Chapter 352: Chapter 350 Too Shrewd (Third update)
Mu Shuangshuang’s displeasure on her face let Little Zhi know that her sister was about to lose her temper.
She sensibly suggested, "Sister, why don’t we go and bring mom back? Mom’s definitely going to get bullied there."
Not to mention when the Old Mu Family was still together, Old Mrs. Mu bullied Yu Si Niang.
Now that the third branch has split, Old Mrs. Mu treats Yu Si Niang as a thorn in her side, itching to get rid of her.
Yu Si Niang definitely doesn’t have a good life there.
"Alright, let’s go now!"
They went straight to the kitchen and saw Mrs. Liu and Yu Si Niang making dumplings inside — various fillings of meat and vegetables, and with the dumpling wrappers, they were turned into pretty-looking dumplings in the hands of Mrs. Liu and Yu Si Niang.
She also noticed that Yu Si Niang put a Copper Coin in one of the dumplings, which seemed to have some meaning.
Qixi in the Da Ning Dynasty was indeed considered a big festival. Melon seeds and biscuits were to be placed under the moonlight at night, and unmarried girls would pray for a good husband under the moon.
Mu Shuangshuang stood at the kitchen door, just in time to hear Mrs. Liu and Yu Si Niang chatting.
"Third sister-in-law, thank you so much today. If it weren’t for you coming over to help, I wouldn’t know how to handle all the food for this big family," Mrs. Liu said, wiping the sweat from her forehead, looking delighted, and addressed Yu Si Niang.
"Jinhua, don’t say that. I didn’t have much to do myself, so I thought I’d come over to help," Yu Si Niang waved it off, not appearing to be forced.
Mu Shuangshuang had no reason to make Yu Si Niang leave anymore.
The third branch had already split off. If she really didn’t work, at most, Old Mrs. Mu would make a fuss, but nothing serious would happen, after all, Mu Dade cared about face.
However, if Yu Si Niang leaves, Mrs. Liu would have to bear all the work alone, unable to rest from morning till night.
To her, Yu Si Niang was both a relief and a comforting presence.
"Mom, Aunt Si, is there anything Shuangshuang can do?"
Mu Shuangshuang had never been someone to hesitate. Since she had figured it out, she simply rolled up her sleeves to join in.
"Shuangshuang, you’re back?" Yu Si Niang put down the dumpling wrapper in her hand and came up to greet her.
"Yes! I’ll help make dumplings!" Mu Shuangshuang responded.
"No, it’s your birthday today, and the Daughter’s Festival. How can you work? I already left a bowl of porridge in the pot when I came out, you go have some first, and I’ll go back to make lunch when I’m done," Yu Si Niang said.
"Mom, Shuangshuang will make lunch then. By the way, why did you just put a Copper Coin in the dumpling?"
"It’s not just Copper Coin. Your mom also put silver needles and red dates in there," Mrs. Liu chimed in from the side.
"Putting a Copper Coin in the dumplings signifies wealth; a needle represents skillfulness; as for the red dates, it’s for having children early," Yu Si Niang explained patiently, which Mu Shuangshuang found quite amusing.
"Oh right, Shuangshuang, you need to go to the village entrance later. Today the village chief said that there would be a grand celebration for Qixi in Er Gui Village.
The offerings for praying for skills, like fruits and such, are funded by the village, and they’ll select a weaver girl, rewarding her with three hundred wen," Yu Si Niang added.
Mu Shuangshuang found it particularly interesting; the selection of a weaver girl, in other words, was like a beauty pageant. She didn’t expect such an amusing event in this old age.
She became even more excited about tonight’s praying for skills event.
"So, is mom trying to make Shuangshuang apply for the weaver girl selection?" Mu Shuangshuang playfully blinked her eyes.
Yu Si Niang sighed and tapped Shuangshuang’s head gently. "You little smarty, you know everything, but mom won’t force you."
