"Matchmaker Sun... this matter, I can’t decide, and I don’t want to harm Miss Huang, I... I must go!"
Mu Dalang said, then hurriedly ran in the direction of the Old Mu Family.
Matchmaker Sun was not having it. This lad is so hesitant; clearly, he cares.
If he cares, then he must tell her, so she can find a way to deal with that old woman.
"Hey, say sothing, will you? Yes or no..."
Mu Dalang didn’t turn back, heading directly towards
Every step felt incredibly heavy.
It felt like his feet were filled with lead.
He couldn’t help but think of the scene when Huang Bita ca that day, and his mind grew even more chaotic.
Back at the Old Mu Family, Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu had already returned to normal, both tacitly not ntioning the matter, leaving Mu Dalang hopeful, yet ultimately only disappointed.
The lunch was prepared and served by Mrs. Lin. Mu Dalang noticed the fourth branch wasn’t around, so he stood up, intending to call them for the al.
"Where are you going?" Old Mrs. Mu stopped Mu Dalang.
"My fourth uncle and aunt aren’t here; I’ll call them to eat," Mu Dalang replied.
"Why go? Who knows where your fourth uncle and aunt have gone to. I made lunch myself; sa with those bowls and chopsticks."
Mrs. Lin beca more and more infuriated, her hair nearly standing on end.
But Mu Dalang ignored her and headed towards the fourth branch, knocking on the door for a while, but no one answered.
Mu Dalang thought sothing might be wrong inside and was about to force the door open, but reconsidered. It’s unlikely all four of them would have trouble.
They must be out.
After lunch, Mu Dalang discussed what he wanted to do with Old Mrs. Mu and Mr. Mu.
These past few days, Mu Dalang often went to the town. Originally, he planned to start his career after marrying, but he changed his mind.
For now, he was no longer in a rush to marry.
"Grandpa, my idea is to bring two dairy sheep from the town, gradually expand the scale, and when the wool and milk from these two sheep are collected and make money, I’ll buy one more. I believe in a few years, I’ll have several dairy sheep."
What Mu Dalang learned was sheep raising, so he wanted to do business in this area.
When Mu Dalang returned, he brought two taels of silver. Even though he spent so on at, he still had more than one tael left. This silver he didn’t give to Old Mrs. Mu because he knew it was his capital to buy sheep in the future.
Originally, Mu Dalang thought of borrowing so from the family, but he completely dismissed this idea after returning.
The family only thought about themselves and wouldn’t care about him.
"Buying sheep? Why sheep? Don’t sheep cost money? I think working as an apprentice in town is pretty good; food and lodging are covered, and you can buy things from town when you return."
"If not, you can co back to farm. We have plenty of land at ho, enough food and drink at least."
Old Mrs. Mu flatly rejected Mu Dalang’s plan to build a fortune.
In her view, everything costs money, and if it costs, it’s better to farm at ho.
If there’s spare money, it’s better spent on buying more land.
Mu Dalang ignored Old Mrs. Mu and instead turned to Mr. Mu.
Making money was sothing for the n.
Mrs. Lin and Mu Dazhong, of course, hoped their son would do business; the farm work can be done by the fourth branch.
Their son couldn’t study anymore and shouldn’t be a farr for life!
"Dad, I think Dalang’s idea is pretty good; we should support it. What if he makes a na for himself? That would be the pride of our Old Mu Family," Mu Dazhong said.
"Yes, yes, our Dalang didn’t study when he was young, but he can’t be a farr for life," Mrs. Lin echoed.
"You all talk so nicely. Do you have the money for business? Will you provide it? Without the skill, don’t take on the task of porcelain work—what if there’s no money, and our family has to sell everything to gather funds?"
"Moreover, Dalang still has to get married. Where would we find so much silver for him?"
Old Mrs. Mu kept ntioning money.
Mu Dalang looked hopefully at Mr. Mu, waiting for his words.
Mr. Mu was also financially strained.
"Dalang, it’s not that Grandpa won’t help you. Your grandma makes sense. Instead of spending money on sheep, it’s better to honestly farm for food."
After Mr. Mu spoke, Yu Liulang stood up.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I’m full; take your ti eating!"
"Dalang, how could you be full? You haven’t even touched the food," Mrs. Lin said concernedly.
But Mu Dalang was determined to leave, so what use was her calling?
"Why are you hollering? Your good son spends ti with the third branch and learns bad things, always thinking of leeching off family—not good!"
...
...
Mu Dalang was extrely hungry now. It had been morning when he went to town; he had left early without breakfast.
He hadn’t eaten a single grain at lunch, so the hunger was natural.
After leaving the Old Mu Family, sohow, he ended up at the third branch.
Just as Mu Dalang wanted to turn and leave, Mu Shuangshuang ca out to pour out so vegetable wash water and called him.
"Cousin Brother, where are you going?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"I’m heading back. I accidentally passed by," Mu Dalang’s voice trembled slightly.
Mu Shuangshuang hadn’t seen her cousin brother in days and missed him dearly. Even the Old Mu Family visited her grandmother’s house for food and drinks, and even Mu Qingqing went, but he didn’t.
"Since you’re already passing by, have a al with us then. We’ve prepared a nice lunch. Join us!"
Of course, Mu Dalang didn’t want to. He wasn’t there to freeload; he himself didn’t know why he ended up there.
"Shuangshuang, I’ve eaten, so I won’t eat anymore."
"Even after eating, you can have a snack. I don’t believe a man can’t eat three or four bowls after lunch. I always eat two more bowls after als."
Almost forcefully dragged, Mu Dalang was brought into their ho.
Mu Shuangshuang placed Mu Dalang on a chair, Xiao Han helped serve rice, Little Zhi helped pour water, and suddenly there was one more person at the table.
"Where’s Fengzi?"
Once seated, Mu Dalang didn’t want to be reserved anymore.
He looked around but didn’t see Lu Yuanfeng.
"He’s having lunch at his own ho today," Mu Shuangshuang replied.
"Co, Dalang, eat more of these atballs. They’re all freshly brought from Shuangshuang’s grandma’s place. No one else has touched them," Yu Si Niang said as she put atballs into Mu Dalang’s bowl.
"Thank you, Aunt. I’m good; you all eat!" Mu Dalang felt a bit embarrassed. His third uncle’s family was genuinely kind to him.
"Cousin Brother, just open up your stomach and eat. There’s plenty at ho!"
Mu Shuangshuang returned with quite a few goodies.
Most of the leftover ingredients she left at the Old Yu Family’s house.
But things like atballs, braised pork, and fried fish, she took so along; all of it can be stored for a while.
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