Chapter 125: Lending a Hand

October 2, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Chu Xuan had just hidden away her bankbook when a knock sounded at the door.

“Jie, I need to talk to you about something.”

It was her little brother’s voice.

Chu Xuan opened the door. Chu Feng darted into the room, clutching an account ledger and a ballpoint pen.

He smiled, “Jie, today a few aunties from the Tian and Qin families came to buy roasted fish fillets wholesale. Sixty jin in total, and they paid on the spot. Take a look at the ledger.”

Chu Xuan knew he was talking about Tian Dacui and Qin Mahua’s sisters-in-law. She took the ledger, glanced at it, and pulled 230 yuan from her pocket. “This is the money your brother Chenze made selling fish fillets today, after deducting his share. From now on, as long as he helps sell, he gets his share the same day. That way, there’s no chance of him undercounting.”

“Okay.” Chu Feng carefully recorded it in the ledger.

After he finished, he spoke up again. “Jie, actually, there’s something else I wanted to ask.”

“What is it? Go ahead.”

“Could you help ask the school about Zhao Di? I can tell she wants to go to school too. Of course, if it’s hard for you to ask, don’t force yourself.”

Chu Xuan patted her brother’s shoulder. “No problem. I’ll ask her opinion first, then talk to the school. Go on, get back to work.”

Chu Feng lingered, looking like he wanted to say more.

Chu Xuan asked softly, “Is there something else?”

“Jie, you seem to have forgotten something?”

“What is it? I’ve been so busy lately, give me a hint.”

“You said that once I caught up on all my classes, you’d take me to the shore to collect seafood.”

“I’ll take you tomorrow morning.”

“Great!”

Only then did Chu Feng leave, full of excitement.

After Liu Zhaodi finished her chores, Chu Xuan called her into the bedroom to talk.

“Zhaodi, do you want to go to school? If you do, I can ask the school for you.”

Liu Zhaodi waved her hands quickly. “I don’t want to go. I was asking Xiao Feng about school because I want Erleng and Sanleng to go. I’ll work to support the family and pay off debts. Once my brothers are in school, they can teach me when they come home.”

In her past life, Liu Zhaodi had supported her two younger brothers through school, but never went herself.

Chu Xuan smiled. “I’ll go ask Principal Gao in a bit.”

“Should I bring a gift?”

“No need. Principal Gao never accepts gifts from students’ families. What grade do you want Erleng and Sanleng to start in?”

“Let them both start from first grade.”

“Alright.”

After settling everyone’s wages for the day, Chu Xuan headed out.

She hadn’t reached Principal Gao’s house in the neighboring village when she ran into Min San, the fish vendor.

Chu Xuan had no intention of talking to him, but he deliberately picked a fight. “Well, if it isn’t Chu the Big Boss from South Fishing Village! What are you doing in our North Fishing Village? You’re not welcome here!”

People along the road turned to look. Chu Xuan didn’t want any misunderstandings between the villages, so she made sure everyone knew why Min San was targeting her. “You don’t speak for North Fishing Village, and I don’t speak for South Fishing Village. Isn’t this just because I didn’t buy your batch of low-quality fish? Is that any reason for your snide remarks?”

At the mention of this, Min San’s heart ached for the dozens of yuan he’d lost. “My fish were top quality! You just wanted to squeeze out our village’s goods, that’s why you wouldn’t buy.”

That was a serious accusation.

“Oh? Isn’t Liu Dalin from your village? I’ve ordered tens of thousands of jin of fish from him. Is that what you call squeezing out your village?”

Liu Dalin was Li Tong’s friend, the one who’d supplied Chu Xuan with skinless fish. Recently, as her family’s fish fillet business slowed, she hadn’t ordered more, but they’d signed a contract—when she needed large quantities again, she’d buy from Liu Dalin, and he couldn’t raise prices at will.

Liu Dalin was indeed from their village. Min San had nothing to say to that.

An old man among the onlookers spoke up for Chu Xuan, and Min San left, disgruntled.

Chu Xuan soon learned that the old man was Liu Dalin’s father.

