Chapter 144: Did He Strike It Rich?

October 15, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

If it hadn’t been for that jade pendant, she wouldn’t even have remembered this person.

Ten minutes later, the image of a man in his forties with delicate features appeared vividly on paper.

In her previous life, she’d seen this man in mid-March of next year.

Should she wait patiently another half a year, or ask someone to investigate now?

Maybe if she found this man, she could uncover Feng Chunhua’s secret.

Perhaps those gold necklaces and the jade pendant were all gifts from him.

That man had a Beijing accent.

Most likely, he lived in Beijing.

But Beijing was so big, and it was six or seven hundred kilometers from here—finding someone there would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

She sighed helplessly, locked the portrait away in a drawer, put the yarn she’d brought back into the cupboard, and stashed her bankbook in a metal box hidden in the ceiling.

She got up, went to the kitchen to heat up some herbal medicine, drank it, then walked into Xiao Feng’s bedroom.

She put on a relaxed front. “Xiao Feng, I came home late today because I went to see the commotion at Feng Chunhua’s place. She has two houses in the county, and one of them caught fire and was robbed. I heard she lost several gold necklaces and a jade pendant.”

Chu Feng’s face lit up with excitement. “That’s really great news! The worse things get for Feng Chunhua, the happier I am! She’s so rich but always so stingy with us. Now it’s all gone to the thieves.”

“Exactly. I’m in a great mood too! Let’s get to bed early, we have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Jie, tell me more details! I want to hear. How bad was the fire? Where exactly is her house?”

Chu Feng pestered Chu Xuan for more details, and it wasn’t until half past midnight that she finally let Chu Xuan go back to her own room to rest.

Chu Xuan washed up, changed into pajamas, went to the bathroom, and lay down on the kang bed.

She felt a bit down.

Her period had ended in less than two days.

Three to seven days was normal.

She hadn’t even reached the minimum of three days.

In the days that followed, although Mu Chenze couldn’t help her sell goods in the city, she’d already contacted a big client.

In three days, Dan Anquan would come to pick up a thousand jin of grilled fish fillets.

Thinking of Dan Anquan made her think of his younger brother. Was tonight’s theft at Feng Chunhua’s house related to him?

She’d have to go to the county tomorrow anyway—she wouldn’t feel at ease unless she asked in person.

The next morning, Chu Xuan heard Xiao Feng’s voice in her sleep.

“Jie, I’m heading out. There’s breakfast in the kitchen, don’t forget to eat.”

“Okay.”

Chu Xuan mumbled a reply, lay there a bit longer, then got up.

She went to the kitchen to steep her herbal medicine, then opened the gate and saw Grandpa Qi waiting outside with his horse cart.

Only then did she realize it was almost eight o’clock—she’d overslept.

She hurriedly carried fifty jin of grilled fish fillets to load onto Grandpa Qi’s cart.

Not long after Grandpa Qi left, Widow Niu came over to start work.

She noticed there were still quite a few grilled fish fillets in the kitchen.

“Xiao Xuan, are we making more grilled fish fillets today?”

Chu Xuan replied while squeezing toothpaste, “Of course. I just got a big order for 1,000 jin yesterday. The boss will come pick them up the morning after tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Widow Niu was happy for Chu Xuan—and for herself, too.

After a bit of small talk, Widow Niu went to the dock to get more skinned fish and called everyone over to help with the fish.

Chu Xuan finished washing up, opened the kitchen pot, and saw the breakfast Xiao Feng had prepared for her.

After eating, she started boiling her herbal medicine.

She planned to drink it before heading to the county.

Half an hour later, Widow Niu came back with a cart full of skinned fish and unloaded them in the yard.

Gao Meijuan, Miao Dacui, Liu Zhaodi, and Hua Daling all arrived one after another and got to work.

Soon after, Qin Mahua and Fu Qing also showed up.

Gao Meijuan asked about Mu Chenze’s condition, and Qin Mahua answered cheerfully.

