Chapter Nine

A few days ago, Zhou Wu was filled with resentment at being tricked by Mu Jin. After calming down, she remembered that she had a biological son. Why should she trouble herself to wash clothes in the dead of winter?

However, clothes are not changed frequently in winter. Even after washing a dirty one, it will be a while before the next time to wash clothes.

Before Zhou Wushi and Zhou Si could even discuss the laundry, good news arrived at the house.

"Is it really true?!"

Mu Qing felt increasingly unwell and vomited up the little breakfast she had eaten, which frightened Zhou Ming so much that he quickly called the village doctor.

Zhou Wu didn't take it seriously. Mu Qing had vomited several times in the past two years, but there had been no signs of pregnancy. She didn't even consider the possibility of pregnancy and thought that he had just eaten something bad.

When the doctor arrived, they learned that Mu Qing was already more than two months pregnant.

Zhou Ming smiled as he saw Doctor Mu out, nodding repeatedly to Zhou Wu Shi, "It's true, Mother. You're going to be a grandmother."

The eldest grandson in the family, not to mention Zhou Wushi, even Zhou Laosan rarely smiled.

"Good, good, good. I've been waiting for this for so long, it's finally here. Be careful these next few days, don't hurt my grandson."

Zhou Wu's wrinkles deepened as she smiled.

Zhou Ming's expression was filled with undisguised joy, and a glint of light flashed deep in his eyes.

His husband is carrying the eldest grandson of the Zhou family, so he'll inevitably get some benefits from his parents.

When Mu Jin and the others returned, it was already noon. The house was filled with joy. Mu Qing was carefully helped to sit at the dining table, with a bowl of steaming egg custard in front of her.

"Jin-ge'er, you're back."

"Mother, is there any happy occasion at home?"

Zhou Si handed over the sixty silver coins he earned from selling embroidered handkerchiefs and purses to Zhou Wu's wife. In the past, only Zhou Qiang was qualified to eat egg custard, but now Mu Qing was also eating it. The sun had really risen in the west. He couldn't help but ask.

Zhou Wushi took the money bag, counted it carefully, and seeing that nothing was missing, smiled and said, "You're going to have a little nephew."

Upon hearing this, Mu Jin had a few thoughts flash through her mind, and smiled, saying, "Congratulations, Second Brother, Second Brother."

Zhou Si echoed and congratulated the two. Zhou Lin was happy for Zhou Ming; after waiting for so long, the child had finally arrived.

"Jin-ge'er, your second brother can't take much work now, so you'll have to take care of things at home more," Zhou Wu-shi said happily.

Mu Jin nodded obediently, "It's a big deal that my second brother is pregnant. As his older brother, I'll do my best to help."

Mu Qing took a bite of the steamed egg custard and smiled, "Then I'll have to trouble you, big brother."

No matter how much turmoil ran through her mind, Mu Jin maintained her usual smile. "Of course. Second brother, you must rest well these days and take good care of yourself so that you can give our parents a big, healthy grandson next year."

Zhou Wushi patted Mu Qing's hand, saying, "Your elder brother said that you should take good care of yourself and that your elder brother will take care of everything."

Mu Jin smiled but remained silent; she had bought the window paper too early.

Zhou Lin was completely unaware of the undercurrents and sharp exchanges among the group. "Ah Jin, give me the window paper. I'll cut it out first, and then we'll cook the paste later so we can stick it on directly."

Regardless, the family still looked happy and harmonious. Mu Jin smiled and handed him the bag, saying, "It's inside. I'll go cook first; it's time to make lunch."

There wasn't much work to do before the New Year. The Zhou family didn't raise pigs; they just cooked and fed poultry, which wasn't a troublesome task for Mu Jin.

These past two days he's been busy making clothes for Mu Nianjun's newborn child and hasn't been paying attention to the Zhou family.

While living with the Mu family, he had virtually no allowance. He was always busy and had no time to find work to earn money. Over ten years, he had only saved about a hundred coins.

The money wasn't enough to buy a silver bracelet for my nephew; instead, it was enough to use the cotton cloth given to me by Mu Nianjun to make a tiger-head hat and a thick cotton-padded coat embroidered with little tigers.

