Chapter 101: On Her Mind

Fang Yuan couldn’t stand hearing that. “How can you be so lacking in ambition? Just because we can’t afford it now, doesn’t mean we’ll never be able to! If you save your money and we put aside a bit more, we’ll be ready. I’ve realized there are still a lot of things out there we can’t afford.”

Lu Chuan nodded. That was true—they really couldn’t afford it. And it wasn’t like saving a little more would make a difference. Still, he admired Fang Yuan’s practical spirit.

He felt he needed to explain things clearly to Fang Yuan. “No, it’s not just about whether we can afford it or not. The thing is, projects that need a crane like that—people like us can’t get those jobs. Even if we bought one, it’d be useless.”

He wanted to make this clear, so Fang Yuan wouldn’t keep worrying about it and lose sleep over something like this.

Fang Yuan said, “That’s not the point. The point is whether or not I could afford it.”

Lu Chuan didn’t even know what the point was anymore. It seemed like Fang Yuan wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t really make sense either.

That’s what it meant to have your eye on something, to have it stuck in your mind. Lu Chuan realized that anything Fang Yuan had to consider whether she could afford was something she’d set her sights on.

Lu Chuan started to regret bringing Fang Yuan here. Who would have thought that just visiting a construction site, she’d get fixated on a giant crane?

When the workers were getting off shift, Fang Yuan was bold—she went right up and asked how much the crane cost, and how much money it made in a day.

She looked like just a young girl, so the crane operator teased her on purpose. “You’ve got a good eye. This thing really makes money. If you could afford it—see how big this project is? This crane makes more than the foreman.”

No need to ask for details—just that one sentence made Fang Yuan’s heart race. Then the operator told her the price, and her hopes were dashed.

Shattered, in pieces that couldn’t be put back together. That was a level they just couldn’t reach.

The crane operator laughed. “Miss, don’t bother thinking about it. These things all belong to the state. Private people can’t afford them. Even if you bought one, no one would hire you.”

He didn’t even have the heart to say how much the crane actually cost—he didn’t know himself. That was a level even he couldn’t reach.

When they left the construction site, Fang Yuan seemed a little deflated, clearly discouraged.

Lu Chuan tried to comfort her. “We’re just getting started. Take it slow. It really is a bit expensive.”

Honestly, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to afford it. But he had to say something to comfort her.

Fang Yuan turned to look back at the crane, her eyes full of longing. “It’s not that it’s expensive. Something that can make that much money is worth the price. The problem is, we just don’t have enough money.”

Lu Chuan realized she wasn’t wrong. And that was probably the most roundabout thing Fang Yuan had ever said, but it had a certain flavor to it.

It wasn’t that the crane was out of reach—it was that they didn’t have the money.

Lu Chuan hadn’t even had time to savor that thought before Fang Yuan spoke again.

She muttered to Lu Chuan, “How do people even afford something like that? Where does their money come from?”

That really wasn’t a question they needed to worry about. Overthinking it.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, if Fang Yuan ever had a hard time in life, it would be tough indeed. Look at the kinds of things she spent her days pondering. That depth—he just couldn’t match it.

Even at dinner, Fang Yuan was still distracted. Lu Chuan figured she probably didn’t even notice what she was eating—her mind was still on that crane.

When she put down her chopsticks, Fang Yuan summed it up: “We just don’t have enough ways to make money.”

What could Lu Chuan say? Fang Yuan really had insight. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. Money is earned, after all.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Of course we can’t rush. If it’s up to me, I can’t think of any new ways. It’s up to you. Come on, let’s go back and get some rest, and think it over slowly.”

Lu Chuan was suddenly at a loss for words. This unique way of “resting the brain,” combined with such heavy trust, was a lot of pressure.

Fang Yuan added, “I was thinking we could have a baby first, but looks like we’ll have to put that off. You should focus on figuring out how to make money.”

Anyone hearing that would think it was perfectly reasonable—she was a sensible girl.

But Lu Chuan understood: when Fang Yuan said “make money first, then have a baby,” those weren’t even on the same level. That was a theoretical misunderstanding.

