Chapter 137: An Auspicious Day

Fang Yuan just couldn’t believe it. The look on her face said, “Are you trying to make money out of thin air?” She said, “Listen, don’t think it’s so easy to save up a bit of money or to earn it. When my dad built our house back home, he only spent a little over two hundred yuan on labor. Even with materials, it was just five hundred. Sure, things are more expensive in the provincial capital, but it can’t be that much more. Do you get what I’m saying?”

Lu Chuan nodded. “I understand.”

Fang Yuan shot back, “Understand what? If you really did, you wouldn’t be so careless with money. That’s an outrageous price. I’d better go myself.”

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but laugh. Look at that—another date with his wife set for next week. “I really do understand.”

Fang Yuan said, “Spending that kind of money makes me feel awful. I’d rather not even know about it. Wait, didn’t you say before it would be around a thousand? But when we looked at houses today, none of them were that cheap.”

Lu Chuan acted like he hadn’t heard her, just chatting away, “Before we got married, forget a few thousand—even a few hundred, I never had more than a couple of yuan in my pocket.”

Fang Yuan let herself get swept along by the conversation, feeling sentimental. “Tell me about it. My mom never gave me that much money, either.”

Then she added, “Back then, my mom used to say, ‘Once you get married, money will come naturally.’”

She grinned and teased Lu Chuan, “You know, my mom was actually right.”

Lu Chuan wasn’t sure if he should tell Fang Yuan the truth: their fifth brother isn’t married, but he has money—her mom was just trying to comfort her. But since he was also trying to make his wife happy, he decided not to expose his mother-in-law. Honestly, how could his Fang Yuan be so wonderful? The more he looked at her, the more he liked her.

Lu Chuan gazed at Fang Yuan with such sweetness, it was almost syrupy.

Luckily, the old man they’d chatted with yesterday knocked on the door just then. Otherwise, who knows what Lu Chuan might have blurted out—and maybe gotten a punch or two from his wife.

Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan hurried to invite him in. They always called him a “master” behind his back.

The old man, hands behind his back, asked Lu Chuan, “So, how did it go? You were out all day—find a place you like?”

Lu Chuan replied, “We’re young, and we’ve only been in the provincial capital a few days. We haven’t found a place, and we don’t even know where to start.”

The old man said, “As long as you’ve found an area you like, that’s good enough. If there’s a place you think is nice, just ask around for the right people when the time comes. No need to rush.”

Fang Yuan sighed, “Exactly. You can look at houses all over town, but it doesn’t mean people will sell to you.”

The old man laughed along. This girl looked tough, but she was honest and straightforward.

Lu Chuan weeded out the places Fang Yuan didn’t like and the ones that were too expensive, then asked the old man if he knew anyone who could introduce them to the remaining options.

The old man nodded. “You two didn’t waste your day—you’ve already got a rough plan and know to ask me for advice. Not bad.”

He didn’t hold back, either. “You’re not completely clueless. Some of those places are too remote, but the rest are fine. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out. If something suitable comes up, I’ll let you know.”

Lu Chuan knew the old man had connections. “Sorry to trouble you. We’re new here, so we really appreciate your help.”

The old man, hands behind his back, headed out. As he left, he said, “I used to pull a rickshaw around here—knew every street.”

Then he was gone, leaving with the air of a true master.

Lu Chuan said, “We’ve got the right person. No one knows this area better than the old man. We’ll definitely find a good house.”

Fang Yuan replied, “See? It’s that simple. Our day wasn’t wasted after all.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, how could a day like this be wasted? It was so much fun.

But he knew better than to say anything sentimental to Fang Yuan. Instead, he analyzed things with her: “Not really. If we didn’t find a place we liked, we can’t just settle for anything. And if we really handed everything over to someone else, you wouldn’t feel comfortable, would you?”

That hit home for Fang Yuan. “True. Even though we didn’t find a house, at least now we have an idea of the prices.”

Look at this young couple—so clear-headed and grounded.

The old man wanted them to look around first for this very reason. Otherwise, if he rushed to help, they might think he had some ulterior motive.

Lu Chuan said, “You rest at home. I’ll go check the construction site. Fifth Brother didn’t come by—he’s probably resting there today.”

Fang Yuan said, “You’ve been running around all day. Just rest. Fifth Brother’s a grown man—he’ll be fine.”

Lu Chuan smiled, touched that his wife cared about him. “I just don’t want you to worry about Fifth Brother. If you can sleep, I really won’t go.”

He was willing to make the trip just to put his wife’s mind at ease. Good men shouldn’t be called Zeng Xiaoxian anymore—they should be called Lu Chuan.

Fang Yuan had never seen a man with so many thoughts. “Why are you making such a fuss? You’re wasting Fifth Brother’s kindness toward his brother-in-law.”

Lu Chuan said, “Don’t say that. That doesn’t apply to me and Fifth Brother. My feelings are only for you.”

Fang Yuan wasn’t that sentimental. She just rolled her eyes at Lu Chuan, washed up, and went to bed.

Lu Chuan paced around the room until Fang Yuan snapped, “Aren’t you going to sleep yet?”

As soon as he heard that, Lu Chuan rushed to her side. He’d been waiting for those words.

Fang Yuan said, “How can a grown man be so fussy?”

Lu Chuan muttered, “I just treasure you.”

Fang Yuan didn’t bother arguing. Knowing Lu Chuan’s personality, the two of them would probably have to pick an auspicious day for even the smallest thing.

She might not be the sharpest, but after a few months together, she’d figured out Lu Chuan’s ways. He’d probably planned today’s running around, too. Fang Yuan grumbled to herself—what a waste of energy.

That’s why Fang Yuan was a bit brash and bold—much more straightforward than Lu Chuan.

Except for getting kicked out of bed by his wife once in the night, everything was pretty much perfect.

The next morning, Lu Chuan, acting like a newlywed, shyly bought breakfast for his wife and even fetched water for her to wash up.

Fang Yuan saw Lu Chuan still hanging around the house and asked, “Aren’t you going to class this morning?”

Lu Chuan blushed, his voice a little off, not daring to look her in the eye. “No, I’ll go in a bit.”

Fang Yuan didn’t ask why he was leaving late. She just tossed out, “I’m in a hurry. I’m leaving first.”

Lu Chuan hadn’t expected Fang Yuan to be so nonchalant. He tried to stop her, but she just said, “You’re going to the construction site? Don’t you need to rest?”

Fang Yuan didn’t see the need. “There’s not much money to be made here in the provincial capital, and there’s no work for the mixer at home. We can’t just sit around and do nothing. Don’t worry, Fifth Brother won’t let me do any heavy lifting.”

Lu Chuan said, “That won’t do. You can’t go. Fifth Brother won’t pay you.”

Fang Yuan had never seen such a wasteful man. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know anything?”

138."