Chapter 93: Hush Money

As expected, you can’t get ivory from a dog’s mouth.

Chu Zhi was as vicious as ever.

He thought he could buy her silence and get her to swear an oath for just 200 yuan? Dream on!

Chu Xuan sneered, “Do you think I’m someone who’s short on money? 200 yuan will only guarantee I won’t mention your secret in front of the Pan family. As for anything else, forget it!”

Chu Zhi cursed her in his heart, but didn’t dare say anything out loud—he couldn’t afford to offend her right now.

Compared to 2,000 yuan, 200 yuan was nothing.

Besides, he’d just forced a few hundred yuan from his mother yesterday, and after spending some, he still had over 200 left—just enough to pay this hush money.

With a pained expression, he pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket, counted out 200 yuan, and handed it to Chu Xuan.

“Count it.”

Chu Xuan took the money with a look of disdain and counted it. “That’s right, 200 yuan. I’ll keep your secret in front of the Pan family.”

“You’d better keep your word. Otherwise, I’ll come back and demand my 200 yuan.”

“If you say one more word, I’ll throw the money in your face and stop keeping your secret!”

“Alright, alright! I’m leaving.”

Chu Zhi slunk away, cursing himself for feeling more and more powerless in front of Chu Xuan.

He fantasized that one day, he’d finally get his revenge and put her in her place!

Chu Xuan took the money back to her room and put it on the table. “Xiao Feng, look, this is what we just earned!”

Xiao Feng hadn’t gone out just now, but he’d been listening in and knew this was hush money.

“Money from that jerk—no reason not to take it! I’ll go put it away.”

He made to get up, but Chu Xuan stopped him. “No need to put it away. In a bit, we’ll take this 200 yuan to the county and spend it however we want. Buy whatever you like!”

Unexpected windfalls are meant to be spent freely.

Besides, it was Chu Zhi’s money—spending it didn’t just feel painless, it felt amazing!

Xiao Feng cheered. “Awesome!”

He wanted to buy one of those new backpacks with five big red characters on it, and a new set of clothes, and a pair of canvas shoes...

Half an hour later, after lunch, the two of them took the money, slung their baskets on their backs, and locked up the house.

First, they took a horse cart to town, then transferred to a bus to the county.

Once there, they headed straight for the department store.

Whatever Xiao Feng wanted, Chu Xuan bought it for him.

After shopping, Xiao Feng accompanied Chu Xuan to see the old Chinese medicine doctor.

Dr. Zhang greeted Chu Xuan warmly. “My niece’s grilled fish snacks are selling well. She wanted to call you for more stock, but I stopped her. I’ll keep an eye on the weather and told her to wait until typhoon season is over before restocking. You should also pay attention to the weather for your business—don’t keep too much inventory.”

Chu Xuan was grateful. “Thank you for the reminder. If all goes well, we’ll sell out of our stock today.”

“That’s good.”

Dr. Zhang took her pulse—it was noticeably better this time.

He adjusted her prescription, and considering the weather, gave her enough medicine for half a month.

By a little after 5 p.m., Chu Xuan and her brother returned home, their baskets full of supplies.

Just as they finished unpacking and were about to cook dinner, Mu Chenze knocked on the door.

“I’m here to bring you the sales money. We made 560 yuan today—it’s all here. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the big ham.”

He’d wanted to bring the money over in the morning, but he’d been too tired and had to catch up on sleep.

Even though they didn’t get the ham, Xiao Feng still thanked Mu Chenze, took the money, checked it, and went to the bedroom to record it.

Chu Xuan called Mu Chenze in to calculate the profits from the grilled fish and seafood sales together.

Unexpectedly, Mu Chenze named a flat price—he only wanted 700 yuan. He refused to take any extra.

Chu Xuan wanted to argue, but Mu Chenze cut her off by insisting that Xiao Feng should get a share of the profits.

Mu Chenze emphasized again that without Xiao Feng’s acupuncture skills, he would have lost hundreds of yuan.

In the end, Mu Chenze only took 700 yuan, and as for any old debts between them, he said to forget about it.

