Chapter 115: Another One Fell Into the Trap

Fang Yuan just can’t bear to stop making money. You and your two mothers—can you have a child together? Are you even getting to the point?

Fang Yuan didn’t even notice that Lu Chuan was angry, and smoothly replied, “Otherwise, what, you think you can have a baby for me?”

Lu Chuan couldn’t take it anymore. “But without me, you couldn’t have a kid either.”

That really hit Fang Yuan’s weak spot. She really couldn’t do it without him.

Lu Chuan said, “Fang Yuan, come with me to the provincial capital, then we’ll have a baby. Nothing else to discuss.”

Fang Yuan, half believing, sat down on the kang and grabbed Lu Chuan by the collar. “Have a baby or not, you think it’s up to you?”

Alright, there’s a prerequisite: Lu Chuan himself has to put up with what others can’t. Clearly, he couldn’t handle this scene.

In the middle of the night, he ran off to stay at Lu Xiaosan’s place. Otherwise, what decent young man could resist his wife dragging him to have a baby in the middle of the night?

Lu Xiaosan was left worried sick. If Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law’s relationship was good, would Second Brother come running to him in the middle of the night?

Lu Xiaosan’s mind was spinning: It’s over, it’s over, our family’s got a Chen Shimei* now.

(*Chen Shimei: a byword for a heartless, unfaithful man in Chinese opera.)

Lu Xiaosan couldn’t handle the pressure and got up early the next morning. “Second Brother, tell me the truth, do you have feelings for Second Sister-in-law—no, wait, do you *not* have feelings for her?” That didn’t sound quite right either.

Lu Chuan hadn’t slept well and was in low spirits. “What are you trying to say?”

Lu Xiaosan: “Second Brother, do you look down on us country folk?”

Lu Chuan snapped, “Can’t you think something good about me for once?” Why does everyone keep asking this?

Lu Xiaosan: “No, Second Brother, don’t you feel guilty about what you’re doing? Whether you like Second Sister-in-law or not, you still let her help run the house. Even I know that’s not right.”

Lu Chuan really didn’t know what this kid was thinking. Why can’t a married couple just get along? “We’re doing just fine.”

Lu Xiaosan: “You’re fooling ghosts. If you’re doing fine, would you run to me in the middle of the night? Go ask around, what normal couple does that?”

Lu Chuan thought, I can’t explain this to a half-grown kid like you. “I’m doing this for the long term. If you don’t get it, don’t stir up trouble.”

Lu Xiaosan laughed in exasperation. “You think I’ve never been married?”

Lu Chuan’s subtle thoughts—heck, even their parents didn’t understand, let alone Lu Xiaosan. “You just don’t get it.”

Lu Xiaosan: “Then explain it to me, help me understand. I can’t feel at ease like this.”

Lu Chuan: “Your Second Sister-in-law only cares about money, not me. I told her to come with me to the provincial capital, or else no kids.”

Lu Xiaosan just couldn’t believe his Second Brother could be so tough. “Really?”

Lu Chuan insisted, “Really.”

Lu Xiaosan: “Second Brother, you’ve got guts, daring to play hardball with Second Sister-in-law.” Don’t forget about her gang of brothers. This could get dicey.

Lu Chuan scoffed, thinking Lu Xiaosan was worrying too much. “It’s a long-term plan.”

Lu Xiaosan: “As long as you don’t turn into Chen Shimei and don’t let Second Sister-in-law tear the house down, you can do whatever you want. Just be careful—if you piss her off, you’ll be in trouble.”

Lu Chuan picked up on something—this kid’s not being very loyal. “Are you looking out for me or for the family?”

Lu Xiaosan: “If you go off the rails, nobody wins. Think about it.”

The Five Tiger Generals—those guys aren’t just for show. Second Brother dares to use having a baby as leverage? Her fourth and fifth brothers could pin him down and make him have a kid, without the others even stepping in. Second Brother really has no sense.

Lu Xiaosan: “If you want to take Second Sister-in-law to the provincial capital, why build a house in the village? Isn’t that a waste of money? Not going to live in the new house?”

Lu Chuan: “I want her to come with me to the provincial capital, not never come home. Our roots are here.”

Lu Xiaosan: “I bet Second Sister-in-law won’t want to leave. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to leave a new house either.”

Lu Chuan didn’t want to hear it. Turns out building the house was a mistake? “So you’re the smart one, huh?” He left, not too happy.

Lu Chuan had a half-month off for National Day. He could’ve stayed home a few more days, helped out a bit.

But the next day, the Five Tigers came to pick him up. In their words, since he finally had a holiday, not a minute should be wasted—get to the construction site.

At least he got a meal at his mother-in-law’s. The whole time, Lu Chuan didn’t dare look her in the eye.

Thinking of what Fang Yuan said last night, Lu Chuan’s blood pressure shot up. So embarrassing.

Second Sister-in-law was whispering behind his back again: “Did our brother-in-law do something shady outside? He looks shifty, won’t even look people in the eye.”

She even whispered to Fang Yuan, “Little sis, did you ask your brother-in-law if he’s made any new friends out there? How’s he treating you?”

Fang Yuan wasn’t about to share her feelings with this nosy sister-in-law. “If you’ve got time for that, better spend it on my Second Brother.”

Over on the other side, Wang Cuixiang was also worried. When her daughters-in-law weren’t around, she asked her daughter, “Is your husband really okay?”

Fang Yuan snapped, “It’s a big deal—he’s so capable, he doesn’t even want to have a baby with me.”

Wang Cuixiang accidentally bit her tongue, then steeled herself. “You’re still young.”

Not having a baby has its upsides. This son-in-law really needs to be observed for another two years. If there’s no kid by then, maybe that’s not a bad thing for Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan was unhappy. “So I’m just supposed to watch that shameless woman flaunt her belly in front of me?”

Wang Cuixiang was so angry at her daughter’s words she clutched her chest to calm herself. “Having a baby isn’t about showing off or competing. Do you have any sense? Your husband’s right not to have a kid with you.”

Still, Wang Cuixiang was worried about her daughter. “Did your husband say why?”

Fang Yuan: “Why else? He’s just showing off, insisting I go to the provincial capital, says otherwise the kid won’t have a dad.”

Wang Cuixiang rubbed her ears. That didn’t sound like her son-in-law was up to no good. “Really?”

Fang Yuan: “It’s not even a good thing. What are you so excited about?”

Wang Cuixiang thumped her daughter’s back a few times. “You silly girl, it’s just the provincial capital. Go!”

