Chapter 340: Visiting Relatives
Editor: Atlas Studios
Bosi and Kejia immediately pouted. Shu Wanniang said with a bitter expression, “What am I to do if all of you enter the mountains? There’ll be no one to play with me.”
Feeling conflicted, Bosi and Kejia looked at their older sister and then at their mother. In the end, their hearts ached as they reached out to Shu Wanniang. “Mother, we’ll play with you.”
When Mu Shi saw how filial his children were, he immediately laughed happily. He ignored the mule cart and reached out to hold his wife’s hand. His eyes lit up as he said, “Wanniang, thank you.”
Shu Wanniang’s face flushed red. She suddenly pulled her hand out and carefully glanced at her children and Great-aunt. Seeing that everyone’s eyes were fixed elsewhere, but they were secretly sneaking glances over from the corner of their eyes, her face was as red as a rose in spring.
Mu Shi looked at his wife in a daze.
Seeing that the mule was deviating further and further away from the path, Great-aunt could only reach out and pinch Mu Shi to snap him out of his dazed state.
Mu Shi’s face was also red, even his ears. He did not dare to look at his wife and quickly reached out to pull the mule cart.
Mu Yangling lowered her head and chuckled.
Hearing her daughter’s laughter, Shu Wanniang’s face turned even redder.
Xiuhong also pursed her lips and smiled. On the other hand, Xiulan looked at everyone blankly, not understanding what was going on.
Bowen also looked at them blankly. Great-aunt pretended not to see the confusion in the two children’s eyes and turned her head away.
Mu Shi’s group was too large, and they also brought a lot of things, so they attracted a crowd the moment they entered the village. The news spread to the Liu clan like the wind.
Someone reported to Liu Daqian and Liu Erqian, “First Master Liu, Second Master Liu, your nephew’s family is here. They brought a lot of things.”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu quickly stood up, wiped her hands, and asked, “Where are they?”
“They were at the village entrance. I think they should be here soon. Oh my, is that your nephew’s wife sitting in the middle? This is the first time I’ve seen her. She’s really good-looking.”
When Eldest Great-aunt Liu heard this, she hurriedly called her daughter-in-law out. She didn’t expect Shu Wanniang to come too, for she was a person who didn’t leave the house easily. What was going on today?
When Madam Liu-Zhao and Madam Liu-Zhang quickly followed her out, the mule cart happened to arrive. Second Great-aunt Liu and her daughter-in-law, Madam Liu-Sun, also came out. The two families went up to them and asked with a smile, “Why are you all here?”
Mu Yangling jumped down with the twins in her arms. Eldest Great-aunt Liu had already personally gone up to help Great-aunt Ma-Liu down.
Great-aunt patted her hand and said, “Well, Rocky1 said that he’s away from home most of the year. Since he’s home for the new year, he came to visit you.”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu and Second Great-aunt Liu didn’t believe it. Although the Mu family was close to their family, this was mostly because Mu Yangling and the younger generation were chummy. If Mu Shi could avoid interacting with them, he would never come over. The only few times he did so were because of Shu Wanniang.
However, the two of them still opened the door and let Mu Shi drive the mule cart in.
As usual, whenever the Mu family came over, the two families would cook and eat at Liu Daqian’s place.
Mu Yangling had already placed the twins on the ground. Seeing that only Eldest Great-aunt Liu and the rest were at home, she asked, “Great-aunt, where’s Great-uncle and the rest?”
“He went to your Great-uncle He’s house. His family is building a house, so they went to help today. Your Cousin Lang and the others went to join in the fun as well, but they should be back soon.”
When those younger ones heard that Mu Yangling and the others were here, they would definitely run over.
Indeed, just as Eldest Great-aunt Liu finished speaking, Liu Lang slammed open the door with a bang. When he saw Mu Yangling and Xiuhong, he immediately laughed out loud. “You’re finally here. I thought those boys were lying to me.”
