"You..."
Mr. Mu never expected Mu Shuangshuang, a junior, to refuse so decisively.
Not giving him, this old man, any face at all.
Mr. Mu’s mouth twisted in anger, just as he wanted to reprimand Mu Shuangshuang, Mu Dashan stepped in to protect his own daughter.
"Dad, Shuangshuang is still a child, she can’t take on such a big responsibility, you’d better find soone else!"
Mr. Mu was shocked, knowing Mu Dashan was protective, but he didn’t expect the third son would outright refuse him for Shuang.
"Third, you... you should think of it as doing it for , an old man, let Shuangshuang reconsider, in the entire Old Mu Family, apart from your uncle, she’s the most promising one in the future. She’s the most suitable to lead." Mr. Mu said.
Mu Dashan’s face changed.
"Dad, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that Shuangshuang doesn’t want to go. If she doesn’t want to do sothing, no one can force her."
Seeing Mu Dashan’s firm refusal, Mr. Mu was uncomfortable but couldn’t say anything further.
"Then you all wait at the Old Mu Family courtyard gate tomorrow morning, bring the kids along too. Tomorrow morning, your mom will give Xiao Han and Little Zhi a bamboo basket each, with so food inside. Just distribute so candies when you see fellow villagers on the way."
Mr. Mu talked for a while about going to the Old Mu Family tomorrow.
In Mr. Mu’s heart, everything concerning the Old Mu Family pales in comparison to Mu Dade participating in the imperial exam.
Mobilizing everyone from the Old Mu Family was only natural.
Mu Dashan didn’t make any promises, just said they’d go early tomorrow morning.
The Old Mu Family was noisy, with music and festivities throughout the day.
At night, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng were staking out outside the Old Mu Family, and sure enough, they spotted Hu Sheng coming to look for soone.
Hu Sheng first mimicked a cat’s ow outside the Old Mu Family courtyard, Mu Danian then ca out with a vulgar grin.
"Shuangshuang, it’s your fifth uncle..."
Lu Yuanfeng, having spent ti in the military, knew how to use shadows to identify people.
Plus, his night vision and hearing were better than most, so recognizing Mu Danian wasn’t difficult.
"It’s actually him!" Mu Shuangshuang was very surprised. "I had a feeling my fifth uncle was a genius, usually, he and Hu Sheng hardly interacted, even if they stole sothing together, no one would suspect them."
The more she thought, the more Mu Shuangshuang felt Mu Danian was not simple.
"Should we keep following them?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.
Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "No need, now that we know the thieves who stole from my house, the Old Wang Family, and the Old Lu Family are my fifth uncle and Hu Sheng, after sending off my uncle tomorrow, we’ll settle the score well with my fifth uncle."
...
The next day, as dawn was breaking, Old Mrs. Mu started knocking on the third branch’s door.
She asked Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan to co over to help, even woke up Xiao Han and Little Zhi, who sleepily got dressed to head towards the Old Mu Family.
Originally, Old Mrs. Mu wanted to call Mu Shuangshuang, but alas, her hand almost got worn out from knocking, and still couldn’t open Mu Shuangshuang’s room door.
Mu Shuangshuang knew the departure hour, and unless it arrived, she simply wouldn’t leave.
"Lazy girl, get up quickly, your uncle is about to depart, the sun is almost burning your bottom!" Old Mrs. Mu, unwilling to give up, called out a few more tis.
Yu Si Niang, already dressed, quietly discussed with Old Mrs. Mu: "Mom, Shuangshuang went to bed late yesterday, just let her sleep a bit longer, the child is too tired."
Old Mrs. Mu listened to Yu Si Niang, and rolled her eyes dramatically: "Am I the mother-in-law or are you? Do you have a say while I’m here?"
Yu Si Niang bit her lip, mustered the courage, and said: "Mom, I didn’t an it like that, it’s just that Shuangshuang runs the entire household, it’s not easy. Plus, it’s still quite early, on regular days, everyone isn’t up yet, you see..."
"You’re talking about regular days, today’s your eldest brother’s day to head to the Capital for the exams, how can that be delayed?"
Old Mrs. Mu’s mouth opened and closed continuously, spitting as she talked, hitting Yu Si Niang’s face.
Inside the room, Mu Shuangshuang impatiently replied: "Grandma, if you’re worried, just carry my uncle’s carriage to town right now. You may not be sleeping, but others need their rest."
Old Mrs. Mu was infuriated, her wide sleeves swishing noisily in her hands.
After swishing her sleeves, Old Mrs. Mu laid down so harsh words and went to the Old Mu Family herself.
Yu Si Niang stood at the doorway, seeing Shuangshuang still not wanting to co out, she comforted Mu Shuangshuang: "Shuangshuang, if you don’t want to go, then don’t go. Mom will explain to your grandparents later."
"Mom, you should rest for a bit too. I asked Grandpa yesterday, we’ll leave after the sun rises. It’s still early, the roosters just started crowing."
After Mu Shuangshuang finished speaking, she didn’t utter another word.
Outside the room, Yu Si Niang thought for a bit, then went back inside to tell the kids and Mu Dashan to sleep so more, while she herself started preparing breakfast.
Over at the Old Mu Family, the whole house, too, only got up when the sun rose.
Mu Dade was to show his face in front of everyone at the Old Mu Family today.
So he dressed in clothes bought from the county, gifted by Ruan Xiao Jiao, a burgundy robe with a wolf embroidered on the chest.
Mrs. Jin helped Mu Dade dress up, also applied so of her water powder, thus making Mu Dade look much better.
Mrs. Jin was in good spirits, because after today, they’d be heading to the Capital.
This whole trip, they wouldn’t encounter that wench Ruan Xiao Jiao.
"Mr. Dan Dan, today you really exude nobility, one can tell you’re not an ordinary person, surely destined for great wealth and fortune." Ruan Xiao Jiao added a piece of jade when tying Mu Dade’s hair.
This is the common attire of wealthy young n during the Da Ning Dynasty.
Mu Dade was also in a good mood.
Today marks another pinnacle starting point in his life.
This ti, heading to the Capital, he’s aiming for fa and fortune.
Once he tops the exam as Champion Scholar, he’d be the most esteed person not just in Qingshan Town, but in the whole county.
"Dan Dan’s mother, these past days, you’ve worked hard! If it weren’t for you, I, Mu Dade, would be nothing now."
It’s Mu Dade’s usual habit to praise Mrs. Jin after achieving sothing.
For ordinary won, hearing this might just be taken lightly.
n’s words, if believed, pigs could climb trees.
Yet, Mrs. Jin just believed it.
Not only believed it, as long as Mu Dade showed admiration for her, she felt all her efforts over the years were worthwhile.
"What are you talking about? We’re a couple, what’s there to thank?" Mrs. Jin turned her head aside, pretending to be shy.
If it had been ten years ago, this expression would have amazed Mu Dade.
Sadly, ti flies, and at the age of thirty-sothing, being the mother of two, Mrs. Jin was no longer young, and Mu Dade no longer felt moved by her.
Mu Dade smiled perfunctorily, suddenly saying: "Yinyin, this ti, Aunt Ruan will be riding in the sa carriage with us to the county."
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