Chapter 110: Figured It Out

They were walking along a narrow path.

The path was so tight that only two people could barely pass side by side.

After brushing past Mu Chenze, she was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.

Mu Chenze’s domineering voice rang out, “Stop right there!”

She felt like this person’s figure looked a bit familiar.

Chu Xuan deliberately replied in a man’s voice, “We don’t know each other. Why should I stop?”

If she hadn’t spoken, it would’ve been fine—but as soon as she did, Mu Chenze immediately recognized her.

He grabbed her arm. “You think you can fool me? Pretend we don’t know each other?”

She had used this same man’s voice when she went to sell gold ingots before.

Chu Xuan thought to herself, Did he recognize me?

She was about to brazen it out and deny it, but Mu Chenze had already pulled off her mask.

“Knew it was you. Last time you dressed up as a man to sell gold ingots—what are you selling this time?”

Chu Xuan was surprised. “So you knew I sold gold ingots for cash? Why didn’t you expose me? I told everyone my mom sent money from out of town so I could build a new house. Can you let go of me first?”

Mu Chenze quickly released her. “We’re buddies, aren’t we? Of course I’d keep your secret. Next time you’re doing something risky, can you call me along?”

“No way. I’m not selling anything this time. I dressed like this just to get things done more easily. I can’t chat—I need to hurry home before anyone in the village sees me like this.”

Before Mu Chenze could reply, Chu Xuan hurried off.

Mu Chenze muttered under his breath, “She’s keeping secrets from me because she doesn’t want to drag me into trouble, huh?”

Earlier that morning, he’d gone to Chu Xuan’s house to ask what kind of dumpling filling she and Xiao Feng wanted, so he could plan lunch.

But he found Chu Xuan wasn’t home.

He asked Xiao Feng about her, and also mentioned he wanted to help out, but Xiao Feng said he didn’t know why his sister wouldn’t get married, and had no idea what she was up to.

So Mu Chenze decided to try his luck at the village entrance, and to his surprise, he really did run into Chu Xuan.

Judging by the footprints, she must have come from the neighboring village?

So careless, leaving footprints all the way—wasn’t she afraid someone would follow them and find her out?

Mu Chenze broke off some branches from a nearby tree and covered up the footprints.

Meanwhile, Liu Dafang came back from the village store with a jug of liquor. When she got to her door and saw all those men’s footprints, she felt uneasy—if people saw, it’d be gossip fodder. She went inside, put down the liquor, grabbed a big broom, and started sweeping away the footprints.

As she swept, she unconsciously followed the trail.

She ended up near the small grove at the edge of the village, but the footprints disappeared.

She thought she’d find out who was threatening her.

What a waste of effort.

She slung the broom over her shoulder and went home.

When Chu Xuan got home, she changed back into her own clothes and suddenly realized she hadn’t dealt with the footprints. She rushed out in a panic—

And nearly ran right into Mu Chenze coming the other way.

“Chu Xuan, where are you off to?”

Chu Xuan deliberately lowered her voice. “I’m going to deal with the footprints.”

“I already took care of them! Even if you won’t tell me what you’re up to, I’m still happy to help.”

“Thanks! Buddy, I really owe you one!”

Chu Xuan couldn’t help grabbing his hand and shaking it hard.

Mu Chenze’s hand hurt. “Hey, buddy, can you be a little gentler? Let go!”

Chu Xuan let go awkwardly. “Sorry, I got a bit carried away. I really need to thank you. How about this—today you don’t have to make dumplings for me, I’ll make them for you! How about carrot and egg filling?”

“Sounds good! I’ll bring the dough.”

“No need, I’ve got flour at home.”

“But I already made dough at Ji Ping’s place. If I don’t use it, it’ll go to waste.”

Mu Chenze didn’t want his family to know he’d lost a bet with Chu Xuan, so since he had the key to Ji Ping’s house, he went there to knead the dough, planning to make the dumplings and cook them there before bringing them to Chu Xuan’s.

Unfortunately, the dough turned out terrible.

He’d have to ask Chu Xuan to fix it later.

