CHAPTER 441: CHAPTER 438 MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL (1ST UPDATE)

In the blink of an eye, two days passed and the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

The village began to stir with excitement, as each family prepared for the festival and the burning of paper offerings.

The Wang family went all out by inviting a drama troupe over for entertainment; by the morning, the stage was already set up in Old Wang’s courtyard.

Performers donned in colorful costumes and painted faces appeared at the Wang family’s place, drawing the village folks over to watch the spectacle.

The paper burning was different from the Qingming Festival; the living didn’t need to go to the graveyard, they only needed to prepare incense, paper, and candles at home. Being able to invite a drama troupe like the Wang family was a matter of great prestige.

Unfortunately, there were few wealthy families in the village but many poor ones.

Thankfully, the Wang family’s stage was free for everyone to watch, but everyone understood that the performance was for the dead, and if they watched, they could only steal a glance before noon.

Once night fell and the gate to the spirits opened, they were bound to be scared witless.

The alarm for the Mu family was lifted; yesterday Lu Yuanfeng bought Mr. Mu’s land, and combined with Old Mrs. Mu’s coffin savings, they came up with the twenty taels of silver for Mu Dade.

They already had it sent over, and that scholar should have already set off for Qianzhou.

The Mu family was revived, and their anticipation for Mu Dade’s success only grew stronger.

Therefore, the ancestral rites couldn’t be taken lightly by Mr. Mu.

Early in the morning, the Mu family set off firecrackers, the loud crackling was deafening.

Those who didn’t know might have thought there was some joyous occasion at the Mu family.

But those who knew the customs, still caught the Mu family’s joke, since everyone set off firecrackers in the afternoon, who would set them off early morning, unless they were crazy.

"Fourth daughter-in-law, speed up your folding of the ingots!"

"Second daughter-in-law, don’t think you can slack off just because Da Lang is back, I’m telling you, that won’t happen, so hurry up and clean the pigsty."

When it came to pigs, the Mu family really struck luck.

Back then, they caught pigs from Wang Erma’s house, one died, and they ignored the remaining one completely, didn’t even feed it. Who knew after two days it would perk up again.

As they raised it, time went by.

Though the pig hadn’t put on weight, it had survived in the Mu family.

Today was the day her son Mu Dalang was coming home, but Mrs. Lin’s excitement hadn’t ended before Old Mrs. Mu shouted at her, ruining her mood.

Mu Dalang was sent to the town as an apprentice, usually learning how to raise sheep, shear wool, and milk them with his master.

Now, he returned having learned many skills, even earning two taels of silver from his master, and bought loads of stuff for Mid-Autumn Festival.

He bought big fish and big meat, among other things.

Mrs. Lin saw her son as a hero, letting her show off in front of the Mu family for once, so she walked with a spring in her step.

But even so, she still resigned herself to cleaning the pigsty.

As soon as she entered the pigsty, Mrs. Lin covered her nose and cursed, "Little beast, so young but already making trouble, pig feces everywhere, doesn’t even act like a proper pig."

Mrs. Lin cursed and cleaned at the same time, the little piglet was previously in the center of the sty and was swept into the corner by her broom, but that spot had feces, and the piglet rolled and was covered in filth, dirty all over.

"You little beast, dare to act up now you dog thing."

Mrs. Lin swung her broom and chased after the piglet, beating it randomly as it ran around.

Even though it was raised for some time, even if skinny, it had some strength, and while Mrs. Lin was focusing on disciplining it, she was uncareful, got hit in the leg by the piglet, and fell forward, landing in the pile of pig feces.

Suddenly, a stinky smell overwhelmed her.

"Ah ah ah ah, I’m going to kill you..." Mrs. Lin screamed non-stop, alerting Old Mrs. Mu inside.

Old Mrs. Mu came out and cursed Mrs. Lin thoroughly; she wasn’t satisfied and even kicked her a few times, avoiding Mrs. Lin’s belly.

Mu Dalang heard the commotion and came out of the house, upon seeing Mrs. Lin in such a mess, he felt a bit troubled.

"Grandma, my mother didn’t mean it, just forgive her!"

Mu Dalang, being the eldest grandson, Mr. Mu’s first grandson, Old Mrs. Mu relented after hearing his words.

Unexpectedly, Mu Dalang asked about the third branch.

"Grandma, is my third uncle’s family coming today? I brought over some goat milk, maybe I can give them some, Shuangshuang has a weak constitution, it might help her get better."

As soon as he finished speaking, both Old Mrs. Mu and Mrs. Lin blew up.

"Are you nuts, giving that stinky girl such good stuff, she’s no good." Mrs. Lin cursed angrily.

"Dalang, your third uncle has grown wings, not part of our Mu family anymore, don’t be foolish and let them take advantage of us."

Old Mrs. Mu kept saying they weren’t part of the Mu family, yet early in the morning she went to call Yu Si Niang over to make Mid-Autumn dishes.

Yu Si Niang declined saying her family had to prepare food, had lots of tasks, the first time she refused Old Mrs. Mu.

As a result, she was cursed harshly, it was Mr. Mu who sent Mu Danian over, asking Old Mrs. Mu not to scare the ancestors, that’s when she begrudgingly left.

Mu Dalang wasn’t aware of the intricacies, but he trusted Mu Dashan’s character.

Back then, when he went to be an apprentice, his family didn’t give him any money, it was his third aunt who gave the money, yet that winter, she was chased out by his grandma to face the cold wind.

"Grandma, mom, I have things to do, I’m going to my room first!"

Mu Dalang, being the eldest grandson, had his own separate room.

The stuff he brought for the Mu family, he placed in the kitchen: three pounds of meat, a fish, along with a pound of ribs.

The goat milk was brought back from his master’s house, there was over half a bucket, originally planned for a cup each person, but his grandma scooped half away, saying it was for a bath to make his little aunt’s skin white.

Mu Dalang thought it ridiculous, but managed to keep some of the goat milk.

He found a bowl and still took a bowl of goat milk over to the Third Branch of the Mu Family.

...

...

Mu Shuangshuang moved two bamboo baskets, filled with yellow paper money and golden ingot paper, early morning she sat at the doorstep folding golden ingots and yellow paper money, and once folded, placed them at the corners of her doorway.

The shiny yellow paper was quite eye-catching.

All day’s meals were arranged by Yu Si Niang, Mu Shuangshuang simply needed to take care of the yellow paper, everyone divided their tasks and worked accordingly.

Lu Yuanfeng, early in the morning, took Little Black and Lai Mi to the hills to hunt, claiming they’d have a good meal today, so the third branch was quieter than usual.

Except for the little black pig that Mu Shuangshuang let out for some air again.

The tree in front of the yard had a large hole dug by the black pig, the pit grew deeper, waiting to see who would accidentally fall in.

Without Mu Shuangshuang taking more glances at that pesky little black pig, a shadow suddenly appeared, blocking her view!