Chapter 45: Three to Two

Chu Xuan had long known that Qin Mahua was a master at cleaning fish. If she agreed to let her help right away, Mu Chenze would definitely come looking for her to settle the score.

But if she refused, Qin Mahua would lose face and start overthinking things.

After all, Qin Mahua had come over without holding past grudges, and if Chu Xuan still wouldn’t use her, that would be like refusing a step down even when offered one.

Chu Xuan didn’t want to upset Qin Mahua. After all, in her previous life, Qin Mahua had been endlessly tolerant of her, never picking fights, while she herself was the one always looking for trouble and then shamelessly eating the food Qin Mahua cooked.

So she smiled and flattered her, “Auntie Qin, you’re amazing! Why don’t you go home tonight and discuss it with your family, see if they’re willing to let you come help us? If they agree, we’d be thrilled to have you!”

Everyone in the village knew how much Mu Qinlao doted on his wife, and how filial Mu Chenfu and Mu Chenze were.

Let’s toss the problem to Mu Chenze and let him figure out how to convince his mother!

Qin Mahua was very pleased by this. “No problem! I’ll go home and ask right away.”

She got up to wash her hands and was about to leave.

Chu Xuan stopped her. “Auntie Qin, we settle wages daily. Let me pay you for today first—one yuan and thirty cents.”

Chu Feng, always quick on the uptake, hurried to hand over the money. Chu Xuan took it and personally put it into Qin Mahua’s hand.

Qin Mahua looked a bit embarrassed. “I wasn’t expecting to get paid for this…”

Chu Xuan gently patted her hand. “You’ve earned it. It’s one cent per jin of fish, and you handled 130 jin today. You have to take it, or how will you have the confidence to negotiate with your family?”

She didn’t want to owe anyone a favor, so she insisted Qin Mahua accept the money.

Qin Mahua really did want to work here. To persuade her family, she accepted the money. “Alright. Tomorrow, wait for my good news!”

She left happily.

When she got home, she showed the money she’d earned to her family and said, “I want to work with Chu Xuan. At my speed, I can easily make six yuan a day.”

Mu Chenze was the first to object. “I don’t agree! You’re fifty already, and your back or legs are always hurting.”

Qin Mahua patted her legs and back. “They don’t hurt at all now. Xiao Ze, that herbal medicine you got me worked great—I haven’t had pain for half a year. When I clean fish, I take breaks, I won’t overdo it.”

Mu Qinlao tapped his fingers on the table, looking helpless. “Wife, the men in this family all earn money. You and our eldest’s wife can just do chores at home, raise some chickens and ducks. No need to go out and clean fish.”

Qin Mahua smiled gently. “I was even thinking, if Chu Xuan still needs help, I’d bring our eldest’s wife along too. There’s not much to do at home, the two of us can finish quickly. Besides, who minds making more money? Cleaning fish is my specialty, and I just want to earn some money doing it.”

Mu Chenfu’s wife, Fu Qing, was eager to try. “I support Mom!”

Sure, the family’s fishing boat made good money each trip, but the expenses and maintenance were high.

In a few years, they’d need a new boat, which would cost at least ten thousand yuan. Money was needed everywhere.

Fu Qing was hardworking and wanted to seize any chance to earn.

Mu Chenfu was the last to speak. “I don’t agree! Dad, my brother, and I work from dawn to dusk so the women in our family can live comfortably, without worrying about food or clothing.”

Fu Qing wanted to say more, but Mu Chenfu shot her a glare, and she didn’t dare make another sound.

Seeing they couldn’t reach an agreement, Qin Mahua pulled out her trump card. “Not letting me go, huh? Fine! The three of you can stay up all night and build me two roasting ovens!”

Mu Chenze couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, what do you need ovens for? You’re not planning to compete with Chu Xuan, are you?”

Qin Mahua crossed her arms, looking relaxed. “That’s right! I’m going to compete with her. I’ve found my new passion in life—cleaning and roasting fish fillets.”

