Chapter 118: An Enemy?

September 28, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

The voice was weak and hoarse, as if the speaker was ill.

Chu Xuan followed the sound and saw a woman wearing a mask—she didn’t recognize her at first.

The woman briefly removed her mask, then put it back on.

It was Zhang Feifei.

Chu Xuan immediately greeted her with a smile, “Feifei-jie, long time no see! When are you planning to start ordering grilled fish fillets?”

Zhang Feifei warmly took Chu Xuan’s hand. “I guessed you’d be coming these days to pick up your herbal medicine. Coincidentally, I’m not feeling well and came to get some too—otherwise, I wouldn’t be wearing a mask. I was just about to ask my uncle to pass a message to you. The phone number you gave me last time got smudged by my kid with water. Could you write it down for me again? Also, from now on, I need a fixed 50 jin of grilled fish fillets every day. Please have someone deliver them to the county bus by 8 a.m.—my relative sells tickets on that bus.”

That’s 1,500 jin a month.

Chu Xuan hadn’t expected that a trip to the county for a doctor’s visit would land her another big order. Of course, she agreed right away. “No problem!”

She had plenty of hands at home now, so she wasn’t worried about keeping up with production.

As for delivery, she could ask Grandpa Qi to handle it—he drove his horse cart to town every day. Pay him a bit for the extra trip, and he’d do a great job.

She shared some roasted peanuts from her basket with Zhang Feifei.

But what Chu Xuan didn’t expect was that after picking up her medicine and returning home, she fell ill that very afternoon.

She came down with a high fever.

Even Gao Meijuan and Qin Mahua, who were working at her house, got sick too.

Wang Depin sent word that a woman named Zhang Feifei had asked a nurse to call and say she was hospitalized with a fever and needed to cancel her grilled fish fillet order for now.

That’s when Chu Xuan realized she’d been infected by Zhang Feifei.

Feverish and delirious, she drifted in and out of consciousness, sometimes thinking she heard Mu Chenze’s voice, sometimes the sound of a tractor.

When she finally woke up for real, she found herself in a ward at the county hospital.

There were three beds in the room—Gao Meijuan and Qin Mahua occupied the other two.

Fu Qing and Miao Dacui were there as caregivers.

Chu Xuan, remembering she had to deliver 1,500 jin of fish fillets by the 25th, insisted on being discharged to recover at home, but Fu Qing and Miao Dacui couldn’t stop her.

Just as she was about to leave the ward, Mu Chenze came over with the payment receipt.

When he heard she wanted to leave, he didn’t care about propriety—he grabbed her arm and wouldn’t let her go.

“Chu Xuan, do you even know your own condition? Your fever just broke, you’re still weak all over. The doctor said you need to be observed in the hospital for two more days. Only if there’s no relapse can you be discharged.”

Before Chu Xuan could reply, Mu Chenze pulled her back onto the bed.

“Mu Chenze, I already took Boss Hou’s deposit, and I haven’t finished the 1,500 jin of fish fillets yet. Plus, Feng Shuai ordered 300 jin…”

Mu Chenze cut her off. “Just rest and recover here. I’ll take your Aunt Miao back. The two of us, plus Xiao Feng, will take turns grilling fish fillets. We’ll make sure all your orders are ready!”

Chu Xuan was touched. “But this will keep you from earning money in the city. And it’ll be hard for Sister-in-law Fu Qing to look after the three of us alone.”

Mu Chenze said deliberately, “Just give me a share of the profits. And if my sister-in-law can’t handle it, there are nurses here, aren’t there?”

With things said to this point, Chu Xuan didn’t refuse anymore. “If you’re willing to take a share, then I’ll trouble you. If you ever need my help, just ask. And this time, Grandma Gao and Aunt Qin only got sick because of me…”

If she hadn’t met with Zhang Feifei, none of this would have happened.

Gao Meijuan and Qin Mahua had just woken up and both waved it off as nothing.

At that moment, Dr. Zhang came in, looking gentle and kind. “Everyone gets sick sometimes. It’s just that your immune systems were a bit weak, so you caught it. The people who brought you here are all fine, aren’t they? Fevers and colds are normal—don’t blame yourselves or worry. With me here, you’ll all be back on your feet in three days.”

As he spoke, he checked each of their pulses and said he’d adjust their prescriptions in his office and have the nurse bring the medicine in two hours.

Mu Chenze and Miao Dacui left, reassured.

Fu Qing had no trouble taking care of the three women, since the hospital stay didn’t require injections—just drinking herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage.

Zhang Feifei was in the next ward. Dr. Zhang was busy seeing patients, so he asked the nurse to look after her.

She was much sicker than Chu Xuan and the others, still running a high fever.

Even with the same illness, it affected everyone differently.

Three days later, when Chu Xuan and her two companions were fully recovered and discharged, Zhang Feifei could barely get out of bed.

Liu Dapeng drove his tractor to pick them up. Mu Chenze didn’t come because he was at Chu Xuan’s house grilling fish fillets.

On the way home, even the loud chugging of the tractor couldn’t dampen Gao Meijuan and the others’ curiosity.

“Did the results of Qiu Zhi’s injury assessment come out?”

“They did. It wasn’t a car accident—it was a sprain plus rheumatism. He tried to scam people and got detained for re-education.”

“How many jin of fish fillets have you grilled these past few days?”

“1,200 jin are already packed. We’ll grill another 300 jin tomorrow, so we’ll definitely deliver on time.”

Chu Xuan still wasn’t completely at ease—not because she didn’t trust Mu Chenze and Miao Dacui, but because she felt the Qiu family wouldn’t let things go so easily.

“How are the Qiu family’s fish fillets selling?”

“Not well. I heard they’re selling them dirt cheap, and they’re planning to quit the business.”

“Any signs of trouble from their family?”

“Nothing for now.”

...

On the morning of the 25th, Chu Xuan waited and waited, but Boss Hou’s truck and driver never showed up.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Boss Hou called—Chu Xuan learned that his driver had been robbed en route. Not only was the payment stolen, but his arm was injured as well. Boss Hou asked Chu Xuan to arrange delivery herself.

Chu Xuan’s first thought was that the Qiu family was behind it.

But there was no proof.

That day, Chu Xuan hired Lin Yong’s vehicle to deliver the goods to the city.

After the delivery, Boss Hou not only paid the remaining balance but also wanted to reimburse her for the transport.

Chu Xuan firmly refused, insisting she’d cover the cost herself, and even bought some nutritional supplements to visit the injured driver.

Maybe by talking to the driver, she could find some useful clues.

At the hospital, she learned that the driver’s Plum Blossom brand watch had been stolen. Three people had robbed him—all over 1.75 meters tall, wearing patched clothes, and reeking of fish. One of them had a stutter.

Chu Xuan immediately thought of Qiu Zhi’s younger brother, Qiu Xiang, who stuttered and was over 1.75 meters tall.

She went straight to the city’s public security office to report this lead.

She left the city again in Lin Yong’s car.

By then, it was completely dark.

Lin Yong drove steadily, not rushing. As they passed a wooded area on the outskirts of the county, someone suddenly darted out to block the road.

Lin Yong slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the person.

Even so, they saw the person fall and lie motionless on the ground.

Lin Yong was nervous. “Did… did we kill someone?”

If someone died, they’d lose everything and might even go to jail.

Chu Xuan was puzzled. “At this distance, we shouldn’t have hit him. Lin-ge, wait before getting out. Could this be a scam?”

Reminded by her, Lin Yong calmed down. “That’s possible. But I still need to check. Could you find a phone nearby and call the police?”

Better to handle it officially than privately."