Chapter 127: A Few Bricks Short of a Load

In the evening, everyone ate together in the canteen here. The prices weren’t high, and the food was passable.

Lu Chuan gathered the guys for a little meeting. “This job of ours doesn’t make much money. I’m sorry to put everyone through all this hard work.”

They were all young men, and everyone treated the Five Tigers like brothers. “Brother-in-law, don’t say that. Fifth Brother already talked to us. We’re not just here for the money. If we work hard and learn more skills, that’s worth more than anything.”

Someone chimed in more honestly, “Besides, back in our village, we’d just be cooped up at home all winter with nothing to do. This is pretty good. We’re earning quite a bit. We should be thanking you, brother-in-law, for finding us a way to make a living.”

Lu Chuan knew they were flattering him and felt a bit embarrassed. “We’re all family here, so I’ll be straight with you.”

When a college student spoke frankly, everyone listened carefully.

Lu Chuan said, “Ahem, in our line of work, you all know how it is these days. When a master takes on an apprentice, it can take a year or two before you’re allowed to really learn anything. And it’s not easy to find a master willing to take you. Even if you approach an old hand, they might not think much of you.”

Everyone nodded. Even though their brother-in-law was a student, he actually understood a lot. That was exactly the problem they faced.

There was a bricklayer among them who’d started learning the trade as a teenager. Now he was twenty-five and had only been considered a full-fledged worker for two or three years. Before that, he just earned laborer’s wages. Only now did he start making a real craftsman’s pay.

Lu Chuan continued, “The key is, we don’t know the trade well enough to even tell who’s a real master.”

Fang Yuan frowned as she listened, feeling dizzy from all the roundabout talk. “Get to the point.”

Lu Chuan said, “The point is, our work here isn’t urgent. If someone in the building asks for help, we shouldn’t worry about gains or losses—just go lend a hand, watch and learn. It’s no big deal.”

Fang Yuan found Lu Chuan’s way of speaking too wishy-washy, so she addressed everyone directly, “Did you all get that? If there’s no opportunity, make one. Go over there and see how others work. Whether you can learn it or not, at least you’ll hear some gossip. You need to know which masters actually have real skills.”

Lu Chuan nodded. This kind of thing was a bit underhanded. No need to spell it out so bluntly.

Everyone nodded along. “Don’t worry, Fang Yuan. Fifth Brother already told us what to do. We know the drill. We brought money with us.”

Lu Chuan felt a little embarrassed. What kind of people were these? He still felt like the leader of this group.

Lu Chuan said, “No need for that. We’re out here to earn money, not to lose it.”

The guys shook their heads. “Brother-in-law, you’re a scholar, you don’t get it. Once we learn the skills, they’re ours for life.”

Well, it turned out Lu Chuan was the one who was out of touch, thinking too narrowly. No wonder these guys followed Fifth Brother—they weren’t lacking in smarts.

Fang Yuan spoke up directly, “But don’t expect to get reimbursed for that.”

Wan Shun, who got along best with Fifth Brother, said, “Fang Yuan, we all know you never pay out of pocket. Don’t worry, we get it.”

Someone nearby burst out laughing. Wan Shun really dared to say anything. Lu Chuan couldn’t help but laugh too. “I get it, too.”

The scene was completely out of control now—even the brother-in-law could take a joke.

Fang Yuan’s face darkened. “Anything else? Spit it out. Don’t dawdle. Let’s go home.”

This group—none of them were any good.

Lu Chuan said, “If you need anything, just come to me. Things are chaotic outside, so let’s go out less. We all have families to look after. Even if you’re single, you need to watch your reputation. We’re saving up to marry good girls. Ahem, I’m still young, so if I say anything wrong, please forgive me…”

Fang Yuan looked at Lu Chuan with annoyance. He was so long-winded. “I’m telling you all, don’t pick up any bad habits. Let me be clear: if you don’t behave, you’re not staying with us. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

What Lu Chuan found hard to say, Fang Yuan, as a woman, had no problem spelling out directly.

Lu Chuan scratched his head. “She’s just straightforward, don’t mind her. She means well. We’re new in the provincial capital—keeping our heads down won’t hurt us.”

Wan Shun said, “We all get it. Fang Yuan’s just telling it like it is. Fifth Brother already told us—if anyone acts up, they’re going home.”

The others nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry, brother-in-law. We know what’s what.”

Lu Chuan really had nothing else to add. He just hadn’t realized Fifth Brother ran things so by the book.

On the way home with Fang Yuan, he couldn’t help but ask, “This all seems pretty official. Why do they even care about this stuff? Fifth Brother is more thorough than I thought.”

Fang Yuan replied, “You don’t know, do you? Remember that first job we did, with Old Sun? That guy’s a real piece of work.”

Lu Chuan was happy to hear gossip from Fang Yuan and played along. “I remember. What did he do?”

Fang Yuan said, “He did something shameless and got caught—by the family of the master he worked with, no less. Now the whole village is gossiping about it. It’s ugly.”

Lu Chuan asked, “What’s that got to do with us?”

Fang Yuan said, “You know all those things you say? Fifth Brother and I write them down and look them over. We figured out that whether it’s money or relationships, you have to keep things straight. You don’t know this, but Old Sun always gave the easy jobs to that woman’s husband.”

Lu Chuan had to untangle that complicated relationship for a while. It was hard to comment.

Fang Yuan said, “Our construction crew can’t have that kind of thing.”

Lu Chuan nodded vigorously. “Fifth Brother is wise.”

Fang Yuan said, “Big Brother never got caught doing that, but he always lets his brother-in-law throw his weight around. His crew isn’t much, either.”

Lu Chuan said, “You’d never guess there’d be stuff like that going on. But Big Brother knows what he’s doing.”

Fang Yuan said, “What’s so hard to see? Old Sun’s greedy and lecherous—he was never any good.”

Lu Chuan grinned at Fang Yuan. Such strict standards were a good thing. “Fang Yuan, you’re wise.”

Fang Yuan shot him a look. “What are you doing, buttering me up for no reason?”

Lu Chuan said, “I just think you’re right, that’s all. Can’t I be honest? Shouldn’t men and women be held to the same standards?”

Fang Yuan said, “Of course. What are you getting at?”

Lu Chuan said, “Nothing, just that you’re especially wise—a real leader.”

Fang Yuan snorted, “Go look in the mirror and see what you look like right now.”

Lu Chuan touched his face and wiped his mouth. “What do I look like?”

Fang Yuan gave him a definite answer. “You look like a total scoundrel.”

Lu Chuan was a bit flustered and annoyed. All he wanted was to coax Fang Yuan a little, make her happy—how did he end up looking like a scoundrel? “Say that again and I’ll get mad.”

Fang Yuan turned to look at Lu Chuan in shock. “You’ll get mad? So what? You expect me to coax you?”

Lu Chuan stared at Fang Yuan in disbelief. This girl was something else. He’d forgotten.

Lu Chuan said, “You won’t let me say it, but you can say you’re mad.”

Fang Yuan said, “If I’m mad, I’ll just hit you. And I don’t expect you to coax me.”

Lu Chuan patted his chest. “I’m always trying to make you happy.”

Fang Yuan said, “Really? You must have too much time on your hands.”

Lu Chuan turned away to buy some sweet rice dumplings. Why was it so hard to have a romantic moment with Fang Yuan? Even when he was mad, he still remembered to buy her favorite treat. That’s just the kind of guy Lu Chuan was.

128."