Chapter 172: Trouble Comes from Overthinking

Lu Chuan said, “Big Brother, Fang Yuan has a quick temper. Please don’t be upset about this, you and Sister-in-law. I know her cousin from Sister-in-law’s side was just talking me up, but I didn’t take it seriously.”

Then he turned to his sister-in-law, “Sister-in-law, Fang Yuan may be hot-tempered, but she’s kind-hearted. Even after getting married, she still cares about her family. We all have parents, just like you.”

Wang Cuixiang rubbed her forehead. This son-in-law isn’t easy to deal with either. It’s fine to protect your wife, but you shouldn’t put your sister-in-law on the spot.

Second, third, and fourth Fang brothers all chimed in, “Fang Yuan is a handful, but that’s how she was raised. She’s our only sister, so even if she’s a handful, we’ll spoil her.”

Fang Laoda (the eldest) said to his wife, “Let’s go home. This has nothing to do with you.”

If he hadn’t said that, his wife would have had a hard time backing down. Everyone could see that Fang Laoda was standing up for his wife.

Wu Hu (Fifth Tiger) snorted, clearly unhappy. Fang Yuan had been wronged.

Fang Daleng pulled his brother-in-law into the house for a chat, “Don’t take it to heart.”

But when it came to matters in the provincial capital, Fang Daleng always played dumb.

He didn’t get involved in the kids’ business. No matter how much the eldest stirred things up, he stayed out of it.

Even if Sister-in-law’s younger brother wanted to take advantage of the situation and stick around, there was no way.

Fang Laohu (Old Tiger) cared about face, so he took his brother-in-law and left. He couldn’t just let him hang around shamelessly at home.

Lu Chuan felt especially embarrassed and shielded Fang Yuan behind him, saying to Wang Cuixiang, “Mom, sorry to trouble you.”

Wang Cuixiang wanted to say something, but seeing her son-in-law’s attitude, she couldn’t scold her daughter. “She’s my own daughter. What trouble could she cause? I knew it—if she ever ran into your big brother’s brother-in-law, something like this was bound to happen.”

Fourth Tiger said, “Wasn’t that great? I’ve wanted to scold him for ages. Our Fang Yuan is so bold! If my future wife ever treats you like that, I’ll send her straight back to her parents’ house.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Oh, please. Big Brother said the same thing once. Look how things turned out.”

Then she looked at the second and third brothers, “None of you guys have the guts. You all take after Dad.”

Too many sons are a headache, but daughters are even more of a headache. Wang Cuixiang said, “Stop stirring things up.”

Even your dad got dragged into this mess. What, you want him to divorce me and send me back to my parents’ house?

Fang Yuan said, “I’m just stating the facts.” Wang Cuixiang shot her a glare, and Fang Yuan fell silent.

Fourth Tiger said, “Mom, if I really wanted to stir things up, I’d have Fang Yuan find someone to beat him up. Seriously, if Big Brother keeps hanging around with his brother-in-law, just watch—he won’t just lose money, he’ll lose his reputation too.”

Fang Yuan nodded in agreement, “Big Brother really hurt me this time. From now on, I’m done with him. Serves him right.”

Fifth Tiger tried to comfort her, “Why worry about him? If you have the energy, help me find a good wife—one without a brother-in-law like that.”

Wang Cuixiang kicked Fifth Tiger. “Is that any way to talk?”

Lu Chuan said, “I wonder if Big Brother will be upset with Sister-in-law. This really is our fault.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Don’t worry about that. My sister-in-law may not have many other skills, but she’s the best at coaxing my big brother.”

Fifth Tiger snarked, “That’s because Big Brother is famous for doting on his wife.”

Fang Yuan said, “Like I said, all the men in our family take after Dad.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “You lot just don’t want me to have any peace, do you? As long as your big brother and sister-in-law live well together, I’m satisfied. The rest of you, stop meddling. If your big brother wants to earn less, so be it. Do you really think I don’t know you’re all hoping to out-earn him? And another thing—stop bringing up your dad.”

The brothers all fell silent. Of course, everyone wanted to earn more than the others.

Fang Daleng saw his sons quiet down and realized his wife was right. He pointed at them, “You boys are really something.”

Fifth Tiger said, “Come on, Dad, don’t listen to Mom. I’ll walk Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan to the village entrance, so they don’t run into that ‘royal uncle’ again.”

Fourth Tiger burst out laughing, “Big Brother’s brother-in-law is the ‘royal uncle’? Dad, that makes you the ‘retired emperor’!”

Fang Daleng said, “Retired emperor? You lot are enough to drive me crazy.”

Fourth Tiger followed them out the door, “That guy really dreams big, thinking he can get in on the provincial capital business.”

Fifth Tiger said, “Let him dream. Didn’t you see how Fang Yuan made a fuss and cut him off? Sister-in-law’s little schemes were squashed right then and there.”

Fourth Tiger said, “You know, people from the provincial capital really are sharp. Even Fang Yuan’s getting shrewder.”

Lu Chuan didn’t like that, “Fang Yuan was never lacking in smarts.”

Fourth Tiger laughed, “I used to think Fifth Tiger was just hyping you two up, but now I believe it. Brother-in-law, you really do treat Fang Yuan well—always looking out for her. Alright, off you go, we’ve got things to do.”

They really were busy.

Lu Chuan pulled Fifth Tiger aside and said, “Fifth Brother, Big Brother is steady and reliable, and Fang Laohu’s reputation is well-earned. If we can’t help with Big Brother’s business, it’s better not to get involved. Later, help me talk some sense into Fang Yuan.”

Fifth Tiger didn’t take it seriously, “Don’t worry, our family business won’t drag Fang Yuan into it. She can do whatever makes her happy. Don’t listen to Big Brother’s wife—Fang Yuan always has the final say at home.”

Lu Chuan didn’t mean anything else by it, just wanted to remind Fifth Brother. That brother-in-law really wasn’t simple.

On the way home, Lu Chuan said to Fang Yuan, “You didn’t have to make a scene over something so small.”

Fang Yuan replied, “Who said I did it on purpose? I just wanted to tell him not to think about my side of things. I’ve been wanting to fall out with Big Brother’s wife for a long time.”

Lu Chuan turned to her, “Really?”

Fang Yuan said, “Just focus on riding. What do you think? You think I’d joke around with him? He’s not even worth it.”

Alright, Lu Chuan had thought Fang Yuan was just trying to refuse her big brother’s brother-in-law and didn’t know how to say it.

Fang Yuan said, “Let me tell you, that guy’s no good—worse than my fourth brother. I can’t stand how Sister-in-law always acts so magnanimous and puts up with everything, but behind the scenes, she’s the one coming up with all the bad ideas. Otherwise, do you think my big brother would have any schemes?”

Lu Chuan thought Fang Yuan was mistaken—Fang Laohu was actually quite shrewd.

He wasn’t as afraid of Sister-in-law as Fang Yuan thought, nor did he always listen to her. Sister-in-law only provoked Fang Yuan today to help Big Brother save face.

Just looking at how Big Brother acted in front of Sister-in-law today, you could tell. That brother-in-law was just a scapegoat, half-willing, half-pushed.

If he said outright that Big Brother was in the wrong, Fang Yuan would be upset, but he also didn’t want to see his wife get played for a fool.

Lu Chuan clicked his tongue and said to Fang Yuan, “Think about it—when Big Brother and I worked together, we split everything fifty-fifty. Big Brother probably wasn’t too happy about that, otherwise we wouldn’t have gone our separate ways. If Big Brother works with his brother-in-law, do you think he’d split the money evenly? Second Brother and Third Brother wouldn’t stand for it either, right?”

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