Just from Qin Mahua’s upbeat mood, it was clear Mu Chenze was fine.

After asking about Mu Chenze, the conversation turned to Feng Chunhua. None of them had expected Feng Chunhua to have a house in the county, let alone lose so many valuables.

Chu Xuan didn’t even need to ask—she knew the news had come from Xun Ren.

She chimed in with a few details from time to time.

While boiling her medicine, she also made egg pancakes and stir-fried shredded potatoes.

An hour later, she drank a bowl of herbal medicine.

She said goodbye to everyone, packed eight egg pancakes and some potatoes in a lunchbox, and headed out.

Qin Mahua guessed the food was for Xiao Ze, and worked even harder.

While waiting for a cart at the village entrance, Chu Xuan saw Feng Shuai walking over, dressed in trendy clothes and canvas shoes.

He looked like he’d struck it rich.

Feng Shuai greeted her, “Boss Chu, heading somewhere?”

“To the county.” Chu Xuan looked him up and down and couldn’t help asking, “Did you hit the jackpot or something?”

“No way. I just made a bit of money selling grilled fish fillets, so I bought myself some new clothes in the county. Couldn’t bring myself to buy new shoes, though.”

“Are you here to see me today?”

“Yep. Didn’t you say you’d introduce me to a sales job? Can you give me a hint? I’d like to know what to expect.”

“Don’t worry! I already talked to our village chief. There’s a sales position reserved for you—base salary plus commission. How much you earn depends on how hard you work.”

“Thank you!”

Just then, Wang Depin walked over.

Feng Shuai hurried up to him with a big smile, took a lighter and a freshly opened pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and offered Wang Depin a smoke and a light.

Chu Xuan’s gaze landed on the lighter.

It was identical to the one Xun Ren had found last night at the scene of the fire at Feng Chunhua’s house.

She couldn’t help but wonder—was Feng Shuai the one who stole the gold necklaces and jade pendant and set the fire?

She didn’t ask.

Just then, Grandpa Qi arrived with his cart.

Chu Xuan said goodbye to Wang Depin and Feng Shuai, then hired the cart to go to town.

When she got to town, she didn’t rush to catch the bus to the county. Instead, she headed to Uncle Long’s shop.

But to her surprise, the shop was closed and the back gate was locked.

She had no choice but to go wait at the bus stop.

Just then, Xiao Huan happened to walk by.

“Chu Xuan, heading to the county?”

Chu Xuan smiled. “That’s right. Brother Xiao, I was looking for Uncle Long today, but his shop is closed. Do you know where he went?”

“I do.” Xiao Huan glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then lowered his voice. “Last night, one of the guys got his hands on some good stuff and begged Uncle Long to go with him to Haishi today to sell it.”

Chu Xuan whispered, “Wouldn’t happen to be three gold necklaces and a jade pendant, would it?”

Xiao Huan gave her a thumbs up. “You’re amazing! That’s exactly right! How did you know?”

Chu Xuan lowered her voice even more. “Last night, Feng Chunhua’s house in the county was robbed and set on fire. She lost three gold necklaces and a jade pendant. Try to warn Uncle Long to be careful. Avoid Beijing and Haishi if possible, so he doesn’t get into trouble. Is there still time to catch up?”

Xiao Huan clenched his fist. “Even if there isn’t, I have to try. Thanks for the heads up!”

He dashed off.

Chu Xuan didn’t get a chance to ask who had sold the items to his friend. She wanted to chase after him, but Xiao Huan was already gone.

Just then, the bus pulled up.

Chu Xuan had other business in the county, so she didn’t hesitate and got on.

Twenty minutes later, Chu Xuan walked into Mu Chenze’s hospital room with the lunchbox. Seeing Mu Chenfu there, she couldn’t say much, so she just greeted them and left.

Her bicycle had been borrowed by Mu Qinlao.

So she walked to Dan Anquan’s house.

When she got there, she asked quietly, “After I left last night, your brother didn’t go out, did he?”"