CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 269 ONE OR TWO PIECES OF MEAT (FOUR UPDATES)

At dinner, Mu Shuangshuang had just finished preparing and setting the food on the table when the exhausted Yu Si Niang returned.

She had spent half the day planting seedlings for Old Mu’s fourth family, finally finishing that acre of land.

In the afternoon, Xiaxia couldn’t go on and stood crying on the edge of the field, breaking Mrs. Liu’s heart. She immediately asked Yu Si Niang if she could split from the family and follow Shuangshuang in business.

Everyone in the Old Mu Family knew about Shuangshuang’s business since the last incident with the elder aunt, so it’s normal for Mrs. Liu to know.

But it wasn’t her decision to make, she could only say she’d ask later.

"Mother, have you finished planting the seedlings in that field?"

Mu Shuangshuang typically showed concern for Yu Si Niang, simultaneously helping rub her back and shoulders. After a day’s work, one most needs someone to loosen the muscles.

"My daughter is so good, she knows how to care for her mother." Yu Si Niang sighed with comfort.

"Well, of course, look whose daughter I am. If I don’t care for you, who will?" Mu Shuangshuang blinked playfully.

"That’s right, a daughter cares for herself, others don’t matter. That field was finished today, but your fourth aunt told me she wants to split the family."

"Can they really let go of the fat piece from Uncle?" Mu Shuangshuang pointed to the core of the issue in one sentence.

The fourth house’s family didn’t seem particularly bad, Mu Shuangshuang remembered, but they’d been severely exploited by Old Mrs. Mu over the years. Mrs. Liu’s parents no longer sent things over, only taking Xiaxia and Xiao Chu to raise them well each year.

But even if they looked plump and healthy, at Old Mu’s house, they had to turn from fat into skinny.

"This..." Yu Si Niang hesitated, she really hadn’t asked.

The fourth branch was miserable, but they still had hope in their eyes, and that hope was the brother going to Qianzhou Prefecture for the exams. If he became an official, they’d get servants, and the fourth branch wouldn’t have to work anymore.

Moreover, because of this brother, Xiaxia might even find a good family.

"Mother, Uncle and Aunt want to split the family simply because life is tough now. If you really let them go, they wouldn’t want to. After all, following Uncle could mean a chance of rising from poverty."

Mu Shuangshuang truly felt the fourth branch’s idea wasn’t wrong. Had she not had modern thinking, she’d also place her hopes on Uncle.

After all, when one achieves success, their whole family benefits, no matter how tough life is day-to-day, it’s the end result that matters.

"Oh my! I didn’t think of that. I thought your fourth aunt genuinely wanted to split the family and join us in business."

"Did she say she wanted to join us in business?" Mu Shuangshuang was intrigued, not because she thought it impossible, but because she saw progress in her fourth aunt.

During their most difficult days in the third branch, Aunt had taken out her only penny. It’s impossible not to be touched, and these days, she thought of helping the fourth branch when they struggled.

"Yes, she said it herself. I didn’t know how to answer, just told her I’d ask you."

Yu Si Niang didn’t mind people laughing at her for always asking her daughter about everything, as she had already said, the household authority was given to her. Whatever she said was final.

"I don’t have objections, I just fear all the money they earn would end up in my grandma’s stack."

With Old Mrs. Mu’s hawk-eye inspection abilities, she’d rummage through each room every few days, checking for hidden private money. It’s improbable for the fourth branch to save money.

As soon as Mu Shuangshuang finished speaking, the sound of Old Mrs. Mu’s shouting came from the backyard.

"Mrs. Liu, is this the meal you prepared? Tell me, where did the ounce of meat go?" Old Mrs. Mu stood, hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at Mrs. Liu.

Tonight, Mu Xiangxiang had been pestering for meat, so she went to Wang Erma’s and bought an ounce. Who would have thought that it had been snatched from the table by stray cats, causing Old Mrs. Mu’s lungs to explode with anger, kicking Mrs. Liu repeatedly.

Mrs. Liu was prostrated on the ground, continuously apologizing but unable to earn Old Mrs. Mu’s forgiveness.

Mu Xiangxiang watched the commotion with amusement. "Fourth sister-in-law, honestly, a piece of meat that big, whose fault is it if you don’t keep it safe? And this meat, it’s not like it disappears just like that. You have to compensate!"

Mrs. Liu lifted her head with tears in her eyes, looking pitifully at Mu Xiangxiang. "I don’t have money."

"Well, it’s not my concern. I still want my meat broth. If you don’t bring it back, don’t bother returning. I’ll have my fourth brother divorce you!"

"That’s right, Xiangxiang’s right. It’s your fault, so you have to bear it. Otherwise, just get out of this house." Old Mrs. Mu rambled on, forcing Mrs. Liu into the corner of the kitchen.

"Mother, quit the nonsense, just kick her out!" Mu Xiangxiang pointed at the cornered Mrs. Liu, insisting on eviction.

Old Mrs. Mu’s rage hadn’t dissipated, and with her daughter’s instigation, she indeed grabbed Mrs. Liu and threw her outside. Xiaxia, returning from work in the vegetable garden, encountered this scene and clutched Mrs. Liu, crying heartbrokenly.

The culprits twisted their hips, returning to their rooms.

Mrs. Liu’s tears fell heavily: "Xiaxia, how does mother find that ounce of meat? Mother has no money..."

"Fourth Aunt, I have some here, take it!"

Mu Shuangshuang appeared before Mrs. Liu with a chunk of meat, even though her family hadn’t bought any tonight.

She heard the old lady’s shouting, Yu Si Niang mentioned Aunt Xiao Yun’s family bought some meat, likely having leftovers. Mu Shuangshuang ran over to borrow some and returned.

"Shuangshuang, I..." Mrs. Liu was choked up, unable to speak.

"Don’t worry, this isn’t just the ounce. You need to make the broth quickly, let Xiaxia drink a bowl first, then bring a bowl to Uncle. At home, don’t be too quiet, don’t always wait until the last to eat, and end up with no washing left in the pot."

Mu Shuangshuang felt heartache, for anyone wouldn’t do the wicked things Old Mrs. Mu did. Such behavior, put in modern terms, was abuse.

But this was ancient times, and she couldn’t just rush up and give the old lady a beating, at most letting her suffer small losses.

As for the fourth branch, she felt these were only the beginning. When her uncle returned, the issues would multiply.

Mrs. Liu trembled as she took the meat, following Shuangshuang’s advice, she cut the meat outside the ounce and immediately started making the broth, serving the first pot to the fourth branch, and they shut the door to sneak a sip each.

The broth was fresh, delicious, and the fourth branch family believed this was likely the tastiest broth they had in their lives.

"Honey, when do you think we can take out a big chunk of meat like the third brother’s family?" After the broth, Mrs. Liu still smacked her lips.

"Perhaps soon!"

(Goodnight, love you all!)