Chapter 18: So Who Really Got the Better Deal?

Oldest Lu was so put on the spot by those words, he lost his appetite. Over the line, was it?

Lu Chuan didn’t even look up; he could imagine exactly what Oldest Lu’s face looked like.

Li Meng was so angry her face turned pale. “Fang Yuan, let me tell you, from now on I’m your sister-in-law. In this family, you’re Second Brother’s wife, so you have to listen to me. Don’t talk about all that shady business. Let me be clear: I don’t even have a child.”

Fang Yuan finally looked up at her. “So what, you’re saying you married in under false pretenses? You think admitting that makes you look good? Not having a kid is actually a blessing—less karma on your head, and you won’t have people cursing your child in the future. You’re doing yourself a favor, really.”

That mouth of hers—every word hit like a knife. Second Lu could only sit and listen. Honestly, the whole Lu family could only listen.

Li Meng thought, If I don’t win this today, I’ll be under this woman’s heel forever. “Enough with that. I’m your sister-in-law. If you’re sitting at this table, then I’m sitting here too. My husband has every right to sit here as well. Don’t keep bringing up the past to embarrass people. Isn’t there any respect for seniority in this family?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Losing your morals is the same as losing your conscience. What you two did—back in the day, you’d have been drowned for it. Where do you get the nerve to shout about seniority? You don’t even know what shame is, and you want to talk about respect?”

Second Lu couldn’t listen anymore. This was getting too complicated. Better to change the subject. “Didn’t you want to eat meat rolls? Hurry up and eat.”

Fang Yuan shot Li Meng a glare, ignored her, and turned to the Lu parents. “Dad, Mom, let’s just eat this one meal together. After this, I won’t be dealing with her, and I won’t sit at the same table. It’s beneath me.”

With that, she started eating, not sparing Li Meng a single glance. Her contempt was bone-deep.

At least she stopped putting people on the spot, which gave Second Lu some face.

Oldest Lu ate in utter frustration. For the first time, even meat rolls tasted bland.

Third Lu looked at his big brother, who was squatting on the doorstep with him, and thought, Well, I’m just a kid, so squatting here isn’t embarrassing. But I’d better not end up like Big Brother, not even allowed at the table.

Father Lu thought, I’ll go get a bigger table tomorrow. The whole family needs to sit together, or there’ll always be trouble.

After the meal, Mother Lu brought out all the grain at home and divided some for Fang Yuan—even the salt.

Fang Yuan was pleased with her mother-in-law’s gesture and said generously, “It’s just a little stuff, no need to split it. Dad, Mom, you keep it for yourselves. We’ll just take the hens and go. We can buy what we need in town.”

Mother Lu was all in: “Alright, we’ll do as Second’s wife says.”

Li Meng just watched from the side. She didn’t care much for the grain, but now that they were broke, it was all they had left. Counting on Oldest Lu to get rich would take time. So she felt a bit reluctant to let it go.

But then Mother Lu divided out a share for Li Meng as well. “We’re all living together, but these are two families. Third still needs to get married, and we can’t drag you down. From now on, just like Second’s family, you keep what you earn.”

Li Meng was delighted—she hadn’t expected her in-laws to be so reasonable. If she’d known, she’d have chosen the old house for herself, living separately.

She was just getting happy when Oldest Lu told her to take the grain back to Mother Lu. “I’m the eldest. I should be living with Mom and Dad. What are you doing?”

Mother Lu said, “We’ll talk about the future when it comes. We’re not old yet. Don’t worry about us. Let’s just leave it at this for now.”

She didn’t mention splitting up the family officially, afraid it would embarrass her eldest son.

Li Meng said, “Feng-ge, since Mom and Dad said so, let’s listen to them. When we make something tasty, we all live in one house—how could we leave Mom and Dad out?”

That sounded nice, so Oldest Lu accepted it.

Second Lu glanced at his older brother and thought, He’ll never stand up for himself. A few sweet words from his wife and he gives in.

Mother Lu sighed inwardly. The eldest just wants to live his own life, afraid of being dragged down by the young or the old.

When Second Lu carried the two hens and the grain back to the old house with Fang Yuan, they saw a few young men about Second Lu’s age helping build a chicken coop.

Second Lu introduced them to Fang Yuan. “These are my classmates, here to help.”

Fang Yuan was pleased. Good, he’s not a loner. “So you’ve got friends, huh?”

Second Lu almost tripped over his own feet. “What are you talking about? They’re just classmates, not that kind of ‘friends’.”

Fang Yuan thought, What’s the difference? Why are you so loud? “Alright, I’m going to town to buy some things. Let’s have them stay for dinner.”

Second Lu said, “No need. There’ll be other chances. They have to go to extra classes soon.”

Fang Yuan glanced at the two guys building the coop. “Still in school? How old are they?” Then she turned to Second Lu. “How old are you?”

Second Lu thought, You already decided to marry me and only now ask my age? Isn’t it a bit late?

Fang Yuan stared at him. “Well? Or did you forget?” Is this guy slow in the head?

Second Lu kept a straight face. “I’m older than them. I’m twenty-one.”

Fang Yuan’s face fell. “You’re a year younger than me?”

Second Lu glanced at her. So you’re the one who snatched me up—guess you got the better deal.

Then Fang Yuan said, “I was hoping for someone older who’d know how to care for people. Now look, I’m the one who lost out by a year.”

She sounded like she’d been shortchanged, and the look she gave him was full of disdain. Second Lu felt utterly frustrated.

What an ungrateful woman. He felt stifled.

He didn’t say another word, just went next door to borrow a bicycle. “Come on, let’s go to town and buy things.”

Getting mad at Fang Yuan was just making things harder for himself. Even after such a short time together, Second Lu had already figured that out.

He rode the bike with Fang Yuan on the back. Fang Yuan clung to the bike, worried. “Are you strong enough to carry me?”

Second Lu’s bad temper flared up. He almost forgot about Fang Yuan’s invisible “brothers” watching from behind. He snapped, “What’s wrong with my strength?”

Why did this woman keep picking at him? Was she looking for a fight?

Fang Yuan said, “Why are you yelling? Just look at yourself—skinny as a noodle. Can you blame me for doubting you?”

Second Lu pressed his lips together and refused to say another word. Was “can’t do it” really appropriate to say in this situation?

This woman has no sense. Yesterday she managed to put Li Meng and the whole family in their place—must have been a fluke.

Fang Yuan tried to grab the bike. “Alright, stop sulking. I’ll take you.”

Second Lu held onto the handlebars, determined. “We’re going to town, you sit and I’ll take you.”

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