Chapter 97: Do You Have Something on Your Mind?

Chu Xuan was puzzled. Wasn’t it just that she hadn’t lent all the family’s money to Liu Zhaodi?

She’d already lent out 1,500 yuan!

In this era, 1,500 yuan was a huge sum.

Why was Xiao Feng reacting so strongly?

He was even looking at her with such resentment?

All that care for nothing, she thought.

Chu Xuan was so angry her chest hurt.

She couldn’t help but scold, “All you know is to lend all our money to others. Have you ever thought about our own family’s needs?”

Chu Feng stiffened his neck, looking defiant. “Of course I’ve thought about it! We could take out our savings and lend them to Liu Zhaodi, just keep a few hundred for living expenses, your medicine, and business funds—that’s plenty! Don’t forget, Liu Zhaodi’s mom has a tumor! She needs surgery! If we’re too late, she could die!”

Chu Xuan felt she couldn’t keep hiding the truth about their own mother’s illness.

“All you do is worry about other people’s mothers! Why don’t you worry about your own?”

“She abandoned us, why should I care about her?”

Hearing this, Chu Xuan almost wanted to slap him, but held back—after all, she was the one who’d kept it secret.

“To keep you from feeling guilty or worried, I never told you the real reason Mom left. She got seriously ill and needed a lot of money. She didn’t want to burden you or me, so she left under the pretense of remarrying.”

“Who told you that?”

“I overheard it from Feng Chunhua! And yesterday, Uncle Wu called—Mom just had surgery. Right now, she can’t see and can’t speak, and needs time to recover. Two years ago, she had surgery once already. You’re so eager to lend money for someone else’s surgery, but have you ever thought about where Mom’s surgery money came from? Whether she needs our help? Even if she won’t ask us for money, we can’t just do nothing, can we? She’s our real mom!”

Chu Feng was deeply shaken by this. “How could Mom get so sick? She left years ago—why did she only have surgery two years ago? Was it because she couldn’t afford it? And now another surgery this year? Is it that serious...”

Chu Xuan sighed. “I don’t know the details either. Uncle Wu said he’ll contact me again in a while.”

Chu Feng was overwhelmed, never expecting that all the resentment he’d held toward his mother was misplaced. “Who’s Uncle Wu?”

“He’s the man Mom remarried. Don’t be too quick to judge her for remarrying—there’s more to it. She went abroad for treatment, and I suspect she needed Uncle Wu’s identity to do that.”

“Going abroad for treatment must cost a fortune. Sis, I regret lending money to Liu Zhaodi now. If I’d known, I would’ve saved it for Mom. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I want to get the money back.”

Chu Feng started crying, full of remorse.

Chu Xuan patted his shoulder to comfort him. “I only found out the truth myself a couple of days ago. I didn’t tell you right away because I didn’t want you to worry. As for the money we lent Liu Zhaodi, what’s done is done—we can’t ask for it back. Just don’t blame me for being heartless, okay? I’m going to the shore this afternoon to see if I can find anything good.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“You stay home and catch up on your studies. Once you’re all caught up, I’ll take you with me. I’m sure Mom would want you to start fourth grade smoothly when school starts.”

That successfully motivated Chu Feng.

“I’ll go read right now.”

He ran back to his room.

Chu Xuan went to the kitchen to make lunch.

An hour later, lunch was ready.

Braised pork belly with eggplant and potatoes, tomato and egg soup, and white steamed buns.

After lunch, Chu Xuan went out for a walk to help digest.

She happened to overhear villagers talking.

“I heard Liu Zhaodi left by carriage.”

“Did she get the money or not?”

“Who knows? Do you have money to lend her, or do I?”

Chu Xuan guessed Liu Zhaodi had managed to borrow enough.

When she reached the creek, she ran into Mu Chenze fetching water.

No one else was around.

“Chu Xuan, did you lend money to Liu Zhaodi?”

“I did. Did your family lend her money too?”

“Yeah. My mom was feeling generous and lent her 2,500 yuan. How much did you lend her?”

“Can I not say? Can you not pry into other people’s business?”

“Nope. Not allowed! Tell me, or I’ll just give you cash. No need for you to tighten your belt just to get by.”

Only then did Chu Xuan realize Mu Chenze wasn’t trying to pry, but was worried about her after lending out the money.

“Thanks for your concern. I lent Liu Zhaodi 1,500 yuan, but I still have money left. I’ve made quite a bit lately, you know that.”

“You did the right thing this time. No matter how close a friend is, you can’t lend out all your savings. She can borrow from more than just you.”

“I get it. You’d better get that water home! I’ll walk along the creek for a bit to help digest.”

Mu Chenze looked her up and down. “Is something bothering you? From what I know of you, if Liu Zhaodi’s family was desperate, you’d have lent her even more.”

Chu Xuan rubbed her face. “Is it that obvious?”

“So you do have something on your mind.”

“That’s right. But I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Then tell me when you’re ready. I’m off.”

Mu Chenze didn’t press further, just carried his buckets away.

Chu Xuan continued her walk.

An hour later, she returned home, locked the door, and got ready for a nap.

She had no idea Mu Chenze had come and gone.

Because Mu Chenze and Chu Feng had agreed to keep it secret.

At that moment, Mu Chenze was at Ji Ping’s house.

“Pingzi, how much savings do you have left?”

“A little over two thousand. Why?”

“Don’t spend it. Save it for me—I might need to borrow it soon.”

“That’s the money I saved to buy a bigger boat.”

“You haven’t bought it yet, have you?”

“Fine. I’ll hold it for you, but only for three months.”

“Deal.” Mu Chenze pulled a passbook from his pocket. “Keep this for me. I’m afraid my mom will find it.”

Ji Ping took it. “Your secret stash?”

He opened it—three thousand yuan.

Mu Chenze smiled calmly. “Yep, my secret stash. No one knows but you. Keep it a secret.”

“Of course. But tell me, what do you need so much money for? You’re not buying a truck again, are you?”

“No. Maybe it’ll save a life, maybe it won’t be needed.”

“Whose life?”

“You’ll know when the time comes. Just keep it safe.”

“Alright.”

Ji Ping walked over to a floor tile, pried it up, and revealed a rectangular iron box...

He’d just hidden the passbook and replaced the tile when there was a frantic knock at the door.

“Ji Ping! Open up! My mom’s not going to make it! She wants to see you one last time.”

It was Sheng Damei’s voice.

Ji Ping hurried to open the door.

Mu Chenze couldn’t be bothered with Sheng Damei’s family matters. “I’m leaving!”

He thought Sheng Damei was probably lying—only Ji Ping would believe her.

He left without looking back.

Ji Ping locked the courtyard gate and followed Sheng Damei to see Li Qin.

That afternoon, as Chu Xuan was heading out with her basket to the shore, she heard villagers saying Sheng Damei’s mother had fallen and died.

Chu Xuan was puzzled. In her previous life, Li Qin hadn’t died so soon—she’d gotten sick and died three months later, not from a fall.

What was going on this time?

Could there be more to the story?"