Chapter 13: A Chicken-Induced Dispute

The words “Mingzhu” were like an unexploded bomb planted in Su Tang’s heart. She tensed up instantly.

Mu Jingzhou, holding her hand, tightened his grip, then stopped walking. Su Tang’s heart pounded. It was over, the revolutionary feelings they had just built were about to be destroyed!

“Third Brother Mu,” a voice called from across the river. Someone was running across the bridge.

The person wore a blue Dacron shirt, two pigtails, and had slightly darker skin. Not classically pretty, but poised and refined, like someone who had been educated.

Su Tang remembered that Shen Mingzhu had a best friend in the story: Hua Zhenzhen. Two years ago, Hua Zhenzhen and Shen Mingzhu had gone to the countryside together. Later, Shen Mingzhu went back to university, but Hua Zhenzhen, due to her family background, remained in the countryside.

The person before her must be Hua Zhenzhen.

“Xiaohua, you haven’t returned to the city?” Mu Jingzhou asked, his calm voice betraying no emotion.

A look of delight appeared on Hua Zhenzhen’s face. “I’m not going back; I’m getting married.”

“Congratulations.” Mu Jingzhou remained calm.

Su Tang inwardly scoffed: How did you even make friends with this personality?

“Third Brother Mu, I was planning to go to Chahe Village tomorrow to tell you. Since I’ve run into you today, I’ll formally invite you to my wedding on June 6th in Xiaxin Village.”

Su Tang’s eye twitched. Girl, it’s not even May yet, are you inviting people too early?

“Good.” Mu Jingzhou agreed.

Hua Zhenzhen was overjoyed. “Then Third Brother Mu, you must bring Mingzhu!”

Su Tang thought: Girl, are you blind? Can’t you see this big Mrs. Mu right here?

But Su Tang didn’t react, she just secretly observed Mu Jingzhou.

Mu Jingzhou frowned, gently pushed Su Tang forward, and said, “Xiaohua, this is your third sister-in-law.”

“Ah, Third… Third Sister-in law,” Hua Zhenzhen stammered.

Su Tang felt pleased, her smile widening. She extended a slender white hand. “Xiaohua, nice to meet you, I’m Su Tang.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hua Zhenzhen shook Su Tang’s hand.

Mu Jingzhou thought of the idiom: distinctly black and white. He had always known Su Tang was fair; when his hand touched her, it was like touching glazed jade.

Smooth, tender, soft…

Mu Jingzhou’s thoughts strayed, he quickly pulled himself back, secretly delighted: Their future children should inherit her skin.

“Xiaohua, we’ll definitely attend your wedding. If Mingzhu comes back, she’ll come too.” Su Tang smiled innocently.

Hua Zhenzhen inwardly thought: I didn’t invite you.

But it’s unheard of to invite only the husband and not the wife, so she didn’t say anything.

Anyway, when Mingzhu returns, Su Tang will be sidelined. Third Brother Mu certainly won’t bring Su Tang.

“Xiaohua, we should go now,” Mu Jingzhou said.

“Okay, goodbye Third Brother Mu!” Hua Zhenzhen waved, watching Mu Jingzhou and Su Tang leave.

Back home, she wrote to Shen Mingzhu: Mingzhu, Third Brother Mu has been taken by that shameless vixen, Su Tang. I saw her today, as white as dough, with a perfect figure. I suspect Third Brother Mu’s soul has been stolen by her…

The sun set, its remaining light painting half the sky in brilliant colors. Truly, in an era with less environmental pollution, nature was at its most beautiful.

Su Tang walked, admiring the scenery. Mu Jingzhou held Su Tang’s hand the entire way, their fingers intertwined.

Until they reached Chahe Village, and encountered the Gao Ming couple.

“Oh, Old Third Mu! You two are really lovey-dovey!” Gao Ming’s wife said suggestively, looking at their clasped hands.

Mu Jingzhou’s face flushed, and he quickly let go.

Su Tang greeted them openly. “Fifth sister-in-law , are you taking a stroll?”

“Yes, the nights are longer in summer, so we came out for a walk.”

“Well, we’ll head home then.”

“Okay.”

Gao Ming chuckled from behind. “I don’t think Old Third Mu looks like he’s been tricked into marriage.”

