Chapter 109: Lu Chuan’s Resolve

After seeing the Five Tigers off, the whole family started checking out the new house. The framework was already up, the windows were installed, and with a bit of tidying, they could move in.

Not only was Lu Chuan surprised, even Old Man Lu was astonished—he hadn’t been back to see it either.

Old Lady Lu beamed as she introduced the house to her family: “Next year, when we have more money, we’ll do things up properly. For now, even if we’re making do, it’s still a new house.”

Then she pursed her lips and smiled, “You don’t know—just as the house frame went up, someone came to propose for our Xiao San. No need to worry about him not finding a wife. It’s all thanks to Fang Yuan’s good fortune.”

Fang Yuan said, “Don’t agree too easily. I’ve seen how Xiao San manages all these big things at home—he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Old Lady Lu replied, “Of course we can’t agree right away. We don’t have the money to get him married yet. Give it a couple of years, he’ll be at the right age then.”

Building a house is never easy. Lu Chuan felt for his mother: “With Dad not at home, it must have been tough for you and Xiao San.”

Both Xiao San and Old Lady Lu shook their heads. “It wasn’t that hard, really. We owe so much to Fang Yuan’s fourth brother—he’s a good man. He thought of everything, big and small. All we had to do was follow his lead.”

Xiao San added, “Fourth Brother has helped us so much. Everyone in the village has seen what he can do. Some folks even asked him to help build their houses too. He told me to join him and work together.”

There was a lot in those words. Lu Chuan asked, “What do you think?”

Xiao San replied, “I’m not as capable as Fourth Brother, but I can help out, run errands, and learn a thing or two. Now that our house is done, I’d just be sitting around at home anyway.”

Lu Chuan said, “If you want to follow him for a year, that’s fine.” But he figured it wouldn’t last forever.

But Xiao San wasn’t really looking for Lu Chuan’s opinion—he looked eagerly at Fang Yuan instead. “Second Sister-in-law, what do you think? I hope I’m not just tagging along with Fourth Brother to make money and embarrassing you.”

Fang Yuan laughed, “You don’t know my Fourth Brother well enough. You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t work you to the bone. If you want to get money out of him, you’ll have to get a lot more capable. It’s fine to follow him for a year or so. Once you’ve suffered enough, you’ll wise up.”

Lu Chuan chuckled—her words had the flavor of a mother-in-law’s advice.

Xiao San was a bit confused. What did she mean? Was he supposed to follow Fourth Brother and learn to suffer?

Old Man Lu, worried his youngest son wouldn’t know how to respond—after all, they were siblings and could say anything—quickly changed the subject: “Ahem, things sure have changed fast around here.”

Then he asked, “By the way, where’s the eldest and his wife?”

Old Lady Lu’s face fell. “She’s pregnant.”

She held her tongue in front of her second son and said nothing more. The topic quickly passed.

But when only the old couple were left, Old Lady Lu finally spoke her mind: “Second son built the house and helped out Xiao San. Look at Xiao San—he’s grateful, always discussing things with his brother. But the eldest? Not only did he not help, he acts like he’s been wronged. He’s just short of coming over and demanding a new house from us.”

Old Man Lu was silent for a long time, then asked, “With such a big event at home, the eldest didn’t help at all?”

Old Lady Lu was on the verge of tears. “He came and asked me where the money for the house came from.”

Old Man Lu sighed. Others might not know, but how could the eldest not know there’s no money at home?

He said, “Forget it. If we can get the kids married, we’ve done enough.”

Hearing that, Old Lady Lu broke down in tears. Old Man Lu was at a loss: “What’s wrong, dear?”

Old Lady Lu pounded her chest, crying quietly so others wouldn’t hear: “My heart is cold. I’m willing to work hard and suffer to build this house—I’m happy to do it. But do you know, Old Man, the eldest and his wife are out there telling people we never did anything for him, that he found his own wife.”

Old Man Lu said, “But we went through so much to get him married. Doesn’t he remember?”

Old Lady Lu wailed, “What does he know? Didn’t we help the second son get married too?”

Old Man Lu was at a loss for words. It really was a mess.

Old Lady Lu’s grievance was all because of this. She’d poured her heart into getting the eldest married, to the point where she and her husband couldn’t even focus on their second son’s schooling.

And now, after all that, the eldest was making it out like they were biased and never helped him.

Li Meng could say whatever she wanted outside, but it was the eldest’s reaction that truly hurt Old Lady Lu.

Now that Old Man Lu was back, Old Lady Lu finally had someone to lean on, so of course she cried. She knew Fang Yuan had a temper, so she hadn’t dared mention any of this in front of her.

But just because Old Lady Lu didn’t say anything didn’t mean Fang Yuan didn’t know what the eldest had done.

Xiao San said, “Second Brother, the eldest is eyeing the new house. He’s been telling people the family never helped him, so why should he get nothing from this new house? Says Mom and Dad owe him, that he found his own wife.”

Lu Chuan’s face darkened. He knew the eldest had no shame. When they split the family, the eldest insisted that as the oldest, the house was his.

Now, seeing the new house, he was shameless enough to ask for a share.

Fang Yuan immediately grabbed a broom and stormed off. “He acts like being shameless is something to be proud of!”

Lu Chuan panicked and said to Xiao San, “You could have told me quietly. Don’t you know what your sister-in-law’s temper is like?”

But Xiao San had told Fang Yuan on purpose. He pulled Lu Chuan along, saying, “Let her put him in his place. She’s been running herself ragged for him—she even stayed up at noon in this heat to make him jelly. Do you know how hot it is?”

Lu Chuan realized Xiao San was a troublemaker. “Let go, I’m coming too. What if your sister-in-law gets taken advantage of?”

Xiao San thought to himself, “You’re worrying for nothing. How could my sister-in-law ever get taken advantage of?”

Still, Lu Chuan was worried. He’d just gotten home, and before he and his wife could even talk, she was already off to fight. Did she even care about him?

To Lu Chuan, Fang Yuan was rushing off to confront the eldest, and he just couldn’t stand it.

She was a college student now—she had her own temper. He got angry and chased after her, grumbling, “If we’re going, we’re going together.”

He grabbed Fang Yuan’s hand—he insisted they go hand in hand.

That was about as far as Lu Chuan’s authority went. Fang Yuan found it a hassle to walk like that, but she couldn’t shake him off.

Fang Yuan didn’t even go inside. She called out to Li Meng from the yard, “All you shameless, immoral people, get out here!”

Lu Chuan muttered under his breath, “Didn’t we agree to be more civilized now?”

Fang Yuan retorted, “Civilized? With people like this? Have you lost your mind after a few days in the city?”

Lu Chuan didn’t dare say another word—his wife was right. This really showed his place in the family. He was in charge, but only within certain limits.

Li Meng came out, holding her belly. “Second daughter-in-law, let me tell you, you’re a woman too. Don’t think that just because you work on a construction site, you’re a man. You’re always making Second Brother look bad. He’s a college student, you know. Aren’t you afraid he’ll stop liking you?”

How vicious—she went straight for the jugular.

110."