Chapter 92: The Eavesdropper

Chu Xuan didn’t think there was any misunderstanding here.

Who goes running around right after a miscarriage, and with a bruised and swollen face at that? Aren’t you embarrassed?

“If you don’t explain yourself, I’ll tell Ji Ping and have him teach you a lesson.”

“Don’t do that.” Sheng Damei was still a bit afraid of Ji Ping—after all, he was her livelihood. “I’m telling the truth. I heard Liu Dapeng went to the security team to testify that I fell down on my own. I was just curious—how did he see me that night when I didn’t see him? Where was he hiding? That’s all, I’m not here to cause trouble.”

Sheng Damei’s way of thinking left Chu Xuan speechless.

Chu Xuan let go, and Sheng Damei landed back on the ground.

Once she steadied herself, she quickly took a few steps back. “I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll come back another day to ask.”

Just then, Liu Dapeng walked out of the courtyard. “When you fell, I was behind you, hiding behind that big tree.”

Sheng Damei demanded, “Then why didn’t you come out and help me when I shouted for help?”

Liu Dapeng wanted to say it was because he’d overheard her cursing Chu Xuan, but he couldn’t say that out loud, so he made up an excuse. “I was afraid you’d try to pin it on me!”

Sheng Damei put her hands on her hips. “With how poor your family is, you’re afraid I’d pin it on you? I’m more worried about getting tangled up with your family!”

Chu Xuan glanced around Liu Dapeng’s yard. The walls looked like they’d collapse at any moment, the roof had several holes, and if it rained, the house would definitely flood. If a typhoon hit...

She tried to recall her previous life. During a typhoon, Liu Dapeng’s house had collapsed. Luckily, no one was hurt, but they’d had to stay in a vacant house owned by the village for a long time.

Chu Xuan decided she’d mention to Grandpa Wang that before the typhoon season, the villagers should reinforce their houses or temporarily move out.

Liu Dapeng, feeling inferior, said, “My family really is poor. Please leave, so you don’t catch any of our bad luck.”

Sheng Damei stomped her foot hard. “Liu Dapeng, you’re something else!”

She stormed off in a huff.

Chu Xuan and Chu Feng exchanged a glance, both wondering if Sheng Damei was a little unhinged.

But neither of them said it out loud.

Chu Xuan turned to Liu Dapeng. “My brother and I came by today to thank you for testifying for me.”

She handed him a basket.

Liu Dapeng refused, waving his hands. “We’re all from the same village, there’s no need! Take these nice things back. And actually, I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t stepped in just now, who knows what kind of scene Sheng Damei would have made.”

“Maybe she really just wanted you to clear things up for her,” Chu Xuan said, giving Chu Feng a look to signal him to leave the basket and go.

Chu Feng nodded in understanding.

The two of them put the basket down almost at the same time and took off running.

As she ran, Chu Xuan called back, “Liu Dapeng, if you dare try to return this, I’ll just throw it all away! I’m not afraid to waste it, so go ahead and try!”

Liu Dapeng could only look on helplessly. He knew Chu Xuan was tough and meant what she said.

He could only shout after them, “Alright, I’ll keep it! I’ll return the basket another day!”

He lifted the little floral cloth on top and saw rice, flour, pork, fruit, and nutritional supplements. He couldn’t help but wipe away a tear.

His family was so poor they barely had anything to eat—this was a godsend.

He carried the two baskets into his mother’s room...

Chu Xuan told her little brother to go home first while she went to talk to Grandpa Wang...

At ten that night, Mu Chenze arrived at Chu Xuan’s house with a handcart.

He also brought Chu Feng a brand new men’s Dacron shirt—one without any holes.

He said it was a reward for mending clothes.

Chu Feng was so happy he spun around in place.

This time, Chu Xuan didn’t bring up paying Mu Chenze.

If she tried to pay, Mu Chenze would just mention giving Xiao Feng a share of the profits again.

