Chapter 52: Overnight Fortune (Part 2)

Mu Mian thought for a moment and said, “Even if I tell my parents, they won’t suspect anything. They’ll just keep rubbing my head.”

As she spoke, Mu Mian touched the top of her head. “Good thing I have a lot of hair, or else I’d go bald one day.”

Shi Xiaolian looked up at Mu Mian’s head, feeling an itch in her hands and her heart. “Can I rub it too?”

Mu Mian took a step back. “Spare my hair. Wait until you have an important moment, like the college entrance exam or something.”

The topic seemed to have gone off track.

Besides, her head didn’t have any special effects! It was just a little round.

Mu Mian forcefully pulled the conversation back. “You don’t want to tell your sister and your mom?”

Shi Xiaolian shook her head. “I do. My mom needs to know that our family is well-off now, that we really aren’t struggling financially anymore. Only then can she truly relax. Otherwise, she’s always tense, always afraid of being a burden to me and my sister.”

Mu Mian nodded. “Makes sense. Then why did you ask if I would tell mine?”

After speaking, Mu Mian suddenly seemed to realize something and answered her own question. “I get it. You’re worried that your acting skills aren’t good enough and that you won’t be able to convincingly show the surprise of stumbling upon a fortune?”

So she was looking to her for acting advice.

Before Shi Xiaolian could respond, Mu Mian continued in a low voice, “You don’t have to act. When you opened the box and saw those gold bars, your expression was already surprised enough—so natural, so stunned, like a little fool… No, like a little dazed duck.”

“Just recall the feeling you had at that moment and tell your mom and sister with that same emotion. I guarantee they’ll believe we found it by accident and weren’t deliberately searching for it.”

Mu Mian spoke in a rapid stream, and Shi Xiaolian precisely caught the key point. “Your expression back then wasn’t any better.”

She looked like a little fool too—except she was the kind raised in a wealthy family.

Mu Mian clicked her tongue, her face full of an “how ungrateful you are” expression. “I’m seriously giving you advice here.”

Shi Xiaolian said, “Thank you, I’ve learned it. My sister will probably be back soon, so I’ll head home first.”

Mu Mian waved her hand. “Go on, go on. If you ever get another chance like this, remember to call me.”

Their teamwork wasn’t just one plus one being greater than two. They couldn’t even calculate how much it added up to!

A match made in heaven—they were destined to get rich!

Shi Xiaolian said, “I’ll think about it when I remember.”

With so much time passing, she actually didn’t remember many things too clearly.

Besides, many events in this life had changed drastically from her previous one. Memories could easily get mixed up.

Mu Mian wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She raised an eyebrow and laughed, then earnestly suggested, “Don’t go to bed so early at night. If you have nothing to do, just lie in bed and think more.”

Shi Xiaolian turned to look at Mu Mian with a deep gaze. “Last time, you said I’m not growing taller because I think too much. You told me to sleep more when I have nothing to do.”

Mu Mian lifted her eyelids. “Did I?”

When did she say that? She didn’t even remember.

Shi Xiaolian didn’t say anything more and turned around to leave.

This person babbled so much every day—some of her words couldn’t be taken seriously.

Mu Mian also ran straight home, clutching her bag tightly as she sprinted, making sure not to make a single sound.

When she was almost at her doorstep,

Mu Mian was so happy she jumped up. She had been restraining herself a lot when she was outside.

Shiyi, with his sharp dog ears, heard his little owner coming back from far away. A big black dog darted out of the yard in a flash.

Mu Mian spotted her dog at a glance and took two excited hops forward before grabbing Shiyi in her arms.

Shiyi, who was suddenly lifted over a meter off the ground, “???”

What’s going on?!

Shiyi: “Woof woof woof woof woof woof!”

Mu Mian: “Hahahahahaha!”

Genes sure were a magical thing.

Some little girls didn’t like being lifted high, but when it came to lifting others—no, lifting dogs—it was effortless.

Hearing the commotion, Zhao Meihua poked her head out from the courtyard gate.

Then she saw her granddaughter holding up a dog, laughing foolishly.

Shiyi was kicking his legs in the air, looking no different from when he paddled in the river.

As he paddled, he woofed continuously—it was unclear if he was happy or scared.

Zhao Meihua chuckled. “Why are you holding Shiyi up like that?”

Mu Mian put the dog down. “Hehe, I’m just happy~”

The moment Shiyi’s four paws touched the ground, he bolted away. The big black dog ran so fast he left an afterimage, at least twice as fast as when he had chased after Mu Mian earlier.

The way he ran, anyone who didn’t know better would think Mu Mian was a dog dealer.

Zhao Meihua didn’t know what her granddaughter was so happy about, but since the little girl was cheerful every day, she didn’t think too much about it. She simply asked what she cared about, “Where’s Xiao Qiu and the others? Didn’t they come back with you?”

Mu Mian shook her head and bounced over to the old lady. “They’ll be taking the exam for quite a while. I only watched for a bit before coming back.”

“There were so many people near the machinery factory! Layers upon layers of them!”

Zhao Meihua said, “That many? I wonder if they’ll be able to pass?”

Mu Mian had full confidence in her family. “They definitely will!”

As they chatted, the grandmother and granddaughter entered the yard.

Mu Mian went straight to her room and secretly took out the small shovel from her bag.

This tool had been made by Comrade Mu Fugui specifically for her. It had always been kept in her room, and no one knew she had taken it out today.

After putting the shovel away, Mu Mian lifted the flap of her bag and took another look at the heavy gold bars inside. She touched each one carefully before fastening the bag and locking it inside her large chest.

