Chapter 135: The Most Tricks Walked Through

Lu Chuan followed alongside Fang Yuan, making casual conversation: “Do you think, now that I’m in college, I could find a job back in the village?”

But every word was a setup, leading Fang Yuan right into his trap.

Of course, that wouldn’t work. Fang Yuan looked up at Lu Chuan and earnestly suggested, “Why don’t you just live in the work shed with me? Isn’t that fine?”

Lu Chuan twitched his lips. Just to save up for a crane, his own wife had gone a bit crazy—both of them living in a work shed. Only Fang Yuan could come up with something like that.

But Lu Chuan didn’t say anything bad about living in the shed. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I’m mainly thinking about the kid. Wouldn’t it be a bit rough for a child to live in a shed?”

He even glanced deliberately at Fang Yuan’s still-flat stomach.

Fang Yuan looked at her own belly, which was just as empty. Of course, a child shouldn’t be wronged—and there definitely would be a child.

So in Fang Yuan’s plans, there was always a child. She steeled herself: “Some money just has to be spent.” For the sake of the child, Fang Yuan was willing.

She stomped her foot, grinding her back teeth: “Guess I worked for nothing these past months. Honestly, it would’ve been better to buy a cement mixer—at least that thing makes money.”

Lu Chuan didn’t mention money or the house, just circled back to the child: “Exactly. Raising a kid isn’t easy. Mothers are amazing—they’re stingy for themselves or their husbands, but when it comes to their children, they’re willing to spend anything.”

Fang Yuan glared at Lu Chuan: “We have to have one. It’s a child. We must.”

That’s right—when it came to wanting a child, Lu Chuan knew exactly how to handle Fang Yuan.

See? Lu Chuan had this all figured out. So when it came to spending money, who really had the final say? Hard to say for sure.

Even though they were willing to spend, they still had no idea where to actually buy a house.

Fang Yuan said, with prices this high, there was no way. Even buying a house had a price limit.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, we couldn’t afford one here anyway. And who knows what the real price is? Fang Yuan would find out when the time came.

As the two of them chattered on, an old man nearby had been listening for a while and finally figured out how this young man was coaxing his wife.

Good thing they were a married couple with a license. And seeing how well the brother-in-law and sister-in-law got along, otherwise the old man might have thought Lu Chuan was just a pretty boy living off a woman.

But buying a house was serious business, so the old man finally spoke up: “You two are doing pretty well, talking about buying a house already.”

Lu Chuan kept a low profile: “Uncle, we’re just making plans. We’re young, gotta have some hope for the future.”

The old man liked Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan, so he offered some advice: “You’ve got a hardworking wife. Your days will only get better.”

Then he added, “Houses here really are expensive, and it’s a hassle. If you buy one without knowing the background, with so many tenants, you can’t kick them out. It’ll just be endless trouble.”

Hearing this, Lu Chuan knew the old man was giving real advice. He quickly poured him some water and listened intently: “Uncle, please share more. We really don’t know the ins and outs.”

The old man was amused—finally, someone who understood. He hadn’t been this friendly a moment ago.

He gave them a rough overview: “Houses on the edge of the city are cheaper. Don’t mind if it’s remote or rundown. Fix it up yourself—it’s still better than living in a crowded compound. And it’s less trouble.”

Fang Yuan wasn’t scared off by the word “cheap”: “Uncle, we don’t mind cheap or remote. We have people who can fix up a house.”

The old man couldn’t help but laugh, teasing Fang Yuan: “I know you’ve got people.”

Lu Chuan cut in, not wanting the conversation to get out of hand: “Let’s not exaggerate. We don’t really have ‘people.’ And it can’t be too remote—what about the kid’s schooling in the future?”

The old man glanced at Lu Chuan: “You sure think ahead.”

Fang Yuan said, “Exactly. School’s still a few years off. Let’s go check out the city outskirts. We’ll pick one with no tenants, right, Uncle?”

The old man nodded, impressed by her focus, and teased, “Girl, with your attitude, even if someone was living there, they’d move out if you told them to. No one would dare argue.”

Fang Yuan turned to Lu Chuan and asked seriously, “That didn’t sound like a compliment, did it?”

The old man had already set down his cup and left—this young couple was pretty capable.

Lu Chuan hadn’t realized how effective the old man’s few words would be—they’d already decided where to look for a house.

Fang Yuan was definitely a woman of action. Lu Chuan had only just started trying to persuade her, and she was already on the move.

Lu Chuan wanted to say they actually had enough money to look for something closer to the city center.

But Fang Yuan never thought about spending as much as they had—she just wanted a bargain, any place would do. She had no higher expectations.

Lu Chuan coaxed her: “That’s as good as a compliment.” Then the young couple happily set off to look at houses.

He’d never thought that buying a house could be such a technical skill—not just a matter of having money and wanting to buy.

Lu Chuan rode his bike, taking Fang Yuan all around the provincial capital. Fang Yuan was focused on house-hunting, but without the right approach—even if she liked a place, the owner might not sell.

Lu Chuan, on the other hand, wasn’t in a hurry. He mainly wanted to take his wife out for a day in the city. Buying a house was a big deal—no one just buys one on a whim. No rush.

He’d never seen anyone as impatient as Fang Yuan—once she decided to buy, she had to go for it immediately.

So it was one impatient person dragging along someone who wasn’t really invested, wandering all over town.

Whenever they passed a snack they hadn’t tried, Lu Chuan would stop, buy it for Fang Yuan, and feed it to her like a treasure.

Fang Yuan couldn’t resist food, but after eating, she’d complain: “You just have too much pocket money. Why do you buy everything you see?”

She’d eat while complaining, the type who can’t resist buying food, but won’t admit it.

Lu Chuan didn’t mind. As long as Fang Yuan liked it, he’d remember for next time: “It’s fine, just give me less next time.”

He didn’t care how much money he had on hand—Fang Yuan would never let him go without.

Fang Yuan was a little annoyed—she’d let Lu Chuan get the better of her here. She’d given him extra money because she was worried he wouldn’t have enough, and now he was spending it everywhere.

Eating a tasty snack, Fang Yuan asked, “You don’t spend like this when you’re out on your own, do you?”

Lu Chuan replied, “You can check the accounts—how much you gave me, how I spent it, how much I ate, how much I spent. I’ll report it all to you tonight.”

Lu Chuan was easygoing about it—this way, he could talk more with Fang Yuan, and it showed how much she cared about him.

That was actually pretty nice. Fang Yuan was willing, and then, for once, she asked gently, “Doesn’t that make me seem stingy?”

Lu Chuan, ever the lovestruck fool, answered without hesitation, “It just shows you care about me.” Who cares about checking accounts, right? Lu Chuan never thought much about it.

Fang Yuan said, “Then forget it.” She really didn’t have the time for that anyway.

Lu Chuan wasn’t sure if he should feel a little disappointed—his wife didn’t want to care about him that much after all.

136."