Every household in Mujia Village grows cotton. Before she married into the village, her cotton-padded coat was already almost finished. He had gone to about thirty households in the village to collect cloth and made the coat from the collected fabric.

Only one of the tiger-head shoes and hats remains, but thankfully it made it in time for the 100-day celebration.

With the windows covered in new paper, the room could retain some warmth, making it less cold to the hands, and I was able to finish my needlework more quickly.

“I remember, the first time Lingqiao skinned a rabbit, she didn’t do it well, but she couldn’t bear to throw it away. After tanning it, she saw that it didn’t look good, so I took it back and said that I should give it to my future husband. I put it in the closet and almost forgot about it. Cut one and sew it on this hat, and it will fit well.”

Mu Lingqiao, a hunter from Mujia Village, often collected sheepskins in the village. One time, he twisted his ankle on a slippery mountain path while descending. Zhou Lin happened to be passing by and helped him down the mountain.

The two met there, found they got along well, and gradually became familiar with each other.

Hearing this, Mu Jin's eyes lit up. "Where is the rabbit fur? Find it and let me see it."

Zhou Lin got up, took out a piece of rabbit skin from deep inside the cabinet, and handed it to Mu Jin.

This rabbit must have been a white rabbit with smooth, glossy fur when it was alive. No wonder that guy Mu Fengshou couldn't bear to throw it away even after it was badly skinned. Its fur was of the highest quality.

The hibiscus was cut out, and rabbit fur was embroidered on one side of the tiger-head shoes and hats, making them look even cuter.

In Mujia Village, most people with the surname Mu are related by blood or kinship. On the day of the 100-day celebration, Mu Sheng's family was bustling with people coming and going.

The Zhou family arrived at Musheng's house early in the morning. When Mujin took out the congratulatory gifts, they truly amazed all the women and husbands in the house.

"A patchwork garment, Brother Jin is really thoughtful."

"These tiger-head shoes and hats are adorned with a ring of rabbit fur; they're strangely cute."

Mu Nianjun liked it very much and immediately changed the clothes on the little doll, which did make it look even more lively and cute.

"Weiwei, do you like the little clothes your uncle gave you?" Mu Nianjun teased Mu Weiji in his arms with tender eyes.

"Ah ah." Little Weiwei opened her pink little mouth and echoed her father's voice twice, giving him face.

Mu Nianjun chuckled and shoved Xiao Weiwei into Mu Jin's arms, saying, "May you share in the good fortune and give your husband a big, healthy son next year."

Mu Jin raised Mu Zhou and Mu Bai at a young age and was very skilled at holding children. She and Xiao Weiwei looked at each other for a while and couldn't help but kiss the milky-scented Xiao Weiwei.

This made Xiao Weiwei giggle in Mu Jin's arms.

"Big brother, you really are here." Mu Bai's laughter came, and in the blink of an eye, he was sticking to Mu Jin's side.

Having not seen Mu Jin for some time, he naturally missed her dearly. "When I first arrived, I heard the uncles and aunts in the courtyard praising my skillful hands, saying that the tiger-head shoes and hats I embroidered were very beautiful. Where are they? Let me see."

Mu Bai teased Xiao Weiwei and said.

Mu Nianjun smiled and said, "That's what Weiwei is wearing."

"Oh my god, I thought you bought it for Xiao Weiwei in town, Brother Jun. You're amazing! It's better than what you buy in town." Mu Bai nestled next to Mu Jin, her eyes full of admiration.

Mu Nianjun was used to it. This guy, even if his older brother farted, it would smell good. He was a complete brainless brother-obsessed guy.

Inside the house, there was warmth and affection, but outside, Zhou Wushi gritted her teeth in pain, her smile becoming somewhat ferocious. Such fine clothes and shoes, how much better it would have been to keep them for her unborn grandson! This spendthrift!

If Mu Jin hadn't hidden the things so well before coming, she would never have allowed him to bring them.

After the banquet, when they returned home, as expected, Zhou Wushi couldn't help but start scolding them.

