"Aunt Xiao Yun, do you know anything? Tell Shuangshuang!" Mu Shuangshuang winked at Zhao Yun.

There was no choice, Mu Shuangshuang was curious too. As strange as her little aunt was, who would want her?

Besides, the throat incident hasn’t been dealt with yet, and no one knows when it will cause trouble.

Nearby, Yuanbao and Little Zhi held their breaths, staring eagerly at Zhao Yun, just like Mu Shuangshuang, wanting to hear the gossip.

"Oh, this isn’t really from me; I heard it from the women in the village.

Your grandmother talked to people, said she found a matchmaker from the neighboring village to arrange a man from town for Xiangxiang, a scholar."

"Pfft~" Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

It’s not that she looked down on Mu Xiangxiang, but the identity just sounded like a scam.

A scholar from town marrying Mu Xiangxiang, why?

Old Mu Family has no money or power, and someone like Mu Dade, a scholar, is rare even over dozens of villages.

But is it really necessary to sacrifice so much?

"You girl, I haven’t finished talking, wait till I’m done, then laugh together." Zhao Yun said dotingly.

"Your grandmother said your future little uncle lives in town, owns several residences, and dozens of shops, and even gave your grandmother five taels of silver.

He also bought your little aunt many beautiful clothes. You tell me, should you trust such a good fortune falling out of the sky?"

Most people in the village treat this as a joke.

Every day, after meals, they bring it up for a laugh.

"I don’t see it happening, what kind of ability, what kind of benefits?

My little aunt is lacking in talent and looks... moreover, in business she’s no good, either."

The ancients married wives for virtue; if someone is as smart as Mrs. Jin from the main branch, outsiders who don’t know her might think she’s a virtuous wife.

But Mu Xiangxiang can’t be considered virtuous at all.

"As I’ve said, but this still seems strange. I’ve heard that your grandmother has set the date for the engagement.

Said it will be on the eighteenth of the winter month, and that a big family gathering will be held. So I just wanted to ask if you knew any insider news."

Mu Shuangshuang still shook her head.

"I’ll ask my fourth aunt later; she surely knows some inside information."

The two women continued chatting and laughing for a while until they finished helping Zhao Yun strip the rotting cotton from the corner of the wall before heading home.

Once home, Mu Shuangshuang saw Yu Si Niang standing at the doorway, looking around.

Yu Si Niang was wearing a thin garment typically worn in summer.

Mu Shuangshuang took a few steps forward and said to Yu Si Niang, "Mom, why are you standing at the door; it’s so cold here."

As she spoke, Mu Shuangshuang tightened her clothes.

"Shuangshuang, just now your grandmother was here, she said... she said your little aunt is getting married."

Yu Si Niang’s expression didn’t look good.

Mu Shuangshuang saw it wasn’t good news at a glance.

"Mom, if there’s anything, just say it, Shuangshuang will stand by you."

For some reason, hearing this, Yu Si Niang’s mood improved immediately.

"Your grandmother said your little aunt is marrying into a distinguished family, we at Old Mu Family can’t fall behind.

Every household has to put together five taels of silver as a dowry for your little aunt, or your grandmother will have your father divorce me."

Mu Shuangshuang sneered and continued, "My grandmother is overstepping; divorce or not, she doesn’t get to decide, my father does!"

"Besides, the third branch has separated; once little aunt is married, she has nothing to do with us."

"My big brother being a scholar, we never got any benefits from him. When there’s something good, they forget about us. But when it’s time to spill blood, they think about us?"

Yu Si Niang also felt Shuangshuang made sense, but refusing was no small matter.

"Mom, you don’t need to worry about this. Next time grandmother talks, just say the family’s money is kept by Shuangshuang. If she wants money, directly find Shuangshuang."

After Mu Shuangshuang finished speaking, she called towards her room: "Little Black, come out!"

Soon, two little black creatures came crawling out of the doghole in her room.

Little Black wobbled around like a meatball in front of Mu Shuangshuang.

Squealing nonstop.

Lai Mi was the same, circling around Mu Shuangshuang.

Mu Shuangshuang squatted down and asked Little Black, "Little Black, my little aunt is getting married. Grandma said she wants the silver you hold. Are you giving it?"

As soon as Mu Shuangshuang finished speaking, the formerly docile Little Black suddenly bared its teeth and jumped around in place.

I could see the anger on its face.

That look, both funny and somewhat magical.

"Mom, did you see? Even our head steward doesn’t agree."

Yu Si Niang was amused but all her inner gloom completely faded away.

"Little Black is really a good kid. I’ll go cut some meat for her."

Cutting meat for Little Black is the highest reward for her.

Yu Si Niang’s words stopped the little creature’s angry display.

Mu Shuangshuang petted its head, after a round of praise, Little Black again followed her into the room through the dog hole.

...

...

Old Mu Family

The Qin Family from town sent some more items over, making Mr. Mu feel increasingly uneasy, he felt a twitch in his eyelids a few times each day.

Looking at the room full of items, Mr. Mu’s psychological pressure continued to grow.

But others in the family were in high spirits. The harvest was long finished, and several women were working on the cotton at home, managing the important matters of food and clothing.

And now, Mu Xiangxiang, the vampire, is about to get married, how could anyone’s mood not be good?

Laughing with joy.

Mrs. Lin leaned in close, looking at one piece of beautiful clothing after another, and whispered flatteringly to Mu Xiangxiang:

"Little Aunt Gou Dan, since the Qin Family gave you so many clothes, let me borrow a few to wear, I promise I won’t damage them."

Mu Xiangxiang’s expression immediately changed, and she loudly rebuked Mrs. Lin.

"Second sister-in-law, how shallow can you be, wanting even two pieces of clothing. If the Qin Family sends money, will you directly grab it?"

Mu Xiangxiang didn’t give any face, stepping on Mrs. Lin again. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Just then, Old Mrs. Mu heard Mu Xiangxiang and glaringly looked at Mrs. Lin.

"A piece of trash, you even want your sister’s things, deserving a lifetime of poverty."

Mrs. Lin’s face turned blue and then white.

"Mom, I just wanted to borrow them for a couple of days, not truly take Xiangxiang’s."

"Pah!" Old Mrs. Mu spat some thick phlegm on Mrs. Lin’s face. "You’re pretending here in front of an old woman, your nature is clear to me.

You lift your butt, and I know what you’re about to do. You’re used to reaching out, lazy by nature, and want to leech off others."

Mrs. Lin kept retreating, hurriedly wiping her face.

Almost to the point of vomiting in disgust.

"Hmph!" Mu Xiangxiang looked at Mrs. Lin’s embarrassing state with disdain.

Mu Dazhong frowned, not intending to bother with Mrs. Lin.

"Dad, since Xiangxiang has found a good family, when are we finding one for Qing? She’s about the same age as Xiangxiang."