Chapter Forty
When Mu Jin returned home, she put one tael of silver into a hidden compartment. Once she had the remaining two taels of silver, she could repay Zhou Siqian for the two taels of silver he had lent them for emergency use.
After having a drink of water in the kitchen and resting for a while, I went to Mu Heng's house.
“That’s good, that’s good. Your Uncle Heng went to Wangjia Village and hasn’t come back yet. When he comes back, I’ll tell him. He’ll be so happy when he finds out.”
Uncle Mu held Mu Jin's hand, his eyes full of smiles, and patted it gently.
His family wasn't short of those six taels of silver. To be honest, he could earn one or two taels of silver just by making a set of more elaborate furniture.
Over the years, their family has accumulated some savings.
But this was Zhou Lin's first time completing his apprenticeship, and he still remembered his old man and his teacher's kindness. Uncle Mu was gratified and happy.
Mu Jin chatted with him for a while, "Uncle, I still have things to do at home, so I won't stay any longer. When Uncle Heng comes back, please remember to tell him."
Uncle Mu smiled and nodded, then, as if remembering something, called out to Mu Jin, "Jin-ge'er, wait a moment."
He went back to the east room, took out a bag of pastries, and gave it to Mulan.
“This was bought from town by your brother Yunqian. He said it was newly released. I thought it was too sweet, so he bought two packs. You can take one back and try it.”
The pastries contained sugar and were expensive. Mu Jin tried to refuse them, but she couldn't win against Uncle Mu.
"Then thank you very much, Uncle."
Uncle Mu waved his hand, "No need to thank me. A disciple is like half a son. We're all family. There's no need to be so polite."
Mu Jin's eyes sparkled, and everyone else could see Zhou Lin's good qualities, but Zhou Wu Shi seemed blind to them.
Leave enough open space in the front yard so that the vegetable garden won't be destroyed when the house is renovated later.
Hibiscus took a straight stick and marked out ten more vegetable plots, not even leaving the area under the old peach tree untouched, filling the entire yard to the brim.
There were still quite a few seeds left from the bok choy they bought earlier, so Mu Jin and Zhou Si dug them out together.
Seeing this, Zhou Si looked up at the courtyard gate and sighed, "It's true what they say, once a man is married, he's like water spilled from a cup. These past two days, Zhao Ran hasn't been home much."
Mu Jin laughed and said, "He's a boy of about ten years old, which is the time when he loves to play. He's not much older than Mu Zhou and Mu Bai, so he can naturally play with them. Haven't you seen that Mu Bai hasn't bothered me these past few days?"
The two young men, living alone, exchanged a smile, shook their heads, and buried themselves in digging the ground again.
"Si'er, what are you doing?" A moment later, Mu Lingyun's deep voice came from the courtyard gate.
"Why did you come at this time, Brother Lingyun, to cultivate a few vegetable plots?"
Zhou Si stood up, wiped her sweat, and smiled at Mu Lingyun.
Mu Lingyun tossed aside the pheasants and rabbits he had tied up and took the hoe from Zhou Si's hand.
“I’m here. My elder brother and father just came out of the mountains and hunted a lot of game. My uncle asked me to bring you two... and you and your elder brother, have a taste.”
When Mu Lingyun saw Mu Jin beside him, his tongue immediately twisted.
Mu Jin chuckled and teased, "We really benefit from Si'er's kindness. But it's fortunate that our two families are far from Zhou's parents' place, otherwise your mother-in-law and father-in-law would definitely make a scene if they saw you sending meat to our house like this."
Mu Lingyun was one of his own, so he naturally didn't hide the matter between Zhou Si and Zhou Wu's family from him.
He laughed and said, "Wherever Si'er is, that's where the meat will be sent."
Mu Jin's eyes darted around, and a plan formed in her mind. She looked at Mu Lingyun and smiled like a little fox.