After a few pleasantries, she continued on to Principal Gao’s house.

Once there, she explained her request. Principal Gao agreed without hesitation.

First grade wasn’t full this year, so taking two more students was no problem.

Chu Xuan thanked him and left without lingering.

Back in the village, she went to Liu Zhaodi’s house to share the good news.

Liu Zhaodi was overjoyed. After thanking Chu Xuan, she took some money to the village office to make a phone call.

She wanted to call the hospital nurse’s station to have Erleng and Sanleng come home in a few days to start school.

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but admire Liu Zhaodi. She was only twelve, but already understood how education could change a person’s fate.

No matter how poor her family was, she insisted on sending her brothers to school.

If she herself had had Liu Zhaodi’s foresight in her past life, she wouldn’t have ended up so badly, dragging down the Mu family as well.

At that moment, Chu Xuan felt the urge to pick up her books again.

She remembered most of the elementary school material, but had forgotten nearly all of the junior high content.

Back home, she asked her little brother to help borrow some junior high textbooks.

Chu Feng immediately thought of Mu Chenzhe.

Mu Chenzhe was a high schooler—he’d definitely have junior high textbooks at home.

Half an hour later, Chu Feng returned with a cloth bag full of books and handed them to Chu Xuan.

She took them to her bedroom and pulled out a first-year Chinese textbook.

Mu Chenzhe’s name was written on the cover in neat, elegant handwriting.

She hadn’t expected his writing to be so beautiful even back in junior high.

After starting high school, he’d thrown himself into fishing and business. He missed university entrance by a single point in the college entrance exam.

He didn’t retake the exam, and his family respected his choice.

Mu Chenzhe really did have a knack for business—he’d done extremely well in her previous life, and he was doing great in this one too.

Chu Xuan pulled herself from her thoughts and continued reading.

After eight in the evening, Mu Chenzhe, having caught up on sleep, knocked on Ji Ping’s courtyard door.

“Pingzi, sneak my bankbook out for me. I need it. Don’t let Sheng Damei see.”

Sheng Damei was living here now, and Mu Chenzhe didn’t want to go inside.

“Wait here.”

Ji Ping knew his temperament and let him wait outside.

Soon, he brought out the bankbook and handed it over.

“Do you still need my money?”

Mu Chenzhe waved him off. “Not for now. If you need it, use it. I’m off.”

“Wait.” Ji Ping lowered his voice. “Who are you lending your private stash to?”

“Not telling you!”

Mu Chenzhe stuffed the bankbook in his pocket and hurried off.

Ji Ping closed the door, turned around, and jumped—Sheng Damei was right behind him.

“Sheng Damei! You nearly scared me to death, sneaking around at night!”

He gave her a gentle kick on the leg.

Sheng Damei sat down dramatically. “I just heard something and came to check! You kicked me! I can’t stand up… I can’t walk…”

Ji Ping felt a headache coming on. “Why did I ever take pity and let you stay here?”

“Ge, you have a bankbook? How much is in it? Let’s buy a house in the county town. I don’t want to live in the village anymore—people gossip too much.”

“My work is fishing at sea. Living here is most convenient. I’m not buying a house in town. If you want one, earn and save up yourself!”

Sheng Damei had been waiting for this. “Fine! Then help me ask—I want to work with Chu Xuan!”

“You two don’t get along. Why do you want to work with her? Planning to stir up trouble?”

“We didn’t get along before, but now I know she’s the best earner in the village. I’d be lucky to get close to her—I wouldn’t dare cause trouble. For your sake, she’ll probably take me. I swear, I’ll listen to her and to you.”

She sounded so earnest that Ji Ping almost believed her. He pointed to her bedroom. “Go back to your room. I’ll ask for you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Ask her now!”

“It’s dark out—I’m not going!”

“If you don’t, I’ll make a scene! I’ll keep you up all night! I’ll scream, ah… ah…”

Ji Ping hurriedly covered her mouth. “Don’t shout! I’ll go! I must owe you from a past life!”

He left the house, helpless.

But whether he’d actually go or not—well, that was up to him."