If selected as the weaver girl, her daughter’s future marriage prospects wouldn’t need to be in a hurry, and matchmakers would rush in.
If not, just treat it as participating!
"Then Shuangshuang won’t participate," Mu Shuangshuang decided.
Participating in selecting the weaver girl isn’t as fun as making money. Mu Shuangshuang was eager to go home, made lunch, fed Little Black Dog and Little Black, and took two bowls of rice to Lu Yuanfeng’s house.
Lu Yuanfeng hadn’t made lunch yet, so when Mu Shuangshuang appeared, he was so surprised his jaw nearly dropped.
"Fengzi, you and Yuanbao quickly eat, and after eating, we’ll go to town. There’s a big business coming."
The three hundred wen reward assures her that even if her business today earns less than three hundred wen, someone would buy.
Without asking a word, Lu Yuanfeng finished his meal and headed out with Mu Shuangshuang.
This time, they didn’t walk; they rented a horse in the village. Lu Yuanfeng, who already knew how to ride, managed to reach the town in less than half an hour.
After getting off the horse, Lu Yuanfeng still didn’t know what Mu Shuangshuang wanted to do.
Until Mu Shuangshuang spoke up, "Fengzi, we need to buy lanterns, the blank ones without paintings. I checked in the morning; they’re one wen each.
But those with paintings range from eight to ten wen, I’ll draw some patterns and sell for five wen each, and then there’s rouge and powder. I’m going to do makeup for the girls in the village."
Modern makeup skills are much better than those in ancient times, and even those cucumber masks and such can be applied. This can start at ten wen.
With quite a number of girls in Er Gui Village, Mu Shuangshuang already imagined herself counting money until her hands cramped.
Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t help but laugh; what kind of girl did he fall for?
Thinking about nothing but making money, and yet he thought she was completely right.
"Then let’s hurry up and buy them, so we can get back soon."
Lu Yuanfeng prayed in his heart, hoping not to miss Shuangshuang’s birthday.
"Okay!"
...
...
The Old Mu Family was extremely lively at this moment; in the main hall, led by Old Mrs. Mu, the group of women sat scattered around, each wearing different expressions on their faces.
The main hall was filled with the hearty laughs of Old Mrs. Mu, sounding like another great celebration was happening at the Old Mu Family to those who didn’t know better.
Mu Xiangxiang was wearing a light pink gown bought just yesterday from town. The gown’s design was particularly novel, but it wasn’t entirely unique. At least Mu Zhenzhen had worn a similar one, differing only in color.
"Mom, look, don’t you think my dress is pretty?"
Mu Xiangxiang spun around in the main hall twice, and the pink dress hem spun up to add a touch of ethereal charm.
Except for that that face, which was better left unseen!
Her little face, the size of a palm, was thickly coated with makeup, and the white powder covered the entire face of Mu Xiangxiang. As she spun around, the powder began to fall off in flakes.
However, Old Mrs. Mu paid no mind to these things, her deeply lined face full of smiles.
"Our Xiangxiang is beautiful, and with that dress on, she looks even more beautiful!"
Mu Qingqing stood beside Mrs. Lin, staring intently at Mu Xiangxiang’s dress.
In the whole Old Mu Family, only Mu Xiangxiang was allowed to wear new clothes, while the others could only make do with old ones.
Heaven knows, she too wanted to wear new clothes and wanted to be the weaver girl.
"The village weaver girl position is mine. Qingqing and Xiaxia, both of you better not participate today, or else I’ll not be happy with you."
With one less person, there was one less competitor, and Mu Xiangxiang knew this well in her heart.
"Grandma, Qingqing also wants to go, just to watch, definitely won’t steal little aunt’s spotlight."
Mu Qingqing acted coy with Old Mrs. Mu; if she couldn’t get the same treatment as Mu Xiangxiang, at least she wanted to participate. Who knew, maybe the opportunity would be hers.
(Six thousand words completed, today I owe an update, will make it up later~)