For Fang Yuan, wanting a child and wanting to find a way to make money couldn’t be done at the same time—each had to be thought through seriously, one at a time.

As for having a child, Lu Chuan really wasn’t in a hurry. He wanted to wait until their relationship, family, and finances were all stable before thinking about kids.

That was actually a pretty mature way of thinking.

But Lu Chuan had overlooked one thing: the guesthouse here wasn’t exactly fancy. After they showed their marriage certificate, they were given a single room—a single bed.

He hadn’t thought about it at the time, but when it was time to rest that night, Lu Chuan started to panic. This wasn’t their big kang bed at home, where one could sleep at the head and the other at the foot.

Before, he’d had no problem being around Fang Yuan. He figured unless she asked for it, he wouldn’t make a mistake.

But now, Lu Chuan didn’t have that confidence. Never mind one bed—even just one room with Fang Yuan was dangerous.

Let alone a wife who kept talking about having a baby with him. This was a real test.

Lu Chuan hesitated and tried to discuss it with Fang Yuan. “There’s only one bed in this room. I’ll go ask for another room.”

Fang Yuan was the very picture of a thrifty, practical wife. “Do you have that much money to spare? Are we not living frugally anymore?”

She almost asked if he was feeling flush with two hundred yuan burning a hole in his pocket.

Lu Chuan honestly didn’t mind spending the money, but his feet felt glued to the floor, not listening to his brain. He just couldn’t move.

Fang Yuan, still a bit clueless, patted the bed. “This bed looks clean and pretty soft. Let’s get some rest and try for a baby.”

Listen to that—such bold words! How was Lu Chuan supposed to handle it?

At that moment, Lu Chuan blamed his mother-in-law. Such a shrewd woman—why did she raise her daughter to be so innocent? She only half-understood what she should know.

Lu Chuan stood there, locked in a fierce internal struggle.

Fang Yuan asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you sweating so much? The room’s nice and airy, it’s not hot.”

Lu Chuan coughed. “Didn’t you tell me to rest my brain? Maybe I should go get another room.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t bother you.”

Then she muttered, “Have a baby, rest the brain, think of ways to make money.”

She was still tangled up, not sure which was more urgent.

Fang Yuan bustled around, telling Lu Chuan to get some rest since they’d had a long day.

Lu Chuan’s mind was blank as he awkwardly crawled under the covers, curling up on one side.

Fang Yuan said generously, “Alright, you rest your brain and think about how to make money.”

Lu Chuan thought, thank goodness she didn’t bring up the baby again. But at times like this, a man’s mind always starts to wander. He couldn’t help himself—he summoned his courage and said, “Actually, there are other ways to rest your brain.”

Fang Yuan immediately perked up. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? What ways?”"

"Chapter 102: Not the One in Charge

Lu Chuan kept quiet, looking a bit timid.

Fang Yuan sat up excitedly. “Come on, tell me! What good stuff is it? I’ll get it for you so we can both get stronger.”

Lu Chuan looked at Fang Yuan, whose face was practically burning, and mustered his courage. “If you give me a kiss, I’ll…”

Before he could finish, Fang Yuan smacked him across the face.

Lu Chuan clutched his head—it really hurt. “You—why do you always resort to violence?”

Fang Yuan put her hands on her hips, not looking the least bit delicate or wronged. “You’re being a pervert!”

Lu Chuan got anxious and tried to reason with her. “We’re husband and wife! You can sleep soundly, but I can’t even get a kiss?”

Fang Yuan shot back, “What does that have to do with anything?”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, maybe it’s one thing if his mother-in-law shirks responsibility, but he can’t. If his wife only half-understands things and ends up making a fool of herself, or worse, he gets cheated on, then he’d have no one to blame but himself.

Steeling himself, he closed his eyes and lunged at Fang Yuan, ready to take a beating if he had to.

He really did catch Fang Yuan off guard—otherwise, he’d never have gotten away with it.

But Fang Yuan’s reputation as a tigress was well-deserved. Once she recovered, Lu Chuan found himself on the floor, not even sure which foot had kicked him down.

