Mu Shuangshuang finished speaking, lifted her chin, and arrogantly walked past Mrs. Lin.
Leaving Mrs. Lin cursing furiously behind her.
Back in the kitchen, she could still hear Mrs. Lin’s scolding voice.
Yu Si Niang couldn’t help but ask worriedly, "Shuangshuang, what’s wrong with your second aunt? Who is she cursing at?"
"My second uncle! Don’t worry!" Mu Shuangshuang casually replied.
Yu Si Niang listened, feeling it didn’t sound like she was cursing the second uncle, but since her daughter didn’t elaborate, she didn’t ask further.
"Oh, right, Mom, earlier my second aunt said my grandparents wanted us to go over for Mid-Autumn Festival, but I refused."
Mu Shuangshuang mentioned it casually, also observing the woman’s reaction, and seeing she had no longing intentions, she felt relieved.
Sure enough, her family’s buns were no longer just buns.
However, she hadn’t been happy for long when Yu Si Niang spoke again.
"Shuangshuang, in the past, when our family hadn’t split up, the Mid-Autumn Festival was also a big family gathering. Your Fourth Aunt and I would be in the kitchen, making mooncakes early in the morning, also fried dough twists, and gui hua cakes. Your grandma was stingy, but during festivals, she would still allow these festival snacks."
"You were just a tiny thing back then, standing beside the stove, barely visible. When I was making mooncakes, you would watch beside me. When I wasn’t paying attention, you climbed onto the table, grabbing a freshly made mooncake. Your hands and mouth were burnt, but you wouldn’t let go of that mooncake."
"Your grandma came in and slapped you, calling you a greedy thing. Back then, I thought, if our family could separate, how great it would be. I would make mooncakes, and you could eat as much as you wanted without me saying a word."
As Yu Si Niang spoke, her eyes gradually reddened.
"Mom, let the past be the past, don’t think about it anymore. Isn’t our family doing quite well now? Although we’re not a big family anymore, we have our small family, and when we eat something, no one says anything."
At this moment, Mu Shuangshuang felt fortunate not to have the original owner’s memories; otherwise, such unbearable memories might suffocate her.
"Yes, today is a day for reunion, Mom shouldn’t cry, Mom has to make mooncakes for you all, you can eat as much as you want."
Yu Si Niang wiped her tears, seeming to speak to herself, but also to Mu Shuangshuang.
"Yes, yes, I must eat a lot today!"
Mu Shuangshuang started busying herself again with Yu Si Niang in making mooncakes.
Mrs. Lin returned to the Old Mu Family, putting on a pitiful act.
In the main room, only her voice could be heard.
"Mom, you have no idea what that damn girl said. She said she wouldn’t eat our stinking rice, wouldn’t walk through our stinking door, and even threatened to beat me if I went again. Mom, that damn girl is too arrogant."
Beside her, Mu Dalang frowned, hearing his mother clearly telling untruths. He couldn’t help but defend Shuangshuang, "Mom, Shuangshuang isn’t that kind of person. Even if she really doesn’t visit, she would only say she won’t come!"
"Shut up, you brat! You dare to side with outsiders before your wings are fully grown? What’s so good about that wretched girl? Why are you protecting her? Did she enchant you or something?" Mrs. Lin angrily shouted at Mu Dalang.
Mu Qingqing also nodded in agreement beside them.
"Exactly, big brother, could you have fallen for that wretched girl? Remember, you’re cousins."
"Shut up, Qingqing, Shuangshuang is your sister, my sister. Aren’t you ashamed saying such things?"
Mu Dalang was furious; he never imagined his own sister could say such filthy things.
"Mom, look at big brother..." Mu Qingqing stomped her foot, looking reluctant.
"Alright, all of you say less. Today is Mid-Autumn, a day for family reunions. A family should harmoniously have a meal together. Dalang, you have good relations with the third branch, and they trust you. Go call the third branch to join us for the reunion meal."
Mr. Mu interjected just in time, preventing a big argument.
"Okay, grandpa, I’ll go right away!"
Behind him, no matter how Mrs. Lin yelled, Mu Dalang didn’t stop, instead striding swiftly, disappearing in no time.
He went straight to Shuangshuang’s house, entered the kitchen, and stated his purpose directly.
"Shuangshuang, Fourth Aunt, grandpa asked me to call you over for lunch. He said it’s a rare family reunion, so hurry up and come with me!"
"Big cousin, we’ve already started making our own food, so we won’t be going. Earlier when the second aunt came, Shuangshuang already said we wouldn’t have time to go."
Mu Dalang had come, and Mu Shuangshuang’s attitude made a complete 180-degree turn for the better.
"Big cousin, why don’t you wait a bit? My mom’s mooncakes are almost ready."
Yu Si Niang had already prepared some mooncakes, all molded in various shapes—round, square, even animal shapes.
Making so many types of mooncakes was something Mu Shuangshuang hadn’t imagined.
The method of making mooncakes in ancient times was particularly simple. Start by frying with oil, with fillings like rock candy, pine nuts, walnuts, candied fruits, jujube paste, and peanuts. The fillings inside are soft.
Yu Si Niang poured half a pot of rapeseed oil into the large iron wok. This was nearly half a month’s oil supply for the third branch. As the oil gradually heated, she began placing mooncakes in the pot.
Seeing this, Mu Dalang actually didn’t leave. He started helping out by adding firewood to Shuangshuang’s household.
He wasn’t a Golden Noble, but a capable hand at tending the fire.
They say the hardest part of making food is preparation. In just a while, the mooncakes were scooped out one by one. Instead of giving them to the kids immediately, Yu Si Niang sprinkled on a small handful of sesame seeds and a few pieces of dried fruit.
The first batch of mooncakes wasn’t given to anyone but placed in a clean bowl and set beside the stove, where the Kitchen God’s altar was.
Usually, any delicious food made at home would first be offered to the Kitchen God.
In anticipation that during the night of the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, when the Kitchen God ascends to heaven, he might say some good words on their behalf.
The second batch of mooncakes was given to Mu Dalang, along with a fork and a small knife.
These were all prepared by Uncle Da Niu for them; everyone at home, including Lu Yuanfeng, had a set each.
Yu Si Niang hadn’t known what they were for before, but when it was time to make mooncakes, she realized they could be used to cut mooncakes.
However, since Shuangshuang said it wasn’t mainly for mooncakes, Yu Si Niang didn’t bother to ask in detail.
Mu Dalang looked at the knife and fork, completely baffled.
He knew that mooncakes at home were usually eaten by hand, but that was after they were cold; so what was this for?
Seeing his confusion, Mu Shuangshuang kindly demonstrated the use of the knife and fork.
"Big cousin, freshly made mooncakes are too hot to eat by hand. We’ll cut them with this knife and use the fork to eat."
The mooncake slices were just slightly larger than a thumb, perfectly revealing the filling inside.
Mu Shuangshuang handed the knife and fork to Mu Dalang.
Mu Dalang took them, ate a piece of mooncake, and was immediately delighted in his heart.
His third aunt’s craftsmanship was unsurpassed; it was truly delicious!