CHAPTER 684: CHAPTER 680: TORMENT TO DEATH (PART 1)

In the past few days, several patients have appeared in the Old Mu Family.

Old Mrs. Mu took care of Mu Xiangxiang for an afternoon, and by midnight she started to have a fever and feel dizzy.

A few people from the Old Mu Family carried Old Mrs. Mu into the room, invited Zhang Huai Shu to diagnose her, and gave her medicine.

By morning, Old Mrs. Mu still hadn’t woken up.

The task of caring for Mu Xiangxiang fell on Mrs. Lin.

Mrs. Lin, holding a bowl of cold porridge mixed with cold water and chili, entered Mu Xiangxiang’s room. Just as she put the bowl on the table, Mu Xiangxiang woke up.

Upon waking, Mu Xiangxiang began to look around. She didn’t see her father, didn’t see her mother, only saw Mrs. Lin, who seemed up to no good.

Mu Xiangxiang began to throw a tantrum.

She shouted at the top of her lungs, but the sound produced was just a little cat-like meow.

"Oh, Xiangxiang is awake? Perfect, the porridge your second sister-in-law made for you is ready, let me feed you!"

Mrs. Lin took two steps forward, reaching the edge of Mu Xiangxiang’s kang.

Mu Xiangxiang stared at Mrs. Lin in horror and pointed to her own throat.

She was asking Mrs. Lin what happened to her.

Mrs. Lin chuckled.

"Xiangxiang, your second sister-in-law really didn’t want to tell you this, but after all, I’m your second sister-in-law. You are a grown girl, why must you eat like a pig, without restraint?

Just like last time, you ate a whole plate of braised pork by yourself. If you really could digest it, it would be fine, but you ate it and then threw up. What a waste of food!"

Mrs. Lin spoke at length, not a single comforting word for Mu Xiangxiang, all filled with reproach towards her.

Mu Xiangxiang had always been the apple of Old Mrs. Mu’s eye, cherished since childhood and never wronged. Being scolded like this, she was naturally upset.

Regardless of her illness, Mu Xiangxiang raised her hand, glared fiercely at Mrs. Lin, and acted as if she was going to hit her.

Mrs. Lin, realizing this, hurriedly retreated several steps, shouting at Mu Xiangxiang.

"Xiangxiang, people say an elder brother is like a father, an elder sister-in-law like a mother. I’m not your eldest sister-in-law, but I’m still your elder. Are you planning to hit me?"

Mrs. Lin spoke with arrogance, which stemmed entirely from Old Mrs. Mu being bedridden at the moment.

She managed all the affairs in the back courtyard by herself.

Moreover, as Mu Xiangxiang was mute, she couldn’t complain to Old Mrs. Mu, so Mrs. Lin could treat Mu Xiangxiang however she wanted.

Mu Xiangxiang glared even harder.

She whimpered, but it had no impact.

"Xiangxiang, there’s no point in shouting. Your voice is gone, and for the rest of your life, you’ll never speak again. That marriage with the Qin Family must be off, the Young Madam Qin can’t be a mute!"

As Mrs. Lin finished her words, Mu Xiangxiang whimpered a few times from her throat, her eyes rolled up, and she fainted directly.

Mrs. Lin, in a great mood, climbed onto the kang and placed her hand under Mu Xiangxiang’s nose.

She found Mu Xiangxiang was still alive.

Mrs. Lin couldn’t help but curse: "Damn thing, you still don’t die this way."

After cursing, Mrs. Lin poured the entire bowl of cold porridge with chili on Mu Xiangxiang.

With a "crack," the bowl in her hand shattered, and Mrs. Lin shouted loudly.

"Dad, Mom, something bad has happened, Xiangxiang refuses to eat and has shattered the bowl..."

Lying on the kang, Old Mrs. Mu heard Mrs. Lin’s pig-like howl, disregarded her own aching head, and struggled to get up to see.

