Chapter 1232: Chapter 1228: Having a Boy or a Girl (First Update)

Although Xing Beichen was an outsider, he was handsome and well‑mannered.

And judging from the way he talked and dressed, he didn’t look like some country family’s kid at all.

Fu Wu had noticed Xing Beichen earlier, but it was just simple appreciation; he had never thought about making Xing Beichen his son‑in‑law.

First, he was afraid they’d be marrying up too high.

Second, he was afraid his daughter would be married too far away!

Now that Xing Beichen had said he liked his daughter, Fu Wu really didn’t know how to put his true thoughts into words.

"Let’s not talk about like or don’t like for now, but this Ma Houhou mess was stirred up by you, you have to settle it yourself, you can’t ruin our Xiao Nan’s reputation!" Fu Wu said.

"Uncle Fu, don’t worry, I definitely won’t drag Xiao Nan down with me. I can handle this myself!"

"Then I’ll wait and see!"

After saying that, Fu Wu went into the yard alone.

He still had the village chief and the others at home to entertain; since Xing Beichen had said he would take care of what was happening outside, he himself also had to settle the matters at home!

The villagers, not having seen the drama they’d hoped for, crowded outside the yard of Fu Wujia and refused to leave.

Seeing this, Mu Shuangshuang spoke kindly to everyone, "Everyone, head on home! Beichen will sort this out himself.

I also hope that whatever you heard or saw today, before it’s been proven true, don’t go spreading it around and talking nonsense!

If because of this Miss Fu’s reputation is damaged, I think neither Uncle Fu nor the village chief will be able to answer for it!"

After saying all that, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t forget to observe everyone’s expressions.

Seeing that no one was complaining or objecting to her words, she didn’t keep wasting time outside someone else’s yard.

"Beichen, let’s go back," Mu Shuangshuang said.

Xing Beichen was stunned for a moment, then said a bit sheepishly, "Shuangshuang, I want to see how Xiao Nan is. I think I scared her just now!"

"Go back first! You’d better not go looking for Xiao Nan these days."

Mu Shuangshuang was entirely thinking for Fu Xiaonan’s sake. Although Xing Beichen had just said he wanted to marry Fu Xiaonan, and Fu Wu already knew.

But how it would turn out in the end, who knew?

Because of that Song Qingshan, Xiao Nan’s reputation was already in a bad way. If she lost her name again because of Xing Beichen, she might get her back pointed at even just walking down the road in the future!

"Did I do something wrong?" Xing Beichen asked.

"No, what you did was right. It’s just that some things are beyond what you and I can control. Don’t worry, after supper I’ll go to the Fu Family to check on Xiao Nan. I absolutely won’t let anything happen to her!"

With Mu Shuangshuang’s assurance, Xing Beichen finally felt relieved.

When she went out, Mu Shuangshuang had only half finished cooking. By the time she got back, Yu Si Niang had already taken over in the kitchen.

Mrs. Bai was in the kitchen, watching and learning as Yu Si Niang cooked.

Only then did Mu Shuangshuang remember to ask Xing Beichen, "Why didn’t you go to the training grounds today?"

"I asked Elder Cheng for leave. I was originally going to take Xiao Nan boating on the lake this afternoon. The lotuses nearby are blooming nicely!"

Mu Shuangshuang pursed her lips, her smile bright as a flower.

"I see. Around this time last year, Fengzi and I were still picking lotus pods in the river to sell. The lotus pods in Lotus Pond River are tender and fragrant, so tasty!"

"Then how about we go tomorrow? We’ll ask Xiao Nan along!" Xing Beichen said excitedly.

"Well... let’s wait till I see Xiao Nan tonight before we decide!"

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t have the habit of making decisions for others. She also knew that apart from her parents and Fengzi, no one would indulge her like that!

"All right then."

Xing Beichen said the words. Although he felt it was a pity, there was nothing he could do!

With Yu Si Niang in the kitchen, Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t needed there anymore. She was thinking of taking a break anyway, so she simply went back to her room. She had just sat down when the village women who had picked Snail came by.

These days, the demand for Snail from the restaurant was getting bigger and bigger.

She bought them from the village women at one wen a catty, and in the end sold them for ten wen, fifteen wen a plate.

Every day there were quite a number of women from the village bringing her Snail, and even so, it was getting a bit hard to meet demand.

After the women had weighed their loads and been paid, Mu Shuangshuang started thinking about how to get more people to help her pick Snail.

After thinking it over, she finally thought of Mu Dalang and Huang Bita.

Mu Dalang was now basically a member of Tie Dao Village, living and eating there, and he had gotten along quite well with the people of Tie Dao Village!

If he took the lead and got some women in Tie Dao Village to help pick Snail, that wouldn’t be a bad solution.

Besides, Mu Dalang’s place was big and the yard was enclosed, unlike her home where the yard was small, and the Old Mu Family people could come over whenever they liked!

Once she had thought it through, Mu Shuangshuang simply gave up on resting.

She said a word to Yu Si Niang, then set off for Tie Dao Village herself.

It was the seventh month with the heat starting to wane. Walking on the road from Er Gui Village to Tie Dao Village, Mu Shuangshuang looked at the salted‑duck‑egg‑like moon hanging low on the horizon.

She sighed over how quickly time passed.

She had just reached the village entrance and taken only a few steps when she ran into Ge Sandan, who was on his way home.

They hadn’t seen each other for some days. Ge Sandan’s skin had gotten a lot darker, and the moment he saw Mu Shuangshuang, he came up with a big grin on his face.

Although he still had a limp, it didn’t slow him down at all.

"Little sister‑in‑law, what brings you here? Where’s Fengzi? Why don’t I see him?" Ge Sandan asked.

Mu Shuangshuang smiled. "He’s at home. I’ve come to see my cousin about something! Brother Sandan, want to come listen in? Maybe you can help too!"

There was money to be made in collecting Snail, and Ge Sandan was a decent fellow.

Plus his wife Xiuxiu was Yu Dahai’s younger sister.

Back then it had been Xiuxiu who introduced Yu Dahai and Fulin Restaurant to her, which was why Mu Shuangshuang had gone to take a look.

Both in feeling and in reason, the Ge Family had done her and Fengzi a favor!

"Huh? Help out? Sure, I’ve got nothing to do anyway!" Ge Sandan chuckled.

Then he added, "Shuangshuang, go by our place later and see Xiuxiu. She doesn’t seem too happy lately."

"What’s wrong?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.

Ge Sandan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Xiuxiu is with child, but my mother prays at home with incense all day, just hoping for a son. But you know, whether it’s a boy or a girl, it’s not something you can have just because you want to!

Xiuxiu’s under a lot of pressure, so she’s been unhappy all the time."

Yu Xiuxiu being pregnant was indeed something to be happy about.

But when Ge Sandan’s eldest girl, Ge Chunhua, was born, Aunt Ge had gone three days without eating.

Xiuxiu, who had just given birth then, had nothing to eat; even the soup for her milk was something Mu Shuangshuang had cooked at home and brought over.

That incident had probably chilled Xiuxiu’s heart toward Aunt Ge.

After finally nursing herself back for some time, now that she was pregnant again, she was likely remembering everything all over with every little thing!

"Brother Sandan, how about this: I’ll go talk with Xiuxiu first, and you go straight to my big cousin’s place. I’ll come find you both in a bit!"