Time flew by quickly, and it was already the Mid-Autumn Festival, the final session for the examinees participating in the Autumn Examination in Qianzhou Prefecture.
After the first exam on August 9th, Mu Dade sent a message saying that he performed exceptionally well this time and was confident that passing was not a problem.
The entire Old Mu Family erupted in joy.
The smile on Mr. Mu’s face was broader than usual.
Mr. Mu told everyone he met that his son would definitely pass this time, and the villagers actually believed him.
In recent days, people have been coming to the Old Mu Family to offer congratulations one after another.
Everyone seemed to be caught up in the dream woven by Mu Dade, except for Mu Shuangshuang, who was the only clear-headed one.
She also found it quite puzzling; Liu Zian initially mentioned three exams on August 9th, 12th, and 15th.
Today is the 15th, and logically, there should still be an exam, which hasn’t even started yet. So how could Mu Dade predict the future?
But when she thought about Mu Dade’s habit of boasting without a second thought, Mu Shuangshuang was relieved.
However, Mu Dade was so confident this time; if he didn’t pass, the Old Mu Family probably couldn’t continue living in Er Gui Village because it would be too embarrassing.
So, with ill intent, Mu Shuangshuang cursed for Mu Dade not to pass so that he would be utterly humiliated and let the Old Mu Family face the consequences of excessive bragging.
At this moment, Mu Shuangshuang was busy with Mid-Autumn Festivities. The Mid-Autumn Festival is considered a major holiday, a day for family reunions to enjoy the moon and eat mooncakes together.
Mu Shuangshuang got up early to make mooncakes with Yu Si Niang. In the past, she always bought mooncakes with various fillings from outside, but she had never made them herself before.
Even if these mooncakes were just the Five Kernel type.
But it’s better than nothing.
The women of the Da Ning Dynasty were the most versatile she had ever seen—they could do everything.
Following Yu Si Niang’s instructions, Mu Shuangshuang was kneading dough when Little Zhi suddenly rushed in and whispered to her, "Sister, Brother Yuanfeng is calling you, you should go out!"
"What’s he here for?" Mu Shuangshuang didn’t move, but Yu Si Niang next to her urged her on.
"Fengzi is calling you, you should go see, I can take care of things here, and we don’t have to make a lot. Besides, we still have to go to your grandma’s place this afternoon."
Tomorrow is Yu Liulang’s wedding day, so it’s normal for Yu Si Niang to be excited.
If it weren’t for today being the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yu Si Niang would have gone to help out days ago.
Beneath the willow tree, Lu Yuanfeng was holding a large sieve full of dried osmanthus flowers.
As she approached, the scent of osmanthus hit her, and Mu Shuangshuang felt a little intoxicated.
"Why aren’t you coming inside?" Mu Shuangshuang asked with a smile.
"Today’s a day for family reunions. I won’t go in. These osmanthus flowers are for you; you must take them yourself," Lu Yuanfeng emphasized the words "take them yourself," as if there was another meaning behind them.
Mu Shuangshuang immediately sensed it. Looking at the pile of osmanthus flowers stacked high in the middle, there seemed to be something hidden there.
"Fengzi, we are a family; when I reunite, you naturally have to come along. Besides, aren’t we going to my sixth uncle’s house together this afternoon? That’s also a kind of reunion."
In the past, when Mu Shuangshuang went to be the head chef, she couldn’t have done it without Lu Yuanfeng’s help, and the two had agreed to travel to the surrounding villages together.
Lu Yuanfeng’s face flushed with happiness, being acknowledged by Shuangshuang.
"I’ll go get Yuanbao, you take your time tidying up."
With that, Lu Yuanfeng ran off, not giving Mu Shuangshuang a chance to speak.
Helplessly, Mu Shuangshuang moved the osmanthus flowers into her room. She reached out and pushed aside the flowers, revealing a purple hairpin lying among them. The hairpin had a simple little flower, but it looked especially beautiful.
This wasn’t the first gift Mu Shuangshuang received from Fengzi, but it was indeed her favorite. The headband Fengzi bought her, the purple hairpin Fengzi gave her, and the bamboo mat Fengzi gifted her...
Mu Shuangshuang remembered them all clearly.
Holding the hairpin in hand, Mu Shuangshuang carefully arranged her hair and inserted the hairpin.
Then she changed into another purple dress, which Ah Ru made for her to wear for Yu Liulang’s wedding the next day.
Throughout the Da Ning Dynasty, when someone was getting married, others were not allowed to wear red clothes. On the day of the wedding, the bride should be the most dazzling person.
So Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t wear her red dress.
Exiting her room, Mu Shuangshuang heard two young children gasp in amazement.
"Sister, you look beautiful!"
Little Zhi rushed over and hugged Mu Shuangshuang’s leg.
The amazement in his eyes was evident.
"Little Zhi looks great today too! Not just Little Zhi, but Xiao Han looks great as well, and when Yuanbao arrives, he will too."
Ah Ru had made outfits for the three kids as well, which arrived just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It was a rare occasion for everyone to wear new clothes.
Today wasn’t hot, so there wouldn’t be any sweating even if they played around. Since Mu Shuangshuang had put on her new clothes, her smile hadn’t faded.
Just as she was looking forward to eating mooncakes and reuniting with Fengzi later, she noticed a sneaky head peeking around outside her yard, under a big tree. Upon closer look, who else could it be but Mrs. Lin?
Mu Shuangshuang rolled her eyes.
Was Mrs. Lin planning to steal something?
In broad daylight, how could she be so bold?
So Mu Shuangshuang stood up and circled her family’s kitchen to get behind Mrs. Lin.
Mrs. Lin was still looking around, puzzled by Mu Shuangshuang’s disappearance. "Huh, where did that little girl go? She was just here!"
"Second Aunt, what are you doing?" Mu Shuangshuang suddenly jumped out, shouting loudly.
Mrs. Lin was so startled that she fell to her knees and took quite a while to get up.
"You little brat, trying to scare me to death!" Mrs. Lin patted her chest, still shaken.
At this point, Mu Shuangshuang found it odd that a pregnant woman, after being frightened, didn’t instinctively hold her belly first.
Why did she pat her chest first?
Mu Shuangshuang thought of something but wasn’t sure.
"Second Aunt, what were you sneaking around my yard for? Trying to steal something? Or did you see something you wanted and planned to take it?"
Mu Shuangshuang’s blunt words almost made Mrs. Lin spit blood in anger.
"You little brat, how could you speak so rudely? How did I steal anything from your house? I’m telling you, don’t smear me with your accusations."
"Would someone like Second Aunt still need others to smear you?"
Mu Shuangshuang snorted coldly, not forgetting who once tried to steal fish from their home in the middle of the night and fell into a pig’s slop basin.
"Oh, you little brat, will you die if you stop gossiping about me? I kindly invited your third branch to eat, and you make me so angry!" Mrs. Lin stomped her foot in anger.
"Sorry, Second Aunt, but please go back. Our third branch has cooked our own meal; we’re not going!"