Chu Xuan invited him to stay for dinner, but he politely declined.

After seeing him off, Chu Xuan and her brother started preparing dinner.

There was still a piece of yesterday’s ham left, so they planned to make homemade noodles with vegetables and ham.

Chu Xuan was just about to knead the dough when there was a knock at the door.

She put down the ladle and went out to the yard, where she saw Pan Xiaoli standing at the gate.

Chu Xuan felt no guilt about indirectly causing Pan Xiaoli’s engagement to Chu Zhi to be broken off—if anything, she might have just saved Pan Xiaoli’s life.

Pan Xiaoli’s eyes were red and swollen; she’d clearly been crying.

“Chu Xuan, how did you find out my secret? Why did you tell Chu Zhi?”

Chu Xuan guessed that Feng Chunhua must have said something to Pan Xiaoli.

She wasn’t about to admit anything and fall into Feng Chunhua’s trap. She spread her hands. “How could I possibly know your secret? What did I supposedly tell Chu Zhi? Feng Chunhua and Chu Zhi have always been at odds with me and love to throw mud at me—everyone in the village knows that. By the way, you’re from the next village, so maybe you don’t know how their family has tormented me and my little brother?”

Pan Xiaoli looked a bit embarrassed. “I’ve heard a little.”

Chu Zhi used to brag to her about how he beat and scolded Chu Xuan and her brother.

Chu Xuan’s expression turned serious. “Since you’ve heard, why would you believe anything Feng Chunhua and her lot say?”

“Of course I don’t believe them, otherwise I wouldn’t have come to ask you myself.” Pan Xiaoli’s eyes darted around, and she lowered her voice. “Do you know any secrets about Chu Zhi’s family? If you tell me, I’ll give you ten yuan as a thank-you.”

“I really don’t know. If I did, I wouldn’t have left the family with nothing when we split up. Later, I found out my dad wasn’t Feng Chunhua’s biological son, and with the help of the security team and the village chief, I got my dad’s compensation back. Maybe you should ask someone else?”

Pan Xiaoli looked disappointed. “Alright. Now that Chu Zhi wants to break off the engagement, do you have any advice for me?”

“You’re pretty and have a good figure—Chu Zhi doesn’t deserve you. Breaking off the engagement is a good thing for you!”

“But his family has money!”

“You can find someone even richer in the future! There’s no need to waste your energy on a man like that. He’s lazy, violent, and only fit to be a lifelong bachelor. He used to beat me and my brother badly—if those fists landed on you, do you think you could take it?”

That finally got through to Pan Xiaoli.

“Thank you for your advice.”

She turned and left.

Chu Xuan glanced at the big tree not far away—Chu Zhi was hiding behind it, eavesdropping.

Once Pan Xiaoli was out of sight, Chu Zhi came out from behind the tree, furious. “Chu Xuan, are you just hoping I’ll be single forever? What did you say to Pan Xiaoli? Not a single nice word! She’ll definitely spread it around. And you clearly told me to take her to the hospital, but you won’t admit it...”

Chu Xuan sneered, “Anyway, I didn’t reveal your secret. Why should I admit anything? After the way you used to treat me and Xiao Feng, do you think you deserve my help? Get lost!”

Chu Zhi’s fingers trembled with rage. “You turn on people faster than flipping a page! I paid you 200 yuan! Can’t you at least talk nicely to me?”

“Nope! The 200 yuan’s time is up. Off you go!”

Chu Xuan lifted her foot, pretending to kick him.

He ran off in a panic.

Chu Xuan was in a great mood.

In her previous life, Chu Zhi spent her allowance and never had a kind word for her. Today, she finally made him taste his own medicine!

Just as she was about to head back inside, she heard Accountant Wen’s voice from nearby.

“Chu Xuan, there’s a phone call for you at the village office! It’s a man, but he wouldn’t give his name. He’ll call again in fifteen minutes!”

“Thank you for coming all this way. I’ll head over now.”

Chu Xuan called out to her brother and hurried to the village office.

Who could be calling her?"