Chapter 106: He’s Really Impressive

Qi Hong thought that by saying what she did, she could convince everyone she hadn’t stolen anything.

But as soon as she finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck down, hitting the heel of Qi Hong’s shoe.

If her shoe hadn’t slipped off at that exact moment, her heel would’ve definitely been injured.

The lightning didn’t strike Chu Xuan, but it almost hit Qi Hong.

Everyone started talking at once.

“Qi Hong, you’d better stop dragging the heavens into this. See, you got struck!”

“She must be lying. Even the heavens can’t stand it!”

“Qi Hong, you stole Chu Xuan’s catch. Hurry up and return it, or the heavens will strike you again.”

Frightened, Qi Hong scrambled to her feet, now barefoot on one side.

Still, she insisted, “I didn’t steal! If you’ve got the guts, strike me again, heavens!”

She figured the lightning was just a coincidence.

As long as she didn’t admit it, no one could do anything to her.

People whispered among themselves, marveling at how Qi Hong even dared to provoke the heavens.

They all kept their distance, afraid another bolt might strike and they’d get caught up in it, but they also wanted to see what would happen next.

After a while, no more lightning came.

Qi Hong laughed, “See? The heavens didn’t strike me again, which means I didn’t steal! Chu Xuan’s falsely accusing me! Everyone, make way. I’m taking this catch to sell at Li Tong’s house.”

She was about to pick up her basket.

Chu Xuan grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up.

“Qi Hong, since you say this catch is yours, tell us what’s in it. What are the characteristics of each type of seafood? I can accurately describe every single one.”

Qi Hong tried to peek, but Chu Xuan spun her around so her back was to the basket.

She had no choice but to retort, “If you’re so capable, you say it first!”

Just then, Wang Depin, dressed in a raincoat and boots, came over. Mu Chenze had just gone to inform him that someone tricked Chu Xuan by saying Gao Meijuan had fallen into the sea, luring her away so her catch could be stolen.

“Qi Hong, I’ll give you one more chance! If you still won’t admit it, I’ll call the security team! And let me tell you, someone saw you stealing the catch with their own eyes. They just haven’t exposed you yet—they’re waiting to send you to the security team!”

In this kind of terrible weather, Wang Depin didn’t want to trouble the security team, but Qi Hong hadn’t just stolen seafood—she’d committed other crimes too!

But he didn’t want to say that outright just yet.

Qi Hong looked around at everyone. “Who? Who wants to send me to the security team?”

Her gaze landed on Chu Dashan. “Was it you? My Da Guang once stole money from your family, so you’ve got it in for us, right?”

Chu Dashan quickly distanced himself. “I have a grudge with Chu Xuan, I’d never help her.”

Qi Hong looked around again. “So who wants to send me to the security team? No one’s admitting it? Then the village chief is lying! Go ahead and call the security team if you want! There’s no name written on the seafood, not Chu Xuan’s and not mine! But the catch is in my basket!”

At that moment, Liu Dapeng, who had just recovered, walked over. “I can testify! When I was swept into the sea, I was facing Qi Hong and saw her pour Chu Xuan’s catch into her own basket.”

In truth, he hadn’t seen anything—he just wanted to help Chu Xuan, even if it meant lying.

Qi Hong stood with her hands on her hips, not the least bit afraid. “You’re lying! You were barely keeping yourself afloat—how could you pay attention to what I was doing? And besides, Chu Xuan just saved your life. Who’s to say you’re not lying out of gratitude?”

Liu Dapeng blushed. “I’m not lying!”

Wang Depin said sternly, “In that case, let the security team handle it. Then we’ll see if anyone really saw you steal Chu Xuan’s catch!”

Qi Hong was convinced no one had seen her steal the seafood.

She thought everyone’s attention had been on Liu Dapeng, who had fallen into the sea, and no one had been looking at her.

Chu Xuan, who had been silent, smiled calmly. It was time to send Qi Hong in!

She was confident—not only could she get her catch back, she could make sure Qi Hong was fined by the security team.

Then Qi Hong would get a proper lesson, and maybe avoid going down the road of child trafficking in the future.

In the crowd, Mu Chenze’s figure flashed by, and Chu Xuan caught his eye.

He gave her a reassuring look.

She realized he must have seen Qi Hong steal the catch.

He’d deliberately not stopped her, just so she could be sent in.

Could it be he had evidence of other crimes Qi Hong had committed?

Wang Depin had Qi Hong, Chu Xuan, and the seafood and tools taken to the village office.

Once there, he personally called the security team.

Some of the more curious villagers followed along.

An hour later, two security officers rode over on bicycles through the rain.

Chu Xuan didn’t know them, but Wang Depin did.

After hearing the whole story, the officers asked Chu Xuan and Qi Hong to each write down the characteristics of the seafood.

Remembering the details of the catch was Chu Xuan’s specialty—she wrote them down quickly and accurately.

Qi Hong only managed to write down the approximate weight of the mackerel, and couldn’t describe a single distinguishing feature.

The officers immediately determined the seafood belonged to Chu Xuan.

Qi Hong was indignant, cursing out the officers and Wang Depin, accusing them of siding with Chu Xuan.

Just as the officers were about to leave, Mu Chenze stepped forward—not only did he confirm Qi Hong had stolen Chu Xuan’s catch, he also provided a lead about Qi Hong stealing three coils of electrical wire.

In fact, Qi Hong and Qiu Daguang had stolen those wires from the county before, but the price hadn’t been right so she hadn’t sold them yet.

She didn’t know that earlier that morning, Mu Chenze had passed by her house and overheard her talking with her in-laws about the stolen wires.

The officers searched Qi Hong’s house and found the three coils.

Qi Hong refused to confess, but unfortunately for her, the wires had markings unique to the county’s factory.

Plus, the thief had left a footprint at the scene, and the shoe size had been deduced.

The two officers knew about this.

As it happened, Qi Hong’s shoe size matched.

She was taken in for questioning on the spot.

Now Qi Hong was in real trouble.

The Qiu family, seeing Qiu Daguang’s wife arrested, discussed among themselves, and three of the men tried to go after Mu Chenze, swinging their fists—only to be knocked down by a single sweeping kick.

Chu Xuan witnessed this and couldn’t help but give him a thumbs up.

Liu Dapeng saw it too, and hung his head in shame, thinking he wasn’t nearly as capable as Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze had to go to the town security office to give a statement, so he rode his bike home…

The crowd dispersed.

Fu Qing helped Chu Xuan carry the seafood to Li Tong’s house. Her own family wasn’t buying seafood to sell in the city today, otherwise Chu Xuan could have made more money.

Thinking of her husband’s suspicions the night before, she asked, “Xiao Xuan, did you pass by my house last night?”

Chu Xuan wasn’t sure whether to tell the truth or not. “Huh?”

She pretended she hadn’t heard.

Fu Qing smiled and continued, “Chenfu said he was waiting for Chenze in the kitchen last night and thought he heard your voice. Maybe he was mistaken.”

Chu Xuan casually replied, “I did pass by your house last night, had something to do and happened to run into Mu Chenze, so I said hi.”

“Oh, I see! Didn’t Chenze walk you home? He came into the yard to say hi to Chenfu, then left right away.”

“No, he didn’t! Besides, with my size, I don’t need anyone to walk me home—no one would dare rob me.”

Seeing how serious Chu Xuan sounded, Fu Qing started to doubt her own suspicions.

Could it be that Chenze secretly walked Chu Xuan home last night without her knowing?

Maybe he likes Chu Xuan but is too shy to say it?"