"Dad, you might think I’m talking too much, but I have to say this!"
Mu Dashan glanced around the room, his hand clenched into a fist.
"Back then, we all agreed to send Big Brother to school, and it’s been more than ten years. During these years, we don’t even know how much money the family made because Mom’s been keeping the accounts, and we have no right to know!"
"Now that Big Brother has passed the imperial exam, we should follow him and enjoy life. That’s only fair for all the things we’ve given him over the years!"
The sly ones in the Old Mu Family, upon hearing Mu Dashan’s words, all expressed their agreent.
"What Shuangshuang’s father says makes sense. Big Brother, you can’t just leave us behind and enjoy a good life on your own. If we don’t seek you out, even the heavens will!"
Mu Dade’s face turned ashen.
He hated the Third Branch of the Mu Family at this mont. Clearly, no one had brought this up before, but now everyone had beco more alert.
"Don’t worry, your big brother is not soone who forgets his roots. What belongs to our Old Mu Family, he will not shortchange us on a single penny," Mr. Mu assured on behalf of Mu Dade.
Only then did everyone feel slightly relieved.
But Mu Dashan hadn’t finished speaking.
"Dad, recently, the fourth branch should have been doing the most work. Initially, these tasks were done by the third branch, now transferred to the fourth, yet the fourth family hasn’t really received any benefits.
Why is it that those who work the most not only gain nothing but are also criticized? Why should they keep doing so much work then, is that fair?"
Mu Dashan was standing up for the fourth branch and also expressing the grievances of the third branch.
Now that big brother had passed the exam, he might not stay in the village anymore. This was the only chance, the third branch was not looking to grab a big piece of at, just to live peacefully as a family.
Mu Shuangshuang almost wanted to jump up and kiss Mu Dashan for saying what was on his mind.
The long-held resentnt was likely one of the reasons for Mu Dashan’s health issues.
Mu Dashan had always sought affirmation from the family, but after the incident in the county, he was fully awakened—when sothing happened to the third branch, it was the third branch alone that had to handle it.
Even when Big Brother passed the exams, no one cared enough to ask.
In other words, even if his big brother beca an official, he would not protect the people of the Old Mu Family.
This was sothing Mu Dashan kept to himself but also served as a warning to the brothers to pay attention to this matter.
"Third brother, what you’re saying is my fault!" Mr. Mu rarely lowered his head.
In his lifeti, with eight children, all his hopes were pinned on the eldest.
He himself was a mud-legged farr with no way to change his status, so he focused on nurturing just one.
Mu Dade’s success in the examination proved to him that his thod was right.
Even if it ant selling off everything, he was determined to support a scholar.
But Mr. Mu neglected the personalities of his other sons and daughters.
Or as Mu Shuangshuang would say, it was because Mr. Mu was an unqualified father that the children developed wildly different characters. So were so heartless that they could even sell their niece for gain.
As long as it benefited themselves, they wouldn’t fear losing conscience or suffering divine retribution.
"The second brother is lazy; I didn’t manage him. The fifth brother is opportunistic; I didn’t manage him. Xiangxiang is lazy by nature; I..."
As soon as Mr. Mu ntioned Mu Xiangxiang, Old Mrs. Mu exploded.
"What’s wrong with our Xiangxiang? How is she lazy? You, as her father, how can you say such things?
Let tell you, Xiangxiang is raised by . If I say she doesn’t have to work, she doesn’t have to. Sons are raised poor, daughters are raised rich, don’t you know?"
Old Mrs. Mu’s eyes widened, determined to argue with Mr. Mu.
Mr. Mu was furious.
He shut his mouth and said no more.
"You all say so much, why not focus on eating! Mom and Dad, let’s eat and then talk. My baby in the belly is hungry, urging to eat quickly!" Mrs. Lin shalessly said.
Mr. Mu also felt it was the only temporary solution and said, "Then let’s hurry and eat. After eating, let bygones be bygones, and our Old Mu Family will live harmoniously from now on!"
As soon as Mr. Mu finished talking, Mrs. Lin’s chopsticks reached into the bowl of big fat chicken, licking her chopsticks, stirring in the bowl, licking again, and then continuing.
"Ah, the days of eating chicken are the best, I can’t wait!"
Mrs. Lin chattered on, finally picking a big chicken leg.
Mrs. Jin, watching from the side, was slack-jawed.
The way Mrs. Lin licked the chopsticks and picked food made her feel nauseated, as if she was about to vomit yesterday’s als.
The others couldn’t say much either, just keeping an eye on Mrs. Lin, fearing she might pull another stunt.
"Oh my goodness, this is really delicious!"
Throwing down her chopsticks, Mrs. Lin started gnawing on the chicken leg, and after just a couple of bites, she reached out her greasy hand to grab another chicken leg from the bowl.
Mu Xiangxiang wanted to grab it too, but the chicken leg was already gone.
Mrs. Lin pushed the chicken leg into her mouth, her cheeks puffed, while asking, "Why aren’t you eating? What are you looking at? Just watching won’t fill you up!"
Old Mrs. Mu’s gaze could kill at that mont, she wanted to skin Mrs. Lin alive.
This disrespectful woman, how dare she do such a thing.
"Mom, I want to eat a chicken leg, I want a chicken leg..."
With both chicken legs gone, Mu Xiangxiang was on the verge of tears, shifting around on her seat.
Old Mrs. Mu angrily shouted at Mrs. Lin, "Eat, eat, eat! Have you been reincarnated as a hungry ghost? Your big brother didn’t eat, the eldest daughter didn’t eat, even Xiangxiang didn’t eat, and your hands reach so far? Your hand should really be chopped off!"
"Mom, I’m eating on behalf of my son, your eldest grandson. Isn’t it great that we each have a chicken leg?"
Mrs. Lin could still laugh. If Mu Xianxian weren’t there, Old Mrs. Mu would have slapped her so hard her own mother wouldn’t recognize her.
"Mom, I want a chicken leg, I want to eat..." Mu Xiangxiang continued whining.
What could be done, the chicken legs were gnawed to scraps by Mrs. Lin, and it was impossible to grab it from her mouth, even if they did, Xiangxiang wouldn’t eat it.
So Old Mrs. Mu turned her attention to the kids’ table.
Mu Shuangshuang quickly snatched a chicken leg.
Little Black used his short arms to try to grab a leg too, but Old Mrs. Mu slapped him away.
"You unruly thing, how dare you cause a scene here, get away from !"
A chicken leg went from the bowl to Old Mrs. Mu’s chopsticks.
Little Black fell to the ground, furious.
He didn’t know where he got the strength, climbed up, and head-butted Old Mrs. Mu’s backside.
With a snap, the chicken leg in Old Mrs. Mu’s hand flew, drawing a parabola in the air, smacking onto Mu Xiangxiang’s head, then rolling to the ground.
Just then, Little Black guided Lai Mi to charge in, snatching the chicken leg and running off with it.
The Old Mu Family erupted in a furious roar—
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