Chapter 1392: Chapter 1387: Using Strength to Pit Mu Dade (Third Update)
At noon, Old Mrs. Mu really did hand over some money to Qin Xianglan, telling her to go get a pound and a half of five-flavor pork chopped.
And then she bought a fish, not for anything else, just to win that bit of face.
She wanted to make Mu Shuangshuang envy her, to know that Old Mrs. Mu was living well!
When Qin Xianglan brought the things back, almost everyone followed her into the kitchen.
No one could even remember how long it’d been since they’d had meat. Even though it was raw, just smelling it felt fragrant!
Gou Dan’s drool wouldn’t stop flowing, his eyes fixed on Qin Xianglan without moving.
Luckily, Mu Shuangshuang and Mr. Mu were chatting in the main room.
As long as they didn’t mention the fields, Mr. Mu’s mood was still normal.
He took the initiative to ask about Mu Shuangshuang’s village, every little detail, from how the crops were growing, to the situation of every person in the village.
And then about the third branch, Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang, and the few kids.
Mu Shuangshuang patiently explained everything to Mr. Mu.
For a while the atmosphere was extremely harmonious; you couldn’t see at all that earlier everyone had been upset over the land.
In fact, this matter really wasn’t Mu Shuangshuang’s fault.
A deal’s a deal: once you agree, it’s set!
It’s not up to you to do whatever you want with it!
You want to sell, someone gives you money!
You decide you don’t want to sell anymore, and expect what you sold to be handed back with both hands—if it really worked like that, everything in the world would be a mess.
"Grandpa, folks in the village still miss you! This time, they asked me to bring their greetings to you!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
Mr. Mu was extremely moved.
"People in the village are still very kind! If Da De weren’t in the county, I’d honestly be willing to spend my whole life in the village!"
Mr. Mu’s "whole life" actually didn’t have that many years left.
He was already this old—how much longer could he live?
"Grandpa, you’re doing pretty well now too, with maids and a gate boy!"
The Old Mu Family having a gate boy really was beyond her expectations.
But thinking about it, she could understand!
Mu Dade loved saving face; he’d never let people in the county know his home had no servants, especially gate boys.
"Heh heh, that’s right!" Mr. Mu laughed.
Except for the food, life in the county was indeed decent!
Finally, just before noon, Mu Dade came back.
Mrs. Jin also came out of her room, saw Mu Shuangshuang, and both of them wore expressions of surprise.
"Shuangshuang, how come you’re here? Your father and mother didn’t come?" Mu Dade took the initiative to greet Mu Shuangshuang.
Mu Shuangshuang looked at Mu Dade; the man had gotten a bit fatter than before.
His face was a lot greasier too.
The look in his eyes still made people uncomfortable.
His mouth said warm, affectionate words, but the feeling he gave off was still that same sneaky viciousness.
One glance and you’d feel he wasn’t a good thing!
"Mm! Uncle!" Mu Shuangshuang called out, neither warm nor cold.
Mrs. Jin ignored Mu Shuangshuang, and Mu Shuangshuang didn’t greet her either.
"Mother, what are you making today, how come it smells so good?" Mu Dade pretended to ask, even though he’d already eaten before coming back.
Mrs. Jin had eaten too, but she still made a symbolic trip to the dining room.
So Old Mrs. Mu and Mr. Mu wouldn’t get suspicious.
After last time, Mu Dade no longer brought anything home; he’d also told Mrs. Jin, if she wanted to eat anything, she was to go out and eat it herself, then wipe her mouth clean when she came back!
If they got caught, they’d just say he’d eaten with the ladies, for the sake of his official position.
Mrs. Jin did this every day, and life was actually quite comfortable.
"Twice-cooked pork, braised fish, all the things we don’t usually eat anymore. Today’s for letting Shuangshuang see that our life is much better than in the countryside!"
When Mu Dade heard that, he knew it was about saving face, so he said, "How about I go to Jiu Si Xuan and buy a roast chicken? Didn’t you all want to eat that last time?"
"Great, great!"
Mrs. Lin nodded eagerly.
Old Mrs. Mu didn’t stop them; as long as they could make Mu Shuangshuang lose face, that was fine.
They’d forgotten that for someone who ran a restaurant like Mu Shuangshuang, food was the last thing she lacked.
But since they wanted to show off, Mu Shuangshuang was more than happy to play along!
"I’ll go with Uncle, just right—I’m very familiar with the Shopkeeper at Jiu Si Xuan. Maybe we can even get a discount on the roast chicken!" Mu Shuangshuang said.
Mu Shuangshuang wanted a chance to be alone with Mu Dade.
She wanted to test what kind of person Mu Dade really was!
But Mu Dade thought she just wanted to slap his face, show off how many people she knew.
So he said, "What a coincidence, I know the owner of Jiu Si Xuan too! If I go, I bet the roast chicken will be free!"
When it came to bragging, if Mu Dade claimed second place, no one dared claim first.
Mu Shuangshuang didn’t expose him, and followed him to Jiu Si Xuan.
Mu Dade had a carriage, so it was an easy trip.
She got off the carriage, and before long, the Shopkeeper came out.
He’d originally come to welcome Mu Shuangshuang, but she quickly shot him a look.
The Shopkeeper immediately shifted his target. "Sir, what would you like to order?"
"Uncle, I need to go to the latrine, you wait for me in the main hall for a bit!"
After saying that, Mu Shuangshuang hurriedly rushed into the restaurant.
Mu Dade watched her back, turned his face away in disdain.
Seeing Mu Shuangshuang leave, the Shopkeeper had no intention of greeting Mu Dade; besides, he felt like Mu Shuangshuang had something she wanted him to do.
"Sir, please go inside. I’ve got something to attend to, so I’ll excuse myself first!"
The Shopkeeper went to the rear courtyard, and sure enough, saw Mu Shuangshuang waiting for him.
"Miss Shuangshuang, if you need anything, just tell me!" the Shopkeeper said.
"In a bit, whatever dishes that man orders, bargain down the price like crazy, the more expensive the better!
Also, find someone to sit near us and pass along some news for me..."
After saying that, Mu Shuangshuang quickly parted ways with the Shopkeeper.
She strolled around the rear courtyard once, estimating that Mu Dade outside would be getting impatient, then went out.
When she went out, Mu Dade really was already impatient, but he still forced himself to say:
"Shuangshuang, how come you were gone so long?"
"I... I’m not feeling well!" Mu Shuangshuang deliberately lowered her head, looking guilty.
Mu Dade thought she was afraid her bragging earlier would be exposed.
Luckily, he’d come prepared!
"Shuangshuang, didn’t you say you knew the Shopkeeper here? Call him over and let’s see!"
Mu Dade said.
Mu Shuangshuang shook her head. "Forget it, better not! I..."
"Alright, I get it. If you say you don’t know him, then you don’t. No need to lie, your uncle won’t scold you! Here, let me call the Shopkeeper over!"
While Mu Shuangshuang was gone, Mu Dade had already learned from the waiter that the one who went out to greet guests was the Shopkeeper.
Thick-skinned, he’d chatted with him for a bit.
He’d found the Shopkeeper especially easy to talk to.
Especially after learning he was the County Chief Clerk.
"Uncle, just forget it, I..."
"No, we have to call him over, otherwise you’ll say I’m bullying you as your uncle again!" Mu Dade said with a big grin.
Inwardly, Mu Shuangshuang rolled her eyes, but on her face she still wore a frightened look.
"Uncle, I..."
"Shuangshuang, we’ll just have him come over and introduce a few dishes! At worst, whatever you like, your uncle will pay for it!" Mu Dade said.
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