From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!-Chapter 871 - 867: Old Mrs. Xue’s Gifts (Third Update)
Xue Zheng withdrew from Mu Shuangshuang’s embrace.
He nodded firmly.
"I want to go!" Xue Zheng answered.
"Old Lady, why don’t you come along too? I’ll cook for lunch today." Mu Shuangshuang invited Old Mrs. Xue.
Old Mrs. Xue didn’t hesitate and agreed.
"Of course, that’s great. I, this old woman, haven’t eaten anything good in a long time. The cook in this house doesn’t make tasty food at all, even those from the Capital aren’t as good as what you whip up casually, little girl."
Old Mrs. Xue’s words carried a hint of complaint.
"Mom, didn’t you say last time that the cook was decent?" Xue Yi’s voice came first, then Xue Yi himself appeared.
As usual, Xue Yi looked careless from the outside, not showing any signs of great ability.
But in reality, dealing with him once lets you know how treacherous he can be.
"Hmph, what are you doing here instead of staying in the study?" Old Mrs. Xue said irritably.
"Mom, I heard Miss Shuangshuang and Yuan Feng were here, so I came to take a look. You aren’t unwelcoming me, are you?"
Old Mrs. Xue always held a certain disdain for Xue Yi, a fact known throughout the manor.
"Move aside, I’m going to talk to Shuang and Feng." Old Mrs. Xue urged.
Xue Yi shrugged and could only stand by the side, respecting Old Mrs. Xue’s wishes.
Everyone chatted for an hour or more; Mu Shuangshuang looked at the sun in the courtyard, realizing it was about time to go back and prepare the meal.
She got up and said goodbye to Old Mrs. Xue.
Together with Lu Yuanfeng and Xue Zheng, they went to Fulin Restaurant.
Xue Zheng wasn’t there just for the meal; he missed his little friends.
So he brought him early to play with the kids.
At the restaurant, Yu Si Niang was already busying herself.
She had bought a woman’s chicken from the market, which was now slaughtered and just waiting to be plucked.
As soon as Lu Yuanfeng entered the courtyard, he took over the heavy tasks of slaughtering chicken and cutting fish.
"Aunt Si, you can rest inside. Shuangshuang and I can handle this." Lu Yuanfeng said.
"Mom, later Old Mrs. Xue and Second Master Xue will come to our home for a meal, but there’s no need to prepare anything special; just treat it like usual!"
Mu Shuangshuang informed ahead about the Xue Family coming, fearing Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan would feel pressured.
Yu Si Niang smiled, waved her hand, and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll treat it like Yu Tou and the others coming over for a meal. We’re all family; I won’t be afraid."
With Yu Si Niang’s reassurance, Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t worried.
While Lu Yuanfeng handled the chicken, Mu Shuangshuang washed the rice and vegetables.
All the ingredients were newly bought from the town, so they were especially fresh.
Mu Shuangshuang was only preparing homemade dishes, so there was no pressure.
"Shuangshuang, let’s also prepare New Year’s Eve dinner together, letting the elders rest more!"
Lu Yuanfeng’s mother wasn’t present, so he had long considered Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang as his own parents.
"Sure! With you here, I’m not anxious at all," Mu Shuangshuang said.
Working with Lu Yuanfeng, she never felt tired.
Not sure if this silly boy did.
Lu Yuanfeng heard Mu Shuangshuang’s indirect confession, his smile widened, bright and dazzling.
Mu Shuangshuang worked especially fast with Lu Yuanfeng helping with the materials.
Kung Pao Chicken, Boiled Fish Fillets—simple ingredients transformed into delicious dishes in her hands.
By lunchtime, the dishes were ready.
Xue Yi arrived with Old Mrs. Xue.
In the front courtyard.
In the front courtyard hall, two tables were joined together, and Mu Shuangshuang brought out a dish, calling everyone to eat.
Even Xue Yi stood up to help serve the meal.
The kids went to the well in the backyard to wash their hands with the water Lu Yuanfeng had drawn, each eagerly waiting for the adults to feed them.
Mu Dashan found an unopened jar of wine in the backyard’s storeroom, asking Xue Yi and Lu Yuanfeng.
"Do you two drink?" Mu Dashan spoke as he brought out three large hai bowls.
Here, counting Lu Yuanfeng, there were only three who could drink.
Mu Dashan was happy today, and his urge to drink had arisen.
"Since Shuangshuang’s father wants to drink, I, Xue Yi, naturally will join him!" Xue Yi picked up one empty bowl and moved it in front of Mu Dashan.
Lu Yuanfeng also nodded.
"I’ll drink too!"
The three large hai bowls were filled with wine; Mu Shuangshuang and Yu Si Niang laid out the dishes and sat down.
A big table full of dishes, looking at it was appetizing.
"Let’s just consider this an early New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone happy and joyous." Old Mrs. Xue remarked.
Here, the eldest was Old Mrs. Xue.
Her words held significant weight.
Everyone nodded, no one argued with Old Mrs. Xue.
"Since it’s New Year, I’ll not keep secrets; I’ve prepared red envelopes as New Year gifts for everyone."
Old Mrs. Xue pulled out a stack of red paper-wrapped envelopes from her pocket, distributing them to those at the table.
The children were expected to receive some, but even Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang got some.
The couple felt somewhat embarrassed, thinking to refuse the red envelopes.
Old Mrs. Xue immediately said, "I’m the oldest. What I say, you all should listen.
Furthermore, I’m just trying to share in the joy; no refusing allowed."
Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang could only helplessly accept the New Year gifts.
"Thank you, Old Lady!"
Old Mrs. Xue laughed pleasantly, saying, "You can all open them and see what’s inside."
Old Mrs. Xue urged everyone.
The children opened theirs, nothing special, twenty coins each.
Even Lu Yuanfeng’s envelope contained twenty coins.
Only Mu Shuangshuang’s shocked her when opened.
Inside was a paper with ’House Deed’ written across it.
"Old Lady..." Mu Shuangshuang didn’t understand Old Mrs. Xue’s intentions.
"Oh, this is the deed to First-class Residence, a gift for you. I know now your restaurant isn’t that big, but you’ll surely move to a bigger place in the future.
So, I’m giving you the house deed to First-class Residence in advance, to save you from having to find another location later."
"Old Lady, this is too precious, I can’t accept it!" Mu Shuangshuang tried returning the deed.
Old Mrs. Xue wouldn’t take it.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I haven’t finished speaking yet! The land deed isn’t with me, and the house deed hasn’t been registered with the government, which means you’re holding onto something that’s pretty much like waste paper.
But once you’ve saved enough to buy the land deed, I’ll have someone register the house deed with the government, transfer everything, and only then will you have all rights to First-class Residence."
"Old Lady, why... me?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
"I don’t exactly know why; I just feel close to you and Feng. The first time I saw you, you felt different from the others.
If it weren’t for your words, I would still be selling herbal tea at the shop, reminiscing about my old man.
You gave me hope, showed me that if I live well, my old man will be happy."
