Chapter 158: The Attentive Man

October 21, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

A hint of shyness flashed in Mu Chenze’s eyes. “Mom, can you teach me how to tell someone’s clothing size just by looking?”

He actually wanted to just ask his mother directly: What size does Chu Xuan wear right now?

His mother would definitely tell him.

But Chu Xuan was losing weight, getting slimmer every day. He needed to learn how to judge clothing sizes himself, so he wouldn’t have to ask his mother every time he wanted to buy clothes for Chu Xuan.

Besides, he didn’t want his mother to know exactly how many times he’d bought clothes for Chu Xuan.

Qin Mahua gave him a knowing smile. “Just looking at height and weight isn’t enough. You have to consider bust, waist, and shoulder width too. Some fitted clothes require very precise shoulder measurements, so I wouldn’t recommend buying those for someone else. If you want to buy clothes for someone, go for trench coats, casual wear, or sportswear. As for how to judge shoulder width, bust, and waist—honestly, I can’t really teach you. It’s all about experience and a good eye. Without at least ten or twenty years of practice, you can’t be accurate.”

Unable to learn the real trick, Mu Chenze had to settle for second best. “Mom, just give me Chu Xuan’s clothing sizes, please? I want to buy her something.”

“You really should buy her a few more things. She’s helped our family so much. I only stepped in and made her a new outfit because I saw you hadn’t done anything yet.”

Seeing his mother’s support, Mu Chenze stopped hiding his intentions. “I want to buy her a long-sleeved dress.”

“That kind of clothing needs even more precise sizing. I’ll write it down for you. Buy or custom-make it according to these measurements. Don’t you go to the city sometimes? Just buy or order it there. When Xiao Xuan wears it out, the whole village will be envious.”

Qin Mahua quickly wrote down the measurements on a piece of paper and handed it to Mu Chenze.

He memorized it a few times before carefully folding it and putting it in his pocket. “Mom, you have to keep this a secret. Even if I bring the clothes back and she wears them out, you can’t tell anyone I bought them. I don’t want all the village women asking me to bring back clothes from the city for them.”

People in the village loved to follow trends. If the price was right, they’d definitely ask Mu Chenze to buy clothes for them too.

That would be way too much trouble.

Qin Mahua understood and cared for her son. “No problem. I’ll keep it a secret. By the way, any news about Xiao Xuan’s real father?”

“Not really. No news at all.”

Qin Mahua looked disappointed. Would her son’s wedding be delayed indefinitely?

The more she saw of Xiao Xuan, the more she liked her.

She was exactly the daughter-in-law she’d always hoped for.

“Chenze, try to find more people to help look into it. If you need money, just say so.”

Mu Chenze could tell his mother truly liked Chu Xuan.

With her support, he felt incredibly happy.

“Mom, the person I asked for help doesn’t need money. He’ll do his best.”

Mother and son chatted for a while longer before heading to their own rooms...

In the blink of an eye, it was 6 a.m. on the 5th.

Chu Xuan quietly went to the food factory’s HR office to install an extension phone.

After finishing, she jogged around the village.

Morning exercise was a daily routine for her, and the villagers were used to it by now.

Everyone knew she was trying to lose weight.

When she passed by Feng Chunhua’s house, she listened carefully.

Feng Chunhua was home.

Yesterday, Chu Xuan had specifically asked Hua Daling to subtly leak a bit of information to Feng Chunhua about Chu Dashan possibly having an affair.

Today, Feng Chunhua was determined to keep an eye on Chu Dashan.

Chu Dashan felt uneasy seeing that Feng Chunhua hadn’t gone to the hospital to bring food to Chu Zhi.

He’d originally arranged to meet his lover at home this morning, but now he had to cancel.

He was anxious, wondering how to notify his lover.

With Feng Chunhua watching, he didn’t dare make a move.

At exactly ten o’clock, Chu Xuan was already waiting in the food factory’s HR office.

A few minutes later, the phone rang.

