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

County, Mu Dade’s main residence—

It’s been more than a month since Mu Dade promised to buy a big house.

The weather is getting colder, and Mu Dajiang still sleeps on the pile of straw in the kitchen. Unknowingly, he’s developed frostbite on his hands and feet, and his body grows weaker, with occasional coughing.

Several times, Mu Dajiang wanted to ask Mu Dade when he’d buy the big house, so he could find a better place to live, or else he wouldn’t survive this winter.

But Mu Dajiang still couldn’t muster the courage.

On the contrary, his daughter Xiaxia went to work at a place called some workshop, selling clothes, it was said.

It’s been over a month, and today should be payday.

Mu Dajiang couldn’t help but look forward to his daughter’s wages.

Mu Dajiang initially worked at the dock moving cargo, earning thirty coppers a day without meals. But as his health got weaker and the dock work was heavy, Mu Dajiang had rested at home for more than ten days.

His health not only didn’t improve but worsened.

Near noon, Mu Xiaxia finally returned home.

But before she could check on her father’s condition, she was blocked at the gate by Old Mrs. Mu, who also knew today was payday.

Old Mrs. Mu waited for Mu Xiaxia for two whole incense sticks’ time, tears and snot running down from cold.

Luckily, Mu Xiaxia finally appeared.

"The money? Hand it over!" Old Mrs. Mu stretched out her hand, asking Mu Xiaxia for wages.

"Granny, I used the money to buy medicine because my father is very ill! I’m sorry, Granny, next month’s wages..."

Mu Xiaxia begged Old Mrs. Mu for forgiveness, but before she could finish her sentence, Old Mrs. Mu slapped her.

The slap made a "smack" sound, leaving a bright red five-finger mark on Mu Xiaxia’s face.

Half of Mu Xiaxia’s face swelled instantly.

"You shameless little beast, when have you ever seen anyone in this family take medicine when sick? For you, a month’s wages all went to your sick ghost of a father, and you really think this minor illness could kill someone?

I see you’re clearly doing it on purpose, you just don’t want to hand over your wages! If you can’t hand over the wages, don’t go to work tomorrow. There’s a pile of chores at home that needs doing!"

Old Mrs. Mu spoke harshly, and Mu Xiaxia panicked.

"Granny, I was wrong, but I must go to work, I made a deal with the lady boss there to work for at least three months!" Mu Xiaxia said to Old Mrs. Mu with reddened eyes.

"Bah, three months! You heartless little beast, have you gone mad?" Old Mrs. Mu spat thickly on Mu Xiaxia’s face.

Screaming full of excitement.

The neighbors next door, hearing the commotion, came out to see what was going on, and when they saw it was Old Mrs. Mu, they turned away in disdain.

Old Mrs. Mu’s reputation in this area was considered foul.

Full of vulgarity, and her conduct extremely poor.

The family’s garbage was casually tossed into the street.

The night soil at home, to save a few coppers on collection fees, was also dumped into the street, sometimes leaving the whole street soaked in stench.

In short, when folks saw Old Mrs. Mu, they just wanted to leave immediately or stay far away.

People outside weren’t willing to come, whereas insiders did.

Mrs. Jin, dressed in an elegant fur coat, holding a small hand warmer, carried herself like a noblewoman.

She said to Old Mrs. Mu, "Mother, what’s happening? Is Xiaxia okay? Has she made you angry?"

Old Mrs. Mu rolled her eyes and said irritably, "What’s it to you? Why, are you here to protect this damn girl?"

Old Mrs. Mu had disliked Mrs. Jin for a long time, so when she spoke like this, Mrs. Jin wasn’t offended.

"Mother, I seemed to hear Xiaxia say she used her wages to buy medicine for the fourth one!

I think this girl is good-hearted and filial, you should stop scolding her!" Mrs. Jin said with a smile.

This genuinely angered Old Mrs. Mu.

"I’m disciplining my granddaughter—what’s it to you, an outsider? She’s part of the Old Mu Family; I can discipline her however I want, none of your business!"

Seeing the vulgar and poorly dressed Old Mrs. Mu in her old jacket, Mrs. Jin felt disgusted.

But considering her plan, Mrs. Jin forced a smile.

"Mother, actually, Xiaxia doesn’t need to hand over her wages, after all, what she eats and uses is not your money, it’s Dade’s!

If it really comes to handing over wages, they should be given to me!"

"You... good for you, you ugly woman, watch me teach you a lesson!" Old Mrs. Mu raised her hand, intending to slap Mrs. Jin, but was stopped by Mrs. Jin’s hand.

"Mother, I’m now the County Chief Clerk’s Wife, after all, the wife of a court official. If you hit me, it won’t look good for Dade, not to mention the government office wouldn’t easily spare you!

If I were you, I’d mind my own business and not meddle in things I shouldn’t!

Mrs. Jin tossed Old Mrs. Mu’s hand aside and turned to Mu Xiaxia, who was dumbfounded, saying, "Xiaxia, hurry and boil the medicine for your father, use the kitchen however you wish!

Also, after the medicine is boiled, come by my room, I have a good recipe particularly for treating colds, if you follow it, your father will surely recover quickly!"

Mu Xiaxia heard this and flashed a grateful smile at Mrs. Jin.

"Thank you, Auntie!"

"No problem, go on!" Mrs. Jin waved her hand, signaling Mu Xiaxia to leave quickly.

Old Mrs. Mu glared viciously at Mrs. Jin and Mu Xiaxia, as if she wanted to eat them.

"Whore, don’t get cocky! Don’t forget, Dade is my son!" said Old Mrs. Mu.

"Mother, you should also go inside! Everyone’s watching, it’s not good for Dade! If Dade’s not well, we won’t be able to stay in the county, don’t you think?"

Mrs. Jin smiled at Old Mrs. Mu without responding to her curses.

Old Mrs. Mu felt thwarted, failed to get the money, and was threatened by Mrs. Jin, how could she swallow this frustration?

She turned around intending to trouble Mu Xiaxia.

But was stopped by Mrs. Jin.

"Mother, the fourth one is still your son, Xiaxia buying medicine for her father is reasonable, you can’t want to see the fourth one die, right?

If you want him to die, don’t let him die in the county! By then, Dade will have to spend a large sum on funeral costs. Xiaxia and Xiao Chu may rely on Dade later!"

Mrs. Jin’s thoughts were like this.

She wasn’t interested in Xiaxia’s wages, but Mu Dajiang mustn’t die.

At least, not until she drives them to the countryside.

Old Mrs. Mu listened to Mrs. Jin’s words, analyzed them carefully, and found them sensible.

Thus, she abandoned the idea of further disciplining Mu Xiaxia.

After all, there’s plenty of time, that little beast isn’t her match!

Old Mrs. Mu went straight back to her room, while Mrs. Jin stood at the door for a while.

It was during this brief moment that the surrounding neighbors all rushed in—