Chapter 157: There’s Hope

Mu Chenze looked at Chu Xuan with an emotion in his eyes that was hard to put into words. “Let me finish. What I want to say is, I don’t like chubby girls, but you’re not chubby anymore. Do you get it?”

Chu Xuan dodged the question, tapping her waist with both hands. “My waist is still this thick. How am I not chubby?”

“You’re not. You’re tall, so at most you just look sturdy. You still haven’t answered my question.”

Mu Chenze gazed gently into Chu Xuan’s eyes.

Chu Xuan looked in the mirror every day and knew her figure had improved a lot, and her face looked much better too.

Her face used to be so round it looked like a steamed bun, squeezing her eyes into slits and making her look listless.

Now her face had slimmed down, her big double-lidded eyes were lively and bright.

She really did have a bit of charm now.

She could tell Mu Chenze was confessing to her in a roundabout way, but sometimes it was better to play dumb.

“I don’t get what you’re saying. All I know is, whether I’m fat or thin, I’m not getting married.”

Mu Chenze could tell she was turning him down, but he wasn’t upset. He understood her situation, and he didn’t even know why he’d blurted that out today—maybe he just couldn’t help himself.

He couldn’t say anything more, or he might scare her off.

If he scared her, she’d avoid him and keep her distance, which was the last thing he wanted.

“I know you don’t want to get married, you don’t have to keep saying it. You know the kind of ‘like’ between buddies, right?”

His tone was open and relaxed.

Chu Xuan blushed. “Sorry! I almost misunderstood you just now. I get it—the kind of ‘like’ between buddies. It’s not about romance.”

“Exactly. So you don’t have to feel pressured. When you get even slimmer in the future, I’ll praise you even more. You’d better get used to it.”

“When I finally slim down completely, half the credit will be yours.”

“As long as you remember my contribution.”

They chatted as they walked back.

Even as they neared the dock, Chu Xuan never mentioned her plan to use the extension phone to set up Feng Chunhua in front of Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze waved goodbye and headed home.

Chu Xuan went to the dock to sell seafood.

When Mu Chenze got home, he took a hot shower and lay on his bed, thinking.

He’d already learned from Uncle Long what Chu Xuan was planning.

Chu Xuan didn’t want to tell him because she didn’t want him to get involved—she was protecting him in her own way.

What she didn’t know was, the more she tried to protect him, the more he wanted to help.

He and Uncle Long had already shared information, so things would go much more smoothly.

Chu Xuan also took a hot shower when she got home.

She changed into her loose, baggy clothes and walked into the courtyard. Qin Mahua came over with a cloth bag, smiling. “Xiao Xuan, come inside and try this on. I just made you some new clothes. I’ll wait outside.”

Chu Xuan was delighted. “Thank you, Aunt Qin!”

She took the bag, went back to her room, opened it, and pulled out a set of long-sleeved, red clothes with little yellow flowers.

Some people might look like a country bumpkin in this, and Chu Xuan’s first thought was that she’d look even more like one.

But when she tried it on, it fit perfectly. The top was cinched at the waist, covering up her chubby spots and making her figure look pretty good—she actually looked quite fashionable, not like a country bumpkin at all.

Aunt Qin really had skill, managing to make such stylish and flattering clothes for someone weighing 155 jin.

Wearing this, she looked like she weighed only about 125 jin.

She decided she had to knit a sweater for Aunt Qin as a thank-you gift.

She’d been meaning to, but hadn’t had the time—she’d been busy knitting scarves, wool pants, socks, and gloves for Mu Chenze.

She walked out into the courtyard in her new clothes.

Everyone started complimenting her on how much prettier she looked and how nice her figure was.

Chu Xuan was a little embarrassed by all the praise.

She quickly changed the subject. “It’s all thanks to Aunt Qin’s skills. If anyone wants new clothes, go to Aunt Qin—let her earn some tailoring fees.”

Aunt Qin felt warm inside. Chu Xuan not only praised her, but also helped her get more business.

“Xiao Xuan’s right. I’ll take on sewing work when I have time, and you all can help spread the word.”

After the 5th, Chu Xuan would stop running her dried fish workshop, and Qin Mahua wouldn’t be working at the food factory anymore, so she’d have plenty of time.

Gao Meijuan pointed at Chu Xuan’s clothes. “She’s a walking advertisement. If Xiao Xuan walks around the village a couple of times, I bet a bunch of women will ask where she got her clothes.”

Everyone agreed.

After all, everyone in the village knew how sturdy and tough Chu Xuan was.

But in Aunt Qin’s clothes, she not only looked slimmer, but also had a girlish charm.

Chu Xuan really did walk around the village twice.

Quite a few girls and young wives asked her about her clothes.

Chu Xuan happily told them they could go to Aunt Qin for new clothes.

That very evening, Aunt Qin got three orders for clothes, and arranged to start making them on the 6th.

Aunt Qin also praised Chu Xuan in front of the Mu family.

That’s when Mu Chenze found out his mother had made new clothes for Chu Xuan without telling him.

He hadn’t even gotten to see them before everyone else did.

He planned to take the chance to admire them when he went to Chu Xuan’s house that night to pick up dried fish.

But when he got there, he saw Chu Xuan was wearing her old, newly-altered clothes.

“Where are the new clothes my mom made you?”

Chu Xuan smiled and pointed at the clothesline. “I just washed them—they’re hanging out to dry.”

Mu Chenze was disappointed, but didn’t show it. “My mom said the clothes she made are really nice. Now that she wants to be a tailor, I was curious how good her skills are and wanted to see for myself. But they’re all wet, so I’ll just wait until you wear them tomorrow.”

He was worried she’d refuse, but to his surprise, she laughed and said, “No problem! You guys should definitely support Aunt Qin as a tailor. By the way, was it you who asked her to make me new clothes?”

“No. I was planning to buy you new clothes as a gift. Before that, I didn’t even know your size.”

Chu Xuan had been wondering how to turn down a gift, but now she had an excuse. “No need now, I already have new clothes. You and Aunt Qin are family, so it’s all the same.”

“Since when do girls think they have too many clothes? You have a set of long-sleeved top and pants, but nothing else. I’ll see what I can get you, though it might not be easy to find anything soon.”

He could always ask his mom about Chu Xuan’s size.

“Let’s agree on this: you can buy them, but I’ll pay you.”

“No need. Just knit my mom a set of sweater and pants.”

“No problem. But I have to pay for the yarn.”

Mu Chenze couldn’t argue with her, so he just said, “Alright.”

Chu Xuan immediately pulled out fifty yuan and handed it to him. “Buy purple yarn. I think that color will suit Aunt Qin’s complexion.”

“Okay.”

Mu Chenze took the money and went to move the dried fish—over 260 jin as usual.

After he left with the cart, Chu Xuan watched him go.

After the 5th, he wouldn’t be coming to pick up dried fish at night anymore. Each visit was one less.

She felt a little lost, but quickly adjusted.

Maybe it was better if he didn’t come, so he wouldn’t be hanging around and making her heart waver.

She locked the gate and went back to her room.

Chu Feng snickered through the window, thinking his sister and Brother Chenze really had a chance.

When Mu Chenze got home, he gave Aunt Qin a shoulder and back massage, being extra attentive.

Aunt Qin knew her son well—he must want something.

“Xiao Ze, just tell me what you want.”"