Mu Dandan and Mu Yingying exchanged a glance and hurriedly rushed up.
"Grandma, why are you here?"
Mu Dandan and Mu Yingying spoke at the sa ti.
Old Mrs. Mu, upon seeing her two granddaughters, noticed they were dressed even more splendidly than her own daughter, Xiangxiang, and felt sowhat displeased.
"What? Can’t I co?" Old Mrs. Mu retorted unhappily.
They both shook their heads simultaneously: "No, Grandma, that’s not what we ant. Since you’re here, of course, we welco you!"
"Let’s go, Grandma, let’s head to my grandmother’s house!" Mu Yingying suggested.
Old Mrs. Mu refused to leave and asked, "Who was that with you just now? Why did I feel like it was your mother?"
No matter how she looked, Old Mrs. Mu thought the figure looked like Mrs. Jin.
"Grandma... how could it be? My mom is in the Capital taking care of my dad. You must be mistaken, that’s our aunt." Mu Dandan was startled and blurted out a rebuttal.
"What’s wrong with you, talking so loudly?" Old Mrs. Mu patted her ear, irritated.
Mu Dandan quickly apologized.
"Grandma, I didn’t an to, but that really wasn’t my mom. She’s in the Capital."
It’s said that the more guilty one feels, the more they emphasize things.
However, Old Mrs. Mu didn’t catch that nuance and, convinced that Mrs. Jin couldn’t possibly be ho, followed her granddaughters to the Jin Family.
Since they received the news early, Old Mrs. Jin stood at the door, personally welcoming Old Mrs. Mu.
Old Mrs. Mu didn’t think much of it, only assuming it was due to her own significance.
In recent years, Old Mrs. Jin had lived a life of luxury at ho. From her appearance to how she dressed, she looked much younger than Old Mrs. Mu.
She wore two gold hairpins in her hair, making Old Mrs. Mu extrely envious.
"Dear old friend, it’s rare for you to co over. For lunch today, we’ve prepared sothing special for you. What would you like to eat?" Old Mrs. Jin asked.
A multitude of dishes flashed through Old Mrs. Mu’s mind, but for the sake of saving face, she waved it off.
"Eating is a small matter, not important. I’ve co today because there’s sothing important."
Old Mrs. Jin, hearing this from Old Mrs. Mu, imdiately leaned in and quietly asked, "What important matter?"
"Da De and Yinyin have sent a letter from the Capital, saying that the cost of living there is higher than in town. The money they took isn’t enough, so we’re asked to send an extra ten taels of silver.
Our Old Mu Family is putting up eight taels, and your Jin Family is to provide the remaining two taels." Old Mrs. Mu stated.
Old Mrs. Jin froze, recalling the daughter hidden at ho, and imdiately sensed sothing was amiss.
"Dear sister, you can’t be mistaken, can you? Are you sure the letter is from Yinyin and Da De?"
Old Mrs. Mu’s face imdiately fell.
"What do you an? Are you saying I’m lying? Let tell you, if it wasn’t Da De and Yinyin writing for it, I wouldn’t bother with this matter." Old Mrs. Mu said.
"Well..." Old Mrs. Jin was a bit troubled, thinking she should seek her daughter’s opinion on this matter first.
"Dear sister, let’s not get upset over this. Have so tea and snacks; I have sothing to attend to and will be right back."
Then, Old Mrs. Jin signaled to Mu Dandan and Mu Yingying with her eyes.
The two daughters imdiately ca forward, engaging Old Mrs. Mu in conversation and sharing intimate thoughts.
However, Old Mrs. Mu was uninterested, her eyes fixed only in the direction Old Mrs. Jin had left.
In the back courtyard, Old Mrs. Jin went straight into Mrs. Jin’s room and relayed Old Mrs. Mu’s intent.
Mrs. Jin’s expression changed instantly.
"Hmph, and Mu Dade writing letters? What a joke! I’m still here in Jin Family Village, how would I write a letter?" Mrs. Jin asked.
"Alright, Yinyin, the situation has passed, don’t be upset. But your mother-in-law is not easy to deal with, and if we don’t give her the money, your days might be difficult ahead."
Old Mrs. Jin ant to keep the peace, suggesting to give so money to settle the matter.
However, Mrs. Jin refused.
"Why should I give her money? What if that wench and Da De wrote the letter together? Wouldn’t my money be supporting so outside woman?"
Mrs. Jin was indignant.
"Exactly!" Old Mrs. Jin nodded.
It’s not scary for a man to have a woman; what’s scary is the wife supporting the mistress.
This money could not be given.
"But regarding your mother-in-law, what do I say?" Old Mrs. Jin asked.
"Tell her all the money has been given to Da De, and there’s none left in the house. Tell her to scram!" Mrs. Jin said.
Old Mrs. Jin hesitated for a long ti, thinking that this approach could work.
"I’ll head out then; make sure you don’t show yourself, lest it turns into a big ss."
Old Mrs. Jin instructed Mrs. Jin.
Mrs. Jin nodded.
She understood. When she returned from the county, she didn’t rush to the Old Mu Family but first went to her parents’ house, knowing that the Old Mu Family wasn’t her safe haven.
Only her own family would keep her secrets.
"Don’t worry; I won’t go out. That old crone definitely won’t see ." Mrs. Jin assured.
Only then did Old Mrs. Jin feel assured as she left Mrs. Jin’s room.
——
In the front yard, Old Mrs. Mu had already consud two cups of tea and was getting impatient.
Just about to get up to go to the back courtyard, Mu Dandan and Mu Yingying imdiately stopped her.
"Grandma, let’s wait a bit more in the main hall. My grandma will be out soon." Mu Dandan said.
"Yes, Grandma, have so more tea. It’s really good." Mu Yingying chid in.
No one wanted Old Mrs. Mu going to the back courtyard, fearing she might run into their mother, complicating things.
"Drink, drink, drink—not gold, what’s so good to drink?"
"And you two, since you saw , have acted suspiciously. Tell , what sneaky things have you done?"
Old Mrs. Mu glared fiercely, scanning Mu Dandan and Mu Yingying’s faces.
Both of them were deeply uneasy, cold sweat breaking out on their backs.
"Grandma, how could we do anything sneaky? It’s just that this tea was given by my grandfather’s friend, and I’ve heard it’s ten taels of silver per ounce." Mu Dandan randomly made up a story.
Old Mrs. Mu’s eyes lit up, gripping the teacup even tighter.
Ten taels of silver per ounce?
Oh my goodness, so this cup of tea costs several taels?
Old Mrs. Mu looked back and forth, wishing she could scoop out the soaked tea leaves, dry them, and sell them for silver.
Mu Dandan watched Old Mrs. Mu’s behavior, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Bumpkin, just a few words believed!
If it were really ten taels per ounce, would they let you have it? In your dreams!
Mu Dandan thought to herself.
After a while, Old Mrs. Jin returned, her face full of apology as she approached Old Mrs. Mu, saying, "Dear sister, I’m really sorry, sothing happened in the back courtyard."
"About what you ntioned earlier..."
Old Mrs. Jin hadn’t finished when Old Mrs. Mu cut her off: "What’s with what I said? Have you prepared the silver?"
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