Chapter 36: Daily Life of Three Families (Part 1)

Mu Fugui took one look at his daughter’s expression and immediately knew what she was thinking. “Don’t even think about doing it again.”

As Liu Shuangcui walked out of the kitchen and passed by, she also shot Mu Mian a warning glance.

The children in this family were truly a handful. Mu Zhuo had been swimming in the deep waters of the river since he was just a little over ten years old.

No matter how many times he got scolded or beaten, it made no difference—he would do it again without hesitation.

His younger sister was even bolder. At just eight or nine years old, she had already dared to run toward the deep mountains.

The two siblings combined really had the courage of a bear and a leopard.

Caught red-handed, Mu Mian grinned sheepishly. “I wasn’t thinking about it! Not at all~”

Not that it mattered even if she did—Shi Xiaolian had already said there wouldn’t be any more.

—

Since the family had just earned a significant sum of money, Mu Mian was all smiles even while washing up, nearly bursting into song—

“We common folks~ are so happy today~!”

At breakfast, she even served herself an extra half-bowl of food. When you’re in a good mood, your appetite naturally improves.

Mu Fugui had been working all night and planned to get some rest after breakfast since he had the day off.

At the dining table, as he ate, he suddenly thought of something and glanced at his daughter a couple more times.

Mu Mian looked up. “Dad, why are you staring at me?”

Mu Fugui fixed his eyes on her hands. “I’m checking if your hands are okay.”

Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but be amazed. That wild boar was huge, yet somehow, his daughter had managed to drag it back.

Mu Mian waved her hands. “They’re fine! Not even a scratch.”

Mu Fugui clicked his tongue. “You really are stronger than most. Last night, your fourth uncle and little uncle carried it together and were completely worn out.”

The two grown men had been panting the whole way.

Mu Mian shrugged. “Of course, lifting it would be heavy. I dragged it along the ground—it takes less effort that way. That boar was way too big for me to carry.”

It weighed over three hundred pounds. If she could hoist it up now, that would be terrifying.

But maybe when she got older, she’d be able to.

Zhao Meihua chimed in, “That thing was several hundred pounds. No matter how you do it, it’s still heavy. Don’t push yourself too hard with these things. Our family isn’t struggling for money. You’re still young, and your bones are still growing. If you put too much strain on them, you might not grow tall in the future.”

Mu Mian shook her head like a rattle drum. “I won’t! I won’t do it again!”

Besides, it’s not like wild boars just show up whenever she wants them to.

Liu Shuangcui quickly ate a couple of mouthfuls of porridge, then glanced at her daughter. “You sure look obedient now.”

Mu Mian gave her mother a sweet smile. “I’m actually very well-behaved. I’m Mom’s little cotton-padded jacket~”

Liu Shuangcui snorted. “In this scorching heat? I can’t handle wearing a padded jacket.”

Mu Fugui, who had no bottom line when it came to spoiling his daughter, said, “I can handle it. Let me wear it!”

Liu Shuangcui shot her husband a glare. “If you’re done eating, go get some rest. You worked all night, aren’t you tired?”

Mu Fugui was fine before, but the moment she mentioned it, he let out a big yawn. “Alright, I’ll go sleep for two hours.”

Mu Fugui could rest, but the rest of the family couldn’t. There was still work to do.

With all this meat, they had to share some with their relatives.

Since Mu Xinglong and Mu Xingwang had already received their share, Liu Shuangcui planned to ride her bicycle to deliver some to Mu Mian’s other aunts and uncles.

Their relatives would always send things over whenever they got something good, so it was only right to return the favor.

Zhao Meihua set aside ten more pounds, salted them to make them last longer.

Mu Mian also had a task to complete—she still needed to deliver the portion meant for Shi Xiaolian.

They had agreed beforehand that aside from money, Shi Xiaolian would also take some meat. Not much, just five pounds in total.

After all, their family was small—just Shi Xiaolian and her mother and sister.

Mu Mian carefully placed the meat in her small back basket, hid it well, then grabbed the money Mu Fugui had given her and headed straight for Shi Xiaolian’s house.

When she arrived at the gate, the first person she saw was Tian Hongjuan.

Tian Hongjuan noticed her at the same time and smiled warmly. “Xiao Mian, here to play with Xiaolian?”

Mu Mian nodded. “Mm-hmm. Auntie, is she home?”

Tian Hongjuan replied, “She is.”

Then, she turned toward the house and called out.

Shi Xiaolian came out in a flash, and the two of them walked around the courtyard wall to a quieter spot.

As they walked, Mu Mian asked, “Did you not tell your mom and sister when you got back yesterday?”

Aunt Hongjuan had clearly looked completely unaware just now, as if they really were just meeting up to play.

Shi Xiaolian responded, “I’ll tell them later.”

