Chapter 28: After the Divorce, Let’s Be Together

Mu Jingzhou hesitated, lowering his voice, “My second brother and I are carpenters. We secretly take on odd jobs when we have free time.”

Carpentry! It’s a very popular trade in this era.

Building houses, making furniture for weddings… carpenters are always in demand.

Even the state-owned furniture factory hires carpentry apprentices for fifteen yuan a month!

And, they provide room and board!

But, what kind of jobs can be secretly taken and completed without anyone knowing?

Mu Jingzhou refused to say more, only saying, “Just do whatever you and your sister-in-law want to do. Leave the money matters to us.”

“Okay.”

Su Tang didn’t dare to ask further.

After all, she was a woman who had tricked her way into marriage, and hadn’t yet gained Mu Jingzhou’s complete trust.

Earning her own money was better than prying into her husband’s affairs!

“Third brother, we need some fresh goat’s milk. Can you get some?”

“Yes. How much?”

“Two pounds.”

“Okay! I’ll get it for you tomorrow.”

Su Tang secretly marveled: Such amazing skills must have extraordinary origins. If only she could have Shen Mingzhu’s “dedication” from the drama.

She also wanted to be a big star!

There was still a layer of oil in the pot. Old Lady Mu personally stir-fried a fragrant dish of potato slices. Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Old Man Mu and Mu Jingyuan, who had just returned from work, didn’t know what had happened, thinking Mu Jingzhou had simply added some oil to the family’s coffers.

After returning to their rooms and hearing the truth, they both scolded him severely.

Li Lan also mentioned the failed attempt at making soap. Mu Jingyuan said, “Don’t get involved with them. Save your money and wait for the family division.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. The second and third brothers are infatuated, throwing money down the drain. They’ll regret it later.”

“Women should be more down-to-earth and less involved in those petty bourgeois things.”

“…”

Mu Jingyuan, while outwardly disapproving, recalled the radiant appearance of his second and third brothers after their marriages, and couldn’t help but wonder: How did they do it?

He tried again with Li Lan later that night.

Unexpectedly, Li Lan started bleeding.

“Mom, Mom…” In the middle of the night, Mu Jingyuan anxiously rushed out, throwing on his clothes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Li Lan is bleeding.”

This was serious!

Old Lady Mu hurriedly got up and rushed into Li Lan’s room.

Su Tang and Yu Miaomiao were also awakened but didn’t go out.

She had been fine during the day, but suddenly started bleeding in the middle of the night. It was most likely that Mu Jingyuan hadn’t controlled himself.

They shouldn’t get involved in this kind of thing.

“Second son, quickly borrow an ox cart. We need to rush your sister-in-law to the county hospital.” Old Lady Mu shouted.

Mu Jingyun borrowed a cart with a flashlight.

Mu Jingzhou was also called up: “I remember you know someone at the county hospital. Go together and arrange it.”

In the face of a major crisis, the brothers didn’t hesitate.

But with only two women left at home late at night, who could feel at ease?

“Alright, I know you’re worried. Your father will stay home.”

“Good.”

After the brothers returned to their rooms to explain to their wives, they changed clothes and went to the county hospital.

In the quiet mountain village, crickets chirped, and there were occasional dog barks and bird calls. When the wind blew, the wooden windows and doors creaked.

This was the first time Yu Miaomiao had slept alone since getting married, and she became increasingly afraid. She simply hugged her quilt and slipped into Su Tang’s room: “Let’s sleep together.”

“Look at you, all those years of martial arts training were for nothing.” Su Tang teased, scooting over in bed.

She had initially learned to play the female role in Peking opera, and her strength and skills were far inferior to Yu Miaomiao’s. But she was an abandoned child after her parents’ divorce, often alone at home since the age of five, and had long since become accustomed to it.

“Tang, it’s actually pretty good to be here. Your parents are so good to you.” Yu Miaomiao said.

“Indeed. When the soap is ready, I have to send them two bars.” Su Tang’s eyes welled up.

The Su family’s love for her was limitless; she had never experienced such intense affection.

In contrast, Yu Miaomiao’s situation was too different.

From a beloved daughter to an abandoned child!

“Miaomiao…”

“I’ve been loved, I don’t care about Old Man Yu. Besides, I have you.”

“Of course! After we get divorced, we’ll live together! If you ever find a man you like, I’ll send you off to get married!”

“And the same for you, I’ll save up your dowry!”

“…”

Under the dim light of night, the two sisters’ eyes reddened, but neither of them cried.

They made one promise after another, but when would they be fulfilled?

The two talked until the middle of the night before falling asleep, and magnificently overslept the next day.

Old Man Mu, who woke up to find no breakfast, cursed in the yard: “All day long it’s just eating and sleeping, are you raising pigs? If you don’t go to the fields, fine, but now you don’t even make breakfast. Which wife is this lazy?”

Su Tang woke up to the scolding, but didn’t get up, turning over and continuing to sleep.

She’d already been scolded, why should she get up and make breakfast?

They weren’t even eating it.

Surely the father-in-law couldn’t barge in and yell at them to get up?

Actually… he couldn’t!

Old Man Mu cursed for a while, seeing no one get up to make him food, and went to the fields on an empty stomach.

Su Tang and Yu Miaomiao slept until almost noon before getting up.

They checked the soap they had made yesterday before preparing lunch—after all, their husbands would be back to eat.

With no one else at home, Yu Miaomiao didn’t pretend to be unsteady, and walked steadily into the kitchen.

“Let’s make sugar cakes today!” Yu Miaomiao opened the broken cupboard, preparing to take out the pork lard residue to chop.

Su Tang, a little foodie, loved sweets because of her lack of love. Now that she had a body prone to hypoglycemia, she was even more suitable for eating lard residue sugar cakes.

However, they weren’t eating alone today. They would also make two for Mu Jingyun and Mu Jingzhou.

But the container of pork lard residue was missing.

“Huh, where’s our lard residue from yesterday?”

“It’s right inside, in an enamel basin!”

“It’s not there!”

The two sisters looked at each other and laughed angrily.

Old Lady Mu had taken it to her room and hidden it!

“What to do?” Su Tang was furious, “I really want to eat it! If I could only have an egg tart, I wouldn’t crave this lard residue cake.”

“Humph, she can hide it, but I can get it back!” Yu Miaomiao sneered, turning to leave.

Old Lady Mu’s room was usually locked, but she wasn’t there today, and Old Man Mu didn’t have the habit of locking the door himself.

So, the two pushed the door open and went in.

It turned out that Old Lady Mu’s room also had a cupboard. Inside were not only their pork lard residue, but also brown sugar, eggs, millet, and other supplies.

“Millet porridge is also delicious.” Su Tang was even more hungry.

Yu Miaomiao took the lard residue: “Here, put it in your room, it’s convenient for us to eat. Don’t touch her millet, we’ll buy some in the county town later!”

“Okay.”

After the two went out, they also helped to lock the door, deceiving themselves into creating the illusion that Old Man Mu had locked the door.

They scooped a spoonful of the remaining lard residue from making the cakes to use for stir-frying. The rest was put in Su Tang’s room.

When the meal was ready, Old Lady Mu and the others returned from the county town.

Old Lady Mu looked exhausted, and Mu Jingyuan carried Li Lan back to their room with a gloomy expression.

Immediately afterward, Mu Jingyun and Mu Jingzhou also walked in with heavy hearts.

Su Tang and Yu Miaomiao’s hearts tightened: Did Li Lan miscarry?