Chapter 134: The Biggest Creditor

Chu Xuan wasn’t the least bit angry. “Got it. This was my fault. I’ll treat you to lunch today to make it up to you, okay?”

She owed this guy too much already—she had no confidence to risk making him mad.

Mu Chenze had no idea what Chu Xuan was thinking, nor did he know that he was her biggest creditor. The corners of his mouth lifted. “Now that’s more like it. I want handmade noodles. Go make your call first!”

“Handmade noodles? No problem. But before I make the call, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“Hurry up and say it.”

“I went to the shore today and caught two sea ducks, picked up some clams and noodlefish, and sold them for thirty yuan. I’ll give you your share of the profits first…”

“That’s it? For that little money? No rush. We’ll talk when we get back to the village!”

“All right. You head back first, I’ll go make the call.”

“Okay.”

Mu Chenze didn’t follow her, so Chu Xuan wouldn’t feel pressured.

Chu Xuan had no idea that Mu Chenze already had everything planned out in his mind.

A little after eleven, Chu Xuan got home and started preparing lunch.

Everyone had finished work early that morning, so there was no overtime at noon and everyone had gone home.

Chu Xuan only needed to cook for herself, her little brother, and Mu Chenze.

She planned to make tomato and egg handmade noodles, a simple stir-fried lotus root, and cucumber and black fungus stir-fried with pork.

Before long, Chu Feng came home from school.

When he heard that Mu Chenze would be joining them for lunch, he was overjoyed.

He washed his hands and went to help in the kitchen.

A little after twelve, they set up a table in the courtyard, brought out the dishes, and the handmade noodles were ready.

Mu Chenze came in carrying half a roast chicken and handed it to Chu Feng, telling him to find a plate and put it on the table.

Chu Xuan smiled helplessly. “And you call this me treating you to lunch?”

He brought his own dish to the meal.

Mu Chenze was in a good mood. “You’re treating me to lunch, I’m treating Xiao Feng to roast chicken, and you get to benefit too. Nothing contradictory about that.”

Chu Feng loved roast chicken and happily thanked him.

When they sat down to eat, Chu Feng broke off a drumstick and tried to give it to Mu Chenze. “Brother Chenze, have a drumstick.”

Mu Chenze promptly put it in Chu Xuan’s bowl. “I like wings. The drumstick is for your sister.”

Chu Xuan smiled and put the drumstick back in Chu Feng’s bowl. “My little brother loves drumsticks the most.”

Chu Feng looked at Mu Chenze, then at his sister. Why did it feel like a family passing food around?

How great would it be if Brother Chenze could become his brother-in-law?

But he didn’t dare say that out loud.

“Thank you, Sis, and Brother Chenze.”

He buried his head and started eating the drumstick.

He planned to finish quickly and give the two of them some alone time.

Chu Xuan and Mu Chenze started eating their handmade noodles almost at the same time.

Chu Feng thought to himself, These two really are in sync.

Just as they were about to finish, there was a knock at the door.

The courtyard gate was open. Chu Xuan looked up and saw Liu Dapeng standing at the entrance.

He was wearing a new white long-sleeved shirt, black pants, and black leather shoes.

He had a new haircut and looked a bit more handsome than before.

He was carrying a cloth bag.

Liu Dapeng naturally saw Mu Chenze and the Chu siblings eating lunch together, looking just like a harmonious family.

His heart twinged with pain and a bit of sour bitterness, but he kept his face calm.

He quickly adjusted his mood, telling himself that as long as Mu Chenze and Chu Xuan weren’t officially together, he still had a chance.

Chu Xuan stood up with a smile. “Liu Dapeng, come in! Sit down and have some lunch. There’s still handmade noodles in the pot, I’ll get you a bowl.”

Seeing Mu Chenze’s face darken, Chu Feng quickly said, “I’ll get it. Sis, you sit and chat with Brother Chenze and Brother Dapeng!”

He might be young, but he could tell Brother Chenze didn’t want his sister personally serving Liu Dapeng noodles.

He was the best choice to do it.

Liu Dapeng had originally felt awkward about eating here, but when he realized it might make Mu Chenze uncomfortable, he immediately smiled and said, “I haven’t had lunch yet, so I’ll shamelessly accept. Chu Xuan, I brought you and Xiao Feng some specialties from Dong Province.”

