Chapter 148: A Family Full of Schemes

By the time the three brothers finally made it home, it was already the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. The long-distance buses to the provincial capital were about to stop running.

Wang Cuixiang said, “If you hadn’t come back now, your dad would’ve gone to the city to drag you home himself.”

She looked Fang Yuan up and down, clearly pleased at how much more striking she’d become. “The city really does bring out the best in people.”

The three of them came home with cold faces, and Wang Cuixiang hurried to get dinner ready for the family.

At the dinner table, Second Sister-in-law piped up, “Back when Fang Yuan found herself a college student, we were all worried that her husband would just leave her at home and not care about her. But look at him now—he’s not only taking care of her, he even dragged our fifth brother to the city too! So, brother-in-law, when are you going to take the whole family to the city with you?”

She said it with a smile, but there was plenty of meaning behind those words.

Fang Yuan didn’t take it to heart. “You think you can just say ‘take us’ and it’ll happen?”

Wu Hu (Fifth Brother) didn’t let Lu Chuan get put on the spot, and jumped right in, “Second Sister-in-law, what, when our family marries off a daughter, the brothers have to go along as part of the dowry too?”

Second Sister-in-law grinned and teased, “Fifth Brother, you already went as part of the dowry. We just need a few more brothers to go along next time.”

Wang Cuixiang snapped, “What are you saying? You think you’re the only one with a mouth around here? My sons are yours to order around now?”

Second Sister-in-law whined, “Mom, come on, it’s just our little sister we’re talking about, not an outsider.”

Fang Yuan finally spoke up, “Whether someone goes as dowry depends on whether I care about them. Don’t compare anyone else to my Fifth Brother—no one else can measure up.”

She wasn’t afraid of offending anyone, just bluntly putting her Fifth Brother’s special status out there.

Wu Hu was touched right then and there, thinking, “If I don’t let Fang Yuan handle my money, who else would I trust? I wouldn’t even trust my own wife with it.”

Second Brother’s face was a bit stiff; he shot his wife a look, “Can’t even keep your mouth shut at the dinner table.”

Second Sister-in-law finally quieted down. She knew her little sister-in-law and little brother-in-law were always of one mind.

Fourth Brother was in a good mood today. Ever since he’d split from the eldest, he’d been doing well and made some money, though there was no work in winter so he’d been laying low. “Fifth Brother, don’t keep all the good stuff to yourself. If there’s really money to be made in the city, just say the word—taking one more person is no big deal.”

Wu Hu thought, “If I take you, I’ll be so broke next year I’ll be eating dirt.” But he just said, “Fourth Brother, you just finished building your house. I was just worried you’d be too busy.”

Fourth Brother immediately shut up. Wu Hu had helped him a lot with the house, and had made it clear from the start that the two of them shouldn’t get too tangled up in each other’s business.

Fourth Brother said, “That’s true. I’m not in a rush to make money—I need to get myself a wife first.”

Second and Third Brothers thought to themselves, “Fourth Brother’s been spoiled by Wu Hu.” The eldest just ate his food and stayed out of it.

Fang Daleng, the father, didn’t worry about how much money his kids made anymore—he was more concerned about their marriages. “Wu Hu, do you have someone in mind? If you do, your dad will help you get her.”

He grew proud as he continued, “You built your own house. In our village, even in our whole township, that makes you a real catch. You’ve outdone all those guys who rely on their parents to get married. We’ve had a lot of matchmakers coming to our house lately.”

After he said that, the eldest, second, and third brothers all felt a little uncomfortable, feeling like their own dad had just thrown them under the bus.

Wang Cuixiang couldn’t help but admire how, after all these years, Fang Daleng could still manage to say things that rubbed everyone the wrong way. If he weren’t their father, someone would’ve beaten him up by now. Didn’t he realize he was putting down several of his own sons?

This topic got the eldest sister-in-law talking, her enthusiasm over the top, “Wu Hu, since you’re home, let’s have a look at some girls. I know a few good ones I’ve been keeping in mind for you.”

