CHAPTER 438: CHAPTER 435: FEELING PROUD (FIRST UPDATE)

In the kitchen, the aroma fills the air.

Outside the kitchen, the weather is getting colder.

Dark clouds are pressing over from the distant horizon, ominous and somewhat terrifying.

A gust of chilly wind blew from head to leg.

Everyone started preparing to collect clothes and occasionally check the doors and windows at home to prevent sudden rain.

When Uncle Fu went out, everything was fine, with the sunset overhead and the evening glow reflecting on people, but now, the dark clouds covered everything.

He felt somewhat lucky to have instructed his wife and daughter before leaving.

Fu Xiaonan didn’t come, saying there were too many people and she didn’t want to be crowded, but she asked Uncle Fu to sometimes invite Mu Shuangshuang over for meals.

Regarding his daughter’s kind gesture and initiative to befriend Mu Shuangshuang, Uncle Fu was quite pleased.

When they arrived at the Mu Family’s Third Branch, Zhao Yun’s family and Dogzi were already there.

In the kitchen, which wasn’t small, the sudden arrival of so many people made it crowded.

"Everyone’s family here, no need for formalities. Eat well, drink well!"

Mu Dashan said to the newly arrived Uncle Fu and the recently entered Zhao Yun.

"Dashan, rest assured, we’re not the type to hold back!"

Mu Shuangshuang set dinner on the table, with two stoves placed on the floor, each supporting a divided pot.

The broth in the pot is separated into clear and spicy parts.

Upon taking seats, everyone looked curiously at the divided pot.

"Shuangshuang, this is really something. A pot with two colored soups."

Uncle Fu was the most experienced among them, but even he was secretly amazed at the divided pot.

"Yes, Shuang, is this your latest creation?" Zhao Yun teased from the side.

She often visited the Mu Family’s Third Branch, and each time she did, there was something new, sometimes food, sometimes snacks.

"Yes, Uncle Fu, Aunt Xiao Yun, today, let’s first taste Shuangshuang’s cooking. After tasting, if you have any questions, Shuangshuang will certainly answer."

With Mu Shuangshuang’s words, everyone began to sit down.

The broth, stewed from beef bones, was perfect for hot pots, and with Mu Shuangshuang’s personally crafted spicy broth, everyone enjoyed it immensely.

The children mainly chose the clear broth, which wasn’t spicy and was especially delicious.

"Sister Shuangshuang, why do I feel today’s dishes have a special flavor?"

Yuanbao held his large bowl curiously.

"A special flavor? Really, let me taste."

Mu Shuangshuang picked a piece of cabbage and ate it.

Indeed, there was a hint of savoriness in the aroma, but why?

The Da Ning Dynasty didn’t have MSG, and Mu Shuangshuang’s cooking didn’t have that savory taste.

She carefully recalled if she had bought any seasoning.

She thought over and over but reached no conclusion.

Until Lu Yuanfeng put a piece of seaweed in her bowl.

"Shuangshuang, seaweed is good for you, eat more."

Listening, Mu Shuangshuang ate a bite of seaweed, and all questions were answered.

The savoriness came naturally from the seaweed, as did many seafood products, with seaweed being particularly potent.

Mu Shuangshuang even considered adding a couple of seaweed pieces to large dishes or chopping it up, drying it, for seasoning in the future.

"Dashan, your daughter is impressive, works hard, earns money, and now your Third Branch even bought land!"

"And then there’s Fengzi, capable and young. You two are the only ones in Er Gui Village young enough to buy land independently."

"Honestly, Dashan, I truly envy you. You have such a good daughter and a capable son-in-law."

Uncle Fu had a few drinks, his face flushed, speaking energetically.

Everyone familiar with Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng knew about their relationship, and that Lu Yuanfeng planned to marry Mu Shuangshuang when she turned fifteen and came of age.

Honest folks don’t tend to complicate things, so this agreement practically equated to being engaged.

When the time comes, a matchmaker would just formalize it, and only selecting the wedding date would be left!

Thus, Lu Yuanfeng, in the hearts of these few people, was considered Mu Dashan’s son-in-law.

Mu Dashan was already in a good mood today, and with such compliments, his spirits lifted even more.

His lips slightly curled upward, laughing occasionally.

"Indeed, Fengzi and Shuangshuang are good kids. I’m just a simple man, not expecting any great achievements, as long as the kids are well."

Today, Mu Dashan felt most proud. In the past, he could only stand in the background; now, he could stand in the spotlight, basking in everyone’s admiration.

"Dad, as long as you’re happy, nothing else matters," Mu Shuangshuang said.

"Yes, Uncle Dashan, I’ll take good care of Shuangshuang, and treat you and Aunt Four as my own parents!" Lu Yuanfeng nodded, firmly echoing Mu Shuangshuang’s sentiments.

"Good, good, with your words, there’s nothing for me and Shuangshuang’s mother to worry about!"

Here, the Third Branch of the Mu Family drank joyously, enjoying good food and drink.

Over at the main household of the Old Mu Family, there wasn’t even anything tasty, just a bowl of watery porridge and some wild vegetables as dinner for handling these people.

Mrs. Lin looked at the ochre sweet potato and white rice porridge on the table, losing her appetite instantly.

"Mom, this watery stuff is like crap. How am I supposed to swallow it? Even the baby in my belly doesn’t want it!"

Mrs. Lin sneered at Old Mrs. Mu.

Old Mrs. Mu snorted twice, asking Mrs. Lin, "Are you sure you won’t eat?"

"It’s not that I won’t eat; it’s just that this stuff isn’t nutritious for the baby in my belly." Mrs. Lin foolishly replied.

"Need nutrition? Should I kill a chicken for you, so my grandchild eats better?"

Old Mrs. Mu’s eyes were full of gloom.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Lin’s foolishness made her lose all sense of reason upon hearing the word chicken.

She nodded foolishly, "Oh wow, oh wow, mom, you’re really good to your grandson; I promise to tell him every night that his grandma is the best person in the world."

Mrs. Lin’s fawning expression was highly displeasing.

Old Mrs. Mu snorted coldly, taking Mrs. Lin’s porridge bowl.

"You lazy woman, do little work but have plenty of ideas. If you don’t eat, there are people who will!"

Finished speaking, she poured the porridge from the bowl into the bowl of the fourth daughter-in-law, Mrs. Liu.

"Fourth daughter-in-law, finish the porridge, don’t waste it."

"Don’t learn from that foolish second daughter-in-law, only eating and not working!"

Old Mrs. Mu vented all her dissatisfaction on Mrs. Lin, and her scolding was vicious.

Mrs. Lin’s face changed from being scolded, but it wasn’t just the scolding; even her bowl of porridge was gone. She was merely talking; she hadn’t meant to skip eating.

"Mom, I was wrong, I won’t complain anymore. I’ll just drink the porridge, okay?" Mrs. Lin admitted her mistakes meekly.

"Too late. Today I asked the fourth daughter-in-law to cook less porridge, and that was the last bowl. If you want to eat, go make your own tomorrow morning!"