Chapter 54: Envy and Jealousy (Part 1)

Mu Mian lay in bed, giggling to herself for a while before getting up.

As soon as she stepped out of her room, she noticed that the door to her parents’ room was slightly open.

Her mother was squatting on the ground, fiddling with the hole Mu Fugui had dug.

Mu Mian poked her head inside like a little puppy and whispered, “Mom, what are you doing?”

Liu Shuangcui jumped in surprise. “Oh my goodness! When did you stick your head in here?”

Mu Mian answered honestly, “Your door wasn’t closed.”

Liu Shuangcui pulled her daughter inside and quickly shut the door. “I’m checking if the gold is still there.”

Mu Mian: “…”

Last night, her father was worried and wanted to dig another hole. This morning, her mother was worried and decided to check it again.

All she could say was—truly a perfect match as husband and wife.

Mu Mian didn’t mention that her mother might be overthinking it. Instead, she squatted down beside her and cooperated by asking, “So, is it still there?”

Liu Shuangcui nodded firmly. “Of course! It’s sitting safely in there!”

After making sure everything was fine, Liu Shuangcui stuffed the stone back into the hole. “My heart is still racing. Just thinking about the gold hidden at home makes me uneasy.”

The mother and daughter squatted side by side.

Mu Mian said, “I slept just fine. I even had a dream last night—our whole house turned into gold bricks, and we lived inside this glittering palace, hahaha…”

Liu Shuangcui widened her eyes and patted her chest. “Oh my heavens! You sure have some imagination! But don’t go telling anyone about it!”

Mu Mian sweetly leaned against her mother. “I know, I know. I only tell you, Mom~”

She wasn’t foolish—there were some things you just couldn’t say to outsiders!

Being distracted by her daughter’s joke, Liu Shuangcui finally felt a little more at ease.

After making sure the hole was covered properly and the wardrobe was moved back into place, the mother and daughter finally opened the door and went out.

Zhao Meihua glanced at them and asked, “What were you two doing inside?”

Mu Mian leaned close to her grandmother and whispered, “Mom was worried, so she was checking the gold.”

Zhao Meihua gave her a deeply understanding look. “It’s not just your mom. I barely slept last night either.”

Mu Mian glanced at the two busy men and commented, “But my brother and dad seemed to have slept just fine.”

Zhao Meihua scoffed. “They fall asleep the moment they hit the pillow—completely carefree.”

Mu Mian laughed as she remembered what happened last night. “Otherwise, how could my dad have kicked my grandpa’s leg so hard it bruised?”

If he weren’t such a heavy sleeper, how could he have kicked his future father-in-law twice?

Mu Fugui happened to walk by and huffed, “You’re already teasing your dad this early in the morning.”

As he spoke, he ruffled his daughter’s already messy hair, making it even more unkempt.

Mu Mian, now sporting a fluffy, disheveled head, grinned. “Hehe~”

Just a while ago, Liu Shuangcui had been fussing over the gold, but now she was back to her usual energetic self. “Enough messing around. Someone needs to smash those cucumbers.”

Mu Mian said, “I’ll do it after I wash my face!”

Liu Shuangcui replied, “I was talking to your dad.”

Mu Fugui sighed, “Fine, fine. I swear, I’m the most obedient one in this house.”

Liu Shuangcui snorted, “Obedient? You only move when I push you! I put those cucumbers on the cutting board ages ago!”

Mu Fugui defended himself, “You didn’t say anything, so I thought Mom was going to use them for soup.”

Early in the morning, the couple had already started their daily bickering.

While they chatted away, Mu Zhuo finished feeding the chickens and plopped down next to his little sister.

Mu Mian was just about to wash her face when she turned to look at him. “What is it, Brother? Do you need me for something?”

The matchmaking was already settled, wasn’t it? Hadn’t she, as the little matchmaker, already completed her mission?

Mu Zhuo said, “Not really. I just wanted to ask if you’d come with me to the commune.”

Mu Mian teased, “Shouldn’t you be asking Sister Sihui instead?”

Mu Zhuo explained, “I just showed her my application report. She said I could go alone. If she went with me, she’d have to take leave, which would be a waste of time. No need for that.”

Mu Mian: “…”

That did sound exactly like something Sister Sihui would say.

Just as rational as her mother.

She could already imagine that when the two of them got married, there would be no mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts at all.

Mu Mian rubbed her towel in the water and said, “Since Sister Sihui isn’t going, I don’t want to go either. You go by yourself, Brother. Take Dad’s bicycle and come back soon!”

Mu Zhuo looked excited. “Why would I take Dad’s bicycle? I want to walk there!”

As he spoke, he turned and looked at his little sister with bright, eager eyes.

His meaning was obvious.

The siblings stared at each other.

Mu Mian: “…”

No wonder he insisted on taking her along—turns out, her brother was still in shock from last night’s gold discovery!

Mu Fugui leaned in and added his two cents, “How about we leave right now? Just leave the bicycles at home!”

Mu Mian waved her hand in front of her father and brother, “What are you two thinking about so early in the morning? Listen to me, this kind of thing is purely luck-based. The more you search for it on purpose, the less likely you are to find it!”

Unless, of course, you had a friend who had lived through life once before.

She had to know where to look first!

Otherwise, she would only be able to make small windfall gains, like picking up little golden nuggets here and there.

Well, not exactly. She still had her bronze bowl! That one had nothing to do with Shi Xiaolian.

That was pure, heaven-sent fortune!

