CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 291: SEEKING RECONCILIATION (SECOND UPDATE)

Entering the courtyard from the side door, Mu Shuangshuang was just about to enter the house when she noticed a shadow in front of Mu Dashan’s room.

Mu Shuangshuang’s first reaction was to grab Yu Si Niang by the hand and randomly picked up a wooden stick from underfoot.

As she slowly approached the shadow, ready to strike, the shadow spoke.

"Shuang, is that you back?"

This call of "Shuang" startled Yu Si Niang retreating a few steps back.

Inside the house, Mu Dashan, who had already turned off the light, reignited it, and the third branch suddenly became brightly lit.

"Dad, why haven’t you gone back?" Mu Dashan, in a gray jacket, still stumbled a bit as he walked.

After dark, Mr. Mu had come to ask about Shuangshuang. At that time, Mu Dashan said that he went out with Yu Si Niang. As for where they went, Mu Dashan didn’t say, knowing that such matters wouldn’t sit well with the old man.

At the time, Mr. Mu’s expression wasn’t great, but he didn’t say anything. As soon as he left, Mu Dashan went back to sleep.

Who would’ve thought, after such a long time, his dad was still waiting outside.

"I’m waiting for Shuang. You all should rest if you need to."

It seemed Mr. Mu had something to say to her. Mu Shuangshuang, with her clever mind, thought it over and came to a conclusion.

Being overly solicitous without reason, there’s something fishy!

But staying up in the middle of the night waiting here didn’t quite match the Old Mu Family’s style. Could it be for reconciliation?

"Grandpa, if you have something to say, just say it. It’s getting late today, you should rest early."

Mr. Mu stood there for a while before speaking.

"Shuang, thank you for what you did for your little aunt today."

Mr. Mu didn’t expect, in such a significant family matter, that the one he would rely on wasn’t the other kids, but the already separated third branch.

"Grandpa, don’t say that. Our third branch did contribute to Auntie’s matter, and I’m not entirely doing it for her. With so many unmarried daughters at home, if Aunt loses her reputation due to being framed, we would be affected too."

Mu Shuangshuang spoke to Mr. Mu with layered meaning.

On one hand, she wanted Mr. Mu to keep a tight rein on Mu Zhenzhen; she could tolerate some minor offenses.

But if it involves such significant matters of principle, it doesn’t just affect Aunt alone.

On the other hand, Mu Shuangshuang wanted to make clear to Mr. Mu that her assistance wasn’t about seeking glory from Uncle; she never thought of such things.

Mr. Mu felt uncomfortable inside, having lived more than half his life, to be reprimanded by a little girl like this, yet he couldn’t say anything in return.

Mr. Mu stood there alone for a long time before speaking with an air of grand generosity.

"No matter what, you are a good child, a good child of the... Old Mu Family. Your second aunt owes you a favor, and I’ll remember it for her. When your uncle passes the exam, I’ll have him take the third branch along."

Mu Shuangshuang suddenly felt alarmed.

Taking the third branch along? What does that mean? Could it be forcing the third branch back into the Old Mu Family? No way, the third branch finally gained freedom after splitting off.

"Grandpa, no need for such talk, it really means nothing. Besides, we, the third branch, have separated, and there’s no reason to enjoy Uncle’s benefits. Moreover, there are quite a few people in the third branch, and I don’t want to make Uncle embarrassed."

After being rejected repeatedly, Mr. Mu was infuriated. "Shuang, don’t be ungrateful. Others wish for such benefits but aren’t as fortunate. Don’t be so petty."

At this moment, Mr. Mu’s true nature was revealed.

Mu Shuangshuang rolled her eyes, couldn’t help but retort directly.

"If Grandpa thinks I’m being petty, just tell Uncle directly that our third branch doesn’t want to be a part of the official family. We just want to live peacefully in Er Gui Village, eat our fill, and not go hungry."

"You..."

The stubborn girl in front of him frustrated Mr. Mu, but he hadn’t forgotten his purpose.

"Shuang, where’s the money jar Zhenzhen brought back?"

This was the real reason Mr. Mu came. Today, Mu Zhenzhen narrowly escaped an ordeal in the village; no one would believe what Liu Wangcai and his wife said anymore.

However, that most important thing hadn’t been produced.

From what his wife said, he knew the money jar was initially in Zhenzhen’s room but later disappeared, especially after Shuang and the third branch had helped.

That money jar was very likely taken by them. The third branch wasn’t one to hide things. If they had it, they would have handed it over when approached.

The only possibility was that the item was with Shuang.

"What money jar?" Mu Shuangshuang raised her eyebrows, deliberately asking in surprise.

Old fool, so he came around to ask for evidence. If she handed it over easily, would she still be Mu Shuangshuang?

"Don’t give your grandpa those tricks, you know if the money jar is with you."

"Oh, I remembered, is it the pottery jar from Aunt’s room? But, Grandpa, you know, my sixth uncle is here, and we’ve been eating through the food too quickly. I’m afraid we won’t have enough to cook tomorrow, so I was thinking of selling that pottery jar in town to get money for grains."

"You... Shuang, you’re forcing me to make a painful choice."

Mr. Mu thought he’d seen all kinds of people after eating salt for so many years and crossing so many bridges, but none was like this girl.

You take a single hair, and she demands a lock of hair in return.

Mr. Mu hated people who liked to penny-pinch, and gradually Shuang became increasingly disliked by him.

"Grandpa, don’t get excited, just pretend there was never such a jar."

Anyway, if she was going to be shameless, she didn’t mind being a little more so.

After all, most of the food at the Old Mu Family was earned by her dad. If she, as a daughter, didn’t claim some, how could she even say she’s Mu Dashan’s daughter?

Mr. Mu felt a blockage in his chest, almost failing to recover, neither scolding nor hitting was appropriate.

If the jar that Zhenzhen had wasn’t quickly dealt with, one day if it ended up in someone else’s hands, Zhenzhen’s reputation would be ruined, and Da De’s name tarnished.

"Fine, I’ll have your second uncle send some grain to your home tomorrow. I’ll decide the amount; if you continue to argue, I’ll go find your parents and show them how you’re plotting against your own family."

Mr. Mu was probably driven mad, speaking as if he no longer regarded Shuang as a child.

Mu Shuangshuang, in a good mood, didn’t insist on how much.

After all, since it was free, Mr. Mu wouldn’t possibly give just a pound of rice, and if he did, she wouldn’t mind collecting it.

"Grandpa, I threw the jar you wanted into the latrine. You can dig it out yourself later; I’m going to bed first!"

(Card drafting, organized the outline all night, the next two updates will probably be updated by noon tomorrow, very sorry, love you all~)