Mu Yangling only felt dizzy for a moment. Xiuhong frowned impolitely and criticized, “Why do you have a croaky voice? It’s too unpleasant.”
Liu Lang glanced at her proudly and raised his head. “My father said that this is the sign of me growing up. I’m an adult now, and adults don’t argue with kids.”
Xiuhong looked down on him with her nostrils. “You’re so frivolous. How do you look like you’ve grown up?”
Liu Lang jumped up and said, “A good man doesn’t fight with a woman. Just wait. My father said that he would hand this family to me next year.”
This time, even Mu Yangling laughed. Eldest Great-aunt Liu smacked him. “What are you talking about? Hurry up and tidy up the things your uncle brought. Also, bring your cousins into the house. It’s freezing outside.”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu also pulled Great-aunt into the house and said, “Eldest Sister, come in and sit. I’ll go to the kitchen to tidy up.”
Great-aunt pulled her. “Alright, you always have endless worries even at your age. What’s the use of a daughter-in-law? Come with Second Brother’s wife. We’ll talk in the room and leave the kitchen to them.”
Madam Liu-Zhao also said, “Mother, go sit in the room with Aunt and Second Aunt. We’ll take care of things in the kitchen.”
Madam Liu-Zhang and Madam Liu-Sun took out two pieces of pork from the New Year goods Mu Shi had brought. Secretly speechless, they said with a beam, “That’s right. Go in quickly. Leave the kitchen to us.”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu indeed had something to ask Great-aunt, so she agreed and the three of them entered the room to talk.
Shu Wanniang followed Madam Liu-Zhao into the kitchen. Madam Liu-Zhao wanted to push her out, but Shu Wanniang smiled in embarrassment and said, “I can’t relax even if I go out. I might as well work in the kitchen.”
Madam Liu-Zhao thought about it and agreed. There was a group of children outside, and when Liu Ting and the others returned later, there would be a group of men there. Shu Wanniang was indeed lonely outside, so she let her stay in the kitchen and gossiped.
In the room, Eldest Great-aunt Liu was asking Great-aunt, “Why did Rocky think of bringing his entire family here?”
Even though he had gotten much closer to their family this past year, he had only brought Bowen or Ah Ling here himself.
Knowing what they were thinking, Great-aunt sighed and said, “That child’s heart aches for his family. Last year, he stayed at home for at least two to three months. Usually, he could find time to go home and check on things. But this year, he was transferred to Hanzhong Prefecture and has been away for half a year. He’s afraid that the old and young at home will be bullied by the villagers.”
“He’s still worried about that? Not to mention anything else, there are a few of his cousins here. As long as Ah Ling calls for help, Ah Ting and the others won’t dare to not go over.”
“In that case, what are you worried about?” Great-aunt glared at the two of them and said, “No matter what, you should be happy that Rocky is willing to let go. Human hearts are made of flesh. In the past two years, Ah Ting has been running around because of the Mu family. No matter how much resentment he had towards you, he couldn’t very well blame it on Ah Ting and the rest. In addition, Ah Ting and Ah Yuan will be working for Ah Ling next year. As her father, he has to pave the way for his daughter.”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu smiled in embarrassment, believing most of it. They all knew how much Mu Shi valued his family.
Curious about what Ah Ling wanted to do, Second Great-aunt Liu asked, “We didn’t understand what Ah Yuan and Ah Ting told us. But isn’t this still farming? Why are they meticulously serving those few acres of land, hiring people, and even needing Ah Yuan and Ah Ting’s constant care?”
In fact, Great-aunt didn’t really understand either, but she knew how to simplify things. She said, “Who cares? Let the children busy themselves. Anyway, I know that if they succeed, it will be a great thing for the country and the people. If they fail, there will still be a harvest. In any case, there won’t be any losses.”
When Eldest Great-aunt Liu and Second Great-aunt Liu heard that, they felt that it was true. Putting everything else aside, considering the two children were good at farming, they wouldn’t lose money, right?