Chapter 499 - 496 Knows Her Best (Second Update)
Chapter 499 - 496 Knows Her Best (Second Update)
After lunch, Mu Shuangshuang tidied up outside and was about to rest when she saw the Mu Family’s fourth branch lingering outside the courtyard.Walking from Er Gui Village to Yu Family Village, the fourth branch family had quite the tough journey. Midway, Xiao Chu refused to walk, so Mu Dajiang and Mrs. Liu took turns carrying the child.
A child of three or four isn’t as light as a baby, and they like to move around, which made the journey exhausting and caused them to miss lunch.
The fourth branch didn’t dare go inside, but they also didn’t dare leave, fearing Old Mrs. Mu would get angry.
Xiao Chu’s stomach growled with hunger, and even the older Mu Xiaxia was about to cry.
Mu Shuangshuang rushed out and went straight to Mu Dajiang.
"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, come in and take a seat; I’ve saved you some food in the kitchen."
Mu Dajiang and Mrs. Liu were moved and followed Mu Shuangshuang into the kitchen.
Thankfully, she had prepared enough food, just in case some relatives were late and wouldn’t have anything to eat.
She set the food on the table and didn’t hurry to leave, planning to take Mu Dajiang and Mrs. Liu to see Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu later, so they could look out for each other in the evening.
Unexpectedly, Mu Dajiang asked first.
"Shuangshuang, did your grandma ask about us?"
Mu Shuangshuang was taken aback; wasn’t the fourth branch coming on their own?
Considering the way Mu Danian and the others arrived today and Mr. Mu’s expression, logically, Mr. Mu should be against it, right?
"Didn’t she? Second Brother said your grandma asked us to come early; could it be that we were late, and she doesn’t want to see us?"
When Mu Dajiang mentioned Second Brother, Mu Shuangshuang realized they had been tricked by Mu Dazhong; soon, they would become scapegoats again.
"Fourth Uncle, I think I should tell you, don’t overthink it; I’m saying this to prevent my Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle from harming you later."
Mu Shuangshuang’s voice had barely dropped when Mu Dajiang grew tense.
"Wha... what is it? Tell me, I won’t misunderstand." Mu Dajiang suddenly sat up straight.
"My grandparents didn’t ask you to come; it was my Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle who took it upon themselves. They’re probably doing this to get a free meal, and as for inviting you, they likely want you to bear the responsibility."
It had to be admitted, Mu Danian and Mu Dazhong were quite clever. As long as they involved the usually silent fourth branch, the responsibility would no longer be theirs.
After hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s words, Mu Dajiang finally reacted, but he immediately slumped back in his chair, unable to collect himself for a long while.
"Fourth Uncle, don’t be like this, this matter..."
Mu Shuangshuang’s words were interrupted by Mu Xiaxia.
"What about this matter? This is your own doing! Yes, that’s right, your third branch is doing well, but does that mean you can just criticize our fourth branch?"
"Xiaxia..." Mrs. Liu panicked and hurriedly stopped Mu Xiaxia from speaking.
"Mother, you don’t have to be afraid; she’s not grandma. Just because she has a few dirty coins, does that make her so great? Does she think everyone covets her dirty coins? I’m telling you, I, Mu Xiaxia, don’t care!"
Mu Shuangshuang let out a cold laugh and retorted, "Don’t you know who started this? Mu Xiaxia, don’t tell me you don’t know that Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle are tricking Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt."
"Yes, I have money, but even with money, I won’t give it to you. Mu Xiaxia, the previous two times you tried to set me up in front of grandma, I forgave you because you’re young and naive. But if you try to throw dirt on me again today, I won’t agree!"
"If you feel wronged, go find out who is really bullying the fourth branch. Don’t think that just because we’ve had hard times in the third branch, we’ll also live poorly with you in the future. Forget it!"
Mu Shuangshuang exposed Mu Xiaxia completely in front of Mu Dajiang and Mrs. Liu.
There were two prior occasions where this was Mu Xiaxia’s doing.
The first was when Old Mrs. Mu hit Mrs. Liu.
She didn’t go to the field to find Mr. Mu; she came to find her, simply to borrow Old Mrs. Mu’s hand to harm her.
The second was when Mr. Mu returned; she intentionally said that she resolved the issue with Mr. Mu.
Mu Xiaxia clearly knew that Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu would not allow the fourth branch to come, but she said nothing.
With all these things adding up, Mu Shuangshuang had to reevaluate this younger sister.
"Xiaxia... Shuangshuang, is what she’s saying true? Do you really think that way?" Mrs. Liu’s eyes reddened as she asked.
"Yes, mother, I just can’t stand you and dad being so submissive in front of their third branch. We’re all the same, so why can they..."
Mu Xiaxia spoke while crying.
"That’s because it’s Shuangshuang; she can get up before dawn to earn a few coins, always busy."
After speaking, Lu Yuanfeng stood out.
"No one knows Shuangshuang better than I do; we’ve done business together in town so many times.
She rarely eats in town, always bringing her own coarse grain cakes from home, reluctant even to buy a bowl of tea in town."
"But she’s not stingy. She bought land, sent medicine and food to your fourth branch, and gave food to Aunt Zhao Yun’s and Zhao Gouzi’s families. She never hesitated to help."
"Even if you feel sorry for the third branch being as poor as you before, Shuangshuang has earned her wealth through hard work. Every cent she earns is hers to spend, and no one else has the right to criticize her!"
Lu Yuanfeng’s words were undeniably powerful.
He understood Shuangshuang.
And knew her temperament.
Mu Shuangshuang was too lazy to explain any further; those who understood her naturally did, and those who didn’t, no explanation could change their mind.
"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, even though things have come to this, when you meet with grandpa and grandma later, take the initiative to tell them about this first, so that Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle don’t take the lead. I’m going to rest now!"
After saying this, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng went out to rest.
Mrs. Liu and Mu Dajiang sighed where they stood. They couldn’t bring themselves to scold or beat Mu Xiaxia, but leaving things unsaid felt like a betrayal to Shuangshuang.
"Xiaxia, you’re truly ungrateful! Your mother and I don’t think there’s anything bad about the third branch; on the contrary, we admire them. They dare to dream and take action."
"Fengzi’s right; whatever your Sister Shuangshuang earns, it’s hers, and you have no right to comment on it."
"Xiaxia, what you did was really unkind. Not to mention how much Shuangshuang has helped our family, just saying bad things about someone while taking their help is too much."
Mu Dajiang said a string of words, all in defense of Mu Shuangshuang.
Mu Xiaxia stood silently.
"Xiaxia, are you really jealous of the third branch?" Mrs. Liu hesitated before speaking. "But do you know, your fourth aunt once told me that as long as our family splits, Shuangshuang will teach us business."
"It’s your mother always thinking about your oldest uncle’s scholarly title. As long as the family doesn’t split, you will become an official’s daughter in the future, capable of marrying into a good family, without living as we do, toiling in the fields all your life!"
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