"Is it tasty?" Mu Shuangshuang looked at Lu Yuanfeng, who was already in a daze, and couldn’t help but tease him.
"Mmm! Sweet... but not greasy, it’s different from the rice puffs."
"Of course it’s different, I made it with corn. But as long as you like it, I’m relieved."
Lu Yuanfeng hardly eats sweets—even when they’re out eating glutinous rice cakes, he’d request no sugar. As for the sugar-coated hawthorn, he wouldn’t touch it at all.
"Alright then, let’s go fetch the big guy!"
Mu Shuangshuang handed the basket to Yu Si Niang, asking her to portion so out which she would deliver to her grandmother’s house later.
After bringing Little Black back inside, she had the little creature go into the mouse hole to fetch five strings of Copper Coin. Predictably, Little Black was reluctant again.
It seems its sense of financial awareness is growing stronger. Last ti, the Silver it stole was well-hidden, and when Mu Shuangshuang tried to see how much there was, it wouldn’t let her, standing there stubbornly.
Fortunately, all the Silver now belongs to Mu Shuangshuang.
Finally, after pulling out the last string of Copper Coin, Little Black hissed at Mu Shuangshuang, its expression full of dissatisfaction.
Mu Shuangshuang could almost imagine its words: [Caretaker, it’s been so long since you earned money for the house. You only know how to take from the house all the ti. Sooner or later, you’ll bankrupt this ho!]
Finishing the thought, Mu Shuangshuang clutched her stomach and laughed heartily, while Lu Yuanfeng stood beside her, affectionately watching her completely unrestrained laughter, not asking the reason or interrupting.
But as soon as Shuangshuang turned away, he could see it.
"Alright, don’t be so stingy. How about this, when we co back tonight, I’ll prepare you a feast? at? Or chicken?"
Mu Shuangshuang stepped forward to stroke Little Black’s smooth fur, secretly admiring it: This fur really is top-notch, no wonder so many people love wearing mink coats—so comfy! Only then did the expression on Little Black’s face soften.
It waved away Mu Shuangshuang’s hand and strutted out.
"..."
"Fengzi, do you think this creature has beco sentient? It’s just a Black Mink, yet its behavior is cleverer than a fox, no, you could say it’s on par with humans."
"Maybe it’s just particularly smart."
Lu Yuanfeng didn’t believe in spirits and monsters. If they really existed, he would’ve encountered them long ago with how many people he’s fought.
"Perhaps, let’s hurry along, don’t let that old man wait too long."
After a short incense stick’s ti, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng waved goodbye to the old man at the village entrance as he headed towards Niu Village. Apart from a few cherished items, he left everything to Mu Shuangshuang.
When he ca, he ca full, and when he left, he was almost empty. But seeing his deliberately straightened back, Mu Shuangshuang knew the old man, slowly walking away, wouldn’t stop there.
Maybe he’d find another job that suited him, one that didn’t require long-distance traveling.
Seeing the cart loaded with items, Lu Yuanfeng didn’t know if he should admire Shuangshuang or praise her boldness.
Frying rice puffs, she even bought the person’s tools. If faced with sothing else, she might just purchase the whole person.
"Fengzi, why are you laughing?"
When Mu Shuangshuang turned around, she noticed Lu Yuanfeng was grinning slightly and couldn’t help but ask.
"Nothing, let’s hurry back. I still need to go back once more."
...
...
After packing up neatly, Lu Yuanfeng pushed the wheelbarrow filled with items to take to Old Yu and Old Mrs. Yu.
The weather wasn’t particularly hot yet. Walking on the mountain path, munching on popcorn now and then, they didn’t feel tired while chatting along the way.
But as they got closer to Yu Family Village, the trees on both sides of the road beca denser, and the cicadas’ buzzing filled their ears.
Mu Shuangshuang felt tempted several tis to wave away those botherso creatures with a stick, but seeing Lu Yuanfeng’s calm deanor, she cald down.
By noon, Mu Shuangshuang, who felt like steam was coming off her head, finally reached Yu Family Village. After walking for another ten minutes, she finally arrived at her grandmother’s house.
The Yu family lived beside a road, much like the Old Mu Family, in a soil house with front and back yards. Before Mu Shuangshuang could speak, an elderly woman walked out.
She was wearing a blue-gray cotton long dress, and her hair was combed all the way back, fixed with a wooden hairpin.
"Grandma~" Mu Shuangshuang called out tentatively.
The old woman raised her head in response. Her face smiled kindly, and upon seeing Mu Shuangshuang, she was initially confused, then asked tentatively, "Are you... Shuangshuang?"
"It’s , grandma!"
"Oh my, it really is you! Old man, co out quickly, we have a rare guest at ho. Eldest son, second son, co out quickly, Shuangshuang is here."
Old Mrs. Yu called out as she rushed to open the door, delighted to see Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng.
Earlier, hearing from Si Niang that Shuangshuang had recovered, she didn’t believe it, but today she was convinced. Just hearing her call "grandma," she looked exactly like Si Niang when she was little.
"Child, why have you co, where’s your mother?"
"Grandma, my mom’s at ho. She sent today because there’s a big task."
"What task?" Old Mrs. Yu asked curiously.
"I can’t tell you for now, I’ll explain slowly later."
With Old Mrs. Yu’s excited shout, the n still eating inside rushed out, gathering around Mu Shuangshuang like it was a spectacle.
"Shuangshuang, this is Shuangshuang..." Everyone laughed eagerly, quite excited.
"Grandpa, Uncle, Second Uncle, hello, I’m Shuangshuang, and I ca to visit you. This is Fengzi, he’s a very close friend of mine."
Mu Shuangshuang confidently introduced Lu Yuanfeng to the Yu Family mbers.
"Haha, good, good, don’t just stand there, co in and eat. You arrived at just the right ti—we’re eating, and your uncle just bought a fish, so we have fish to eat today."
"Yes! We brought so things, all for Grandpa, Grandma, and my uncles."
The fabric for making clothes for Old Yu and Old Mrs. Yu, as well as the fabric for Yu Liulang, was enough for a wedding dress and groom’s suit, with so left over to share among the families, as a gift she brought along.
"Good, good, you’re thoughtful, girl." Old Mrs. Yu was extrely pleased, having lived here for so many years, it was the first ti soone had bought her sothing.
The sons were honest and sincere, but their wives were clever, barely scraping by without taking sothing, let alone bringing anything out.
Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng followed them into the house. Inside, several won were seated, likely her uncles’ wives, along with so Little Doudings.
From the mont Mu Shuangshuang entered, Little Doudings had been peering curiously, and as soon as she brought over half a basket of popcorn, they dropped their chopsticks and rushed over.
"I want to eat, I want to eat..."
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