Chapter 168: Long Live Understanding

Then, Five Tiger realized just how tough and exhausting it is to be the only sensible person at the table. Nothing goes smoothly at all.

At critical moments, you really have to steer the conversation, or else things might just erupt into an argument. Now he finally understood how hard it was for his own mother all these years.

After all, his brother-in-law Lu Chuan was also at the table. You can’t let things get so awkward, can you? Letting your brother-in-law watch the family drama—there’s nothing glorious about that.

For the rest of the meal, Five Tiger kept feeling sorry for his mom. In previous years, just imagine how much of a headache it must have been for her to face this group of sons.

Over at Wang Cuixiang’s table, this year’s meal was the best ever—no worries at all. The daughters-in-law all doted on Fang Yuan. The eldest daughter-in-law wasn’t favored, but she kept quiet and didn’t stir up trouble.

The grandkids were all well-behaved too, which was a relief. Finally, she didn’t have to watch her sons play mind games with each other.

As for the men’s table, Wang Cuixiang didn’t bother with them at all. Her attitude was: “Let them be, I don’t believe these rascals would dare embarrass themselves in front of their brother-in-law.”

Fang Yuan even asked, “Who cooked this year’s dishes? Mom, you seem to be enjoying the food more than usual.”

Third Sister-in-law got a bit emotional—pleasing her mother-in-law was her goal: “I did, if you like it, Mom, I’ll cook again next year.”

Second Sister-in-law chimed in, “I helped too.”

Fang Yuan said, “Then let’s keep it this way next year. Third Sister-in-law, sorry for the trouble.”

Third Sister-in-law could hardly believe it—her sister-in-law was actually being so polite: “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

Fang Yuan added, “Second Sister-in-law, you were a great help too. Let’s keep it up next year.”

Second Sister-in-law replied, “Next year, my cooking will definitely be better than Third Sister-in-law’s.”

With her daughters-in-law all eager to please her, Wang Cuixiang couldn’t possibly be in a bad mood.

Over at Lu Chuan’s side, the most common questions were: “What’s the school like in the provincial capital? What do you and Fang Yuan do there?”

Nobody brought up making money—except Fourth Tiger, but even he got shut down by his older brothers.

Lu Chuan kept the conversation focused on the school cafeteria. Fang Daleng was especially interested: “That’s good, as long as you eat well, you won’t be suffering.”

Lu Chuan replied shyly, “Fang Yuan likes the cafeteria food too. Dad, I help out there sometimes, learn a few dishes, and when I have time, I cook for Fang Yuan at home.”

Though he spoke modestly, every word showed how much he cared for Fang Yuan.

Fourth Tiger was practically grinding his teeth—“A grown man, cooking for his wife at home? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

But Fang Daleng was straightforward and didn’t pick up on Lu Chuan’s subtext. He was just surprised: “Fang Yuan can eat at the cafeteria?” That was what he cared about.

Lu Chuan answered, “Of course. We go twice a week. Fang Yuan worries about spending money, otherwise we could go every day.”

What Fang Daleng heard was that his son-in-law wasn’t ashamed to take his daughter to school, which made him very satisfied.

He patted Lu Chuan’s shoulder, “Good, very good. You’re a good son-in-law, and the school is good too.”

Lu Chuan’s shoulder almost broke from the pat—his father-in-law had the strength to wrestle a 300-pound pig.

Fourth Tiger couldn’t help but tease, “Brother-in-law, you really dare take Fang Yuan to school? Aren’t you afraid she’ll cause trouble for you?”

Lu Chuan didn’t want to hear that, “Fourth Brother, Fang Yuan isn’t that kind of person.”

Even Fang Daleng looked at Lu Chuan with a complicated expression—he didn’t really know his own daughter that well.

Lu Chuan continued, “I’m serious. Fang Yuan is always busy, working with Fifth Brother all day. She’s got no time to hang around the school with me, let alone cause trouble. Besides, she’s not the type to stir things up.”