“With such a beautiful wife, of course, he’s enjoying it. Haha…” Gao Ming’s wife said.

Mu Jingzhou, who had just walked away, blushed and quickened his pace home.

Su Tang chuckled.

When they returned home, the sun had set, and dusk had fallen. The Mu family was sitting in the courtyard enjoying the cool evening air, their eyes fixed on what Mu Jingzhou was carrying.

“Old Third, what did you bring back?” Li Lan asked first.

“Salted chicken and vegetables.”

Chicken! They had chicken to eat!

Everyone’s eyes shone brightly at the sight of the salted chicken.

The youngest, Mu Jingrong, smiled. “Old Brother, are we having meat tomorrow?”

“No.” Mu Jingzhou put down the vegetables and took the salted chicken to his room.

Everyone: ???

Mu Jingrong was extremely disappointed, but as a child, he was simply greedy, without any other thoughts. Fish and meat were only seen during festivals; Third Brother Must have put it away to save for the holidays.

“Old Third, give me the chicken,” Old Lady Mu got up and went over. “It’s safer in my room.”

Otherwise, those two greedy daughters-in-law would finish it tomorrow.

Greedy daughter-in-law number one (Su Tang) was unhappy, thinking about how to protect the chicken. Mu Jingzhou spoke: “Mother, this is from Su Tang’s father, to help her health.”

“Health? Hahaha…” Old Lady Mu laughed, and everyone else joined in.

Li Lan said: “Old Third, are you confused? She’s perfectly fine, she’s not pregnant, what’s this for?”

“She’s weak and prone to dizziness,” Mu Jingzhou said seriously.

“That’s because she doesn’t exercise enough! Starting tomorrow, she’ll work in the fields with us for a few days.” Old Lady Mu said.

Su Tang pouted: “Mother, I have poor blood and low blood sugar, I can’t do any work. I need to be pampered like a cat.”

“What nonsense? You’re just lazy.” Old Man Mu held his water pipe, puffing away, the smoke spreading in the courtyard.

Su Tang frowned, “Eldest sister-in-law , you’re pregnant, don’t breathe in secondhand smoke, go inside!”

Li Lan thought Su Tang didn’t want her to take advantage, deliberately chasing her away, so she sneered: “I’m not as fussy as my second sister-in-law.”

Su Tang:………

Ungrateful, if I try to advise you again I’m a pig!

“Mother, my wife won’t work in the fields. First, she’s weak, and second, I can support her. As for this chicken, it’s from her father. It’s in our room, she can do whatever she wants with it.”

Mu Jingzhou, unusually talkative, but with a cold face, intimidated everyone, and no one dared to ask for the chicken again.

Su Tang was very happy.

A woman’s status in her husband’s family mainly depends on her husband’s attitude!

However, where were Mu Jingyun and Yu Miaomiao?

“Huh, why are second brother and his wife so slow? Xin Village is closer to home…” Su Tang thought of the Yu family’s situation and couldn’t help but worry.

Mu Jingzhou didn’t have time to worry about anyone; he just wanted to go to bed quickly. Since it wasn’t completely dark yet, he’d take a bath.

But when he finished showering and returned to the room, his wife was gone!

“Su Tang?” Mu Jingzhou called twice, but no one answered.

He went outside to look.

Su Tang was standing at the front door, looking back the way they came!

“What are you doing?” Mu Jingzhou asked.

Fresh from the shower, he was still damp, his half-dry hair sticking up.

Handsome! Stylish!

Unfortunately, Su Tang only admired him for a second before looking away. “Second Sao hasn’t come back yet!”

“Second brother is with her, nothing will happen,” Mu Jingzhou said.

“But the Yu family is not only stingy, they’re also abusive!”

This was Su Tang’s biggest concern.

Yu Laotou favored sons over daughters, treating his two daughters as commodities. He would skimp on their food and clothing, making them work hard. When they grew up, he would marry (sell) them off and collect a high bride price.

If it were the original Su Tang returning home, she would endure it silently and return.

But now, it’s the time-traveling Su Tang!

Miaomiao usually doesn’t talk much, but when her temper flares up, no one can stop her.

She was afraid they would fight at the Yu family home.