Chapter Sixty-Eight

Mu Jin felt a pang of sympathy for Zhou Lin, and she didn't even want to watch the whole drama unfolding in the Zhou family anymore.

“Father, Mother, now that A-Lin and I have separated the family, we have no objection to how you and my second brother should separate the family. There is a lot of work to do at home, so we will go back first.”

With that, he bowed to his grandfather and several relatives to say goodbye, then pulled Zhou Lin away without looking back.

Grandfather Zhou watched the two figures disappear into the distance and sighed deeply.

Anyone with eyes could see that Mu Jin felt wronged on Zhou Lin's behalf.

On the way back, Zhou Lin noticed that Mu Jin was in a bad mood and assumed that he was afraid that the family would really separate and then reunite.

"Ah Jin, don't worry, no matter what my parents say, I won't go back."

Mu Jin held his large, calloused hand and sighed, "You've grown taller from all the food you've eaten."

Zhou Lin knew that her husband was calling her stupid again, but instead of being angry, she felt a little happy.

"I don't know much, I only know how to work. I'll listen to you if anything happens in the future."

Mu Jin smiled then, and the two held hands, returning home in the afterglow of the sun.

"Big brother, are you alright?"

Bai Qiqiu prepared dinner, steamed the leftover buns from yesterday, and prepared several cold dishes.

Mu Jin shook her head, looking relaxed, "It's nothing."

The dish was filled with a tangy aroma, and someone exclaimed, "It smells so good! Qi Qiu, you're quite a good cook!"

Bai Qiqiu scratched his head sheepishly.

"It can't compare to what you make, brother. At home, I'm only good at making cold dishes."

Mu Jin and Zhou Lin took their seats, and Mu Jin picked up a piece of the cold-dressed lamb's quarters that Mu Jin had dug up from the foot of the mountain that day, and tasted it.

Bai Qiqiu secretly cast expectant glances at the two of them.

Mu Jin smiled and said, "It's delicious. From now on, you'll be in charge of making cold dishes at home."

Wen Zhaoran nodded in agreement, "It's delicious. Even wild vegetables can be made to taste this good."

Bai Qiqiu's eyebrows curved into crescents, her joy barely concealed.

The food tasted even better afterward.

As Mu Jin watched, she unknowingly ate half a bun as well.

Mu Jin stopped interfering in the Zhou family's affairs.

If it weren't for not wanting to be labeled as unfilial, he truly wouldn't want to have anything to do with the Zhou family elders at all.

Fortunately, although Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan liked to do shameless things, they were still people who cared about their reputation in public.

Unlike the other women and husbands in the village who would lie on the ground and wail at the drop of a hat, he didn't do anything like throwing a tantrum or making a scene.

Now it's clear that Zhou's grandparents are biased towards them, and after careful consideration, Mu Jin realizes that she can still manage to cope.

However, even if he doesn't actively seek out information, the news of the Zhou family's division of property has become quite a big deal and will inevitably reach his ears.

Zhou Ming and Mu Qing were able to divide the family property as they wished, each receiving five mu of dry land and three mu of paddy fields.

Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan contributed money to build two thatched huts next to the Zhou family's courtyard.

The family's money was meant to support Zhou Qiang's education, and not a single penny was given to him, but it was still more than when Zhou Lin divided the family property.

Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan naturally lived with Zhou Qiang, and it was obvious to anyone that the house and the remaining fields belonged to Zhou Qiang.

Because they allocated land to him, Zhou Ming and Mu Qing had to give them one tael of silver every year as a support fee.

Zhou Ming was naturally very unhappy about this, feeling that he had been greatly wronged.

But Zhou Laosan was determined and refused to give up even a fraction of his land, and he wouldn't budge on the one tael of silver.

Zhou Ming gritted his teeth and finally pressed his fingerprint on the family division agreement.

She harbored countless grievances and hatred towards Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan.

