From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!-Chapter 1006 - 1002: Water Once Poured Out (First Update)
"Grandma... Gou Dan wants to eat, the egg custard is so delicious...!" Gou Dan whimpered.
At the dinner table, the sound of swallowing echoed.
A bowl of steamed egg custard, if Mu Xiangxiang doesn’t eat it, it means it will be distributed to others.
Everyone has a chance!
For people who eat coarse grains and greens every day, it’s a temptation.
"Mom, how about..." Mu Danian opened his mouth but was instantly scolded harshly by Old Mrs. Mu.
"Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you know! When it’s time to work, where are those who are so eager?" Old Mrs. Mu spat and cursed.
"But not eating is also a waste!" Chen Hong, seeing Mu Danian being scolded, replied discontentedly.
She felt deep down that life at the Old Mu Family was unbearable, worse than pigs and dogs.
Others feed pigs some meat, but at the Old Mu Family, she, a living person, was fed only vegetables, like feeding rabbits, and without oil.
If not for Chen Hong’s cleverness, taking advantage of every chance with Mu Danian to scrape up some benefits in the village to indulge a bit, she might have been reduced to skin and bones.
"What are you saying? Again? Believe it or not, I’ll tear your mouth? Chen Hong, don’t forget, this is the Old Mu Family, it’s not your place to speak!"
Old Mrs. Mu slammed the bowl heavily on the table, glaring fiercely at Chen Hong.
Chen Hong was not willing to back down, meeting Old Mrs. Mu’s gaze.
Mu Danian tugged at Chen Hong’s skirt under the table, signaling her not to stir up trouble with his mother, lest it ends poorly.
"Alright, isn’t it just a bowl of egg custard? Since Xiangxiang isn’t eating, let the kids take it and share it!" Mr. Mu said.
"Thanks, Dad, I’ll go right away."
Mu Danian quickly stood up, went to the kitchen, and brought the egg custard, splitting it among several people, who ate it clean.
Old Mrs. Mu was furious; she glared at Mr. Mu.
Mr. Mu, however, acted indifferently, continued eating, and left the dining room once finished.
He headed toward the third branch.
-
After the meal, Old Mrs. Mu instructed Mrs. Liu and Huang Bita to clean the kitchen and dining room, then went to find Mu Xiangxiang in the main house. These days’ events still left Old Mrs. Mu uneasy, she had to clarify things.
"Xiangxiang, what’s really going on? Tell mom?" Old Mrs. Mu lowered her voice, coaxing her daughter.
"Nothing happened." Mu Xiangxiang, lying on the kang, replied unwillingly.
"Xiangxiang, be a good girl and tell mom, have you taken a liking to some young man? Tell mom, she might be able to help you!"
Old Mrs. Mu, having been young once herself, knew her daughter went out early and came back late every day, always returning well-fed.
She must have met someone, eating at someone’s home.
She was once young too and understood that for a daughter after a man, there’s hardly anything else that can make a woman so frequently in such a state!
Having realized this, Old Mrs. Mu felt quite pleased.
The daughter is not young anymore, has reached adulthood, and it’s time to find a husband.
If she likes someone, she would manage it by seeking a suitable match for her daughter.
"Oh gosh, what are you talking about, finding someone to like? Who could I possibly like?" Mu Xiangxiang replied irritably.
"You don’t?" Old Mrs. Mu seemed disappointed.
She looked at her daughter again.
On Xiangxiang’s reddish face, there were hints of girlish shyness, clearly showing signs of an intended suitor.
"Xiangxiang, why don’t you stay home tomorrow, I’ll make you something delicious, alright?" Old Mrs. Mu still wished to know the person her daughter had in mind.
"No, I’m going out." Mu Xiangxiang refused flatly.
And moreover, she got up, pushed Old Mrs. Mu out, no matter what she said, she wouldn’t open the door.
Old Mrs. Mu, in a hurry, was covered in sweat, and anxiously went to find Mr. Mu to discuss.
This time, Mr. Mu was still in the third branch, discussing Mu Dalang helping at the pigsty.
No one could dismiss five to six teals of silver, including Mr. Mu.
So, his purpose in visiting the third branch was to have Mu Shuangshuang keep engaging Mu Dalang, hopefully, to get the silver payment quickly.
The third branch family was eating late, so Mr. Mu arrived just in time for the meal.
At the dinner table, not only was there fish and meat but also fern shoots Mr. Mu hadn’t tasted.
The whole third branch’s aroma was tempting enough to make one linger.
Even Mr. Mu was tempted, though he refused to admit he hadn’t eaten.
No matter how Mu Dashan urged him to stay, he insisted he’d already eaten.
"Grandpa, this thing, did Brother really talk to you about it?" Mu Shuangshuang put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked Mr. Mu again.
"Yes! That’s what he said; he feels raising pigs is disgraceful and doesn’t want to do it, asking you to find someone else.
But Shuangshuang, you also know the current situation at the Old Mu Family, making big money before your uncle returns is difficult, making small money is possible.
Can’t you pretend your cousin never said it and let him continue at the pigsty?"
Even when asking for a favor, Mr. Mu showed no trace of pleading.
He still wore the family head air of the Old Mu Family, authoritatively asking Mu Shuangshuang.
Mu Shuangshuang rolled her eyes internally, knowing the Old Mu Family’s people would come to her; she just didn’t expect it to happen so soon, nearly catching her off guard.
"Grandpa, I can’t dictate this, Brother Dalang’s stance is clear, I can’t force him.
Moreover, today I’ve already talked to the people from Tie Dao Village, I plan to hire someone to help with raising pigs, gathering pig feed and such.
They’ve agreed, just waiting for Fengzi and me to finish the pigsty and they’ll start working."
Mu Shuangshuang’s words seemed intent on blocking Mr. Mu’s retreat.
Mr. Mu felt urgency upon hearing that from her: "Shuangshuang, don’t they say the fat waters don’t flow to outsiders’ fields? You surely wouldn’t give this pig raising job to outsiders?"
Five to six teals a year, plus food and lodging, such a job couldn’t be given to outsiders.
"Grandpa, it hasn’t gone to outsiders, I only paid two teals a year for him." Mu Shuangshuang explained.
For a little more spare living, the silver is sufficient for a family’s needs.
Two teals aren’t a small amount.
Mu Shuangshuang assumed mentioning this salary, Mr. Mu would accept.
"Ah..." Mr. Mu seemed flustered.
This matter seemed irreparable.
First, Mu Dalang rejected Mu Shuangshuang, then she found someone who even charged less than Mu Dalang.
"This thing... truly can’t be dealt with?" Mr. Mu’s lips turned white.
If the money doesn’t come through, it would surely be a loss for the Old Mu Family.
"Grandpa, honesty is fundamental, I can’t just decide to get someone new and then let them leave!" Mu Shuangshuang stated.
Mr. Mu sighed, feeling himself a bit burdened, overstraining Shuang girl was unfair.
"Shuangshuang, Dalang is family, find a way..." Mu Dashan suddenly interjected.
