Chapter 167: It’s Not Easy Being the Sensible One

Fang Yuan said, “But I just want to know if there’s anyone else in the village with a brain like this.” Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

Lu Chuan pressed his lips together, smiling a little less reserved than usual. “Stop overthinking. It was me—your man—who came up with it.”

This was a real surprise. Fang Yuan hugged Lu Chuan and gave him a quick kiss. “I knew it, you really are the smart one.”

Lu Chuan was a bit flattered—Fang Yuan was always so calm, and moments like this were rare. He felt like his face was worth a fortune right now.

Looking at Fang Yuan, Lu Chuan’s mind started to wander. “If I come up with another idea to trick him, will you give me another kiss?”

Fang Yuan wasn’t having it. “Don’t get any ideas. Let’s save your cleverness for making money, not wasting it on him.”

Lu Chuan was surprised—so his brainpower needed to be used sparingly? “That makes so much sense. He doesn’t deserve it.”

Fang Yuan nodded. “Exactly, don’t use it recklessly. Our ideas are precious.”

As she spoke, she even rubbed Lu Chuan’s forehead. She really did treasure his brains.

Lu Chuan felt pure happiness—there couldn’t be a man in the world happier than him. Then he heard Fang Yuan say, “While your brain’s working so well, think about what we should do this year. Do you think we can get that qualification or whatever?”

Lu Chuan felt his happiness was short-lived. If only Fang Yuan didn’t open her mouth. That was a tall order.

Lu Chuan said, “That’s not something you can get with just brains. We’re just not strong enough yet. Don’t worry about it for now. Let’s keep working on a small scale in the provincial capital, picking up the leftovers after the big players. Once we’ve built up our skills, I’ll figure out the qualification thing.”

Fang Yuan thought Lu Chuan’s brain wasn’t all that after all. “Still have to wait? What a shame.”

Lu Chuan replied, “Think about it—right now, we can’t even afford a crane. When the time comes, we’ll have to rent from others, and they’ll make a killing off us.”

Fang Yuan nodded. “Then don’t rush into things. Let me save up for a couple of years.” Then she asked, “Do you think we can save enough in two years?”

Lu Chuan twitched his lips. His wife sure had big dreams. “No rush. I might not even have it figured out in two years.”

Fang Yuan’s face changed. “Still not enough in two years? What use are you then?”

Lu Chuan couldn’t believe how quickly a man’s happiness could depreciate. She was just praising his brains a moment ago, and now she was complaining he was useless.

Lu Chuan said, “Don’t worry, it’s not something you can predict. We’ll take it step by step. I’m just being realistic—conservative estimate.”

Fang Yuan huffed, “Give your brain a rest. Maybe it’s not as sharp as I thought. Don’t waste it in the future—let Gong Er benefit for nothing.”

Lu Chuan glanced at Fang Yuan and didn’t dare say another word. Better she scold Gong Er than take it out on him. A man really can’t afford to slack off—he needed to focus on serious business.

On the second day of the New Year, Lu Chuan rode his bike and took Fang Yuan back to her parents’ home.

Wang Cuixiang had been waiting at the door for her daughter since early morning. Seeing her daughter bundled up and her son-in-law looking handsome, Wang Cuixiang was all smiles. “I just knew you two would be here soon.”

Fang Yuan said, “It’s not like I don’t know where home is. Why are you waiting outside in the cold? You don’t need to wait for us.”

Lu Chuan parked the bike. “Mom, let’s go inside. If there’s anything to do, just let me handle it. They say sons-in-law are supposed to run errands for their mothers-in-law. I’m not home most of the year, so today, just boss me around as much as you want.”

With just a couple of sentences, Lu Chuan had Wang Cuixiang beaming, completely forgetting about Fang Yuan—her eyes were all on her son-in-law.

Lu Chuan was flattering his mother-in-law with every word, and he was even more attentive to Fang Yuan.

The things a mother-in-law likes to see are simple, and Lu Chuan delivered them all.

Watching their brother-in-law bustling around the house, running errands everywhere, it was like he could charm even his own mother into a daze.

Fourth Tiger said to Fifth Tiger, “I don’t believe he treats Fang Yuan like this when they’re in the city. Look at how he’s got Mom wrapped around his finger—she’s practically dizzy.”

Fifth Tiger scoffed, “You’ve got it wrong. Our Fang Yuan is something else. Even if our brother-in-law caught a mosquito, he wouldn’t let Fang Yuan miss out.”

Fourth Tiger said, “You’re exaggerating for Fang Yuan’s sake. What’s he getting out of it?” Honestly, their Fang Yuan didn’t seem to have what it took to keep her husband tied down.

Fifth Tiger grumbled, “I wish I knew. I just don’t see what makes Fang Yuan worth all this attention from our brother-in-law.” The two brothers were thinking the same thing.

Fourth Tiger scratched his head. “Why does it sound like you’re actually telling the truth?”

Fifth Tiger replied, “Would I make up something this trivial? I don’t get it myself.”

Fourth Tiger turned to look at Fang Yuan, who was sitting there calm and collected. “Our Fang Yuan doesn’t look like the type to sweet-talk a man.”

Fifth Tiger said, “I’d believe she could yell at a man, though.”

No one knew when Third Tiger had joined them. “Our brother-in-law doesn’t look like he’s afraid of women, either. He’s got some skills.”

The three brothers sat there studying their brother-in-law, trying to figure him out, but they just couldn’t.

Given their brother-in-law’s current status, the fact that he was still so attentive to his mother-in-law really impressed them.

Second Brother Fang came over. “Alright, is this how you talk about your own family? Even though the family’s split, brothers are still brothers. Fourth, Fifth, don’t make trouble.”

Fourth and Fifth had split off from the family during the New Year, leaving the older three brothers confused about what was really going on.

Second Brother couldn’t hold back and came over to feel things out.

Fifth Tiger slung an arm around Fourth’s shoulder. “Second Brother, what are you talking about? We split the family so we could live our own lives. Who’s making trouble? What trouble is there to make? Help Fourth Brother with his new house?”

Fourth Tiger laughed along. “Don’t say it like that—it’s called a housewarming, not a new house. Second Brother, we’re all good.”

Third Tiger firmly stayed out of it. He knew Second Brother was up to something.

He still hadn’t decided whether to work with the eldest or Fourth Brother next year, so he didn’t want to offend anyone.

Of course, if Fifth Brother wanted to bring him along, that’d be even better, but Fifth always liked to go it alone—probably no chance.

Don’t be fooled by Third Brother’s honest face—he knew what was what.

Second Brother didn’t feel awkward. “Alright, as long as you say you’re good.”

The way he said it, it was like the two brothers were just pretending to get along.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, “Between brothers, it’s always a silent battle. Right now, the eldest can still keep things under control, but if he couldn’t, it’d be even messier.”

Wang Cuixiang, hosting her son-in-law, had prepared two big tables of food—one for the men, one for the women.

The men talked about nothing but making money—there wasn’t much else.

Fang Daleng was a straightforward guy. He couldn’t pick up on the undercurrents between his sons, and not being too sharp meant he didn’t worry about it.

He focused on serving his son-in-law, piling all the good food into his bowl. He smiled as he urged his sons and grandsons to eat.

Now that Fifth Tiger was doing well, none of the brothers picked on him—they all flattered him. He should have been enjoying his meal.

The rest of the brothers could make a fuss if they wanted—he was just there for the show.

In previous years, Wang Cuixiang would glare at him for that, but this year, with the men and women sitting separately, there wasn’t even anyone to glare at him.

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