Chapter 145: One of Our Own

October 15, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Shan Anquan answered with absolute certainty, “He hasn’t gone out. I was worried he wouldn’t be able to resist temptation and might go steal something valuable. I shared a room with him last night. Why are you suddenly asking? Did something happen?”

Chu Xuan smiled, “Looks like you haven’t left the house yet today.”

If he had, he’d definitely have heard about Feng Chunhua’s courtyard being robbed and set on fire.

Shan Anquan pointed toward the kitchen. “I got up early to make pancakes, and I’m still not done. Haven’t had time to go out. But Xiao Ning did leave early this morning and hasn’t come back yet.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Shan Ningquan ran in the door. “Bro, I have something to tell you…”

He greeted Chu Xuan with a smile before continuing, “A courtyard near the department store got robbed—three gold necklaces and a jade pendant stolen, and half the place was burned down.”

Shan Anquan glanced at Chu Xuan, then at his brother, and immediately understood. He lowered his voice, “Don’t tell me it was the house you two visited last night?”

Shan Ningquan nodded.

Chu Xuan looked helpless. “That’s right. Your brother and I had just left last night when someone broke in right after us.”

Shan Anquan shuddered a little. “Good thing you left quickly. If you’d run into them, it would’ve been a huge mess.”

Shan Ningquan looked pained. “So many valuables, just stolen like that. I didn’t take a thing last night.”

Shan Anquan smacked him on the back. “Good! That’s how it should be. Just wait and see—whoever stole those gold necklaces and the jade pendant is bound to get into trouble sooner or later.”

Chu Xuan didn’t stay any longer and took her leave.

She wasn’t worried about the thief getting into trouble, but she was worried about Uncle Long and the others.

There were some things she couldn’t figure out on her own, so she wanted to ask Mu Chenze for his opinion.

She headed back to the hospital ward.

Mu Chenfu wasn’t there, but other patients and their family members were in the room.

That made it even less convenient to talk.

Mu Chenze could tell what Chu Xuan was thinking.

Before she could speak, he got up and pointed outside, suggesting they go for a walk.

The two of them walked to a quiet spot.

Chu Xuan looked at him with concern. “If you feel dizzy, you have to tell me. I’ll carry you back to the ward right away.”

Mu Chenze’s face flushed bright red. He couldn’t even imagine the sight of a big guy like him being carried by Chu Xuan. “I’m not as weak as you think. Go ahead, what’s up?”

Just as Chu Xuan was about to share all her clues, she suddenly remembered the Mu family’s tragic fate in her previous life. She changed her mind and said, “I just wanted to ask what you’d like to eat tomorrow. I’ll make it at home and bring it over.”

If she could avoid dragging Mu Chenze into this, she would.

Mu Chenze looked at her suspiciously. “That’s all? Nothing else?”

“That’s right, nothing else.”

Chu Xuan tried to act casual.

Mu Chenze knew her well—if she didn’t want to talk, no amount of questioning would get it out of her.

“I want to eat your homemade dumplings. Actually, you don’t have to bring them to the hospital. I’ll be discharged tomorrow. How about you make the dumplings, and have Xiao Feng bring them to my house at noon?”

Chu Xuan didn’t think much of it and agreed right away. “No problem.”

When she returned to the ward, Mu Qinlao happened to come back and mentioned what he’d heard outside.

He told Mu Chenze about the burglary at Feng Chunhua’s house.

Chu Xuan didn’t linger. She took the bicycle keys from Mu Qinlao and rode off.

She had no idea that at noon, Mu Chenze would call the village office, ask Accountant Wen to get Chu Feng on the phone, and give him some instructions.

Chu Feng agreed repeatedly.

At 8 p.m., Chu Feng walked into Chu Xuan’s bedroom.

First, he expressed his excitement about buying a bicycle, then his face turned serious. “Sis, I’m a man now, the future pillar of this family. I don’t want you hiding things from me.”

Chu Xuan was surprised. “I’m not hiding anything from you.”

Chu Feng pointed at the locked drawer. “Then what’s with the portrait inside?”