Fang Yuan covered her mouth, glaring at Lu Chuan. “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person.”

Lu Chuan rubbed his face and touched his lips, insisting, “Other married couples are like this. This is how a proper relationship should be.”

Fang Yuan glowered at him. “Still trying to sweet-talk me?”

Lu Chuan climbed up from the floor and sat at the edge of the bed, thinking, Fang Yuan’s temper is really something. If I want kids, I’ll have to train myself to take a beating first. “I’m not trying to sweet-talk you. I just want you to know that your way of wanting a kid is different from others. I’m just trying to help you protect yourself.”

Lu Chuan felt a bit embarrassed—he knew his reasoning was flimsy and mostly just an excuse for his own desires.

No sooner had he sat down than Fang Yuan started pummeling him again, sending him right back to the floor.

The key was, Fang Yuan felt she’d lost face, so she warned Lu Chuan, “Just you wait. Try fooling me again and see how I deal with you.”

Then, in a huff, she announced, “Go to sleep!”

Lu Chuan sat on the floor, not daring to get up. How could he sleep? What if he got beaten again? When it came to matters behind closed doors, Lu Chuan never had the final say.

Fang Yuan barked, “What are you dawdling for? I told you to sleep!”

Lu Chuan, imitating Fang Yuan’s bossy tone but with a hint of cowardice, asked, “Where should I sleep? How should I sleep?”

Fang Yuan knew all about Lu Chuan’s thick skin. “What do you mean, how should you sleep? Get up here and rest properly. I already kissed you, now you’d better think hard about ways to make money.”

Then she asked, “Did it work?”

Lu Chuan was confused. Did what work?

Fang Yuan clarified, “Did your brain get a proper rest? Can you think of ways to make money now?”

See, even at a time like this, she hadn’t forgotten her original goal. Lu Chuan wondered if he could endure another beating just to ask for another kiss.

Fang Yuan was impatient—she believed every investment should have a return. “I’m asking you a question!”

Lu Chuan finally understood—Fang Yuan wasn’t going to let him get a kiss for nothing.

He slowly climbed onto the bed, hugging the blanket and laughing so hard he couldn’t stop, even when Fang Yuan hit him.

His own Fang Yuan was really practical—even after a kiss, she was worried about not wasting it, making sure he got proper rest for his brain.

Fang Yuan, face dark, kicked Lu Chuan several more times. “So this is what you’re like. No wonder my mom says men are all bad—disgusting.”

Lu Chuan stopped laughing. “How is it disgusting? You’re just thinking wrong. I brushed my teeth.”

Fang Yuan snapped, “You—shut up! Stay away from me from now on.” Then, “Go to sleep. That kiss was wasted on you, what a loss for me.”

Which set Lu Chuan off laughing again. Fang Yuan couldn’t even be bothered to hit him anymore. Clearly, this tactic wasn’t working—his brain didn’t seem to be improving.

Fang Yuan soon fell asleep, but Lu Chuan was still laughing, still thinking—he’d probably never find another woman like Fang Yuan, someone who let him laugh so freely.

The next day, Lu Chuan wanted to take Fang Yuan home, since school was starting tomorrow and he had to make a trip.

Fang Yuan refused to let him waste money on tickets going back and forth. “I’m not a kid. I won’t get lost. You don’t need to see me off.”

Lu Chuan insisted, “No way, I won’t feel at ease otherwise. Come on, let’s go.”

Fang Yuan casually added, “You don’t need to see me off. I don’t want to leave, anyway.”

Lu Chuan’s eyes lit up. “How about we look at some houses? If we can’t buy, we can rent. I’ve checked—houses near the university aren’t that expensive.”

For someone as concerned about spending as Lu Chuan, Fang Yuan didn’t even get mad. “That’s not it. I want to check out the construction site again. They have a lot of building tools I’ve never seen before.”

Lu Chuan’s brain still wasn’t working right from yesterday. He asked, “Don’t you want to keep me company?”

Isn’t that obvious? You’re going to school—what would I stick around for? Not making money?

Fang Yuan said, “Why is your mind always off track? If we had money, would I need to scrimp and save to buy a house in the provincial capital?”

