Chapter 137: Seeing Shadows in a Cup?

October 10, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Mu Chenze immediately understood what was happening.

Fortunately, he knew how to provide first aid for leg cramps.

“Bring your foot over here.”

There was no time to worry about propriety between men and women now.

“Stretch your leg hard.”

Chu Xuan did as instructed.

At the same time, Mu Chenze grabbed Chu Xuan’s toes with both hands and pushed them forcefully toward her, repeating the motion several times. After a few tries, her foot felt much better.

The two of them held onto the lifeline and slowly swam back to shore.

Once on land, Mu Chenze untied the rope from himself and immediately taught Chu Xuan how to handle foot cramps on her own.

Chu Xuan listened intently, practicing a few times on herself before she started to untie the rope.

She didn’t notice that Mu Chenze was deliberately looking away.

“Chu Xuan, hurry up and change your clothes.”

Her clothes were thin and clinging to her body—nothing was left to the imagination. Even though Mu Chenze quickly averted his gaze, he’d still seen everything.

Realizing this, Chu Xuan hurried to her basket to find clothes, a towel, and shoes.

She quickly wiped her face and body with the towel, threw on her clothes, and finally dried her feet and put on her shoes.

Even though she’d brought a tarp for privacy, she was so flustered that she forgot to use it and just pulled her clothes on directly.

Actually, she didn’t feel like she’d been taken advantage of. On the contrary, she thought her current figure was an eyesore for Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze took dry clothes and shoes from a cloth bag he’d hung on a tree in advance, borrowed Chu Xuan’s tarp for cover, and changed.

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but admire him—Mu Chenze was never one to settle for less.

Unlike her, who could make do even with wet clothes.

She didn’t know that Mu Chenze just wanted to maintain a cool image in front of her.

Their catch from today’s trip wasn’t much, not even worth taking to the dock to sell.

Chu Xuan wanted to split the fish with Mu Chenze, but he waved her off in disdain. “Just a few little mackerel and ribbonfish? I don’t care for them. You take them all.”

Chu Xuan didn’t stand on ceremony.

“You haven’t even had a chance to catch up on sleep. Go home and rest!”

Mu Chenze frowned slightly. “Is this how you thank your master?”

Chu Xuan gave him a sweet, ingratiating smile. “To show my gratitude, I’ll knit you a light sweater myself. What color do you want?”

“I want a sky blue and white striped sweater. I’ll take care of the yarn, you just do the knitting.”

“Okay.”

It would actually be tough for Chu Xuan to find sky blue yarn.

Supplies were scarce in those days—some things couldn’t be bought even if you had money.

They packed up, took their things, and headed back.

Chatting as they walked.

“Chu Xuan, do you want to buy a bicycle?”

“Of course I do. But I don’t have a ration ticket.”

“Two hundred yuan each, no ticket needed. Do you want one? But you can’t ask where it came from.”

Chu Xuan didn’t pry. She just said, “I’ll buy it. When you come to my place tonight to pick up the grilled fish, I’ll give you the money.”

“Alright. I’ll try to have it ready for you to ride back tomorrow.”

“That’s awesome! Thank you!”

Mu Chenze purposely said, “What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”

Chu Xuan raised her voice. “I said thank you! But just saying thanks doesn’t seem sincere enough. How about I knit you a pair of gloves and a scarf too?”

Mu Chenze’s lips curled into a smile. “Now I heard you loud and clear. Great! Let’s do that. No rush, just get them to me before it gets cold.”

“Okay. It’s my first time knitting a sweater and such, so don’t be too picky.”

“I’ll decide whether to be picky or not after I see what you make.”

…

They chatted all the way back.

When they reached the village entrance, they split up without a word, as if by tacit agreement.

Mu Chenze went home, boiled water in the kitchen, locked the courtyard gate since no one else was home, and took a hot shower.

Half an hour later, he lay down to catch up on sleep.

