Chapter 35: Brimming with Confidence

She never realized before just how perfectly Mu Chenze could imitate Chu Zhi’s mannerisms—Chu Xuan had to fight hard not to laugh.

She couldn’t let herself laugh out loud; if anyone passing by heard, it would only spark another round of gossip.

Mu Chenze noticed Chu Xuan was struggling to hold back her laughter and quietly reminded her, “Be serious. Don’t you think the Chu family got rich a little too quickly? And I overheard Chu Zhi muttering to himself, saying something about how Qiu Dagang really did steal all his family’s money, but it was a shame he did it too early—if he’d waited, he could’ve stolen a much bigger sum. He also said the Chu family is just lucky like that, while the Feng family is just unlucky.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuan became even more convinced that Feng Ti was just a scapegoat.

“Mu Chenze, what you told me today is really important. You mustn’t tell anyone else. Otherwise, it could cause a lot of trouble for others. By the way, does your family know about this?”

“They don’t. When I rescued Chu Zhi, my dad and older brother were busy hauling in the nets and couldn’t hear what he was saying. Besides, I didn’t let Chu Zhi onto our boat—I just tossed him back onto his own. He rambled on drunkenly for a while, and I made him drink a lot of water before heading back to my own boat. By the time we returned to shore, Chu Zhi had sobered up. My brother told him he ought to thank me, but guess what he said?”

“He’s got nothing good to say, I’m sure.”

“Exactly. He said I shouldn’t have saved him, that I was meddling, and that he could swim just fine—didn’t need anyone’s help.”

At this, a flash of anger appeared in Mu Chenze’s usually gentle eyes.

Chu Xuan quickly comforted him, “Don’t stoop to his level. There’s no need to get upset over a jerk like him.”

Her words worked—Mu Chenze’s expression softened. “You’re right. No point getting angry over a jerk.”

Now, Chu Xuan wasn’t in a hurry to go home and roast fish fillets. She had to get to the bottom of this before leaving.

“Did you ask him where his family’s sudden fortune came from?”

“Of course I did. He said he didn’t know. So I asked who in his family did. He said his mother knows, but she won’t tell him.”

Chu Xuan clenched her fists. Feng Chunhua again.

Feng Chunhua sure had a lot of secrets.

So Feng Ti ended up taking the fall, and not a single member of the Feng family spoke up?

Could it be that even the Fengs believed Feng Ti was really the culprit?

She’d have to find time to talk to Feng Shuai.

“Mu Chenze, think carefully—did Chu Zhi say anything else? Did he mention his older brother?”

Mu Chenze thought for a moment before replying, “He didn’t mention his older brother. But he did say their family would only get richer in the future.”

After confirming there was nothing else, Chu Xuan reminded him again to keep it secret, then took her leave.

On her way home, Chu Xuan deliberately took a detour past the Chu house.

The main room was still lit.

Inside, Feng Chunhua was scolding Chu Zhi.

“Imagine, the very first day you take our family’s boat out, you fall into the sea! Aren’t you ashamed?”

Chu Zhi sneezed several times in a row, his voice thick with congestion. “Ma, please stop nagging. This is the eightieth time!”

Feng Chunhua snapped, “So what if it is? Aren’t you ashamed of falling in the sea?”

Chu Zhi replied, “Eighty-one times! Enough already! Even the monk Tang Sanzang only had to endure eighty-one tribulations to get the scriptures. You’ve scolded me eighty-one times—let me go to bed!”

Feng Chunhua, triumphant, declared, “No way! I’m in charge in this house. Anyone who doesn’t listen to me won’t get a penny from me. But if you do as I say, you’ll never have to worry about food or clothes for decades. Chu Dashan, go fetch me some water to soak my feet. Xiao Zhi, go make some ginger tea and drink a few cups to ward off the chill.”

Outside in the courtyard, Chu Xuan couldn’t help but wonder—how exactly did Feng Chunhua get rich? She sure was full of confidence!

Once she realized there was nothing more useful to overhear, she headed home.

Thinking back on her previous life, Chu Xuan only remembered Feng Chunhua constantly asking her for money, and she did seem to live quite well.

Even without Chu Xuan’s support in this life, Feng Chunhua was still doing just fine.

There must have been something she missed last time.