Lu Chuan was full of reluctance to part, but couldn’t say a word. So his wife’s priority was making money first.

Maybe one day, if he was covered in cash, Fang Yuan would put him first.

Fang Yuan started urging Lu Chuan, “Aren’t you leaving? Don’t you have to go to school?”

Lu Chuan replied, “What school? Tomorrow. Today I’ll go to the construction site with you.”

Fang Yuan was delighted. Actually, she wasn’t even sure she could find the site again.

Turns out, Fang Yuan didn’t come all this way to see Lu Chuan off—she came to broaden her horizons.

Her idea of sightseeing was visiting construction sites. And that wasn’t all—Lu Chuan, ever the pushover, seeing how happy Fang Yuan was, took her to a big market for hardware, farm tools, and building materials.

Inside, there weren’t just cement mixers, but also other construction tools Fang Yuan had seen on site—electric drills, jackhammers, plate compactors. It was a real eye-opener for her.

Fang Yuan didn’t even want to leave—she wished she could take it all home. This girl’s interests were truly unique.

Lu Chuan thought, in the future, if Fang Yuan got mad, it wouldn’t be a silk scarf or a hair ribbon that could cheer her up—he’d probably have to buy her a crane.

His thoughts wandered off track, and several times he couldn’t help but look up at the sky, laughing at himself. Then he’d remind himself to work hard and make money—otherwise, he’d never be able to make his wife happy.

Looking at the prices, Lu Chuan wondered if Fang Yuan’s hobby counted as being wasteful… or just plain wasteful. They’d probably never save any money.

After two construction jobs, they actually had a bit of money at home.

Seeing how much Fang Yuan liked the tools, Lu Chuan asked, “Did you bring any money?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Of course. We’re not at home—where else would I keep my money but on me?”

So when they left, Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan had an extra toolbox. There weren’t any big items inside, but there were a few small, practical tools.

103."

"Chapter 103: This Is a Test

It wasn’t that Lu Chuan didn’t want to make Fang Yuan happy by buying more things; it was just that Fang Yuan was sensible. She pointed out that people back in their county didn’t even know what these tools were for, so even if they bought them, no one would rent them.

She liked these things because she could use them to make money for herself. That was her core principle, through and through.

Save up first, buy more later. Of course, as they were leaving, she casually asked Lu Chuan, “How come I didn’t see any cranes for sale?”

Lu Chuan nearly tripped. His ability to make money would never keep up with his wife’s ability to spend it—that was truly the tragedy of being a man.

He’d just earned his first real bit of money and was feeling pretty pleased with himself, but with just one sentence, Fang Yuan brought him crashing back down to earth.

The money in his hand wasn’t nearly enough to meet his wife’s spending standards. So what was there to be proud of?

After dinner, Lu Chuan was reluctant to see Fang Yuan leave early the next morning. He wanted to take her out for a walk, look at the moon, and have a private chat.

But Fang Yuan was busy studying the angle grinder, the electric drill, and the cutting machine she’d bought, completely ignoring Lu Chuan. She was focused.

Of course, Lu Chuan couldn’t just go off and sulk, because Fang Yuan still needed his technical guidance.

She called him over: “Come here and show me how to use these. Otherwise, if I take them home and don’t know how to use them, it’s a waste.”

Lu Chuan didn’t want to waste time on these things. “There’s a manual. You can read it at home.”

Fang Yuan replied, “I still need to learn how to use them myself first.”

Then she asked, “What if these things break?”

Lu Chuan said, “As long as it’s not user error, there’s a warranty for a certain period.”

Then Lu Chuan’s eyes narrowed with a smile. “If that happens, you can come to the provincial capital and find me. We’ll go get them repaired together.”

He said it with such affection that he even thought, if he’d known, he should have bought something more likely to break, not something so reliable.

But Fang Yuan was on a totally different wavelength. “Will they reimburse the travel expenses?”

Lu Chuan just stared at her. Why was she always so sharp in the places she shouldn’t be? “Don’t you want to come see me?”

Fang Yuan’s face darkened. Was this man brainless? “Are you hoping these things break?”

