Actually, it’s not that the second branch of the Old Mu Family is unwilling to step forward, it’s just that they feel the issue started with Mu Zhenzhen, and their own son shouldn’t take the fall. Their son shouldn’t suffer, nor should their branch. Even if someone has to go to Dahuo Village, it should be Mu Zhenzhen who belongs to Dahuo Village.
But Mu Zhenzhen is afraid of being punished and refuses to go back no matter what.
Right now, Mu Zhenzhen is crying uncontrollably, and Old Mrs. Mu is holding her and wailing non-stop.
Several people in the room sigh over and over, and finally, Mu Danian speaks up. "Dad, Mom, why don’t we let Shuang handle it? She spoke so nicely yesterday."
Mu Danian is still upset over last night’s incident; his face, which is more handsome than a young actor, was almost ruined by that smelly girl. Just thinking about it still makes him feel sore all over.
Today we must let that smelly girl go to Dahuo Village, deliver herself, and get beaten to death by Zhuangzi’s mother.
"Right, Mom, let that smelly girl go, she... let her exchange for Gou Dan, Mom, I really don’t want to go back." Mu Zhenzhen seized the last straw and cried out loudly.
"But the third branch has already split off, how would Shuang help us?" Mr. Mu shook his head to show his disapproval.
"It’s already come to this, why worry about so much? Let’s save the person first, if we don’t, who knows what will happen to Gou Dan. Dad, Mom, Gou Dan is your biological grandson, Old Mu Family’s flesh and blood."
Mu Dazhong pondered for a long time before speaking out.
"Dad, I’m begging you..."
The sons and daughters-in-law jointly pressured, and Mr. Mu decided to take desperate measures to seek out Mu Shuangshuang.
But upon arriving, they found out that Shuangshuang had gone to the town in the morning.
"Shopping, with such a big issue at home, and that smelly girl still has the mind to shop? Definitely a heartless brat." As soon as Old Mrs. Mu heard about Mu Shuangshuang, she began cursing.
The others followed suit, cursing her as well, but despite the cursing, they still had to wait for Mu Shuangshuang to return.
Mu Shuangshuang, because she was with the children, returned later than ever, arriving home when the sun was about to set, leaving only a little remaining sunlight.
She carried a bolt of cloth in her hand, humming a tune, while Little Zhi and Xiao Han each held a paper bag of food, cheerfully following behind her.
Mu Shuangshuang was contemplating how her stove had been ready for two days now, and it should be usable tomorrow. It was time she thought about how to give her family some nutritional supplements.
As soon as Mu Shuangshuang entered the courtyard through the side door, Mrs. Lin’s sharp voice rang out.
"Dad, Mom, the smelly girl is back, she actually... she actually..."
The bolt of cloth was so obvious in Mu Shuangshuang’s hand, and there was clearly something good to eat in the oil paper bags Little Zhi and Xiao Han held. The jealousy and craving completely overwhelmed Mrs. Lin, causing her to choke on her own spit several times before finishing her sentence.
The members of the Old Mu Family were already waiting for Shuangshuang to return, and as Mrs. Lin spoke up, they rushed over like rabbits, eager to see what kind of treasures the so-called smelly girl had bought while shopping.
When they saw the bolt of cloth in Mu Shuangshuang’s hand, every last one of them was taken aback.
Even the cheapest cloth could cost half a tael of silver, very expensive.
Thus, peasant families followed the saying: wear new clothes for three years, old clothes for three years, and patch them up for another three years.
If not, homemade fabric (self-woven cotton cloth, not processed to make soft) was used for clothes, but that was nothing compared to cloth bought from the town.
"Shuang, where did you get the money to buy cloth?" Mr. Mu was the first to speak, looking at Mu Shuangshuang with skepticism, confusion, and mistrust.
Mu Shuangshuang, who does special work, is adept at observing people’s expressions.
"I neither stole, nor robbed, nor cheated—earned it myself." Mu Shuangshuang met Mr. Mu’s gaze head-on and then turned to Little Zhi and Xiao Han, saying, "Little Zhi, Xiao Han, hurry into the room to look after Dad; he’s definitely missing you after being out all day."
"Stop right there, you little brats, what’s in your hands? Show it to your grandpa and grandma." Mu Dazhong shouted when he saw Little Zhi and Xiao Han were about to leave.
"Uncle, please speak respectfully. These things are all bought by me, using my silver; no one has the right to touch them. Little Zhi, Xiao Han, go inside."
Mu Shuangshuang was truly furious, over just a bit of food they even resorted to calling the children names.
How could there be such shameless people in the world?
Mu Danian was about to reach out, but Yu Si Niang heard the commotion and rushed out from the room, blocking Mu Danian with her open hands. "Fifth Brother, what are you doing? Are you really going to hit two children?"
"Mom, take Xiao Han and Little Zhi inside. They’ve been playing all day and must be tired."
Mu Shuangshuang deliberately emphasized the word "playing," as expected, causing the faces of the members of Old Mu Family to darken one by one.