On the day they separated their households, Mu Qing and I moved into his father-in-law's house.

This angered Zhou Laosan and Zhou Wushi so much that their hearts ached.

Zhou Ming and Mu Qing did not return to the Zhou family until the two thatched huts were completed.

As Mu Jin listened to Mu Mian's vivid account of the Zhou family's affairs, she continued hammering clothes with her hands.

"Jin'er, what do you think your husband's second brother is thinking? Zhou Qiang is studying, and the family has supported him for so many years. He just wants to separate the family. Who knows, he might pass the imperial examination in the future. This family is different from two families. Si'er didn't know what to say after hearing this."

Mu Jin smiled without saying a word. Even if Zhou Qiang really passed the imperial examination, by then Zhou Ming's children would already be having children of their own. Wouldn't it be better to support his own children's education than to support his younger brother's?

He had no illusions about Zhou Qiang studying for the imperial examinations; if Zhou Qiang could even pass the lowest level of the imperial examinations, the Zhou family's ancestral graves would be emitting auspicious smoke.

"Brother Zhaoye is fishing again. Another month has passed by so quickly."

Mu Zhaoye fishes twice a month. The villagers, who don't keep track of time, usually know that half a month has passed just by seeing him fish once.

It's like an almanac.

Mu Jin chuckled, then thought for a moment and realized that Bai Qiqiu's fishing net was almost finished yesterday.

I imagine he should have finished weaving it by now. I'll have him come over later, and while Mu Zhaoye's fishing boat goes down the river, I'll let him satisfy his craving for fishing.

"Big brother, you're back."

Bai Qiqiu was carrying a fishing net and was about to go out with Wen Zhaoran when he saw Mu Jin carrying a wooden basin, returning home after washing clothes by the river.

"Go find Brother Zhaoye?"

Bai Qiqiu nodded heavily, his face showing a hint of satisfaction at "getting revenge".

"Hmph, let him look down on me. This fishing net will blind his stinky eyes. I'll pull it across his face later."

Mu Jin sighed and laughed, "Brother Zhaoye is fishing on the other side of the river. If you really throw the fishing net in his face, you might anger him and he won't be able to catch any fish today."

Upon hearing this, Bai Qiqiu hurriedly went to the riverbank.

Wen Zhaoran followed closely behind him, "Big brother, I'll go take a look."

Hibiscus nodded and hung the clothes from the wooden basin on the clothesline to dry.

Under the peach tree, there were unused hemp ropes scattered about. It seemed that Bai Qiqiu was so excited after making the fishing net that he rushed out to find Mu Zhaoye and forgot about the ropes here.

Mu Jin shook her head, picked up the hemp rope from the ground, dusted off the dirt, and put it under the cupboard.

Mu Jin was very satisfied with the kitchen cabinets that Zhou Lin had made.

The top two shelves, once the upper cabinet doors are closed, will keep out dust and flies, and are very convenient for storing leftovers, steamed buns, pastries, and the like.

There's a section in the middle, about half an arm's length long, which is used to hold bowls and plates.

The bottom part is slightly wider and higher, used to store rice, flour, and other grains, as well as miscellaneous items used in the kitchen.

Mu Jin closed the cabinet door below and swept the kitchen floor with a broom.

Thinking that he hadn't seen Bai Qiqiu fish yet, he threw half a rough steamed bun to Night Owl, telling it to stay home and guard the house, and then strolled off to the riverbank.

When Mu Jin arrived, Bai Qiqiu and Mu Zhaoye had already rowed the fishing boat to the middle of the river.

Bai Qiqiu, full of youthful vigor, forcefully unfurled a brand-new fishing net, which spread out in the air like a spider web. A moment later, it fell into the water with a splash.

Mu Zhaoye's brother hummed in agreement.

"I didn't expect him to actually be able to make it himself."

Mu Jin walked to Wen Zhaoran's side and gave the man who was crowding towards him an unfriendly look.