Fang Yuan snorted, and Lu Chuan could tell this wasn’t going anywhere good. He tried to distract Fang Yuan by serving her some food, hoping to shut her up, but he was too slow—her mouth was faster.

Fang Yuan spoke up, “Just make sure you’re not introducing me to someone with a troublesome little brother.”

Lu Chuan’s chopsticks, with the piece of meat, were already at Fang Yuan’s mouth, but he still couldn’t stop her from saying it.

Fourth Brother, who never cared about saving face, burst out laughing. Only Fang Yuan dared tease the eldest sister-in-law like that. She deserved it.

Fourth Brother thought to himself, “I’ve been home all this time, but I’ve never seen the eldest sister-in-law so eager to introduce me to anyone. What, am I not good enough?”

He grinned, “Wu Hu, you’ve got a point. Only someone who’s suffered at the hands of a little brother-in-law would know.”

Wu Hu said, “Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t even have a wife yet—where would I get a little brother-in-law?”

Fourth Brother said, “Mom, when I get married, that’s going on the list too—no little brothers-in-law. They’re worse than thieves.”

The eldest sister-in-law and eldest brother looked absolutely mortified. That was a direct jab at them, calling the brother-in-law useless.

Second sister-in-law, on the other hand, felt a bit better. Her own awkwardness was nothing compared to the eldest sister-in-law’s.

Third sister-in-law just kept her head down and ate, while Third Brother, always the honest one, said, “Better to be shrewd than clueless.” He didn’t mention the brother-in-law, but his words implied the eldest was clueless.

Wu Hu shot Fang Yuan a resentful look. “You want to get married? Why’d you have to bring it up first?”

Fang Yuan, annoyed by his stare, just shrugged it off and said to Wu Hu, “What are you looking at me for? Didn’t you say it yourself?”

Wu Hu glared, thinking, “It’s not enough for you to set me up, now you’re burying me too? Thanks a lot.”

Lu Chuan quickly stuffed the meat into Fang Yuan’s mouth. Time to end this topic.

Wang Cuixiang wanted to smack all her kids—none of them were easy to deal with.

Fang Daleng watched his son-in-law serve his daughter food and was delighted. “Look at that, boys. See how your brother-in-law takes care of his wife? You should all learn from him.”

Wang Cuixiang and Lu Chuan both glanced at Fang Daleng, who looked so pleased with himself.

Lu Chuan finally understood where Fang Yuan’s bluntness came from. At times like this, only Fang Daleng could be so oblivious to the subtext, just happy to see his son-in-law treat his daughter well.

Wang Cuixiang felt exhausted. How could a man be so thick-skinned?

Only now did the family notice that Lu Chuan had been putting all the meat into Fang Yuan’s mouth. The two of them were so lovey-dovey, it was hard to watch.

Lu Chuan felt awkward. This was supposed to lighten the mood, but he hadn’t meant to put himself in the spotlight.

Wu Hu, ever the troublemaker, said, “We know you two are close. Our family’s never let our girl go hungry—no need to be so protective.”

Lu Chuan was about to say something modest, but Fang Yuan cut in, “I don’t eat fatty meat.”

Well, so much for showing off their affection.

Lu Chuan awkwardly pulled his chopsticks back. “I didn’t notice just now.”

Then he exchanged a helpless look with his mother-in-law, both feeling a bit world-weary.

Fang Daleng scolded his daughter, “Fatty meat is good—don’t be picky. But son-in-law, next time, make sure you give Fang Yuan what she likes.”

Lu Chuan replied, “Dad, I know what Fang Yuan likes. I just didn’t see clearly just now.”

Fang Daleng put a chicken drumstick in his son-in-law’s bowl. “Good son-in-law, eat more.”

Wang Cuixiang muttered, “From now on, I’ll make sure to prepare everyone’s favorite dishes.”

Fang Daleng’s eyes widened, “Life’s gotten this good?”

Fang Yuan chimed in, “Mom, are you giving up on life?”

Wang Cuixiang snorted, Lu Chuan kept his head down and ate, thinking his mother-in-law sure thought they talked too much at the table.

Wu Hu gloomily reminded them, “She probably means you should eat more and talk less.”

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