Chapter 33: Sleepless

Qin Mahua didn’t really believe it, but since she couldn’t get any more answers, she had no choice but to go back to her room to rest.

She felt her son had been acting a bit strange lately, in a way she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Was he so obsessed with making money that he’d gone a little crazy?

That couldn’t be it. The family wasn’t short on money.

Could it be that he liked some girl and was too embarrassed to say anything?

That must be it!

She decided she’d have to pay more attention to her son’s behavior from now on.

Mu Chenze was feeling a bit restless. He couldn’t stay in his bedroom, so he went out into the yard to get some fresh air.

He actually couldn’t sleep.

The key thing was, he couldn’t figure out why he was having insomnia…

At this moment, Chu Xuan had finished her herbal medicine and was already in bed.

After a long day, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Half an hour later, in the bedroom next door, Chu Feng put down his textbook, turned off the light, and got ready to sleep. He muttered quietly, “This herbal medicine really works. Sis didn’t snore much tonight.”

He’d never dared say it before, but his sister’s snoring was really loud…

The next morning at six, as soon as Chu Xuan got up and finished washing up, she heard her little brother’s voice.

“Sis, the herbal medicine is ready. Drink it while it’s hot.”

The herbal medicine Chu Xuan brought back this time was best taken twice a day, before breakfast and dinner.

Her little brother had taken the initiative to brew it for her, which made her feel very touched.

“Xiao Feng, thank you for your hard work!”

Chu Feng grinned. “It’s no trouble. You’re the one working the hardest, Sis. I got up early today, brewed the medicine while reading, it wasn’t hard at all.”

He thoughtfully handed her the sugar jar.

In her past life, Chu Xuan had a huge sweet tooth, but in this life she was more health-conscious. She was already quite chubby, so she avoided sugar whenever she could.

“I can drink it without sugar. This batch of medicine isn’t that bitter. Xiao Feng, you’re still growing, so if you want some sugar, go ahead and have a bit.”

Chu Feng scratched his head a little sheepishly. “Sis, I’ll just have half a spoon.”

He really did crave sugar!

He especially loved the sweet, melting feeling of white sugar in his mouth—it was pure happiness…

“Go ahead!” Chu Xuan picked up the bowl of herbal medicine and drank it all in one go.

She took a few sips of water to wash away the aftertaste.

She glanced at the water vat—it was full.

Her little brother had gotten up early to fill it.

She felt a pang of guilt for him. “I’ll fetch the water from now on. You can wait until you’re fifteen before you do it again.”

Chu Feng patted his small chest hard. “I’m strong! Carrying water is no problem!”

Chu Xuan didn’t agree. “Let’s wait until you’re at least 1.75 meters tall. Carrying water all the time might stunt your growth.”

Chu Feng did want to grow taller, but he didn’t want his sister to get too tired either. “How about we hire someone to carry water?”

Actually, Chu Xuan had considered hiring someone, since washing fish every day used a lot of water.

She just hadn’t decided who to hire yet.

“Xiao Feng, do you have anyone in mind?”

Chu Feng shook his head gently. In the past, Feng Chunhua had taught the two of them not to mingle with other families.

Ever since they split from the family, apart from the Wang family, they really didn’t have anyone close.

Hiring someone to carry water wasn’t a huge deal, but it wasn’t trivial either. They needed someone trustworthy.

Otherwise, a single vat of water could ruin several hundred jin of fish.

“I’ll think about it. I’m going to fetch the fish first. I’ll eat breakfast when I get back.”

Li Tong had a cart, so Chu Xuan didn’t need to bring anything.

She headed out, walking briskly toward the dock.

Brisk walking was a form of exercise, too.

Ten minutes later, she arrived at the dock, panting.

Li Tong had already prepared a thousand jin of skinless fish.

After paying him forty-five yuan, Chu Xuan added another yuan to buy two mesh bags.

She borrowed his long cart, hung the mesh bags on it, and hauled the thousand jin of fish home.

Chu Xuan struggled to control the cart with both arms; if she wasn’t careful, it would tip over.

She silently cursed herself for being so chubby but still finding it so hard to pull a cart.

It had taken ten minutes to get there, but half an hour to get back.

After unloading at home, her arms were shaking uncontrollably.

Chu Feng was distressed. “Sis, you rest for a bit. I’ll return the cart.”

Before Chu Xuan could reply, he was already out the door.