She had already made six meat-filled flatbreads for Mu Chenze as a late-night snack.

Mu Chenze happily accepted them.

He loaded up all the grilled fish fillets and got ready to leave.

Chu Xuan said quietly, “No one in the village is gossiping about the watch or about us. But I’m sure someone was eavesdropping last night. Who could it be?”

Mu Chenze snapped his fingers. “Then I think I know who it was.”

“Who?”

“It was probably Liu Dapeng. I’ll ask him next time.”

“Don’t. No need to make things awkward.”

“What’s so awkward about it? Wasn’t he embarrassed when he was eavesdropping? No need to indulge his bad habits.”

“Whatever the case, he helped me. Let’s just let it go.”

“Fine.”

That’s what Mu Chenze said, but he didn’t really think so.

He felt he needed to give Liu Dapeng a good scare, make him give up for good. Otherwise, he might keep lurking outside Chu Xuan’s house at night.

Liu Dapeng could afford to lose his reputation, but Chu Xuan’s reputation had to be protected!

The next morning, a little after six, Chu Xuan put on a blue short-sleeved sports outfit and went out to exercise.

She drew quite a few looks from the villagers.

Everyone who saw Chu Xuan thought she looked slimmer and prettier than before.

Word spread quickly throughout the fishing village.

When Chu Xuan got home, she drank her herbal medicine and ate breakfast, but didn’t rest.

Several young wives from the village came to ask where she’d bought her sportswear.

Chu Xuan didn’t keep it a secret and told them honestly: the tailor shop in the county town, thirty yuan a set.

When they heard the price, most people balked.

But a few still went to the county to order sportswear.

By noon, no one else came to ask, and Chu Xuan and her brother finally started making lunch.

Stir-fried cucumber with wood ear mushrooms and eggs, millet porridge with red dates, and steamed buns.

It was Chu Feng’s first time eating wood ear mushrooms, and he was drooling with anticipation.

Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, they heard Chu Zhi’s voice outside the gate.

“Chu Xuan, come out! Chu Xuan! I need to talk to you!”

Chu Feng frowned. “What’s that jerk doing here? Sis, don’t go out! Let’s eat! Food tastes best while it’s hot.”

Chu Xuan patted his shoulder. “You eat first. I’ll go see what he wants.”

She figured Chu Zhi probably really did have something to discuss.

When she got to the gate, she saw Chu Zhi standing properly outside.

The gate was open, but he hadn’t come in. Was he being polite, or did he want something?

“Go ahead, what do you want?”

Chu Zhi rubbed his hands together, looking awkward. “Um... I just wanted to discuss something with you. About my... private matter, can you not tell anyone?”

Chu Xuan was puzzled. “I don’t recall saying I’d tell anyone. Aren’t you just making things up?”

“No, no. Yesterday I took Pan Xiaoli for a premarital checkup, and she really does have a problem—she can’t have children. My family asked to break off the engagement, but the Pan family wouldn’t agree and said they’d come ask you about my family, so I wanted to give you a heads-up. If you keep my secret, I’ll give you fifty yuan as a thank-you. If that’s not enough, I can make it a hundred.”

After all, the bride price was 2,000 yuan. As long as the Pan family couldn’t find any dirt on him, he could get it all back.

And Pan Xiaoli not only couldn’t have children, she wasn’t a “proper” woman either.

Chu Xuan immediately understood—Chu Zhi hadn’t ratted her out. “Are you coming to ask me yourself, or did Feng Chunhua send you? If she sent you, I’m not agreeing!”

Chu Zhi blurted out, “I came on my own. My mom doesn’t know.”

Chu Xuan did hate Chu Zhi, but she wouldn’t turn down his money!

“Two hundred yuan! Not a cent less!”

Chu Zhi’s eyes widened in shock. “Two hundred? You really dare to ask that much? If I give you two hundred, can you promise never to mention my secret again—swear it on your life?”"