Fang Yuan: “No way. Do you know how much I make a day? If I go to the provincial capital, am I supposed to wait for pies to fall from the sky? Who’s going to pay for school?”

Wang Cuixiang looked at her stubborn daughter, who only had eyes for money. “How much are you making that you can’t even care about your husband?”

Fang Yuan just laughed. Money’s way more useful than a man. “Guess.”

Wang Cuixiang wanted to find out how much her daughter and son-in-law had saved. She held up one finger. “A thousand?”

Fang Yuan: “Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

Wang Cuixiang’s eyes widened. It’s only been a few months, the house is almost finished, and saving that much is already impressive. Plus, her daughter even bought a big-ticket item.

Wang Cuixiang held up two fingers. Fang Yuan lifted her chin even higher.

Wang Cuixiang slapped down the feather duster in her hand. “Alright, that Fang Wuhu, he’s really gone too far!”

Fang Yuan was confused. “Mom, what are you talking about? What’s this got to do with Wuhu?”

Wang Cuixiang: “What do you think? Hiding your earnings from your own mother!”

Fang Yuan turned and ran. Oh no, she’d been tricked. She’d dragged Fifth Brother into the pit with her.

116."

"**Chapter 116: Lu Chuan’s Game Plan**

When it was just the two of them left, Wang Cuihua sighed, “The eldest, always full of hot air, thinks he’s so capable, but all he’s doing is putting on a show.”

Fang Daleng didn’t see anything wrong with that—he was proud of his son. “That’s not so bad. When I go out, everyone knows I’m Fang the Tiger’s father. They all give me some respect.”

Wang Cuihua scoffed. “What do you know? The kids all come to me, their grandma, for school money.”

What kind of person is the eldest? He’s never suffered a loss—always scheming.

People say the eldest really cares about his brother-in-law, but Wang Cuihua just couldn’t believe it. Who knows what he’s plotting? He’s always so petty.

Now, those two younger brothers who keep quiet—that’s what it means to be truly capable. Didn’t you see even the fourth doesn’t follow the eldest around anymore?

Look at the five brothers—when they came back for Mid-Autumn Festival, the fourth was practically glued to the eldest. No wonder the eldest was in such a bad mood he couldn’t even enjoy his meal. Anyone would feel annoyed.

Fang Daleng turned to his wife and asked cautiously, “I noticed you don’t seem too happy with our daughter lately.”

Thinking of Fang Yuan, Wang Cuihua got so angry her nose almost went crooked again. “I can’t stand how she never uses her head.”

Fang Daleng said, “She’s got enough sense to get by, hasn’t she? Our girl hasn’t suffered, has she? Kids should learn to be content.”

Wang Cuihua couldn’t really argue with that. But honestly, can you say our daughter really isn’t lacking in brains? Who would believe that?

She let a capable man slip by and only cared about a bit of money. If she’s not lacking in sense, then who is?

Wang Cuihua snapped, “Fine, if you say she’s not lacking, then she’s not.” After all, this lack of sense probably comes from her father.

The fifth brother took Lu Chuan to the county seat. When it came to their own construction site, Lu Chuan picked things up right away.

With Lu Chuan there, the fifth brother could finally relax for a few days and take it easy.

“Brother-in-law, you’re back and have a few days off. I’ll take a few days off too. I’ve been wound up tight lately,” said the fifth.

Lu Chuan replied, “I’m afraid I can’t, fifth brother. I found a job in the provincial capital. It’s our first time doing something like this—just a small gig.”

Then, a bit shyly, he added, “Fifth brother, why don’t you come with me and check it out? See if you think it’s worth doing. If you like it, you can find a few of our own people, some younger ones. Once they learn the skills, they won’t run off. We’ll go to the provincial capital and get a head start.”

The fifth brother perked right up. “Brother-in-law, that’s great! Why wouldn’t I like it? It’s the provincial capital! No matter how small the job, we’re breaking into the big city.”

“Of course I’ll go,” he said. “But brother-in-law, do you have time for this with your studies?”

Lu Chuan looked a little uneasy. “Not really, but I happened to meet a classmate whose family is in this business, and they’re expanding in this direction. It just worked out.”

The fifth brother was full of dreams about going to college. Otherwise, how could he have stumbled into such a job? “You can even learn this in college? Brother-in-law, you should study this too.”

Lu Chuan did plan on it. He’d met this new classmate while auditing classes. He didn’t dare hope to put what he learned into practice just yet, but getting to know more about the business could only help.

Lu Chuan said, “I’m not looking too far ahead, just trying to learn a bit for now. But fifth brother, there’s one more thing—if we take this job, we’ll need someone to keep an eye on things in the provincial capital.”

The fifth brother turned to Lu Chuan. “Of course, that goes without saying. Don’t worry, as long as there’s money to be made, I’m not afraid of hard work.”

But that wasn’t what Lu Chuan was worried about. He didn’t need the fifth brother to work himself to the bone.

Lu Chuan knew the fifth brother couldn’t leave the county seat for long, so the one to go to the provincial capital would definitely be Fang Yuan. “So, tomorrow, let’s go check out the provincial capital.”

The fifth brother was so fired up he didn’t even want to rest. “We could go today if you wanted!”

Lu Chuan, sly as a fox, said, “It’s too late today. But knowing how much you trust me, fifth brother, really puts my mind at ease.”

The fifth brother replied, “Of course! We’re brothers, aren’t we? Brother-in-law, you’re doing a great job—living in the provincial capital but still thinking about our business. But don’t let your studies fall behind.”

Lu Chuan said, “Of course not. But I’m worried Fang Yuan won’t be willing.” There, his real intention slipped out.

“Why wouldn’t she be?” the fifth brother asked.

He continued, “The provincial capital is just the beginning. No one trusts us yet, and these are all small jobs that don’t pay much—nothing like the big projects here.”

“But you’ve got to think long-term,” he went on. “Work in the provincial capital is on another level compared to the county. Just imagine, telling people we’re making money in the big city—doesn’t that sound impressive? Don’t worry, leave this to me.”

Lu Chuan said, “I trust you, fifth brother. I trust your judgment. When you chose to partner with me instead of the eldest, I knew you had vision. With your support, I feel much more confident.”

The fifth brother got a little carried away. “Are you praising me or yourself? But this just proves I really do have foresight—better than the eldest.”

Lu Chuan gave him a thumbs up. “You should be proud when it’s called for. I’m counting on you, fifth brother, counting on your long-term vision.”

