Chapter 86: Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain?

Mu Chenze shot Liu Dapeng a suspicious look.

“Why are you asking me that? Don’t tell me you like Chu Xuan?”

Liu Dapeng’s face turned red, all the way to his ears. “Whether I like her or not is none of your business. Just answer my question first.”

“I don’t want to answer! This is between me and Chu Xuan, you don’t need to stick your nose in!” Mu Chenze looked Liu Dapeng up and down, deliberately provoking him. “Look at you, skinny as a monkey, while Chu Xuan is so plump and healthy. Do you really think you two are a good match?”

Liu Dapeng looked a little self-conscious. “Yeah, I am skinny. I’m not good enough for her.”

He didn’t press further, just turned and ran off.

Mu Chenze couldn’t help shaking his head. With Liu Dapeng like this, getting all insecure after just a few words, he’s really not a match for Chu Xuan.

Anyway, Chu Xuan had already said she didn’t plan on getting married. Liu Dapeng was just setting himself up for disappointment!

Chu Xuan had no idea about this little episode.

When she got home, she greeted everyone and put down her basket.

She didn’t mention finding the amber.

Widow Niu curiously leaned in to look at the day’s catch in the basket.

“Xiao Xuan, was the tide not good today? Or did you go to the dock to sell the catch before coming back?”

Chu Xuan smiled calmly. “I didn’t go to the dock. I came straight home after gathering at the shore. I guess this is just today’s luck.”

Widow Niu comforted her a bit, then went back out to fetch water.

The others were about to say a few words of comfort too, when a man’s voice sounded from outside.

“Chu Xuan, could you come out for a moment? I heard your family makes food, so I won’t come in.”

How considerate.

Chu Xuan muttered to herself and looked out toward the gate.

She recognized the man—she’d seen him at the security team before. His name was Wei Qiang.

She quickly walked to the gate.

Before she could say anything, Wei Qiang handed her a stack of money. “This is compensation for your lost wages from Sheng Damei and You Daping. Count it.”

Chu Xuan took it—five ten-yuan bills. She counted quickly.

“That’s right, fifty yuan! Comrade, thank you! Would you like to come in for a glass of water? The food’s in the kitchen, it won’t get in the way.”

She made a welcoming gesture.

“No need, thanks! I still have other things to do.”

Wei Qiang left briskly.

Chu Xuan had wanted to ask about what happened to Sheng Damei and You Daping, but he was already gone, so she couldn’t chase after him to ask.

So she went inside to change clothes, and hid the amber and black stone...

Half an hour later, Accountant Wen came by to bring news.

That’s how Chu Xuan and the others found out that You Daping’s wife, after learning he’d been arrested that morning, had pulled some strings and paid the fine and compensation to get him released.

But she also found out about You Daping’s improper relationship with Sheng Damei.

That afternoon, she went to the town hospital and slapped Sheng Damei twice. Sheng Damei, furious, fought back.

Things quickly spiraled out of control—You Daping’s wife beat Sheng Damei so badly she couldn’t get out of bed. You Daping tried to intervene and got beaten up too.

It wasn’t until the security team arrived that the fight stopped.

Sheng Damei reported You Daping’s wife for assault, and You Daping’s wife accused her of wrecking a marriage.

Either both would be detained, or they could accept mediation. In the end, they chose mediation, so Sheng Damei got beaten up for nothing.

What’s more, Sheng Damei’s health was delicate—after this incident, it would be hard for her to get pregnant again.

Everyone said Sheng Damei brought it on herself. No one felt sorry for her.

By five in the afternoon, all the fish had been processed and salted, just in time for Bai Xiaotian to come by and collect the fish livers and other offal.

This time there was a lot, and they made over sixty yuan.

After Bai Xiaotian left, Gao Meijuan and the others cleaned the yard until it was spotless, not a trace of fishy smell left.

Chu Xuan and her brother settled everyone’s wages for the day and even gave each person a ten-yuan bonus.

Starting tomorrow, the dried fish workshop would be on break.