She couldn’t stand it. Was this how life was supposed to be? She stopped looking at the new gadgets and decided Lu Chuan’s thinking needed correcting.

She started lecturing him on how to be a person. It was okay to be a little naïve, but you couldn’t be completely clueless. Did he know how much time and money it took to travel from their place to the provincial capital? How do you account for that trip?

She even added, “Don’t be so gullible when you’re out there. Don’t let people fool you.”

Then she told Lu Chuan that they needed to buy some spare parts tomorrow, so they wouldn’t have to make another trip if something broke.

Lu Chuan took it all as sweet talk—this was just Fang Yuan worrying about him. What else could he do?

At least his wife was looking at him now, not those machines.

Lu Chuan was easily satisfied. At least he’d achieved his goal: Fang Yuan was paying attention to him, even if the conversation had gone off track.

It would’ve been even better if they could have gone out to look at the moon.

Fang Yuan said, “Did you hear me?”

Lu Chuan blushed. “I heard you. I won’t let anyone fool me.”

Fang Yuan frowned. Was he even listening? Was that the point? “I said we’re going to buy spare parts tomorrow.”

Lu Chuan replied, “I’ll go with you.”

Fang Yuan was finally satisfied. Lu Chuan, meanwhile, was lost in his own thoughts, feeling pretty pleased.

As long as he could keep up with her pace, that was enough.

That whole evening, Lu Chuan finally managed to coax Fang Yuan out for a walk. He was looking at the moon, lost in his feelings.

Fang Yuan, on the other hand, was looking at screws—thinking about how many she needed, what sizes to buy.

Lu Chuan’s face stayed red the whole time. When Fang Yuan wanted to go back to the guesthouse, saying it was late and walking around was wearing out her shoes, Lu Chuan tried to keep her from going back so soon.

Fang Yuan was exasperated. “Do you think these shoes are rented? Are you trying to wear them out to get your money’s worth?”

Lu Chuan was at a loss for words but had to say, “If we go back early, it’ll just be the two of us. What if I start overthinking things?”

Fang Yuan was completely innocent. “Overthink what? What are you thinking?”

Lu Chuan couldn’t help himself—he grabbed Fang Yuan and gave her a quick kiss. That’s what he was thinking.

Fang Yuan hadn’t expected Lu Chuan to have the guts. She thought he was going to say something, so she even leaned in a little.

The effect was immediate. The “Fang family tigress” reputation was well-earned.

She immediately reached for Lu Chuan’s head, but he was quick this time and dodged, leaving Fang Yuan swinging at air, her face full of disbelief.

She gritted her teeth. “Lu Chuan, you pervert! Just wait till I get my hands on you!”

Lu Chuan definitely wasn’t going to stick around to be hit—he ran. Fang Yuan chased after him. If she’d just slowed down a little, it would’ve been romantic.

A bit of a pity, but Lu Chuan’s imagination made up for it.

When Lu Chuan finally couldn’t run anymore and Fang Yuan caught up, she twisted his arm—not too hard, not too soft.

Lu Chuan was content. It was as if Fang Yuan had caught up just to touch him. “Alright, let’s go back.”

Fang Yuan’s voice had lost its edge. “What are you trying to do? Are you up to something?”

Lu Chuan said, “No, don’t worry. I’ll fall asleep as soon as we get back—I’m exhausted from running.”

Fang Yuan huffed, “What a waste of dinner. You ran it all off. Would’ve been better to save your energy for thinking.”

Lu Chuan joked, “Or you could give me a kiss—I’d rest better than anything.”

Fang Yuan shot him a look. “You dare think about that kind of thing?”

As they talked, they arrived back at the guesthouse.

Lu Chuan said, “How is that a bad thing? When it comes to calming down, thinking clearly, and having enough space to reflect, aren’t I the expert?”

Fang Yuan scowled and finally managed, “Speak human language.”

Lu Chuan grinned, “Whoever’s got the better brain, we listen to them.”

Fang Yuan pursed her lips. Of course, that was Lu Chuan. “You say it.”