Then he just sat back, satisfied, waiting for the results. He wasn’t worried about Fang Yuan refusing—he had an ally now.

That night, Lu Chuan, Fang Yuan, and the fifth brother all stayed in the workers’ dorm. After a month away, the scene felt a little surreal to Lu Chuan.

Tomorrow, Old Man Lu would come by. He could watch over the site for a day, no problem.

The fifth brother started enthusiastically telling Fang Yuan about expanding their business into the provincial capital.

But Fang Yuan was stubborn—she wasn’t easily convinced. “Travel all the way to the provincial capital, pay my own way, and not even make more than I do here? Why bother?”

To her, the fifth brother was just being gullible—letting himself get talked into something.

The fifth brother almost got talked out of it himself. Lu Chuan raised an eyebrow from the side. The fifth brother said, “That’s not right. You came back from the provincial capital saying everyone’s building high-rises there. Who knows, maybe our county will start building them too. If we don’t learn now, we’ll be left behind. Will we still have the momentum we do now?”

He tried to persuade her, “Fang Yuan, you should listen to me on this. You have to think long-term. Your husband’s in college, studying this stuff—he sees further than we do.”

Lu Chuan honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead, nor did he have any plans to build high-rises. All he wanted was to get his wife to the provincial capital. It was that simple.

But since the fifth brother had made such a big deal out of it, he had to go along with it.

Fang Yuan asked, “Really going? Is there any work for my cement mixer?”

Lu Chuan’s face darkened. “No. The county jobs still need your mixer. You can’t just leave those behind.”

In other words, there was no need for a cement mixer in the provincial capital.

The fifth brother chimed in, “Come on, this isn’t a joke. Even if we don’t make much, or even lose money, we still have to go. Don’t worry about your mixer—you’re already busy enough in the county, aren’t you?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Isn’t this ridiculous? I can’t even keep up with the work here, so why would I go to the provincial capital?”

Lu Chuan just looked at the fifth brother, silently cheering him on. He knew he couldn’t persuade Fang Yuan himself.

Thank you all for reading.

---

**End of Chapter 116**"

"Chapter 117: The Road to Success

Wu Hu: “This is about vision, Fang Yuan. You need to keep up with us, otherwise, in the future, we won’t need you or your mixer. My brother-in-law and I are partners; we made this decision together. You…”

Fang Yuan turned her head and raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?” She looked ready to turn hostile at the slightest disagreement—this wasn’t something to joke about.

Wu Hu immediately softened his tone. “You need to learn more from my brother-in-law, listen to our opinions. Both of us think it’s important to broaden our horizons.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, So this is all the fight Wu Hu has in him? That’s not going to cut it.

Fang Yuan wasn’t stupid either. “If we go to the provincial capital, the two of us will have to split up. Who’s going to keep track of the work here? And how are we going to find people over there?”

Wu Hu said, “What’s the problem? These days, we don’t even have to go looking for people—they’re lining up to come to me for work. And as for keeping track, don’t you have your uncle? Or do you not trust me?”

Fang Yuan replied, “The way you put it, it does sound doable. But are you sure you can find people willing to go to the provincial capital?”

Wu Hu said, “Don’t worry about that. Who’d want to stay in the county when they can go to the provincial capital to work? That’s a real chance to gain experience.”

Fang Yuan said, “You’d better find the people first, then talk.”

Wu Hu boasted, “No kidding, just a word from me and they’ll all come running.”

Fang Yuan went off to clean her mixer—she had to wash it thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Wu Hu was busy arranging for manpower. Anyone he brought along had to be trustworthy, so he had to give them a heads-up first.

Those who stayed behind also had to be reliable, able to handle things and take care of the details. Just like Fang Yuan said, nothing about this was simple.

Lu Chuan came over to help Fang Yuan wash the mixer. Fang Yuan asked, “Was this your idea?”

Lu Chuan replied, “It really is an opportunity. If we can get established in the provincial capital, we can have kids whenever we want.”

Fang Yuan said, “If you weren’t always so busy, we could have a kid right now.”

Was that something to just blurt out? Lu Chuan’s face turned bright red. “Don’t shout that out.”

For Fang Yuan, having a child was simple—she just wanted one.

But for Lu Chuan, it wasn’t just about having a child, so every time the topic came up, he’d get all flustered. That’s the difference in their mindsets.

Lu Chuan really was a step behind Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan glared at him, hands on her hips, and kicked him to the ground. “What use are you to me?”

Lu Chuan was dumbfounded. Was his only purpose to have a child?

Wu Hu walked in and saw his brother-in-law looking embarrassed. “What’s going on?”

Lu Chuan quickly got up from the ground. “Nothing, Wu Hu. I just slipped.”

Wu Hu was very considerate. Even though they weren’t married yet, he understood what was going on. He put his arm around Lu Chuan and said, “Women have tempers. You have to coax them. These things have to be mutual, you know?”

Could Lu Chuan tell his brother-in-law that he wasn’t willing?

Honestly, with the way Fang Yuan and Wu Hu got along, if he ever said he wasn’t willing, Wu Hu might just tie him up and deliver him to Fang Yuan.

That wasn’t impossible. So Lu Chuan just let Wu Hu believe what he wanted.

The next morning, the three of them got on the bus to the provincial capital. Fang Yuan immediately frowned. “See? I told you this job isn’t worth it. We haven’t even started, and we’re already out the travel expenses.”

Wu Hu said, “You never want to put money up front for anything. Think about your big crane—if we stay in the county, even if you have the money to buy one, you’ll never get to use it.”

Fine, Fang Yuan said nothing more. For the sake of the big crane, she’d put up with it.

Lu Chuan gave Wu Hu a thumbs up. When it came to handling Fang Yuan, Wu Hu was the expert. Why hadn’t he thought of using the big crane to win her over?

But the trip was still tough—the bus was way too crowded.

Lu Chuan shielded Fang Yuan as best he could, but that just meant he ended up pressed against her more often, and his face stayed red the whole way.

When they got off the bus, Wu Hu looked at his brother-in-law with concern. “It wasn’t easy for you to go to school, and now look at you—your face was red the whole trip.”

He added, “Brother-in-law, have you ever had a doctor check out your temperature and complexion? Why are you always so flushed? Don’t neglect your health—if you’re sick, you need to get treated.”

Lu Chuan blushed even harder. There was no way to explain this. “It was crowded and hot. That’s just how I am.”

Wu Hu said, “Don’t take it lightly, brother-in-law. I’m counting on you to take on the provincial capital with me.”

Lu Chuan said, “Don’t worry, Wu Hu. I’m fine, really.”