Mu Lingyun shivered, touched his arm, and sighed, "Brother, don't smile at me like that, it's creepy. We're all family, just say what's on your mind."
"The red cloth for Si'er's wedding dress has not yet been decided. Now that the betrothal gifts have been sent to her parents, they will naturally prepare the wedding dress for Si'er."
The fiancé, who were no longer as shy as before, blushed instantly upon hearing this.
"Does my brother want me to go to the Zhou family to ask for it?" Mu Lingyun asked.
Mu Jin shook her head. "No need to go deliberately. Just bump into her by chance, casually ask her how her wedding attire is almost finished, and how Si'er's preparations are going as the wedding day approaches."
Mu Lingyun understood, glanced at Mu Jin, nodded, and bent down to turn over.
She sighed inwardly, thinking how courageous it must have been to marry her brother-in-law, who was so shrewd and kind-hearted.
Although Mu Lingyun was lame and couldn't work as well as a healthy man, he still worked faster than Mu Jin and Zhou Si.
Mu Jin wiped the sweat from her forehead and said to Mu Lingyun, "Brother Lingyun, we're eating at home today. A Lin has taken on a job in town. Once he's done, he'll invite you and Brother Mu Sheng to come over for a get-together."
Mu Lingyun knew that Mu Jin was doing this because of the help they had given them when they first moved here after the family split up.
In order to spend more time with Zhou Si, she did not refuse.
"Big brother took on a job in town? That's quite something."
Mu Jin smiled and said, "I was just lucky. Si'er, you're in charge of the kitchen today?"
Zhou Si nodded somewhat shyly, deftly boiled a small pot of water, slaughtered the chicken, and put it into the boiling water to scald off the feathers.
Knowing that Mu Lingyun didn't particularly like rabbit meat, he planned to stew chicken for dinner.
"Brother, brother, Mu Zhou has passed the prefectural examination!"
The three of them were turning over the ground and plucking chicken feathers when they heard Wen Zhaoran's voice at the door.
Wen Zhaoran rushed in like a gust of wind, ran up to Mu Jin, her eyes shining, and asked, "Big brother, did you hear that?"
The beauty was slightly out of breath, her face flushed as she ran, making her even more captivating.
Even Mu Lingyun, who was seeing Zhao Ran for the first time, had to admit that she was indeed a beauty.
However, he wasn't the kind of shallow man who would fall for someone just by looking at their face; his eyes held no trace of desire, only pure appreciation.
Mu Jin was overjoyed. "Is it really true?"
The wooden boat that followed behind caught its breath, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"It's true, brother, but the messenger said it was the last one."
Mu Jin smiled and patted him, "Being last is good too. Passing is good. Now you are considered a student of the first level, just one step away from becoming a scholar. Don't leave at noon today, eat at home!"
Mu Zhou smiled and shook his head, "Many clansmen have come to my house, so I'm afraid we won't be able to eat at my elder brother's house today."
Mu Jin didn't mind and just smiled and said, "It's okay. When you have time, come to my house and I'll make you your favorite braised pork."
Mu Zhou blushed, but nodded with a smile. "Then, brother, I'll head back first. Zhao Ran, will you come back with me?"
He ran out with Wen Zhaoran, and Zhou Ling shouted herself hoarse trying to stop him, but to no avail.
Wen Zhaoran shook her head. "You have too many people at home. I'll come see you tomorrow."
Although Mu Zhou wanted Wen Zhaoran to go back with him, he refused and did not force her. After exchanging a few more words with Mu Jin, he prepared to go home.
With chicken feathers in his hands, Zhou Si saw that Mu Zhou was about to leave and hurriedly asked, "Brother Zhou, how is my little brother? Did he pass?"
"I don't know. The messenger was found by himself. Perhaps the messenger for Brother Zhou Qiang hasn't arrived yet."
Zhou Si nodded. Mu Jin thought of the previous county examination, where they were ranked last and second to last, respectively.
