Chapter 179: The Old Fox’s Tricks

Fang Yuan said casually, “Fifth Brother has to settle the people he brought first before he can take you over to have a look. But it’s just a look—there’s nothing over there.”

They felt reassured—the house really does exist.

Lu Chuan kept silent; this wasn’t something he should get involved in.

Wang Cuixiang said to Fang Daleng, “We just want to see his house.”

Well, they’d come all the way to the provincial capital just to confirm that Fifth Tiger really owned property. As parents, they really did care about their son.

Fang Yuan finally remembered that Fifth Brother hadn’t actually told them he had a house yet. “Maybe it’s not appropriate for me to take you over.”

Wang Cuixiang decided, “You’ve done plenty of things that aren’t appropriate, what’s one more?”

Fang Daleng added, “Girl, your parents aren’t outsiders. Your Fifth Brother won’t get mad at you. Let’s go see our family’s house.”

Fang Yuan shrugged, “That’s true. Fifth Brother probably wants to show off a bit anyway. I’ll help him brag first.”

Lu Chuan laughed. He couldn’t let his wife handle this alone. If Fifth Brother really blamed Fang Yuan, he’d have to step in. “Come on, I’ll take Mom and Dad over.”

Wang Cuixiang and Fang Daleng both felt at ease. Since their son-in-law spoke up, Fifth Brother’s house must really exist.

Then, standing in their son’s big courtyard, Fang Daleng’s expression changed—he was full of pride. “Even I have a place in the provincial capital now, all thanks to my son.”

Seeing Fang Daleng’s change, Fang Yuan muttered to Lu Chuan, “Now you see the difference between having a son and a daughter?”

Lu Chuan just smiled. Her father was clearly more relaxed and at home in Fifth Brother’s courtyard.

After looking around, Fang Daleng felt satisfied and started to dream aloud. “Wife, let’s open a butcher shop in the provincial capital. There are more people here than in the village. We’ll definitely make money.”

Wang Cuixiang was the voice of reason. “You think having more sons is a good thing? If we open a shop here and make money, who will inherit it? Aren’t you afraid your sons will fight each other over it?”

Lu Chuan had to admit, his mother-in-law thought far ahead. None of his brothers-in-law were easy to deal with.

Fang Daleng didn’t care. “Let them fight. The family business stays in the family, not with outsiders. If I have the ability to earn it, they can fight over it.”

Lu Chuan felt a chill run down his spine. No wonder all of his father-in-law’s sons were like tigers.

Wang Cuixiang said, “What’s the point of working so hard and suffering? Let’s just stay in the village. If you really want to live in the provincial capital, we’ll just stay with Fifth Brother and do nothing.”

Fang Yuan agreed, “That’s better. Fifth Brother will be less stressed. If you come to the city, you’ll bother him, and if you make money, the brothers will start thinking about it. I’m not happy about that.”

Lu Chuan just listened, not daring to say a word.

The more he got to know the Fang family’s five tigers, the more Lu Chuan realized their reputation was well-deserved. No matter who his parents-in-law relied on, they’d always be well taken care of.

Fang Daleng felt a bit wronged. “He’s my son—how is that bothering him?”

Fang Yuan replied, “If you live with Fifth Brother and give him your earnings, then it’s not bothering him.”

The father and daughter continued their back-and-forth, but Wang Cuixiang ignored them. No matter what they said, it was just talk.

Looking around, Wang Cuixiang was satisfied. Compared to her daughter’s place, this one had a better environment, better house, and was tidier.

She asked Lu Chuan, “Are your expenses high? Do you not have much money left?”

Fang Yuan didn’t understand why her mother asked that. “We don’t have much cash, but our expenses aren’t high.”

Lu Chuan was sharp and immediately understood what his mother-in-law was getting at. “Mom, we have enough money. We didn’t buy a finished house here because Fang Yuan thought we’d eventually need to buy some big items, so we bought a courtyard with more space. In the provincial capital, land is worth more than the house.”

Wang Cuixiang nodded, “I knew that was her idea.”

Then she scolded Fang Yuan, “Why do you waste so much money? You don’t live well, you don’t eat well, and it’s all because of you.”

Lu Chuan tried to defend her, “Mom, that’s not what happened. Fang Yuan isn’t like that.”

Fang Yuan protested, “Exactly! What did I waste? Who told you that? That’s just gossip.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Do I need anyone to tell me? Your husband is just as capable as Fifth Tiger, and Fifth Tiger has a courtyard like this and is about to buy a car. Your place isn’t as nice, and you can’t even afford a car. Where did the money go?”

Clearly, her mother-in-law had done the math.

Lu Chuan thought, with such a shrewd mother-in-law, Fang Yuan couldn’t hide anything from her. What could she possibly keep secret?

Fang Yuan said, “We bought a courtyard. That’s not wasting money, that’s getting a bargain.”

But after her mother-in-law’s lecture, she felt maybe just having a place to live was good enough—why buy a courtyard? If that’s not wasting money, what is?

Then, when they got home and saw the run-down courtyard, Wang Cuixiang scolded Fang Yuan even more, feeling sorry for her son-in-law. “We’ve been busy all year, and she’s spent every penny. I’m sorry, son-in-law.”

Lu Chuan reassured her, “Mom, this is better than saving money. Really, Fang Yuan is smart. Even Fifth Brother regrets not spending all his money back then.”

Wang Cuixiang didn’t believe it, thinking Lu Chuan was just covering for his wife. “Enough, I feel bad for you.”

Fang Daleng looked at the big courtyard and said, “Wow, my daughter is really capable. With such a big place, all our sons could move here and each build a house.”

Wang Cuixiang just rolled her eyes. “Dream on. Look at your daughter—do you think she’d let her brothers split up her property?”

Fang Yuan didn’t need Lu Chuan to answer. She said directly, “Dad, you can work hard for your sons, but I’ll have my own kids. This is all for my son.”

Lu Chuan blushed. Even though they didn’t have a son yet, Fang Yuan was already planning for their future.

Fang Daleng was just speaking without thinking. “Look at how little money I have. How many courtyards could I buy?”

He really was thinking about buying property in the provincial capital. Fang Yuan said, “You couldn’t even buy one. And if you did, who would you give it to? Are you worried your sons won’t have enough in the future?”

Fang Daleng replied, “What’s wrong with that? I can do whatever I want for them. Tomorrow, I’ll tell them that my money has nothing to do with them. I’ll give it to whoever I want.”

Wang Cuixiang knew her husband well. “Are you still thinking about buying each son a house in the city?”

Fang Daleng chuckled. He really did have that idea. As a father, he wanted to give his sons the best. He hadn’t thought about it before, but now he had more experience.

Wang Cuixiang said, “Give it a rest. Look how old you are. If there’s any fighting to do, let them do it themselves. We’re getting old—just take care of me.”

Lu Chuan changed the subject, “Mom, Dad, there’s no rush. Buying a house isn’t something you decide overnight. When Fifth Brother comes back, let’s go out for a nice meal.”

Wang Cuixiang nodded. “That’s true. I brought some grain and vegetables from home. I’ll go cook.”

180."