Wu Hu turned to Fang Yuan. “You need to pay more attention, too. Don’t just think about making money all day.” Wu Hu really worried about his brother-in-law’s health.

Fang Yuan turned away. She couldn’t say much, but after all their time together, she could more or less read Lu Chuan’s looks during the trip. She turned away and ignored both of them.

Wu Hu said, “See that temper? Brother-in-law, Fang Yuan just has a tough personality.”

Lu Chuan snuck a glance at Fang Yuan, his face even redder. “It’s fine, Wu Hu. I get it.” He put on an innocent act.

Good thing Fang Yuan didn’t hear, or she’d definitely have called him out for talking big but never following through. When it came time to have a kid, he always dragged his feet.

Lu Chuan didn’t mind Fang Yuan’s eye rolls. He was thinking about long-term stability, not just momentary happiness.

He took his brother-in-law and wife to eat first, then arranged their lodging. Knowing Fang Yuan’s personality, Lu Chuan took them to see the construction site and explained the job before anything else.

Wu Hu felt a bit dizzy looking at the place. It was huge, and yet his brother-in-law called it a “small job.” Impressive. “We can handle this.”

Fang Yuan nodded too. The place was big, and there was work everywhere you looked. “The pay isn’t much, but at least it’s steady.”

Wu Hu said, “Exactly. Back in the village, we have decent work, but in another ten days or so, once it freezes, everything shuts down. Here, the work lasts—doesn’t it get too cold to work?”

Lu Chuan was happy—this was exactly what he valued. He stayed humble. “As long as you think it’s good, Wu Hu. I was worried I’d just be making trouble for you.”

Fang Yuan always got straight to the point. “How did you land such a big job?”

Lu Chuan replied, “A classmate introduced me. His family is in this business. He took the job first, then passed it on to us for a cut.”

Fang Yuan asked, “Male classmate or female?”

Wu Hu’s ears perked up. Both brothers were on alert.

Lu Chuan stifled a laugh. So Fang Yuan did care about him after all—she went straight to the key question. “Definitely a male classmate.”

Fang Yuan had nothing else to ask. She didn’t care about anything else.

Wu Hu took a liking to the building site. “I’ll go back tomorrow and bring people over. While there are still workers here, we can learn from them.”

The two brothers smiled—they were on the same page.

Lu Chuan saw that Fang Yuan looked satisfied, so he said, “Wu Hu, let’s go eat.”

Wu Hu said, “I’ve been hungry since we got off the bus.”

Fang Yuan said, “Let’s go. I’m hungry too.”

Wu Hu nudged Lu Chuan. “Were you afraid Fang Yuan would get upset and not eat, so you brought us here to check out the job first?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Can’t hide anything from you, Wu Hu.”"

"Chapter 118: Schemes Everywhere

After dinner, the three brothers arrived at their lodgings. It was then that Wu Hu realized just how far behind his brother-in-law he really was—his own little tricks were nothing compared to Lu Chuan’s.

Lu Chuan took them to the place he’d rented himself. Inside, everything was ready: pots, pans, bedding, toiletries—nothing was missing. Of course, the place was a bit small.

But it was obvious in every detail that Lu Chuan had planned this all in advance, just waiting for them to move in.

Lu Chuan introduced the place to Fang Yuan: “There are dorms at the construction site, but it’s really not convenient for you to stay there. This place isn’t far from the site or the school, so I can keep an eye on things.”

Fang Yuan’s face darkened. “So this is how you live while studying away from home? Doesn’t your school care what you do? You just go out and do whatever you want?”

Now she was dragging his school into it, which was a bit unreasonable.

Wu Hu figured it out: after all this running around, his brother-in-law was really just trying to keep Fang Yuan close. The work was probably just an excuse—he was putting in a lot of effort.

He glanced at his own sister, still not seeing what made her so special that Lu Chuan would go to all this trouble for her.

Then he looked at Lu Chuan and tried to persuade Fang Yuan: “Don’t get worked up. He’s doing all this for you.”

Fang Yuan, as always, went straight to the point: “And the money? Where did you get the money to rent this place?”

Lu Chuan explained immediately, not the least bit annoyed: “From the allowance you gave me. I don’t spend that much at school.”

Fang Yuan’s anger flared. She’d given him extra so he wouldn’t be short of money, not so he could rent a place: “So you used it to rent a house?”

Lu Chuan explained, “It’s mainly because this place is convenient, and it’s cheap. And now that Wu Ge is here, he needs somewhere to stay too.”

Wu Hu scoffed. “With just this one room, I’d be better off in the dorms at the site. You sure know how to talk, brother-in-law.”

He watched as Lu Chuan quietly whispered to Fang Yuan, saying the rent was reasonable and not expensive—just sweet-talking her, really.

Honestly, the third brother’s wife was always saying that after Lu Chuan went to college, he’d look down on Fang Yuan. But now, it seemed she’d misjudged him. He really did care about Fang Yuan and wanted to take her everywhere.

And yet, Lu Chuan had the nerve to praise Wu Hu so much, almost making him believe it himself.

Fang Yuan said, “Mom and Dad told you to focus on your studies, but your mind is elsewhere. You’ve only been in the provincial capital for a few days—how did you even find the time to arrange all this?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t slack off. School is my main priority, and I won’t let it get in the way. I found this place through a friend. It wasn’t much trouble.” God knows how much of that was true.

Fang Yuan stomped on Lu Chuan’s foot, almost flattening it. He gritted his teeth and didn’t dare cry out in pain.

After a long, tiring day, Fang Yuan, who was broad-minded, felt better after venting her anger with a stomp. She went off to get familiar with the place and wash up.

Finally, Wu Hu had a chance to talk to his brother-in-law: “Why insist on bringing her to the provincial capital? Are you trying to make things hard for yourself?”

Lu Chuan rubbed his foot. “We’re a couple. If we didn’t have the means, fine, but now we’re doing okay—why not be together? Besides, there’s still some work here in the provincial capital.”

Wu Hu burst out laughing. “At this point, you’re still trying to fool me with that?”

He continued, “I may not be smart, but seeing this place, I get it. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Fang Yuan keeps an eye on things here in the provincial capital.”

Lu Chuan finally looked a little embarrassed. “Wu Ge, it’s not all about that. I’m planning to find a few young, sharp guys. Our work doesn’t have a strict deadline—whenever we finish paving the tiles outside the complex is fine. If we get the chance, we can even help out inside the buildings and learn some of the finer skills.”