A moment later, Liu Zhaodi, Gao Meijuan, Wang Shasha, and Wang Mingchen and his wife all arrived almost at the same time.

Wang Mingchen was carrying a scale.

After greeting each other, Gao Meijuan taught Liu Zhaodi how to process the skinless fish.

Wang Mingchen and his wife helped Chu Xuan carry fifty or sixty jin of grilled fish fillets.

Chu Xuan carried more than twenty jin herself.

The three of them took the scale and mesh bags and set out.

First they took a horse cart to town, then a bus to the county seat, and then transferred again to the city.

Of course, Chu Xuan paid for the travel expenses.

Wang Mingchen wasn’t too confident about selling the grilled fish fillets, and was mentally prepared to go door-to-door helping Chu Xuan sell them.

His wife, Miao Dacui, on the other hand, was full of confidence. She was kind but shrewd. “Xiao Xuan, if the fish fillets sell well, can I come to your house to help process fish for wages?”

Chu Xuan replied without hesitation, “Of course! You’re more than welcome.”

Wang Mingchen tugged at his wife’s sleeve. “Let’s sell the fish fillets first…”

By the time they arrived at Peng City’s farmers’ market, it was already past ten in the morning, and many stalls were empty.

Wang Mingchen had been here before and smiled, reminding her, “I’ll take you to pay for a temporary stall first. Leave the baskets here, let your aunt watch them.”

He pointed to the payment counter.

“Okay. Sorry to trouble you, Auntie!”

Chu Xuan set down her basket, took out about a jin of grilled fish fillets, and wrapped them in paper.

Miao Dacui waved her hand cheerfully. “No need to be polite! Go on!”

Wang Mingchen and his wife didn’t ask any more questions—they’d already guessed what Chu Xuan was up to.

At the payment counter, Chu Xuan offered some grilled fish fillets and easily rented a good temporary stall.

It was the second stall from the entrance.

She set out the grilled fish fillets.

Before long, the fresh, spicy, mouthwatering aroma of fish wafted into the nose of every passerby.

Everyone who walked by bought at least a little.

Retail was two yuan per jin; five jin or more counted as wholesale at 1.8 yuan per jin.

Most people bought a bit of all three flavors, and many bought more than five jin. It was Chu Xuan and her team’s first time selling at a stall, so they were a bit flustered, but in less than an hour, they sold out.

Wang Mingchen was stunned—he’d never imagined grilled fish fillets would be so popular. The small vendors in town could barely sell any at all!

Just as the three of them were about to leave with their baskets, a market worker hurried over. “Hey, the chubby girl—wait! Do you have any more grilled fish fillets? I want five jin of the spicy flavor! I’ve never had anything this delicious!”

Chu Xuan wasn’t the least bit offended at being called “chubby girl.” Instead, she apologized with a smile, “I’m really sorry, we’re sold out for today. I’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll bring some to you when I rent the stall, okay?”

“Okay! My name’s Liu Chao. If I’m not at the payment counter tomorrow, just mention my name and my colleagues will call me.”

Chu Xuan could tell Liu Chao had been won over by her fish fillets.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she left.

Chu Xuan did a quick calculation—they’d just made 160 yuan.

After deducting costs, they’d cleared at least 90 yuan in profit.

She was thrilled!

She invited Wang Mingchen and his wife out to eat.

But they refused no matter what, especially Miao Dacui, who couldn’t wait to get home and help Chu Xuan process fish for wages.

She’d heard from her mother-in-law that there was another batch of skinless fish to process that afternoon.

Chu Xuan couldn’t persuade them, so she bought twenty pork and scallion steamed buns for the road.

In the city, buns were sold by weight—twenty buns weighed three jin, costing seven and a half yuan at 0.25 yuan per liang.

Wang Mingchen and his wife were shocked at how expensive city buns were. Each ate two and refused to eat more.

Actually, only this shop was so pricey—the filling was generous. Chu Xuan ate four in one go; they were even tastier than the ones she made at home.

She saved four for Xiao Feng and insisted Miao Dacui take the rest.

Miao Dacui couldn’t refuse and finally accepted them.

She thought to herself that she’d do more work for Chu Xuan in the future.

At a little past three in the afternoon, Chu Xuan got home.

Just in time to see Ji Ping pulling up with a cart of skinless fish.

He whispered, “Chu Xuan, Chenze asked me to pass on a message.”"