Chapter 63: The Mo Family’s Theft

“It’s okay, Uncle Song, I really like Binbin and Grandma Song.”

“Mom, I want to play with Brother Binbin.” Mo Zhixia’s well-behaved appearance made Song Guoqing extremely fond of her.

“Go ahead, just play in the yard, don’t go out.” Song Guoqing instructed.

The two children then hopped and skipped into the yard.

“Grandma Song, Uncle Song, I brought some fruit and vegetables. Our family will be staying here for dinner tonight!” Mi Xia said with a playful smile.

“You child, what do you mean by ‘staying’? Grandma Song would be delighted to have you all here.” Grandma Song lightly tapped Mi Xia’s forehead and continued, “Give the things to Guoqing. We have a cook; she can prepare them.”

Mi Xia said coquettishly, “I like Grandma Song the most.”

“Aunt Li, wash and cut the fruit and bring it over.”

Song Guoqing instructed. They had been busy tidying up the house for the past few days. Someone else had lived here before, and now that he had been exonerated, the other party would certainly move out.

So things were a little messy when they first moved in. He was busy tidying the house while also dealing with school procedures to resume his work, which had exhausted him.

His salary had been back-paid, so he could afford to hire a maid; otherwise, he would have been overwhelmed by household chores.

The meal ended with laughter and cheerful conversation. The two children hadn’t seen each other for a long time, and they weren’t at all awkward when they met again.

Therefore, both adults and children had a very happy meal.

On the other side, in Mojia Village, that night was unlike any other. Usually, after a day’s work, the men from the neighboring villages would gather under the big tree at the village entrance to play cards.

They usually played for small stakes, but that night, Mo Baobao, nicknamed “Second Scoundrel” by the villagers—the family’s precious darling, born after his mother had seven daughters—was playing.

The whole family doted on him. Usually, he only played for a few cents, but tonight, after a few rounds…

“What’s the point of playing for so little? If you’ve got the guts, let’s play for big stakes!” Mo Baobao shouted.

No one suspected he lacked money; he was spoiled at home. Initially, Mo Lao San didn’t join, but seeing Mo Lao San constantly losing, he got anxious.

He quickly ran home and brought back all the money he had coaxed out of Xu Cuihua over the years.

“Let me play for a while!” Mo Lao San(Third Brother Mo) shouted.

“Come over here, I’m not playing anymore.”

Hearing someone give up their place, Mo Lao San didn’t hesitate and rushed over, afraid of being too late.

Mo Lao San’s wishful thinking didn’t come true. After winning three or four rounds, he started losing. Because the stakes were high, he lost all his money after a few rounds.

He stared at the table in disbelief. “How did I lose all my money? No, I have to win it back!”

A bystander said, “Mo Lao Er, maybe Mo Baobao just had good luck those two hands. If you keep playing, he’ll probably lose again.”

Mo Lao San agreed, but where could he get more money? Then, an idea struck him. Hadn’t Lao Si given his parents three hundred yuan?

“Wait a minute, don’t take my place. I’ll go home to get money and be right back.” Mo Lao San ran home like the wind.

He knew where his father hid his small stash of money—in the pocket of an old, worn-out shirt.

It was almost nine o’clock at night. Mo Lao San heard his father’s snoring from afar. He tiptoed to the wardrobe and found the old shirt.

Mo Lao San was overjoyed. He would put the money back secretly after winning.

He quickly ran back to the tree, confident he would win back his losses, especially since Mo Baobao had been losing.

He confidently placed three hundred yuan on the table. “I’m here! With three hundred yuan, I’ll show you I can win!” As soon as Mo Lao San finished speaking,

Mo Baobao said, “Play faster! I don’t believe I’ll keep losing!”

Mo Lao San thought, Your gambling skills are terrible.

After a few rounds, Mo Lao San won back all his previous losses, but he wasn’t satisfied. Seeing the pile of money in front of Mo Baobao, he wanted to win it all.

Someone advised Mo Lao San, “Mo Lao San, you’ve won back what you lost. That’s enough. Let me play a few rounds.”

Mo Lao San glared fiercely at him. “No way! I’m not done yet!”

He thought the man saw Mo Baobao losing and wanted to win his money. He wasn’t a fool; he still wanted to win, to enjoy good food every day.

So he said, “Let’s continue, let’s continue.”

Unexpectedly, after a while, Mo Lao San not only lost all his winnings, but also the three hundred yuan he had brought back.

Mo Lao San panicked. How would he explain this to his father? He just wanted to get his three hundred yuan back.

“Mo Baobao, you little brat, were you cheating?” Mo Lao San glared at him.

Mo Baobao was angry and his face turned red. “Mo Lao San, don’t think you can just accuse me because you’re older. Can’t you handle losing? If you can’t, don’t play. Go home and play with your wife!”

Mo Lao San was furious. Mo Baobao was calling him a woman and saying he couldn’t handle losing. He had pride!

“You wait for me! Don’t leave! I’ll go home and get something, and we’ll continue! I won’t believe I can’t beat you, you little brat!” Mo Lao San said angrily.

He ran home to get the things Lao Si had bought for his parents. While getting them, he accidentally made a noise.

“Who’s there?” Old Man Mo thought it was a thief and shouted to scare him away.

He quickly got up to grab a stick. Mo Lao San was quick and pushed his father down before he could get the stick.

“Ouch, ouch, my old back!” Old Man Mo cried out.

Xu Cuihua had just put on her clothes when she saw Lao San push his father down and run away.

She covered her mouth tightly, afraid to make a sound.

“Xu Cuihua, are you dead? Hurry up and help me up!” Old Man Mo shouted.

His voice woke up the neighbors.

“Old Mo, what’s wrong? Why the howling at night?” an old man asked.

“Someone broke into the house, pushed me down, and ran off with something.” Old Man Mo suddenly became nervous.

“My money! Xu Cuihua, quickly get the old shirt from the wardrobe!”

Xu Cuihua quickly turned back to the room to find it. Soon, she came out with the shirt.

Old Man Mo didn’t even have time to speak, he snatched the shirt and searched the pocket, his face changing. Then, he searched it again, as if in disbelief.

After the second search, he believed the money was gone. “Call the police… quickly… call the police! The money is gone… a thief took the money!” Old Man Mo said tremblingly.

Xu Cuihua hesitated. “We can’t.”

Old Man Mo was furious. His money was gone, and she didn’t want to report it.

“Xu Cuihua, if you can live with this, fine. If not, get out and go back to your parents’ house! That was three hundred yuan! You don’t want to report it?” Old Man Mo gritted his teeth.

“Boss, Boss! Tell him to go to the county to report it!” Old Man Mo shouted.

Boss’s wife trembled and said, “Dad, the head of the family went out shortly after dinner and hasn’t come back yet.”

“Where did he go?” Old Man Mo was beside himself with rage.

“I… I don’t know.” Boss’s wife cried.

“Lao San(Third Btother)! Tell him to go!” Old Man Mo shouted to Lao San’s wife.