He handed over the cloth bag.

Chu Xuan took it. “Thank you!”

She opened it for a look—there were some dried goods, like dried shiitake mushrooms and dried green beans.

She put them on the table.

Mu Chenze knew just how to get under Liu Dapeng’s skin. “Chu Xuan, my mom loves dried mushrooms and beans. Can I have half? I’ll pay you.”

Since Chu Xuan had lived a second life, she knew Aunt Qin loved these things. If Liu Dapeng weren’t here, she’d let Mu Chenze take them all. But with Liu Dapeng present, she had to ask.

“Liu Dapeng, is it okay if I give some of these to Aunt Qin as a gift?”

Liu Dapeng chuckled. “If it’s for Aunt Qin, of course I don’t mind. But I’ve already brought some to her, and to the village chief’s house, Aunt Hua’s, and Zhaodi’s too.”

Now Mu Chenze had no reason to ask Chu Xuan for the dried goods.

“Then there’s no need to ask Chu Xuan. Liu Dapeng, you really are thoughtful. Seems your trip wasn’t for nothing.”

Liu Dapeng’s expression was a little strained. “This trip was eye-opening. I drank a glass of water a stranger poured for me, slept the whole way, and when I woke up at my destination, all my pants pockets had been cut open. I lost all the money I brought. You must be wondering how I managed to buy these specialties, right?”

Chu Xuan and Mu Chenze both nodded, curious.

Chu Feng brought over a bowl of tomato and egg handmade noodles and a pair of chopsticks, handing them to Liu Dapeng. “I’m curious too, Brother Dapeng. Tell us!”

“Thanks for the noodles, Xiao Feng!” Liu Dapeng took the bowl, looking grateful. “I earned it selling clothes for a boss in Dong Province. This shirt and pants were gifts from him. I even promoted our local grilled fish snacks to him. He said he might come check them out, and if he likes them, he’ll place a big order to sell in Dong Province.”

Mu Chenze looked skeptical. “That boss just let you sell clothes for him out of the blue?”

Liu Dapeng ate a few bites of noodles. “Of course not. It’s because I warned him someone was trying to steal his wallet. These handmade noodles are delicious! Chu Xuan made them, right?”

He’d had Chu Xuan’s handmade noodles once before when working overtime here, and he remembered the taste.

Chu Xuan nodded in response.

Mu Chenze deliberately tried to provoke Liu Dapeng. “Chu Xuan made these noodles especially for me. She made me angry, so she’s making it up to me with noodles. You’re only getting some because of me.”

Liu Dapeng smiled happily. “No matter whose favor I’m enjoying, as long as I get to eat Chu Xuan’s noodles, I’m happy.”

He slurped up the noodles and quickly finished the bowl, letting out a satisfied burp.

Since he couldn’t get a rise out of Liu Dapeng, Mu Chenze turned to Chu Xuan. “I’m still not full. Can you get me another bowl?”

“No problem. There’s plenty left in the pot. Eat as much as you want.”

Chu Xuan got up and went to the kitchen.

She personally brought him another bowl of noodles.

Mu Chenze took it and sighed, “Chu Xuan really gets me! I can smell it—you put vinegar in just for me. I love vinegar.”

He started eating heartily.

Chu Xuan shot Mu Chenze a helpless look. She hadn’t put in any vinegar at all—he was just saying that on purpose. “What nonsense are you talking about? Just eat your noodles!”

To Liu Dapeng, it looked like the two were flirting. He couldn’t take it anymore. “I have something to do, I’ll be going!”

He left in a hurry before Chu Xuan or the others could respond.

Having successfully driven Liu Dapeng away, Mu Chenze was in an even better mood and ate three bowls in a row.

Chu Feng tactfully went to his room to rest.

With just the two of them left in the courtyard, Chu Xuan said in a low voice, “Mu Chenze, are you that bored? Why did you have to provoke Liu Dapeng? And what’s with all that ‘loving vinegar’ talk? Don’t say things like that anymore.”

Mu Chenze muttered, “That guy just needs to be put in his place. A toad lusting after a swan!”

Chu Xuan held her forehead. “What toad, what swan? What are you even talking about? Are you saying I’m the swan in your eyes?”"