Chapter 353: Chapter 351: Be My Man (Part 1)
"Mom, don’t let Qing go. If she goes, I won’t!"
Mu Xiangxiang pouted and started to act coy, hugging Old Mrs. Mu’s arm.
Old Mrs. Mu lovingly petted Mu Xiangxiang’s head and turned on her protective mode.
"Alright, if Xiangxiang says who can’t go, then that’s it, they can’t go."
To reassure her daughter, Old Mrs. Mu hastily instructed everyone, "Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Lin, you heard Xiangxiang!"
"Neither of your daughters are allowed to go. If they do, don’t call them part of the Old Mu Family."
As soon as Old Mrs. Mu finished speaking, both Mrs. Lin and Mrs. Liu’s faces changed.
They knew in their hearts that with Mu Xiangxiang’s powdered face and shockingly red lips, it was unlikely she’d be chosen.
While their own daughters, even if they didn’t have such fine clothes, were much prettier than their aunt.
Thus, their chances of being chosen were higher.
Mrs. Lin was eyeing the three hundred coins given as a prize for being chosen as a weaver, which, combined with some money her husband had skimmed from buying piglets,
would help the second family stand tall.
Mrs. Liu, on the other hand, was interested in the honor Yu Si Niang spoke of, because being chosen as a weaver meant a swarm of matchmakers would come knocking.
Mrs. Liu knew that with Old Mrs. Mu around, there was no rush concerning Mu Xiangxiang’s marriage.
However, it was different for her own daughter. The fourth family never was in Old Mrs. Mu’s favor, so even if suitors came, Old Mrs. Mu would prioritize Xiaxia, the young aunt.
All of Old Mu Family’s silver was held by Old Mrs. Mu. At that time, forget about preparing a dowry for Xiaxia, she’d probably even be forced to demand money from the groom’s family.
Rather than face that, Mrs. Liu decided it was better to plan for her own daughter.
Mrs. Liu mustered up the courage to stand up and said to Old Mrs. Mu, "Mom, I feel that letting Xiaxia and Qingqing go benefits their young aunt.
Almost all the young girls in the village are going to the weaver selection. Families are going as units; if only Xiangxiang from our Old Mu Family goes, we’ll be losing in spirit.
Let Xiaxia and Qingqing go; they can help their young aunt in the selection."
After speaking, Mrs. Liu stood there nervously with sweat forming on the soles of her feet, as it’s said that mothers are strong, and this was her bravest moment.
Perhaps it was the only one in her lifetime.
"Mom, what Jinhua says makes perfect sense. How can Xiangxiang compete alone against so many people!
That Shen Rong from Wang Fugui’s family and that Xia Guagua, the daughter from Old Lu Family, they are first-class beauties.
Granny Sun has visited so many times that the thresholds are nearly worn out."
Mrs. Lin chimed in, unlike Mrs. Liu’s cautiousness, she spoke with more confidence.
In Er Gui Village, there indeed were a few beauties; although there weren’t any ugly ones in the Old Mu Family, few could carry themselves well.
The only second aunt was now locked up, no longer grooming herself daily, resembling a lunatic and was useless.
Old Mrs. Mu pondered for a moment, acknowledging the reasoning of her two daughters-in-law, but she knew her daughter’s temper well, so she spoke up.
"Xiangxiang, here’s the thing, let Xia and Qing go, even if they luckily win the weaver selection, I’ll have them yield it to you, how does that sound?"
Mu Zhenzhen heard these words and finally stopped making a fuss.
She nodded, "That’s what you said, Mom. If anything goes wrong, you’re responsible!"
...
...
Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng roamed the town’s streets and alleys, buying brushes, rouge and powder, and even a shaving knife and firecrackers.
This was the only time Lu Yuanfeng didn’t understand the things Shuangshuang bought.
In merely half an hour, they managed to buy everything they needed.
Fifty lanterns in total, Lu Yuanfeng was unsure how many other items they had.
He only knew that by the time they returned, the horse was laden with things.
They were so close that their bodies were practically touching; it was so cramped that Yuan Feng encircled Shuangshuang’s waist with his hand, only in this way could they avoid falling.
"Shuangshuang, what if... I get down and walk? It’s quite hard on you like this..."
Yuan Feng’s face was flushed red. If it weren’t for the fear of the person in his embrace getting hurt, his mind would be lost.
"Get down? Why? We walked for so long this morning, and we’re already tired."
"But..."
"It’s fine, don’t overthink it. Once we get to the village entrance, we’ll both get down."
Mu Shuangshuang didn’t think it was a big deal; she knew Yuan Feng was shy, so she didn’t forget to comfort him.
"Think of it this way, just pretend I’m a piece of pork, you’re holding a piece of pork, you wouldn’t get embarrassed by that, right?"
This was perhaps Mu Shuangshuang’s most self-deprecating moment, she would never have done it if not to relax Yuan Feng.
But little did she know, Lu Yuanfeng had no sense of humor, he seriously retorted, "Shuangshuang is not pork, Shuangshuang is a person!"
"..."
Mu Shuangshuang looked helpless and simply grasped the hand Yuan Feng had on her waist.
"Is this better? I’m holding onto you, you’re being held by me, isn’t it so you won’t feel it’s tough on me?"
Mu Shuangshuang had seen those who liked to take advantage of others, but she’d never encountered anyone like Lu Yuanfeng, who blushed at even a casual touch.
She initially attributed it to his young age, but now she thought it wasn’t wholly so.
Lu Yuanfeng’s behavior was typically mature, even his thoughts were, it was just that interacting with her occasionally made him blush, so Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t help but tease him.
"Fengzi, why do you always blush, making me feel like I’ve wronged you every time."
Even though he knew the girl he held was joking, Lu Yuanfeng’s blush deepened.
His chest felt heavy, and it thudded incessantly.
Mu Shuangshuang heard it too, and she burst into laughter.
Lu Yuanfeng’s reaction was just like that of a pure-hearted young boy, and boys like him should be most suited to be men.
Be a man?
Realizing where her thoughts had drifted, Mu Shuangshuang blushed too.
A peculiar feeling subtly arose in her chest.
This wasn’t the first or second time she’d felt this way; several times, she suspected it was heart trouble, with her heartbeat racing, her chest feeling tight, and her body slightly weak...
She quickly shook her head, trying not to think about it, but the more she suppressed it, the stronger the feeling became.
When they reached the village entrance, just as she was about to jump off the horse herself, Lu Yuanfeng stopped her, knowing her intentions.
"What are you doing, are you courting disaster?" Lu Yuanfeng had a hint of anger in his voice.
If he hadn’t reacted quickly, Shuangshuang would have jumped off, did she really dislike being with him?
Lu Yuanfeng couldn’t help but ponder, the trace of anger in his eyes turned into disappointment.
"I... I forgot..." Shuangshuang came up with an excuse.
But even she didn’t believe it.
Yuan Feng definitely didn’t believe it.
He lowered his head, took a deep breath, and tried his best to calm down.
"Shuangshuang, I’ll get down first, wait for me to get down then you can come down!"