In the Old Yu Family’s backyard, Mrs. Li sneakily buried so things under a peach tree.
This stuff was ant to make a man’s vigor disappear.
Ever since Feng Xiaohua ca into the family, Mrs. Li increasingly felt that her days were unbearable.
They wouldn’t even wait for her to eat a al.
Even when it ca to killing chickens, she never had a share.
The old lady favored Feng Xiaohua, giving her all the good things.
Especially after Mrs. Li heard that if Feng Xiaohua bore a child, she would be put in charge of the tea garden. Mrs. Li was, of course, unhappy.
The family fortune she painstakingly built shouldn’t be managed by outsiders. No way would she let Feng Xiaohua have a child.
"Mom, what are you burying?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind, startling Mrs. Li enough to drop her hoe. Turning, she saw her son Yu Tiancai and slapped him.
"You fool, dare to sneak up on your mother like that! Get lost and go find your dead father!"
Being scolded like this, Yu Tiancai left crying.
Mrs. Li took a last look at the mound under the peach tree and walked away reassured.
In the front yard, Mu Shuangshuang was helping her aunt with cooking. The two were chatting and laughing, much easier to get along with than Mrs. Li.
However, the only odd thing was that Yu Liulang, who said he would co out to slaughter the duck, hadn’t shown up.
Mu Shuangshuang understood Yu Liulang’s character; he’s soone who follows through on his word. This ti, sothing must be up with Yu Liulang.
When lunch was served, Yu Liulang ca out listlessly, and Feng Xiaohua also seed out of sorts, prompting Mu Shuangshuang to inquire about the situation.
Feng Xiaohua and Yu Liulang naturally kept it secret. If such matters were told to others, they’d never be able to live peacefully again.
The pair strongly denied, saying there was nothing wrong.
But the more they denied, the more Mu Shuangshuang felt sothing was amiss!
Just after lunch, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng were urged ho by Yu Liulang. This was unheard of. Mu Shuangshuang, suspicious, discreetly told Old Mrs. Yu about it.
Then she and Lu Yuanfeng carried a few hundred pounds of corn back to Er Gui Village.
Unexpectedly, the Old Mu Family was setting off firecrackers. At first, Mu Shuangshuang thought it was for Mu Dade’s official letter and didn’t pay much attention.
It wasn’t until soone from the Old Mu Family ca to call everyone for dinner that Mu Shuangshuang realized Mu Xianxian had co from town to visit Mu Dade.
Now that Mu Dade was a scholar, the pomp was not lacking in any way.
Mu Xianxian even set off firecrackers at the visit, and brought out-of-season shoes, one pair per person.
In fact, Mu Xianxian ca to show Mu Dade the right path.
After all, Mu Xianxian, like the rest of the Old Mu Family, didn’t want Mu Dade to continue his exams. Once a scholar, being eligible to beco an official, that’s what he truly should pursue.
After ten bitter years of study, it’s all for becoming an official, whether it’s a low-level or high-ranking position, as long as it’s respectable.
The Old Mu Family’s first branch—
Mu Xianxian was wholeheartedly persuading Mu Dade, nearly exhausting herself.
"Brother, I’m not just saying this for fun. Before you think about going to the Capital for the exams, we need to talk. Exams are unpredictable; who knows if you will pass!
Every year, many talents fail at the Capital. They leave optimistic but return like beaten dogs."
Mu Xianxian had seen the world; one must be cautious about this.
Mu Dade felt particularly uneasy hearing Mu Xianxian’s words.
"Brother, rember Ruan Xiao Jiao? She’s now a small wife to the County Magistrate. I saw her parents in town the other day; she’s doing well. If you want to be an official, seek her out; she might help you beco a County Magistrate or secretary.
Once you’re an official, our family will prosper, and our parents can stop farming in the village."
Mu Xianxian seed to be speaking for Mu Dade, but it was actually for herself.
The positions of County Magistrate and secretary might be low-level, but even the strongest dragon cannot defeat a local snake. There, one can gather so gains, and later even buy a County position. Mu Dade could have enough for a lifeti.
And she could stand proudly in her husband’s family, making the old lady who belittles her from ho see her differently.
At this mont, Mu Dade was wavering.
If Mrs. Jin hadn’t seduced him, he would have married Ruan Xiao Jiao.
Recalling the girl from his mories with two braided pigtails and a shy smile, Mu Dade suddenly felt his long-dormant heart stir.
Soone he hasn’t forgotten over the years, a person he eagerly wanted to see now.
"Little sister, let think about it!" Mu Dade didn’t agree right away.
His little sister was too shrewd; every ti she spent money on him, she found ways to recoup it.
If he simply agreed this ti, she might have more demands of him in the future.
Mu Dade didn’t have other thoughts now, only not letting his family reap benefits at his expense. Why should they live well when he’s the one who worked hard for the exams, and they did nothing?
"Brother, think it through! We’re all waiting for you to beco an official. Our Old Mu Family will finally hold our heads high!"
"Alright, alright, I got it!" Mu Dade nodded, then added, "I heard you invited the third branch. You don’t like them, do you?"
Initially, Mu Dade and Mu Xianxian collaborated; Mu Xianxian wanted the recipe, and Mu Dade wanted money. Unfortunately, in the end, it didn’t succeed. Mu Shuangshuang was too clever, not caving to their persuasion.
"Disliking them is one thing, inviting them is another. That brat taunted before, today she’ll pay back."
The evening al was a trap, and Mu Xianxian’s declaration of sovereignty; she wanted the third branch to know that whoever mistreated her in the past wouldn’t end well.
Upon hearing this, Mu Dade rejoiced, believing his sister had a plan. He said, "You thought of a way to deal with the third branch? Tell !"
"This can’t be spoken, you’ll find out later!"
Mu Xianxian withheld her secret; she had suffered much from that brat in town before, and this ti she wouldn’t let her off easily.
Mu Dade suddenly felt uninterested, his attitude towards his sister soured.
"By the way, brother, how co your official letter hasn’t arrived?"
Mu Xianxian found this particularly odd; others had received theirs, but there was no notice here.
Logically, there should be three notifications: from Qianzhou Prefecture, the county, and the town. Why hasn’t even one arrived?
At this point, Mu Xianxian started to feel scared, fearing her brother might have deceived her.
Could he have not passed at all?
Cold sweat ford on Mu Xianxian’s forehead as she shivered, suddenly feeling like she had entered an icehouse.
If her brother hadn’t passed, her fifty taels for travel expenses were gone, twenty taels of congratulatory money were gone, and even today’s firecracker money wouldn’t be recovered.
"Brother, tell your sister the truth. Did you really pass? Why have others received their letters and you haven’t?"
Mu Dade’s face turned the color of pig liver—
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