Chapter 176: No One Is More Important Than You

Lu Xiaosan said, “That wasn’t just a coincidence. Second Sister-in-law picked you. Look, she didn’t pick me.”

Old Lu glanced at his youngest son. This kid really didn’t care about saving face—he’d lay himself out for his second brother to step on.

Lu Chuan was in a much better mood. “That’s because your second sister-in-law has good taste. It’s not all luck, you know.”

Fang Yuan picked up some food for Lu Chuan. “Eat more, nourish your brain. You’d better keep being this good. Don’t get angry so much.”

The atmosphere at the table was a bit quiet. Everyone was watching Lu Chuan—they all knew he was sulking.

Lu Chuan pressed his lips together. He wanted to keep being angry, but now he felt embarrassed.

Lu Xiaosan couldn’t help it either. He picked up a piece of food for Lu Chuan. “Here, Second Brother, eat. It’s good for your mind too.”

Fang Yuan couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

Lu Xiaosan laughed along. Trying to mediate between a married couple really wasn’t easy. At least now everyone was smiling.

Old Mrs. Lu let out a sigh of relief, thinking, My third son really has a way with people—he even made Fang Yuan laugh.

Lu Xiaosan said, “Second Sister-in-law, when it comes to me finding a wife, you’ve got to take it seriously.” Otherwise, all my heartfelt advice would be for nothing.

Fang Yuan was fond of this little brother-in-law—he had good taste and wasn’t annoying. “When I say something, I mean it. We’ll find you a girl who’s straightforward and comes from a good family. Even if she can’t help you much, at least she won’t hold you back.”

Lu Xiaosan replied, “I’ll listen to you, Second Sister-in-law.” A wife like that—anyone would be lucky to have her. He really didn’t ask for much else.

Old Mrs. Lu said, “Dream on. Where are you going to find such a good wife?”

Lu Xiaosan grinned, “My second sister-in-law is lucky. If she’s willing, maybe she really can find one for me.”

Fang Yuan said, “I’ll keep an eye out, don’t worry. I’ve got it in mind.”

Lu Chuan just stared at his silly wife. She’d been sweet-talked by Lu Xiaosan and actually agreed to help. He snorted softly.

Lu Xiaosan toned it down a bit—his second brother could be petty, so he had to be careful.

At the table, everyone started chatting about Lu Xiaosan getting married. It was a safe topic.

The young couple finished eating and happily went home. Just by looking at them, you could tell the anger had passed.

Old Mrs. Lu praised her youngest son several times. He knew how to talk, how to get things done, and how to make people happy.

Afterwards, Lu Xiaosan said to his parents, “See? It’s not easy to get on their good side. I put in so much effort for them.”

Old Lu liked seeing his sons get along. The eldest and second didn’t get along over such small things, but at least the youngest and second did. He was satisfied. “Just be careful. Your second brother and sister-in-law aren’t people you can just sweet-talk.”

Lu Xiaosan replied, “I’m not trying to get anything from them. I’m hardly ever home anyway. As long as they’re happy, that’s enough. It’s not a big deal.”

Then Lu Xiaosan reminded his dad, “Try not to mention Big Brother in front of Second Brother from now on.”

This was the second time Old Lu had heard this—his wife had said it too. He really didn’t realize things between the two brothers had gotten this bad.

Old Lu asked, “What’s really going on between your second and eldest brothers? They don’t get along, but it shouldn’t be this bad, should it?”

Lu Xiaosan curled his lips. That’s what you think. Second Brother doesn’t see it that way—it’s about feelings for him.

Big Brother doesn’t see it that way either—for him, it’s about money. Lu Xiaosan knew this well. Big Brother had said before that Second Brother always got the better end of the deal.

Lu Xiaosan said, “We’ve already split the family. Everyone lives their own life. Why get involved? If Big Brother hadn’t stepped up today, I wouldn’t have done it for him.”

