Chapter 1542 - 1537: We Can’t Really Go Back to the Village, Can We? (Eighth Update)

Assigned such a thankless task, Mu Dazhong, Mu Dajiang, and Mrs. Lin were all in a bad mood.

The three took advantage of Old Mrs. Mu and Mr. Mu’s absence to gather and discuss going back to the village.

"Are you really going to do as our parents said and, during the New Year period, go to that decrepit village and tie up that woman Mu Zhenzhen and bring her back to the county?"

Mrs. Lin, being a woman, spoke without any reservation.

Whatever came to mind, she said it—at most she’d get scolded, it’s not like she’d lose any flesh.

"Dad already said so, how could we not go? If we don’t, he’ll definitely get us all to the County Magistrate; I don’t want to end up in jail, locked up in prison!" Mu Dazhong snapped irritably.

"Look at you, so spineless! Do you really think Dad will send you to the county government? Even if we disagree, big brother won’t let it pass!

If they really pursue what you’ve done, big brother won’t be able to escape responsibility either—that’s called conniving with relatives to do bad things!"

Mrs. Lin shot a look of disdain at Mu Dazhong, clearly dissatisfied with his cowardly demeanor.

"You’re talking big now, why didn’t you say all this to Dad earlier?" Mu Dazhong retorted sullenly.

"Talk to Dad? You want me to end up like Xiangxiang, beaten black and blue, looking inhuman?"

Mentioning Mu Xiangxiang being beaten made the three of them fear a bit.

In the past, Mr. Mu would only talk and not act, but now it seemed if words didn’t go well, he’d strike, and hit hard.

Although they all claimed to be tough-skinned, they couldn’t bear such a beating!

If they were beaten and stuck in bed for ten days or half a month, even staying in this prosperous county would be no different from the countryside.

"Then what do you suggest?" Unable to think of any ideas, Mu Dazhong passed the trouble to Mrs. Lin.

Seeing how useless her husband looked, Mrs. Lin was fuming.

"How should I know what to do? If I did, would I be asking you?"

"Are you, woman, really showing off, daring to speak to me like this!" Mu Dazhong yelled, raising his hand, ready to slap Mrs. Lin’s face.

Mrs. Lin pointed at her own face and shouted at Mu Dazhong, "Want to hit me? Go ahead, hit here, and as soon as you do I’ll go to Dad and tell him you don’t want to go to the countryside, I tried to persuade you, and you beat me!

We’ll see then who’s more miserable between the two of us!"

"You..." Mu Dazhong was taken aback by how brazen his wife was, and for a moment he was so angry he shook, but the slap never went through.

He too feared Mr. Mu’s authority now.

"Alright, everyone calm down, I have a plan!" Mu Danian suddenly spoke calmly.

"What plan?"

"What plan, Fifth, hurry up and say it, you’re killing me!" Mu Dazhong shouted anxiously.

"Second sister-in-law has a point. Though the second brother and I have done bad things and have handles in Dad’s grasp, those things aren’t glorious to blow up.

If it goes to the county government, big brother will be the first to suffer. Just this alone, Dad would have to swallow the bitter herbs!

But since Dad asked us to go, we can’t really not go. Instead, tomorrow on the 28th of December, we should take a stroll early in the morning, around the county.

By near noon, we can say for the New Year, the city gates don’t allow free movement; we’ve waited in line for a long time, but they let no one out!" Mu Danian explained.

"You’re saying we’re pretending on the surface but selling a different story, not going?" Mrs. Lin asked.

"But will it work? Big brother is the head clerk in the county town, he surely knows about gate restrictions; if he says there’s no restriction, won’t we be exposed?"

Mrs. Lin found the idea unreliable.

"Exactly, if big brother asks, we’ll be exposed! Exposed, we’ll be in worse trouble!" Mu Dazhong added.

"Why panic? I’ve yet to finish! If I came up with this idea, naturally I have a way to make sure big brother agrees. Just wait, who refuses anyone, but he won’t refuse me!"

Mu Danian was full of confidence.

He had an ace up his sleeve, concerning big brother’s matter of buying the exam paper to pass the test.

This indeed was a matter that could endanger big brother’s life; if he didn’t agree, Mu Danian would then expose it.

At that time, let’s see who gets scared!

"Fifth, why does it feel like there’s more to your words? What’s that about big brother not refusing you? Do you know some secret? Tell us!" Mu Dazhong grinned with a fawning face.

"Nothing! I know nothing!" Mu Danian resolutely refused.

What a joke, that was his card to riches and glory, if everyone knew, would it still be called a card?

Actually, Mu Danian had told Chen Hong about this, but that woman, who knows where she vanished now.

Come to think of it, he really missed her.

Mu Danian couldn’t help but recall his past with Chen Hong, although not respectable, she was the woman who stayed longest with him.

And Chen Hong’s pair of large white buns...

Thinking of these, Mu Danian felt a warmth in his belly.

Chen Hong, where have you gone, damn woman???

Now I can’t even find a woman to relieve my fire!!!

"Fifth... Fifth..." Mu Dazhong noticed Mu Danian zoning out and waved his right hand wildly in front of his face.

Mu Danian snapped back, saw Mu Dazhong, and his expression soured a bit.

"What is it? Second brother!" Mu Danian asked irritably.

"You haven’t said yet, what makes you so sure big brother will listen to you?" Mu Dazhong inquired.

"I’ve already told you nothing’s up, why ask so much?" Mu Danian replied testily.

"Fifth, what’s your attitude? I haven’t even blamed you for stealing my money, and you’re putting on airs with me?"

"Second brother, I’ve said countless times I didn’t steal your money, who knows if you lost it yourself when fleeing and pinned it on me!" Mu Danian fumed.

Mu Danian had explained multiple times, yet this second brother simply wouldn’t listen.

"You’re lying, it was you who stole it!"

The two men argued ceaselessly, and Mrs. Lin listened in bewilderment.

"You said fleeing, fleeing from what? Daddy Gou Dan, tell me, where did you all go these days, out there?" Mrs. Lin asked.

"Nothing, it’s none of your business, as a woman, don’t meddle in things you shouldn’t!" Mu Dazhong chided Mrs. Lin.

"Oh fine, Mu Dazhong, you’ve been gone so long, and I helped care for your son, watched over the house, then you suddenly say such hurtful things!

I can’t live; I can’t live anymore! I’ll go die to show you, die to show you ..."

Mrs. Lin plopped down on the ground, started to bawl loudly, all the while accusing Mu Dazhong of his failures.

"Alright, didn’t you want to know what we were out doing, we’ll tell you!"

Mu Dazhong said angrily.