From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!-Chapter 881 - 877: Offending Others (Fourth Update)
The voice of Aunt Zhang calling Ruan Xiao Jiao was, in others’ eyes, merely a relative of the County Magistrate’s concubine.
But to Mu Dade, it meant something different.
Since Aunt Zhang was a relative of Ruan Xiao Jiao, she had some connection with Mu Dade.
Both publicly and privately, Mu Dade should open this back door, allowing Aunt Zhang to gain this small benefit.
The brush Mu Dade held paused as he said to Mrs. Jin beside him, "Dan Dan’s mother, let’s change the rules. Start from the back and write one, then let one leave! There are too many people upfront, I’m getting a headache trying to write!"
Mrs. Jin instantly understood, Mu Dade changed the first-come-first-serve rule because he heard Aunt Zhang say she was a relative of Ruan Xiao Jiao.
At this moment, she increasingly felt that Ruan Xiao Jiao was indeed a troublesome woman.
As for this Aunt Zhang, she’s hardly Ruan Xiao Jiao’s aunt; if anything, there’s a grudge between her and the Ruan Family.
Aunt Zhang’s sister was the first wife of Ruan Family’s younger brother, who was divorced for not bearing children.
A few years ago, when Ruan Xiao Jiao hadn’t let the villagers know she was a concubine for the County Magistrate, everyone looked down on the Ruan Family.
Village families, though poor, would rather be a poor man’s wife than a rich man’s concubine. Ruan Xiao Jiao was even publicly scolded by Aunt Zhang’s sister as a slut.
But Mrs. Jin couldn’t say these things in front of Mu Dade.
Men most dislike women’s jealousy; if she wants to stand by Mu Dade as an official’s wife, she must have a calm heart to defeat troublesome women.
The reason Mrs. Jin hadn’t flipped out yet was because she believed, with the County Magistrate around, her husband, however foolish, wouldn’t cross moral boundaries with Ruan Xiao Jiao.
"Dan Dan’s father, if I may say, this might be hard to handle. Everyone here is kin; we see each other often.
If we let Aunt Zhang from the end be the first to write couplets, those at the front surely won’t be happy, which might cause trouble."
Of course, Mu Dade understood this logic; everyone has a tendency to protect their own; the villagers had no significant connection with him, Mu Dade.
Helping is goodwill, not helping is duty!
Besides, as a scholar, Mu Dade, however average, would spend his life in the county. Did this group of villagers think they could be treated well by him?
Wishful thinking.
"What trouble? I’m not charging them money anymore, what else do they want? If really so troublesome, they can go to the town and pay someone to write," Mu Dade asserted.
Mrs. Jin couldn’t think of any other way, so she tried to maintain a good attitude.
She cheerfully addressed the crowd still lined-up: "Everyone, could you listen to a couple of my words?"
In the courtyard, as Mrs. Jin’s voice rose, the previously noisy crowd quieted down, each staring at her.
"Dade’s wife, whatever it is, say it quick; we need to write the Spring Festival couplets and get them up!" someone said.
"I understand everyone wants the couplets quickly, but Dade’s energy is limited, and he has to go to the Capital for exams after the New Year, so..."
Mrs. Jin hadn’t finished speaking before Aunt Zhang from the back gave a loud spit.
"Bah! Old Mu Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, are you saying you won’t write for us?
Just now, it was the elder and old lady asking us to come; otherwise, you think we’d come here for Mu the eldest to write couplets?"
Aunt Zhang spoke without thinking, and her words were especially irritating.
Mrs. Jin was half-dead from anger, wanting to shut Aunt Zhang up once and for all.
In annoyance, Mrs. Jin retorted, "Aunt Zhang, I hadn’t finished speaking yet. Could you not interrupt? Let me finish at least."
"Then speak, will you? It’s like you’re out of breath, segmenting your words, and I don’t know how Old Mu Family found such a wife!" Aunt Zhang replied.
This Aunt Zhang spoke as viciously as her son, Ma Houhou.
Back then, Ma Houhou’s careless words almost made Mu Shuangshuang, newly arrived, vomit blood.
She later found a big hornet’s nest, sending it all to Ma Houhou for payback.
This made Aunt Zhang and Ma Houhou wary of confronting the Third Branch directly.
"What’s wrong with the wife Old Mu Family found? You see a problem?" Mrs. Jin countered.
"I say, Mu the eldest’s wife, how come your words are so unpleasant? It’s a festival; are you deliberately trying to ruin it for people?" Aunt Zhang added.
By now, the conversation was indeed quite hurtful.
Usually, one would have sent Aunt Zhang away.
It’s free stuff; without gratitude is fine, but blaming the hosts is unreasonable anywhere.
Yet, Mu Dade was inclined to protect Aunt Zhang, saying, "I’m not feeling well; everyone crowding upfront isn’t convenient.
So let’s start writing couplets from the last person, and after writing, leave through the side yard of the Third Branch, so folks disperse quickly."
Mu Dade rushed; once he spoke up, Mrs. Jin’s prepared speech was nullified.
What’s more, Mu Dade’s words gave the impression he sided with Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang became even more brazen, shrieking, "Ah, starting from last, that’s me. I always said, being early isn’t as good as timing it right. Look, now you know my prowess!"
Aunt Zhang’s words displeased those ahead in line.
"Mu the eldest, that’s not how it should be said. We’ve come without eating just to line up, and when it’s finally our turn, it goes from the back?
This is too unfair!" said a man about to take his turn.
At this point, Aunt Zhang squeezed through the crowd, retorting, "It’s free, so why fuss? If you’re capable, don’t let the scholar write for you; if he writes for you, obey his rules.
What the scholar does is beyond your mud-brained understanding."
Aunt Zhang spoke while presenting her backside to the man.
The man, upset, picked up his red paper on the table, angrily stating, "It’s just couplet writing, I, Zhu San, won’t do it here!"
A scholar’s pride is not to be insulted; Mu Dade blatantly favored Aunt Zhang.
Several friends of Zhu San also stood up.
"Let’s go, we’d better go to town and write a pair; at least we won’t wait only to lose our turn!"
The men headed towards the direction of the Mu Family’s Third Branch.
Meanwhile, Aunt Zhang arrogantly asked Mu Dade for a couplet.
After one couplet was complete, she asked for couplets for the Kitchen God, coop, and granary.
After much bustling, Aunt Zhang alone utilized the time of three incense sticks.
But Mu Dade showed no intention of sending her away.
