Chapter 127: Getting the Key Again

October 4, 2023

By: Zi Tao

After speaking, she put on an air of arrogance.

Chu Xuan was caught off guard by the question.

“Consider what?”

Chu Feng didn’t say anything, but was puzzled in his heart—how could a bad woman like Sheng Damei have the nerve to act so high and mighty?

Sheng Damei looked confused, but still kept up her proud act. “Didn’t my brother mention it to you last night?”

“Mention what?”

“The thing he wanted me to do with you. My brother said you’d think it over.”

Chu Xuan had no desire to get entangled with Sheng Damei, nor did she want to expose Ji Ping. “Oh, that! I’m still considering it. When your brother brings the skinned fish to my house this afternoon, I’ll let him know.”

Sheng Damei instantly deflated like a punctured ball. “You still need to think about it? Fine, I’ll wait for your answer at home.”

Chu Feng made a face at her retreating back. So Sheng Damei’s earlier arrogance was just an act.

After watching Sheng Damei leave, Chu Feng whispered, “Sis, Ji Ping didn’t come to our house last night. Why did you lie to her?”

“You have to be flexible when dealing with people. You can’t always tell the truth—sometimes a white lie is fine. We’ll ask Ji Ping about it this afternoon. I just don’t want to cause trouble for him, understand?”

Chu Feng got it right away. “Got it. By the way, isn’t it strange that Sheng Damei, who loves money and is so greedy, didn’t even look at our two sea ducks?”

Chu Xuan also found it odd. “Maybe she thinks working with me on this is more important than two ducks.”

“Why does she insist on working with you?”

“Why overthink it? Let’s just ask Ji Ping.”

Chu Xuan headed home.

At noon, everyone stayed for lunch. They made stir-fried sea duck and a clear duck soup.

Roast duck was delicious, but Chu Xuan didn’t plan on making it—she didn’t want the oven to pick up other flavors. After October, when they stopped making roasted fish fillets, there would be plenty of time to roast ducks.

Around 2 p.m., Chu Xuan, Qin Mahua, Gao Meijuan, and the others were enjoying the stir-fried duck in the courtyard when Mu Chenze knocked and came in.

He hadn’t had time to nap, and his dark circles were obvious.

Qin Mahua felt sorry for him. “Xiao Ze, you must be exhausted.”

Almost at the same time, Chu Xuan said, “Mu Chenze, sit down and eat!”

Qin Mahua glanced at Chu Xuan and covered her mouth with a laugh. “Xiao Xuan is more thoughtful than me. Xiao Ze, come eat.”

When Chu Xuan had a fever, Qin Mahua was also sick and hadn’t been there, so she didn’t know what Mu Chenze had said or done. Fu Qing hadn’t dared tell her, afraid she’d insist on matchmaking her son and Chu Xuan.

Even though Qin Mahua didn’t know, she still wanted to pair her son with Chu Xuan in a roundabout way.

Hua Daling looked at Chu Xuan, hesitating to speak. She’d been holding in this secret for so long that if she didn’t tell Chu Xuan about what happened during the fever, she’d burst. She didn’t know Chu Xuan already knew.

Seeing Aunt Hua’s constipated expression, Chu Xuan smiled helplessly, guessing she was about to spill the secret. She’d have to let her talk after lunch.

Mu Chenze, looking tired, waved his hand and first addressed Qin Mahua, “Mom, I already had lunch.”

Then he turned to Chu Xuan. “Come outside with me. I have something important to discuss with you alone.”

“Okay.”

Chu Xuan followed Mu Chenze out the courtyard and under a tree.

Mu Chenze spoke quietly, “Uncle Long wants you to go see him this afternoon.”

After that, he yawned, said he was really tired, waved, and left.

Chu Xuan hadn’t expected Uncle Long to send a message through Mu Chenze. She guessed Mu Chenze must have said something when delivering the men’s shirts that earned Uncle Long’s trust.

When she saw Uncle Long, she’d have to remind him not to let Mu Chenze get involved.