Chu Xuan waited for the ringing to stop before picking up the extension.

Someone at the village office answered first.

It was a call for Feng Chunhua.

Chu Xuan recognized the man’s voice.

Her heart raced—she felt the truth was within reach.

After both sides hung up, Chu Xuan put down the phone.

Fifteen minutes later, the phone rang again.

Chu Xuan again waited for the ringing to stop before picking up.

She heard Feng Chunhua and the man talking.

“Hello, this is Feng Chunhua. Who’s calling?”

“Chunhua, it’s me, Liang Shi.”

Feng Chunhua’s voice dropped noticeably. “What do you want?”

“It’s hard to explain over the phone. Let’s meet tomorrow, same time, same place.”

“Okay.”

Feng Chunhua hung up.

Chu Xuan put down the phone.

This man, Liang Shi, was very cautious.

He only said “same time, same place.” Tomorrow, she’d have to keep a close eye on Feng Chunhua.

She couldn’t tell anyone about the successful installation of the extension yet, to avoid alerting anyone.

Chu Xuan removed the borrowed phone line and put it in her cloth bag.

Half an hour later, Chu Xuan rode her bike to Uncle Long’s shop’s backyard.

The gate was closed.

She knocked.

Soon, Uncle Long came to open the door.

Chu Xuan pushed her bike in, parked it, and asked quietly, “Uncle Long, is now a good time to talk?”

Uncle Long nodded and pointed to the study. “Let’s talk in there.”

“Okay.”

Once inside, Chu Xuan continued, “There’s a man named Liang Shi—he’s very suspicious. He arranged to meet Feng Chunhua tomorrow, same time, same place. Could I trouble you to have someone good at tailing people keep an eye on Feng Chunhua for 24 hours?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll return the phone line in a while.”

“Keep it as long as you need. I have plenty here. By the way, any news from your mother?”

“Nothing since the last call.”

“All right. If you hear anything, have your mom call me.”

“I’m worried Uncle Wu will get jealous.”

“Just tell him I have something important to discuss with your mom—something life or death.”

“Okay.”

They chatted a bit longer before Chu Xuan took her leave.

As she was heading out, Uncle Long hung a piece of pork belly—at least two jin—on her bike handle.

Chu Xuan tried to refuse, but Uncle Long threatened not to help her anymore if she didn’t take it.

Unable to win the argument, Chu Xuan accepted it.

She went to the market to buy some vegetables and two chickens, planning to host a farewell dinner for Gao Meijuan and the others that night.

After today, her grilled fish jerky workshop would close.

Rebuilding the house was now on the agenda.

At 6 p.m., in Chu Xuan’s yard, Gao Meijuan and the others sat around the table.

They had their farewell dinner.

After helping clean up, everyone left.

A little after 8 p.m., Mu Chenze arrived with a handcart.

This would be the last time he came to pick up grilled fish jerky.

After greeting Mu Chenze, Chu Feng tactfully went back to his room.

Mu Chenze set down the cart and took a bundle from it, handing it to Chu Xuan. “Go try it on. If it doesn’t fit, I can exchange it.”

“You got the clothes so quickly? Thank you! I’ll go try them on right now.”

Chu Xuan happily took the bundle and went to her room.

Mu Chenze felt a surge of joy—just because she accepted the gift without hesitation.

Chu Xuan closed her door, opened the bundle.

Inside was a khaki trench coat, a long-sleeved blue dress, a pair of black leather shoes, and six pairs of white cotton socks.

Everything she needed.

She muttered softly, “He really is a thoughtful man.”

She tried everything on—they all fit perfectly.

The dress was stylish and slimming, the trench coat elegant, the socks comfortable, the shoes a perfect fit.

She put everything on and walked into the yard.

The moment Mu Chenze saw Chu Xuan, he was stunned. He’d never imagined she could look so beautiful and elegant.

If she lost another twenty pounds or so, wouldn’t the line of suitors stretch from one end of the village to the other?

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but ask softly, “Do I look good?”"