Wu Hu’s expression turned serious. “Chuan’er, I get it. Once the work back in the county is done, I won’t take any more jobs. We’re not just here to make money—we’ll come over and broaden our horizons, learn some new things.”

Hearing this, Lu Chuan forgot about everything else and said, “Wu Ge, you have to make sure Fang Yuan’s mixer is taken care of. That’s her lifeblood.”

Wu Hu laughed. “I know. Otherwise, Fang Yuan wouldn’t be comfortable here, right?”

Lu Chuan turned away, not wanting to admit it. But with winter coming, it didn’t really matter—she’d have to stop using the mixer for a while anyway.

Wu Hu thought to himself, Brother-in-law, isn’t it a bit late to start worrying about your dignity?

Lu Chuan hovered around Fang Yuan. “Let me show you where the bathroom is. That’s the only inconvenient thing about this place.”

Fang Yuan really hadn’t found the bathroom. “You’re sure you’re not neglecting your studies?”

This time, Lu Chuan answered honestly, without any guilt. Growing up in the countryside, he knew what was most important: “Really, I’m not.”

Fang Yuan said, “My dad cares a lot about that. Back home, he tells everyone his son-in-law is a college student, and he wants you to do well. Don’t embarrass him.”

Lu Chuan hadn’t expected his father-in-law to be so proud: “That’s my livelihood—I won’t mess it up.”

Seeing that Fang Yuan was almost convinced, Lu Chuan carefully suggested, “When Wu Ge goes back, let him bring your things too.”

Fang Yuan replied, “There’s so much to do at home—the mixer, the house, and Mom. I have to go back myself and make arrangements.”

Lu Chuan changed tack: “I just feel bad about you having to travel back and forth. Even I don’t like all that running around.”

Then he added, “Anyway, there are several days off. I’ll go back with you.”

Fang Yuan thought Lu Chuan was being silly. “It’s not like traveling is free, and now two people have to go back and forth. What a waste.”

She added, “But honestly, I do dread all that traveling.”

Lu Chuan was secretly delighted, but outwardly he worried for her: “So what should we do? If I stay here and you go back with Wu Ge, I’d worry about you being here alone in a strange place.”

Fang Yuan said, “What’s there to worry about? Are you afraid something will happen to me?”

Lu Chuan tried not to laugh. Why did Fang Yuan always have such unexpected perspectives? “Don’t make me laugh.”

Fang Yuan didn’t see what was so funny. “You men are so wishy-washy. I’m being serious.”

Lu Chuan suppressed his laughter and said quietly, “I’m not as useless as you say, am I?”

But Fang Yuan’s mind was on business. “Do you think, if we really get jobs in the provincial capital, they’ll rent my mixer?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Of course, but we’ll have to wait until we make a name for ourselves here.”

Fang Yuan nodded and started imagining the future. “The provincial capital is so big. I need to save up and buy more mixers.”

She was planning to expand everywhere.

As long as Fang Yuan was focused on the provincial capital, Lu Chuan felt there was nothing to worry about. “Alright. Once Wu Ge’s projects are all wrapped up, we’ll see how much money we have, and you can buy as many as you want.”

Lu Chuan realized that he had no principles when it came to Fang Yuan—he was even starting to get a little muddled.

Wu Hu happened to overhear this and teased Lu Chuan: “Are you sick or something? Whatever she says, you just agree. Don’t you have a mind of your own? What’s the point of buying so many mixers? Besides your uncle, who else is going to help her keep track of them all?”

Lu Chuan lowered his head, embarrassed. He couldn’t very well say that he’d just been swept up in the moment and didn’t even know what he was saying."

"Chapter 119: A Few Flaws

The Five Tigers looked at Lu Chuan, worried about his intelligence. “I’m starting to think I was too impulsive deciding to follow you and stir things up. Brother-in-law, what I trust is your brain. If you just listen to everything Fang Yuan says, I’m a little scared.”

Fang Yuan retorted, “What’s that supposed to mean? What about me? My brain works just fine! My mixer has made plenty of money—am I worse than you guys?”

Five Tigers replied, “That’s true, who can compare to you? But still, if Lu Chuan’s brain worked like yours, I’d have to seriously reconsider.”

Lu Chuan didn’t dare chime in. But when he wasn’t around Fang Yuan, his brain was still pretty sharp.

Hearing Five Tigers’ words, Fang Yuan got annoyed. “I have money. I can buy whatever I want.”

Five Tigers couldn’t really comment on how she spent her own money. “Sure, but maybe you should save up for that crane you want.”

Fang Yuan glared at him. He kind of had a point. She really did love both the mixer and the crane—couldn’t bear to part with either.

Seeing that the siblings had calmed down, Lu Chuan finally spoke up. “Let’s save up slowly. Sooner or later, we’ll all be able to buy what we want.”

Fang Yuan said, “See? My man supports me. He hasn’t said a word against it. What’s it got to do with you?”

Five Tigers laughed from the side. “Oh really? Nothing to do with me? Brother-in-law, let’s say Fang Yuan had to choose between her mixer and her crane—she can’t bear to give up either. But if it was you versus the crane and the mixer, which would she pick?”

Now that was just stirring the pot—Five Tigers was out of line.

Lu Chuan immediately got upset, because it was obvious Fang Yuan wouldn’t pick him. That was a painful truth.

Before Fang Yuan could answer, Lu Chuan shouted at her, “You heartless woman!” Then he stormed out to buy snacks for his wife. Clearly, Five Tigers had gotten to him.

Fang Yuan complained, “What did I do? He just yells at me. Five Tigers, you’re just going to stand there and watch him scold me?”

Five Tigers was delighted. It was obvious her brother-in-law was just teasing her, but Fang Yuan didn’t get it. She thought, “I set him up for you to scold, not for me to hit.”

Five Tigers, still not giving up, asked, “Which is more important, the mixer or your brother-in-law?”

Fang Yuan snorted, “Only an idiot would choose between the two.”

Well, now Five Tigers realized he was the idiot. The couple were both too clever for him.

The three of them hadn’t chatted together in a long time. Lu Chuan brought back snacks for Fang Yuan, which she really liked.

Five Tigers looked at the snacks—all the kinds girls liked. “How do you know what to buy?”

Fang Yuan’s face changed, and the food lost its flavor. “How would you know?” Lu Chuan really shouldn’t know these things.

Lu Chuan glanced at Five Tigers, hoping he’d stop stirring things up. “I just remembered what you liked when others ate it.”

Five Tigers wanted to ask, “Who did you see eating it?” That could be a big problem.

