Chapter 8: Getting Compensation

Chu Xuan was well prepared, and her first target was Qiu Daguang.

She threw the kitchen knife in her hand.

The knife flew past Qiu Daguang’s face and landed firmly, blade-first, in the wall.

This move was something Chu Xuan had practiced in her previous life, back when she was bored at her in-laws’ house.

Qiu Daguang was so scared he nearly wet himself. He pressed his back against the wall, his legs trembling, muttering, “So close, so close…”

He’d almost been killed.

Chu Zhi tried desperately to escape, but ran right into Wang Depin, Chu Feng, and two night watchmen from the construction site, all hurrying over with flashlights.

At that moment, Gao Meijuan and her group also rushed out, thinking they’d caught a thief.

With several flashlights shining on them, neither Chu Zhi nor Qiu Daguang could get away.

Qiu Daguang’s mind worked quickly. He steadied himself and was the first to speak: “Chu Zhi and I just fished a big Spanish mackerel out of the sea. We were coming to ask the village chief to help us get a tractor to take it to the county to sell. We’re not thieves.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuan had to stifle a laugh. In her previous life, he’d used the exact same excuse.

The only difference was, last time Chu Zhi had been trying to catch Qiu Daguang, but now he was his accomplice.

Chu Zhi immediately felt more confident and chimed in, “That’s right, the big mackerel in this sack is what Qiu Daguang and I caught from the sea. It’s not the one Chu Xuan found. Ours is a bit lighter than hers.”

As he spoke, he edged toward the sack, trying to carry it away.

But the Wang family blocked him.

Chu Zhi didn’t dare act tough with the Wang family, but he had no problem bullying Chu Xuan and her brother. “Chu Xuan, Chu Feng, are you blind? Aren’t you going to help me? We’re family!”

Chu Feng had always been afraid of Chu Zhi, and hearing this, he instinctively stepped back, trying to avoid him.

Chu Xuan scratched her ear lightly. “Chu Zhi, what did you say? If I remember right, you insisted on cutting ties with us just yesterday. Have you changed your mind and want to help me pay off my debts now?”

Chu Zhi put on a magnanimous air. “As long as you two admit your fish wasn’t stolen, once you’ve paid off your debts, I might consider reconnecting as family.”

He thought Chu Xuan and her brother would be as easy to manipulate as before.

People around couldn’t help but criticize, “Chu Zhi, you’ve got some nerve!”

Chu Xuan couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Cutting ties means cutting ties. There’s no going back. Xiao Feng and I won’t lie for you! I saw you and Qiu Daguang steal the big mackerel from my house with my own eyes. I followed you here, and I never expected you’d even dare steal from the village chief’s house!”

Chu Zhi raised his hand, wanting to hit Chu Xuan, but the Wang family held him back.

He howled, “Let me go! Let me go! I didn’t steal anything!”

Qiu Daguang, ignoring the smell of urine on himself, tried to defend, “Chu Xuan, you say we stole your fish, but who else saw it? Do you have any witnesses?”

Chu Xuan replied calmly, “No witnesses.”

Qiu Daguang immediately grew cocky. His legs stopped trembling as he swaggered over to the sack. “If there are no witnesses, then you can’t prove the fish is yours! This is the one Chu Zhi and I caught from the sea.”

Gao Meijuan, who had been silent, suddenly kicked Qiu Daguang aside. “Don’t lie through your teeth! Half the village saw Chu Xuan find that giant mackerel, but no one saw you or Chu Zhi go fishing!”

Qiu Daguang was knocked away and couldn’t get to the sack of fish.

Wang Depin spoke sternly, “Qiu Daguang, your ability to twist the truth is really something. As the village chief, I’m not afraid of embarrassment. Let’s just call the police and let the professionals handle it.”

Qiu Daguang remained defiant. “Whoever comes, I’ll say the same thing! And I’ll accuse Chu Xuan of attacking me with a knife! We’ll see who ends up in trouble!”