Fang Daleng replied, “Son-in-law, it’s good you think that way.” He didn’t dare say more—he knew his daughter wasn’t exactly trouble-free.

At this point, Eldest Brother kept quiet, and Fourth Tiger, ever the sharp one, started probing, “So busy, huh? What kind of work are you doing in the middle of winter?”

Fifth Tiger changed the subject, “What work? Making money is never easy. Guarding doors, sweeping streets—stuff the locals in the provincial capital don’t want to do. If it weren’t for our brother-in-law, we’d have come home long ago.”

Lu Chuan stayed silent—Fifth Brother could say whatever, but as the son-in-law, it wasn’t his place to elaborate.

Second Tiger was skeptical, “And the people who go with you, they do this too? What’s in it for them?”

Fifth Tiger replied half-heartedly, “They need the money. Otherwise, who’d put up with it?”

Fang Daleng’s eyes filled with tears as he looked over at Fang Yuan at the other table, “My daughter really has it tough.”

Lu Chuan couldn’t let his father-in-law misunderstand, “Dad, Fang Yuan said you taught her since she was little that you never run out of strength—use it up and there’s always more. But don’t worry, I always buy food from the cafeteria and bring it to Fifth Brother and Fang Yuan. We don’t go hungry.”

As for what kind of work they really did in the provincial capital, Lu Chuan didn’t say a word—he couldn’t give away Fifth Brother’s secrets.

Fang Daleng said, “Son-in-law, you’d better treat my daughter well. She’s even sweeping streets for people now.”

Fifth Tiger shot a look at his brother-in-law, realizing he might have gotten him into trouble. It wasn’t easy to take those words back.

Lu Chuan said, “Dad, it’s not that bad.”

Fang Daleng looked up at his son-in-law, thinking, “Not that bad? How do you still have the mood to drink?”

Then he remembered—his daughter had already bought a house in the provincial capital. That’s not something you can do just by sweeping streets. At a key moment, Fang Daleng actually showed some wisdom.

Neither his son-in-law nor his youngest son said anything, so Fang Daleng just pointed at Fifth Tiger, “You rascal.” At least he didn’t say anything worse, giving both Fifth Brother and his son-in-law some face.

Then he pulled Lu Chuan to eat and dropped the topic. Nothing that came out of Fifth Brother’s mouth was true anyway.

Fang Daleng asked his son-in-law, “Does Fang Yuan have any friends in the provincial capital? Does she have anyone to chat with? I don’t want her to get sick from holding things in.”

Lu Chuan replied, “No way, Fifth Brother is there. Besides, Fang Yuan and I usually study together.”

Everyone at the table looked at Lu Chuan—like that could be true.

Lu Chuan insisted, “Really, everyone who meets Fang Yuan likes her.”

Fifth Tiger looked at his brother-in-law and played along, “That’s right. Where we rent, everyone calls Fang Yuan ‘Sixth Sister’.”

Fang Daleng slapped his thigh, “That’s the spirit of our family! We’re famous now.”

Lu Chuan and Fifth Tiger both laughed. The whole conversation kept circling around Fang Yuan and the provincial capital.

As for making money or what they actually did, Fifth Tiger didn’t say a word. And with Lu Chuan’s tight lips, it was even harder to get anything out of him.

The brothers thought to themselves, “Who would’ve thought—the two youngest in the family are the hardest to pin down.”

Back at Wang Cuixiang’s table, Third Sister-in-law, as straightforward as ever, asked, “Little Sister, are you and your husband getting along? Has he taken you out for fun?”

Fang Yuan didn’t appreciate Third Sister-in-law’s concern at all and shot back, “We’ve spent enough already, and you still want us to go out all the time? How are we supposed to live like that?”

Second Sister-in-law said, “That’s not what she meant. You’re always out working, doesn’t your husband ever try to cheer you up? That’s not right either.”

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