Chapter 1447 - 1442: Give a Sweet Date, Then Slap
After lighting the lamps, the old couple put on their clothes and only then did they open the door for Mu Dade.
"What on earth is going on at this late hour?" There was a hint of impatience in Mr. Mu’s voice.
Mr. Mu no longer considered Mu Dade as he once did, wholeheartedly thinking about Mu Dade’s needs.
The reason, after all, was Mu Dade’s countless lies and harms.
If it weren’t for Old Mrs. Mu’s urging today, Mr. Mu might really not have opened the door.
"Father, I know that for you and my mother to come to the county is a particularly difficult thing.
Especially for my mother, who has been used to a free life all her life and cannot bear the hardships of living in the city.
Mother always says that here, she can’t even find someone to chat with. I know, this is my fault, for not letting her have a better life!"
Mu Dade played the emotional card right away, leaving Mr. Mu temporarily puzzled.
However, Old Mrs. Mu was deeply touched and began to shed tears.
"Son, you don’t have to say it like that. I already feel quite proud living in the county this life!
Those old folks in the village never left the village their entire lives. I’m different.
I’ve been to the town, stayed in the county, and even have a son who’s an official in the county. Others envy me but will never catch up!"
Old Mrs. Mu wiped her tears as she spoke boastfully.
"Mother, I’ve always felt indebted to you. But there are some things I keep in my heart. I’m afraid if I don’t say them, people will talk behind your back!"
Mu Dade finally got to the point—
Mr. Mu instantly realized that his son had an important matter to discuss.
He just didn’t know what was so important that Mu Dade came so late to talk about it.
"What matter could people talk about? Who dares to talk behind Old Mrs. Mu’s back? See if I don’t tear their filthy mouth apart." Old Mrs. Mu panicked, blurting words that were both vulgar and unpleasant.
Mu Dade frowned with distaste.
But his face remained gentle, "Mother, the county is not like the village. We can’t just think about ourselves and ignore others.
Moreover, since I’m an official in the county, if people find out that I lead others to feuds, even the County Magistrate won’t give me a good look.
The County Magistrate determines my career advancement. If I offend him, I surely won’t have a good outcome."
"Da De, say what you have to say directly. Your mother and I didn’t go to school, we don’t understand those twists and turns.
But since you’ve come here, it must be a big deal. Your mother and I will surely assist you!"
No matter how dissatisfied, after all, he’s his own son.
After all, he’s the one to depend on in old age.
Mr. Mu’s face also began to show a worried expression.
"Father, Mother, thank you. Since you put it this way, I won’t beat around the bush!
Mother, can you stop dumping garbage and night soil on the main street?
The whole street stinks, and those who don’t know might think our street, our alley, is a cesspool. Even beggars would avoid it."
"Da De, you can’t blame Mother for this! The garbage has to be dumped at the end of the alley; it’s such a long walk, who wants to go? The night soil also needs someone to collect it, and collecting costs us a coin.
When we were in the countryside, night soil was useful; it could be dumped in the fields to fertilize them! They’re taking advantage of us, and on top of that, they want to charge us money. Such an outrageous thing, I can’t stand it."
Old Mrs. Mu’s explanation revealed her penny-pinching nature.
Listening to her reasoning, Mu Dade felt uneasy.
"Mother, hear me out! The county isn’t the countryside. No one will say a word if you throw some trash or pour some night soil!
But this is not the countryside. You’re making it smelly here, affecting others’ lives, and they’ll come to make trouble.
If it doesn’t escalate to the County Magistrate it’s fine, but if it does, I will definitely get reprimanded.
You saved that one coin, but the impact on me is far more than just one coin!
Mother, I’ll cover the night soil expense from now on, without going through you. Just let someone take it to the backyard, let someone else collect it, can we do that?
The garbage too, if you really don’t want to dump it, I’ll hire a small servant to help with that. You can just enjoy your leisure at home!"
Mu Dade spoke kindly and sincerely to Old Mrs. Mu.
He even ensured she didn’t have to do it herself.
However, he underestimated Old Mrs. Mu’s thick-skinned nature.
"Hire someone? We can’t hire someone! That would cost a huge amount of silver!"
Old Mrs. Mu was not foolish. She might let Mu Xiaxia dump the garbage, but hiring a servant was out of the question.
"Mother, if we don’t hire someone, will you continue dumping? Where do you want me to put my face? Do you know how frighteningly menacing those people look when they complain to me or threaten to expose me?
Mother, if you truly care for your son, then stop doing those lowly things. You can’t save much money doing it!" Mu Dade said.
Old Mrs. Mu’s face turned ashen, "I’m lowly? Da De, what are you saying? If I hadn’t been frugal, would you have had money to go to school?
Could you have had a better life than your other brothers? Think of your second and fifth brothers, then think of your third and fourth. Which one of them has accomplished more than you?
If it weren’t for my insistence on sending you to school back then, do you think you would have had such opportunities if it were any of the other brothers? Da De, have a conscience. I think you’ve been bewitched by Mrs. Jin, that old vixen!
That barren hen stands in the latrine all day doing nothing, using your money is one thing, but corrupting you to stand against your own mother is another!"
Old Mrs. Mu spoke eloquently.
In fact, there wasn’t a single point to refute.
Mu Dade felt increasingly disgusted with the person in front of him.
He turned his gaze to Mr. Mu.
"Father, about this matter..."
"About this matter, I’ll decide. Just like you said, this is something we cannot do! I didn’t know your mother was doing it. If I had known, I would have stopped it for sure!"
Mr. Mu said.
"Thank you, Father!" Mu Dade was filled with gratitude.
"However, your mother also has some valid points. Da De, for you to be where you are today, we have made many sacrifices, and you should respect your mother and me regardless!"
Mr. Mu skillfully alternated between giving a sweet date and a slap.
Even Mu Dade was left speechless by his words.
"What Father said is true. I will remember your teachings!" Mu Dade said.
"Alright, I know how to handle this! You go back and rest. I promise your mother will not do such foolish things in the future, and if she does again, I will not spare her!"
With things said to this extent, Mu Dade knew he couldn’t continue the argument.
He got up, made a bow to Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu, and retreated from the room...