Chu Xuan sneered, “Did I hurt you? I just slipped in the dark while catching a thief.”

Everyone chimed in, “That’s right, just a slip of the hand.”

Everyone supported calling the police.

Chu Xuan whispered something to Gao Meijuan, who nodded calmly.

Half an hour later, the town’s security officers arrived on bicycles.

Qiu Daguang and Chu Zhi stuck to their story, insisting the fish was theirs, salted after being caught, and that they’d come to the village chief’s house to arrange a tractor to sell it in the county.

Chu Xuan smiled faintly. “I may not have witnesses, but I have proof that the fish in the sack is mine.”

Qiu Daguang and Chu Zhi exchanged nervous glances.

Chu Zhi stammered, “Chu Xuan, what proof do you have?”

Chu Xuan pointed at the sack and told the officers, “There’s a note in the fish’s mouth that says, ‘Chu Xuan’s Giant Mackerel.’”

Sure enough, the officers found the note in the fish’s mouth, and the writing matched her claim.

Now Qiu Daguang and Chu Zhi were about to be taken away.

Just then, Qi Hong rushed over. Knowing her family was in the wrong, she only cared that her husband wouldn’t be arrested—after all, she still needed him to support the family. “We’ll pay compensation! We’re all from the same village, we see each other every day. Chu Xuan, and Auntie Village Chief, can’t you just let it go?”

Usually, in cases like this, the security officers would respect the victims’ wishes.

Chu Xuan’s face was cold. “Chu Zhi and Qiu Daguang stuffed the fish into a sack that used to hold manure. Grandma Gao and I both think it’s too dirty to eat. If each of them compensates us a hundred yuan, I’ll agree to settle privately.”

Gao Meijuan spoke up at the right moment. “That’s right. If we get compensation, I’ll agree to settle too.”

Qi Hong didn’t hesitate. She pulled out a wad of bills—one hundred yuan in total—and carefully handed it to Gao Meijuan. “Thank you both for being so generous.”

Gao Meijuan accepted it, but didn’t give it directly to Chu Xuan—Chu Xuan had just told her to hold onto the money for now.

“Once Chu Zhi’s hundred yuan comes in, you two can take the fish home.”

Just then, Feng Chunhua and Chu Dashan came running over, cursing.

Especially Feng Chunhua, who shamelessly declared, “What’s wrong with my son taking his cousin’s fish? That’s called taking, not stealing! This is a family matter. The Qiu family has already paid compensation, so everyone should just go home!”

Chu Xuan knew Feng Chunhua was thick-skinned. She pulled out the letter severing family ties and handed it to the security officers. “Please take a look—this is the official letter. Besides, he didn’t just steal from me, he stole from the village chief too.”

Feng Chunhua glared at Chu Xuan as if she could kill her with her eyes.

The officers read the letter by flashlight, then handed it back to Chu Xuan.

“Chu Zhi, your family refuses to pay, and the victims don’t agree to settle. If they want to press charges, I’ll have to take you to the station.”

Chu Zhi was terrified. “Dad, Mom, help me! We’ll pay! Hurry, get the money!”

With a criminal record, it’d be hard to find a wife.

Feng Chunhua raised her hand, wanting to slap Chu Xuan, but was stopped by the officers.

She cursed her son for being an idiot—stealing from Chu Xuan was bad enough, but stealing from the village chief too!

In the end, she had no choice but to go home and painfully fetch a hundred yuan as compensation, handing it over in front of the officers.

Again, Gao Meijuan accepted it.

As for the mackerel in the sack, Qiu Daguang and Chu Zhi took it away.

After the crowd dispersed, Gao Meijuan took Chu Xuan’s hand and led her into her house. She put both hundred-yuan bills into Chu Xuan’s hand and said kindly, “Xiao Xuan, keep this safe! If Feng Chunhua comes asking for the money back, just send her to me!”"