Chapter 91: A Schemer

At this moment, Chu Zhi’s left leg was twitching.

That meant he really did have some important news.

But Chu Xuan had no intention of buying information with money.

She deliberately waved the wad of cash in her hand in front of Chu Zhi, then stuffed it into her pocket.

“If you want money, that’s impossible. But I can offer you a trade—information for information.”

Chu Zhi looked intrigued. “What kind of news could you possibly have? Is it as important as mine?”

Actually, he wasn’t short on money these days. If Chu Xuan really had something big, he was more than happy to trade.

Chu Xuan smiled calmly. “A secret about Pan Xiaoli. Think that’s important?”

Chu Zhi and Pan Xiaoli were already engaged. He’d paid a 2,000 yuan bride price; all that was left was to marry her in a while.

Chu Zhi immediately said, “Deal. Let’s go somewhere with fewer people.”

He pointed to a grove of ash trees up ahead.

Chu Xuan nodded and walked that way.

As soon as they reached the edge of the woods, Chu Zhi couldn’t wait. “Hurry up, what’s Pan Xiaoli’s secret?”

Chu Xuan replied unhurriedly, “It’s definitely something important. But you tell me your news first.”

Chu Zhi’s eyes darted slyly. “No way. What if you’re tricking me?”

Chu Xuan pretended to leave. “Then forget it. I’m out of here!”

“Hey, don’t! Let’s talk this through.” Chu Zhi really wanted to know. “Fine, I’ll go first!”

Chu Xuan stopped and gave him a look that said, “Go on, then.”

Chu Zhi lowered his voice on purpose. “I just found out—the reason your mother left our village and remarried was because she got seriously ill. Treating it would’ve cost a lot, so to avoid burdening you and Chu Feng, she made up an excuse to leave. As for whether she actually remarried, I don’t know.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuan felt a pang in her heart. In her previous life, she’d never known her mother’s true reasons, not even until her death.

Luckily, her mother had outlived her last time, so her illness must have been treated in time.

“Chu Zhi, who told you this?”

“You tell me Pan Xiaoli’s secret first.”

Chu Xuan gave a mysterious smile. “Just persuade Pan Xiaoli to get a premarital checkup, and you’ll know everything.”

“What do you mean? Don’t tell me she’s not a virgin?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s more than that.”

Chu Xuan left it at that and turned to go.

Neither Pan Xiaoli nor Chu Zhi were good people—they were a match made in heaven. They hadn’t ended up together in her last life, but who knew if they would this time?

Chu Zhi called after her, “Don’t you want to know where I heard about your mom?”

“Nope.”

Chu Xuan didn’t look back and kept walking.

Seeing he couldn’t keep her in suspense, Chu Zhi finally spilled, “I overheard my mom whispering to my dad.”

He didn’t feel the least bit guilty about ratting out his own mother.

Hearing this, Chu Xuan hated Feng Chunhua even more.

She left without looking back.

When she got home, Chu Xuan took out the money from selling fish and handed it to her little brother. “Go record this in the ledger!”

She didn’t plan to tell him about their mom’s situation—no need to make him worry.

Chu Feng quickly counted the money. “Sis, you’re amazing!”

He hurried to log it.

“Xiao Feng, I’m going to bring some gifts to Liu Dapeng’s family to thank them. Want to come?”

“Of course! What should we bring?”

“Let’s take malted milk, rice, flour, some nice pork, and a bit of the cherries and bananas we just bought. We’ll keep the rest for ourselves.”

“Okay.” Chu Feng couldn’t help swallowing.

Chu Xuan saw right through him. “Craving fruit, huh? It’s right there—why not eat some?”

She noticed the cherries had water droplets on them—he must have washed them.

Chu Feng scratched his head sheepishly. “I was waiting for you to come back so we could eat together. When Brother Chenze came, I wanted to suggest washing the cherries, but you didn’t say anything, so I didn’t dare.”

Chu Xuan smacked her forehead. “I just forgot! Next time he comes over, whatever good food we have, just bring it out for him.”

“Got it.” Chu Feng put away the ledger, went to wash his hands, then picked up two cherries, handing one to Chu Xuan. “Sis, have a cherry.”

Chu Xuan took it and popped it in her mouth. “Pretty tasty.”

In her previous life, she’d eaten plenty of cherries at her in-laws’—she always had money, either sending it home or spending it freely.

But for Chu Feng, this was his first time. He put the cherry in his mouth with great reverence, chewing slowly.

“So good! Sis, cherries are the best fruit I’ve ever had.”

Chu Xuan broke off a banana, peeled it, and handed it to him. “Wait till you try this—you’ll say bananas are the best fruit you’ve ever had.”

Chu Feng took a bite, his face lighting up with happiness. “Cherries and bananas are both the best. Sis, you have some too.”

He tried to break off a banana for her, but Chu Xuan stopped him.

“I’ll eat later. Wipe your mouth, you’ve got banana on it…”

“I left it there on purpose. So people in the village will see I’ve eaten banana. I hope Feng Chunhua hears about it and gets jealous to death.”

In these days, eating bananas in the north was pure luxury.

Chu Xuan just smiled.

Ten minutes later, the siblings locked up, each carrying a basket covered with a floral cloth to hide what was inside, and set off for Liu Dapeng’s house.

On the way, they ran into Feng Chunhua.

She immediately noticed the banana smear on Chu Feng’s mouth and scowled. “Well, aren’t you living the good life, even eating expensive bananas.”

Chu Feng still had some trauma from Feng Chunhua’s beatings, but with Chu Xuan’s encouraging look, he bravely replied, “That’s right. Ever since we left your house, my sister and I are doing better and better! Not only do we have bananas, we eat pork every day, and there’s always fresh vegetables…”

Feng Chunhua’s face twisted with jealousy and resentment. If they hadn’t split the family, all of Chu Xuan’s earnings would be hers. “Chu Xuan, you’ve made so much money. You must have almost paid off the debt to the one-eyed loan shark, right?”

Chu Xuan sneered. “What’s it to you? There’s still over two thousand left. Planning to pay it off for me?”

“In your dreams! I wouldn’t pay for you! I’m here to ask—what did you say to Chu Zhi? He’s gone crazy, demanding money from me, saying you told him some big secret. He said he’d tell me after he checked it out. When I refused, he grabbed the money and ran.”

Feng Chunhua glared daggers at Chu Xuan as she spoke.

Chu Xuan hadn’t expected Chu Zhi to act so fast. “I just love seeing you anxious, so I’m not telling you.”

She pulled her brother along and kept walking.

Leaving Feng Chunhua fuming and stomping her feet.

Feng Chunhua’s biggest fear was Chu Zhi being manipulated by Chu Xuan, because she knew her son wasn’t the brightest.

She’d have to wait for him to come back and ask him herself.

She swore to herself: if her son really let Chu Xuan lead him around by the nose, she wouldn’t let Chu Xuan off.

Ten minutes later, Chu Xuan and her brother arrived at Liu Dapeng’s house.

They spotted Sheng Damei sneaking around behind the wall.

Why wasn’t this woman at home recovering? What was she doing here—looking for trouble with Liu Dapeng?

Just because he’d testified?

Chu Xuan marched over and grabbed her by the collar. “Sheng Damei, why are you everywhere? Spill it—what are you doing here?”

Sheng Damei dangled in the air, too scared to struggle. “This is a misunderstanding, put me down, let’s talk…”"