Lu Yuanfeng was also one of the insiders.
He knew that the one lying at the side of the carriage, acting as a step stool, was Old Mrs. Mu, and also knew that this was Mrs. Jin’s idea.
However, he still tended to think that Mu Dade wouldn’t step on her, after all, she’s his own mother.
"I guess... he won’t!"
As soon as Lu Yuanfeng finished speaking, Mu Shuangshuang chuckled and said, "Then Fengzi, you are surely going to lose. My eldest uncle isn’t the kind of person you think he is. Let’s wait and see."
While Mu Shuangshuang was discussing, other villagers were also talking, and then suddenly soone asked, "Eh, what’s going on, at such an important mont, why hasn’t Old Mrs. Mu co out?"
Everyone was puzzled as well.
Not seeing a trace of Old Mrs. Mu all morning was, by reasoning, an impossible occurrence.
This old lady always liked to make a fuss, even about small matters, ensuring the whole village knew.
Since Mu Dade passed the scholar’s examination, the old lady walked with such a spring in her step, often seeking presence in front of the villagers, and for such an important occasion today, her silence was unusual.
"Old Mu, where did your wife go?" soone asked Mr. Mu.
Mr. Mu, full of embarrassnt, stuttered for a long ti, not knowing how to respond.
Lying on the ground, Old Mrs. Mu was also anxious and sweating, fearing that her identity might be discovered if it weren’t for the bag covering her head.
"Eh, why is there a burlap bag under the carriage? Is it a person? The silhouette looks familiar," soone else asked.
Upon hearing this, most of the Old Mu Family beca slightly panicked, afraid Old Mrs. Mu might be recognized.
Only Mrs. Jin was secretly laughing in her heart.
Her intent was to let Old Mrs. Mu suffer humiliation; if discovered, it would be perfect.
"Thank you everyone for your concern, my mother told us yesterday she’ll stay ho, eat vegetarian, and chant Buddha’s na for three months to pray for Dade. During these three months, my mother won’t see anyone, so..."
Mrs. Jin deliberately said loudly, ensuring almost the entire village heard her explanation.
This way, Old Mrs. Mu had to stay at ho, unable to step out for three months.
By now Old Mrs. Mu realized sothing was amiss, but she could no longer get up to reprimand Mrs. Jin.
By this ti, no matter how much bitterness she felt inside, she could only swallow it all down.
The villagers all accepted this as a fact, each saying that Old Mrs. Mu was willing to endure all sufferings for her son, hinting she would surely enjoy life’s blessings in the future.
Old Mrs. Mu felt bittersweet at this mont, unable to express her distress.
Finally, Mu Dade walked to the front of the carriage, stepping on Old Mrs. Mu’s back, almost flattening her.
Old Mrs. Mu felt her waist was about to break, yet she was in a good mood.
Her son had finally severed the ill on brought by the third branch’s troubleso girl, and soon she could beco the old lady of a top scorer’s family.
Picturing a good life, Old Mrs. Mu unexpectedly had both feet of Mrs. Jin step onto her back.
"Ouch..." Old Mrs. Mu exclaid.
"Oh, what sound was that?" Mrs. Jin deliberately shouted, stirring interest in everyone about the person wrapped in the sack.
Soone deduced it was indeed a person, and even a woman’s voice.
Just not sure which family had an old lady willing to be a stepping stool for others.
"Eldest sister-in-law, you better hurry up, it’s almost ti." On the side, Mu Dashan couldn’t bear to see Mrs. Jin stepping further, urging them.
"Yeah, eldest sister-in-law, we really need to go." Mu Dajiang also chid in.
anwhile, Mu Dalang nudged Mu Danian and Mu Dazhong, "Dad, Fifth Uncle, please help move... move the person to the side to rest."
Most of the Old Mu Family thought today’s matter was a farce, but everyone was happy to watch it unfold.
Those who wanted to stop it couldn’t find a way to do so.
After Mu Dade and Mrs. Jin mounted the carriage, the music and drums started playing ahead.
The whole village began to see Mu Dade off.
Mu Shuangshuang felt goosebumps all over.
She felt that today’s situation didn’t seem like celebrating for Mu Dade, but rather like a funeral procession for him.
"Fengzi, how about we not go, I sense sothing odd." Mu Shuangshuang said.
Mu Dade was on the carriage, while others walked, forming a long queue with drumrs and gong beaters, if this wasn’t a funeral procession, then what was it?
Lu Yuanfeng, here just for the fun, naturally didn’t oppose when seeing Mu Shuangshuang didn’t want to go forward.
"Alright!" Lu Yuanfeng replied.
"Then, since that’s so, Fengzi, we’ll seize the chance later and sneak into the hills to have so fun, coming back by noon anyways, no one will notice we’re gone."
Mu Shuangshuang had her plan, dashing off once the procession started moving.
Anyway, with so many villagers attending, one or two missing wouldn’t be noticed.
But Mu Shuangshuang didn’t expect that as soon as she left, three little kids followed, coincidentally trailing right behind them.
Unable to shake them off, Mu Shuangshuang had no choice but to bring the little ones along.
Early spring and besides enjoying the scenery, there really wasn’t much to do.
Fortunately, ti passed quite quickly, and it was nearing noon when Mu Shuangshuang returned to the third branch.
She saw Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang also ca back.
Naturally, Mu Shuangshuang asked about Mu Dade’s situation along the way, and hadn’t noticed it herself.
Mu Dashan looked sowhat displeased.
"Ay, Shuang, don’t ntion it, today was really unlucky.
"Our village’s procession, after leaving the village and moving forward, encountered so people on the road who said we were a funeral procession; your grandpa got into a quarrel with them, followed by a fight.
Then those few called people from their village, and it turned into an all-out brawl, with many from our village getting injured as well."
"Ah, Dad, are you and Mom alright?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"We’re fine, earlier your dad wanted to join in the fight, but I saw your uncle had the driver move the carriage away, so I had your dad hide.
This isn’t sothing our third branch should bear, with your uncle gone, why should we risk our lives?"
Yu Si Niang, when talking reason, was quite logical.
Mu Shuangshuang gave her a thumbs up, speaking with admiration:
"My mom is truly our family’s hero, saving my dad’s life, she deserves a reward, let’s make sothing tasty at lunch."
Yu Si Niang was quite fond of the complints from Mu Shuangshuang.
Though still slightly bashful.
Mu Dashan gulped down so tea and started explaining the whole incident to Mu Shuangshuang.
Mu Shuangshuang was dumbfounded listening, able to picture the scene of both villages rolling up their sleeves and getting into it.
But perhaps it was for the best, saving Mu Dade from always showing off, having the whole village escort him to the town to take exams; one could guess they’d beco notorious once reaching town.
Mu Dade losing face was fine, but she still wished to keep so face for herself for future business dealings.
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