"You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household! You dare to give away all sorts of good things. Do you even remember you have an unborn nephew?!"

Mu Qing was also a little envious. "Big brother, what Mother said is right. Sending some eggs is already very kind. There's no need for such a heavy gift. They're not even close relatives."

Mulan was in a good mood today, but upon hearing this, she felt slightly annoyed, and her eyes reddened. The sight of this beautiful woman shedding tears was quite unbearable for onlookers.

“Mother, I was only three years old when my mother left. My father was also away from home at that time. If it weren’t for Brother Nianjun bringing me a bowl of porridge from time to time, I might not be alive today. How can this kindness be repaid with shoes and hats?”

Zhou Lin felt heartbroken. "Mother, those things were all prepared by A-Jin at her parents' home. They didn't cost the family any money."

Zhou Si said softly, "Big brother, don't cry. Big brother, why don't you take me back to the room to rest for a while?"

“Go back?! What, can’t I even speak at home now? You cry after I say a few words to you, who are you crying for?!” Zhou Wu said angrily.

Mu Jin's eyes flickered slightly, and she fainted at the opportune moment, which terrified Zhou Lin. "Ah Jin, what's wrong with you?! Si'er, quickly go and fetch Doctor Mu."

Chaos erupted at home, and Zhou Laosan yelled at Zhou Wushi, "It's just a set of clothes and shoes, is it really that big of a deal?!"

Zhou Wu was not worried about Mu Jin at all. She had originally planned to marry Mu Jin so that she would have someone to command. She never expected that this person would be so cunning. If she really died, it would be better to replace her with someone more obedient.

She rolled her eyes at Zhou Laosan. "Why didn't you speak up sooner? You were just worried about him. Now that he's unconscious, you suddenly know how to talk. After living together for decades, doesn't she know him?"

He didn't go to Zhou Lin's room, but went straight back to his own room.

"Dr. Mu, what's wrong with my husband?" Zhou Lin was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan inside the house.

"Your husband has a bit of typhoid fever and is physically weak. He may have been feeling a bit emotional today, which caused him to faint due to insufficient blood and energy. He is not in any danger and just needs to rest for a few more days."

Zhou Lin breathed a sigh of relief and loosened his grip on her hand. "Do you need a few doses of medicine?"

Doctor Mu nodded, picked up his medical kit, and said, "Prescribe some medicine for typhoid fever, and two more doses of warming and tonifying medicine, so you can recover faster."

"Then open it. I'll go get the money from my mother." Zhou Lin said, turning to go to the main house, where he was kicked out by Zhou Wu Shi.

"What kind of medicine do you need? It's not that expensive. Do you think you're some rich young master from town?!"

Zhou Lin's eyes reddened slightly. He didn't care about anything else and was about to take out the money he had hidden to pay for the medicine when he heard Doctor Mu sigh.

"Alright, let's keep a record for now. You can pay me back next spring when you've earned some money."

Doctor Mu finished writing the prescription, glanced at the honest man who had bent over for twenty-odd coins, patted him on the shoulder, and left the Zhou family with his medicine box.

Zhou Si took the medicine packet. "Brother, will you stay with me? I'll go brew the medicine."

Zhou Lin nodded. After Zhou Si closed the door, Zhou Lin took Mu Jin's hand and tears streamed down her face.

“Ah Jin, I’m really incompetent and useless. You’re sick, and I can’t even afford to pay for your medicine.”

"You're not allowed to talk about yourself like that."

Mu Jin woke up at some point, took Zhou Lin's hand, and whispered.

"Ah Jin, you're awake." Zhou Lin cried tears of joy and hugged him tightly. "You scared me to death."

Mu Jin nestled obediently against Zhou Lin's neck, her face still a little warm; the cold wind he had blown on her in the early mornings of the past two days hadn't been in vain.

After this incident, Zhou Lin's remorse towards Zhou Wu Shi completely vanished because of his hoarding of money.

The fear of losing Mulan overwhelmed everything, and even Zhou Wushi was no longer the gentle and loving mother he remembered.

Zhou Lin didn't understand how his mother had changed so much since Mu Jin entered the family.