An egg for one wen; if more than thirty chicks all survive, that’s thirty-sothing wen just from eggs each day.
Don’t even ntion that going to the city to work won’t earn this much, even carrying burdens at the docks doesn’t bring in such inco.
So it’s normal for everyone to be envious.
"Aunts, these chickens aren’t just Shuangshuang’s; they are raised by our family along with Fengzi. Shuangshuang’s household utensils haven’t even been used for long, naturally they’re not as well-off as your aunts’ established hos."
Mu Shuangshuang smiled and chatted with a few won, her neither humble nor arrogant attitude made everyone feel a bit more comfortable.
But there are always those who like stirring trouble: "I say Shuang girl, you are close with Fengzi all day long. Do you two have sothing going on?"
The speaker is Mrs. Zhang, a troublemaker from Ding Family in the village.
As she spoke, a few young wives looked on with interest, glancing back and forth between her and Lu Yuanfeng as if the two really had sothing going on.
Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t one to back down: "Aunt Zhang, that’s not right. I just saw your second daughter at the village entrance with Mingzi, you know at this hour there aren’t many people there, in case..."
Mu Shuangshuang had barely finished speaking when Mrs. Zhang got excited: "You’re full of crap! I’m telling you, don’t go throwing mud at others. Our second daughter and Ming have been childhood sweethearts, them being together is normal."
"Aunt Zhang, you’re the one throwing mud; your daughter with her childhood sweetheart is normal, but with Fengzi is not. Such double standards you have!"
"You..." Aunt Zhang was so angry she trembled and gave Mu Shuangshuang a fierce glare before storming off, not forgetting to curse Shuangshuang’s chickens on her way out.
"Those chickens, I wish I see thirty die in a day!"
"Aunt Zhang, you better watch out not to strangle your chicks, lest they all die out in a day." Mu Shuangshuang followed Mrs. Zhang, giving her a taste of her own dicine.
Fortunately, those watching the spectacle weren’t upset by the spat between Mu Shuangshuang and Mrs. Zhang; they continued to watch with great interest.
Such talk naturally reached Old Mrs. Mu’s ears, and she hurried over in a rush.
Coming over, she pointed at Mu Shuang’s pile of chicks and asked Mu Shuangshuang, "Shuang girl, where did you get the silver to buy so many chicks?"
Old Mrs. Mu’s imposing deanor gave the impression Mu Shuangshuang had done sothing shaful.
"Of course, I earned it by trading. Didn’t you ask for the recipe last ti?" Mu Shuangshuang lightly smirked.
Old Mrs. Mu recalled the capital daughter’s willingness to offer fifty taels for so powder recipe, her eyes showing greedy desire. Back then she wasn’t short of money, but things are different now; without Da De, her pockets were just fabric to fabric, flesh to flesh.
"Shuang girl, how do you feel your grandma treats you usually?" Old Mrs. Mu suddenly softened.
She deliberately showed an affectionate look towards Mu Shuangshuang.
Younger girls can be easily coaxed.
Mu Shuangshuang stared at Old Mrs. Mu, sotis shaking her head, sotis nodding, making Old Mrs. Mu feel uneasy.
"You girl, either it’s good or it’s not, yet shaking and nodding, what do you an?" Old Mrs. Mu impatiently asked.
"Not really good! Grandma, you don’t truly care about Shuangshuang." Mu Shuangshuang spoke the truth.
Then she added, "Grandma, you’re not planning on snatching a few chicks ho to raise, are you?
Let warn you, half of these chicks belong to Lu Yuanfeng, in case you unintentionally take his, and he gets the governnt involved, facing a lawsuit, I won’t help."
"You..." Old Mrs. Mu’s face turned green with anger, her tiger eyes glaring fiercely at Mu Shuangshuang, it took a while for her to speak.
"You ungrateful brat, you’ll get struck by lightning sooner or later!"
Mu Shuangshuang acted as if she hadn’t heard Old Mrs. Mu, she carried the chicks to her room, took out Little Black, then locked the door right in front of Old Mrs. Mu before leaving.
Old Mrs. Mu was so furious she almost fainted in the Old Mu Family’s courtyard.
Being ignored like this, Old Mrs. Mu’s anger was understandable. She stord into Mu Dashan’s room, where Mu Dashan was soundly asleep, awakened by Yu Liulang’s confused gaze.
"Aunt, why are you here? Why start scolding my brother-in-law as soon as you co in? What did my brother-in-law do to provoke you?"
Yu Liulang hadn’t looked into his man’s affair, but Old Mrs. Mu suddenly rembered and pointed at Yu Liulang’s nose, scolding him as well.
"Yu Liulang, what are you staring at? You lazy man sleeping during dayti, what kind of man are you?"
"Old third, you just know to bury yourself under the blankets all day, not even caring about your daughter, probably won’t rest until you anger to my death!"
Old Mrs. Mu’s rapid-fire rant left Mu Dashan’s face ashen.
Eventually, Mu Dashan couldn’t bear listening any longer and spoke directly, "Mom, what has Shuangshuang done for you to keep scolding non-stop? Whatever it is, she’s your granddaughter, isn’t she? Consider it doing so good, could you please stop focusing on her, alright? Just think of it as your son’s request."
"You... you..." Old Mrs. Mu clutched her chest, trying to catch her breath. She went over to the room’s table, picked up the tea bowl, and hurled it at Mu Dashan’s forehead.
The tea bowl hit Mu Dashan’s head, breaking the skin of his forehead, causing him to see darkness and nearly pass out.
Yu Liulang hurriedly rushed forward, shaking the unconscious Mu Dashan.
"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law..."
But the person gave no response, Old Mrs. Mu realized the situation wasn’t right and ran off, yelling "Serves you right" as she dashed away.
Yu Liulang was nearly crying from fright, he got up without even wearing shoes, preparing to carry Yu Liulang to see the village doctor.
Who would have thought, as soon as he moved Mu Dashan, the latter suddenly reopened his eyes.
"Sixth son, I’m okay, my... my mom is just like that. If I don’t appear injured, she won’t leave. When Si Niang returns later, if she’s caught, she’ll surely get beaten."
"Crazy, she’s simply a madwoman!" Yu Liulang angrily roared.
"Don’t get angry either, this is my family’s affair. I shouldn’t have let you in on it, but over the years, I haven’t given Si Niang anything good, and don’t want to continue hiding it from my in-laws.
However, rest assured, from now on, I will take good care of Si Niang, and won’t let her suffer."
With Mu Dashan’s promise, Yu Liulang felt sowhat reassured.
...
...
Mu Shuangshuang, along with Lu Yuanfeng, went up the mountain, collecting lots of wild vegetables and gold and silver flowers.
The things in the mountains are always more than people imagine; it’s a pity the villagers don’t dare enter, otherwise, they could rely on these resources to live slightly better lives.
After the mountain trip, they returned with plenty, but upon their return, the sun had already tilted westward; just when they sat down at ho, they heard Mrs. Lin’s loud voice.
"Oh no, Liu Wangcai’s wife has co attacking..."
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