Chapter 94: A Lover at Heart

On this day in her previous life, it seemed no one had called her.

But this time around, because she was reborn, some things had changed.

Could it be someone placing an order? That didn’t seem right.

If it were about an order, the caller would have given their name.

About ten minutes later, the village office phone rang again. Chu Xuan picked up.

A deep male voice came through the receiver. “Hello, comrade. I’m looking for Chu Xuan.”

Chu Xuan was certain—across both her lives, this was the first time she’d ever heard this voice. She didn’t know the man on the other end.

“Hello, this is Chu Xuan. May I ask who you are and what you need?”

The voice replied, “I’m Wu Bingcheng, your mother Tian Xiaoyun’s current husband. Your mother just received your letter. Right now, she can’t write back—she can only use sign language and can’t speak. She asked me to tell you that once she recovers, she’ll come back to see you and Xiao Feng as soon as possible.”

In her previous life, Chu Xuan had never written to her mother, so she’d never received a call from Wu Bingcheng.

A suspicion formed in Chu Xuan’s mind. “Did my mother have surgery on both her eyes and throat? I just found out yesterday that she left me and my little brother because she was seriously ill.”

“That’s right. The surgery was a success.”

“Uncle Wu, could you please tell me everything about my mother’s situation? Did you only just manage to scrape together the surgery fees, which is why the operation was delayed until now? Where is my mother hospitalized? I want to visit her. Also, I’ve earned a few thousand yuan—I can help pay for her medication…”

In her previous life, Chu Xuan had never thought about her birth mother’s well-being. In this life, she wanted to make it up to her.

“We have enough money, your mother and I. It’s not that the surgery was delayed until now—she actually had one two years ago. The details can wait until you two meet in person. Right now, your mother and I are overseas. It’s not easy to arrange the paperwork to return, so just wait at home for now. At the latest, we’ll be back in three months. It’s not easy for you to contact us, but I have a way to reach you. I’ll call every so often. I have something else to take care of here, so I’ll hang up now.”

Before Chu Xuan could respond, the call was already disconnected.

She hadn’t expected that her mother had been fighting illness all these years.

She’d have to work even harder in the future—she had to help shoulder some of her mother’s medical expenses.

For now, she decided not to tell her little brother, so he wouldn’t worry.

When she got home, her brother had already cooked hand-pulled noodles with ham and vegetables.

The two of them enjoyed a delicious meal together.

After eating, just as Chu Xuan was about to clear the dishes, Liu Dapeng’s voice came from outside.

“Chu Xuan, are you home? I’m here to return your baskets.”

Chu Feng took the dishes from Chu Xuan’s hands. “Sis, you go see him—I’ll clean up.”

Chu Xuan nodded and walked out of the kitchen. At the gate, she saw two baskets on the ground, each half-filled with freshly dug peanuts, still covered in dirt.

Liu Dapeng stood outside the gate, looking a little embarrassed. “These are peanuts from my uncle’s farm. He gave us a lot, so I brought some for you and Xiao Feng to try.”

Before Chu Xuan could say anything, he turned and ran off.

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but smile. Liu Dapeng was getting more and more awkward around her.

She loved boiled peanuts, so she planned to boil half of them the next morning and dry the rest for roasting later.

She had no idea that, on his way home, Liu Dapeng ran into Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze stopped him and got straight to the point. “Liu Dapeng, you were the one eavesdropping outside Chu Xuan’s house that night, weren’t you?”

Liu Dapeng was about to deny it, but Mu Chenze cut him off. “If you’re a man, don’t lie!”

Liu Dapeng had to be a man, so he admitted it. “Yes, it was me. I won’t linger outside her house anymore. I overheard—she doesn’t like me. I swear, I won’t bother her again.”

Mu Chenze suddenly realized all the words of advice he’d prepared were useless.

Liu Dapeng was giving up on pursuing Chu Xuan just like that?

Guess it wasn’t true love after all!

“Chu Xuan and I are good friends. If I ever catch you lurking outside her house again, don’t blame me if my fists don’t recognize you!”

