CHAPTER 440: CHAPTER 437 GROWING BEAN SPROUTS (THIRD UPDATE)

Yu Si Niang stood hesitantly at the doorway for a long time.

She didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Today was the big day for the third branch to buy land, and by rights, her in-laws should be invited, but since Fu Wu held grudges against her in-laws and considering it was supposed to be a celebratory day with guests, Yu Si Niang couldn’t help but harbor selfish thoughts, not wanting anyone to ruin it.

In front of others, she didn’t act on it, and that made Yu Si Niang feel uneasy deep down.

Privately, she thought she ought to make some gesture.

After all, those two were her husband’s biological parents, and her daughter’s paternal grandparents.

"Shuangshuang, I noticed we still have two bowls of the meatballs you made earlier, might it be okay if I take a bowl to your grandparents? They’re busy preparing your uncle’s silver and surely won’t make anything nice to eat."

Knowing that Mu Shuangshuang never let herself get the short end of the stick, Yu Si Niang spoke in a tone full of negotiation.

In her heart, she envied that her daughter had that kind of character that never suffered losses.

Sometimes, Yu Si Niang even felt that her own handling of things was not as smooth as Shuangshuang’s.

Yet, as the years went by, she just couldn’t learn how.

Mu Shuangshuang said nothing. In her heart, she was reluctant to let her belongings feed those ungrateful wolves who, once satisfied, not only wouldn’t be grateful but would also try to devour your flesh.

But she didn’t want Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan to be caught in a tough spot either.

Today, Mu Dashan’s words seemed to express all the dissatisfaction he felt towards Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu, but in truth, Mu Shuangshuang knew he still had some reluctance.

Or rather, he was unwilling to accept it, just like a child who never receives a mother’s affection, first looking for reasons within themselves, thinking it must have been something they did wrong.

Mu Dashan might be thinking the same in his heart, that something he did wasn’t good enough, hence why Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu didn’t like him.

He probably still hoped for Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu to acknowledge him genuinely and sincerely.

Although, in Mu Shuangshuang’s view, this was almost impossible.

But since this request came from her mother, Yu Si Niang, Mu Shuangshuang thought, it’s just a bit of food after all. If it’s given, so be it.

"Sure, mom, you go ahead. Try to give it to Auntie Si, and avoid running into grandma. If you see her, try to dodge."

"Okay, then I’ll go!"

Yu Si Niang slipped over to the cabinet, opened its door, and taking a bowl of meatballs, she slipped off to the Old Mu Family.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng tidied up the kitchen, and after cleaning it, Mu Shuang took a half basin of soybeans and asked Lu Yuanfeng to help boil some water.

Before making bean sprouts, there’s a soaking process for the beans. Once the boiled water cools enough to handle, it can be used to soak the soybeans.

Lu Yuanfeng took the fire striker from beside the stove, lit the fire, and soon enough, the hearth was ablaze.

With the warmth of the fire, the kitchen noticeably brightened up a bit, and Mu Shuangshuang moved the oil lamp to the dining table.

Eventually, the water was boiled.

Luckily, since it was cold weather, it didn’t take long for the water to cool to the temperature that Mu Shuangshuang needed.

Pouring the hot water into a wooden basin, Mu Shuangshuang said, "Fengzi, these soybeans need to soak for three hours. Why don’t you head back first and come back tomorrow to check on the bean sprouts?"

In modern timekeeping, it was already past eight, and Mu Shuangshuang would have to wake up in the middle of the night to check on the soybeans and rinse them with cold water.

But Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t stay until then.

"Alright, Shuangshuang, don’t see me off tonight, it’s cold outside. You rest early and make sure to bundle up at night. Don’t worry about breakfast tomorrow, I’ll cook corn porridge myself."

Lu Yuanfeng tirelessly gave Mu Shuangshuang a bunch of instructions.

Mu Shuangshuang listened attentively, nodding from time to time.

After she saw Lu Yuanfeng out of the courtyard and returned to the kitchen, she found Yu Si Niang sitting alone, shedding silent tears.

She rushed over in concern.

"Mom, did you run into grandma? Did she say something to you?"

Realizing Shuangshuang had come in, Yu Si Niang quickly wiped her tears, pretending to be strong, "No, your grandma didn’t say anything. I just got some sand in my eyes."

"Mom, why can’t you learn? Last time you gave grandma something, she wouldn’t even give you the bowl back.

This time, you meant it as filial piety, but she thinks you’re guilty, trying to atone for your mistakes.

This only makes her see you as easy to bully. You know why Aunt Si is always the pitiful one? Because she doesn’t know how to resist; grandma tells her to go east, she doesn’t dare to go west.

In this situation, don’t you think grandma always picks on Aunt Si whenever something arises? She just vents her anger, not caring who is enduring it."

Yu Si Niang nodded, wiped her tears dry, and then said to Mu Shuangshuang, "I understand, I won’t give anything anymore."

"That’s more like it, Mom, we’re barely making it ourselves, so don’t worry about others. Besides, when grandpa came to borrow money and we didn’t lend it, grandma wasn’t happy."

"From now on, if you can’t refuse someone, just avoid them. Don’t stay silent, or they think you’re agreeing. If you nod, they think you’re easy to bully."

Yu Si Niang kept nodding, "Shuangshuang, luckily I have you. Without you, who knows what chaos our home would be in. In front of your grandma, I’m like a mouse meeting a cat, filled with fear."

This metaphor made Mu Shuangshuang both laugh and cry.

Besides comforting Yu Si Niang, there wasn’t much else she could do.

People have to overcome their barriers themselves.

"Mom, grandma is nothing to fear; she’s not a cat, and you’re not a mouse. Let’s be bold when we see her. I’m here, and if you can’t handle it, just run. Shuangshuang has your back."

"Haha, you little rascal, daring to say anything. If I run, won’t grandma take it out on me even more? Don’t worry. I’ll try resisting grandma. Once I get used to it, she won’t be able to boss me around anymore!"

After opening up with Mu Shuangshuang, Yu Si Niang felt enlightened, the previous gloom swept away.

"Oh, earlier I saw you soaking soybeans. Are you making soy milk or something?"

Mu Shuangshuang had made soy milk once before, and it tasted great. Though she didn’t make it often because it took a lot of effort to grind once.

"No, Mom, Shuangshuang is making bean sprouts, so our family will have an extra dish on the table."

"You can even make bean sprouts?" Yu Si Niang was astonished.

Back when she did odd jobs in town, Yu Si Niang remembered an old lady particularly wanting bean sprouts in the dead of winter, but none were available. No matter how many people she asked, everyone said the temperatures were too low for soybeans to sprout.

"I saw some being sold at the market today, and Shuangshuang thought, bean sprouts are quite expensive. If they turn out well, they should sell at a good price. Even if they don’t, we’d only lose a few soybeans."

"True, every endeavor requires trying. If you don’t try, you’ll stay in the same place!

Shuangshuang, I’ve been wanting to tell you, I think you’re working too hard. Actually, I could join you in town for business, so you can rest more.

You’re still a child, and staying up late isn’t good for you. In the future, I want to shoulder more of the family’s burdens, and you deserve to be protected by your mom."