But Fang Yuan said, “I’ll give you more money from now on. Don’t just watch what others eat—you look so pitiful.”

Then she added, “Eat properly at school. Things like rent shouldn’t come out of your living expenses.”

Five Tigers swallowed his words, realizing he was a bit redundant.

Lu Chuan felt a warm glow in his heart. “Got it. I know what to do.”

Fang Yuan replied, “What do you know? You’re always watching what others eat.”

She stuffed a sugar triangle into Lu Chuan’s mouth. Five Tigers watched as his brother-in-law’s face instantly turned pink, even his ears. Now he finally understood why Lu Chuan was always blushing—he himself was the real fool here.

Five Tigers looked around the one-bedroom apartment and finally understood just how unnecessary he was.

Five Tigers coughed. “This place isn’t very big. Maybe I should go find a guesthouse to stay at.”

Fang Yuan said, “Why waste money? It’s not like it’s smaller than the work shed.”

Lu Chuan grinned, pulled Five Tigers over, and brought in a simple single bed from outside. “I pieced this together from the school’s old storeroom. Five Tigers, you and I will share the big bed, and Fang Yuan can have this one.”

He really wasn’t brushing Five Tigers off. At last, Five Tigers felt a bit of sincerity in his brother-in-law’s invitation to the provincial capital.

Lu Chuan added, “The bedding on our bed is old—just for us guys. The new stuff is for Fang Yuan.”

Five Tigers looked around the room. “You’ve got everything pretty well set up.”

Lu Chuan glanced at Fang Yuan and quickly said, “There’s not much to do on Sundays, so I just mess around a bit. Didn’t spend much money.”

That hit the right note with Fang Yuan. Otherwise, with her fiery temper, she’d have done the math first.

Fang Yuan said, “If this were back in the village, all this would cost money. No way you could get it for next to nothing. The provincial capital really is a good place—almost feels like you can just pick up money off the ground.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, “If only.”

To set up this little home, he’d scavenged all over the school for these things. College students had it tough—there was no such thing as money falling from the sky.

Could he tell Fang Yuan that? Of course not—she’d just say he wasn’t studying hard and was slacking off. Lu Chuan just smiled calmly, neither admitting nor denying anything.

Look at him—just a month into college and he’d already become so steady and experienced, even handling his wife with ease. The provincial capital really did bring out the best in people.

That night, the two guys slept on the big bed Lu Chuan had prepared for his wife, while Fang Yuan slept alone on the small bed. She didn’t feel the least bit wronged and slept soundly.

Lu Chuan listened to Five Tigers talk about his dreams for the future and thought to himself that Five Tigers really was a bit extra.

This bed really wasn’t meant for Five Tigers.

When Lu Chuan rented the place, he’d been clever about it, thinking a smaller place would be cozier for two people—newlyweds and all. But he hadn’t counted on having a third person around, and sometimes even more.

If he’d known, he’d have rented a bigger place.

With Fang Yuan’s temper, it wouldn’t be easy to negotiate moving.

Lu Chuan sighed, realizing he’d miscalculated. Five Tigers, meanwhile, was happily talking about his plans for the future, then suddenly heard the sigh and asked, “Brother-in-law, you don’t think my ideas will work?”

Lu Chuan hadn’t really been paying attention. “No, not at all.”

Five Tigers said, “You scared me. So why the sigh?” He almost started rethinking his whole plan, wondering where he’d gone wrong.

Lu Chuan replied, “Just got lost in thought. Five Tigers, your ideas are great—I just didn’t catch the deeper meaning.”

Five Tigers blinked. “So I was talking for nothing?”

Lu Chuan said, “Not at all. Say it a few more times and the plan will get more refined. When you first mentioned it, it was just an idea. The more you talk it through, the more you can spot any flaws.”

Five Tigers nodded. “Makes sense. No wonder you’re the one in college.”

Lu Chuan felt a bit ashamed, thinking he was giving college students a bad name.

Five Tigers really did have a plan to put down roots in the provincial capital. He said the people he brought could endure hardship and work hard—that was their strength.

Lu Chuan said, “That’s right. Anyone you bring is bound to be skilled and hardworking.”

Five Tigers said, “I’ve made up my mind. Once things wrap up in the county, I’ll come over here myself. I’ll lead the team, learn as we go, and make money. Once we’ve mastered the skills, you and I can do whatever we want—nothing will hold us back.”

Lu Chuan nodded. “Opportunities always favor those who are prepared.”"

"Chapter 120: The Ailment of All Men

The Five Tigers slapped their foreheads. “Exactly, that’s what I was trying to say! See, this is why you need to go to school. Well said.”

Then they continued, “Brother-in-law, now that you’re studying in the provincial capital, I figure you can’t go back to the countryside anymore. It was short-sighted of me to let Fang Yuan stay in the county. Let’s use this winter to lay a foundation for ourselves. If we can stay in the provincial capital, wouldn’t that be perfect?”

That was exactly what Lu Chuan was thinking. “I knew you’d understand me, Fifth Brother. But it’s tough on you. We just established ourselves in the county, and now we’re leaving it behind.”

But Fifth Tiger was the type who wanted to grab every opportunity, big or small. “Who says we’re leaving it behind? That’s our backup plan. If we don’t make a name for ourselves here, come spring, we’ll just pack up and go back to the county and fight again.”

Lu Chuan nodded. To be with his wife, he had to make a name for himself. “We’ll do whatever you say, Fifth Brother.”

Fifth Tiger was happy—his brother-in-law respected him. But on second thought, everything was going according to his brother-in-law’s plan. What was his role in all this?

Fifth Tiger scratched his head. This was exactly the skill he needed to learn. That’s why you have to follow capable people and learn from them—look, he’d picked up another trick.

Then, feeling pleased, Fifth Tiger gave Lu Chuan a playful smack and promptly fell asleep.

Lu Chuan rubbed his chest, thinking, What kind of bedtime ritual is this? Is this some family tradition?

In the middle of the night, Lu Chuan ended up being used as a leg rest by his brother-in-law for half the night. It was truly unbearable.

Had he known, he would never have agreed to sleep with his brother-in-law.

No, if he’d really thought it through, he should have just rented a small room for himself. He’d dug his own pit this time.

When morning came, Lu Chuan had dark circles under his eyes. He couldn’t sleep, so he got up early and went out to buy breakfast.

Fifth Tiger, eating his tofu pudding, sighed, “Living in the provincial capital is so convenient. You can even get food like this.”

