Chapter 166: Reading Makes You Better

Fang Yuan said, “Isn’t it great? If you don’t want people gossiping about you, just live your life well. That’s the way to go.”

Lu Chuan immediately followed his wife’s lead and changed his tune: “Any custom that’s been passed down through the generations must have something good about it.”

Lu Xiaosan thought to himself, That’s not what you were saying just now. “What do you mean by that?”

Fang Yuan caught on right away: “Your second brother means even the bad customs have their merits.”

Old Man Lu tugged at the corner of his mouth. His second son listens to his wife—good for him. Just a bit shameless, though.

Old Lady Lu looked her second son up and down: “You sure change your tune fast. That’s not what you were saying a minute ago.”

Lu Xiaosan nodded in agreement: “Second brother, do you have any principles at all?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Mainly, it’s because your second sister-in-law is right. I was too stubborn before. As a person, you have to listen to others and learn from their strengths to make up for your own weaknesses.”

Lu Xiaosan couldn’t help himself: “Mom, Dad, you always told us to treat our wives well, but you’re so scared of your wife you just go along with whatever my second sister-in-law says.”

Fang Yuan gave Lu Xiaosan a smack: “What are you talking about?”

Lu Xiaosan changed his tune even faster than Lu Chuan: “I’m saying my second brother is right.”

Then he added, “My second sister-in-law is special. If you’re scared, you’re scared—so what?”

Lu Chuan pointed at Lu Xiaosan: “You really don’t have much ambition, do you?” Neither of the brothers was any better than the other. Old Man Lu just didn’t want to look at them anymore.

A family with no principles at all. Old Lady Lu said, “There’s nothing wrong with listening to your second sister-in-law. Even my back feels straighter now. Back in the day, when something happened, they’d drag me out of the house to watch the commotion, and I couldn’t say no. Now, look—who dares come in and get me? If I don’t want to go, I don’t go.”

Lu Xiaosan said, “Mom, that’s just because we have a front gate now. We can lock it, and not just anyone can come in anymore.”

Old Lady Lu thought about it: “That’s true.” Then she added, “But it’s also because your second sister-in-law is tough.”

Lu Xiaosan had nothing more to say. Old Man Lu started rubbing Lu Xiaosan’s feet, making him yelp in pain.

Lu Xiaosan finally caught his breath: “It really is cold. I didn’t even feel it when I was standing outside.”

Old Man Lu felt bad for his son. “That’s because you got chilled. Keep your feet warm.”

Fang Yuan could see it—rubbing feet was a Lu family specialty, a skill passed down from the previous generation.

Lu Xiaosan said, “By the way, I saw that big brother and his wife’s business is doing pretty well. Gong Er helped promote them, and they were busy all night. They sold out of sunflower seeds, peanuts, candy, even the firecrackers for the kids.”

Old Lady Lu was happy to hear it: “That’s great, that’s great. It’s good to have something to do—your big brother looks more energetic now.”

But when Old Man Lu heard about Lu Dage, his face darkened: “He was so busy on New Year’s Day he didn’t even come see his parents.”

Well, that killed the mood right away. Old Lady Lu’s face fell too.

Lu Chuan got up and pulled Fang Yuan along: “Mom, we’re going to Fang Yuan’s family early tomorrow, so we’ll go rest first.”

Fang Yuan looked at the time—it really was getting late: “Dad, Mom, you should get some rest too. Give Xiaosan some hot water to drink so he doesn’t catch a cold.”

And with that, the couple went back to their room. As for the topic of Lu Dage’s family, they didn’t want to get involved, let alone bring it up.

On Old Lady Lu’s side, with just the three of them left, she said, “From now on, don’t mention your big brother’s family in front of your second brother and his wife.”

Lu Xiaosan understood: “Got it. But have you noticed my second sister-in-law is different now?”

Old Lady Lu asked, “How is she different?”

Lu Xiaosan said, “She doesn’t even seem like someone from our village anymore, even the way she talks is different.”

Old Lady Lu replied, “If you put it that way, your second brother has changed even more.”

Lu Xiaosan said, “That’s true, but second brother went away to school, so it makes sense he changed. But second sister-in-law’s temper is better now too.”

Old Lady Lu nodded: “You’re right. I think your second sister-in-law is great in every way now.”

Lu Xiaosan thought, That’s just because you’re too scared to think otherwise.

Old Man Lu said, “Your second sister-in-law is always reading with your second brother. That’s a skill, too. Don’t listen to people saying she’s just a village girl—those girls from outside are all from villages too, just went out to study, no different from your second sister-in-law. In fact, she’s even better.”

Listen to how highly Old Man Lu thinks of Fang Yuan.

Old Lady Lu was surprised. No wonder she liked Fang Yuan so much—turns out she was a hardworking kid. “Really?”

Old Man Lu said, “Of course. She’s always reading with our second son, works hard at it.”

Old Lady Lu said, “That’s good. I’ll tell you, with all the trouble Gong Er’s been stirring up, I was worried your second brother might go astray. It’s good your second sister-in-law is capable—she can keep him in line.”

Lu Xiaosan said, “That’s a matter of character. My second brother and Gong Er are nothing alike. Frankly, even if my second brother did go astray, he’d never be like Gong Er.” Clearly, Lu Xiaosan had a lot of faith in Lu Chuan.

Old Man Lu said, “Nonsense. Your second brother isn’t that kind of person. He’d never go astray.”

Lu Xiaosan said, “I hope so too.” Which meant he wasn’t totally convinced.

Old Lady Lu said, “Well, think of it as double insurance. Anyway, it’s good your second sister-in-law is capable. I think she’s great. Maybe you should learn from her and read more books.”

Lu Xiaosan said, “If I had that kind of talent, I’d go to school. Why would I just sit around at home?”

Well, clearly, he wasn’t interested in reading. He didn’t care to copy anyone else’s success story.

Meanwhile, next door, according to Old Man Lu, the very promising, self-taught Fang Yuan was reading a joke book. When she got tired, she even had Lu Chuan read a few passages to her.

Lu Chuan had been reading joke books with his wife for a while now, but he still couldn’t deliver the punchlines quite right.

Fang Yuan complained, “You reading them out loud isn’t as funny as when I read them myself.”

Lu Chuan said, “Still not satisfied? What, do you want me to act them out for you?”

Fang Yuan was still thinking about how to deal with Gong Er, so she wasn’t really paying attention to the jokes—no wonder she didn’t find them funny. “Who do you think gave Damei’s family that idea?” She was keeping this person in mind.

Lu Chuan said, “Why, are you impressed that someone’s smarter than me? Are you interested in them or something?”

Fang Yuan said, “Don’t talk nonsense, and don’t joke about that. No one in my family is like that. My dad would kill me.”

Lu Chuan said, “Dad’s right. Dad raised you well.” But shouldn’t she only have eyes for him? Having to rely on her father’s threats for loyalty made Lu Chuan feel a little aggrieved.

Fang Yuan said, “Of course. My brothers may be tough, but they all know one thing: treat your wife well and don’t stray. Look at how good my big brother is to my sister-in-law—it’s almost over the top, and my dad still puts up with him.”

Lu Chuan thought his father-in-law was really reliable: “I’ll follow Dad’s example and treat my wife well too.”

Fang Yuan said, “Of course. I’ll follow Dad’s example and treat you well too, don’t worry.”

Lu Chuan wanted to laugh. Fang Yuan was putting herself in her father’s shoes, holding herself to the same standards as a son-in-law.

Of course, her dad wouldn’t have that requirement for his own daughter. But Lu Chuan didn’t want to argue about this little misunderstanding."