After lunch, Hua Daling took Chu Xuan’s arm and whispered, “I need to talk to you.”

Chu Xuan knew Aunt Hua’s personality—if she didn’t listen now, Aunt Hua would tell someone else.

So she took her into the bedroom and patiently listened to her recount what happened during the fever.

Even though she was mentally prepared, Chu Xuan still blushed after hearing it.

Hua Daling saw her expression and couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Xuan, you like Mu Chenze, don’t you?”

Chu Xuan hurriedly shook her head. “No, definitely not. I just subconsciously feel guilty toward him, since I was the one who broke off the engagement first. That’s why I said I owed him or something.”

“Then why wouldn’t you let go of him?”

“I had a high fever and thought I was hugging an ice pack to cool down. How could I know it was him? Don’t get the wrong idea—I’m really not into pretty boys.”

“How could you not like him? What a pity. Oh, and by the way, Chu Dashan and Liu Dafang are getting closer and closer! Every day, Chu Dashan gives her money—they’re loaded! And here’s some news: Liu Dalin, the guy who brought us skinned fish, is actually Liu Dafang’s real brother.”

Chu Xuan was shocked. How could two siblings from the same parents be so different?

Liu Dalin was upright, hardworking, and diligent, while Liu Dafang was opportunistic and had no moral bottom line.

She’d originally planned to use Liu Dafang, but now she’d have to reconsider.

“Does Liu Dalin know what his sister’s been up to?”

“Definitely not. Otherwise, he’d have beaten her so badly she wouldn’t dare show her face.”

Chu Xuan hadn’t heard of Liu Dalin in her previous life and had never dealt with him. In this life, he seemed decent, and since his father had helped drive away Min San, Chu Xuan wanted to give him a friendly heads-up.

Ten minutes later, Chu Xuan rode Gao Meijuan’s bike to the dock.

She found Li Tong.

“Boss Li, how’s your friend Liu Dalin’s relationship with his sister?”

“They’re pretty close. Why?”

“His sister is having an affair with Chu Dashan. Do you think there’s any hope for her?”

“Whether there’s hope or not, I have to tell Liu Dalin. Thanks for coming all this way.”

“No need to thank me. I’m off!”

Chu Xuan rode into town.

She parked her bike in the backyard of Uncle Long’s shop.

There were customers in the shop, so Chu Xuan waited.

When Uncle Long saw the customers out, Chu Xuan went in.

“Uncle Long, did you get the key situation sorted out?”

“That’s right. Xiao Huan made a new copy and also found out why Feng Chunhua changed the lock. Turns out it was just as you guessed—Chu Zhi didn’t wipe the ink off the key properly, and Feng Chunhua noticed.”

“We’ll have to think of another way to get Feng Chunhua and her son out of the house.”

Chu Xuan had an idea before: get someone to leak word to Feng Chunhua that Liu Dafang was fooling around with Chu Dashan, and Feng Chunhua would definitely rush back with her son.

But now, out of respect for Liu Dalin, she couldn’t use that trick.

Uncle Long smiled. “No need to worry. Tonight, they’re giving us the perfect opportunity—they’re going to the movies, the 4–6 p.m. show.”

Chu Xuan glanced at her watch. It was already 3:50. “No time to lose. I’ll put on a disguise and head over.”

“Xiao Huan will be outside keeping watch for you.”

“Okay.”

Ten minutes later, Chu Xuan, dressed as a man, took the key and left.

Xiao Huan had already gone ahead.

Chu Xuan arrived at Feng Chunhua’s house, put on gloves, and first checked the position and direction of the lock before opening it with the key.

Once inside, she latched the door.

Soon, she used the key to unlock Feng Chunhua’s bedroom.

She took two pieces of cloth from her pocket, wrapped them around her shoes, and stepped inside.

She looked around: a grand jujube-wood bed, matching wardrobe, table, and chairs.

A dragon-and-phoenix jade pendant hung on the mosquito net, leaving Chu Xuan a little puzzled..."