When she stepped outside, the first thing she saw was…

Her eldest brother is squatting in the yard, washing vegetables.

Washing vegetables wasn’t anything unusual. What was unusual was…

Her brother’s grin nearly reached the back of his head.

He looked like a big fool, grinning from ear to ear!

Seeing Mu Mian come out, Mu Zhuo turned his head and said, “You’re back early~”

Mu Mian: “???”

Something was off. Very off.

Why did his tone sound so… cheerful?

She narrowed her eyes, moved closer, and stared at Mu Zhuo’s face for a second or two. “Did something good happen? Why are you so happy?”

That was what she said.

But to Liu Shuangcui and her mother-in-law, the little girl looked even more delighted than her brother.

Liu Shuangcui didn’t bother asking. Instead, she answered her daughter’s question first. “You don’t know yet? Your brother and that Xiao Nie girl are officially together.”

Mu Mian was stunned. “What? He got a girlfriend? That fast?!”

She had only been out for a morning.

And she had already missed such an important moment?!

People could be strange sometimes.

She was the one who said not to rush, and now she was the one saying it was too fast.

Mu Mian turned to Mu Zhuo for confirmation. “Really?”

Mu Zhuo: “Hehe~”

That silly laugh said it all.

Now, Mu Mian no longer thought her brother’s grin looked foolish. She plopped down beside him. “How did it happen? Weren’t you two still getting to know each other a few days ago? And now you’re done?”

Mu Zhuo had no secrets from his little sister. He told her everything. “I asked her if there was anything else she wanted to know. If not, could we start dating?”

Mu Mian immediately followed up, “And then Sister Sihui agreed?”

Mu Zhuo nodded, excited to share, “I even gave her the ten yuan from selling the snake. She didn’t want to take it at first, so I told her what you said—that it was just a keepsake. That’s when she finally accepted it.”

Mu Mian grinned. “See? My idea worked, right?”

Mu Zhuo nodded. “Super effective!”

Mu Mian propped her chin on her hand. “That means my job as the little matchmaker is officially done. Brother, you owe me a big red envelope! When you and Sister Sihui get married, don’t forget it.”

At that, Mu Mian suddenly remembered the marriage procedures in the army. “Then, can you start filing your marriage application now? Do you have to report your relationship status?”

Liu Shuangcui chimed in, “We’ll discuss it with Sihui later. We should also pick a good wedding date and see if she has any preferences.”

Mu Mian was only slightly shocked at first, but now, she no longer thought this was too fast.

That was just how things were in this era. Once a couple got together, they had to start planning for marriage.

If they didn’t get married, wouldn’t that be leading each other on?

Besides, her brother’s leave only lasted a little over two months—not even three.

Filing the marriage application took time. Preparing for the wedding also took time.

The sooner they discussed it, the sooner they could prepare.

Looking at it that way, her brother was really efficient.

He had been back for less than a week, and he already had a partner.

Incredible speed!

As she thought about it, Mu Mian couldn’t help but voice her admiration.

Liu Shuangcui glanced at her children, who were squatting side by side, and laughed. “Your brother really should give you a big red envelope. Without you, this might not have worked out.”

Mu Mian lifted her chin, showing no humility whatsoever. “Hehe, I really was crucial to this!”

She had saved her brother and Sister Sihui the time needed to get to know each other. It was worth it, considering she used to write pages and pages in her letters.

If she hadn’t written so much, her brother wouldn’t have known that such an outstanding female educated youth lived in their village.

It was the same on Sister Sihui’s side.

If they didn’t know about each other, they wouldn’t have been curious. If they weren’t curious, they wouldn’t have been interested.

She had been right all along—interest was the beginning of all relationships!

In short, she was truly an excellent matchmaker with top-tier theoretical knowledge!

As she thought about this, Mu Mian patted Mu Zhuo’s shoulder. “Brother, what do you think about what Mom said?”

Mu Zhuo was generous. “However much you want, I’ll give you!”

The moment money was mentioned, Mu Mian’s thoughts jumped around again.

One second, she was thinking about her brother and Sister Sihui.

The next second, she was thinking about her gold bars.

Squatting there, Mu Mian suddenly grinned like a little fool.

Liu Shuangcui glanced at her daughter and chuckled. “You haven’t even gotten the red envelope yet, and you’re already smiling like an idiot.”

Mu Mian giggled. “Mom, you don’t understand. The red envelope isn’t the important part.”

Liu Shuangcui raised an eyebrow. “Then what is?”

The busy old lady interjected, “I think she found money on the way home. Just outside the yard, she was holding Shiyi up high, grinning like a fool. Who knows what she was so happy about?”

Mu Mian’s smile widened, her eyes squinting with joy. “Just wait until tonight! When Dad gets home, I’ll give you all a huuuge surprise!”

We can’t leave Comrade Mu Fugui out. Such an incredible stroke of luck and immense joy must be shared with the whole family!

Not a single person can be left out!!

A family must be complete, and that includes Shiyi as well.

At first, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were just casually chatting. But when they heard Mu Mian’s words, Liu Shuangcui was surprised. “Did you really find money?”

Mu Zhuo became interested. “Really? How much did you find?”

Zhao Meihua asked, “With so many people coming and going on the road today, how could there still be money lying around?”

Mu Mian grinned from ear to ear. “It’s not money, but it’s just as good!”

Mu Zhuo instinctively reached out to pat his little sister’s head. “Even keeping secrets from your big brother now?”

Mu Mian quickly dodged. “Big Brother, your hands are dirty!”

Mu Zhuo regretfully withdrew his hand.

His little sister’s hair was fine and soft, and her head was perfectly round. It felt amazing to ruffle.