CHAPTER 325: CHAPTER 323: HIT IT OFF (THIRD UPDATE)

At the dinner table, Old Mrs. Yu kept serving dishes to Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng. Most of the corn and bone stew ended up in their bowls.

Mrs. Li kept rolling her eyes in annoyance at the table.

Midway through, Old Yu stepped out of the kitchen and came back looking refreshed and at ease.

He exchanged a glance with Old Mrs. Yu, and she immediately knew that the chicken had been put back among the things Shuangshuang and Fengzi were to take back.

All the worries in her heart instantly disappeared.

"Fengzi, thank you for bringing our Shuangshuang over today. In the future, you both should come by more often. I, an old lady, may not have much, but I do have some food," she said warmly.

Old Mrs. Yu was different from Old Mrs. Mu; her whole heart was centered on her grandchildren. The family had a plot of land solely for growing various gourds.

Earlier, she had her eldest son’s wife pick some ripe melons for Shuangshuang to take along. They were ready for her to bring back when she left.

"Grandma, no need to be so polite. You’re really very kind." Lu Yuanfeng said sincerely. He respected Shuangshuang’s grandmother, just like everyone else did.

Especially after comparing her to Old Mrs. Mu, he was more convinced that there are good people in the world.

After dinner, it was around half past four in the afternoon. Traveling from Yu Family Village to Er Gui Village took a few hours; even with an ox cart, it would take some time.

So there was no time to delay getting home.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng packed their things, placing everything on the flat cart, with the wheelbarrow laid across it. Before leaving, Mu Shuangshuang hugged Old Mrs. Yu and then departed.

Just as they left the village entrance, a shout suddenly came from Li’s house.

"Mom, where’s my chicken? What did you do with it?" Mrs. Li immediately confronted Old Mrs. Yu.

"Humph, who knows if it just ran off on its own? Did you tie its feet?"

"Mom, what do you mean by that? What’s this about the chicken running off? I see plainly that you snuck it back when I wasn’t looking! I’m furious! No, I’m going to get my chicken back."

After saying this, Mrs. Li rushed towards the village entrance, ignoring Old Mrs. Yu’s calls. She was sprinting with all her might.

"Mu Shuangshuang, chicken...give me back my chicken..."

"Thief, liar..."

Chasing the ox cart carrying Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng for about two miles, Mrs. Li couldn’t catch up and ended up sitting on the ground, crying and cursing them both.

Mr. Yu came out of the house, shook his head as he watched the direction Mrs. Li had disappeared.

"What a misfortune for the family. How could such an honest lad like Yu Er marry a wife like that? We shouldn’t have listened to you back then, letting Yu Er marry such a thing!"

"Old man, that’s not my fault. You were the one who made the decision back then. When you get down to it, it was because we were so poor at the time. Mrs. Li was the only one willing to marry in without asking for money."

The Old Yu Family had only risen in recent years. Before that, the times were unstable, and no one valued tea leaves as much as a bite of grain. It was only in recent years that, with peace and no more wars, Yu Family Village gradually developed.

But at that time, if you casually demanded five or ten taels, there weren’t many takers.

As they were talking, Mrs. Zhang walked out of the house.

"Mom, the wild chicken and eggs in the coop, are we keeping them or what?"

"Eldest daughter-in-law, what are you saying, a wild chicken in the coop?" Mr. Yu didn’t react for a moment.

He couldn’t help but slap his hand: "Ah, damn it, that troublesome daughter-in-law of Yu Er’s actually hid two chickens and even stole the wild eggs!"

"I’m going to find her!" Old Mrs. Yu was also angry.

"Dad, Mom, it wasn’t Erju who took them. It was Fengzi who put them in earlier. I thought you knew, so I didn’t tell you."

"Ah... this kid has a big heart, doesn’t say much, and quietly does things!" Mr. Yu remarked.

"Yeah, I like this boy. I don’t know what the situation is with him and our Shuangshuang. They’re so close, but it doesn’t seem like that kind of relationship between a man and a woman. Shuangshuang’s eyes are too innocent."

Old Mrs. Yu, having lived through it, knew that if it were love, her gaze would naturally linger on the other person.

Fengzi’s eyes were always on Shuangshuang. But her granddaughter was as dense as a log, never giving any response or indication, just focusing on her meal or her tasks.

After saying this, Old Mrs. Yu tugged at her sleeve and suddenly realized there was something bulging in her pocket.

Taking it out, she found two strings of Copper Coins.

"Oh my, Old Man, this..." Old Mrs. Yu exclaimed in surprise, realizing it might have been slipped to her when Shuangshuang hugged her before leaving.

Mr. Yu held his chin, smiling brightly.

"Old woman, you have to admit, our Shuangshuang and that young fellow are a perfect match.

Even the way they do things is so similar. Perhaps we were all wrong. Shuangshuang does care for the young lad, but maybe she hasn’t realized it herself!"

"That makes it interesting. I just can’t wait to see how Fengzi wins her heart!"

Old Mrs. Yu joined in the laughter, increasingly looking forward to what might develop between Shuangshuang and Fengzi.

...

...

Returning to Er Gui Village, it was indeed dark, but thankfully, there was a moon, providing light. The path underneath their feet was visible enough.

Yu Erlang was sent back by Mu Shuangshuang halfway, so it was just the two of them now.

As they entered the village, Lu Yuanfeng became cautious. He insisted on walking in front and even made Shuangshuang hold a stick, saying there were many earth snakes at night, and a bite from one could be serious.

Mu Shuangshuang followed him closely, occasionally using the stick to tap the ground.

By nightfall, it was already past an hour. The villagers had all gone to rest, which made the village feel more desolate compared to the day.

They hadn’t walked far when they saw Yu Si Niang and three little kids waiting, as if they had been there for a long time.

Yu Si Niang, anxious with worry, had been on the verge of panic when her daughter hadn’t returned by nightfall and was too far from Yu Family Village to just wait it out.

The children’s eyes were sharp, and as soon as they saw two figures, they began shouting loudly. Yuanbao dashed to Lu Yuanfeng’s side and gave a big bear hug.

"Second brother, you’re finally back. I missed you so much!"

"Me too, me too, brother Yuanfeng, Little Zhi thought you and sister got lost. I was so worried," Little Zhi, with a childish voice, told Lu Yuanfeng.

"Alright, let’s talk when we get back. I’m exhausted from today," said Mu Shuangshuang with a tired face.

With that, everyone prepared to head back home.