Chapter 130: Understanding?

2023-10-06 Author: Zi Tao

Mu Chenze glanced toward Chu Feng’s bedroom. “From now on, I’ll be the one to teach Xiao Feng a few things.”

Chu Xuan was puzzled. “What are you planning to teach him? Life lessons or self-defense?”

Everyone in the village knew Mu Chenze was skilled in self-defense.

Mu Chenze replied modestly, “I can’t teach him life lessons—he’ll have to figure those out on his own. I plan to teach him self-defense and how to avoid being scammed.”

At the mention of “scam prevention,” Chu Xuan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “You’re only in your twenties—what do you know about teaching scam prevention?”

“My classmates have told me plenty of stories. Otherwise, how would I have dared to go to the city and do business on my own? The only time I almost got scammed was when you were with me. What, you don’t believe in my abilities?”

“I believe you! I agree! You can teach him whenever you want. Especially make sure to tell him, over and over, about all those cases involving eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and smoking.”

This lifetime, she absolutely wouldn’t let her little brother pick up any bad habits.

Mu Chenze readily agreed. “No problem!”

First, he’d help Chu Feng develop the ability to protect himself, then teach him other things.

He pulled the cart and left.

The next day, Chu Xuan couldn’t go to the shore to gather seafood.

Because the county public security team called, asking her to come in.

She gave her little brother a few instructions before heading out.

First, she rode Uncle Qi’s horse cart to town, then took the bus to the county seat.

By the time she arrived at the county public security office, it was already 9 a.m.

Lin Yong and his family had gotten there before her.

The Zhang family was willing to compensate Chu Xuan and Lin Yong for emotional distress and lost wages.

Lin Yong was seriously injured and temporarily unable to drive his truck to earn money, so the Zhangs were willing to pay him 500 yuan.

Chu Xuan wasn’t injured, but was frightened, so the Zhangs offered her 100 yuan.

If they agreed, they just needed to sign the letter of understanding.

In truth, Chu Xuan didn’t really want to sign—she didn’t care about that 100 yuan. But the Zhang family had pulled some strings to help coordinate things; Wei Qiang had quietly tipped her off about this.

In the end, Chu Xuan and Lin Yong both signed the letter of understanding.

A big problem was reduced to a small one, and a small one was settled.

Zhang Qiu’s group wasn’t officially charged with robbery. As for the details, Chu Xuan didn’t know.

After greeting the Lin family and Wei Qiang, she left the security office.

She bought some nutritional supplements and went to visit Zhang Feifei.

Chu Xuan didn’t know the exact address, but she just asked around near the dormitory buildings, and a kind auntie led her right to the door.

After seeing Zhang Feifei, she left the gifts, exchanged a few pleasantries, arranged to start delivering fifty jin of grilled fish slices by bus starting the next day, and said goodbye.

While waiting for the bus, she happened to run into Wei Qiang.

Chu Xuan greeted him. “What a coincidence! Are you heading back to town too?”

Wei Qiang answered straightforwardly, “Yes. I’m off duty today, so I’m going back to see my mom.”

“So your mom lives in town. If you’re off duty, how come you’re still handling Zhang Qiu’s case?”

“My boss assigned it. It’s no big deal for me to leave a bit later.”

Chu Xuan blurted out, “You saved me before, and I never properly thanked you. Since you’re off today, why don’t you come to my house for lunch?”

She didn’t think much of it.

But Wei Qiang was more cautious. He was single, and so was Chu Xuan. If he just went to her house, people would gossip. “Don’t casually invite men to your house for meals in the future.”

Chu Xuan realized he meant well and accepted his advice. “You’re right. That was thoughtless of me. How about I treat you to lunch at the town guesthouse instead?”

“No need. Saving you was my duty. Actually, I just remembered something else I need to handle, so I’ll skip the bus for now. See you.”

Wei Qiang hurried off.

Chu Xuan suddenly realized her enthusiastic invitation had been misunderstood by Wei Qiang. What a mess.

She’d scared him so much he didn’t even dare wait for the bus with her.

Still, she really did want to thank Wei Qiang. Now that she knew his mother lived in town…

She could ask Uncle Long for the exact address, buy some gifts, and visit Wei Qiang’s mother as a thank you.

Uncle Long knew almost everyone in town.