As he closed his eyes, memories of the day replayed in his mind like a movie.

He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

He hadn’t expected teaching Chu Xuan to swim would be so much fun. But next time, he’d better prepare a pair of sunglasses to wear after coming ashore—so he wouldn’t see anything he shouldn’t.

Chu Xuan’s figure really wasn’t much to look at right now, but he hadn’t had the heart to tell her.

Looks like he’d have to keep supervising her exercise and diet.

He gradually drifted off to sleep…

After eight in the evening, Mu Chenze pulled his cart to Chu Xuan’s house.

Chu Xuan had already prepared two hundred yuan and handed it to Mu Chenze.

“Count it.”

Mu Chenze didn’t even bother, just put it straight in his pocket.

Chu Xuan took this as a sign of his deep trust in her.

In reality, Mu Chenze didn’t care how much money she gave him.

If he weren’t worried she’d refuse, he’d have just given her a bike outright.

After loading up the grilled fish, just before leaving, Mu Chenze asked Chu Xuan if she wanted to continue swimming lessons the next day.

Chu Xuan politely declined. “I’m not feeling well this week. I can’t go to the shore or swim.”

Her period had been irregular before, and after drinking Chinese medicine for a while, it had finally come this month. She needed to take care of herself.

Mu Chenze looked concerned. “What’s wrong? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

Chu Xuan blushed. “It’s just that time of the month for girls. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

“Why wouldn’t I? No cold water, no heavy labor…”

Mu Chenze rattled off a whole list of dos and don’ts.

Chu Xuan stared at him in shock. “How do you know all this?”

“Dr. Zhang told me. Don’t get any funny ideas. I just asked offhand, and didn’t expect him to go into so much detail.”

“How much free time do you have, going to ask Dr. Zhang about these things?”

“It’s not that I’m free, I went to have my pulse checked. I’m going to get married someday, so I figured I’d ask in advance for my future wife. Is that so wrong?”

“Of course not. So, what did Dr. Zhang say? Are you healthy?”

“Nothing serious, but he did advise me not to mess up my sleep schedule. Especially between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., I need to get good rest. I’m planning to adjust my trips to the city.”

“I support you! By the way, I never asked—whose truck have you been using lately?”

Lin Yong’s arm hadn’t fully healed, so he couldn’t be helping Mu Chenze with deliveries.

Mu Chenze looked mysterious. “I can tell you, but you have to keep it secret.”

Chu Xuan replied earnestly, “Okay, I promise. Tell me!”

“I rented Brother Lin’s truck and drive it myself.”

“When did you learn to drive?”

“I’ve been secretly learning these past few months. But you have to keep it quiet—if my mom finds out, she’ll force me back onto the fishing boat. Then I won’t be able to do business in the city.”

Qin Mahua was dead set against Mu Chenze driving.

In his previous life, Mu Chenze had bought a truck against his family’s wishes, and later, because of something involving Chu Feng, he got into an accident…

This time, with Chu Xuan’s persuasion, Mu Chenze didn’t buy a truck, just rented one.

Chu Xuan didn’t know whether to object or support him.

If she objected, maybe she was just being paranoid.

If she supported him, and something happened, she’d regret it for life.

“Mu Chenze, have you considered going in with me to buy a boat? You’d be my partner, and I know you’d never cheat me.”

Mu Chenze refused flatly. “I make over a thousand yuan a day now, way more than I’d earn fishing. I’m not buying a boat with you!”

“You’ve just had too many easy days lately. Sure, you’re making good money now, but it’s risky.”

“Fishing is risky too. Don’t bother trying to talk me into it. I’m leaving!”

Mu Chenze pulled his cart and left.

Chu Xuan remembered that in his previous life, Mu Chenze had lost money a few times, and his truck had even been sabotaged more than once. She couldn’t remember exactly when—should she wait until he lost money again to persuade him to buy a boat together?

But she didn’t want him to lose money!"