"Grandma... Gou Dan wants to eat, the egg custard is so delicious...!" Gou Dan whimpered.
At the dinner table, the sound of swallowing echoed.
A bowl of stead egg custard, if Mu Xiangxiang doesn’t eat it, it ans it will be distributed to others.
Everyone has a chance!
For people who eat coarse grains and greens every day, it’s a temptation.
"Mom, how about..." Mu Danian opened his mouth but was instantly scolded harshly by Old Mrs. Mu.
"Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you know! When it’s ti to work, where are those who are so eager?" Old Mrs. Mu spat and cursed.
"But not eating is also a waste!" Chen Hong, seeing Mu Danian being scolded, replied discontentedly.
She felt deep down that life at the Old Mu Family was unbearable, worse than pigs and dogs.
Others feed pigs so at, but at the Old Mu Family, she, a living person, was fed only vegetables, like feeding rabbits, and without oil.
If not for Chen Hong’s cleverness, taking advantage of every chance with Mu Danian to scrape up so benefits in the village to indulge a bit, she might have been reduced to skin and bones.
"What are you saying? Again? Believe it or not, I’ll tear your mouth? Chen Hong, don’t forget, this is the Old Mu Family, it’s not your place to speak!"
Old Mrs. Mu slamd the bowl heavily on the table, glaring fiercely at Chen Hong.
Chen Hong was not willing to back down, eting Old Mrs. Mu’s gaze.
Mu Danian tugged at Chen Hong’s skirt under the table, signaling her not to stir up trouble with his mother, lest it ends poorly.
"Alright, isn’t it just a bowl of egg custard? Since Xiangxiang isn’t eating, let the kids take it and share it!" Mr. Mu said.
"Thanks, Dad, I’ll go right away."
Mu Danian quickly stood up, went to the kitchen, and brought the egg custard, splitting it among several people, who ate it clean.
Old Mrs. Mu was furious; she glared at Mr. Mu.
Mr. Mu, however, acted indifferently, continued eating, and left the dining room once finished.
He headed toward the third branch.
-
After the al, Old Mrs. Mu instructed Mrs. Liu and Huang Bita to clean the kitchen and dining room, then went to find Mu Xiangxiang in the main house. These days’ events still left Old Mrs. Mu uneasy, she had to clarify things.
"Xiangxiang, what’s really going on? Tell mom?" Old Mrs. Mu lowered her voice, coaxing her daughter.
"Nothing happened." Mu Xiangxiang, lying on the kang, replied unwillingly.
"Xiangxiang, be a good girl and tell mom, have you taken a liking to so young man? Tell mom, she might be able to help you!"
Old Mrs. Mu, having been young once herself, knew her daughter went out early and ca back late every day, always returning well-fed.
She must have t soone, eating at soone’s ho.
She was once young too and understood that for a daughter after a man, there’s hardly anything else that can make a woman so frequently in such a state!
Having realized this, Old Mrs. Mu felt quite pleased.
The daughter is not young anymore, has reached adulthood, and it’s ti to find a husband.
If she likes soone, she would manage it by seeking a suitable match for her daughter.
"Oh gosh, what are you talking about, finding soone to like? Who could I possibly like?" Mu Xiangxiang replied irritably.
"You don’t?" Old Mrs. Mu seed disappointed.
She looked at her daughter again.
On Xiangxiang’s reddish face, there were hints of girlish shyness, clearly showing signs of an intended suitor.
"Xiangxiang, why don’t you stay ho tomorrow, I’ll make you sothing delicious, alright?" Old Mrs. Mu still wished to know the person her daughter had in mind.
"No, I’m going out." Mu Xiangxiang refused flatly.
And moreover, she got up, pushed Old Mrs. Mu out, no matter what she said, she wouldn’t open the door.
Old Mrs. Mu, in a hurry, was covered in sweat, and anxiously went to find Mr. Mu to discuss.
This ti, Mr. Mu was still in the third branch, discussing Mu Dalang helping at the pigsty.
No one could dismiss five to six teals of silver, including Mr. Mu.
So, his purpose in visiting the third branch was to have Mu Shuangshuang keep engaging Mu Dalang, hopefully, to get the silver paynt quickly.
The third branch family was eating late, so Mr. Mu arrived just in ti for the al.
At the dinner table, not only was there fish and at but also fern shoots Mr. Mu hadn’t tasted.
The whole third branch’s aroma was tempting enough to make one linger.
Even Mr. Mu was tempted, though he refused to admit he hadn’t eaten.
No matter how Mu Dashan urged him to stay, he insisted he’d already eaten.
"Grandpa, this thing, did Brother really talk to you about it?" Mu Shuangshuang put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked Mr. Mu again.
"Yes! That’s what he said; he feels raising pigs is disgraceful and doesn’t want to do it, asking you to find soone else.
But Shuangshuang, you also know the current situation at the Old Mu Family, making big money before your uncle returns is difficult, making small money is possible.
Can’t you pretend your cousin never said it and let him continue at the pigsty?"
Even when asking for a favor, Mr. Mu showed no trace of pleading.
He still wore the family head air of the Old Mu Family, authoritatively asking Mu Shuangshuang.
Mu Shuangshuang rolled her eyes internally, knowing the Old Mu Family’s people would co to her; she just didn’t expect it to happen so soon, nearly catching her off guard.
"Grandpa, I can’t dictate this, Brother Dalang’s stance is clear, I can’t force him.
Moreover, today I’ve already talked to the people from Tie Dao Village, I plan to hire soone to help with raising pigs, gathering pig feed and such.
They’ve agreed, just waiting for Fengzi and to finish the pigsty and they’ll start working."
Mu Shuangshuang’s words seed intent on blocking Mr. Mu’s retreat.
Mr. Mu felt urgency upon hearing that from her: "Shuangshuang, don’t they say the fat waters don’t flow to outsiders’ fields? You surely wouldn’t give this pig raising job to outsiders?"
Five to six teals a year, plus food and lodging, such a job couldn’t be given to outsiders.
"Grandpa, it hasn’t gone to outsiders, I only paid two teals a year for him." Mu Shuangshuang explained.
For a little more spare living, the silver is sufficient for a family’s needs.
Two teals aren’t a small amount.
Mu Shuangshuang assud ntioning this salary, Mr. Mu would accept.
"Ah..." Mr. Mu seed flustered.
This matter seed irreparable.
First, Mu Dalang rejected Mu Shuangshuang, then she found soone who even charged less than Mu Dalang.
"This thing... truly can’t be dealt with?" Mr. Mu’s lips turned white.
If the money doesn’t co through, it would surely be a loss for the Old Mu Family.
"Grandpa, honesty is fundantal, I can’t just decide to get soone new and then let them leave!" Mu Shuangshuang stated.
Mr. Mu sighed, feeling himself a bit burdened, overstraining Shuang girl was unfair.
"Shuangshuang, Dalang is family, find a way..." Mu Dashan suddenly interjected.
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