CHAPTER 683: CHAPTER 679: GETTING SERIOUS (THIRD UPDATE)

"But with Grandma treating you like this, Mom, you’ll suffer."

Mu Dandan felt sorry for Mrs. Jin.

Moreover, Mu Dandan herself didn’t want to stay with the Old Mu Family, there was nothing to eat, nothing to play with.

"Mom won’t suffer greatly. If things really get out of hand, we’ll just tear the facade apart, but with your father not around, I try to go along with the old lady to avoid extra trouble."

"Hey, Mom, why is your hand so red?" Mu Yingying pulled up Mrs. Jin’s hand and asked in confusion.

Only then did Mrs. Jin remember her hand, burning with spicy pain.

"I don’t know what it is, my hand feels terribly scalded," Mrs. Jin replied.

"Mom, you should see the doctor. It looks quite serious to me," Mu Dandan added.

Mrs. Jin nodded. She was going to see a doctor, but not Zhang Huai Shu. He’s a quack and too lowly to treat her, a Scholar’s wife.

"Dandan, Yingying, you two better not go out these days, don’t let the old lady catch you, or she’ll have you doing endless chores."

After speaking, Mrs. Jin took the money and went to Mu Xiangxiang’s room.

Zhang Huai Shu was still waiting for Mrs. Jin’s payment; she handed over six hundred twenty-five copper coins to Zhang Huai Shu and politely sent him out.

By the stove, Old Mrs. Mu kept her watch over Mu Xiangxiang, ignoring everything else.

Old Mrs. Mu’s current appearance was actually quite poor. Her hair had mostly fallen out during her fight with Mrs. Lin, and there were red marks on her face from Mrs. Lin’s scratches.

Her disheveled look made her resemble a madwoman.

But even more so was Mrs. Lin, with several strands of her black hair pulled out, and her clothes torn in the scuffle with Old Mrs. Mu.

The appearance was as bad as it could be.

But Mrs. Lin’s eyes kept staring at Mu Xiangxiang on the stove.

If looks could kill, Mu Xiangxiang figured she’d be long dead by now.

"Dad, since Xiangxiang is fine now, let’s go back. There’s a lot to do at home," Mu Dashan said to Mr. Mu.

Mr. Mu sighed deeply, feeling a slight sense of gratitude towards his third son.

"Go ahead, and I apologize for today with Xiangxiang, and thank you for the trouble with the fourth."

But Mu Dashan shook his head and said to Mr. Mu, "Dad, it’s nothing for me, but for the fourth, over the years, he has worked hard for this house. Even if there’s no credit, there is hard work.

Mom shouldn’t treat the fourth like this, shouldn’t treat the fourth’s wife like this. Dad, I know my request might be a bit much, but I still hope you can be kinder to the fourth family."

For this brother, Mu Dashan could only plead with Mr. Mu.

However, this time, the fourth branch had been heartbroken.

Mu Dajiang’s forehead, that bloody hole.

Mrs. Liu’s organs repositioned from being hit, and Mu Dajiang wondered if the fourth branch should also separate like the third branch.

After Mu Dashan and Mu Shuangshuang left, Mu Dajiang approached Mr. Mu.

"Dad, I want to discuss something with you," Mu Dajiang said.

Mr. Mu’s eyelids suddenly twitched, and a bad feeling arose.

He looked at the fourth in front of him.

On his dark forehead, a stark white bandage stood out.

The face before him, though etched with deep lines from years of sun exposure, held a gaze full of sincerity.

"Fourth, today’s incident was your mother’s fault. On her behalf, I apologize to you and your wife. I promise that she won’t raise her hand again."

Mu Dajiang shook his head.

"Dad, this isn’t the first time. Xiaxia’s mother is still lying at home, clutching her stomach. Watching Xiaxia’s mother like this, I’m really upset.

The family has only fed the fourth branch, giving nothing else. I’d rather go to the town’s wharf to haul goods. Though it’s hard work, nobody will beat or scold me, and maybe in the future, I can save up money for Xiao Chu to attend school."

"Fourth, what are you saying?" Mr. Mu asked, bewildered.

"Dad, I want to separate the family... our fourth branch wants to separate. We won’t take the house or the land; we’ll sleep on the streets in town..."

Towards the end, the man’s eyes reddened in front of Mr. Mu.

The incident today was really too much from Old Mrs. Mu.

Such a big bowl smashed down, and Xiaxia’s mother, who did nothing wrong, worked harder than anyone, yet she’s always the one beaten.

Mr. Mu felt distressed. His wife’s nature was like this.

Expecting her to change was impossible.

But if she doesn’t change, the fourth branch will surely lose heart.

"Fourth, I won’t agree to the separation. First, as you said, without the family, you have nowhere to live, and secondly, even food would be an issue.

Xiaxia is at the age for marriage; if we split up, no one would dare come for a proposal."

Mr. Mu tirelessly tried to persuade Mu Dajiang, but Mu Dajiang was resolute.

"Dad, whether you agree or not, I’ve made up my mind. Tomorrow, I’ll first send Xiaxia and Xiao Chu to her grandmother’s house. When Xiaxia’s mother recovers,

I’ll go to town to find work. Once I save enough to rent a place in town, our fourth branch will move out."

Recalling the past, Mu Dajiang felt that even now, this decision was already too late.

If he had separated along with his third brother back then, it would be tough but happier for a family of four now.

As a man and a father, this time, Mu Dajiang was resolute.

"Fourth, you’re too naive. Do you think everyone is like Shuang? Able to earn enough to survive?

Our Old Mu Family, being the way it is, isn’t it because we’re all together? Now you want to break apart, have you thought about the consequences?"

Mr. Mu still didn’t believe that Mu Dajiang would really separate, thinking it was just a means for him to demand fairness.

Even though Mr. Mu protested against Mu Dajiang’s decision, he didn’t take it seriously in his heart.

It wasn’t until the next day, when Mu Dajiang sent Mu Xiaxia and Mu Xiaochu to Lin Family Village, that Mr. Mu realized the fourth was serious.

...

...

Mu Dajiang spent the entire day taking care of Mrs. Liu, never leaving her side.

As for the matters of the Old Mu Family, he no longer cared.

He was only waiting for Mrs. Liu to recover so that the fourth branch would then embark on the toughest path.

Though Mrs. Liu took her medicine, her abdomen still ached, unable even to get out of bed.

If not for Mu Dajiang’s constant company, even going to the loo would be an issue.

"Daddy Xiaxia, do you think by doing this, Mom will come and beat or scold us?"

Mrs. Liu asked, intimidated from the constant abuse.

She had never been this afraid, not even when Old Mrs. Mu threatened to divorce her.

"No, Mom’s looking after Xiangxiang now; she doesn’t have the time to bother us, right? We just have to focus on recovering!"