Old Lu said, “You’re all brothers. If he gets bullied, it doesn’t look good for you either.”

Lu Xiaosan replied, “Dad, I don’t mean to sound harsh, but if Big Brother hadn’t gotten involved first, and if his in-laws tried to pin something on me, he wouldn’t say anything nice about me. He’d probably just watch the show from the sidelines.”

It wasn’t that Lu Xiaosan thought badly of him—Big Brother really was capable of that.

Old Lu said, “No way, your big brother isn’t that timid.”

Then Old Lu asked, “You’re always sweet-talking your second brother. Doesn’t he get suspicious?”

Lu Xiaosan said, “Even if my second brother is suspicious, it’s no use. With my second sister-in-law’s temper, if he tries to hide anything, she’ll smack it right out of him.”

Old Lu had to admit, his youngest saw people pretty clearly.

Lu Xiaosan started to get suspicious. “Dad, what are you getting at? Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and Second Brother?”

Old Lu said, “Just giving you a reminder. You can’t always rely on others—you have to stand on your own.”

Lu Xiaosan snorted, “Who are you looking down on?”

Meanwhile, Old Mrs. Lu finished tidying up and called Old Lu, “Big Brother probably hasn’t eaten yet. I’ll go cook for them. You come help me clean up. The Li family’s made such a mess of things.”

Old Lu wanted to call Lu Xiaosan to help, but Old Mrs. Lu pulled him away. “I’ll take care of her. I’m her mother-in-law. My son doesn’t want to be bothered by her.”

Lu Xiaosan just stood there smiling, with no intention of helping.

Old Lu shook his head and said nothing. This was all Big Brother and his wife’s doing—no wonder the youngest didn’t want to deal with them.

Lu Xiaosan knew, even though his parents ate here, their minds were still on the eldest grandson. Classic case of “the smelly butt you can’t throw away.”

Just a wall away, Fang Yuan and Lu Chuan both knew Old Mrs. Lu and Old Lu had gone over to Big Brother’s place.

Lu Chuan was worried Fang Yuan would feel bad. “Don’t let this upset you. It’s not worth it. We’re all their sons—Mom and Dad can’t let go.”

Fang Yuan said, “You think I’m that petty?”

Lu Chuan, feeling better, teased her, “You’re in such a good mood?”

Fang Yuan pursed her lips. “If it were my mom, I’d definitely argue. But it’s your mom, not mine. I’m not saying anything bad about her—it’s just not my place to interfere.”

Lu Chuan understood. She wasn’t his biological mother, so this was already pretty good. “If it were my mother-in-law, I’d just have to listen too. Wouldn’t dare say anything.”

Lu Chuan added, “We’re not home much anyway. Mom and Dad are always around. They see each other every day, so let them be.”

Fang Yuan nodded. “Yeah, if they want to tire themselves out, it’s not our business.”

Lu Chuan wondered if he’d managed to comfort her or not.

Then Fang Yuan asked, “Why were you upset just now?”

Lu Chuan pretended not to know. “Upset? When was I upset? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Fang Yuan smacked him. “Talk properly.”

Lu Chuan knew there was no getting out of it. He knew what kind of person Fang Yuan was and didn’t want to bottle it up. “I’m petty. I just don’t like you comparing yourself to… you-know-who. It makes me unhappy.”

He wouldn’t even mention Big Brother by name—just “you-know-who.” That’s how petty he was.

Fang Yuan said, “If you don’t like it, just say so. I won’t say it again.”

Lu Chuan was stunned by how easily she agreed. “Huh?” Was she really going to just go along with him like that?

Fang Yuan said, “Of course I want you to be happy. Who could be more important than you? But being petty isn’t really something to be proud of, you know.”

Just those two sentences, and Lu Chuan was grinning like a fool for half the night. No matter how he looked at Fang Yuan, he was happy. He felt silly for having been upset in the first place—if he’d known, he wouldn’t have gotten angry at all.

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