Lu Chuan said, “If you kiss me, I’ll be more energized than after a meal, and my brain will work even better.”

Fang Yuan asked, “Are you serious?”

Lu Chuan felt a little guilty and shot back, “Didn’t you say we should do what I say?”

Fang Yuan’s face darkened. She packed her things and went to bed.

Lu Chuan lay there awkwardly, not daring to move. He thought to himself, a bit regretful that he hadn’t managed to sweet-talk his wife.

Then Fang Yuan suddenly leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.

Lu Chuan froze, feeling like his whole body was on fire.

He never expected Fang Yuan to have such a passionate side.

Then Fang Yuan stared at him and asked, “Well? Can you rest your brain now and think about something proper?”

If he could think about anything proper at this moment, Lu Chuan figured he didn’t need to go to school—he should go become a monk.

Fang Yuan kept staring, waiting for his answer. “Is your brain clear now?”

Lu Chuan nodded. In reality, not only was his mind not clear, it was a complete mess."

"Chapter 104: A Hopeless Romantic Meets a Career Maniac

When Fang Yuan saw Lu Chuan nod, she was finally satisfied. She turned around, switched off the light, and went to sleep—truly not a single extra thought in her mind.

Once Lu Chuan managed to calm his thoughts, Fang Yuan was already snoring softly on her side.

But Lu Chuan started to agonize: “Why can’t Fang Yuan think a little more? Or is it just that I don’t make her feel anything special?”

His mind was really working overtime, mulling things over in the middle of the night. All that running around and chasing after her, all that physical exertion, seemed to have been for nothing.

The next morning, Fang Yuan was up bright and early, full of energy. Meanwhile, Lu Chuan had two big dark circles under his eyes—it was obvious he hadn’t slept well, looking as if some demon had sucked the life out of him.

Heaven knows, Lu Chuan was so wronged. He did have thoughts, but unfortunately the “demon” wasn’t interested in him at all.

Fang Yuan looked at him and said, “Did you dream about fighting someone last night? Why do you look so drained?”

Lu Chuan glared at her. “Don’t use the wrong words. I’m not drained, I just didn’t sleep well.”

But Fang Yuan was still dissatisfied. “Why not? We kissed, didn’t we? What else could you be thinking about?”

Lu Chuan gave her a plaintive look. Wasn’t it precisely because of that kiss? The things I thought about, you’ve never even imagined. But I can’t say that out loud.

Still, Lu Chuan had his pride, so he said, “I was just worried about you going back alone today, couldn’t sleep.”

He looked at Fang Yuan with deep affection, eyes full of unspoken words—such tender feelings!

Fang Yuan just frowned, her face falling. “You really worry about nothing. What’s there to be concerned about?”

Lu Chuan started to get anxious; this wasn’t going the way he’d hoped. “You’re my wife, and this is the first time you’re traveling so far by yourself. How is it worrying about nothing? Of course I care about you!”

All that deep emotion was shouted out with those last few words.

They say if you keep thinking about someone, they’ll eventually think of you too. Finally, Fang Yuan got the hint. “I care about you even more.”

Lu Chuan thought, Finally, we’re on the same page. After all my tireless efforts, Fang Yuan finally has a woman’s heart.

But then Fang Yuan said, “You’d better focus on your studies and learn some real skills. Don’t get distracted by nonsense. If I start worrying about you, you’ll be in trouble, understand?”

All of Lu Chuan’s feelings turned into a single sentence: “Let’s go eat.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Eat what? Let’s go shopping first, then I’ll catch my bus. You should get to school early and not delay your proper business.” She was all about her career.

Lu Chuan got stubborn. “It won’t take long to eat.”

Well, when Lu Chuan dug his heels in, Fang Yuan didn’t really have a way to deal with him.

Lu Chuan looked at Fang Yuan, his vision almost blurry from happiness after being scolded a couple of times. What could you do? He was just a hopeless romantic.

Anyway, they ate, bought the parts they needed, and then made their way to the bus station.

Fang Yuan was on the bus, Lu Chuan was outside. The two of them looked at each other through the window.

