"She came, but I sent Aunt Four away. Big Brother came back today, and the main house is in chaos. I bet it’s still a mess over there.

Mom, you don’t need to go there and join the ruckus in the future, lest you get bossed around to do this and that!"

Mu Shuangshuang spoke bluntly because she really didn’t want Yu Si Niang to get caught up by someone like Mu Dade.

After all, if this person spoke a few nice words, most people couldn’t resist.

People who, like her, are determined not to deal with the Old Mu Family are few and far between!

Yu Si Niang understood her daughter’s intention, she nodded. "I know.

There’s one last dish in the pot, and I’ve cooked the rice in another pot. Once this dish is done, we can eat."

Mu Shuangshuang glanced at the last dish Yu Si Niang was preparing: a bowl of sour long beans with minced meat.

It’s one of the essential appetizing dishes for farmers when they’re working. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Smelling that sour scent in the air, Mu Shuangshuang felt her taste buds awaken, and her mouth began to water.

"Everyone, time to eat!" Shuangshuang cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted towards the yard.

Lu Yuanfeng was rummaging through the basket for wood ear mushrooms. He placed all the mushrooms Shuangshuang picked on a board to dry; once dried, they could be eaten.

"Alright, I’m coming! I’ll go call Uncle Dashan first." Lu Yuanfeng responded.

Lu Yuanfeng went to Mu Dashan’s room, called him as he was still working. Meanwhile, a few kids playing in the yard immediately went to eat food at the sound.

At the dining table, Mu Shuangshuang took it upon herself to spread gossip about the disgraceful things Mu Dade did, sharing with the few at the table.

Unexpectedly, the usually good-tempered Mu Dashan surprisingly got angry.

"How dare Big Brother treat Dad like that? Back then, the whole family ate poorly and tightened their belts to send him to school, to find him a wife.

Everyone worked day and night just for him to have a bright future.

Now he’s successful, but he doesn’t even acknowledge his own father, instead calls him ’Big Brother.’ How could he think of that? Has his conscience been eaten by dogs?"

Recalling the days when everyone worked hard for Mu Dade’s education made Mu Dashan feel uncomfortable.

His father saved all his life, hoping someone in the family could lead them out of poverty, and after waiting so long, his father became Big Brother.

Mu Dashan didn’t understand what his big brother was thinking, but he knew his big brother was wrong in this matter.

Mu Shuangshuang said, "Dad, you don’t need to be angry about this either. My grandpa’s like Zhou Yu hitting Huang Gai, one man willing to hit, the other willing to take a beating. If he has a problem, he should go talk to Big Brother himself. If we stand up for him here, he might even get upset."

Just as Shuangshuang finished talking, Mu Dashan asked with a puzzled expression: "Shuangshuang, who is Zhou... Fish? Is there a fish by that name?"

Mu Shuangshuang suddenly realized she threw out an idiom.

No matter if Mu Dashan hadn’t heard it before or for some other reason, Mu Shuangshuang patiently explained.

"Dad, Shuangshuang was just saying it casually. Shuangshuang means, if Grandpa doesn’t agree, Big Brother can’t do anything.

If Grandpa doesn’t say anything, and you go and talk about it, it might just make Grandpa hold a grudge against you." Mu Shuangshuang spoke honestly.

"Shuangshuang’s father, let’s wait and see. There’s no rush to bring it up now. If it turns out Dad really wishes to be the Big Brother like Shuangshuang said, there’s nothing we can do. Don’t you think?" Yu Si Niang also chimed in.

Mu Dashan sighed deeply. His daughter and wife were right; whatever he said wouldn’t change a thing.

Especially now, when his big brother became a scholar. Surely, his father would elevate his big brother to the heavens.

Moreover, the third branch had already split away. When Big Brother needed money to take exams, the third branch didn’t contribute, so anything said now could be misunderstood.

The third branch didn’t need to rely on the first branch, nor cling to them.

However, despite these thoughts, the food on the table tasted like wax to Mu Dashan, lacking any flavor.

People’s hearts are made of flesh, and although his father hadn’t treated him well over the years, no matter how you see it, a father is still a father, inherently unchanged.

If Old Mr. Mu was being bullied, Mu Dashan would feel bad too. But there was nothing he could do except hope that his big brother had a conscience and wouldn’t fail their father’s expectations!

...

...

After lunch, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng exchanged a glance, ready to go to the fields to catch the thief.

Mu Shuangshuang wanted to see what this little thief looked like.

It was just after lunch, a time when everyone was napping, so the field ridges were perfectly still and deserted.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng hid on their own plot, quietly waiting for the rice thief to show up.

The Old Mu Family

Old Mrs. Mu and Mrs. Liu prepared a large table full of dishes, with fried chicken and stewed chicken, and everyone from the Old Mu Family was delighted. They originally thought they’d get some hot chicken soup to savor.

But little did they know, Mu Dade wouldn’t let these people near the table, not even giving a spot to Old Mr. Mu. Only the first branch members and a few of Mu Dade’s classmates ate at the table.

The others didn’t even get a chicken feather.

Fearing a rebellion, Mu Dade made a hollow promise, saying that once his classmates were gone, he’d take everyone to town for a good meal.

Yet that’s nothing compared to the real thing right in front of their eyes.

The other members of the Old Mu Family were naturally displeased, each clamoring for the good food, demanding to be let at the table, and saying other similar things.

"What are you all yammering about? I didn’t even eat, so all of you wait until your Big Brother sees off his classmates before you speak."

Old Mrs. Mu was mesmerized by Mu Dade’s sweet talk. Whatever Mu Dade said, she believed. Anyone saying bad about Mu Dade would be scolded fiercely by her.

"Mom, clearly Big Brother is up to something. We’re all family, so why don’t we have the right to eat together?" Mu Danian complained full of discontent.

He came back early just to see Big Brother, after all.

And also to meet Big Brother’s friends, who might be useful in the future.

"Mom, aren’t those two hens plump? There’s no reason for us not to eat them, right?" Mrs. Lin chimed in.

She’s not foolish; there aren’t any hens left in the Old Mu Family. These two chickens were snatched from the Old Wang Family.

If not eaten today, who knows when the chance would come again.

"Eat, eat, eat! You only know how to eat! Where’s your enthusiasm when it comes to work? Missing one meal wouldn’t kill you, would it? Will you lose a piece of flesh?" Old Mrs. Mu glared fiercely, and Mrs. Lin was immediately scared away, not daring to speak another word.

"Mom, you shouldn’t say that. You might not care since you didn’t eat, but Xiangxiang ate, and I saw you giving her two big drumsticks earlier."

Mu Dazhong fearlessly shouted.

"You wretched thing! She’s your younger sister, and you can’t even stomach her eating a meal? I’ll tell you, that chicken was paid for by this old woman, and the food is mine too. If you want to eat, go earn it yourself!"

Old Mrs. Mu mustered all her strength and scolded Mu Dazhong fiercely.