Chapter 87: He Likes Her

Chu Feng looked surprised. “Sis, you know him?”

This man—Chu Xuan did indeed know him.

It was Zhang Dong, the one who’d been caught stealing scales in the city before.

“That’s right. I didn’t expect him to be released so soon.”

Wei Qiang’s expression was calm; he recognized Zhang Dong too—he’d arrested him before.

Back then, Zhang Dong was caught stealing vegetables from other stalls at the market, and Wei Qiang had given him a stern talking-to.

After Wei Qiang was transferred to the Lai Town security team, he hadn’t seen Zhang Dong again.

The pain in Zhang Dong’s body had eased a little. He stubbornly insisted, “I was just passing by, I’m not with the guy picking the lock. I chased Chu Xuan’s little brother because—”

Before he could finish, Chu Xuan interrupted coldly, “Don’t make excuses. The fact is you had a knife and tried to stab me. Comrade Wei can testify to that.”

Wei Qiang nodded in agreement with Chu Xuan’s statement.

Zhang Dong was left speechless. If he’d known Wei Qiang was here, he wouldn’t have dared to pull out a knife for anything.

Wei Qiang politely said to Chu Xuan, “I’ll take him back for questioning. You and your brother should check your house for any missing items or money. If anything’s gone, report it when you give your statement tomorrow.”

“Okay. Thank you!”

The Chu siblings watched them leave, then unlocked the gate with their key.

The thief hadn’t managed to pick the lock earlier, but Chu Xuan didn’t dare use this lock anymore.

She planned to buy a new one tomorrow.

There weren’t many neighbors around, so no one would’ve heard anything even if there’d been a commotion.

She’d have to mention to Grandpa Wang that if any good families applied to build houses nearby, they should consider making them neighbors.

At the very least, if thieves came, there’d be someone to help.

Once inside, after bolting the door, she and her little brother checked their bedrooms for valuables and money—everything was still there.

Earlier, before Chu Feng left, he’d locked the kitchen door, and the lock was still there now.

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but praise him, “Xiao Feng, you did a great job locking the door. From now on, whenever no one’s home, always lock the kitchen.”

Chu Feng nodded enthusiastically. “You got it!”

He quickly unlocked the door.

Inside were bundles of grilled fish fillets wrapped in white cloth.

Chu Xuan stepped forward to check—the knots were the same as before, knots only she could tie.

Satisfied that nothing had been tampered with, she finally relaxed.

Chu Feng went back to his room to mend his shirt.

A little after 8 p.m., Mu Chenze arrived, pulling his cart.

He was planning to go to the city to sell goods for two more days, then take a break.

The old fishermen who could read the weather said a typhoon was coming soon.

He stood outside the gate and pushed on it. Usually, at this hour, the gate was just ajar, but tonight it was bolted.

He knocked. “Chu Xuan, come open the door!”

Chu Xuan, who’d been zoning out in the kitchen, hurried over and unbolted the gate.

“Sorry, I was a bit shaken up earlier, so I bolted the door.”

Mu Chenze looked concerned. “What happened?”

“Come in and I’ll tell you.”

“Alright.”

Mu Chenze pulled his cart into the yard and left it outside the kitchen door.

He grabbed a stool and sat in the yard.

Chu Xuan quickly made a cup of tea and handed it to him.

“No rush to drink. Tell me what happened first.”

Mu Chenze took the cup and set it on the ground.

Chu Xuan brought over a small chair and sat a meter away from him. “Two thieves came to steal from us. Before they could pick the gate lock, Xiao Feng and I caught them. One of them was Zhang Dong, acting as lookout. I don’t know who the other guy was, but judging by the voice, it was a man. Luckily, Wei Qiang arrived in time—otherwise, Zhang Dong might have stabbed me…”

At this point, Chu Xuan really felt a bit shaken, clenching her fists tightly.

Chu Feng, on the other hand, was fine. First, Chu Xuan’s larger build had blocked his view at the time, so he hadn’t seen the knife. Second, he was now absorbed in the fun of mending clothes—he hadn’t even come out when Mu Chenze knocked.

