Chapter 73: Investigating the Background

A chubby woman running down the road is bound to attract attention.

Some nosy villagers jogged alongside Chu Xuan. “Where are you rushing off to so early in the morning?”

Only then did Chu Xuan realize that quite a few people were watching her.

If the villagers found out she was heading to Mu Chenze’s house at the crack of dawn, who knows what kind of rumors would start flying.

She didn’t care about her own reputation, but she had to consider Mu Chenze’s.

While running, Chu Xuan patiently explained, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m just exercising, trying to lose weight.”

Even so, a few villagers still followed her for a while.

Because of that dream, she’d wanted to rush to Mu Chenze’s house to check if he was safe. Now that she’d calmed down, she realized it was just a dream—definitely not real.

No need to make a fuss over nothing.

She kept running.

Once the villagers saw she really was just exercising, they stopped following and went about their own business.

Chu Xuan jogged two laps around the village. She called it running to lose weight, but in reality, it was more like a brisk walk—she couldn’t keep up the pace for long.

Even so, she was left panting and drenched in sweat.

Back home, she wiped herself down and changed into clean clothes.

As she sat in the courtyard doing laundry, Chu Feng came over and whispered cautiously, “Sis, I heard you calling Mu Chenze’s name. Do you like him? Did you turn him down because you think you’re not good enough for him?”

Chu Xuan stood up and measured his height with her hand. “You’re not even up to my shoulder yet. Still just a kid—what do you know about liking someone? I called Mu Chenze’s name because, in my dream, I was asking him to come over and help roast fish fillets.”

“Is that really true?”

“Of course it is. And if I ever hear you say something like that again, I won’t buy you any pork belly! None of your favorite foods, either!”

Chu Feng immediately promised, “Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll never bring it up again.”

“That’s more like it. I’m heading to town in a bit.”

“Great! Sis, can you buy some pork belly to render for lard? The cracklings are so tasty.”

Even though they’d just eaten a big meal yesterday, Chu Feng was still craving meat.

Chu Xuan patted his shoulder. “Help me finish the laundry and I’ll buy it for you.”

It was just their outer clothes in the basin—nothing wrong with letting him help.

“No problem!”

Chu Feng quickly got to work on the laundry, and even reminded Chu Xuan to go to the kitchen for her herbal medicine and breakfast.

Chu Xuan was a bit speechless. She’d only run two laps around the village, but her little brother had already finished brewing her medicine and made breakfast.

Just how slow was her running pace?

She really needed to work on her fitness.

After drinking her medicine, she grabbed her basket, took a few dozen yuan, and headed out.

She happened to run into Widow Niu hauling a cart of skinned fish.

Chu Xuan greeted her but didn’t offer to help.

With Widow Niu’s strength, she didn’t need any help anyway.

A few steps later, she ran into Qin Mahua, who was on her way to work.

Chu Xuan took the initiative to ask, “Auntie Qin, did Mu Chenze go to the city early this morning to sell fish?”

Qin Mahua replied heartily, “No, he said he was too tired and wanted to rest for a day. He just got up and is having breakfast at home.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuan knew Mu Chenze was fine.

“When you go home for lunch, don’t forget to remind him to come over tonight to help roast fish fillets.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget. Xiao Xuan, go take care of your errands. With Xiao Feng and all of us here, you don’t need to worry about home.”

“Okay.”

Chu Xuan waved and walked on.

Qin Mahua smiled as she entered the courtyard.

Ten minutes later, Chu Xuan reached the edge of the village to wait for the horse cart, just as Liu Dapeng drove up in his tractor.

No one else was around, so Chu Xuan called out, “Liu Dapeng, are you heading to the county? Give me a lift to town!”

Liu Dapeng obligingly stopped the tractor, moved to the trailer hitch, and gestured for her to get on.

She’d already hitched a ride with him several times.

Chu Xuan found him pretty decent and wanted to help him out.

They sat in the cab in silence for a while.

As they neared town, Chu Xuan, still driving the tractor, said, “Weren’t you always looking for ways to make money? Here’s your chance!”

Liu Dapeng made a living driving his tractor, which should have been enough, but his mother was always sick and medical bills ate up everything he earned.

Even so, Liu Dapeng never abandoned his mother, even though it made it hard for him to find a wife.

The tractor was noisy, and Liu Dapeng didn’t catch what Chu Xuan said, except for the word “money.” “Chu Xuan, speak up! I didn’t hear you just now.”

They were almost at town, so Chu Xuan simply braked, turned off the engine, and got out.

“There’s a money-making opportunity right now! Do you want in or not?”

This time Liu Dapeng heard her clearly. “Tell me more.”

“Aren’t they raising funds in the village to build a fish fillet factory? You should buy in. They’re taking investments from villagers for the next three days. After that, if there’s still not enough money, the village collective will make up the rest. After that, individuals won’t get another chance to invest.”

“I heard about it from Village Chief Wang this morning, but my family doesn’t have any money.”

“Borrow from your uncle!”

“I don’t want to trouble him.”

“If you can’t make enough to pay for your mom’s treatment, that’s the real trouble for your uncle. He really cares about your mom—there’s no way he’d ignore her. He’ll end up paying for her treatment anyway. So why not borrow the money now, invest, and pay him back with your dividends? Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”

Liu Dapeng hesitated. “Let me think about it.”

Chu Xuan had said her piece and didn’t bother to push further. “I’m here. You can go.”

Liu Dapeng tossed out a quick thank you, started the tractor, and drove off.

Only then did Chu Xuan realize she’d forgotten to pay for the ride—she’d have to make it up to him next time.

She didn’t notice Liu Dapeng’s ears turning red with embarrassment.

For Liu Dapeng, this was the first time a woman had ever shown concern for him.

About ten minutes later, Chu Xuan walked into Uncle Long’s shop carrying two jin of pork belly and two bottles of liquor. The shop was quiet.

“Uncle Long, I brought you a little something.”

Uncle Long quickly got up to greet her warmly. “Xiao Xuan, you didn’t have to bring anything! Take the meat back for your brother, and return the liquor. My buddy just brought me a freshly slaughtered fat rooster—take half of it home with you.”

Chu Xuan grinned. “Actually, I have a favor to ask.”

“If you need anything, just say the word. But I’m not taking your gifts. Last time I ate the pork you brought, I dreamed about your mother scolding me for three days straight. I promised her I’d help you whenever you needed it.”

“My mom is my mom, I’m me. As the younger generation, it’s only right for me to show respect.”

“Alright, I’ll accept it. But you’re taking the whole rooster home—that’s my way of looking out for you. Otherwise, don’t ask me for help.”

Chu Xuan had no choice but to agree.

“Okay, I’ll take it! Thank you! Uncle Long, I remember you have someone who specializes in gathering information. Can you have him keep an eye on Feng Chunhua and find out where her money is coming from…”

Chu Xuan then explained everything that had happened with Feng Chunhua recently.

Uncle Long listened, frowning. “One of my guys said an old lady came by twice recently to sell gold jewelry—worth about ten thousand yuan altogether. I’ll have him come over and sketch her portrait. If it’s really her, maybe we can trace the jewelry’s origins and find out more…”"