Lu Chuan fussed over her, “This bus goes straight to the county. Don’t get off midway, don’t meddle in other people’s business, and don’t talk to strangers.”

Fang Yuan didn’t take it seriously at all. “Relax, the driver knows my dad.”

Lu Chuan said, “That’s great. I was just about to go talk to the driver. Now I can rest easy.”

Fang Yuan replied, “I’m going home, that’s our turf. What are you worried about? You’re the one out here alone, all skinny and weak. You’re the one I should be worried about. Be careful, don’t let anyone trick you.”

Lu Chuan took this as a love confession—his wife was worried about him. Besides, he didn’t think anyone could trick him except Fang Yuan.

If only Fang Yuan could be a little more gentle and affectionate, he wouldn’t have to be such a hopeless romantic. Wasn’t he just hoping to balance things out between them?

But Fang Yuan was always practical and decisive. “Alright, I’m fine. You’d better get to school early. Don’t be one of those people who gets up early but arrives late, or people will say you’re not serious about your studies.”

Lu Chuan was reluctant to leave—this woman was just too heartless. “I know, I’ll head back in a bit. Remember to come visit me in the city on Sunday.”

The ticket seller called out that the bus was about to leave. For once, Fang Yuan’s expression changed a little. She said to Lu Chuan, “Don’t cause trouble out here, but don’t be afraid of it either. If you’re bullied, send word to me and I’ll come with my brother. Otherwise, just focus on your studies and don’t keep thinking about running home—it’s a waste of time and money.”

Lu Chuan was so touched his eyes turned red. He knew Fang Yuan cared about him—those were the sweetest words he could hear. As for the rest, he just tuned it out.

Then, the hopeless romantic Lu Chuan went over to the driver. “Please look after Fang Yuan on the road. My fifth brother is in the county.”

The driver replied, “Don’t worry. She’s Fang Da Leng’s daughter—no one with eyes would dare mess with her.”

Except for this young man, who must be out of his mind. The driver gave Lu Chuan a few extra looks. He didn’t seem like an idiot, though.

The bus drove off. Lu Chuan waved his arm for ages, not knowing if Fang Yuan looked back or not.

He headed off to school alone, feeling utterly desolate. A married man leaving home really was different from before.

On the bus, an older woman started chatting with Fang Yuan. “Is that your boyfriend? He looks like a real gentleman. What does he do in the city? Aren’t you worried, going back alone like this? What if he runs off with another girl?”

Fang Yuan didn’t bother with her. She knew there were plenty of shady people out there.

But the woman kept talking to herself. “You girls these days, not as friendly as the young men.”

Fang Yuan glanced at her and said, “See the driver? He’s my relative.”

After that, no one tried to bother Fang Yuan again. Not that anyone was really a bad person, but with her attitude, she didn’t seem like someone to mess with. Who would want to provoke a tough girl for no reason?

The driver really did know Fang Da Leng and made sure to drop Fang Yuan off right at Wu Hu’s place.

Once the brothers met up, the driver waved goodbye and left.

Wu Hu wasn’t worried about his sister getting lost, but he did complain, “You really have guts, being gone for days. I’ve been running around like crazy here.”

Fang Yuan replied, “That’s because I trust you. If it were anyone else, do you think I’d leave so easily?”

Wu Hu was so annoyed his nose was crooked. “Thanks for your trust. Is everything okay with Lu Chuan? At least let Uncle Qin know, or we’ll all be worried.”

Fang Yuan said, “I know, I know. Now get going.”

Then she remembered her big package. “Let me show you something cool. I’ve seen a lot in the city—they don’t build houses, they build buildings! And they use cranes, you know what a crane is? So tall you can’t even see the top. Just one rope can lift something super heavy.”

Fang Yuan went on and on, but Wu Hu only cared about one thing: “Just don’t tell me you want to buy a crane.”

Fang Yuan said, “I’d love to, but even if we pooled all our money, it wouldn’t be enough. But there’s no rush, we’ll earn it bit by bit. Wu Hu, you need to find more work.”

Wu Hu turned and walked away. This girl always thought about things as if they were in a famine. She was going to worry him to death."

"Chapter 105: Building a House