She smacked herself on the head, cursing her past self for being so clueless and letting her guard down around Feng Chunhua, never bothering to dig deeper.

Just as she was about to reach home, a sudden thought struck her: what if Feng Chunhua’s biological son hadn’t died, but had secretly given her a lot of money?

If that was the case, could it be that Qin Xuehong’s coma was also the work of Feng Chunhua’s real son?

If so, Feng Chunhua would probably keep receiving money in the future.

It shouldn’t be hard to find evidence.

With this realization, Chu Xuan let out a long breath, feeling much lighter.

Her only worry was that Feng Chunhua’s real son might not be alive.

If he was, Chu Xuan would have a better chance of finding her own grandparents.

She had no intention of telling her little brother about this, to avoid putting him in danger.

After all, Qin Xuehong had nearly died just for delivering Feng Chunhua’s baby all those years ago.

Let alone if anyone found out where Feng Chunhua’s real son was.

Feng Chunhua or her son would stop at nothing—even hiring killers—to keep it secret.

The more Feng Chunhua tried to hide, the more likely she’d slip up.

Chu Xuan reminded herself to be patient.

Wait patiently, don’t rush.

She walked into the house, quickly adjusted her mood, and put on a smile.

Miao Dacui and Wang Shasha had already gone home. Gao Meijuan and Chu Feng were still in the kitchen, tending the fire. The fish livers had been carefully processed and stored in a big jar. As for the fish heads, they were all laid out on the concrete in the yard.

The house reeked of fish.

Even though they were used to it, Chu Xuan still dreamed of earning enough to build a bigger house.

One day, the workshop and living quarters would be separate.

Chu Xuan walked over. “Grandma Gao, sorry, I lost track of time while out walking. Let me watch the fire—you’ve worked all day, you should go home and rest.”

Gao Meijuan waved her off with a smile. “I’m not tired. I took a two-hour nap at noon. You’re the one who hasn’t rested all day—can you really keep going?”

As she spoke, she took Chu Xuan’s hand.

Chu Xuan was tired, but she wouldn’t admit it. “I can manage. I’m young—this is nothing. Grandma Gao, you should go home! You have to help clean fish and roast fillets tomorrow morning.”

Just then, Wang Depin came to fetch her, so Gao Meijuan didn’t insist.

Chu Xuan and her brother walked them to the gate.

Gao Meijuan stood outside, reminding Chu Xuan to bolt the door.

Only after confirming the door was locked did Wang Depin and his wife leave, reassured.

Chu Xuan and her brother went back to the kitchen to keep roasting fish fillets.

A dozen minutes later, Chu Feng came over with a bowl of medicine. “Sis, you forgot to take your medicine. I warmed it up for you.”

Chu Xuan had indeed forgotten. She smiled as she took it. “It’s great having a little brother!”

She downed it in one go and washed the bowl.

Chu Feng beamed with satisfaction, eager to do more for his sister.

Now that it was just the two of them, Chu Feng finally asked about today’s earnings.

Chu Xuan pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and handed it to him. “We made 160 yuan in total. The meat buns cost seven and a half, plus travel expenses…”

Chu Feng took the money, pulled out the account book, and recorded everything carefully. He couldn’t help but add, “Sis, those meat buns in the city are really delicious!”

He’d been smacking his lips all through dinner.

Chu Xuan said gently, “I’ll bring you more tomorrow.”

“Sis, you’re the best!”

Chu Xuan smiled and, after checking the account book, nodded in satisfaction.

Her little brother might not know many characters, but he was a natural at bookkeeping. Even without anyone teaching him, he kept everything organized.

Clear at a glance.

It was two-thirty in the morning by the time they finished roasting all the fish fillets.

With Grandma Gao’s help tomorrow, they should be able to finish even earlier.

She weighed the results: from 1,500 jin of skinless fish, they’d ended up with 226 jin and 2 liang of fillets.

Only then did she realize a problem. When morning came, she’d have to go to the city to sell all this by herself—how was she supposed to carry so much?

Take less? But that might not be enough to sell!

She’d been so focused on production, she’d forgotten all about logistics.

“Xiao Feng, I’m going out for a bit. There should be someone on duty at the village office—maybe I can arrange for a tractor.”

She opened the courtyard gate, talking as she walked out—without noticing that someone was standing right outside, and ran straight into them…"