Half an hour later, Chu Xuan walked into Uncle Long’s shop.

She asked about Wei Qiang’s mother’s address.

Uncle Long handed her two identical one-inch photos of Tian Xiaoyun.

In the photos, Tian Xiaoyun looked to be in her thirties, with shoulder-length hair and a beaming smile.

Chu Xuan felt a pang in her heart. She hadn’t seen her own mother or even a photo of her in years.

She thanked Uncle Long, carefully wrapped the photos in paper, put them in her pants pocket, chatted a bit more, and left.

She went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some gifts:

Two bottles of malted milk, two packs of peach crisps, two cans of fruit preserves, and two jin of pork belly, then headed to Wei Qiang’s mother’s house.

Today was just to get acquainted. In the future, if she got any good seafood, she’d bring some over, and give some to Uncle Long and Aunt Liu as well.

Anyone who had helped her, she would treasure.

Wei Qiang’s mother lived near Feng Chunhua’s courtyard, so Chu Xuan found it quickly.

The gate was ajar.

She knocked three times.

“Auntie Li, are you home?”

Wei Qiang’s mother’s surname was Li. She was in her forties, so it was just right for Chu Xuan to call her “Auntie.”

Auntie Li quickly came to the door and opened it. “You are…?”

“Auntie Li, my name is Chu Xuan, from Beiyu Village. Wei Qiang saved my life, so I came today to introduce myself.”

Auntie Li had heard her son mention the name Chu Xuan before—a chubby girl, that’s right.

Auntie Li opened the gate wider and warmly invited her in. “Come sit in the main room. I’ll make you some honey water.”

Chu Xuan followed her inside. “Please don’t trouble yourself. I just wanted to say a few words and then I’ll go.”

She set the gifts on the table in the main room.

In her previous life, she’d met Auntie Li. Back then, Auntie Li had quietly warned her not to trust Feng Chunhua too much, but Chu Xuan had thought she was meddling.

Auntie Li was a good person, and this time, Chu Xuan wanted to get along well with her.

Auntie Li took Chu Xuan’s hand kindly. “That won’t do. You brought gifts, so you have to stay for lunch, or I won’t let you leave. We’re having chive and pork dumplings for lunch! I’ve already washed and chopped the chives, and the dough is ready—enough for five or six people.”

“Then I’ll shamelessly accept. But why are you making so many dumplings?”

She decided to stay and bond with Auntie Li.

Auntie Li smiled. “My son is coming home today. We’ll have lunch together, and he can take the leftovers back to the county to share with his colleagues.”

She quickly made a cup of honey water.

Chu Xuan took it and sipped slowly.

After chatting for a while and finishing the honey water, Chu Xuan went to wash her hands and helped Auntie Li make dumplings.

They’d just made over sixty dumplings when Wei Qiang came in carrying a bag of fruit. “Mom, I’m back.”

Auntie Li called out, “Great. We have a guest—come greet her in the kitchen.”

Wei Qiang walked into the kitchen and was surprised to see Chu Xuan. “Why are you here?”

She couldn’t invite him for lunch, so she just came straight to his house?

Was she really trying to thank him, or was she planning to repay his kindness with herself?

Chu Xuan responded cheerfully, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I just came to see Auntie Li, and we hit it off right away.”

Auntie Li explained, “I’m the one who asked Xiao Xuan to stay for lunch. Qiangzi, go pick some cucumbers and tomatoes from the backyard. Wash them, make a cucumber salad, and cook some tomato and egg stir-fry.”

Wei Qiang was always a filial son, so he did as he was told.

After this meal, Auntie Li liked Chu Xuan even more.

When Chu Xuan was leaving, Auntie Li insisted on giving her a jar of honey.

Unable to refuse, Chu Xuan accepted it.

As she left, she was spotted by Chu Zhi passing by.

Chu Zhi thought, Wei Qiang is single and has a good job. Could it be that Chu Xuan is interested in him?

He followed Chu Xuan for a dozen meters, then called out when they were alone, “Chu Xuan, stop right there!”

Chu Xuan recognized his voice and turned around. “You’d better have a good reason for making me stop, or my fists won’t let you off easy.”

Chu Zhi was startled and took two steps back. After steadying himself, he said, “Of course I have a good reason! I want to trade a secret with you!”"