CHAPTER 461: CHAPTER 458 A LIFETIME OF BEING GOOD TO YOU (CHAPTER 9)

Mu Danian was determined this time; if they didn’t find him a wife, he wouldn’t let his father have peace.

Anyway, the family was in chaos!

"You beast!"

Mr. Mu’s smoking pipe clattered heavily against the table beside his right hand.

The table shivered slightly, then settled back into stillness.

This roar plunged the main room of the Old Mu Family into silence.

No one dared to even breathe loudly, all eyes were fixed on Mr. Mu.

They were waiting for what Mr. Mu would say next.

After a long while, just as everyone thought Mu Danian would be beaten, Mr. Mu finally spoke.

"Old woman, tomorrow give Matchmaker Sun ten eggs and a bag of red dates, and have her keep an eye out for any good girls nearby to propose a match for our family!

As for Danyan’s marriage, it can’t be delayed anymore either, let her suggest someone for him too.

For the arrangement of your marriage, we’ll wait until the eldest comes back and discuss it, and have him act as the officiant!"

Mr. Mu spoke these words with particular skill.

Talking about finding a match for Mu Dalang, Mrs. Lin had previously mentioned it to Old Mrs. Mu, but it was dismissed with the excuse that Mu Danian, being the uncle, wasn’t even married yet - how could they prioritize the nephew’s marriage?

She brought it up several times afterward, all in vain.

Now Mr. Mu had opened his mouth, the second branch felt they owed a favor, Mrs. Lin was almost ready to soar with pride.

She grinned, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth.

Mu Danian reluctantly accepted Mr. Mu’s proposal.

"By the way, there’s one more thing, the sixteenth of August is the wedding date for the brother of the third wife’s brother, Sixth Son. The old woman and I will go to congratulate them; you all take good care of the house, we might even stay the night!"

"What? Old man, have you gone mad? You’re going to Yu Si Niang’s maiden family, the third branch has already split from us, why should we go?" Old Mrs. Mu was unhappy.

Attending the banquet meant giving money for the banquet.

Such in-laws could easily cost thirty wen, and Old Mrs. Mu wasn’t willing.

"Why? Because over the years, no matter what the issue was, people from Old Yu Family were always there for us! Old woman, even though the third branch has separated, the third son is still my son, and the third wife is still my daughter-in-law."

"Nothing will change that, just like you, don’t trouble the third branch in the future, just live your own life. Don’t act like a shrew all day, cursing and beating people. The eldest can’t afford to lose face like this!"

Mr. Mu vented all his feelings, rebuking Old Mrs. Mu thoroughly.

Everyone felt secretly pleased, but still maintained a solemn appearance on their faces.

...

...

In the backyard, Third Branch of the Old Mu Family

The medicine Lu Yuanfeng brought back had been boiled by Mu Shuangshuang and given to the two little ones to drink; they should be fine.

Lu Yuanfeng sat next to Mu Shuangshuang, watching as she gently wrapped the two little ones in dry straw, lulling them to sleep.

Throughout, she was unusually gentle, completely different from her usual carefree self.

"Fengzi, take off your shoes!" Mu Shuangshuang leaned closer to Lu Yuanfeng and said.

"What?" Lu Yuanfeng was taken aback, fearing for a moment that he had misunderstood.

"What do you mean ’what’? Your shoes are so thick with mud, take care of it or you won’t be able to walk later!"

"And your shoes are wet. If you don’t dry them, you’ll easily get rheumatism and arthritis later!"

Mu Shuangshuang’s eyes weren’t blind. To get medicine for Lai Mi and Little Black, Lu Yuanfeng got his feet and pant legs wet. It was still the afternoon, and dinner was still some time away. Was he going to stay wet like this?

"Never mind, my shoes are too dirty." Lu Yuanfeng shook his head.

"Fengzi, come on!" Mu Shuangshuang softened her tone, a hint of coquettishness in her voice.

She wore an expression that said if he dared to refuse, she would cry.

Lu Yuanfeng was amused yet helpless; if he refused, he feared Shuangshuang would be heartbroken.

If he didn’t refuse, he worried about the dirt from his shoes annoying Shuangshuang.

Ultimately, he was defeated by her eyes, black and white, and brimming with tears that sparkled with vulnerability he had never seen before.

This side of Shuangshuang was new to Lu Yuanfeng; he handed his shoes to her.

Still uneasy, Lu Yuanfeng even considered bringing them to his nose to smell.

"Pfft~" Mu Shuangshuang chuckled, then said, "Are you silly? I’m not going to eat your shoes, so it doesn’t matter if they’re smelly!"

Mu Shuangshuang took a piece of wood from the stove, using the pointed end to stab at the mud on the shoes. Luckily, it was easy to clean.

Before long, the shoes were cleaned.

Lu Yuanfeng’s shoes appeared older than Mu Shuangshuang’s. The color on the tops was no longer discernible, with three holes to boot.

"I’ll wash your shoes clean!"

Mu Shuangshuang stood up, fetched a basin of water, using Mu Dashan’s foot basin from home, and grabbed the necessary tools for washing shoes.

Speaking of this basin, it was only after Mu Shuangshuang’s strong demand that they separated its usage.

The customs of the Da Ning Dynasty were particularly feudal.

A basin used by a man for his behind or feet could still be used for washing vegetables, but not for a woman’s.

Likewise, after a woman washed and wiped a man’s feet, she was supposed to wash with the remaining water.

Just these few things were nearly enough to disgust Mu Shuangshuang to death.

Fortunately, Lu Yuanfeng didn’t have such "bad hobbies"!

Afterward, Mu Shuangshuang made a rule: everyone in the house gets a separate face-washing basin and two foot-washing basins. Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang shared, and Mu Shuangshuang with the two children shared.

The wooden basin in the kitchen was not allowed to be taken out to wash behinds or feet.

Luckily, once she bought the basins and explained, everyone continued to respect the rule.

Thus, Mu Shuangshuang was full of confidence in the future.

She believed that by gradually changing the viewpoints at home, it would become clear that men and women are equal, daughters are not inferior to sons.

After putting Lu Yuanfeng’s shoes in the basin, Mu Shuangshuang poured liquid from a bamboo tube labeled "laundry detergent" into the basin.

This detergent was made from juice ground from water plants that Mu Shuangshuang collected from the northern creek, very effective. As for a brush, since they never found suitable materials to make one, Mu Shuangshuang always used old loofah sponges.

Not perfect, but better than nothing.

"Shuangshuang... let me do it!"

Lu Yuanfeng had never had anyone wash his shoes before, especially not Shuangshuang. It made him happy, but how could his shoes be washed by Shuangshuang? He should be helping her instead!

Mu Shuangshuang smiled, without pausing her actions.

"Then wash with me in the future!"

She wanted to clarify in advance to avoid becoming a housewife in the future.

Lu Yuanfeng nodded heavily, his eyes shining with determined light as he said, "Shuangshuang, don’t worry, I will treat you well for a lifetime!"

These simple words, filling Mu Shuangshuang’s chest like something had filled it to the brim.

In fact, heartfelt words don’t always have to be "I love you" or "I like you!"

If someone is willing to treat you well for a lifetime, it’s much better than just saying they like or love you often.