CHAPTER 195: CHAPTER 195: A NIGHT OF RESTLESSNESS

The night was dark and windy, and when everyone had gone to sleep, Mu Danian was dragging his mosquito-bitten body full of sores back.

He carried a tattered cloth picked up from who knows where, wrapping around the indescribable thing in front of him, carefully avoiding everyone along the way.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the Old Mu Family’s courtyard.

Just as he was about to quietly step into the house, a person who had been watching him all night suddenly jumped out from the darkness.

This person was none other than Mu Shuangshuang.

Holding a long wooden stick she had prepared in advance, she started yelling while fiercely swinging the stick at Mu Danian.

"Thief, chicken thief..."

Mu Danian hadn’t reacted yet, but suddenly felt a sharp pain on his body, and he cried out then and there.

"Ah... Ouch, it hurts..."

"Who is it, who hits me..."

Mu Shuangshuang acted like she didn’t hear him, and her shouting grew louder.

Old Mrs. Mu was already having trouble sleeping because of the missing chicken in the morning and the unresolved issue with Mu Zhenzhen at night.

So, upon hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s shouting, Old Mrs. Mu hurried out, not even bothering to put on clothes.

The rest of the people rushed out one after another without carrying a lamp, only seeing a shadow being fiercely beaten by Mu Shuangshuang.

"Granny, come quickly! I’ve caught the chicken thief..."

As Mu Shuangshuang shouted, Old Mrs. Mu stepped forward to dodge her stick and went in with a few strikes.

"You stinking thief, daring to steal my stuff, may you never have children, doing such wicked things..."

Old Mrs. Mu swung the stick much more viciously than Mu Shuangshuang, who at least tried to avoid the vital spots, but Old Mrs. Mu came up and beat him relentlessly.

Then Mu Dazhong and Mu Dajiang joined in...

Mu Danian was beaten and cried out in pain. He said, "I’m not a thief, mother, it’s me, I’m Danian..."

When the few people from the Old Mu Family heard Mu Danian’s voice, they were puzzled and weakened their blows; finally, Mr. Mu went back to light a lamp.

As the lamp illuminated a corner of the courtyard, everyone saw the pitifully beaten Mu Danian.

Through the beating, the cloth covering Mu Danian had come off long ago, so to everyone’s eyes, Mu Danian was now naked.

"Are you going to die? You’re not even wearing clothes!" Old Mrs. Mu angrily kicked the helpless Mu Danian on the ground.

The rest naturally turned their backs quickly.

Mu Danian was close to tears, how could he know there would be people so late, how could he know... Ouch, it hurts!

"Mother, it hurts, that brat did it on purpose, she deliberately shouted ’thief’ to make you beat me..."

Mu Danian, tears and snot covering his face, was beaten by outsiders; he could at least retaliate, but being attacked by his own family, what could he do?

So in Mu Danian’s eyes, everything was Mu Shuangshuang’s fault.

The Old Mu Family’s gazes all focused on Mu Shuangshuang, full of suspicion and contempt; Mu Dazhong directly asked, "Shuang, why aren’t you asleep at such a late hour?"

Mu Shuangshuang knew she would be blamed by Mu Danian, so she was already prepared with a response.

"During the day, Fifth Uncle said the chicken was stolen by me, but actually it wasn’t me. I just wanted to do something to prove my innocence; otherwise, when I get married, people would hold this over me and doubt me. And I didn’t know Fifth Uncle would show up here so late and not wear... not wear clothes."

Mu Danian appearing here late at night was already suspicious, and now not wearing clothes made it even worse, but he was injured after all.

"Old Second, go ask Zhang Huai Shu to check on Fifth; the rest, come with me to the main house. Old Second’s wife, invite your big brother and sister-in-law over, Gou Dan’s issue can’t be delayed."

Tonight was an opportunity, a chance for the Old Mu Family to gather together.

These days, Mr. Mu had been pondering if the third branch shouldn’t split off, maybe things would be better for the Old Mu Family.

This is why during this time, even though Shuang wasn’t working, he didn’t say anything.

After all, Old Third is also one of the labor forces in the family, having worked hard and done a lot over the years, it didn’t feel right to abandon the third branch while the eldest had good days.

The deeper reason actually started when the third branch built a kitchen and pigsty.

In Mr. Mu’s eyes, the third branch doesn’t have the money to build a house.

Yet the third branch with nothing managed to build a house, and shortly after splitting the household, especially that granddaughter he always ignored, suddenly went through a big change, becoming fairer, and her energy and spirit improved.

Anyway, all of these made Mr. Mu feel that the household division was a mistake.

...

...

In the main house, Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu sat in the high seat, to the right sat Mu Dade and Mrs. Jin; according to ancient seating arrangements, other than the high seat, the rest would sit on the right.

After all, right up, left down!

Fortunately, the others in the Old Mu Family didn’t care about seating arrangements and sat quite casually.

Mu Zhenzhen was holding her head, sitting in the corner. She now feared the Old Mu Family would hand her to Zhuangzi’s family, she didn’t want to be dunked in the pigpen.

"Shuangshuang, any good ideas to solve the current problem?" Mu Dade singled out Mu Shuangshuang for advice, intending to later ask the third branch for a formula, hoping the Old Mu Family could play a role.

Mu Shuangshuang instantly became the focus of everyone’s attention.

"Uncle, naturally these matters are for you and Grandpa and Grandma to decide. I, as a junior, understand nothing and wouldn’t know what to say."

If they wanted her to stand out, no way!

Not only no way, not even a window!

Mu Dade wasn’t angry either, he gave Mu Shuangshuang a meaningful glance.

In that glance, Mu Shuangshuang saw calculation, and a certain confidence that could not fail.

The few eccentrics of the Old Mu Family had the heart and courage of a thief but lacked the brains.

But Mu Dade was different, having studied for many years and knowing many people; with all these complexities gathered, he must have used quite a few tricks.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy; Mu Shuangshuang was ready to leave but didn’t realize Mu Dade had already asked Mu Dazhong to bring Mu Dashan over.

The moment she saw Mu Dashan, Mu Shuangshuang suddenly understood why Mu Dade looked at her with that kind of gaze.

He was counting on Mu Dashan’s honest nature and indelible family ties.

"Third Brother, you’re finally here, Big Brother has been waiting so long." Mu Dade personally came forward to welcome Mu Dashan.

During this recent period, Mu Dashan scarcely left home; the food was sent by Yu Si Niang, and occasionally he would step out for fresh air early at dawn.

After some rest, Mu Dashan’s complexion did look better than before, but still somewhat unnaturally sallow.

(Yesterday’s system issue was not due to repeated updates from Fengfeng; everyone can refresh. Yesterday’s Chapter title was: Second Aunt is Leaving!)