Chapter 88: Worlds Apart

Chu Xuan and Mu Chenze dashed toward the courtyard gate almost at the same time, with Chu Feng close on their heels.

When they got outside, there was no one in sight.

Mu Chenze joked, “Maybe we just imagined it?”

Chu Xuan was sure of herself. “No way. I definitely heard someone. I just don’t know how much they overheard.”

If someone heard about Mu Chenze giving Chu Feng that watch and spread it around...

Mu Chenze didn’t seem concerned. “Even if rumors start, it’s fine. As long as Xiao Feng insists you bought the watch, it’ll be okay. As for me helping you sell grilled fish fillets, everyone knows about that already, so I’m not worried. But... if word gets out that Liu Dapeng likes you...”

Suddenly, Chu Feng piped up, “Could it be that thief who picked the lock and got away? Maybe he came back to stake out the place?”

“I doubt it,” Chu Xuan said, glancing at Mu Chenze. “Can you stay here with Xiao Feng for a bit? I’ll go to the village office and ask if they caught the other thief.”

The security team would definitely have informed Grandpa Wang, the village chief.

She made to leave, but Mu Chenze stopped her.

“You and Xiao Feng stay home and lock the gate. I’ll go ask.”

Before Chu Xuan could reply, he dashed off.

Unable to stop him, Chu Xuan did as he said.

She and Chu Feng kept busy, packing over sixty men’s shirts into a bundle and loading them onto a handcart.

Before Mu Chenze reached the village office, he saw someone hurrying over with a flashlight.

As they got closer, he realized it was Gao Meijuan and Wang Depin.

After asking, he learned that both thieves had been taken away by the security team. The couple was on their way to check on Chu Xuan and her brother.

Mu Chenze guessed that the eavesdropper at the gate earlier was probably someone from the village.

If rumors about him and Chu Xuan started spreading tomorrow, it shouldn’t be hard to trace the source.

He accompanied the Wang couple to Chu Xuan’s house.

After knocking, Mu Chenze saw a new, large bundle on the handcart and immediately knew what it was. Without lingering, he took the cart and left.

The Wang couple, of course, expressed their concern and comforted Chu Xuan and her brother.

Chu Xuan took the opportunity to ask Wang Depin if, in the future, any new housing plots could be allocated near her home.

Wang Depin agreed without hesitation and promised to choose good, easygoing neighbors.

Gao Meijuan glanced at the kitchen, noting there were still over five hundred jin of grilled fish fillets left. She figured they’d be sold out in a few days, so she didn’t say much more...

At five the next morning, someone knocked on the door.

So much for Chu Xuan’s plan to sleep in.

“Who is it? Knocking so early?”

She grumbled inwardly but got up to answer.

Outside, Feng Shuai’s apologetic voice called, “Sorry to bother you so early! I heard you’re almost out of grilled fish fillets, and I was worried they’d be gone if I came later, so I rushed over.”

Chu Xuan opened the door. “Who told you that?”

She saw Feng Shuai holding two baskets and carrying a large pack on his back.

He grinned. “Hua Daling, of course.”

“How’d you run into her?”

“I went to her place last night to ask about something. I happened to ask about the fish fillets, and she said you’d definitely sell out in the next couple of days.”

“You went to Hua Daling’s place—didn’t stop by Feng Chunhua’s?”

“No way! Let’s weigh out two hundred jin of fish fillets. Grandpa Qi will be by with the cart soon. Here’s the money—count it.”

He handed her a stack of bills.

Chu Xuan counted: three hundred and twenty yuan.

She pocketed it.

She scooped half a basin of water, washed her hands, and dried them before starting to weigh the fish fillets.

“Feng Shuai, the baskets and pack you brought might not be enough.”

“I know. Actually, I already went to Liu Zhaodi’s house, but her door was locked. Could you lend me two baskets or a big pack? Oh, and before I came here, I checked on Qin Xuehong. She’s not doing well—had to be rushed to the ER again. She pulled through, but the doctor said her chances of waking up are even slimmer.”