He waved his fist at Liu Dapeng.

Liu Dapeng hung his head. “Got it. Can I go now?”

Mu Chenze stepped aside. “Go on.”

After walking a short distance, Liu Dapeng suddenly turned back. “If one day I can make as much money as you, I’ll pursue her! Chasing after someone and pestering them aren’t the same thing.”

Only then did Mu Chenze realize he hadn’t given up. “Even if you make a lot of money, Chu Xuan still won’t marry you!”

“Why not?”

“Because Chu Xuan doesn’t plan to marry anyone in this lifetime.”

Liu Dapeng clenched his fists, his eyes full of determination. “If she stays single, so will I. If she never marries, I’ll stay single my whole life!”

With that, he walked away without looking back.

Mu Chenze was stunned. Was Liu Dapeng really a hopeless romantic? Do men really like chubby girls?

Whatever. As long as he didn’t disturb Chu Xuan’s life, it was fine.

Still, he had no intention of telling Chu Xuan about this.

The next morning, Hua Daling came running to Chu Xuan’s house.

“Xiao Xuan, I have something to tell you—Chu Zhi and Pan Xiaoli broke off their engagement. Out of the 2,000 yuan betrothal gift, they only got 1,800 back. The other 200 was kept as compensation for Pan Xiaoli’s reputation. I heard Pan Xiaoli can’t have children, and she’s not a virgin…”

Chu Xuan had just finished boiling peanuts and scooped a plateful for Hua Daling. “Aunt Hua, these are this year’s fresh peanuts. Try some while they’re hot. I already know about Chu Zhi and Pan Xiaoli. Pan Xiaoli came to see me, asking if there were any skeletons in Chu Zhi’s family closet. If she’d found something, she planned to use it as an excuse not to return the betrothal money.”

Hua Daling held the plate in both hands, her nose tingling with emotion. Peanuts were precious—she usually saved them for oil or trading for oil, never just boiled to eat. This was only her second time eating them like this; the first was also at Chu Xuan’s house, but those had been shelled. This time, they were still in their shells.

“Thank you, Xiao Xuan! I’m really going to eat them!”

“Go ahead!”

With Chu Xuan’s permission, Hua Daling reverently cracked open a peanut shell, careful not to drop any, and popped the peanuts into her mouth, savoring them slowly.

“Boiling them in the shell makes them even tastier! So fragrant!”

After three peanuts, she felt embarrassed to eat more.

Chu Xuan also served a plate each for herself and her brother. “Don’t hold back, I boiled five or six jin. Aunt Hua, eat as much as you want—there’s more in the pot. I’ll pack some for you to take home later.”

Aunt Hua smiled and waved her hands. “I can’t eat and take at the same time! Let me finish telling you about Chu Zhi’s family. Because the Pan family kept 200 yuan, Feng Chunhua stood at her door and cursed for over an hour—my ears are still ringing. If she’s so tough, why doesn’t she go curse at the Pan family instead of making trouble at home?”

Chu Xuan nibbled on peanuts as she replied, “If she dared curse at the Pan family, they’d beat her up.”

Hua Daling added, “Oh, and she’s been telling everyone that it was you who suggested Chu Zhi take Pan Xiaoli to the hospital for a checkup. Just be prepared in case the Pan family comes looking for you…”

“I’ve already explained it to Pan Xiaoli. I told her Feng Chunhua has a grudge against me and is just trying to smear my name. She understood and didn’t make trouble for me.”

“That’s good. I just came to give you a heads-up. I’ll get going now!”

Hua Daling got up to leave, but Chu Xuan insisted on packing her a plate of boiled peanuts.

Unable to refuse, Aunt Hua accepted them.

After walking a ways, she suddenly remembered something and smacked her forehead. “Look at my memory!”

She hurried back to Chu Xuan’s house.

Lowering her voice, she said, “Xiao Xuan, I almost forgot—Feng Chunhua is going to Haishi next month. I didn’t catch the exact date, but I heard her telling Chu Zhi and Chu Dashan to keep it a secret and not to tell anyone.”"