Mu Dashan led everyone into the kitchen.

On the dining table, there was a feast: braised chicken, fish with fermented black beans, braised pork, and a bowl of red braised tofu along with several other dishes that they usually wouldn’t have a chance to eat.

More sumptuous than the New Year’s dishes.

Mu Shuangshuang was stunned, "Dad, Mom, why did you prepare so many dishes? It must have taken a lot of effort, right?"

"I said there were enough dishes, but your mom insisted there weren’t enough and wanted to make a few more!

Oh, right, this meat came from Da Lang, that kid refused to take any money.

The fish were given by your Uncle Fu Wu when he heard you were coming back, he gave us three carp and your mom cooked them with fermented black beans, they should taste pretty good.

And the chicken, that was sent by your Uncle Yu! Everyone was so happy to hear you were coming back!"

Mu Dashan spoke with a smile on his face.

"Then why didn’t you invite them over to eat with us?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.

"Oh, you know how they are. As soon as they drop things off, they’re gone. No matter how much I call them, it’s no use! But I told them, when it’s your birthday, we’ll call them over for a gathering."

Qixi is Mu Shuangshuang’s birthday, it’s also the day of her coming-of-age ceremony.

The third branch is definitely going to make a big deal out of it and invite some close acquaintances.

Mu Shuangshuang counted the days and realized it was around that time.

This time last year, everyone was both looking forward to Qixi and anticipating Mu Shuangshuang’s birthday.

Plus, the selection of the weaver girl from last year is still fresh in memory. This year, it might be even more unforgettable.

Mu Shuangshuang remembered the lantern she left in Lu Yuanfeng’s storage room. If she makes some adjustments, she might sell it for some silver in the village.

And helping those young girls with their makeup, just thinking about it made Mu Shuangshuang excited.

After expressing their long-missed words, everyone took their seats and started eating.

Cheng Dagang and Mrs. Bai were both easygoing people, and with Mu Shuangshuang’s family being so amicable, they let their guard down and ate to their heart’s content.

Yuanbao and Little Zhi, the two little ones, were calling out "grandpa" and "grandma" so sweetly that it was like they had honey on their lips.

It almost made Cheng Dagang and Mrs. Bai want to pick them up and eat with them right there and then.

The meal was enjoyable, and everyone chatted merrily.

First, Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang talked about recent events.

Then Mu Shuangshuang spoke about what happened in Yulin County, and as everyone exchanged their experiences, they all felt they had learned a lot.

After dinner, the three kids took Cheng Dagang and Mrs. Bai to the school to sleep.

Mu Shuangshuang took out the prepared gifts.

She bought cloth for Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang. Although this trip didn’t profit her much, she made friends.

She also found a teacher for Lu Yuanfeng and Xing Beichen.

If the two can make progress under Cheng Dagang’s guidance, it would be Mu Shuangshuang’s greatest wish come true.

News of Mu Shuangshuang’s return naturally reached the Old Mu Family as well.

After dinner, Mr. Mu sat at the hall entrance, smoking a dry pipe.

His eyes occasionally glanced in the direction of the third branch, and Old Mrs. Mu noticed, speaking with a sarcastic tone.

"Oh, are you waiting for that pesky girl from the third branch? Waiting to see when she’ll come? Or if she even thinks of you as her grandpa?"

"I advise you to forget it. That ungrateful girl who can’t be raised properly, she ate our food and used our things, then went to split the family!"

"Even if she split the family, started an inn, a school, have you benefited at all? Now thinking of getting some benefits from her, I advise you not to daydream!"

Old Mrs. Mu’s words were always infuriating.

Mr. Mu rolled his eyes at her, "What do you know? That’s in the past, in the past, the eldest hadn’t secured a name for himself, nor had he taken a position in the county! Now that the eldest is about to become a county magistrate, wouldn’t Shuang, who is so smart, know to please her uncle, to please us?"

This period has been the most glorious time for the Old Mu Family.

People from neighboring ten villages have been coming to the Old Mu Family, bringing gifts, and sending regards.

Even those who claimed to be relatives started asking to rewrite the family genealogy with Old Mu’s branch as the main line.

With Old Mu’s branch being the main house, the others were all side branches.

Of course, they also had demands, that Mu Dade must look out for these relatives.

If there were any issues in the county in the future, Mu Dade should help resolve them.

"You should stop thinking so stray thoughts! That pesky girl won’t even look at Dade? I advise you to give up early, let’s hurry and sell off things we don’t need at home and go live a good life in the county!"

Mu Dade is set to take office in September, so in these two months, he can still take things slowly in the village.

"I said Shuang will come, and she will, if you don’t want to wait, then go back to sleep!

If you can’t sleep, then go ask Zhen what kind of person she likes, so we can have Matchmaker Sun prepare early."

"Alright, alright, I’ll handle Zhen’s matter myself. She won’t be led astray!" replied Old Mrs. Mu.

"Don’t just say that, Zhen’s no longer a young girl, and didn’t bear a child for Zhuangzi’s family, if we don’t hurry, those yellow flowers will have wilted!"

Speaking of Mu Zhenzhen, Mr. Mu inevitably has to nag a bit more.

Old Mrs. Mu’s ears are filled with calluses, she impatiently says, "Got it, got it, she’s our daughter after all, no need to say things so harshly, I’m on it!"

Old Mrs. Mu went to find Mu Zhenzhen, while Mr. Mu stayed alone in the hall.

He waited until late at night but never saw Mu Shuangshuang come by.

So Mr. Mu consoled himself that Shuang, having just returned, must be exhausted.

But what he didn’t know was, ever since Mr. Mu forced Xiao Han to apologize last time, Mu Shuangshuang has held a grudge against Mr. Mu.

Not to mention bringing him anything, she wouldn’t even give him another glance.

After entering the room, Mr. Mu couldn’t avoid another round of Old Mrs. Mu’s scolding.

"What? That pesky girl didn’t come? I told you not to waste your time, use that time to get some rest early!" Old Mrs. Mu remarked.

"She just got back today, tired and resting early is normal, how come from your mouth it sounds so unpleasant?" Mr. Mu defended Mu Shuangshuang.

Though he was mostly defending his own dignity.

"Hmph, keep defending that pesky girl, you’ll see in the future!" Old Mrs. Mu finished and climbed up onto the bed.

She left only her back to Mr. Mu, showing her current mood.

Mr. Mu looked at Old Mrs. Mu’s demeanor and suddenly remembered something.

"Right, wife, don’t you think, how come our second son has been out for so long and hasn’t come back? Logically, now that the eldest is back, the second son’s wife should have sent someone to call him back!" Mr. Mu said.

Old Mrs. Mu wouldn’t respond to Mr. Mu.

"Oh, that troublemaker, always causing worry, you think he’s done something shameful outside?"