CHAPTER 313: CHAPTER 311: SUPPORTING THE MATERNAL FAMILY (SECOND UPDATE)

"Go on, remember to give regards to the in-laws, and come back early!"

Mr. Mu waved his hand, not forgetting to remind Mu Shuangshuang of some matters concerning etiquette.

Although Yu Liulang hasn’t visited him yet, Mr. Mu believes he shouldn’t be so petty, after all, he is an elder.

If an elder quarrels with a junior, they lose their social standing.

"Okay." Mu Shuangshuang said and was about to leave.

"Don’t go, you brat! Did you steal my eggs and plan to take them to Yu Si Niang’s house?" Old Mrs. Mu rushed out and blocked Mu Shuangshuang’s path.

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could Shuangshuang steal your eggs? Get out of the way." Mr. Mu’s expression turned sour because of Old Mrs. Mu’s unreasonable behavior.

"Just because you say so, it doesn’t mean it’s true? Some people are born poor and mean, it’s possible for them to become thieves or villains.

Moreover, the third branch doesn’t have big chickens, so all their eggs have to be bought. If they stole my basket of eggs, they’d save the money for buying eggs." Old Mrs. Mu sneered, glaring fiercely at the third branch.

At that moment, Old Mrs. Mu thought, if the third branch hates her so much, maybe they stole the chicken and the eggs.

If that’s the case, she’ll make them return it with interest.

"Mother, what are you saying? I’ve been married into the Old Mu Family for over ten years; don’t you know my character? Would I do such shameless things?"

Yu Si Niang stepped forward to protect Mu Shuangshuang, defending her while angrily reasoning with Old Mrs. Mu.

Her daughter didn’t do anything, so why should she be wrongly accused?

"Whether she did or not, let me search and I’ll find out!" Old Mrs. Mu snapped at Yu Si Niang, her face full of disdain.

Yu Si Niang’s eyes instantly reddened. She had worked like a horse for the Old Mu Family all these years, only to be falsely accused like this.

"Mother, don’t be upset. If Grandma wants to search, let’s let her. If she finds nothing, she must apologize to our third branch!"

Yu Si Niang is usually a strong person, but today she felt shattered, as Mu Shuangshuang’s suspicions of her character had hit her hard.

Women in ancient times cared deeply about their reputation and integrity; such slander about their honor hurt more than any beating.

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t bother arguing with Old Mrs. Mu; if she wanted to search, let her search. After searching, she’d have to face Mu Shuangshuang’s wrath.

"Old Three, look at the nonsense your daughter is spouting, is this even human speech? She actually wants me to apologize—this damned thing, she’ll be struck by lightning."

Mu Dashan’s face flushed; never good at speaking in front of Old Mrs. Mu, he finally spoke after much stammering.

"Mother, Shuangshuang’s right. If you search the third branch, you’d imply we’re thieves; if you don’t restore our reputation, how can we live in Er Gui Village? What will people think of us? Shuangshuang and Little Zhi still have to get married..."

"Bah, you’re something, Mu Dashan. It turns out the silent dog is the most dangerous; I always thought you were honest, but you are that silent dog!"

"This old lady will definitely search today, and whether I find anything or not, I will never apologize!"

Old Mrs. Mu stood with her hands on her hips, spit flying everywhere, Mu Shuangshuang silently pulled Yu Si Niang back two steps to avoid the spittle.

"Mother, since you say so, then don’t bother searching the third branch. I can’t let you ruin our branch’s reputation!" Mu Dashan bravely argued back against Old Mrs. Mu.

"Alright, it seems you’ve turned rebellious. I’ll beat you to death now, you shameless one." Old Mrs. Mu said as she went back to her room to find a stick. After a while, she came out with a broom, threatening to hit Mu Dashan.

Stubborn as ever, Mu Dashan was ready to be beaten but refused to back down.

"Go ahead, even if you beat me to death, I won’t let you search."

Old Mrs. Mu was truly merciless and swung the broom toward Mu Dashan’s face, only to be stopped halfway by Mu Shuangshuang.

"Grandpa, Grandma, my father is ill; if something really happens, it wouldn’t just be a problem for our third branch. The entire Old Mu Family and Uncle who is taking exams would be affected."

Mu Shuangshuang also looked displeased, gripping one end of Old Mrs. Mu’s broom, not letting her strike.

At this moment, she cursed Old Mrs. Mu in her heart. If she wasn’t Yu Si Niang’s and Mu Dashan’s mother and an elder, she would have beaten this nasty old woman to death!

Wang Ba, how could there be such a bizarre person in this world?

Finally, when it involved Mu Dade, the turtle Mr. Mu opened his mouth. "Enough, what are you shouting about? Put the broom down. I know the character of Old Three and Si Niang; they absolutely wouldn’t do such shameless acts."

"If it’s not them, then who could it be?" Old Mrs. Mu asked.

Just then, a crisp "crunch" sound came, and Gou Dan swaggered over, chewing something.

On his ten fingers dangled long strands of puffed rice candy, each about twenty centimeters long.

The rice puffs hung on his fingers, from a distance it looked glaringly white; Gou Dan’s hands were too dark and dirty, creating a stark contrast with the white rice puffs.

Mu Shuangshuang had seen this type of puffed rice in her previous life, made from glutinous rice. Usually, an old man pulls a cart with machines, selling them for three yuan per puff. Families prepare rice or offer two eggs in exchange.

She hadn’t expected to see this in ancient times.

"Why are you looking at me? This is Gou Dan’s; Gou Dan won’t give it to you!" Gou Dan said in a childish voice to the crowd at Old Mu Family.

At that moment, Mrs. Lin was already trembling; just where did Gou Dan get the glutinous rice for these puffs, or where did he find money to buy them?

Could it be...

Mu Dazhong also noticed and moved his foot stealthily to check if the remaining fourteen eggs were still there.

Suddenly, Lu Yuanfeng walked over from the Mu Family’s third branch’s courtyard, holding a bamboo basket. If that basket wasn’t Old Mrs. Mu’s, whose was it?

Finished, it’s finished!

Mrs. Lin and Mu Dazhong both screamed inwardly.

Upon seeing the bamboo basket, Old Mrs. Mu rushed up to grab the eggs back from Lu Yuanfeng. "My eggs, my eggs..."

Old Mrs. Mu counted and recounted them in the basket, but there were only fourteen eggs. Before she could chastise Lu Yuanfeng, he calmly explained the situation.

"I was at the village entrance making puffed rice when I saw Gou Dan carrying a basket. He wanted to trade all the eggs in the basket for puffed rice. I thought it was a bad deal and gave Gou Dan some puffs."

"Then I brought the basket back to you, I didn’t take any of the eggs. You can have the puffed rice man as a witness."