"Is that so? So Uncle brought his own tea leaves! I thought Grandpa went to the third branch for tea leaves because we didn’t have any!"

Mu Shuangshuang laughed innocently.

After speaking, she leaned towards Mr. Mu, "Grandpa, I’ve never tasted the tea from the Capital. Can I bask in Uncle’s glory and try some of the fine tea from the Capital?"

Mr. Mu was shocked by Mu Shuangshuang’s words, fearing she might say something to disgrace the Old Mu Family!

Just as he was about to dismiss Mu Shuangshuang, the village chief spoke up.

"Shuang, my cup of tea is still untouched. Come and have a taste!"

Mu Shuangshuang nodded happily.

Before she could reach out, Mrs. Jin responded, "Shuangshuang, if you want to drink tea, ask your fourth aunt to brew another pot in the kitchen, okay? It’s rare for the village chief to visit the Old Mu Family; we can’t be impolite..."

The village chief said, "It’s not Shuangshuang being impolite, it’s me voluntarily offering it to her. I can’t get used to city tea; the tea leaves at home are coarse, but they’re comforting after meals."

The village chief’s words garnered agreement from others in the village.

"The village chief’s got it right, this coarse tea suits our tastes. Drink it however you like. I wouldn’t want to waste even a sip of the good stuff!"

"Me too. After a day’s work, I always gulp down a full pot of tea without caring about enjoying the taste!"

Everyone in the village drank coarse tea regularly; sometimes just a handful could make an entire pot.

It was like drinking water, and it made them feel comfortable!

Yet, coarse tea is coarse tea; it’s hardly as precious as the tea from the Capital, no?

So, some had already started mocking the village chief as a bumpkin who couldn’t appreciate good things!

"Since the village chief is offering, then... alright!" Mrs. Jin replied awkwardly. "Shuangshuang, hurry and drink, and once you’re done, I’ll make a new cup for the village chief."

Mu Shuangshuang ignored Mrs. Jin and took the tea from the village chief. She glanced at the tea in the cup and jokingly said:

"Uncle’s tea is indeed good, not a speck in the water. However, it reminds me of the tea at home; looks quite similar when brewed!"

Mr. Mu’s face immediately froze.

Mu Dade also inwardly thought that this was not good.

He stiffly explained, "Shuangshuang, you must be mistaken. The tea from the Capital is different from locally produced coarse tea. It..."

"I know, it’s more expensive; perhaps even an ounce costs a fortune?" Mu Shuangshuang inquired understandingly.

Mu Dade nodded, about to say yes, but Mu Shuangshuang continued:

"Uncle, don’t get nervous. I only mentioned that the tea looks similar; I didn’t say that the tea everyone is drinking isn’t the one you brought back from the Capital, or that it’s from our home."

Mu Dade wished he could tear Mu Shuangshuang’s mouth apart.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mu’s face turned even darker upon hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s dubious explanation!

Their reactions seemed abnormal to the villagers present.

Some of those with sharp insight had already guessed that Mu Dade had lied—

Portraying the tea borrowed from the third branch as his own.

They glanced at the tea cups in their hands; suddenly, they were not as pleased as before.

What tea from the Capital, nonsense!

It was all deceit, fooling those who’ve never been to the Capital with this local bunch!

"Shuangshuang, if you have nothing else, go to the backyard and help your fourth aunt!" Mr. Mu said expressionlessly.

"Indeed, Shuangshuang, come here. Second Aunt has candies for you. Once you finish eating, quickly head to the backyard!" Mrs. Jin pulled out a hand full of candy, intending to use it as a bribe for Mu Shuangshuang.

Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t care less about Mrs. Jin’s so-called candy.

But she still feigned surprise, "Wow, such pretty candies, surely bought from the Capital?"

Mu Dade, fearing Mu Shuangshuang might set him up again, quickly shook his head.

"No, these are bought from the county! With the hot weather, if candies were brought from the Capital, they’d melt on the way. Even if brought back, they couldn’t be given to everyone!"

"I see!" Mu Shuangshuang nodded knowingly and turned to Mrs. Jin.

"Thanks, Aunt, but I don’t want to eat alone; my siblings haven’t had any candies or pastries yet. Could I call them over to join us?"

Mrs. Jin, seeing so many present, could only nod.

"Go call them..."

"Aunt, there are quite a few of them, you don’t mind, right?" Mu Shuangshuang asked cautiously.

Mrs. Jin did mind; those candies were bought from Baorong House in the county, and they weren’t cheap.

Previously, when distributing candies, she mostly gave them to the village adults, worried the children wouldn’t recognize the goodness of candies.

Moreover, children have large appetites; if each were to eat ten or so, wouldn’t that lead to losses?

So she intentionally didn’t distribute them, not even to the kids at home.

But she wouldn’t be silly enough to voice her true thoughts with so many people present.

"No problem, Aunt doesn’t mind no matter how many come. Even if all the village children come, we’ll make sure every child gets a candy!"

"All right then, thanks, Aunt!"

Mu Shuangshuang left the room, calling into the yard, "Gou Dan, Xiao Chu, Xiao Han, Yuanbao, Little Zhi, hurry over, Aunt is calling us for candy!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

With Mu Shuangshuang’s call, not only Gou Dan and others but other village children led by Yuanbao rushed out together.

Mrs. Jin was stunned.

Mu Shuangshuang was equally surprised, "Why did so many show up all at once?"

Once inside, the children cared nothing about manners, only about getting the candy.

As soon as Mrs. Jin took out the candy box, several hands reached in, grabbing directly from it.

Mrs. Jin’s face turned green instantly; she wanted to snatch the candies back, but so many were watching...

Soon, the candies were snatched away, and several smaller children, unable to grab any, began crying.

"Wow... no candy..."

"We want candy..."

Mrs. Jin apologized to the children, "Sorry, the candies... are gone. Maybe I can buy more for you tomorrow?"

Of course, the children didn’t want to wait.

"No, we want them now..." one child cried the hardest, almost rolling on the ground.

And that child wasn’t just anyone; it was Gou Dan from Old Mu Family’s second branch!

These days, Mrs. Lin went to her mother’s, and Mu Dajiang went to Mountain Village.

Mu Dalang had long moved away, and Mu Qingqing cared nothing about Old Mu Family affairs.

So no one managed Gou Dan’s hygiene, leaving him filthy all over.

Being close, one could even smell a stench from him, revolting!