Chapter 143: Someone Set a Fire

After riding her bike to deliver Ningquan home, Chu Xuan, right in front of his older brother, took out 10 yuan and handed it to Dan Ningquan.

Dan Ningquan thanked her and immediately passed the money to his brother.

Dan Anquan patted his younger brother lightly on the shoulder. “As long as you’re back safe, that’s all that matters.”

Then he turned to Chu Xuan. “You went out of your way to bring my brother home—are you worried he might go back and steal those valuables?”

Actually, Chu Xuan didn’t have to bring Dan Ningquan home at all.

Dan Ningquan waved his hands frantically. “Bro, don’t say that. Those things are of dubious origin. I wouldn’t dare steal them—I don’t want to get into trouble.”

Chu Xuan smiled at Dan Anquan. “I trust Dan Ningquan! I came back because I wanted to discuss a business opportunity with you. Are you interested in selling grilled fish jerky? My family makes it.”

Mu Chenze had told her that Dan Anquan was an honest man, and Chu Xuan was more than happy to work with someone like that.

Normally, Dan Anquan would travel out of town to buy rare goods and resell them for a profit.

If he took the grilled fish jerky to sell in other cities, he could make a tidy sum too.

“The grilled fish jerky that Mu Chenze brings into the city—is that from your family?”

“That’s right.”

“He gave me over a jin last time—it was delicious. Both Xiao Ning and I love it. How much are you planning to sell it to me for, per jin?”

“The lowest price is 1.6 yuan per jin. Once you’re outside the city, you can sell it for 3 or even 4 yuan a jin—people will buy it. Of course, that doesn’t apply to coastal cities.”

“In three days, I’ll be hiring a truck to go out of town to look for rare goods. How about I take a thousand jin to try it out?”

“No problem, but I don’t do credit.”

“Alright. I’ll prepare 1,600 yuan. Give me your address? Write it in my notebook.”

Dan Anquan casually pulled a palm-sized notebook and a ballpoint pen from his pocket—he always carried them.

Chu Xuan took them and quickly wrote down her address.

Before leaving, she couldn’t help but ask, “I’m curious—when did Mu Chenze ask you to buy the bicycle? And when did you tell him it had arrived?”

Dan Anquan replied straightforwardly, “He asked me half a month ago. I told him it was here just yesterday.”

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but marvel at how considerate Mu Chenze was—he treated her even better in this life than in the last.

She chatted with Dan Anquan a bit longer before riding off.

She planned to stop by the hospital to see Mu Chenze, bring the sweater she was a fifth of the way through knitting, and then head home.

As she entered the hospital room, just as she picked up the bag with her yarn and was about to share her day’s news, Mu Qinlao and Mu Chenfu pushed the door open and came in.

After exchanging greetings and chatting for a bit, Chu Xuan found out that the village tractor was waiting outside.

With the tractor there, she didn’t need to pedal her bike home, so she left the bike keys with the Mu family—she didn’t even need to ask to know they’d make good use of it.

The Mu family gladly accepted.

Today, the tractor driver was Xun Ren.

On the way back, he couldn’t help but ask Chu Xuan, who was sitting in the trailer, “You just bought that bike, and you’re willing to leave it for the Mu family to use? If it were me, I’d never give it up.”

Chu Xuan smiled calmly. “Because the Mu family treats me well. I’m willing to share with anyone who’s good to me.”

Xun Ren curled his lip. “You and Mu Chenze’s engagement didn’t work out, yet his family has no hard feelings toward you? Maybe it’s because his mother and sister-in-law work for you and have made a lot of money from your family.”

“No, it’s because his family is broad-minded.”

Just then, Chu Xuan suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was Wei Qiang, running toward the department store.

“Xun Ren, stop the tractor!”

Xun Ren hit the brakes.

Chu Xuan called out, “Comrade Wei, it’s so late—where are you headed? Need a lift on the tractor?”

Wei Qiang’s face was serious. “Actually, yes. Could you take me near the department store?”