She was stopped by Mr. Mu.

"Xiangxiang’s mother, let Xiangxiang make a fuss by herself, she’ll learn to behave after she’s done. You’re this sick now, recuperating is the priority."

Old Mrs. Mu refused, insisting on seeing Mu Xiangxiang.

"I have to go. Xiangxiang is still young and doesn’t understand. That Mrs. Lin is evil-hearted, who knows how she’ll bully my Xiangxiang. I, this old woman, must personally supervise that wicked wife, and if she dares to do anything bad, I... I’ll... hit her with a hoe and kill her."

Old Mrs. Mu’s voice was hoarse, like old tree bark scraping the ground.

"Old lady, what’s the point in this, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Besides, the second daughter-in-law wouldn’t neglect Xiangxiang, you..."

Old Mrs. Mu stood up, with her disheveled hair, heading towards the Old Mu Family’s side room.

What would normally take a few minutes, Old Mrs. Mu took the time of two cups of tea to walk, finally making it into Mu Xiangxiang’s room.

She heard Mrs. Lin crying loudly.

"Sister Xiangxiang, what’s the matter with you? Your voice will get better, we just need to be quiet for a few days, and it will be fine.

Your second sister-in-law knows you think there’s not enough food, but because you’re sick, your second sister-in-law can’t harm you..."

Mrs. Lin was beside Mu Xiangxiang’s kang, speaking lies with open eyes.

The purpose was merely to show the old couple she was trying her best.

"See that, the second daughter-in-law isn’t as bad to Xiangxiang as you claimed." Mr. Mu thought Old Mrs. Mu was making a fuss.

Old Mrs. Mu entered the room where Mrs. Lin was helping Mu Xiangxiang change clothes.

Even the broken bowls in the room had been cleaned up by Mrs. Lin. At a glance, it seemed like she was a virtuous daughter-in-law.

But Old Mrs. Mu wasn’t convinced, she insisted on staying there, waiting for Mu Xiangxiang to wake up.

"Xiangxiang, mom is here to take care of you. I’ll see who dares to play tricks."

Mrs. Lin turned ashen, cursing Old Mrs. Mu thousands of times in her heart.

...

...

In the Third Branch of the Mu Family

Mu Shuangshuang was chopping pig feed in the yard, Yu Si Niang went to the village pond to do laundry, and Mu Dashan was tidying up the house.

Lu Yuanfeng went into the mountains to hunt, and four kids were playing in the yard.

These days of interaction, Xue Zheng was willing to play with Little Zhi Yuanbao, although most of the time he just watched Yuanbao and Little Zhi play.

From fighting roosters, cricket fighting, to games like eagle catching chicks, these small games were very common in the eyes of peasant children.

But, Xue Zheng had never seen them, so they attracted his attention every time.

After playing for a while, Xiao Han walked to the side, took out a book to read, and occasionally wrote and drew on the ground with a small stick in his hand.

Even though he didn’t recognize most of the words, Xiao Han would still take the book every day to ask Mu Shuangshuang.

Now Xiao Han encountered another difficulty, his sister was chopping pig feed, and he couldn’t disturb her. But if he didn’t ask, he wouldn’t know how the words were written.

"Ren, the Ren in benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith!"

Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded.

Xiao Han looked up to see Liu Zian’s face full of smiles.

"Mr. Liu, you’re here~"

Mu Xiaohan shouted excitedly.

Upon hearing the voice, Mu Shuangshuang followed Xiao Han’s gaze and saw Liu Zian standing with Xiao Han.

Xiao Han was full of excitement, especially happy with Liu Zian’s arrival.

"Why... are you here?" Mu Shuangshuang put down the knife in her hand and stood up.

Liu Zian patted Xiao Han’s head and then walked over to Mu Shuangshuang, saying, "Shuangshuang, I passed the examination!"

Mu Shuangshuang was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"Congratulations, congratulations!"