Hearing the news she wanted, Chu Xuan became much more generous. “No problem. I’ll give you a big pack and a piece of white cloth for wrapping the fish fillets—free of charge.”

Feng Shuai knew what Chu Xuan cared about; they were on the same page regarding Qin Xuehong. “That’s great! Thanks!”

Chu Xuan waved it off.

Soon, they’d weighed out two hundred jin of fish fillets, wrapped them in white cloth, and packed them into two baskets and the big pack.

Just then, Grandpa Qi arrived with the cart. Chu Xuan helped load everything up.

After seeing them off, Chu Xuan was wide awake. She brewed some herbal medicine and started making breakfast.

Her plan was to eat, take her medicine, then catch a ride on the village tractor to the town security office to give her statement, and then take the bus to the county to buy supplies and check if the two tracksuits were ready. As for the herbal medicine, she could brew more tomorrow or the day after—she still had some left at home.

She’d be back by afternoon, just in time to go to the shore.

At around 7:30 a.m., Chu Xuan and her brother set out with money, each carrying a pack.

They headed to the village entrance to catch the tractor.

As luck would have it, Liu Dapeng was driving again.

This time, he didn’t stop right away, but he did slow down.

Chu Xuan jogged after him. “Liu Dapeng, could you give me and my brother a ride to town? We’ll pay you.”

She didn’t deliberately distance herself just because Mu Chenze guessed Liu Dapeng liked her. She treated him as usual.

Liu Dapeng finally braked, looking a bit awkward. “You two can ride in the back. No need to pay.”

Chu Feng politely thanked him and climbed in.

Liu Dapeng replied, “No need to be so polite.”

He didn’t say another word.

Chu Xuan had to put in some effort to climb up herself.

Since he refused the fare, she didn’t insist—she’d bring a gift to thank him in person later.

They didn’t talk for the rest of the ride.

A little after eight, Chu Xuan and her brother left the security office, having finished their statements.

She asked around and learned that Zhang Dong and a man named Xie San had committed the crime together.

Her house was their first stop.

They’d planned to rob her, then Mu Chenze’s house.

Unexpectedly, they got caught at her door.

They’d chosen her because Zhang Dong knew she’d made good money selling grilled fish fillets, and they’d had bad blood before.

However, Chu Xuan didn’t see her savior Wei Qiang today—he was away on business.

She and her brother went straight to the credit union to deposit money.

She’d already put five hundred yuan in the county bank; now she deposited another two thousand at the town credit union.

That left them with over four thousand yuan in cash, but they still needed to pay Ji Ping 1,200 yuan for fish.

There was also Mu Chenze’s share of the profits—at least seven hundred yuan, but she’d have to wait until the remaining three hundred jin of fish fillets sold tomorrow to calculate exactly.

After buying half a month’s worth of supplies, they should still have around two thousand yuan in cash.

In such a short time, after covering medical and daily expenses, she’d managed to save several thousand. Chu Xuan was very satisfied.

Plus, with that valuable piece of amber, she felt confident.

The two remaining mud-brick rooms at home would definitely have to be torn down and rebuilt, but not yet—at least not until after October.

By then, the grilled fish fillet workshop would be closed, making it the perfect time to build...

A little after noon, Chu Xuan and her brother returned home, each carrying two full packs.

There was a roast chicken in one pack, and they had white steamed buns at home. Soon, they’d cook a pot of vegetable and egg dumpling soup—a pretty good lunch.

Chu Feng took charge of making the soup.

Chu Xuan sorted and put away their purchases.

After lunch, Chu Xuan took some money and headed to Ji Ping’s house, knowing he’d be home early today.

Just as she reached his gate, she saw a woman standing in the yard, her back to Chu Xuan.

Bad timing?

Why did that back look so familiar?

It was Sheng Damei!

Wasn’t she supposed to be recovering in the hospital? What was she doing here?

Chu Xuan racked her brain for anything she remembered about Ji Ping and Sheng Damei, in this life or the last.

Nothing came up.

As far as she remembered, those two had nothing to do with each other!"