He jumped into the trailer as he spoke.

Xun Ren recognized Wei Qiang and guessed something urgent was up, so he quickly drove toward the department store.

Wei Qiang leaned over and spoke quietly to Chu Xuan, “There’s been a theft at a courtyard near the department store. I just heard that the victim is Feng Chunhua. She’s on her way here now.”

Chu Xuan feigned shock. “Feng Chunhua has a courtyard in the county town? She’s that rich?”

“She really is. She owns two courtyards in the county.”

“You should really look into where her money comes from.”

In her previous life, Feng Chunhua could use Chu Xuan’s support for the Chu family as a cover, but in this life, she didn’t have that excuse.

Wei Qiang chuckled. “You’re right.”

Soon, they arrived at Feng Chunhua’s courtyard near the department store.

Wei Qiang jumped down from the trailer.

Both the courtyard gate and the bedroom door locks had been pried open, and the house had been set on fire. Fortunately, the fire was put out in time and didn’t spread to the neighbors, but there were still a few small fires and smoldering spots inside.

Xun Ren said to Chu Xuan, “Let’s stay and watch for a bit?”

Just what she wanted.

But Chu Xuan pretended to agree reluctantly. “Alright. It’s already ten thirty—let’s watch for a bit and then go.”

“Okay, we’ll leave soon.”

Xun Ren parked the tractor out of the way.

They could see the damage from there.

The windows had shattered, the doors were warped from the heat, and the walls were blackened.

None of the furniture inside had been spared—some were still burning.

Chu Xuan stood in the trailer, not getting down.

As long as the fire didn’t threaten anyone else, she saw no need to help put it out.

Wei Qiang had already joined the firefighting efforts.

Xun Ren also ran into the courtyard.

Whether he was helping or looking for loot, Chu Xuan couldn’t say.

Chu Xuan was puzzled. She and Dan Ningquan had only just left, and someone had already come to steal and set a fire.

Could it be that when Dan Ningquan showed her the gold necklace and jade pendant, someone saw them?

Impossible!

She had checked the surroundings at the time—there was no one, and they were well hidden in a corner.

How strange.

Could Dan Ningquan have come back to do it?

Did he give in to the temptation of those valuables?

Ten minutes later, Xun Ren came back, hands in his pockets.

Chu Xuan noticed his bulging pockets but said nothing.

Who knew what he’d swiped.

He couldn’t help himself—when no one was looking, he pulled out two handfuls of candy and showed them to Chu Xuan. “I snuck these out of the candy jar—they didn’t get burned. Want half?”

Chu Xuan refused flatly. “I think her stuff is dirty. You keep it.”

“Hey, free candy is free candy. Oh, and look what else I found.” Xun Ren held up a metal kerosene lighter. “Can you believe this thing didn’t explode? Pretty good quality. Feng Chunhua’s family uses fancy stuff! Well, it’s mine now. Don’t tell anyone.”

“Don’t worry, I couldn’t care less.”

After watching the commotion for a while, just as they were about to leave, Chu Zhi arrived with Feng Chunhua on the back of his bike.

Feng Chunhua was too focused on her house to notice Chu Xuan and Xun Ren.

“Who the hell set fire to my house?!”

She rushed into the bedroom.

Seeing the empty bed frame, Feng Chunhua finally lost it and screamed, “My family’s heirloom gold necklace and jade pendant have been stolen…”

Chu Xuan and Xun Ren didn’t stick around to hear the rest.

After all, Xun Ren had swiped something and was feeling guilty, so he drove Chu Xuan away on the tractor.

It was nearly midnight by the time Chu Xuan got home.

Chu Feng was still up, looking worried. “Sis, why are you back so late? Didn’t you say on the phone that Brother Chenze was fine?”

Chu Xuan brushed him off. “I’ll tell you later. Don’t bother me for now—I have something important to do.”

She went to her room, found paper and pen, and, relying on her memories from her previous life, began to sketch a man…"