CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196 SENSIBLE

On the way to the main hall, Mu Dazhong exaggerated the events that happened in the Old Mu Family while talking to Mu Dashan.

Now Mu Dashan already knew the general situation.

He glanced at Mu Zhenzhen sitting in the corner and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"We can’t let Gou Dan face these things alone, we must bring Gou Dan back."

Mu Zhenzhen looked up at Mu Dashan in disbelief. "Third brother, are you asking me to be drowned in a pig cage?"

What, drown Zhenzhen in a pig cage?

As soon as Mu Dashan spoke, Mu Shuangshuang noticed Old Mrs. Mu’s expression change. She stood up, pointed at Mu Dashan’s nose, and was about to start cursing.

"Grandmother, my father didn’t mean that. What he meant was that Gou Dan is the grandson of the Old Mu Family, only our family would care for him. If he stays at Zhuangzi’s family, who knows what Zhuangzi’s mother might do."

Mu Shuangshuang hurried to explain for Mu Dashan.

Mu Zhenzhen was indeed the apple of Old Mrs. Mu’s eye. If anyone wanted to send her away, they’d certainly be asking for trouble.

"That’s more like it!" Old Mrs. Mu’s expression softened a bit.

At this point, Mu Shuangshuang could clearly see her selfishness. Mu Zhenzhen’s issue wasn’t exactly significant. If they went back to apologize and searched for the child together, maybe nothing serious would happen.

Yet she hid away like a turtle, causing everyone to suffer together, making the situation worse.

"Third, continue speaking, I saw you had something else to say just now." Mr. Mu refocused his attention on Mu Dashan, but Mu Dashan didn’t dare to speak anymore.

If it hadn’t been for his own daughter smoothing things over, he might have been scolded.

"Father, I’m not sure either, I just said it off the cuff."

Mr. Mu sighed and asked, "Third, you weren’t like this before. If father asked, you would always say whatever was on your mind, why aren’t you saying anything now?"

Mr. Mu actually knew his sons’ temperaments. He just didn’t have them in his heart; all his affection went to Mu Dade.

"Yes, third, speak up. Our second branch is counting on you."

"Third brother, say something..."

Everyone focused their attention on Mu Dashan. They said they wanted Mu Dashan to speak, but Mu Shuangshuang knew it was actually Mu Dade pushing her to speak.

Fine sweat beads immediately appeared on Mu Dashan’s forehead, and he became a bit flustered, his breathing turned rapid.

"Enough, my father can’t take stress. Grandpa, grandmother, uncles, don’t push him. Aren’t you looking for a solution? I’ll tell you!"

Ultimately, she couldn’t bear to see Mu Dashan being backed into a corner.

The blame lay with Mu Dade for being too crafty.

Once everyone focused on Mu Shuangshuang, she said, "The most important thing now isn’t whether Gou Dan or second aunt should go to second uncle’s, but the whereabouts of that little child Xiaomi at second uncle’s.

Their family is causing a fuss simply because the child is missing. If we find the child, second aunt won’t be in trouble."

"Yes, find Xiaomi, and I won’t be in trouble!" Mu Zhenzhen stood up abruptly and walked up to Old Mrs. Mu, pleading, "Mother, you must help me, tell the brothers to look for Xiaomi."

"It’s easy for you to say, what about the work at home? What about the double harvest? Should we just leave them?" Mrs. Lin interjected unhelpfully.

"So what does second aunt think? This isn’t right, that isn’t right? The paths laid out are only so many. Either we find the child, forget about Gou Dan, or second aunt goes!"

Having laid out the options, Mu Shuangshuang had done her utmost.

Ignoring anyone else’s opinions, she exchanged a glance with Yu Si Niang and supported Mu Dashan out of the main hall returning to her own home.

...

...

In the evening, Mu Dashan felt like a child who had done something wrong, head lowered, not daring to look at Yu Si Niang.

Yu Si Niang felt annoyed. Today it was Shuangshuang who shielded her from Old Mrs. Mu’s fury, so Mu Dashan hadn’t been scolded. How could this man be so naive.

Yu Si Niang said nothing, just looked at Mu Dashan.

Mu Dashan initially thought of how to explain, but when he heard Yu Si Niang’s sobs, he disregarded everything and went over to hug her, repeatedly apologizing.

"Si Niang, today I really didn’t leave on purpose, it was second brother, he begged me."

"He begged you so you went? I said I was not there, that you can’t go to the fields, why didn’t you listen."

Yu Si Niang was still crying; people are usually like this, once emotions start venting, all the things previously unsaid spill out like beans.

"Your mother can’t stand us of the third branch leading a good life, Shuangshuang made some tasty food, and she said it was stolen."

"You say, all are children, why is there such a big difference; older brother is human, and we’re not?"

"Did you hear the scolding from mother? She deliberately makes it hard for us in the third branch!"

"Life is unbearable..."

Yu Si Niang said a lot, each matter felt like a needle prick, piercing Mu Dashan’s heart.

"You say, what’s the difference between us splitting from the family or not? We bear the bad while they enjoy the good. I... should have listened to Shuangshuang long ago, not stayed here..."

Yu Si Niang cried bitterly, Mu Dashan’s emotions that had been held back burst forth at that moment.

"Si Niang, I know you felt wronged, forget it, from now on we won’t care, don’t cry anymore, let’s live our own lives, without hiding anymore!"

"..."

Outside Mu Dashan’s room, Little Zhi heard all of this and after the room quieted down, she quickly returned to Mu Shuangshuang’s room and relayed everything she had heard.

"Sister, that’s all I heard. Mother was crying, should we go comfort her?"

Tonight, the Mu’s three siblings slept on the same bed, Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan slept together.

It was Mu Shuangshuang’s idea for Little Zhi to eavesdrop. After all that’s happened, she knew Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang were growing, gradually beginning to detach from this place called Old Mu Family.

"No need, father will take care of mother. You and Brother Xiao Han sleep early, tomorrow you don’t have to work, I’ll take you to town to buy some nice clothes."

Mu Shuangshuang had earned some silver recently, though she occasionally bought some food, there were still things she hadn’t provided for her two younger siblings.

Whenever she saw Xiao Han and Little Zhi wearing patched clothes, she felt sad.

After all, they’re children, not like her who has weathered storms.

To her, wearing anything doesn’t matter; she once wore a uniform every day. Now a few patched clothes are merely a different kind of uniform.

But the two kids are still young, whenever the children of the other branches wore new clothes, Mu Shuangshuang could feel the kids’ envy.

"No need, sister, save the money for big things. If not, let Brother Xiao Han study!"