Chu Xuan checked the lock—it was intact. “You don’t have the key for that, do you?”

Chu Feng pulled a key from his pocket. “Your key happened to fall by the door today, and I picked it up. Last night, you ran straight to your room when you got home, and I heard you open and lock the drawer. Today, with the key in hand, I couldn’t resist and opened it to see what was inside.”

He looked determined.

He continued, “Sis, I know you wouldn’t keep a portrait of a strange man in your drawer for no reason. There must be something going on!”

He was clearly not going to let it drop until she explained.

At that moment, Chu Xuan realized her little brother had grown up.

Maybe there were some things she shouldn’t hide from him anymore.

“This man might be the one who gave Feng Chunhua those valuables. If we find him, we might be able to uncover Dad’s origins.”

Chu Feng couldn’t help but mutter, “He doesn’t look anything like Feng Chunhua or Chu Dashan. No way he’s Feng Chunhua’s eldest son.”

Chu Xuan smiled. “I don’t think he’s Feng Chunhua’s eldest son either. But he could very well be the one who gave her those valuables for free. If we follow this lead, we’re bound to dig up a lot. The problem is, he’s not easy to find. All I know is that he speaks with a Beijing accent.”

“Should we hire someone to quietly look for him?”

“It’s not that easy. And where would we even hire someone? Go to Beijing? We don’t know anyone there.”

“Sis, maybe Uncle Wu knows people in Beijing? Next time he calls, could we ask him for help?”

That suggestion reminded Chu Xuan.

Uncle Wu had traveled abroad—maybe he really did know people in Beijing.

“Xiao Feng, you’re pretty sharp.”

Chu Feng asked a few more questions, which Chu Xuan answered one by one, reminding him to keep it a secret and not tell anyone else.

Chu Feng immediately promised not to tell outsiders.

The next morning, Chu Xuan got busy making dumplings—enough dough and filling for ten people—and told Gao Meijuan and the others to stay for lunch.

They didn’t stand on ceremony. After finishing with the skinned fish and cleaning the yard, they helped with the dumplings.

Many hands make light work.

By noon, the fragrant dumplings were ready.

Chu Xuan packed a lunchbox full and sent Chu Feng to deliver it to Mu Chenze.

Everyone understood what was going on and didn’t tease Chu Xuan.

Chu Feng stayed in Mu Chenze’s room for over half an hour, and left something behind for him.

After Chu Feng left, Mu Chenze unfolded a piece of paper that had been folded several times. When he saw the portrait on it, he quickly finished his dumplings and hurried out…

Chu Xuan had no idea that Xiao Feng had secretly copied the portrait of that man and passed it to Mu Chenze.

Chu Feng had only promised not to tell outsiders—he considered Mu Chenze one of their own, so of course he wouldn’t hide it from him.

At 8 p.m., Mu Chenze didn’t need to go to Chu Xuan’s house to pick up grilled fish, but he still went out for a walk.

Passing by Chu Xuan’s house, he saw the courtyard gate open and lights on inside. He couldn’t help but stand under a tree outside the gate for a long while, hoping Chu Xuan would come out and say a few words to him.

In the end, he left disappointed.

In fact, Chu Xuan had seen him, but didn’t go out to say hello…

The next morning, just after eight, the truck Shan Anquan hired arrived at Chu Xuan’s house to pick up 1,000 jin of grilled fish.

Payment was settled on the spot.

He also brought Chu Xuan a piece of news.

Someone wanted to teach her a lesson, and had bribed people in the village to keep an eye on her. If she went to the county seat, that person would know right away.

He suggested she avoid going to the county for now.

Chu Xuan guessed who it was.

It seemed Feng Jun was already preparing to take revenge on her.

She wasn’t afraid of his revenge—she was only afraid he wouldn’t try!

After seeing Shan Anquan’s truck off, Chu Xuan said goodbye to Widow Niu and the others, and headed to the county to pick up some Chinese medicine.

She rode her bike to town, and first stopped by Uncle Long’s shop.

The door was open.

She guessed Xiao Huan had already brought Uncle Long back.

She parked her bike, locked it, and walked into the shop…"