Twenty minutes later, Mu Chenze arrived with the dough bowl hidden under his raincoat.

The sides of the bowl were covered in lumps of dough. The moment Chu Xuan touched it, she was speechless—it was as hard as a rock.

She cut it into several pieces.

Then she made some fresh, softer dough and mixed it in…

Mu Chenze pulled six eggs and a handful of wood ear mushrooms from his pocket.

Chu Xuan had carrots at home.

She soaked the mushrooms and was just about to wash the carrots when Mu Chenze suddenly asked, “Can you eat carrots while you’re taking Chinese medicine?”

Chu Xuan smiled. “This time, the medicine I’m taking… I can eat carrots. You’re really thoughtful.”

Mu Chenze gave his hair a cool shake, his bangs falling perfectly into place.

“You know I’m thoughtful, so why won’t you work with me?”

Just then, Chu Feng walked by, and Chu Xuan gave him a task. “Xiao Feng, go wash the carrots under the eaves in the yard.”

Chu Feng immediately did as told.

Only then did Chu Xuan reply to Mu Chenze, “Aren’t we already working together? Why do you say that?”

“You know what I mean. I’m not afraid of getting dragged into trouble. I’m careful—if you let me help, things will go twice as smoothly. Are you trying to investigate your father’s background?”

After voicing his guess, Mu Chenze stared into Chu Xuan’s eyes.

Chu Xuan felt a mix of emotions, but in the end, she denied it. “No. As long as Xiao Feng and I are safe, that’s enough.”

She wouldn’t say more.

Mu Chenze gave a helpless smile. “Alright then.”

They both fell silent.

An hour later, the dumplings were wrapped.

When the water boiled, they cooked them.

After the dumplings were done, Mu Chenze quietly ate, then said goodbye and left.

Chu Feng sensed something was off and was about to ask, but Chu Xuan cut him off with, “Don’t ask anything. I don’t want to talk about it.”

After Mu Chenze got home, he lay on the kang, thinking.

He pieced together everything he’d learned.

Qin Xuehong was nearly killed, Feng Ti confessed and committed suicide, Chu Xuan’s father wasn’t Feng Chunhua’s biological son, Feng Chunhua was acquitted and released…

He suddenly remembered how Chu Xuan had deliberately sent him away when she was teaching Chu Zhi a lesson, and finally understood her good intentions.

Chu Xuan didn’t want him to fall out with the Chu family—she was worried the mastermind would target him.

Having figured all this out, he realized why Chu Xuan refused to marry—she didn’t want to bring trouble to her husband’s family.

Excited, he jumped off the kang, put on his shoes, and was about to rush out to find Chu Xuan.

But when he reached the door, he stopped.

There was no need to spell things out to Chu Xuan. From now on, he’d just quietly help her.

Back in his room, he couldn’t help recalling how hard Chu Xuan had shaken his hand. Looking at his own hand, he thought, I really need to work on my grip strength…

After five in the afternoon, the wind and rain were still going, but they didn’t stop Liu Dafang.

She wasn’t afraid of hard work if it meant earning double pay.

Carrying a basket with liquor and food, she knocked on Chu Dashan’s door.

At this moment, Chu Xuan had also finished her disguise and was heading out.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived outside Chu Dashan’s house.

The courtyard gate was tightly shut.

But that was no problem for Chu Xuan.

She went to the back wall, found the window to Chu Dashan’s bedroom.

The metal security window was down, but Chu Xuan had opened and closed it countless times before—she knew how to open it just a crack.

As for the window itself, it was the kind with wooden lattice and paper panes. She moistened her finger and poked it—open.

Just as she finished, voices came from inside.

“Dashan, come on, let’s have a drink.”

“Alright! Life’s only sweet with you around! I’ve finished mine—why didn’t you finish yours?”

“I’m a woman, aren’t I? As a man, shouldn’t you let me off a little?”

“You’re right! I should! Fill me up.”

“Alrighty.”

Liu Dafang eagerly poured Chu Dashan more liquor and served him food.

Chu Xuan waited patiently. Whether she’d hear anything useful today depended on Liu Dafang’s skills."