Chapter 661: Chapter 657: Candied Hawthorns Scattered All Over the Ground (Part 1)

"Grandma, your words are wrong. More than half of the money from Old Mu Family’s Third Branch was earned by Shuangshuang.

Shuangshuang decides who can use it, and if Shuangshuang doesn’t give it to someone, they won’t get a single penny from her."

Mu Shuangshuang spoke bluntly, not afraid at all of Old Mrs. Mu picking a fight.

Old Mrs. Mu was irritated by Mu Shuangshuang’s arrogant attitude and the fact that she showed no respect.

"You brat, are you criticizing me, this old lady?" Old Mrs. Mu questioned.

"Grandma, you spoke ill of my mother first, it’s you who dirtied her name. Shuangshuang only spoke the truth.

My mother and my fourth aunt are the most hardworking among the daughters-in-law, rising with the sun and resting at sunset.

Not being praised is one thing, but they shouldn’t have to bear undue criticism. Why should they?"

"Rebellious, rebellious, you brat! How dare you talk back? Let’s see if I won’t tear apart your mouth with my hands!"

Old Mrs. Mu jumped off the ox cart, pulled up her sleeves, making a move as if to hit Mu Shuangshuang.

Seeing this, Lu Yuanfeng slapped the ox with the whip—

The ox quickly pulled the cart towards the town.

Old Mrs. Mu chased after it on her small feet but couldn’t catch up, so she pointed at the cart gradually disappearing with Mu Shuangshuang on it, cursing loudly without care.

The other members of the Mu Family watched in shock.

Old Mrs. Mu’s level isn’t something ordinary folks can compare to; she cursed at the village entrance for the duration of two cups of tea without repeating a single curse word.

"Enough, today’s Xiangxiang’s big day, be well-behaved and don’t bring bad luck to Xiangxiang."

Only then did Old Mrs. Mu stop, though still fuming internally, she loudly cursed once more.

"That damn brat, best if she falls into a ditch and dies."

Once her emotions calmed, Old Mrs. Mu turned around.

She glanced at the ox cart that wouldn’t take any more passengers.

Simply pointing, she ordered Mrs. Lin and Mrs. Liu: "You lazy women get down and walk, Qing and Gou Dan, you walk too.

So young yet only know how to enjoy life; back in my day, I was fishing in the frozen pond!"

Old Mrs. Mu tried to gather everyone squeezed together on the cart down.

This way, she could get on the cart herself again.

"Mom, I haven’t long recovered from my miscarriage." Mrs. Lin shouted in discontent.

Mrs. Lin did not want to walk to town at all.

It’s a distance of over ten li; it’s exhausting.

"Miscarriage this, it’s been so long; why? Still think you’re a sow needing to lie in a pen?

I reckon you’re spoiled; back then, I birthed the eldest and Xiangxiang, and got up right after.

Third daughter-in-law and fourth daughter-in-law didn’t even bother, birthing in the morning and washing everyone’s clothes in the afternoon, and you’re considered precious? You think you’re great? Keep whining and go back."

Once Old Mrs. Mu ordered Mrs. Lin to walk, Mrs. Lin changed her expression immediately.

Appearing obedient, she said, "Haha, mom, I was joking. It’s Xiangxiang’s big day; how could I, the second sister-in-law, not go? I’ll walk, walking is fine, isn’t it?"

Old Mrs. Mu snorted coldly, then she got back on the ox cart.

In this way, the ones who really got to ride the ox cart were Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu.

Mu Xiangxiang, Mu Dazhong, and Mu Danian, while Mu Dajiang refused to ride and insisted on walking with Mrs. Liu.

The group trickled to town, and by the time they arrived, it was quite late.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng with two women and some children first went to Xue Yi’s restaurant.

Because the restaurant’s shopkeeper claimed illness leave, they got delayed.

It was during this time that the whole of the Mu Family reached the street.

Everyone looked curiously at the townspeople coming and going and the peddlers carrying goods.

For Gou Dan, this was the first time in town, and his eyes were drawn to the candied haws in the peddler’s hands.

With his dark little hand pointing at the candied haws, he screamed: "Mom, candied haws, candied haws, Gou Dan wants to eat candied haws, Gou Dan wants to eat..."

Mrs. Lin rolled her eyes, suddenly scolding Gou Dan: "Eat what eat? I have no money in hand; ask whoever has money."

Gou Dan refused, sat on the ground, and bawled loudly.

"No, no, Gou Dan wants to eat candied haws, Gou Dan wants to eat candied haws..."

Gou Dan’s crying attracted quite a few onlookers.

More people pointed fingers at the large Mu Family, commenting.

Most criticized them for being unwilling to buy a child a stick of candied haws.

Mrs. Lin approached Old Mrs. Mu, saying: "Mom, Gou Dan is still a child, just wants to eat a little snack, why not buy a stick for him, maybe he’ll stop crying."

As if cooperating with Mrs. Lin, at the mention of buying candied haws, Gou Dan quieted a bit.

"Eat, eat, eat. Always wanting to eat, where’s the effort when there’s work? Eyes staring at food, why don’t you lick a thing from a latrine?"

Old Mrs. Mu scolded Mrs. Lin and Gou Dan thoroughly.

After being scolded, Gou Dan cried more fiercely.

Old Mrs. Mu decided not to buy him food, letting Gou Dan cry.

"The child wants to eat, just buy a stick, it’s only a few coins." Mr. Mu didn’t want the Mu Family to lose face, so he spoke up.

"Eat what? Not like a reincarnated starving ghost. If each was like this little brat, crying for food, Mu Family would be broke."

Nobody expected Gou Dan to take advantage of Old Mrs. Mu’s verbal gap, and rush toward the peddler selling candied haws.

The old peddler fell when Gou Dan collided with him, and the candied haws in his hand scattered.

Gou Dan picked one from the ground and blissfully munched on it.

The ground was a mess, and the peddler groaned on the ground.

The Mu Family stared in shock until the peddler pointed at them, saying, "Hey, you... compensate for my candied haws, how... how will this be fixed?"

Old Mrs. Mu’s face turned from red to white, then became pale.

She stepped forward, grabbed Gou Dan’s hand, snatched the candied haw, and slapped his face.

"You damned brat, look at what you’ve done, are you a hungry ghost reincarnated? You..."

Even Old Mrs. Mu, who’s unbeatable at cursing, found herself at a loss.

Gou Dan cried even harder.

The surrounding crowd’s criticisms grew louder.

"Hey, what kind of family is this, to have such a cruel heart.

A child wants candied haws, not giving is one thing, but hitting them.

Not like a grandma, too vicious..."

"What are you all yelling about? Haven’t you heard not to interfere with others’ affairs? This old lady will do as she pleases; can’t stand it, get out!"

Old Mrs. Mu lashed out at the onlookers.

With this, even fewer stood by the Mu Family.