CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 217: I SIX, YOU FOUR (8 UPDATES)

Just like before, after waiting for the oil to heat in the pan, Mu Shuangshuang placed the chopped ginger and garlic in the pan to sauté them, then put the marinated fish into the oil.

At this moment, the most important thing is not to rush to flip the fish over; you must wait until the fish develops a golden-brown crust.

After Mu Shuangshuang flipped the fish a few times and caught a whiff of its aroma, she scooped a ladle of clear water, mixed it with chili sauce and scallions, poured it over the fish, and covered the pan with the lid.

The rest is just waiting for the fish to cook.

Yu Si Niang freshened herself up, washed her hands, and entered the kitchen. "Shuangshuang, do you need my help?"

Mu Shuangshuang was busy adding firewood, and just said, "No, Mom, I’m still cooking the fish. I have to cook rice later; it’ll take a little while longer."

"Alright then, Mom will go make a few more straw fans."

Having worked all day, Yu Si Niang was indeed hungry, but hearing her husband say that the third branch wouldn’t have to go to the main house for meals in the future, she felt relieved.

In fact, even there, she couldn’t eat much. The food was distributed by Old Mrs. Mu, and whenever there were good dishes, they were usually given to others first, and the third branch couldn’t get anything good, especially since Shuangshuang’s second aunt arrived.

Whenever there was anything tasty, it was eaten by the second aunt alone; others could only watch and drool. Instead of that, she preferred to come out on her own.

Now, she could earn five coins by making a straw fan. If she could make more, it wouldn’t be worse than farming, and she could definitely support the whole family.

On the other side, in the Mu Family’s main house, with the absence of the third branch, Old Mrs. Mu was secretly pleased and served everyone a little more rice during the meal.

Five people in the third branch — one bowl of sweet potato rice per person. That’s five bowls; over a day, that’s fifteen bowls. Now that they aren’t eating together, she could save quite a bit of money.

"Mom, why is there no meat today? I can’t eat without meat." Mu Zhenzhen looked at the table full of vegetarian dishes and suddenly lost her appetite.

Old Mrs. Mu’s expression became awkward. Ever since the second daughter arrived, she had to buy some meat every day or fry a few eggs, and it added up to quite a sum; right now the eldest’s traveling expenses were still unresolved.

Recently, just the expenses for meals had seriously exceeded the usual, and if she didn’t tighten up, they would have to eat the Northwest wind.

"Zhenzhen, let’s endure for now. After the harvesting period is over, Mom will buy you something good."

"I don’t want it, you said last time that you’d kill a chicken for me; look, it’s been so long, I never got to eat chicken, and outsiders got it instead."

Mu Zhenzhen stubbornly refused to back down, and beside her, Gou Dan started acting up, slamming his chopsticks on the table. "Dad, Mom, I want meat. At Second Aunt’s, there was meat to eat; there’s nothing here."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zhenzhen’s face lit up with a smile. "Gou Dan is right. At Zhuangzi’s, I could eat meat every day."

Old Mrs. Mu’s face clouded immediately; she stood up and fiercely struck Gou Dan’s hand, pouring most of his bowl into Mu Yingying’s bowl beside him.

"If you don’t eat it, someone else will. Are you rebelling, daring to threaten me, old woman?"

Seeing his family’s food land in someone else’s bowl, Gou Dan, who was already hungry, started crying "Wah."

While crying, his short legs under the table kept flailing randomly, accidentally touching the wound on his butt, hurting so much he grimaced in pain, wailing like a funeral dirge, and his cries gradually reached the third branch...

At this time, the third branch’s dinner was just ready; the food was set, and the family along with Fengzi brothers gathered in one corner of the kitchen, joyful unlike the Old Mu Family’s stark contrast.

The braised fish and bitter melon scrambled eggs on the table were a hot commodity; once served, everyone dug into those two dishes. In no time, they had cleared the table.

Yuanbao had eaten four bowls of rice, his belly almost ready to burst; he burped contentedly and gave Mu Shuangshuang a thumbs-up.

"Sister Shuangshuang, your food is so delicious. I’ve never had anything so tasty in my life; it would be great if you were my real sister."

After saying that, Yuanbao immediately realized he misspoke and sneaked a glance at his second brother, whose brows were already furrowed. Little Yuanbao quickly corrected himself. "I mean, it would be great if Sister Shuangshuang could cook for me every day."

Haha, being a sister-in-law could also mean cooking every day.

"Sure, you can come every day, and I’ll cook for you every day," Mu Shuangshuang said with a smile, "but next time, don’t eat excessively; it’s not good for your health. Even the tastiest food needs moderation."

Yuanbao nodded eagerly. Of course, he was willing; he had to help his second brother look after Sister Shuangshuang.

After dinner, as for that tub of fish, Mu Shuangshuang felt a bit troubled. Leaving it in the yard was definitely unsafe, but if not in the yard, where could it be placed?

Other places might be too enclosed; what if the fish died?

"Shuangshuang, what’s wrong?"

After dinner, Lu Yuanfeng and Yuanbao hadn’t rushed to leave; Mu Shuangshuang let them rest for an incense stick’s time before heading home, since it was already late.

"I’m thinking about these fish; if I leave them in the yard, there’s a chance they’ll get stolen."

Lu Yuanfeng also felt it was indeed a problem. He thought for a long time and finally whispered a few words into Mu Shuangshuang’s ear, the two instantly reaching a mutual understanding.

At midnight, with the moon hung high, the place bathed in cold moonlight.

Except for the frogs and crickets on a summer night, most people and things had fallen asleep. Mrs. Lin crawled out of bed, holding a wooden bucket filled with half a bucket of water, prepared for the delicious little fat fish she was planning to steal.

On the other side, Mu Danian also got up from bed with the same intention — to steal the big tub of fish.

The two met by the latrine, first startled by each other, then seeing what the other held, readily opted to collaborate.

"Fifth, do you think that brat will still have the fish in the yard?" Mrs. Lin asked in a low voice.

"It’s such a big tub; where else would it be but the yard? Second Sis-in-law, you’re overthinking; wait till you see my skills. I guarantee to catch plenty of fat fish."

Mu Danian walked ahead, Mrs. Lin behind, and they quietly approached Shuangshuang’s yard. In the yard, a wooden tub sat right in the middle with a bench under it, and as they got closer, Mrs. Lin remarked.

"Hey, this brat even managed to raise fish without making sounds."

Mu Danian also found it odd; there really wasn’t a single sound, not even from fish moving around, almost as if there were no fish in the tub.

But if the fish weren’t in the tub, where could they be? Surely not in the brat’s room!

"Second Sis-in-law, I’ll step on the bench to catch the fish, you stand by to take them, and when we divvy up, you get forty percent and I get sixty percent. How’s that?"

Mu Danian thought he’d be the one catching the fish, so he should get sixty percent, whereas Mrs. Lin just stood by, so forty was generous.

"Why should I? The fish are here, why should I get less?"

"Then catch them yourself; I’m not helping you."

"Fine, I’ll do it myself!" Mrs. Lin said, stepping onto the edge of the bench, hand reaching into the tub.

Mu Danian did the same; neither wanted to fall behind, both aiming to scoop out all the fish.

"Damn, what’s going on? Why can’t I feel the water..."