Chapter 147: Putting in the Work

After sending off Fifth Brother, the two of them continued rummaging for good stuff. In these days, with no TV and no real entertainment, the couple treated it as a bit of fun.

Fang Yuan might not have understood, but Lu Chuan had seen it at school—if you really found something good, you could take some scrap wood and piece together a bookshelf, and the few books you put on it would already feel quite meaningful.

Fang Yuan was sentimental, too—she kept all sorts of useless things at home.

She said, anyway, the place was big, and it was just the two of them living there. There was plenty of room for all this stuff.

Somehow, they dug out two big jars from some corner. The grain inside was so moldy you couldn’t even tell what it was anymore. Lu Chuan just set the jars out in the yard and, with a few quick moves, found a spot where they looked just right.

Fang Yuan said, “They look impressive just sitting there. No wonder you went to college—even the way you arrange things looks good.”

Lu Chuan took it as a compliment. Once the yard over there was tidied up, this yard was already full without needing to buy anything new.

Some of the wood they picked out was piled in the yard. Lu Chuan said that come spring, he’d help Fang Yuan build a flower trellis or something.

Fang Yuan said, “What’s the use of that? Wouldn’t it be better to make a couple of vegetable plots?”

Lu Chuan just smiled and didn’t say anything, but he wouldn’t let Fang Yuan mess with the wood.

Even with all this busyness, Fang Yuan still went back and brought three or five people over—folks who did odd jobs and fixed houses.

Fifth Tiger was all about all-around development—no job too big or small, and he said the key was that they had the skills.

Lu Chuan spent the whole winter break helping out, and by now he was practically a seasoned hand.

Busy from morning till night, sometimes coming home looking a mess—no one would guess he was a student.

The workers who worked with Lu Chuan would say, “Brother-in-law, why are you working so hard with us? You’re a college student—even if you do well, we won’t need you next year.”

Lu Chuan would reply, “Just think of me as a temp. It’s almost New Year’s, and my family’s short on money.”

Fifth Tiger would burst out laughing and give Lu Chuan a kick. “Who’d believe that?” But honestly, the brother-in-law had been doing a great job lately.

Lu Chuan would even add, “Seriously, I’m short on cash.”

A few of the others would laugh along, “Brother-in-law, we’re all short on money. Telling us won’t help—no one’s going to lend you any.”

Lu Chuan never expected anyone to lend him money, but being brushed off like that made him feel a bit left out. “You guys are kind of excluding me here.”

Wan Shun laughed, “That’s not it. The thing is, Fang Yuan already said you’re not allowed to borrow money.”

Lu Chuan was genuinely surprised. “When did that happen?”

Fifth Tiger said, “Back when you borrowed money from your uncle to buy her clothes and shoes—anyone she knew, Fang Yuan told them not to lend you money. Later, when you rented a place in the provincial capital, she told us again.”

So basically, it was to stop Lu Chuan from borrowing and spending behind her back.

Wan Shun nudged Fifth Tiger, telling him to ease up—what if the couple got mad? Didn’t brother-in-law care about his pride?

But Fifth Tiger didn’t think much of it—he just said whatever came to mind. He knew the couple got along fine.

Lu Chuan joked, “Am I really that much of a spendthrift that she has to guard against me like this?”

Fifth Tiger replied, “Who can outspend her? And yet she’s guarding against you borrowing money outside.”

Wan Shun couldn’t help but say, “Fifth Brother, whose side are you on?”

Fifth Tiger said, “Me? I think I got a bit off track. Brother-in-law, even if you have no money, no one’s going to lend you any.”

Everyone burst out laughing. They all said Lu Chuan, with his wife keeping him in line, didn’t have the freedom Fifth Brother did.

A bunch of young guys working together every day—of course they got along well.

Everyone said, this college student brother-in-law didn’t put on any airs.

Lu Chuan didn’t mind at all. “I’m just a student, living off my wife and hanging onto my brother-in-law’s coattails. Why would I act all high and mighty? Who would I be putting on a show for?”

Fifth Tiger said, “Don’t say that—you’re not that bad.”

Lu Chuan joked, “Fifth Brother, if you feel sorry for me, just pay me a bit more. I can’t even borrow money if I wanted to.”

Another round of laughter. They were tired, sure, but genuinely happy. Everyone figured they’d have enough money to take home for New Year’s.

Lately, Lu Chuan’s mind wasn’t on the house anymore. After work, he’d hang out with Fifth Tiger, and no one knew what they were up to all day.

Sometimes they’d even go out drinking at night. If Fifth Tiger wasn’t with him, Fang Yuan might have thought Lu Chuan was up to no good.

At the end of the year, Zhang Wei came by and settled all the accounts—quick and straightforward.

Everyone working in this neighborhood envied their crew—getting paid so promptly.

Some people even tried to cozy up to them, hoping to work together next year.

That’s where Fifth Tiger’s loyalty really showed its value. He’d boast, “Of course! We work for the little boss. Who’d dare mess up the boss’s business? As for pay, as long as you work hard and do a good job, our little boss never shortchanges anyone.”

Zhang Wei, overhearing this, felt a bit embarrassed.

But Fifth Tiger knew how to use his reputation to build up the crew’s name.

People really did come to ask if they could join them next year. Lu Chuan and the others didn’t even go home—they were busy with this, bragging all over the place.

All those idle chats among the guys finally came in handy—they knew who worked hard, who slacked off, who was skilled and who wasn’t. They’d get together, discuss, and jot down the contact info of the reliable ones.

The ones they couldn’t use, they politely turned away.

Because of this, even when there was no more work, Fifth Tiger and his crew stuck around.

Whether they could keep a few reliable old hands next year depended on how much effort they put in now.

Even Lu Chuan stayed to help out, hanging around the work shed, chatting with all sorts of craftsmen.

When Fifth Tiger was in a good mood, he’d even treat people to wontons—his way of wooing the craftsmen he liked.

They were all migrant workers—there really wasn’t any fancier treatment.

Every day, Fang Yuan would bring over steamed buns and hot soup, just to collect a few more contacts.

That’s youth for you—full of energy. Anyone else would’ve quit by now.

Zhang Wei admired Fifth Tiger to no end, calling him “Fifth Brother” at every turn. Though he felt a bit embarrassed by all the boasting, only Fifth Brother ever talked him up like that.

Before, it was Lu Chuan who smiled and negotiated with Zhang Wei about work. Now, it was Zhang Wei bowing and coaxing Fifth Tiger, hoping to work together next year.

Zhang Wei knew full well—Fifth Brother had the people now.

Watching from the side, Lu Chuan felt a bit bitter. After all he’d said, Zhang Wei never believed he had what it took.

But looking at Fifth Brother, you had to admit—he really had the presence of a foreman.

Fifth Tiger was completely satisfied. Next year, he’d have the people and the work. All thanks to the solid foundation they’d laid now.

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