Chapter 157: Move Aside, Let Me Do It

Old Lady Lu was overjoyed when she saw the fish. “Such a big fish! I don’t even know how to eat it. Our Fang Yuan is really something.”

She was even happier for her second son and daughter-in-law. To be invited over from so far away and treated so well—it showed that her second son and his wife were doing well out there.

Fang Yuan was having a great time too. “Mom, if you like it, next time they go, I’ll tag along again.”

Lu Chuan pulled Fang Yuan up onto the kang bed and helped her take off her shoes. “Enough, you’re not going again. Just look at how wild you played today. Do you even remember who I am? If I hadn’t kept an eye on you, you’d have both feet soaked in the river.”

Lu Chuan was busy chasing after Fang Yuan—his playful wife. This was the first time he realized just how mischievous she could be.

Lu Xiaosan watched his second brother’s smooth, practiced movements in surprise. When did he learn to take care of people like that?

He would never doubt his second brother’s feelings for his wife again. Just look at how naturally he did everything, not a trace of annoyance.

Old Man Lu simply dragged his wife outside. He couldn’t bear to watch what his second son was doing.

He also couldn’t stand seeing his wife fawning over their daughter-in-law. No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem right.

Outside, Old Lady Lu quickly fetched a basin of hot water and was about to head inside, but Old Man Lu stopped her.

Old Lady Lu said, “Why are you stopping me? Didn’t you see our second daughter-in-law fell into the river?”

Old Man Lu replied, “I saw. But isn’t our second son in there? Why are you fussing? You’re being silly.”

Old Lady Lu looked annoyed. “What does he know? Move aside, let me warm Fang Yuan’s feet.”

Old Man Lu blocked her from going in to make trouble. “Enough, our second son won’t let his wife freeze.”

Lu Xiaosan was impressed by his own mother too. It’s good to be nice to your daughter-in-law, but there’s a time and place. If you go in now, aren’t you just getting in my second brother’s way? “Mom, when I get married in the future, you really don’t need to treat us like this. Just keep your distance when you should.”

Old Lady Lu shot back, “You think I’ll care about you then?”

She grumbled at Old Man Lu, “Look, our second son hasn’t even come out to get hot water. I have to go.”

You really couldn’t stop a mother-in-law’s enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan was rubbing Fang Yuan’s feet to get her blood circulating—otherwise, she might really suffer from the cold.

But Fang Yuan wasn’t very cooperative; her soles were ticklish and she kept squirming.

Old Lady Lu came in with the water, giving her second son a look of disdain. “Let go, I’ll do it.”

Lu Chuan held onto Fang Yuan’s feet, dodging his mother’s outstretched hand. “Mom, really, there’s no need.”

Old Lady Lu was anxious. What if Fang Yuan caught a chill? “Why are you being polite with me? Your technique is no good.”

Lu Chuan almost lost his temper. “Mom, I’m not being polite. Really, it’s fine.”

Fang Yuan felt she was fine too. “Mom, it’s nothing. I’ve fallen in the river plenty of times. No need to fuss. My feet are already warm.”

Lu Xiaosan came in and dragged their mother out. Old Lady Lu was not happy about it.

Lu Chuan finally continued rubbing his wife’s feet until they were bright red and hot to the touch before letting go.

Fang Yuan was sweating, a bit annoyed at Lu Chuan for making such a fuss. “I’ve fallen in the water plenty of times and never had to go through all this.”

Lu Chuan said, “Don’t take it lightly. If you catch a cold in winter, you could get sick.”

Fang Yuan didn’t think much of it. “What sickness?” Then she remembered—the doctor said if she wanted a child, she had to take care of her health.

Thinking of this, she quickly stuck her feet into the washbasin, only to yelp, “Ow!” from the heat.

Lu Chuan quickly pulled her feet out. “What are you doing? Did you get burned?”

Fang Yuan caught her breath. “It’s a bit hot. No, I’m fine. I’ll go slower.”

Then she asked, “Does this count as catching a chill? The doctor said I can’t get cold, or it’ll delay having a baby.”

Lu Chuan got off the kang, felt the water in the basin, and was relieved it wasn’t too hot. “Come on, soak your feet properly.”

Fang Yuan said seriously, “I mean it, I’m really anxious to have a baby.”

Lu Chuan pursed his lips, unable to be angry with her. “I know, I know. Don’t worry, listen to me and you won’t catch cold. The doctor checked you, there’s nothing wrong. Let’s save up so our child won’t have to suffer.”

Fang Yuan said, “I was going to leave a hundred yuan for Mom, but if she gives it to Li Meng again, I’ll be so mad. I’m not giving it anymore.”

So even though she had accepted it cheerfully when Old Lady Lu gave money to Li Meng, deep down she was still uncomfortable about it.

She only said this when no one else was around. In the past, she might have said it right to their faces.

Lu Chuan said, “Then don’t give it. Don’t dwell on it. Mom won’t pick sides.”

Fang Yuan replied, “I’m not dwelling on it. It’s their money, they can give it to whoever they want. But if it’s my money, and they give it to them, I can’t stand it. Next time, let’s just buy things for the house.”

Lu Chuan agreed, “My wife’s right. Otherwise, Mom would never spend the money on herself.”

Fang Yuan nodded, feeling much better. “Enough, I can’t soak anymore. I’m sweating.”

Lu Chuan helped her dry her feet, sounding a bit sour. “You sure had fun. You ran so fast, I couldn’t even catch up.”

Fang Yuan laughed, “I grew up running around with my brother. I’ve seen this kind of thing plenty of times. You, all you know is studying. That’s not enough.”

Lu Chuan wasn’t too happy about that. “One day, I’ll take you with me.”

Fang Yuan burst out laughing. “Amateur! In winter, there aren’t many people fishing. It wouldn’t work.”

Lu Chuan realized he’d shown his inexperience. As a country boy, he hadn’t seen much of the world, and had even fewer chances to learn. Getting into college was all down to hard work.

He’d never had the chance to run wild outside like this. It felt like Fang Yuan’s childhood was full of color, while his was black and white.

Fang Yuan didn’t notice Lu Chuan’s mood, but she was loyal. “I’ll take you out to have fun more often from now on.”

That offhand remark instantly healed Lu Chuan’s heart.

Outside, Lu Xiaosan was talking to Old Man Lu. “I’ll never say my second brother doesn’t care about his wife again. From now on, I’ll hold my head high in front of the Fang family.”

Old Man Lu glanced at his third son. “What’s it got to do with you?”

Lu Xiaosan replied with relief, “Dad, you don’t know. Ever since their marriage, I’ve been worried that if Second Brother and his wife didn’t get along, I’d never be able to find a wife in the village or the township. I was even ready to go far away to find one.”

Old Man Lu smacked him on the head. “You think too far ahead.”

Old Lady Lu said, “You’re still so young and already thinking about wives? Have some ambition. Your second brother and his wife are doing just fine.”

She finished with a prayer, thanking the ancestors for their blessing. She’d never expected her second son and daughter-in-law to get along so well.

Lu Xiaosan said, “You didn’t see how my second brother was. Why didn’t we notice before that he could be so good to his wife?”

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