Mu Zhuo chuckled at his little sister’s serious, grown-up expression. “Alright! Since you’re the lucky one, we’ll listen to you. Dad and I will take the bicycle later.”

Mu Mian patted her brother’s shoulder. “That’s right! Brother, you’re all grown up now. You have to learn to be independent from your little sister. It’s just a report. You’ll be back in no time.”

Mu Zhuo, who always liked to chat with his little sister about everything, squatted down and continued talking, “After I file the report, I’ll give Old Wen a call and ask if he still has that sewing machine ticket. I remember he had one.”

The mention of a big-ticket item immediately piqued Mu Mian’s interest. “A sewing machine ticket? Is it for Sister Sihui’s dowry?”

Mu Zhuo nodded. “Yeah, I’m keeping it ready just in case.”

Earlier, Sihui had vaguely mentioned that she didn’t have a dowry, so he didn’t need to prepare a betrothal gift either.

But how could he not prepare anything at all?

Whatever others had, his partner should have too!

Looking at his squatting little sister beside him, Mu Zhuo added, “Old Wen also has a watch ticket. When I call him later, I’ll ask if he’s willing to trade.”

Mu Mian was puzzled. “Why does Company Commander Wen have so many tickets?”

Although Company Commander Wen was half a rank higher than her brother, she remembered their benefits weren’t all that different.

Mu Zhuo explained, “Apparently, his family sent them. They mailed the tickets while I was away. I overheard him talking about it with Old Dong.”

Mu Mian, curious as ever, asked, “Why did his family suddenly send him tickets? Is he getting married too? Didn’t you say all your comrades were still single?”

Mu Zhuo shook his head. “He’s still single. He doesn’t even have a girlfriend, so how could he be getting married? Every time the regiment commander’s wife tries to set him up, he refuses to go.”

Without waiting for his sister to ask further, Mu Zhuo continued, “But even though Old Wen doesn’t have a partner, his second brother got married recently. His parents went ahead and sent him and his third brother all the money and tickets they would need for their future weddings.”

Mu Mian’s eyes widened in surprise. She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Company Commander Wen’s parents had a rather carefree attitude toward marriage matters.

She asked, “Since those tickets were meant for his future wedding, do you think he’ll be willing to trade them?”

For some reason, Mu Zhuo burst out laughing. “Old Wen will definitely be willing. Who knows when he’ll get married?”

“His eldest and second brothers both got married after turning thirty. His third brother is already twenty-five or twenty-six and still has no prospects.”

“Whenever the regiment commander’s wife tries to introduce him to someone, he always says his third brother isn’t married yet, so he’s in no rush either. Even his parents don’t pressure him.”

Leaning in, Mu Zhuo lowered his voice and whispered to his sister, “I suspect his family has some kind of tradition where they can’t get married before thirty.”

Mu Mian giggled. “Who would have such a tradition? It’s probably just that they’re busy and haven’t met the right person yet, like Sister Taozi.”

Mu Zhuo laughed heartily, “Exactly! That’s why I say I’m lucky!”

Mu Mian nodded in agreement. “Absolutely! Super lucky!”

Mu Zhuo rested his elbow on his knee and mused, “I wonder if Old Wen has traded away those tickets yet.”

“If I’d known, I would have asked him before I left. I was in such a hurry that I completely forgot.”

“A watch would be useful for when you take exams in the future.”

Mu Mian blinked. “You want to trade it for me?”

Mu Zhuo nodded. “Of course! Mom doesn’t need one, and Sihui doesn’t really have a use for it either. Even if I got one for her, she probably wouldn’t accept it. She said she’d rather just get the marriage certificate and keep things simple.”

Mu Mian copied her brother’s posture, resting her elbows on her knees, and remarked knowingly, “Sister Sihui is a little strong-willed.”

Over the years, a few of the educated youths had gotten married, but since their families weren’t around, they couldn’t offer any support.

There wasn’t much talk of dowries or betrothal gifts. Some just went to the registry and got married.

Some didn’t even bother registering. They just held a small banquet and started living together.

Marriages were incredibly simple these days.

Sister Sihui’s family definitely couldn’t help her, and while their family didn’t mind whether she had a dowry, Sister Sihui herself probably cared about it.

Her brother’s idea of getting a sewing machine was a good one—not too extravagant, but still thoughtful enough to avoid gossip.

As Mu Mian thought about it, her mind drifted back to the watch ticket. She had been eyeing one for a long time.

Unfortunately, they were really hard to get.

A watch would be very convenient for someone like her, who wasn’t good at reading the sun’s position to tell time.

She had no idea how her mother and grandmother managed it. Whether the sun was slightly tilted or very tilted, it all looked the same to her.

Grinning at her brother, Mu Mian said, “If Company Commander Wen is really willing to trade, I’ll pay for it!”

Mu Zhuo ruffled his little sister’s hair. “No need, I’ll buy it for you!”

Mu Mian lifted her chin proudly. “I have money!”

Mu Zhuo suddenly remembered those six large gold bars his little sister had stashed away and fell silent.

Right now, he probably wasn’t richer than his little sister. She even had over a thousand yuan in cash.

That’s amazing! Whose little sister is as impressive as his?

So, is there really no gold on that little path? He really wanted to go check!

Maybe on the way back after submitting the report, he could take a detour?

Mu Mian saw the look on her brother’s face and immediately knew what he was thinking. Just as she was about to speak, Comrade Liu Shuangcui’s voice rang out first, “What are you two whispering about, squatting there like a hen laying eggs? Been there for so long, yet I don’t see any eggs coming out.”