Mu Xiangxiang, in front of everyone, devoured two big mooncakes until not a crumb was left, even licking her fingers repeatedly.
Her ten fingers, at this moment, were glistening, covered in Mu Xiangxiang’s saliva.
Logically speaking, Mu Xiangxiang eating all the good stuff by herself would be considered disrespectful, but Old Mrs. Mu watched her eat with an indulgent smile.
In the family, the most fierce one didn’t speak up, who would dare criticize?
Of course not!
"Mom, I want more!" Mu Xiangxiang licked her fingers and looked pitifully at Old Mrs. Mu.
"Alright, alright, I’ll see if your Fourth Aunt has made more!"
The basin that fell to the ground earlier was just part of the Old Mu Family’s mooncakes. Old Mrs. Mu firmly believed that within such a short time, Mrs. Liu should have gone to make more mooncakes in the kitchen.
"But I want to eat Third Sister-in-law’s, the ones she makes have sesame and dried fruits, they’re so delicious."
Mu Xiangxiang clung to Old Mrs. Mu’s hand, acting spoilt and coy.
Old Mrs. Mu’s heart melted immediately.
"Then we’ll wait for your Third Sister-in-law to come later, I’ll have her bring you more!"
At lunchtime, Mu Shuangshuang brought the whole family to the Old Mu Family’s to mooch a meal.
Lu Yuanfeng initially didn’t want to go, but Mu Shuangshuang promised him any condition, as long as it wasn’t too much.
Understanding that men value face, Mu Shuangshuang knew there was no need to respect someone like Old Mrs. Mu. Besides, Lu Yuanfeng would eventually be a part of her family, so it was good to get familiar with the oddball she faced every day in advance!
The lunch was also prepared by Mrs. Liu, working tirelessly like a spinning top from morning until night without a rest, and by the time the meal was ready, she couldn’t even straighten her back.
It just so happened that despite all her hard work, there wasn’t even a chair for her to sit on.
The supposed absence of a chair was because Mu Shuangshuang glanced around and saw only one empty seat at the dining table. But Mu Xiangxiang wasn’t there, which meant that seat was reserved for her, leaving no place for Mrs. Liu.
As usual, there were two tables, one for children and one for adults. Breaking tradition, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng chose to sit at the children’s table to avoid seeing Old Mrs. Mu and Mr. Mu’s old faces.
Mu Xiangxiang went to the outhouse and, seeing the third branch’s people arrived without bringing mooncakes, threw a tantrum immediately.
Especially seeing Mu Shuangshuang wearing new purple clothes and well-styled hair today, jealousy surged in her heart.
"Mom, I want to eat mooncakes." Mu Xiangxiang said while shrugging her shoulders, acting all coy and spoiled.
"I’ll go to the kitchen to get some for you!" Old Mrs. Mu stood up, taking just a few steps before being stopped by Mu Xiangxiang.
"I don’t want it, I said I want Third Sister-in-law’s with sesame. I want sesame."
Sesame is not common among farm households.
Because the seasons for sesame and cotton overlap, land used for sesame cannot be used for cotton.
Given that sesame seeds are tiny and yield low, farm families prefer to plant cotton.
"Third Daughter-in-law, your sister calls so pitifully, don’t you know to go get some mooncakes from home? Still thinking of holding back, waiting for what, to lay eggs?"
Yu Si Niang was stunned, initially wanting to stand up, but was held down by her husband.
"Mom, weren’t two mooncakes sent earlier? I heard you and Dad didn’t eat them, they were given to Xiangxiang. She’s just a girl, doesn’t have to do anything. Eating two mooncakes isn’t enough?"
Mu Dashan’s words resonated strongly.
No one knew when, but he started confronting Old Mrs. Mu and Mr. Mu directly.
For things Mr. Mu said, he would choose to refuse.
For this issue today, if his parents had eaten that mooncake, perhaps he might still give Xiangxiang some. Now having eaten two, it’s not possible to have more.
Mu Dashan’s speech shocked everyone in the upper room.
Everyone knew that Mu Dashan was introverted, always obeying Old Mrs. Mu, treating both parents respectfully after moving out, never saying a harsh word.
What’s gotten into him today?
Did he eat the heart of a bear, the gall of a leopard?
But the third branch people couldn’t be happier.
Mu Dashan is the family’s axis, and when the axis toughens up, others can too.
"Darn Third, why are you so stingy? This is your sister; why can’t you give her some food? Now you all have families and businesses, only Xiangxiang is unmarried, aren’t you supposed to support her?"
Old Mrs. Mu spoke it as if it made perfect sense, like the whole world owed Mu Xiangxiang something.
Mu Dashan didn’t argue with her about this topic, simply sat down without moving.
The result, of course, left Mu Xiangxiang unsatisfied; she started making a fuss again.
"Mom, you don’t love me anymore, I want something tasty, and you won’t let me, I hate you!"
With that, Mu Xiangxiang picked up chopsticks, furiously grabbing meat from the table.
A bowl of braised pork, she took it all, eating the lean meat, spitting the fat onto the table.
So disgusting!
Yet Old Mrs. Mu couldn’t bear to scold her.
It made others fume with rage.
Meanwhile, the dishes were brought one after another, Mrs. Liu busied herself like a spinning top, as Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng stood up to help with serving, while the others generally didn’t move.
When the last dish was served, Mrs. Liu was about to head to the kitchen to eat, but Mu Shuangshuang held her back.
"Fourth Aunt, you worked hardest today, have my seat." Mu Shuangshuang offered her chair.
Lu Yuanfeng, Xiao Han, Little Zhi, and Yuanbao also stood up together.
"Sis, take my stool..."
"Shuangshuang, my stool is for you..."
The four offered their spots to Mu Shuangshuang simultaneously, with Old Mrs. Mu glaring fiercely at her.
But Mr. Mu was a bit shaken.
The Old Mu Family had never seen such a scene of courtesy, everyone afraid to miss out, hustling for food the moment it’s on the table, ignoring whether others had enough.
Deep down, Mr. Mu appreciated this atmosphere, brothers friendly and respectful, children filial to the elders.
Yet ultimately it was unachievable at home.
He sighed.
Suddenly Mr. Mu said, "Old Third, tomorrow is the day Yu Family’s Sixth Son gets married?"
Mr. Mu actually knew long ago, as the Yu Family had already sent someone to invite them.
"Yes, truly a joyous day!" Mu Dashan laughed.
"What time are you going?"
"Today we’re going to help out, planning to leave after lunch," Mu Dashan said.
"That’s good; tomorrow your mom and I will go in the morning, make it for lunch, and after dinner return home together as a family," Mr. Mu said to himself.
This statement caused ripples in the eyes of the Old Mu Family people.
Attending a banquet isn’t like ordinary hospitality, chicken, fish, and meat are abundant, yet their parents wouldn’t take them, aren’t they being left out of the feast?
"Dad, let me go with you. You and mom are getting on in years; you need someone to look after you on the road, right? Besides, I’m unmarried, and the Yu Family might want me to accompany the brothers!"