Chapter 34: Meeting a Widow Beneath the Waterfall

Hearing the sound, Chu Chen scrambled to his feet.

Looking up, he saw it was none other than Gu Xiufang, a young widow from the village. She was around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. She had also lived a hard life, having married into Mashan Village from elsewhere. Unexpectedly, three or four years ago, her husband had died in an accident while working away from home. She was left all alone to care for an elderly, lame mother-in-law, struggling to get by. As a household of two women, they were bullied everywhere in the village; even Ma San had often tried to climb over their wall. But whether it was due to Gu Xiufang’s strong character or her disdain for him, Ma San had never succeeded.

"Sister Xiufang, it’s already winter. What are you doing in the mountains all by yourself?" Chu Chen asked as he stood up.

"I was thinking of picking up some mountain goods to help with the household expenses. What about you?"

"Haha, I’m out hunting for rabbits. They’re building a house back home, and it’s too noisy, so I thought I’d come out here for some peace and quiet," Chu Chen said honestly. Looking at the woman in her tattered clothes, a surge of sympathy arose in him. He added, "Sister Xiufang, it’s not safe in these mountains. You’re a woman alone—what would you do if you ran into a wild boar or a tiger?"

Gu Xiufang took off her wicker basket and walked over to the edge of the pond while chatting with Chu Chen. Although the weather was cold, she had likely been walking for a long time and was slightly sweaty. She pulled a towel from behind her and, dipping it into the icy water, wiped her face and neck.

"I’m not like you," she said while wiping. "We’re almost out of food at home. The harvest hasn't been good these past few years. If I don't come out to gather something, we’ll go hungry this winter."

Looking at the young woman, Chu Chen knew that for someone supporting an immobile elderly woman in an era completely dependent on the meager crops from the fields, life during the winter would be unimaginable without enough food. When he had been a spendthrift before, he had also been poor enough to lack a single grain of rice. Back then, Gu Xiufang would occasionally take Li Qinglian along to do odd jobs or go into the mountains to dig for wild vegetables and forage.

Chu Chen pondered deeply, "Maybe I should help her." He said, "It’s alright, sister. If you don't have enough to eat this winter, just go find Qinglian. I have plenty of grain at home."

"That would be wonderful. They say you’ve made a fortune now—not only did you buy a mule cart, but you’re also building a big house. If I came to your place to borrow grain every day, who knows what Qinglian might think of me," Gu Xiufang said with a bashful smile. Still, if Chu Chen could really help her out during the winter, it would make life much easier.

"What are you thinking, sister? I, Chu Wa, am not a scoundrel like Ma San. Don't worry about that." Chu Chen realized she was still hesitant, fearing gossip.

Seeing Chu Chen’s sincerity, Gu Xiufang, now finished washing the sweat from her face and neck, decided not to leave just yet. She walked toward him.

*Wait, what’s happening here?* Chu Chen thought. *I may not be a hoodlum like Ma San, but you’re a young woman in your twenties—I might not be able to resist.*

"Ma San could never compare to you," Gu Xiufang said. "I’m not bragging, but if I wanted to remarry, I would have done it long ago. It’s just that if I did, my mother-in-law would be left with no way to survive." With that, she sat down on Chu Chen’s air mattress without ceremony. "Hey, Chu Wa, what is this wonderful thing? It’s so soft."

She sat down, then immediately bounced back up, surprised by how soft it was. Seeing her startled reaction, Chu Chen quickly explained, "It’s called an air mattress, from across the ocean."

Gu Xiufang tentatively touched it with her hand before sitting down again. It seemed Chu Wa had truly become successful if he could even get things from across the ocean. She looked at him and said, "You certainly know how to enjoy yourself, Chu Wa, bringing this thing all the way into the mountains. What’s the matter? Didn't you bring Qinglian along?"

Chu Chen seemed to hear an engine roaring—was this young woman trying to tease him? In these desolate mountains, setting up such a soft mattress—if he wasn't just bored, then he must have had ulterior motives.

Gu Xiufang was an experienced woman; she immediately grasped the crux of the situation. *Could it be that Chu Wa followed me and was waiting here on purpose?* she wondered. Over the three years since her husband passed, many men in the village had harassed her, but she had never looked twice at those rough brutes. Chu Wa, though a former spendthrift, was clean-cut and handsome—it wouldn't be impossible.

"You’re out hunting, yet you bring a thing like this and don't bring Qinglian. What is it? Were you waiting for your sister-in-law?" Gu Xiufang asked bluntly.

*What the hell?* Chu Chen thought. *I came out to hunt a rabbit; how did this turn into waiting for you?* But looking at the young woman in front of him, he noticed that due to her hard labor, she had a remarkably good figure. With her lovely face, those few loose strands of hair, and the way she smiled, she had a unique charm. He became interested; after all, he had nothing better to do.

"Oh, so you figured it out, sister? Well, it was prepared especially for you," he said, patting the soft mattress.

"You’ve turned bad, Chu Wa. I heard from Qinglian that you still haven't touched her. Are you not capable in that department?"

*She’s provoking me. She is absolutely provoking me,* Chu Chen thought. He gave Gu Xiufang a deep look, his gaze drifting downward. "Not capable? If you’re so confident, why don’t you test it?"

Feeling the heat of Chu Chen’s gaze, Gu Xiufang felt a stir of restlessness; after all, she had been holding back for three years. She grew bolder. "I’m an experienced woman, after all. Maybe I should check the goods for sister Qinglian." She reached out toward him, but Chu Chen deftly dodged her grasp.

*As if,* he thought. *Trying to take me down with just a few words? I’m a playboy, not a scoundrel.*

He quickly said, "Sister, you’re being too impatient. This place is far from anyone. If you really provoke me, don't blame me for being rough."

"Words are cheap. Prove it! I think you’re just incapable. When I go back, I’ll have to tell Qinglian that now that you’re rich, you should get yourself some supplements." Gu Xiufang laughed, her eyes full of provocation.

*Damn it,* Chu Chen thought. *It’s freezing, and if you aren't afraid of the cold, I am.* He stood up, cigarette in mouth. "Alright, sister, stop teasing me. I’m perfectly normal. It’s too cold here—next time, I’ll set up a tent."

Gu Xiufang had only wanted to tease this handsome, wealthy young man; she wasn't actually that easy, after all. She said, "Fine, I’ll stop teasing you. Go home early; Qinglian will be worried soon."

With that, she swayed her hips, hoisted her basket onto her back, and walked away.