Chapter 417: Chapter 417

"You... you old bastard, your mouth is full of shit, say that again and I’ll divorce you!" Mr. Mu was so angry he could barely speak.

He knew his woman spoke filthily, but never imagined she’d spit out such heartless words.

"Hmph, if you divorce me, it just proves you have a guilty conscience. Anyway, you have to go to the third branch for money!"

Old Mrs. Mu was now determined. The matter of the eldest son was a matter of utmost importance. If the eldest didn’t make it, her good days would be gone.

She had spent a lifetime as a peasant in the village and was unwilling to continue. She dreamed of being the wife of an official, flaunting her prestige in the village.

The two of them were at a stalemate for a while, finally ending with Mr. Mu compromising.

Mr. Mu inwardly hoped the third family could provide the money. The eldest’s situation was like a stone weighing on his heart, preventing him from eating or sleeping.

After all, the third branch was doing well now. Buying land with the money would undoubtedly help the Old Mu Family through the tough times.

Having thought through all this, Mr. Mu was completely at ease.

After breakfast, Mr. Mu once again went alone to the Third Branch of the Old Mu Family. At this time, Mu Dashan was cooling off under the big tree in the courtyard, grasping some vine grass. Recently, Shuangshuang had been teaching him to weave simple bamboo baskets or dustpans.

The man initially couldn’t do it; what he made was slow and ugly, impossible to sell. But once he got the hang of it, it actually looked presentable.

Mr. Mu looked at a bamboo basket on the ground and then at Mu Dashan still weaving, puzzled. He knew all too well the abilities of his son.

He couldn’t do anything except dig food from the ground, good at farming and tilling, but how could he manage these meticulous skills? Content orıginally comes from 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝘯𝘦𝘵

"Third Son, when did you learn these things?" he asked, puzzled.

When Mu Dashan saw it was Mr. Mu, he struggled to get up, but Mr. Mu helped him in time.

"Dad, have you had breakfast? I’ll get you some."

Yu Si Niang had gone to find pigweed nearby with the two children, and Yu Liulang and Feng Xiaohua had gone to Tie Dao Village. Yesterday afternoon, they only looked at the fields and hadn’t advanced to the agenda.

Today, Yu Liulang went on behalf of the Third Branch of Old Mu Family to take a look. Once it’s confirmed, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng will come out to discuss the contract matter.

"Third Son, don’t busy yourself, I’ve already had breakfast!"

Mu Dashan was relieved to hear this. Remembering Mr. Mu’s question, he smiled and replied, "Shuangshuang taught me these things. She said the weather wouldn’t be hot soon, and straw fans wouldn’t sell for much. These bamboo baskets and tubs make money!"

When Mu Dashan talked about Mu Shuangshuang, his eyes lit up. He wished the whole world knew how capable she was and how much she contributed to the family.

In his heart, his daughter was incomparable.

This sense of pride was like an eyesore to Mr. Mu, an instrument for humiliation.

After all, that granddaughter was once cast aside like dust by them.

"Third Son, your days are indeed getting better, I’m happy for you, but..."

"But what?" Mu Dashan asked anxiously at Mr. Mu’s words.

"Nothing, Third Son, did you pay for that land yet?" Mr. Mu suddenly asked.

Mu Dashan was stunned for a moment, fumbling before speaking. "I don’t think so, Shuangshuang hasn’t mentioned it yet. What’s wrong, Dad?"

"Nothing, Third Son, there’s something I want to discuss with you. Did you know your elder brother wrote home?"

Mr. Mu suddenly softened his tone, a tone he only used with Mu Dade or Mu Xiangxiang, making Mu Dashan feel unexpectedly cherished.

"Dad, I didn’t know!"

"Ah! Third Son, originally I didn’t want to mention this. Your elder brother said in the letter that he felt guilty about the third branch, told me to treat you better. Thinking back, I did neglect you in the past."

Mr. Mu played the emotional card, knowing his third son was sentimental.

As expected, Mu Dashan’s eyes turned red at these words; this big man had waited nearly thirty years for his family to recognize him.

"Dad, please stop, I know you mean well, and I’ll surely honor and care for you and Mom."

Hearing Mu Dashan’s promise, Mr. Mu was finally relieved.

He continued, "Dashan, there’s something else. Your elder brother caught a cold in Qianzhou Prefecture, and now..."

"And now what? Dad, is my elder brother’s illness serious?"

Hearing that Mu Dade was sick, Mu Dashan became anxious.

Seeing this, Mr. Mu had an idea; he realized this issue was pretty much set.

"Your elder brother is fine now, but the illness cost a lot of silver. Now, he doesn’t even have travel expenses for the exam. You know, your mother and I gave all our savings to your brother, and now with the late rice not yet harvested, we don’t have spare money..."

The rest, Mr. Mu didn’t say, but he looked expectantly at Mu Dashan.

Mu Dashan was also uneasy. "What should we do? The family really can’t come up with twenty taels, not even after selling the late rice."

The family finances of the Old Mu Family were unknown to Mu Dashan, as the money was all controlled by Old Mrs. Mu, and others had no chance to know.

"Third Son, how about you don’t buy the land yet and lend me the money for now?" Mr. Mu proposed.

"Dad, I want to help my elder brother, but this silver wasn’t earned by me. I’m still bedridden and need medication every day..." Mu Dashan looked troubled.

He wasn’t a stingy person. If the silver was earned by him, he would give every copper coin if needed, but it wasn’t.

Mr. Mu’s face instantly fell.

"Third Son, there’s something I need to say. You might not be happy, but I have to say it. After all, Shuang is just a girl. No matter what, she will eventually get married, and it’s only the Old Mu Family that has been your support."

"A married daughter is like water spilled from a pot; you understand this logic, right?"

Mr. Mu painstakingly persuaded Mu Dashan, simply trying to get him to harden his heart and bring out all the family money.

Besides, he always believed that men should be the head of the family and make the decisions, never letting a woman, especially a young girl, control the household.

Even if this young girl was his biological granddaughter!

"Dad, I don’t care whether Shuang will continue to treat Si Niang and me well in the future. In our hearts, as long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters. We don’t care about anything else!"

"You..." Mr. Mu was so angry at Mu Dashan’s words he couldn’t even speak.

Yet, faced with the facts, he had no choice but to swallow his pride!