Chu Xuan knew a typhoon would hit in three days, and it would rain for more than ten days after that.

Before the typhoon came, she needed to stock up on supplies and get a dozen batches of Chinese medicine.

After everyone left, Chu Xuan roasted two more trays of dried fish.

Forty-five minutes later, all the fish was done.

She hadn’t had time to calculate how much profit the dried fish business had made so far.

Chu Xuan planned to tally up the net profit after everything was sold, and then give Mu Chenze his share.

Chu Feng was still mending shirts—just a dozen or so left to finish.

Everyone who worked today thought Chu Feng was studying in his room, not knowing he was actually sewing clothes.

Mu Chenze didn’t want anyone to know he’d gotten a batch of torn shirts, so Chu Xuan and her brother helped him keep the secret.

After dinner, Chu Xuan took ten yuan and went out.

Liu Zhaodi hadn’t come to work today, but she’d still get her bonus—she’d always been a hard worker.

When Chu Xuan got to Liu Zhaodi’s house, she found the gate locked.

The whole family had taken Mou Xing to the county hospital for a checkup and hadn’t returned yet.

Chu Xuan remembered that in her previous life, Liu Zhaodi’s birth mother Mou Xing was diagnosed with a tumor six months later—could it be that this time they found out earlier?

Just as she was about to head back, Chu Feng came running over, out of breath. “Sis… hurry to the village office… someone’s calling for you.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. The person who came to our house to get you didn’t say.”

“Did you lock the door at home?”

“Yes.”

“Who came to our house to call me?”

“It was dark, I couldn’t see clearly, but it wasn’t anyone I recognized.”

Chu Xuan felt something was off. “Xiao Feng, let’s go home first!”

Chu Feng was surprised. “Aren’t we going to answer the call?”

“Maybe someone’s trying to lure you out. What if someone breaks in and steals our money while we’re gone?”

“Sis, I’ll run back first, you follow behind!”

Chu Xuan knew she couldn’t run as fast as Chu Feng. “If someone really breaks in, don’t go inside to catch the thief—go get help quietly, understand?”

“Got it! Life comes first!”

Chu Feng ran home.

Chu Xuan hurried after him as fast as she could.

There was quite a bit of cash at home.

All she could do now was hope the hiding place was secret enough that the thief wouldn’t find it right away.

When Chu Xuan got to the gate, she saw Chu Feng being chased by a thief, shouting for help.

Turns out there wasn’t just one thief.

One was keeping watch, the other was picking the lock.

Chu Feng had been spotted by the lookout, which was why he was being chased.

Chu Xuan rushed forward to save her brother.

She came face-to-face with the thief.

But the thief was wearing a mask, so Chu Xuan couldn’t see his face.

The one picking the lock was masked too. When he realized they’d been discovered, he shouted, “Retreat!”

They fled in panic.

The lookout tried to run too, but was blocked by the hefty Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan was determined to keep him from escaping.

She refused to give him a chance to get away.

Desperate, he pulled a knife from his pocket and lunged at Chu Xuan…

Chu Xuan, heavyset and slow to dodge, simply didn’t try—she kicked him below the belt…

A shadow appeared behind the thief. The knife missed Chu Xuan, and her kick landed.

The thief howled like a slaughtered pig, his cries piercing the night. Only then did Chu Xuan see that the person who’d helped her was Wei Qiang.

Once Wei Qiang subdued the thief, Chu Xuan stepped forward to thank him.

“Comrade Wei, thank you! I’m so glad you happened to be passing by…”

Wei Qiang tied up the thief as he replied, “I wasn’t just passing by—I got a tip and came here on purpose.”

“The other thief got away. Are you going after him? I can watch this one.”

“My colleague will catch him. I’ll take this one back first. Please bring your brother to the security office tomorrow to give a statement.”

“No problem. But first, let me see who was bold enough to try and steal from us!”

Chu Xuan reached out and pulled off the thief’s mask.

Chu Feng was still a bit shaken, but also curious about what the thief looked like.

By the moonlight, they looked at the thief’s face.

“It’s you?!”"