After dinner, Mu Dashan went to find Mr. Mu to report the issue of Mu Xiangxiang inducing vomiting.

Mu Shuangshuang went to the latrine to confront Mu Xiangxiang.

Both sides taking action together, Xiangxiang couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to.

In the Old Mu Family’s courtyard, having just finished eating, Mr. Mu was walking around in the yard to aid digestion, a routine he always enjoyed.

As he got older, if he didn’t eat, he’d be hungry.

When he ate too much, he’d easily feel full!

Walking a few laps in the yard was just the solution to this annoyance.

Mu Dashan entered the courtyard and quickly spotted Mr. Mu and approached him.

"Dad, I have something to tell you," said Mu Dashan.

Mr. Mu looked surprised; since the family split, the third son had never proactively approached him—why this time?

"Dad, do you know about Xiangxiang’s issue? She..."

Mu Dashan told the entire story to Mr. Mu truthfully.

"Dad, Xiangxiang is still young; there’s no need to do this just to eat more or maintain her figure. As you know, one’s health is most crucial. She definitely won’t listen to us, so you might want to talk to her."

After Mu Dashan finished, he handed over the decision-making to Mr. Mu.

The old man was utterly amazed.

Having lived most of his life, he had never heard of such a situation as Mu Dashan described.

Eating and then vomiting it out—isn’t that wasting food?

The old man had always been conservative, regarding food as more valuable than anything else. The Old Mu Family’s rules were typically "clean plate policy"; even leaving a grain of rice would earn a reprimand.

Now, hearing that Mu Xiangxiang was eating more than several strong men, yet ultimately vomiting it up—how could he not be shocked?

"Third son, are you sure you’re talking about Xiangxiang and not someone else?"

Mr. Mu still couldn’t believe it, though deep down he’d always sensed something odd about his youngest daughter.

"Dad, I wouldn’t dare make this up. Come with me and see!"

With Mu Dashan leading the way, Mr. Mu followed him to the Old Mu Family’s latrine.

It was just after mealtime; Mu Xiangxiang, as usual, entered the latrine, stuck a finger down her throat, followed by a bout of violent vomiting.

Outside, hearing this sound, Mr. Mu and Mu Dashan did not look pleased.

Mu Shuangshuang stood beside them, remaining silent, waiting for Mr. Mu to speak.

"Shuang, how long has your little aunt been doing this?" Mr. Mu asked in a low voice.

"I don’t know. At noon, my grandma took two eggs from our third branch’s chicken coop. I chased after her and saw little aunt vomiting in the kitchen’s slop bucket."

While Mu Shuangshuang explained, she also brought up Old Mrs. Mu stealing her eggs.

"Shuang, about this, Grandpa owes you thanks. I’ll make sure your grandma returns the eggs she took from your branch."

Saying this left Mr. Mu feeling embarrassed.

His wife, at her advanced age, resorting to such despicable acts.

Stealing even from the children—what disgrace!

Mu Shuangshuang nodded slightly, not refusing Mr. Mu’s offer to return the eggs.

It wasn’t about being stingy; Old Mrs. Mu’s actions were just too much. If she were to take everything she wanted from the third branch, how would they survive?

"Grandpa..." Mu Shuangshuang had just opened her mouth when Mu Xiangxiang’s sounds from the latrine fell silent.

It seemed she was about to emerge.

As soon as Mu Xiangxiang stepped out of the latrine, she saw the three people outside and was initially startled, then asked Mr. Mu, "Dad, what are you and my third brother, Shuang doing here? Are you all squatting in the latrine together?"

Mr. Mu’s face darkened.

This girl’s words—how could they be so off-putting?

"Xiangxiang, what were you doing in the latrine?"

Mu Xiangxiang said, "Pooping, what else? Dad, why are your words so sarcastic?"

"Enough! How long do you intend to keep this from me? Your mother is terrified you’ll go hungry, so every day she finds ways to get you food, and you vomit it all out—who are you doing justice to?"

Mu Xiangxiang’s face turned pale with fright, yet she defiantly replied, "Dad, what did you say? What vomit? I’m just having stomach trouble, went in to poop—if you want, go check!"

Mu Xiangxiang’s evasive words seemed to Mr. Mu like a sign of guilt.

"You beast, still daring to lie—I heard it all. If you dare to vomit out the food you eat again, watch me not beat you to death!"

Mr. Mu was genuinely angry; he’d never spoken of beating someone to death before.

His words today were in the heat of the moment.

Mu Xiangxiang, however, took it seriously.

"Dad, it’s just a few bites of your food—is it worth such a fuss? I’m your blood daughter."

Mu Xiangxiang stubbornly stuck her neck out, her eyes fixed fiercely on Mr. Mu.

"I don’t care what relation you are; today you must confess everything you’ve been doing—tell me when you started this vile habit and who taught you."

Mu Xiangxiang spent most of her time in town, and growing up, she’d never even worked in the fields.

If she was engaged in these actions, it must have been learned from someone in town.

"Dad, I don’t know what you’re talking about—I didn’t do it!"

Mu Xiangxiang refused to admit it on the pain of death, knowing that if she did, she wouldn’t escape severe punishment.

"Then today I’ll beat you to death!"

Mr. Mu had barely finished his sentence when his pipe struck sharply against Mu Xiangxiang’s wrist.

"Ouch—it hurts!"

Mu Xiangxiang’s wrist was red from the hit; she screamed at the top of her lungs.

The shout brought Old Mrs. Mu out from the main room where she was scolding Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu had gone to the Liu Family Village, claiming it was her mother’s birthday, which had angered Old Mrs. Mu.

Anyone leaving during the harvest season was suspected of laziness.

She cursed for half a day, leaving Mrs. Liu with a red face and teary eyes.

Hearing her daughter’s voice, she ignored Mrs. Liu kneeling on the ground and rushed out.

As Mr. Mu’s second hit went down, Old Mrs. Mu charged up like her backside was on fire and snatched the pipe from Mr. Mu’s hand, smashing it against a stone near the latrine.

With a snap, the pipe broke into two pieces.

Old Mrs. Mu didn’t care about any of this.

"You old fool, what are you doing? How dare you hit my daughter—what did Xiangxiang do to you?"

Old Mrs. Mu was full of anger, speaking like a machine gun, firing relentlessly at Mr. Mu.

Mr. Mu’s face looked more and more displeased.

"Your precious daughter ate enough for three strong men; do you even know where her food goes?"

"Where else could it go, if not out the other end? You old fellow, how can you be so stingy—being able to eat is a blessing, our daughter has loved eating since she was small, and what good does it do you to stop her now?"

Old Mrs. Mu didn’t ask for reasons, instead just blaming Mr. Mu.

"A doting mother spoils the child; this beast vomits everything up by sticking her fingers down her throat—she’s playing with her life!"

Eating just to vomit it up from the mouth.

Old Mrs. Mu looked like she’d been struck by lightning.

She said, "Old fellow, are you crazy? Why would Xiangxiang vomit after eating so much? Who’s been deceiving you to harm our Xiangxiang? I’m telling you, Xiangxiang is my treasure—you won’t harm her!"