In this year's prefectural examination, Mu Zhou came in last place, so Zhou Qiang is unlikely to make the list.
Hearing the Mu family setting off firecrackers and inviting their clansmen to dinner, Zhou Wu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
“I told you the messenger you were looking for had short legs, but you didn’t believe me. Look, the Mu family has already received the letter, and we haven’t even seen a trace of that person.”
With his hands behind his back, Zhou Laosan listened to the joyous commotion from the Mu family not far away and paced around the courtyard a few times.
"It's my fault for this. I only glanced at the messenger from the Mu family, and his legs weren't very long."
The messenger, “…”
"Mother, stop turning around. We'll be here in the next couple of days, what's the rush?!"
Zhou Qiang sat in the courtyard, feeling dizzy from being spun around by Zhou Wushi.
“Young man, you don’t understand. Old Mu’s son learned it in the village, but you’re going to town. If you don’t pass the exam, the other villagers will laugh at you.”
Zhou Qiang waved his hand, stood up and said, "Stop wandering around. There are plenty of scholars in town who failed the imperial examinations. Why are you laughing at me? Forget it, I'll go out for a walk. You're making my eyes hurt."
"You...sigh, you don't understand anything." Old Zhou shook his head angrily, seeing his youngest son like this, he was afraid that he had really failed the exam.
The Mu family was in high spirits. There were many people today, so Mu Jin didn't go. She planned to deliver the small green vegetables and buy a gift tomorrow, and then go with Zhou Lin when he returned.
"Big brother, are you turning over the soil?" Zhou Qiang strolled over to Mu Jin and walked straight in without any hesitation.
Upon seeing Wen Zhaoran helping Zhou Si pluck the chicken feathers, he froze on the spot.
He couldn't even hear Mu Jin's reply; all he could see, hear, and think about was the beautiful figure before him.
He returned home in a daze, lay on the bed, and only Wen Zhaoran's face kept flashing through his mind.
The man who delivered the message to the Zhou family arrived not long after Zhou Qiang left home. Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan were heartbroken when they heard the news.
When Zhou Qiang returned with a look of realization, he thought Zhou Qiang had failed the exam. Zhou Qiang felt bad and swallowed the words he wanted to say to scold him.
He was afraid that if he said something too harsh, Zhou Qiang might do something rash again.
Zhou Lin returned home before dinner, his face beaming with joy. Even hearing that Zhou Qiang had failed the exam didn't dampen his spirits.
"My fourth brother is still young, he still has a chance, he will definitely be on the list next year."
Mu Jin picked up a chicken leg for him, not wanting to talk much about the Zhou family's affairs, and said with a smile, "Yes, eat more, you must be tired from working today."
Since they separated, Mu Jin has been very generous with food for Zhou Lin. Although it is mostly coarse rice and black flour, Mu Lingyun occasionally sends him some pheasants or rabbits, so he can have a taste of meat from time to time.
Zhou Lin has gained some weight and is no longer as thin as a stick. His face is fuller, making him look more handsome.
"Once the small cabinet is finished the day after tomorrow, the craftsman can go. Did you tell him?"
Mu Jin nodded, "How could I forget? I went there as soon as I got back."
Mu Lingyun raised his bowl and said, "Congratulations, brother, on finding a good job in town. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine."
Zhou Lin smiled and clinked bowls with him, "Thanks to A-Jin, otherwise, this good thing would never have come my way."
Mu Lingyun smiled and finished drinking the water in his bowl. "Then you should have a drink with your brother, big brother."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Lin raised his bowl, his expression serious, and said to Mu Jin, "Ah Jin, marrying you is the greatest blessing of my life."
Zhou Si and Wen Zhaoran exclaimed "Oh, oh, oh!" twice.
Everyone laughed, and Mu Jin clinked bowls with him, saying, "Me too."
The moonlight was like water; outside the kitchen, all was quiet and peaceful, while inside, everyone was enjoying themselves.
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