Chapter 123: For the Sake of Food

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but laugh. Honestly, having such an easygoing wife is a real blessing. She never gets upset over trivial things, and she doesn’t bother with people who aren’t worth her time.

Meanwhile, on the other side, those nosy classmates who can’t stand to see others doing well were left awkward and surrounded by a crowd. That kind of jealousy is truly contemptible.

He’d never seen so many busybodies before, and never seen anyone so obsessed with what’s in other people’s pockets. No wonder people say they’re not right in the head.

And then, the wife Lu Chuan had privately labeled as “the best,” actually lost her temper in the warehouse he’d mentioned: “Lu Chuan, look at you, acting all capable and telling tall tales. Where’s the thermos? Where’s the stove? And the bed? Are you just trying to fool me?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Keep your voice down, they’re really here. I’ve been coming for weeks, and I’ve used everything I could find.”

Fang Yuan looked at the pile of junk, still not convinced. How come Lu Chuan could always find useful things, but whenever she came, there was nothing? Was her luck really that bad? “Really?”

Lu Chuan nodded vigorously, determined to hold his ground—otherwise, it’d turn into a financial issue. “Really.”

Fang Yuan said, “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come. There are so many people out on the street—if I’d just sold a few popsicles, I could’ve made enough to buy a thermos.”

Lu Chuan was deeply impressed by Fang Yuan’s financial sense—she not only dreams big, but actually does things. “Well, this way, we can at least walk around together.”

Fang Yuan rolled her eyes. “What’s so great about walking around? And what was up with that guy earlier? If he was a woman, I’d say he liked you, but he’s a man—what’s he trying to stir up? Did you offend him?”

Lu Chuan said, “We’re all from the countryside. Maybe he feels uncomfortable seeing a pretty girl with me.”

Fang Yuan replied, “So he really is sick in the head.”

She added, “He keeps going on about ‘country wives.’ Just watch, people like him won’t be able to marry anyone, let alone a country girl. He’s not good enough for one.”

Lu Chuan nodded, “He’s not even good enough for a village wife.”

Fang Yuan pursed her lips and actually smiled, and Lu Chuan couldn’t help but get distracted for a moment. His wife really was quite pretty.

Fang Yuan said, “There’s a lot of junk in here, but honestly, we shouldn’t take any of it. You should stop coming here so much. I’ve realized that even in a place dedicated to teaching and learning, not everyone is reasonable. Don’t let people start calling you a scavenger.”

Lu Chuan held his head high, “That doesn’t bother me.”

Fang Yuan said, “What’s the point? We don’t lack these things at home, so why let people talk? Just focus on your teaching and stop fussing over things we don’t need. You don’t have to scrimp and save.”

Lu Chuan grinned, feeling pampered like a kept man, “My wife really does care about me.”

Fang Yuan said, “Speak properly, and don’t pick up bad habits.”

Lu Chuan just nodded along—whatever Fang Yuan said, he agreed with. Seeing she was a bit unhappy, he changed the subject: “When the semester starts, I’ll introduce you to some of my friends at school. The job we have in the provincial capital was thanks to one of them. His family’s in that business.”

Fang Yuan said, “Then I definitely need to meet him. A real benefactor.”

Lu Chuan even took Fang Yuan to the public bathhouse. Fang Yuan came out looking confident and relaxed, not the least bit shy, and praised it, “This place is really nice.”

Seeing how happy she was, Lu Chuan immediately suggested, “How about I get you a bath ticket?”

Fang Yuan asked, “You still have money?” Lu Chuan didn’t dare say a word.

When it came to finances, Fang Yuan was always clear-headed and sensible.

At lunchtime, Lu Chuan took Fang Yuan to eat at his usual cafeteria. Fang Yuan said, “The food here is pretty good.”

Lu Chuan said, “If you’re not busy, why not come eat with me more often?”

Fang Yuan wanted to say it was too far, but looking at the food, she said, “Depends if I have time.” If she could make it, she would.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, After all my efforts, it turns out the cafeteria is the real way to win Fang Yuan over. Looks like I’ve been working in the wrong direction—I’ll have to adjust in the future. “I’ll always make time.”

Fang Yuan said, “Your cafeteria is really nice.”

Lu Chuan teased, “You’ve taken a liking to the chef’s skills, haven’t you?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Eating here is like dining at a restaurant every day—you can order whatever you want, and it’s not even expensive. No wonder everyone wants to go to college.”

Lu Chuan looked at Fang Yuan and wanted to say, We don’t go to college just for the food.

But honestly, in a way, it is about putting food on the table.

Some classmates nearby overheard and wanted to argue with Fang Yuan, but after thinking about it, they realized she wasn’t wrong. In the end, it all comes down to the same thing.

Fang Yuan not only ate, but also packed some food to go, saying, “Now we’ve got dinner sorted too.”

Lu Chuan didn’t mind at all. If the cafeteria could attract Fang Yuan, that was great—much easier than racking his brains to coax her over.

Relying on the cafeteria to win over his wife—Lu Chuan was a little embarrassed to admit it.

Back then, few men knew how to cook. Even if they did, it was usually behind the scenes, helping their wives, and rarely something to show off.

Lu Chuan was even considering coming to help out in the cafeteria, maybe learning to cook along the way.

Fang Yuan wasn’t much of a cook, and her mind wasn’t on household matters anyway, so he really did have a reason to learn. Otherwise, what would their kids eat in the future? He didn’t want them to suffer.

Otherwise, if the family ever wanted to improve their lives, they’d have to rely on the cafeteria. Lu Chuan was always thinking ahead.

Fang Yuan, on the other hand, was much simpler: “This red dish isn’t spicy at all. It’s really good.”

Lu Chuan said, “That’s tomato sauce. It’s sweet—just tomatoes.”

Fang Yuan praised, “People in the provincial capital really know how to eat. Back home, we just sprinkle sugar on tomatoes.”

Lu Chuan replied, “That’s your family. In mine, we just eat them straight off the vine.” They couldn’t even afford sugar.

Lu Chuan felt happy inside. He’d thought it through—Fang Yuan was adapting well to life in the provincial capital. She dressed casually, enjoyed the food, and wasn’t shy about going to the bathhouse. He could feel at ease with her anywhere.

When Fang Yuan ate well, she was in a good mood and chatted more with Lu Chuan: “When I got to the county seat, I already felt like there was too much to take in. Now that I’m in the provincial capital, it’s even more overwhelming—so many things I don’t recognize. Did you ever embarrass yourself when you first got here?”

Seeing his wife in such a good mood, Lu Chuan relaxed too: “If you want to hear about my embarrassing moments, give me a kiss and I’ll tell you.”

Fang Yuan instantly shot him down: “What’s with you and your nonsense? Who talks like that? Clearly, you haven’t learned any manners.”

Lu Chuan blushed, blaming himself for getting too comfortable and letting it slip. He said to Fang Yuan, “If you want to know, I’m not telling you.”

Fang Yuan ground her teeth—what could she do with him? He was getting bolder.

But looking at Lu Chuan now, Fang Yuan realized, “You’re different from when we got married.”

Lu Chuan was teasing her, feeling good, his whole expression relaxed, even his eyebrows seemed to be smiling: “How am I different? I look even better than before.”

He seemed less gloomy, and his whole demeanor had changed.

Thank you all for your support.

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