The men chuckled and said, "There are too many people."

Mu Jin pulled Wen Zhaoran aside, and together with Zhou Si, they protected him in the middle.

From winter to summer, owls would bark incessantly at night.

His house was located in a remote area, and it was late at night, so it was easy to guess who the owl was barking at.

Some of the men in the village are really annoying.

Compared to this, those guys who directly tried to steal his younger brother's girlfriend from him seem rather endearing.

Speaking of those men, Mu Jin took a closer look at the group of men who were fishing with Mu Zhaoye, and sure enough, one or two of them looked familiar.

Living in the same village, you really don't see each other when you look up, but you do see each other when you're fishing.

To protect her second brother, Mu Jin shielded Wen Zhaoran even more closely.

"Big brother!"

Hearing that cheerful voice, you know that Mu Bai has arrived.

Sure enough, a little while later, a boy was stuck to his arm.

"As soon as I heard that Brother Qi Qiu was fishing, I packed my bags and came here."

Mu Jin looked down and saw that Mu Bai had a rather familiar bundle hanging on his right arm.

Helplessly, he rubbed his forehead. "This time, will your father allow you to stay for a few days?"

Mu Bai's doe-like eyes curved into crescents as she stretched out her hands, making a number.

"Ten days?"

Mu Bai nodded, "The wheat harvest was very hard, so I rested at home for a couple more days."

Upon hearing that Bai Qiqiu was fishing, which seemed like such a fun activity, I couldn't sit still any longer. I grabbed the bundle I had packed yesterday and came over.

After Mu Zhaoye sold the bucket of fish he caught, Bai Qiqiu also put away his fishing nets.

The fish in the net thrashed about violently, splashing up white sprays that shimmered with a silvery light.

Once the fish were pulled ashore, Bai Qiqiu didn't stand on ceremony and poured the entire net of fish directly into the wooden bucket that Mu Zhaoye had brought.

Bai Qiqiu's fishing net wasn't as big as Mu Zhaoye's, and naturally, he caught far fewer fish.

There were about twenty fish, and more than ten of them were sea bass. We were really lucky.

Fan Zhongyan wrote in his poem "The Fisherman on the River", "People coming and going on the river only love the delicious perch".

This perch is a prized fish in the river. Not only are it few in bones, but its flesh is tender and firm. Whether you pan-fry, steam, or braise it, it's delicious.

Bai Qiqiu sold sixteen fish, leaving six perch and three carp, and gave two perch to Zhou Si.

The rest, Mu Jin went home to get a wooden basin, and Wen Zhaoran and Mu Bai helped carry it home.

After cleaning up the soaking wet fishing nets, Bai Qiqiu had a great time and even earned some copper coins. He was all smiles.

"Hey, Mu Zhaoye, when are you going fishing next time? You said you'd let me use your fishing boats. I'll come again next time you go fishing."

Mu Zhaoye's lips curled slightly. "You can use it whenever you want."

Bai Qiqiu was pleased. Mu Zhaoye was a man of his word and wasn't afraid of him taking away his fishing business. He was a real man.

Clutching the fishing net, not minding that it was wet, he happily went home.

Mu Zhaoye watched him leave, sighing inwardly. This young man was truly different from the shy young men in the village.

They have incredibly thick skin.

A while ago, I went to the man who was building a house at his house and asked him directly if he was married.

The man was so frightened that he nodded vigorously and spoke rapidly, as if afraid that if he was too slow, Bai Qiqiu would tie him up and make him her "bandit husband".

"We've been trying to find a match for several years now."

Now that man doesn't dare to show his face in public, for fear of running into Bai Qiqiu.

This inevitably reminded Mu Zhaoye of the fierce and valiant Northern Frontier boy who, back when his face was not injured on the battlefield, wished he could snatch him home.

He shook his head, no longer thinking about the past, picked up the fishing net from the ground, rowed the boat, and quickly cast another net.