Chapter 121: A Tough Mouth but a Soft Heart

These words left Liu Dapeng feeling utterly exposed.

They reminded him of all the bold things he’d said in front of Mu Chenze before.

If he kept working with Chu Xuan, he’d have no problem making ends meet, but if he wanted to make real money like Mu Chenze, that was out of the question.

His pride was completely gone, replaced by a deep sense of inferiority.

“I’m done learning! I quit! Please tell Chu Xuan for me!”

He was too embarrassed to stay any longer.

He turned and ran.

Even when he passed by Chu Xuan, he didn’t stop.

Chu Xuan noticed something was wrong with Liu Dapeng, but didn’t chase after him. Instead, she walked into the kitchen and gently asked Mu Chenze, “Did you say something to upset Liu Dapeng? He didn’t look right.”

As for waiting for Chu Xuan at the village entrance last night, Mu Chenze acted as if it never happened. Smiling, he added firewood to the oven as he said, “Who told him to show off in front of me? So what if he learns how to watch the oven? He’ll still just be earning a tiny wage in the future.”

“A little wage is enough for him to support his family! I just wanted to give him a hand if I could.”

“That kid’s got big ambitions. He wants to make it big and stand out. The path you’re showing him won’t help with that. I could actually point him in a better direction.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“Let him work in a factory sales department for a while, get some experience, and then come back to our village’s fish jerky factory to do sales. Sales is the best way to grow. Don’t doubt it.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll watch the oven, you go talk to him.”

“I’m not going! That kid, give him a little sunshine and he gets cocky, say a few words and he gets all self-conscious. If you want to go, you go.”

Mu Chenze deliberately left the chance to play the good guy to Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan knew Mu Chenze well—he was always tough on the outside but soft on the inside. “Alright, I’ll go talk to him.”

As for what to say, wasn’t that up to her?

Just as she was about to leave, Mu Chenze called out again, “Wait. For the oven-watching job, I think my sister-in-law would be perfect. Want to consider her?”

“No need to consider, let’s go with your sister-in-law! You teach her later—”

“I’m not teaching. You have to do it yourself.”

Unable to argue with Mu Chenze, Chu Xuan could only agree to come back and teach her personally.

About ten minutes later, Chu Xuan arrived at Liu Dapeng’s house.

She heard voices from inside.

“Dapeng! Aren’t you working at Chu Xuan’s? Why are you home? Won’t this hold things up? If you’re taking her wages, you need to be responsible. My health can handle it, you hurry back.”

“Mom, I’m not going to work at Chu Xuan’s anymore. I want to find a different job.”

“You silly boy, you make more at Chu Xuan’s than at the factory, and you still don’t want to go? Did something happen?”

“No. I just feel like I’m a man, I should make real money. I want to be like Mu Chenze, buying fish and selling them in the city.”

“We don’t have the capital, we can’t compare to Mu Chenze. I don’t agree with this.”

“I can borrow money first…”

“I said no! Cough, cough…”

Liu Dapeng’s mother started coughing, and he didn’t dare insist, afraid of upsetting her.

He quickly patted her back to help her breathe.

Once the coughing stopped, Liu Dapeng left the bedroom.

He saw Chu Xuan standing at the door.

He lowered his head awkwardly. “You heard everything?”

Chu Xuan’s expression was calm. “Yes.”

“You think the same as my mom, right? You don’t think I can make something of myself selling in the city.”

“No. I actually think you can, just not right now. Can I make a suggestion?”

“Go ahead.”

“Find a temporary sales job at a factory, work there for two or three months. When the village’s fish jerky factory starts production, talk to the village chief about joining the sales department. Then you can sell our village’s fish jerky in the city, and maybe even all over the country.”

Liu Dapeng was a smart guy; he got it right away. “Thank you for the suggestion! I’ll go to town and look for a job right now.”

“Actually, this was Mu Chenze’s idea. He’s got a tough mouth but a soft heart, don’t take it personally. He told me that making you the oven-watcher would hold you back, and that you’re better suited for sales. You’ll learn a lot from it.”

Liu Dapeng hadn’t expected Mu Chenze to help him in his own way. That guy was always so sharp-tongued, always making him feel small. “I won’t hold a grudge against him. In fact, I should thank him.”

“One more thing, getting a temp job isn’t as easy as it sounds. When you get to the factory in town, look for Liu Ning. Mention my name, she’ll help you out. I’ve got work to do at home, I’m off!”

In her past life, Chu Xuan had dealt with Liu Ning many times and knew her well. For Uncle Long’s sake, Liu Ning would definitely give her this favor.

She didn’t give Liu Dapeng a chance to say thanks.

After watching Chu Xuan leave, Liu Dapeng couldn’t help but wipe away a tear. Chu Xuan had helped him so much, and he had no way to repay her.

Just then, his mother hobbled to the door with her cane. “Dapeng, there are many ways to repay kindness. Right now, you’re still weak, so all you can do is help her out when you can. When you’re stronger, you’ll have more ways to repay her. Go to town and find work! Don’t worry about me. If you really get a sales job, I’ll go stay with your uncle for a while.”

“But you never liked troubling Uncle’s family before.”

“That was before. I’ve changed my mind now. Go on to town.”

“Okay.”

A little after three in the afternoon, Miao Dacui, who’d just woken up from a nap, came to Chu Xuan’s house.

“On my way here, I saw the security team taking away two men from the Qiu family. Looks like they were involved in a robbery with Qiu Xiang, and he ratted them out.”

Everyone chimed in, “Serves them right!”

“Bad family, all of them!”

“Our village was unlucky to have the Qiu family! Now that they’re gone, things can finally quiet down.”

…

With the Qiu family dealt with, Chu Xuan started thinking about how to find out who was really behind the attempts to harm her, and how to get evidence.

She still suspected Feng Chunhua.

Tomorrow she’d go to town to see Uncle Long and push him again about the keys.

Just then, Accountant Wen rushed in. “Chu Xuan, you’ve got a phone call coming in fifteen minutes. The caller didn’t leave a name.”

“I’ll go right away! Thank you!”

“No problem. Where’s Xiao Feng? Let him come to the office with me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Feng ran over. “Master, I’m here.”

Accountant Wen waved, and Chu Feng followed him immediately. No need to ask—Chu Feng knew his master wanted to help him get better at using the abacus.

Chu Xuan gave a few instructions to the others before heading out.

She was pretty sure the call was from Uncle Wu.

At the village office, she waited a while, then the phone rang.

She picked up.

“Hello, I’m looking for Chu Xuan.”

Sure enough, it was Wu Bingcheng.

“Uncle Wu, it’s me. How’s my mom doing?”

“She’s recovering well. She can see now, and can say a few words, though not much. She can even get out of bed and walk a bit. Do you want to talk to her?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll put her on.”

After a moment, a woman’s voice came through the phone. “Xiao Xuan, it’s me. I miss you and Xiao Feng so much.”

Even though her voice was hoarse, Chu Xuan could still tell it was her mother.

“Mom, Xiao Feng and I miss you too! We’re both doing well, don’t worry. It was our fault for misunderstanding you before.”

Tian Xiaoyun’s voice grew raspier. “It’s not your fault. You two didn’t know, and I knew Feng Chunhua wouldn’t tell you…”

Her voice faded, and then Wu Bingcheng came back on. “Xiao Xuan, your mother can only say so much for now. Any more and she won’t be able to speak at all.”

Since there was no one else in the office, Chu Xuan quickly got to the point. “Uncle Wu, I’ve saved up ten thousand yuan. Give me your account number, I’ll transfer it over.”"