CHAPTER 330: CHAPTER 328: CAN’T BE SCOLDED FOR NOTHING (FOURTH UPDATE)

Lu Yuanfeng stayed silent; it seemed he wasn’t willing to discuss.

"The girl is too skinny, not healthy, having some meat makes her look better. Eating is always better than not eating!"

He felt he had to force feed, and even deep down, Lu Yuanfeng had an idea to let Shuangshuang return to his home and feast on fish and meat. Perhaps after a few months, she could become plump like Yuanbao.

Mu Shuangshuang angrily stomped her feet, yet felt helpless against him!

"Fine, feed me however you like! Anyway, I’ll just eat myself to death. Once I’m fat to death, no one will dare marry me!" Mu Shuangshuang resigned herself to despair.

Lu Yuanfeng merely laughed, increasingly certain of his plan.

Starting tomorrow, he must patrol the mountains!

Mu Shuangshuang was unaware of Lu Yuanfeng’s intentions but still led him back home.

By this time, Yu Si Niang had already fed the chickens and pigs, but it was now the hour to feed the chicks. Yu Si Niang placed a wooden plank on the ground in the yard, put the chicks on it, and a half-bowl of rice mixed with bran on the plank, letting the chicks scramble for it.

"Shuangshuang, you’re just in time. I’ve washed some peaches. Later, you can deliver some to Aunt Xiao Yun’s house and also to Uncle Er Gouzi’s house. They probably haven’t tasted them yet."

"Sure!"

After Yu Si Niang spoke, she added, "How about I send some to your grandparents too?"

Since the family split, Yu Si Niang had hardly sent any food over there, but this time with just a little treat, she considered sending some.

"Alright, pack a bowl to bring over. Also, take a few separately to my aunt’s house."

The items sent to the Old Mu Family were certainly not going to be eaten by the fourth branch.

"Certainly, your mother will handle it!" Yu Si Niang enthusiastically stood up and called out the playful Little Zhi from the room.

These days, Xiao Han seldom came out. Except for tasks required of him, he would sit in Mu Shuangshuang’s room holding a stool, writing and doodling on the floor with a tree branch, imitating what was in books.

Encountering characters he didn’t recognize, he would ask Mu Shuangshuang.

Recalling the study-minded Xiao Han, Mu Shuangshuang asked Lu Yuanfeng, "Fengzi, do you want Yuanbao to learn a few characters first, so it wouldn’t be as tough for him when he enters school later."

For ten years, ancient scholars faced trials and tribulations in the imperial exams. Gaining knowledge early would lead to an early relief.

"No need, Yuanbao is still sturdy, loves playing. I haven’t planned for him to necessarily strive for Champion Scholar or anything. It’s fine if he knows all the characters."

Lu Yuanfeng saw things clearly now; some matters can’t be forced, they must happen naturally, like him and Shuangshuang!

"Alright, but if he ever wants to learn, he can ask me. Liu Zian sold me a few books, I’ve been exploring them recently."

"Alright!"

Yu Si Niang placed the washed peaches into a large sea bowl, carrying them to the Old Mu Family, where Old Mrs. Mu and Mr. Mu happened to be home.

Especially Old Mrs. Mu, who was still criticizing the third branch, talking about how they’re shameless, always thinking of ways to be lazy, spewing all kinds of unpleasant words.

Yu Si Niang stood awkwardly at the door, wanting to leave, but hesitated since Mr. Mu had spotted her.

"Enough, just say a few words less!" Mr. Mu softly chided, then turned to Yu Si Niang, asking, "Third son’s wife, what brings you here?"

Mr. Mu clearly saw Yu Si Niang’s sea bowl but purposely didn’t acknowledge it.

He was waiting for Yu Si Niang to show him due respect.

"Father, Mother, yesterday Shuangshuang visited her grandmother’s place and picked some peaches. I intended to bring them over last night but it was too late, fearing you’d be asleep, so I brought them today."

Mr. Mu nodded, responding kindly to Yu Si Niang, "That’s thoughtful. You can place them on the table!"

"Thoughtful? Thoughtful about what? The last time there was fish, none was sent; the time before, good food wasn’t sent either, yesterday there was porridge but no thought for us, even after catching pigs and chicks, haven’t seen any filial piety shown to us."

"Always taking, never giving, hiding in their broken pigsty eating alone, what kind of logic is that in the world!"

Old Mrs. Mu’s incessant complaints, though unpleasant to Mr. Mu’s ears, he didn’t interrupt. Deep down, he had grievances towards the third branch.

Yu Si Niang’s face turned pale, placing the peaches down on the table. She remembered the sea bowl belonged to her family, tentatively asking, "Mother, I want to take the bowl back, or I could fetch one from the kitchen to exchange?"

Yu Si Niang’s kitchen wasn’t in their own house anymore due to the family’s split, her possessions were separate from the Old Mu Family.

Old Mrs. Mu reacted sharply, "Hey, you woman, how can you be so petty! Do you think I’ll eat up your cheap bowl or what? I’ve been a mother-in-law for all these years and never seen anyone as stingy as you, sending a gift and still asking for a bowl back. Perhaps you think the bowl is the most valuable thing, huh!"

"No, no!" Yu Si Niang quickly waved her hands. "The household items aren’t complete; we’re missing a bowl, making lunch inconvenient."

"Are you crying poverty here? Rest assured, I’m old Mrs. Mu and don’t need your support at all! My son, third son, will take care of me in old age, avoid you greedy woman from constantly eyeing third son’s money."

"But third son is my son; what I say goes. If you dare play tricks behind our backs, I’ll have third son divorce you, let’s see what storm you can stir then."

Old Mrs. Mu’s words fired off like a machine gun, leaving Yu Si Niang feeling utterly humiliated, wishing she could bury herself beneath the ground.

Feeling she came only for ridicule, yet the people before her were her in-laws, no matter the gravity of injustice, only the in-laws could chastise her, not the other way around.

Yu Si Niang left the house teary-eyed, too scared to retrieve the bowl, only able to walk back home, ashamed and embarrassed.

Passing by the kitchen, she glanced casually and saw Mrs. Liu alone, preparing lunch, just at the vegetable selection stage, already sweating profusely.

Unwashed bowls from last night’s large family meal were strewn about on the floor.

Mrs. Liu’s back was now more hunched than when Yu Si Niang last saw her.

Seeing Mrs. Liu this way, Yu Si Niang suddenly felt fortunate; at least she hadn’t been scolded in a long time.

"Jinhua, do you want to eat peaches? I’ve got some peaches here." Yu Si Niang entered the kitchen and took out the peaches hidden in her sleeve, having ensured no one was around when she came in.

Mrs. Liu looked at Yu Si Niang, feeling a warm wave surge in her heart.

"Thank you, Shuangshuang’s mother, but I’m working right now, if mother finds out..."

"You can secretly take them back, let the children eat. Just don’t get caught, I’ve already sent some to father and mother."

Mrs. Liu’s trembling hands accepted the peaches, carefully tucking them into her clothes, afraid of being noticed. Her steps were shaky as she walked out, verifying multiple times before daring to exit the kitchen.

Watching Mrs. Liu’s behavior, Yu Si Niang thought of her bowl and made a decision: even if scolded, she’d retrieve the bowl, or else the scolding would be in vain.

(Recent updates usually at twelve noon; nighttime adjustments are still challenging due to heavy workload, but updates won’t be less frequent.)