Lu Chuan added sugar to Fang Yuan’s soy milk. “Just like Fang Yuan said, there are more opportunities in the provincial capital. But the expenses are higher too.”

Fang Yuan said, “Fifth Brother, when you go back, stop by my house and ask my mom to boil some eggs for me to bring here.”

Now, that’s someone who knows how to save money. When it comes to the big crane, you have to be careful with every little thing.

But Lu Chuan really didn’t mean it like that. “It’s such a long way. Isn’t it hard to carry?”

Fang Yuan replied, “When Fifth Brother came over, there were so many people coming along. What’s a few eggs?”

Alright, Lu Chuan didn’t dare say another word. As long as Fang Yuan was willing to stay here for now, he’d go along with whatever she wanted.

At least she didn’t ask to bring a live hen—he should be grateful.

Fifth Tiger silently watched the whole exchange. His brother-in-law tried to persuade Fang Yuan, failed, and then just accepted her decision.

When they saw Fifth Tiger off at the station, he pulled Fang Yuan aside and scolded her, “At least be a bit nicer to your brother-in-law. You’re living under someone else’s roof now, you know. When you’re under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head a little.”

Fang Yuan raised her eyebrows, her tone even tougher than Fifth Tiger’s. “What do you mean, ‘someone else’s roof’? Even if it’s a rented place, it’s still my roof.”

Fifth Tiger was impressed. “You’re tough, you’re capable. But can’t you listen to me just a little? Just a little? That’s your brother-in-law, a capable man. Even the people around him are different. At least lower your voice, talk things over.”

Fang Yuan said, “What’s there to talk over? Our whole family listens to him.”

Fifth Tiger just left. Listen? They only listened because it was all part of his brother-in-law’s plan. Did she even realize that?

Fifth Tiger could only hope that his brother-in-law would always be a little slow when it came to Fang Yuan. Otherwise, what would they do?

After seeing Fifth Brother off, Lu Chuan wanted to take Fang Yuan shopping for some household necessities.

But Fang Yuan took Lu Chuan to the construction site instead, and all the supplies they bought were for the workers’ quarters.

Well, that was fine too. At least the two of them were shopping together, and that made Lu Chuan happy. He could fill in the gaps with his imagination and feel satisfied.

But what ruined his mood was that when they passed by the hospital, Fang Yuan insisted on dragging Lu Chuan inside to register for a check-up.

Lu Chuan didn’t feel good about it. After all, he knew what kind of person Fang Yuan was—she’d never be so generous with herself when it came to seeing a doctor.

As for himself, no matter what it was, Lu Chuan didn’t want to go in with Fang Yuan. He just had a bad feeling about it.

Fang Yuan pulled at him. “What’s wrong with you? Come on. I’m not even worried about the money.”

Lu Chuan stood his ground and didn’t budge. “No, I’m fine.” For once, he stood up to Fang Yuan directly.

Fang Yuan said, “Don’t you know yourself? You’re always sweating from your forehead and blushing. Go get checked out, so Fifth Brother doesn’t say I’m not taking care of you.”

Lu Chuan really wanted to thank Fifth Brother for digging this pit for him even after leaving. What kind of illness was this? What could a doctor possibly find? It would just be embarrassing.

Lu Chuan said, “No need. I know what’s going on.”

Fang Yuan looked at Lu Chuan’s shifting expression. “Did you have this problem before we got married?”

Lu Chuan could already guess where Fang Yuan’s thoughts were going. If he nodded, she’d probably accuse him of deceiving her into marriage.

So he said directly, “Don’t say I tricked you into marrying me. You decided on the marriage, and I didn’t have this problem before. I only developed it after marrying you.”

Fang Yuan said, “Then all the more reason to get checked out. If I’m the cause, I’m not taking the blame for this.”

In Fang Yuan’s view, blushing and a racing heart when seeing a woman was an illness that needed treatment.

Lu Chuan was grateful that Fang Yuan wasn’t accusing him of anything worse. “Really, there’s no need.”

Fang Yuan insisted, “No way. Your parents are good people. I can’t let them down.” How righteous she sounded.

Lu Chuan dragged Fang Yuan out of the hospital, determined not to embarrass himself.

Fang Yuan wasn’t as strong as Lu Chuan, so she had no choice but to follow him out, fuming. “You’re impossible.”

Driven to desperation, Lu Chuan grabbed Fang Yuan’s hand and placed it over his heart.

Fang Yuan glared at him. “It’s bad enough you’re not behaving yourself, but now you want me to take advantage of you…”

Lu Chuan pointed at his own nose. “See? My face is red, and I’m sweating. That’s all there is to it.”

Fang Yuan still didn’t get it. “What do you mean, that’s all there is to it?”

Lu Chuan put her hand on his chest again. This time, Fang Yuan understood and kicked him in the shin. “What kind of stupid problem is this? This needs to be cured too.”

Any doctor who could cure this would probably have to train themselves to be completely emotionless.

Lu Chuan tried to explain, “All men are like this.” He dragged all the men in the world into it.

Fang Yuan said, “So all men are sick? I thought it was just you. As long as it’s not life-threatening, fine, but you should have said so earlier.”

And just like that, the matter was settled, leaving Lu Chuan feeling awkward. Should he keep explaining?

Lu Chuan couldn’t very well say, “For us men, this isn’t an illness at all.”

He comforted himself—at least Fang Yuan didn’t insist on going to the hospital.

Lu Chuan still asked, “Do you want to get checked, see if there’s anything wrong?”

Fang Yuan replied, “You’re just looking for trouble.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, “You weren’t saying that just a moment ago.”

On the streets of the provincial capital, there were still quite a few cars. Fang Yuan said, “You know, our village isn’t that far from the provincial capital—just half a day’s journey. But the difference is huge. It’s so hard to get a ride in our village.”"

"Chapter 121: The Pretty Boy’s Mouth

Lu Chuan: “It’s not easy to catch a ride out here.”

Fang Yuan: “Told you, this isn’t our turf. These people aren’t easy to talk to. It’s not easy for you, being out here.”

The fact that she thought of him at a time like this made Lu Chuan feel content—he knew Fang Yuan cared about him.

Lu Chuan patiently explained to Fang Yuan, “The roads back home aren’t great, but we’re close to the provincial capital, so it’s not as developed as here. Still, if the roads were a bit better, things would be much improved compared to now.”

Fang Yuan watched Lu Chuan go on and on, then curled her lip. “You talk like you really know. Do you?”

Lu Chuan just laughed—this really wasn’t something he could promise. “Come on, I’ll take you shopping for clothes.”