Mu Mian instantly understood—she was stalling for time.

After all, if a child wandered near the deep mountains, any parent would give them a lecture.

Even if it was just an ‘accident.’

Without wasting words, Mu Mian pulled out the meat and handed it to Shi Xiaolian, then fished out three ten-yuan bills and a five-yuan bill from her pocket. “That’s thirty-five in total.”

Shi Xiaolian took it without counting. “Thank you.”

With that, she turned and started walking home.

Mu Mian called after her. “Aren’t you going to ask how much we got in total? Aren’t you afraid I might have taken some of yours?”

Shi Xiaolian stopped and said plainly, “Did you?”

Mu Mian snorted twice and gave what she thought was a cold, ruthless smile. “Maybe~”

Shi Xiaolian rolled her eyes at her.

What kind of misunderstanding did this person have about her own appearance? She didn’t look cool at all, okay?

Mu Mian clicked her tongue. As expected, Shi Xiaolian had no sense of humor.

Even though Shi Xiaolian hadn’t asked, Mu Mian still explained everything to her.

A partnership was built on mutual trust, after all.

Right now, pork at the meat station costs 50 to 60 cents per pound and requires meat coupons.

If exchanged privately, no meat coupons are needed, but the price is significantly higher—at least 70 to 80 cents per pound, sometimes even more.

Comrade Mu Fugui sold the whole pig yesterday at a price of 45 cents per pound, which wasn’t actually high.

The middleman who resold it could still make a profit of 30 or 40 cents per pound.

But there was no helping it. The weather was hot, and fresh meat wouldn’t last long, so prices naturally had to be lowered.

After explaining the calculations, Mu Mian asked, “That’s about it. Any questions?”

Shi Xiaolian replied calmly, “I didn’t have any questions to begin with. You just insisted on explaining it so clearly.”

If she didn’t trust Mu Mian, she wouldn’t have partnered with her in the first place.

This girl might look deceivingly harmless, but she was definitely trustworthy.

After all, back when they barely knew each other, she had picked up a hundred yuan and returned it to her.

That alone proved she had a good heart.

Mu Mian had no idea that Shi Xiaolian had such a high opinion of her. She rubbed her nose and said, “Alright then, if you’ve got no questions, I’ll head back. You should hurry home too and start putting on your act for your mom and sister.”

Being a kid wasn’t easy—you had to be ready to act at any moment.

Mu Mian said this with a gloating smile. “For reference, my mom and grandma have scolded me at least three times since last night.”

The main point was—

If she dared to go near those dangerous places again, next time, she’d get a spanking.

But Mu Mian didn’t believe it. Her mom had never laid a hand on her since she was little.

That alone put her ahead of ninety-nine percent of the kids in the brigade.

While Mu Mian was feeling smug about her ‘invincible’ status, Shi Xiaolian looked troubled. Her mom wouldn’t scold her—she would just feel guilty and look at her with teary eyes.

Honestly, she’d rather just be scolded.

Thinking of that, Shi Xiaolian slowed her pace, reluctant to go home with the meat and money.

But that was no longer Mu Mian’s concern.

She carried her now-empty basket back home, only to find Mu Xinglong sitting in her house.

He was squatting by a basin, helping her grandmother singe the hair off a wild boar.

Curious, Mu Mian asked, “Uncle, what are you doing here? Didn’t you take a nap? My dad is still sleeping.”

As she spoke, she grabbed a small stool, plopped down beside him, and started helping.

Mu Xinglong lifted his chin and spoke without a filter, “Your dad is getting old. One night of tossing and turning, and he’s done for. Young man like me don’t even need to rest.”

Zhao Meihua had heard too many outrageous remarks to be bothered. She continued working without even sparing him a glance.

Mu Mian, on the other hand, was amused and giggled. But her words were merciless, “Got it. When Dad wakes up, I’ll tell him you said he’s old.”

Mu Xinglong let out a “heh” and immediately hooked an arm around his little niece’s neck. “So you’re only close to your dad, huh? All that love I’ve given you were all in vain.”

Mu Mian dodged swiftly, slipping out from under his elbow in an instant.

She spoke with logic and reason, “Xiao Chengzi is also closest to you, isn’t he?”

Mu Xinglong didn’t chase after her and instead grabbed a chunk of meat from the side to handle.

Mu Mian eyed it carefully and pointed out, “This doesn’t look like ours.”

Mu Xinglong admitted, “I brought it. Anyway, your Grandma is going to cook tonight. Whether she makes one dish or two, it’s all the same. This way, I don’t have to cook myself.”

Mu Mian raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly, “Got it. So, Uncle, you also think your cooking isn’t as good as Grandma’s.”

Exposed, Mu Xinglong clicked his tongue and pulled her closer again. “You’re just trying to mess with me.”