn’t gone to the city to sell fish. Why did he go this time?

Could her rebirth have changed some people and events?

She didn’t remember Mu Chenze ever being short on money, so why did he seem so desperate for cash today?

It was really strange.

She suddenly wanted to go out and walk to the village entrance.

If her little brother were awake, he’d definitely think she was crazy.

Who goes out on a stormy night instead of staying inside?

Chu Xuan got up, quietly put on her raincoat and boots, grabbed a flashlight, and left the bedroom. To keep the door from blowing open, she locked it behind her.

Of course, she didn’t forget to lock the courtyard gate, too.

Braving the wind and rain, she headed toward the village entrance.

The road was slippery; one careless step and she’d fall.

Chu Xuan walked very carefully, but still nearly slipped. Just as she steadied herself, a tractor drove by and splashed her with mud.

The driver was Xun Ren, another tractor operator in the village.

His name had “Ren” (benevolence) in it, but he wasn’t benevolent at all.

Even though the person in the trailer was bundled up, Chu Xuan recognized her—it was Feng Chunhua.

Chu Xuan didn’t even need to ask to know that Xun Ren was taking a private job without the village chief’s approval.

She shouted after the departing tractor, “Xun Ren, how much is Feng Chunhua paying you? Is it worth braving this storm to take her? What if the village tractor breaks down on the way—how will you explain that to the village office?”

Xun Ren cursed Chu Xuan for being so sharp-eyed. Afraid she’d spread the word, he hit the brakes, stopped, and jumped off the tractor.

“Chu Xuan, let’s talk this out, okay? I’ll split the fare with you if you keep quiet about this.”

Chu Xuan pointed at the person in the trailer. “How much is she paying you?”

Xun Ren held up one finger. “One yuan.”

Chu Xuan was speechless. “You’re risking all this for one yuan? You know if anything happens to the tractor, you’ll not only have to pay for damages, you’ll lose your job as a driver.”

She didn’t want Feng Chunhua to make it to the train station so easily.

All she could do was try to talk Xun Ren out of it.

Feng Chunhua couldn’t hold back and cursed, “Chu Xuan, you fat cow! Why can’t you mind your own business? Xun Ren, hurry up! I’ll pay you two yuan!”

Chu Xuan deliberately replied, “You old hag! I’m not short on a yuan or two. I’m just giving Xun Ren a friendly warning.”

Xun Ren suddenly remembered that Chu Xuan was close with the village chief’s family and at odds with Feng Chunhua.

He realized he couldn’t take this job. If he left with the tractor, Chu Xuan would tell the village chief right away.

He’d lose his job.

“Feng Chunhua, stop clinging to the trailer. Get down! I need to wash it.”

Feng Chunhua kicked the trailer hard a few times in anger. “Xun Ren, you’re going back on your word! Are you even a man?”

Xun Ren shrugged. “I’m going back on my word, but I’m still a man! If you don’t get down, I’ll drive the tractor to the village office. Then you’ll have to walk even farther to get to the village entrance.”

Feng Chunhua had no choice but to slowly climb down from the trailer.

Chu Xuan noticed she was wearing rain gear and her arms were bulging—she must have luggage hidden under her raincoat.

But Chu Xuan didn’t say anything more.

Feng Chunhua, noticing Chu Xuan’s gaze in the flashlight beam, hugged her bundle tighter.

Chu Xuan didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just that pair of dragon-and-phoenix jade pendants.

Xun Ren drove the tractor back to the village office.

Feng Chunhua left, cursing as she went.

The wind was strong, so Chu Xuan took shelter under the eaves at the village entrance.

After a while, she saw a truck drive up.

Chu Xuan just wanted to sneak a look to see if Mu Chenze was in the truck, but it stopped right beside her.

Mu Chenze got out from the passenger side.

Wearing a raincoat, he ran over to Chu Xuan. “What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re waiting for me? You dummy!”

Chu Xuan refused to admit it. “Who’s waiting for you? Don’t flatter yourself. I was just bored and wanted to see if I could find any more fish that washed up. I’ve been looking all the way here!”

Mu Chenze smiled helplessly. “Are you that desperate for money? Fine. I’ll settle accounts with your family first, then go home.”

“That’s right, I’m desperate for money. I’m really happy you’re settling up so quickly!”

Chu Xuan still wouldn’t admit she’d come all the way to the village entrance just to wait for Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze said a few words to the truck driver, who then drove off.

Mu Chenze and Chu Xuan walked back together.

When they passed Mu Chenze’s house, Chu Xuan pointed at his gate and said boisterously, “Go home and get some rest. I suddenly don’t feel like settling accounts tonight.”

“Don’t want to settle? I still have to walk you home. It’s a nasty night, and I can’t let a girl wander around outside alone.”

“What’s there to worry about? With my size, who’d dare mess with me? I’d beat them up! It’s you, pretty boy, I’m more worried about—you might get mugged for your looks!”

She said it on purpose to annoy him, hoping he’d give up on walking her home.

“I’m not a pretty boy!” Mu Chenze said, a little annoyed. “Fine, if you don’t want me to walk you, I’ll go home!”

He ignored Chu Xuan and went straight inside.

Only then did Chu Xuan relax and head home. Walking alone at night, she hadn’t been scared at all when she was waiting for Mu Chenze, but now that she’d relaxed, she suddenly felt afraid of the dark.

She walked, shivering.

What she didn’t know was that after Mu Chenze got home, he greeted Mu Chenfu, who was having a late-night snack in the kitchen, and said he’d left something on the truck and went out again.

Only after Chu Xuan made it home safely did Mu Chenze return.

Mu Chenze muttered to himself, “She’s clearly a scaredy-cat, but she said she was out looking for fish? Who’s she trying to fool? Could she really have come to the village entrance just to wait for me? Does she… like me?”"