Chapter 1600 - 1595: Just Hearing It Breaks Your Heart (First Update)

"No problem, no problem!" Mu Shuangshuang waved her hand repeatedly.

"Where’s Hua? Why haven’t I seen her come? And where’s Brother Sandan? He hasn’t come either?"

Mu Shuangshuang, seeing four little kids get off the carriage, couldn’t help but ask a question about Ge Sandan and Xiuxiu’s daughter Chunhua, who were nowhere to be seen.

"Sandan took Chunhua back home!"

Speaking of Ge Sandan, the expression on Xiuxiu’s face changed instantly.

Mu Shuangshuang immediately thought of Xiuxiu’s mother-in-law, Old Mrs. Ge.

If Ge Sandan brought Chunhua along, the old lady would most likely have to spend the Lantern Festival alone at home.

After all, she’s the one who gave birth to and raised him; aside from wanting a grandson, she’s never really done anything wrong!

"Everyone, come inside, take a rest, and soon we’ll have lunch. Let’s all have a good time today!" Mu Shuangshuang invited everyone in, leading them into the courtyard.

Yu Dahai’s wife Chunxing had been seen by Mu Shuangshuang once before, not very familiar but definitely needing no introduction.

As for Yu Dahai’s children, both sons, one big and one small, named Hutou and Hu Nao, were intriguingly named.

However, their personalities didn’t match their names; both boys were quite shy, trailing behind Chunxing, not daring to look at Mu Shuangshuang.

Yu Dahai, seeing this, hastily waved to the two boys, "Quickly, call Aunt Shuangshuang, and...!"

"Xiao Nan, this is Xiao Nan!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

Yu Dahai hadn’t visited the house many times, so his acquaintances were limited.

Although Fu Xiaonan had met her once before, she still didn’t know the name until now.

Fortunately, Mu Shuangshuang reminded him.

"Call her Aunt Xiao Nan!"

The two boys glanced at Mu Shuangshuang and Fu Xiaonan, softly called out to Mu Shuangshuang, "Aunt Shuangshuang, Aunt Xiao Nan!"

"Good boy!" Mu Shuangshuang patted the two boys’ heads; despite their shyness, they didn’t shy away.

Mu Shuangshuang led everyone straight to the main hall.

In the main hall, Yu Si Niang had already prepared tea, standing beside her was Taohua, who was also pregnant.

Mu Shuangshuang hadn’t seen her earlier, this time seeing her, couldn’t help but ask, "Taohua, why hadn’t I seen you earlier?"

Taohua smiled and said, "I went to the school to deliver two bowls of dumplings to Mr. Luo Bai and his mother, then helped tidy up the place!"

"Luo Bai lives at the school?" Mu Shuangshuang was surprised.

"Yes! The teacher doesn’t feel at ease with his mother alone at home, so he brought her over!

Now his wife is responsible for cooking for the students and can earn some money herself!" Taohua said.

"I see, but that’s a good thing!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

Mu Shuangshuang indeed didn’t know about this.

However, it was mainly because of the festival today; she returned late yesterday.

Her mother had intended to tell her these things but didn’t have the time!

"Mr. Luo Bai and his mother didn’t come?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.

"Yes! I invited them, but the wife probably thought there would be many people here and it would be noisy. She just wanted to quietly eat dumplings at home, and Mr. Luo Bai simply stayed with her!"

After hearing Taohua’s explanation, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t ask further.

She held Taohua’s hand and went to Xiuxiu, "This is Xiuxiu, from the neighboring Tie Dao Village. Her husband and Fengzi are good brothers!

This is Taohua, a distant relative of my mother’s, now living with us. You two are both pregnant, there must be a lot you can share!"

Taohua and Xiuxiu exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

In the main hall, it was still the men’s territory, with Yu Dahai staying behind.

The remaining went to the dining room.

In the dining room, Fu Xiaonan’s mother, Aunt Zhao Yun, Zhao Gouzi’s wife, and the large group that just arrived gathered together.

Some had just met but quickly became friends who shared all kinds of conversations.

But mainly, it’s because the place was accommodating today; separating male and female conversations, secrets wouldn’t be overheard by the men.

After some idle chatting, Yu Si Niang saw it getting late and suggested going to make the meal.

Mu Shuangshuang naturally followed along.

She said to the people in the dining room, "Ladies and sisters, I’ll go cook with my mother first! You all relax, after we eat, I’ll find some fun for you!"

Last year, they played Dou De Zhi poker, which Mu Shuangshuang still had; perfect for this kind of occasion!

"Cooking? Let me join. I have nothing to do anyway!" Zhao Yun stood up and said.

"Aunt Xiao Yun, you should just sit and rest! Cooking, in the kitchen, it’s enough with just my mother and me!"

"But..."

"Xiao Yun, today you’re our guests! As guests, there’s no reason to make you work! You should relax here in the dining room, snack on sunflower seeds, enjoy some sweets, wait for us to call you when the meal is ready!" Yu Si Niang said.

"Alright then, since you say so, I’ll relax. Just don’t blame me for not helping!" Zhao Yun joked.

Everyone laughed along.

Mu Shuangshuang followed Yu Si Niang to the kitchen; the dishes for lunch had already been prepared by Yu Si Niang.

Just waiting to wash, cut, and then cook!

Mu Shuangshuang helped while talking to Yu Si Niang.

"Mom, I told you before that I went to the county, but I haven’t told you about what happened there. Shall I tell you now?" Mu Shuangshuang said.

"Sure, go ahead, Mom’s listening!" Yu Si Niang looked up, smiling at Mu Shuangshuang.

"My eldest aunt was divorced by my eldest uncle!"

"What? Divorced? How come? Your uncle and aunt’s relationship wasn’t good?"

Yu Si Niang’s voice held some surprise, a bit of confusion, and more disbelief!

"My eldest aunt... sold Xiao Chu!" Mu Shuangshuang continued to drop bombshells on Yu Si Niang.

This time, Yu Si Niang even stopped the task at hand.

"Mom, that’s not all. My eldest aunt secretly took Xiao Chu away, causing the entire fourth family to worry, then tricked Xiaxia, saying she needed a hundred taels to ransom Xiao Chu.

She offered to pay fifty taels, Xiaxia gathered fifty herself; once Xiaxia collected it, she demanded three hundred taels, eventually luring Xiaxia to a brothel where she almost lost herself!"

"..."

Yu Si Niang was speechless; the news was too shocking!

"How could your eldest aunt be so vile? Xiao Chu is such a young child, and Xiaxia, a girl, how could she send her to such a place? She..."

By the end, Yu Si Niang was choking up.

They weren’t her own daughters, yet she felt heartache!

"Your Fourth Uncle’s family must have been heartbroken!" Yu Si Niang said while wiping her tears.

"Fourth Aunt went mad for a while; she only got better after I came back!"

Mu Shuangshuang shared everything she knew about the county’s matters with Yu Si Niang.

Including now, she was still asking friends to help find Xiao Chu.

"Ah, such a person like your eldest aunt truly needed to be divorced! Keeping her would only bring harm, but poor Xiao Chu and Xiaxia, how did they end up with such tragic fates?"