Fang Yuan: “You still have money?”

Lu Chuan was quick-witted as ever and immediately replied, “Nope, that’s why I’m bringing you along.”

Fang Yuan actually laughed. “You’re pretty sharp when it counts.”

Lu Chuan was honestly impressed by Fang Yuan’s quick thinking—he’d never once guessed right with her. Life was full of surprises, and no one could match this girl’s straightforwardness.

This time, when they got to the department store, Fang Yuan seemed much more at ease. She didn’t pick out anything for herself, but instead chose two trendy fleece tops for Lu Chuan.

At first, Lu Chuan was happy, but when he turned around, his expression changed. “Why are you picking these kinds of clothes for me?”

These weren’t the kind of things Fang Yuan would have seen in the county—something was up.

Fang Yuan replied naturally, “I saw other people wearing them and thought they looked good. You’ll look even better in them.”

But was it really about looking good? Lu Chuan pressed her, “Who did you see wearing them?” Oh man, this was a serious issue.

Fang Yuan: “Just now, outside the hospital. A bunch of young guys were wearing them. I saw.”

Then she added, “Aren’t you in the provincial capital now? You should dress like everyone else. No need to let people gossip about you just because of a couple of shirts.”

Lu Chuan, the jealous type, wasn’t too happy. “Why were you looking at other people?”

Fang Yuan: “I wasn’t looking at others, I was looking at you.”

But why shouldn’t you look at me? Lu Chuan felt stifled. What was really going on in this woman’s mind?

Thinking back to the first dress he bought for Fang Yuan, Lu Chuan realized that buying clothes for someone wasn’t as simple as he thought.

Fang Yuan had no idea about Lu Chuan’s tangled thoughts. She was busy calculating, “Let’s get two more sets of thermal underwear. My mom made you a pair of padded pants, and your mom made you another. No need to buy those.”

Having someone think things through for him, Lu Chuan felt completely satisfied. “Whatever you say. Come on, let’s get you some clothes.”

Fang Yuan: “I have clothes at home.”

Lu Chuan: “But we’re picking them out together. Tell me what you like, and I’ll buy it for you next time. That way, I won’t get it wrong and have you complain.”

See? After getting jealous, Lu Chuan still found his own way to teach his wife how to shop. He wanted them to grow together as a couple.

Fang Yuan: “You just want to waste money.”

Lu Chuan’s coaxing skills were top-notch. “Just think of it as me wanting to see what kind of clothes you like.”

Fang Yuan: “The way you talk, you sound like a real pretty boy—not a good guy at all.”

Still, she followed Lu Chuan to look at women’s clothes—clearly, she’d been sweet-talked.

Fang Yuan pointed at some clothes she didn’t like. “See those? All those frills and bits—I’m not interested. The thicker fabrics over there, those look durable and dirt-resistant. I like those.”

So Lu Chuan picked out two pairs of jeans for Fang Yuan, both the latest trend—just starting to catch on.

Even in the university, hardly any girls wore them yet.

Fang Yuan stared at the pair Lu Chuan had the clerk bring out. “What are these?”

Lu Chuan counted on his fingers as he explained, “Thick fabric, durable, dirt-resistant—everything you said you wanted, these pants have.”

But could she really wear these? They hugged the hips so tight. Fang Yuan shot Lu Chuan a look—her expression changed. This guy really wasn’t up to any good.

Lu Chuan looked steadily at Fang Yuan, calm as could be. “Try this pair, this one’s looser.”

Fine, he didn’t look like a bad guy now. But these jeans still didn’t feel comfortable, and what’s with the suspenders? Only little kids in the village wore pants with open crotches and suspenders.

In the end, Lu Chuan bought both pairs, even though they clearly didn’t fit well.

Fang Yuan glared at him. “Are you crazy? This isn’t what we agreed on.”

Lu Chuan was quick to change the subject. “Didn’t you bring money?”

Fang Yuan, distracted, handed over the money. Then she realized—this wasn’t what she wanted, but he still bought them.

She glared at Lu Chuan. “Did you see someone else wearing these?”

See how married couples think alike? They even care about the same things.

Lu Chuan: “Don’t blame me—you picked them yourself.”

Fang Yuan scowled. She had said so, but it really wasn’t what she wanted. “Let’s not talk about it.” She’d been tricked, plain and simple.

Lu Chuan shut up, but his eyes said it all—even if they didn’t talk about it, that’s how it was.

After paying, Fang Yuan belatedly realized they’d spent quite a bit. Her face didn’t recover for a long time.

Lu Chuan even backed up the sales clerk. “Thick fabric, durable—of course it costs more than usual.”

Fang Yuan: “A bit more? You call this a bit?”

Lu Chuan didn’t argue, just let Fang Yuan scold him, smiling and carrying the new clothes, looking completely harmless.

Luckily, Fang Yuan was the type to let things go. After a couple of complaints, she was over it.

When she got home, Fang Yuan put on the new jeans right away, though she grumbled several times about how tight they were.

Lu Chuan didn’t even dare look at her directly—she looked really good. “Not bad, looks pretty good.”

Fang Yuan: “Just thick and durable, that’s all.” The rest—no matter how she looked at it, she wasn’t comfortable. Didn’t feel comfortable wearing them, either.

As for the jeans being tight and hard to wear out, Fang Yuan didn’t even think about it. What mattered to her was that they were durable and could stand up to hard work. She’d already bought them—wasting them by not wearing them would be a real shame.

Lu Chuan asked casually, “You seem to like them?”

Fang Yuan: “Like what? They’re just like work pants. Everyone at the factory wears these. Perfect for working.”

Lu Chuan nodded, but if she was going to wear them for work, he reminded her, “When you go to the construction site, remember to wear the looser pair.”

Fang Yuan: “Why? Is there a difference?”

Lu Chuan blinked. He couldn’t exactly say, “If you wear the tight ones to the site, everyone will be staring at you—who’ll get any work done?”

After a long pause, he managed, “That pair has pockets—more convenient for work. You can carry tools.”

He nodded to himself, quite sure of his reasoning. “Yeah, for carrying tools.” He’d actually managed to come up with a good excuse for the pants—not easy.

Fang Yuan looked down and checked. No wonder there were so many pockets—so that’s what they were for. “Then can we exchange this pair for the same style?”

Lu Chuan hadn’t expected that. He blinked. “You’re already wearing them, so let’s just leave it.”

122."

"Chapter 122: Not on the Same Wavelength as Normal Thinking