Mu Chenze asked worriedly, “Are you hurt? How’s Xiao Feng?”

Chu Xuan shook her head lightly. “Neither of us is hurt. Xiao Feng’s fine, but I’m still a bit shaken.”

Mu Chenze knew that comforting words wouldn’t help much, so he tried to distract her. He pulled a watch and a small porcelain jar from his pocket. “I bought this watch for Xiao Feng and brought you this ointment to help with fatigue. There were too many people at your house during the day, so I didn’t give them to you then. Just say you bought the watch for Xiao Feng, and the ointment is from Dr. Zhang in the county.”

If they didn’t want people to misunderstand, this was the only way.

Chu Xuan smiled as she accepted the ointment. “Thank you! You should give Xiao Feng the watch yourself and remind him to take care of it.”

She couldn’t refuse him about the watch. She’d accept this favor, but she’d definitely repay it in the future.

Mu Chenze smiled. “Alright. I’ll go in a bit. There’s something else I wanted to tell you.”

Chu Xuan rubbed the little porcelain jar. “Go ahead.”

Actually, Mu Chenze hadn’t planned to tell her, but to distract her, he decided to say it.

“Liu Dapeng from our village probably likes you.”

“What?” Chu Xuan thought she’d misheard. “Say that again?”

“Liu Dapeng likes you.”

That news successfully distracted Chu Xuan.

In her previous life, she’d never had much interaction with Liu Dapeng, and in this life, they’d only dealt with each other a few times. How could he have developed feelings for her?

“Mu Chenze, you’re joking, right?”

Mu Chenze was dead serious. “I’m not joking at all. He came to my house today to question me.”

Chu Xuan was curious. “Question you about what?”

Mu Chenze looked helpless. “He asked if there was some misunderstanding between us, if I liked you, and if I was still planning to marry you.”

“What did you say?”

“Guess.”

“I bet you said you don’t like me, you won’t marry me, and probably added something like ‘Chu Xuan is as fat as a pig, I’m as handsome as a leopard, we’re not a match at all.’”

“I’d only tease you like that to your face. I’d never describe you that way to others.”

“So what did you actually say?”

“I didn’t answer him. I just mocked him a bit. He’s thin-skinned and insecure, so he left. Just wait—once he gets over it, he might confess to you or even send someone to propose marriage.”

“Don’t scare me. There’s no way anything would happen between me and him!”

“Save that line for him.”

Seeing that he’d changed the subject enough, Mu Chenze didn’t continue and headed toward Xiao Feng’s room…

Chu Xuan felt a bit unsettled. This was the first time in two lifetimes that she’d heard someone liked her. Deep down, she was grateful for Liu Dapeng’s feelings.

But she didn’t feel anything for Liu Dapeng.

Today, Wei Qiang had helped her—she needed to thank him properly.

As for how, she hadn’t figured it out yet.

Soon, Mu Chenze returned to Chu Xuan. “Xiao Feng is really happy. He loves the watch and said he’ll show it to you after he finishes mending his last shirt.”

He picked up the teacup from the ground and took a sip.

Chu Xuan was impressed by her little brother’s sewing speed. “That fast? He’s already on the last one?”

Mu Chenze set the cup on the windowsill. “Yep. I hope we can sell them all tomorrow.”

There were over sixty pieces—whether they’d all sell depended on luck.

Chu Xuan looked concerned. “Don’t tire yourself out. Head back before noon tomorrow and get some rest. If you can’t sell them all, bring the rest here and I’ll help you sell them in the county.”

“Good buddy! Let’s pack up the fish fillets!”

After they packed up more than 300 jin of grilled fish fillets, Chu Feng came running out, wearing his new watch and bell-bottom pants, face full of excitement. “Sis, I’ve got a watch! And bell-bottoms! I’m so happy!”

He mimicked the second hand, spinning around the yard.

Just then, there was a noise outside the gate—hurried footsteps.

Chu Xuan heard it first.

“Who’s there? Who’s outside?”"