Mu Chenze couldn’t let his mom steal Chu Xuan’s business. “Mom, your roasted fish fillets aren’t as tasty as Chu Xuan’s. They won’t sell.”

Qin Mahua just laughed. “You sound so sure. Have you even tasted Chu Xuan’s fish fillets?”

Last time, when Chu Xuan gave Mu Chenze some roasted fish fillets, he didn’t dare bring them home and left them at Ji Ping’s place.

He was pretty sure his mom didn’t know about that.

She must just be saying it in the heat of the moment.

“Of course I haven’t. I deliver goods to the city, and I’ve heard from people there that Chu Xuan’s fish fillets are a hundred times better than anyone else’s.”

Qin Mahua rolled her eyes at her second son. “Well, since you all won’t let me go earn money at Chu Xuan’s, I’ll just open my own fish fillet workshop! From now on, don’t sell any more skinned fish you catch—save them all for me! Your eldest brother’s wife and I can easily handle a thousand jin a day!”

Mu Chenze rubbed his face hard, trying to clear his head. His mom wanted to steal both Chu Xuan’s business and her supply?

His family didn’t know that all the skinned fish they caught each day were actually sent to Chu Xuan via Ji Ping.

They all thought those fish were just from Ji Ping’s boat, sold to Chu Xuan.

Now, Mu Chenze was the first to switch sides.

“Mom, I support you going to Chu Xuan’s to clean fish and earn money!”

Qin Mahua beamed. “Good boy! That’s three to two! I’m going to work tomorrow!”

Mu Qinlao and Mu Chenfu both shot questioning looks at Mu Chenze.

He pretended not to notice. “I have to get up early to collect and sell goods. I’m going to bed!”

Before anyone could respond, he darted back to his room.

Fu Qing whispered in her mother-in-law’s ear, “If Chu Xuan still needs help, make sure you call me.”

Qin Mahua whispered back, “Don’t worry! You’ll be the first I call!”

Mu Qinlao and Mu Chenfu were helpless. What could they do? Minority yields to majority.

After ten at night, Chu Xuan saw off the helpers.

There were still two ovens of fish fillets left to roast, so she watched over them herself.

As for Chu Feng, she’d already sent him off to bed.

Chu Xuan didn’t plan to rest tonight. She’d catch up on sleep after selling the goods tomorrow.

She knew she couldn’t keep burning the candle at both ends like this.

Luckily, it would only be for about ten days, and she was still young enough to handle it.

But she underestimated her body.

After the two ovens of fish fillets were done, her heart was beating fast and she felt unwell.

She quickly put out the fire, went back to her room, and lay down for a while until her heart felt better.

She didn’t want to collapse before she’d even made her money.

Now, she really hoped Qin Mahua could come help, and Fu Qing was also a whiz at cleaning fish.

But would the Mu family agree?

Sleepiness overtook her, and she drifted off.

A little after 1 a.m., Chu Feng woke her up.

She’d overslept.

The siblings had just finished packing 300 jin of fish fillets when the truck arrived.

Mu Chenze and Lin Yong helped load the goods.

The back of the truck was packed full.

Chu Xuan was buried under a pile of goods.

Chu Feng thoughtfully handed her a cloth bag with a midnight snack and watched the truck drive away.

After saying goodbye to Mu Chenze and Lin Yong, Chu Xuan went back to sleep.

This time, her snoring was so loud it kept the two men wide awake.

They had to shout to hear each other over the noise.

Mu Chenze knew Chu Xuan was truly exhausted.

To let her sleep a bit longer,

When they got to the city, they delivered his goods first.

By the time they finished and reached the farmers’ market, it was already 4 a.m.

As the truck stopped, Mu Chenze was about to wake Chu Xuan when he noticed a few shady-looking men loitering at the market entrance. One of them was Zhang Qiu.

Were they waiting for Chu Xuan? Had their plan changed?

Were they going to rob her before she even sold her goods?

Yesterday, he’d called a friend to protect Chu Xuan, but only arranged for help on the deserted roads, not here at the market…"