From Folly to Fortune：I Rewrite My Life After Rebirth!

Chapter 903: Chapter 899: Fruitless Effort (Fifth Update)

”Dad, if Big Brother could just save a bit, the silver he received from the court would actually be enough.”

Perhaps it was rare for Mr. Mu to speak so thoughtfully in front of him, so Mu Dashan expressed his true thoughts.

Over the years, to support Mu Dade’s studies, they had spent several hundred taels of silver.

If those silvers were saved until now, the Old Mu Family could open a tavern in town, buy a house, and even purchase thirty mu of land, with some left over.

When other families’ children went for exams, who spent as much as Mu Dade, over a hundred taels for just one imperial exam?

Now, heading to the Capital, it would probably require two hundred taels of silver.

”Enough? That’s easy for you to say. Do you want your big brother to drink northwest wind on the road?”

Besides, no one asked you to contribute a penny, why are you so excited? What, do you want us not to gather money for the eldest, so he doesn’t take the exam, and if he doesn’t become a Champion Scholar, our Old Mu Family will be suppressed by the third branch?

This old woman tells you today, I’ll borrow the money, if you still recognize me as your mother, sell that tavern of yours, and give the money to your big brother to take the exam.” Old Mrs. Mu raised her voice and shouted at Mu Dashan.

Mu Dashan gasped at Old Mrs. Mu’s words.

”Mom, you know very well, the tavern isn’t mine. If you want me to sell the tavern, how will I explain to Shuangshuang and the others?”

”Explain? What’s there to explain to a worthless woman and girl? You clearly don’t regard me and your dad, or your big brother.”

”Go look around, who else has become the head of the family like you? Led around by the nose by your wife and daughter.”

These words from Old Mrs. Mu made her even angrier.

In her view, the third branch shouldn’t prosper.

Everything from the third branch belongs to the Old Mu Family.

If she wants it, the third branch must hand it over.

”Mom, you’re wrong, I’m not led around by the nose by Shuangshuang and Si Niang. In our third branch, whoever makes sense, we listen to.

Everything Shuangshuang does is for the good of the third branch. You can’t speak ill of her and Si Niang.”

In front of Old Mrs. Mu, Mu Dashan didn’t hide his protective feelings for his daughter and wife, Yu Si Niang, at all.

As expected, Old Mrs. Mu’s face turned green with anger from Mu Dashan’s words.

”You’re the only coward, the only one who knows how to care for your wife, care for your daughter!” Old Mrs. Mu said sarcastically.

Mr. Mu felt his wife’s words had gone too far.

After lightly coughing, he said, ”Old woman, why don’t you go to the kitchen and pour a cup of tea for the third son. He’s been here for quite a while, he must be thirsty.”

Old Mrs. Mu exclaimed and then said, ”Are you kidding? He’s thirsty, why should I get water for him? I’m his mother, it’s his job to get it for me.”

”Just go, no more nonsense, or don’t stay in our Old Mu Family!” Mr. Mu scolded sternly.

Old Mrs. Mu glared at Mu Dashan with her eyes, then reluctantly left the main hall.

In the courtyard, she shouted in the direction of the second branch, ”Lin Xiaozao, get out here, it’s noon, and you’re lying around like a corpse, aren’t you?

A guest is at home, and you don’t know to come pour water, Lin Xiaozao...”

Hearing there’s a guest at home made Mu Dashan feel a bit uncomfortable.

But thinking of his mother’s temperament, he tolerated it.

Mrs. Lin was resting inside, and upon hearing Old Mrs. Mu’s wailing-like voice, she didn’t want to move. She remembered Huang Bitao, who lived next door, got up, put on an outer garment, and went to Huang Bitao’s door, knocking as she called out.

Inside, Huang Bitao, who was doing needlework, put down her work and went out to make tea.

In the main hall, Mr. Mu and Mu Dashan continued to discuss borrowing money from Gao Tiezhu.

Unlike Old Mrs. Mu, Mr. Mu spoke politely. He knew that borrowing money from Gao Tiezhu wasn’t the best choice and it carried risks.

He said to Mu Dashan, ”Third son, do you have any extra silver, not much, just lend me thirty taels first. With thirty taels of silver, if I sell a few more mu of land, maybe I can gather enough for fifty taels.”

Mu Dashan shook his head, ”Recently, Shuangshuang started the tavern and built a private school, using up all the family’s money.

The last five taels of silver, used for buying this and that during the New Year, purchasing New Year goods, acquiring items for the private school, it’s almost all used up.

But I do have two hundred copper coins. Dad, if you need them urgently, you can have mine; consider it as my New Year’s money for you and Mom.”

Those two hundred copper coins were New Year’s money given by Mu Shuangshuang.

Both Yu Si Niang and he each received a hundred, and Yu Si Niang also put her money with Mu Dashan.

Saying this, Mu Dashan took out the two hundred copper coins tied with twine from his pocket and handed them to Mr. Mu.

Mr. Mu didn’t refuse. Taking the copper coins, he said, ”Third son, this money is a loan from me. Once your big brother passes the exam, I’ll return it to you.

Father will remember what you’ve done today. When your big brother becomes a Champion Scholar, I won’t forget you, the third branch.”

Mu Dashan hurriedly waved his hand, he said, ”Dad, even now, I still hope you don’t go to borrow money from Gao Tiezhu, this compound interest thing.

Shuangshuang explained to me, we only suffer losses, you should think more about the future.”

”Don’t worry, your big brother is a scholar, a future official, he can definitely pay it back.

When I borrow money, I’ll surely negotiate with Zhang Tiezhu. This compound interest you mentioned, I won’t use.

We’re borrowing fifty taels, at most it’ll grow to one hundred taels, and once your brother becomes a Champion Scholar, we’ll pay back the one hundred taels.”

Seeing Mr. Mu so stubborn, Mu Dashan didn’t say any more.

He took a deep breath and said to Mr. Mu, ”Dad, I can’t forget the past, nor do I want to.

But, if you and Mom ever need me and Si Niang in the future, just let us know, we’ll help where we can.”

This was a son’s promise to his father.

The debt of raising a child, Mu Dashan felt, cannot be fully repaid by any child.

He could only do what he could for Mr. and Mrs. Mu to feel a little peaceful inside.

After leaving the Old Mu Family, Mu Dashan’s mood was not as heavy as when he arrived.

He could only take things one step at a time for the future.

Back at the third branch, Mu Dashan hesitated whether to tell Yu Si Niang and Mu Shuangshuang about these events.

But as neither of them asked about his whereabouts during this time, Mu Dashan didn’t say anything.

...

At dusk, Mr. Mu, along with Mu Dazhong and Mu Danian, went to Gao Village to find Gao Tiezhu to discuss borrowing money.