The farce in the Old Mu Family lasted for four days.
It finally ca to a halt on the day of the Lantern Festival.
The plan to marry off Mu Xiangxiang to Sun Dali was also put on hold due to the festivities.
However, the Old Yu Family coming to the third branch for the Lantern Festival was a sure thing.
On the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Yu Si Niang got up early. She changed into new clothes ant for the holiday and deliberately went to Mu Shuangshuang’s room to have her do her makeup.
Since Mu Shuangshuang charged a small fee for makeup during the Qixi Festival, village girls have occasionally sought her out for her skills.
So because they were going on dates, others purely because they thought it looked good.
A few pennies at a ti, over several occasions, it amounted to enough to buy a kilo of pork. Mu Shuangshuang thought doing more makeup for the village won could be a good way to make money.
But putting makeup on Yu Si Niang was like a big girl heading to the sedan chair for the first ti. So Mu Shuangshuang was particularly cautious this ti.
After a long ti of dabbing and brushing, Mu Shuangshuang finally let Yu Si Niang open her eyes.
The person in front of her, because of the powder, appeared much fairer than usual.
Her eyelashes looked especially long because they were curled with a hot wire. Additionally, after Mu Shuangshuang styled Yu Si Niang’s hair into the popular Da Ning Dynasty bun — the Feiluo Bun — Yu Si Niang’s image completely changed.
Previously, she looked like a rural woman, but now she appeared as the wife of a landlord, standing next to Mu Shuangshuang, looking more like sisters than mother and daughter.
But co to think of it, Yu Si Niang indeed was not that old, close to thirty but not quite there.
If it weren’t for the tornt she suffered in the Old Mu Family in earlier years, she would probably look even younger now.
Yu Si Niang gazed at herself in the copper mirror, montarily unable to believe it.
"Shuangshuang, maybe... I shouldn’t do this after all, it stands out too much. If your grandma sees it, I’m afraid she’ll scold again."
Mu Shuangshuang grasped Yu Si Niang’s hand and consoled her, "It’s okay, Mom. Grandma hasn’t even cleaned up her own ss. She won’t have ti to ddle in our business.
Besides, a woman’s face should be cherished by herself, not everyone else’s concern. Mom, you look especially beautiful today, and when Grandpa and Grandma co later, they’ll definitely see that you haven’t suffered in the third branch." Mu Shuangshuang laughed brightly.
Yu Si Niang blushed at Mu Shuangshuang’s words, giving her a playful glare.
She got up and glanced towards the adjacent room.
But it was still early, and the kids hadn’t woken, even Mu Dashan was still asleep.
Mu Shuangshuang guessed that Yu Si Niang wanted her father to see the transformation early, but she sensibly said nothing, not wanting to embarrass her mother further.
"Mom, I’ll go make breakfast, you can stay longer in my room." Mu Shuangshuang suggested.
Yu Si Niang quickly stood up too.
"I’ll join you. I’ll light the fire, you cook!"
"Mom, you’ve already put on makeup, take a good rest today. It’s rare that Dad doesn’t have to work on the construction site today; I’ll take care of today’s als."
Mu Shuangshuang waved her hand grandly, speaking with great enthusiasm.
Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan usually don’t have it easy, whether at ho or on the construction site. When there’s nothing to do on the site, they tend to the fields.
They never allow themselves to be idle.
"Shuangshuang, you’re all grown up!" Yu Si Niang remarked sentintally, looking at Mu Shuangshuang.
Who would have thought that this ti last year, my daughter was too timid to co out, hiding at ho, not answering to anyone?
Now, my daughter can handle everything, and Yu Si Niang feels that the heavens have not treated her poorly; she’s very content.
-
After breakfast, the family of the third branch went straight to the village entrance, waiting for the arrival of the Old Yu Family.
When the sun was up, the Old Yu Family appeared at the village entrance.
Mr. Yu, Old Mrs. Yu, Yu Liulang, and Feng Xiaohua, as well as...
Mu Shuangshuang focused her eyes, her face turning dark upon seeing Yu Erlang and Li Juhua, who had once threatened to abandon her. Though she had no objection to Yu Erlang’s presence, she truly disliked Li Juhua’s presence.
"Mom, why is Li Juhua here at our house? Wasn’t she already abandoned?" Mu Shuangshuang asked, slightly displeased.
Yu Si Niang was equally puzzled, not knowing why Li Juhua had co. But because of what Li Juhua had done before, Yu Si Niang and Mu Shuangshuang shared the sa stance — Li Juhua wasn’t welco.
"Once they’re here, they’re our guests, and we have to treat them well." Mu Dashan interjected.
As they spoke, the Yu Family had reached them.
The elder Yu couple imdiately noticed the changes in Yu Si Niang. Old Mrs. Yu’s eyes lit up as she praised Yu Si Niang.
"Girl, since the last ti we t, you’ve beco much prettier. The younger you look, the more beautiful you get."
Yu Si Niang shyly lowered her head, looking at her toes. She said, "Mu Shuangshuang put rouge and powder on . Without them, I... I don’t look good."
"Nonsense, my daughter is beautiful," Mr. Yu chid in.
Beside them, Mrs. Li, seeing the elder Yu couple gathering around Yu Si Niang, tried to insert herself to complint Mr. and Mrs. Yu:
"Yes, fourth sister, your skin is silky smooth. How do you manage to look younger as you age? Tell your secret for beauty so I can try it too and beco beautiful."
Mrs. Li’s words, not only were Yu Si Niang unhappy but even Old Mrs. Yu turned her head away in disdain.
Everyone appeared unwilling to engage with Mrs. Li.
The elder Yu couple hadn’t visited the Old Mu Family for several years. The last visit was when Yu Si Niang gave birth to Little Zhi amidst the ice and snow. No one was there to wash clothes and diapers, so Old Mrs. Yu ca to help for two days.
When she ca, she brought a black hen and so blood-enriching herbs that the Old Yu Family borrowed money to buy, and she stewed the soup in Yu Si Niang’s room.
When she finished washing the diapers, she returned to find the stove and pot gone, only to find chicken bones scattered in the Old Mu Family’s dining room.
Old Mrs. Yu, who had never argued with anyone, had an altercation with Old Mrs. Mu, resulting in her being chased out.
Old Mrs. Yu never ntioned it to Yu Si Niang, fearing her daughter would bear a grudge against Old Mrs. Mu over this incident.
However, for Old Mrs. Yu, the knot in her heart remained. Even when Old Mrs. Mu went to Yu Family Village recently, Mr. Yu and Old Mrs. Yu avoided her.
"Dad, Mom, let’s not talk here and risk being laughed at. Let’s go ho." Yu Si Niang held Old Mrs. Yu’s hand and headed toward the third branch.
Mu Dashan followed behind, chatting with Yu Liulang and Yu Erlang. They were particularly interested in the private school and restaurant at Mu Shuangshuang’s house.
As Mu Dashan talked about these matters, the two occasionally shared their opinions.
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