CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132: THE THIRD BRANCH WANTS TO SPLIT THE FAMILY (SECOND UPDATE)

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Mu Danian’s cutting words made Mu Dashan frown.

"Fifth Brother, what exactly are you talking about? What’s the matter with me? And Shuangshuang getting married, marrying whom? Why don’t I know anything?"

A torrent of questions surged in Mu Dashan’s mind.

But at this moment, Mu Dazhong was unwilling to speak.

He turned his head and left alone, refusing to say anything regardless of what Mu Dashan asked.

Mu Dashan followed Mu Danian all the way home, exhausted and panting heavily.

"Fifth Brother, you just mentioned Shuangshuang getting married, what exactly do you mean?"

Mu Dashan finally stopped Mu Danian at the courtyard gate, and he spread his hands wide open, making sure Mu Danian couldn’t take another step into the Old Mu Family’s yard.

"Hehe, Third Brother, what are you doing? I was just joking around. The matter of Shuang getting married isn’t decided by me; it’s up to you and mom. I have no say. I was just fooling you to come back, speaking casually."

Mu Danian grinned at Mu Dashan, recalling last time when they discussed Shuang’s marriage; nobody from his third brother’s family was around, and since their father had already forbidden any talk about it, Mu Dazhong hadn’t given it much thought.

He really just wanted to trick him into coming back; who would’ve thought his third brother would react so strongly?

What’s the big deal about a girl? Whether she gets married or sold, you can have another one; perhaps a son might be born.

To carry on the family line, you still need a son.

Daughters, well, they’re dispensable.

"How can you joke like this? You know if I’d stayed, I could have cut a furrow of rice... sigh..." Mu Dashan stomped angrily but had no choice but to let Mu Danian pass by him into the yard.

"You go back on your own; I’m going to the field to work a bit longer."

"Ah, Third Brother, is your head messed up? You’ve come all the way back, why go again? Besides, Father isn’t here, what are you trying to prove?"

Mu Danian looked disdainful; he hated this about his third brother the most, always working more than him and Second Brother, and getting up earlier too, causing him and Second Brother to be scolded by their father every time.

Every time they got scolded, Third Brother would come over and act the nice guy, pleading for them.

If he really didn’t want them to be scolded, he shouldn’t work so much.

The truth might be, Third Brother is doing it on purpose; the so-called honest person is actually the most calculating.

Finding no faults with him and Second Brother, he works excessively, letting their father be the bad guy.

Having figured it out, Mu Danian didn’t even want to look at Mu Dashan.

He walked straight towards the main house.

Mu Dashan stood there as if struck by lightning, stunned, and after a long while, when he came back to his senses, he could only feel deep darkness in his eyes, nearly fainting on the spot.

The bitterness, anger, and heartache, all emotions surged forth, finally turning into a sigh.

Mu Dashan returned to the field and finished cutting that furrow of rice, then went back to the Old Mu Family with Mu Dajiang.

By the time they returned, the family had already finished lunchtime, and Old Mrs. Mu was waiting for Mu Dashan in the main house. As soon as she saw him, she spoke.

"Old Third, come to my room; Mother has something to discuss with you."

Upon hearing Old Mrs. Mu’s words, Mrs. Jin, Mrs. Lin, and Mu Dazhong’s bodies all shook. Mrs. Jin was a bit excited, knowing Old Mrs. Mu was about to lay cards on the table with Old Third, she nearly ripped the silk handkerchief she held tightly.

"Ah!" Mu Dashan nodded and followed Old Mrs. Mu into her room.

Old Mrs. Mu entered the room and sat on the kang, while Mu Dashan could only stand beside her.

"Mother, what do you want to talk about with me?"

"Old Third, how has Mother treated you all these years?"

Old Mrs. Mu didn’t start by talking about finding a match for Shuangshuang but instead tried to remind Mu Dashan of her kindness.

"Mother has treated me very well."

"That’s good." Old Mrs. Mu nodded, "You might remember, when you turned twenty and became an adult, Mother bought you a jacket, right? How was it, warm enough?"

Mu Dashan recalled that sole jacket at home which could resist the cold, with many pieces of its cotton falling off, and he nodded.

"Warm, the jacket is still in my room. Mother’s kindness towards me, I’ll remember. I will make sure to be filial to you and Father in the future!"

"That’s good, seems like Mother didn’t raise you in vain. Does your eldest brother treat you well?"

Unaware, Mu Dashan continued to nod. "Yes, Eldest Brother said if he achieves great success, he won’t forget us."

"That’s right, your eldest brother has a conscience. If he achieves great success, he surely won’t forget you.

But now your eldest brother is facing difficulty. If not solved, he definitely won’t live well, much less care for you."

The more Mu Dashan listened, the more bewildered he became. His mother, like his fifth brother, spoke in an unclear manner.

"Mother, are you still worrying about Eldest Brother’s travel expenses? How about I start tomorrow going to the town wharf to carry goods, earn a bit if I can, and come back at night to cut rice?"

"No need, your earnings aren’t enough to send Da De to the county. Actually, there’s a better way to help your eldest brother. Tell me, would you help?"

Old Mrs. Mu looked to probe Mu Dashan, originally wanting to ask directly, but Da De said it must be implicit.

She felt stifled, awfully uncomfortable.

Mu Dashan hesitated as he looked at Old Mrs. Mu.

The person before him is his biological mother; although she’s forty-eight, there aren’t many wrinkles on her face, even her hair shows no trace of graying.

Yet the peculiar look in his mother’s eyes made him uneasy inside, feeling something might happen.

"Mother, let me think it over." Mu Dashan suggested, hoping to discuss it when his daughter returned.

"Think, think what! You just said you’d be filial to this old lady, and now I ask you to help your eldest brother a little, you’re unwilling. Are you my son, do you have a conscience?"

"Mother, what are you talking about? If I’m not your son, whose son am I? Tell me the matter, if I can do it, I’ll agree, right?" Hearing Old Mrs. Mu’s words, Mu Dashan anxiously blushed.

"Alright, this task you surely can accomplish. Shuang isn’t young anymore, I’ve arranged a match for her.

Later in the afternoon, Matchmaker Sun will come home; you sign the marriage certificate, and once Shuang turns fifteen, she’ll be married."

In the Da Ning Dynasty, there’s a law stating that daughters, upon reaching fifteen, that is, after coming of age, can marry.

Everyone must comply with this law, otherwise, they will face certain punishment.

Hence, Old Mrs. Mu said Shuangshuang would be married once she turned fifteen.

Mu Dashan widened his eyes in surprise, not daring to believe as he looked at Old Mrs. Mu.

His facial expression at this moment looked like a palette, changing rapidly.

"Mother, I disagree, I don’t consent to marry off Shuangshuang." Mu Dashan shook his head.

"If you say Eldest Brother lacks money for exams, I can work, toil, do anything, but marrying off Shuangshuang, that’s something I won’t do.

If marrying off Shuangshuang is the only way to gather the amount for Eldest Brother, I..."

"What will you do? Speak!" Old Mrs. Mu asked angrily, placing her hand on her waist.

"Then our third branch will move out and live separately, from now on no matter what happens to Eldest Brother, we won’t need his help."

(I hear everybody despises their old lady, well, so do I. Those who hate her can send her razor blades, and vote for Fengfeng’s recommendations O(∩_∩)O)