CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169 CHEERFUL FUN

Mu Dashan’s temperament is just as Mu Shuangshuang said.

Crying and hurt, one bears it alone.

After a long time, even Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu thought this son was made of iron and couldn’t be broken.

When there’s work, Mu Dashan is always the first to be thought of.

Being honest is one thing, and another is that he never complains.

In comparison, Mu Shuangshuang’s second uncle Mu Dazhong and fifth uncle Mu Danian complain much more.

Before they even get hurt, they start shouting nonstop. People like them give the impression of being fragile; naturally, Mr. Mu is reluctant to command them.

The saying "a crying child gets milk" is not wrong!

Yu Si Niang felt her daughter was right. Thinking back to what was said, as long as she helped plant rice for the Old Mu Family, the other matters were not the third branch’s concern anymore.

"You’re right. I’ll listen to you. Today I’ll stay home and make straw fans. When you get back in the evening, we’ll use the fans together."

...

Just after breakfast, Brother Zhao came to Shuangshuang’s house. A few days ago, people from the Old Mu Family didn’t notice these two brothers, but today they finally did.

Early in the morning, there was banging and clattering. Upon inquiry, it was learned the third branch was preparing to build a kitchen and a pigsty. Upon further questioning, there was talk about the third branch wanting to raise pigs in the future.

Building a kitchen is understandable, but Mrs. Lin couldn’t comprehend building a pigsty. The Old Mu Family doesn’t even have a single pig, so why should the third branch have money to raise pigs?

Mrs. Lin, while washing clothes, spoke sourly, "I don’t even know where the third branch got the silver to build a house. They’re the poorest in the family, and they talk about raising pigs. How ridiculous, drowning in debt yet dreaming of good days. It’s simply a dream!"

"Old Four’s wife, tell me, isn’t the third branch even worse than that doghouse of yours?"

In the courtyard, Mrs. Liu was turning over rice when she heard Mrs. Lin suddenly speak. Her heart felt a bit unsettled.

But she didn’t dare refute Mrs. Lin; Mrs. Lin is even more difficult to deal with than Old Mrs. Mu, holding grudges, selfish, and with a vicious tongue.

"I say, Old Four’s wife, I’ve said so much, can’t you say something? At least cough or fart, show some respect, I am your second sister-in-law after all.

Also, when will your Xiaxia be back? Don’t let our second branch do everything; you’re too selfish as a mother..."

"Second sister-in-law, I really didn’t, Xia Xia’s grandmother wanted her and her brother to stay for a few more days, and as a daughter, I couldn’t refuse. Please believe me." Mrs. Liu explained.

"I can believe you if you wash these clothes alone. I’m going to sleep."

Mrs. Lin flicked her hands, wiping soap liquid on her pants, and went straight into the house.

Mrs. Liu was extremely aggrieved, but she didn’t dare to argue with Mrs. Lin. She could only watch as Mrs. Lin went to rest alone.

Ever since the third branch separated, all the inside and outside work of the Old Mu Family fell on the shoulders of the fourth branch. Mu Dajiang came back every day covered in bruises, soaking in the paddy fields these days, even his feet blistered.

"Old Four’s wife, hurry and work, don’t dawdle like you’re giving birth."

Old Mrs. Mu held a small bamboo basket, the small bamboo basket containing the breakfast for Mu Dade. With exams approaching, Mu Dade’s appetite suddenly increased. A bowl of noodles in the morning was not enough, several buns and eggs were necessary, so today’s breakfast was much later than usual.

"Mom, I’ll start working right away, I’ll start working right away..."

"Pah, none of you are reliable, just lazy." Old Mrs. Mu muttered softly before leaving.

This directly angered Mrs. Liu to tears.

When Mu Shuangshuang came out with a wooden bucket, together with Little Zhi and Xiao Han, she saw Mrs. Liu alone under the old locust tree in the courtyard washing clothes, sweat dripping from her forehead and her eyes red.

Looking further, not far away, Old Mrs. Mu was truly heading towards the direction of the big house, knowing well Mrs. Liu must have been scolded by Old Mrs. Mu.

"Little Zhi, take the cloth to give fourth aunt a wipe, let her rest for a bit, don’t get exhausted."

Mu Shuangshuang handed the cloth to Little Zhi. The recent days of the fourth branch’s life were something Mu Shuangshuang heard from Yu Si Niang. Yu Si Niang had subtly brought up the idea of letting the fourth branch separate, but the fourth branch had no intention, so Mu Shuangshuang and Yu Si Niang did not intervene.

"Okay then, Little Zhi will go now."

Little Zhi stubbed her bottom, walking step by step to Mrs. Liu’s side. "Fourth aunt, wipe your face, don’t work too hard, you’re already sweating."

Mrs. Liu paused her hands washing clothes, and said softly, "Ah, Little Zhi is so good. What are you all going to do, holding a bucket and a pair of tongs?"

"Sister says we’re going to the fields to catch loaches and crayfish."

"Your Sister Xiaxia really likes catching crayfish too." Mrs. Liu thought of her daughter, looking at the kids of the separated third branch, sighed, and continued washing clothes.

Mrs. Liu’s scene was just an interlude before Mu Shuangshuang set out. She took Little Zhi and Xiao Han, heading onto the footpaths between the fields.

On the paths, no matter male or female, old or young, everyone was working. Men were plowing, women planting rice seedlings, children pulling seedlings in the fields.

Mu Shuangshuang felt this was what a home should be like, a family working together for the same goal, rather than like the Old Mu Family, where everyone seemed like a demon ready to devour.

"Sis, can we catch loaches and eels?" Xiao Han was very curious; these creatures live in dirt, usually needing to be dug out.

"Of course, let’s go find Fourth Uncle first, he’s plowing now."

During plowing, it’s a process of turning the soil, and with sharp eyes, one can always catch some missed loaches and eels.

After walking several paths, they finally found Mu Dajiang among the men working.

Mu Dajiang held the plow in his left hand and the cow rope in his right, occasionally stopping to raise the plow.

"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle!" Mu Shuangshuang carried the wooden bucket and went down the field path. Her eyes were fixed on the soil Mu Dajiang had just turned over, truly spotting a small eel. Her claws stretched out and she grabbed the eel, tossing it into the bucket.

"Why is Shuangshuang here?" Mu Dajiang stopped the cow, smiling gently, his tone very soft.

"I’m here to catch loaches and eels." Mu Shuangshuang shook the wooden bucket in her hand, the eel inside still moving.

Mu Dajiang nodded; he usually spoke little. Seeing his nephews and nieces, he greeted them, but didn’t know what else to say.

After thinking for a while, he finally spoke to Mu Shuangshuang. "Follow me, I’ve seen quite a few loaches before."

"Okay."

As Mu Shuangshuang talked, Mu Xiaohan followed down, but Little Zhi, being shorter than Xiaohan, would easily slip into the water in the deeper part of the field, so Mu Shuangshuang only let her stay on the bank.

Even so, Little Zhi’s eyes were fixed on the field, spotting a loach and jumping up, pointing at the spot and shouting.

"Sister, brother, there’s a loach, beneath Fourth Uncle’s feet, beneath Fourth Uncle’s feet..."