Chapter 183: Lacking in Swagger

As soon as Wang Cuixiang finished speaking, Eldest Fang’s wife’s face darkened.

Fang Daleng, clueless as ever, asked, “What are you talking about?”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “That butcher shop of yours—you’ll have to make things clear with your brothers. We’re getting old. Not to mention relying on our sons, but we need some income for ourselves.”

Fang Daleng retorted, “It’s my own business. Why should I have to explain it to them?”

Wang Cuixiang sighed. What good is it if your sons are all tigers, but at home, they’re even more unruly? “You still have to say it.”

When the Fang brothers arrived, there was a pile of sunflower seeds in front of Fang Daleng—Wang Cuixiang’s way of keeping him quiet.

Wang Cuixiang said, “Except for the fifth, all you brothers are here. I’ll talk about you all splitting up and living separately.”

The sons started to grumble. The fourth said, “We’ve already split up, what’s left to talk about?”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Before, every time someone got married, they’d move out. Now, the fourth and fifth haven’t married yet, but they split off before the New Year. That leaves just your father and me, and the butcher shop. What do you all think?”

Eldest Fang responded quickly, speaking for all the brothers, “Whatever you and Dad say, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll listen to you.”

Wang Cuixiang asked, “What about your wives?”

Eldest Fang’s wife said nothing, clenching her fists, clearly upset.

Third Fang’s wife, outspoken as always, was sitting there eating seeds with Fang Daleng. “We definitely have no objections. Even if we did, it wouldn’t matter.”

The other two daughters-in-law stayed silent.

Wang Cuixiang said, “Then listen up. Your father and I will keep the butcher shop for our retirement. Who it goes to is something to talk about when we’re too old to run it. For now, none of you need to think about it.”

The brothers nodded. They really weren’t thinking about it. “It’s yours. Do whatever you want.”

Wang Cuixiang continued, “If Second wants to learn the butcher trade, he can open his own shop nearby. I think that’s fine. Eldest, if you want to open a shop, your father and I will support you, same for Third and Fourth. But you’ll have to set up your own shop next door. If you think you’ve got what it takes, go for it. But don’t even think about our shop. Your father and I are getting old, and we don’t plan to keep working for you.”

Second Fang felt this didn’t conflict with him opening his own shop. “Dad, Mom, that’s what I was thinking too.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “If you all understand, then that’s all I have to say. Meeting’s over.”

Eldest Fang was the last to leave. “Dad, Mom, what’s this about? Who’s been bothering you about the shop? Fourth?”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Fourth doesn’t care about this little bit of money. Eldest, let me tell you, being too scheming isn’t good either. If you have any thoughts, talk it out with Second and Third. If they have their own path, no one’s blocking yours. Why make things difficult?”

Eldest Fang’s face turned red. He pretended not to understand and left.

Fang Daleng was the most confused of all. “Wife, what are you getting at?”

They say fools have their own kind of luck. Having a husband like this wasn’t so bad.

Wang Cuixiang said, “Nothing much. I just think, if Second really wants to open a shop, that’s a good path for him. Fourth and Fifth can find their own way. But what about Third?”

Fang Daleng asked with innocent curiosity, “Isn’t Third working with Eldest?”

Wang Cuixiang glared at him. Eldest wasn’t exactly a good influence.

But then again, with only Third left, Eldest would probably keep him close, so it should be fine.

Wang Cuixiang bore all the burdens herself. Five sons, five different minds. When they worked together, it was something to be proud of—anyone would envy her. But when each was scheming for himself, being their mother was more than just a headache.

And with a daughter who didn’t tolerate any nonsense, Wang Cuixiang sometimes felt like wiping them all out in one go.

Back home, Eldest Fang said to his wife, “I know you’re good at managing the household, and I’ve never shorted you on money. But don’t even think about Mom and Dad’s shop.”

His wife replied, “I just saw Second and his wife eyeing up your parents’ shop…”

Eldest Fang said, “If Second and his wife want to do something, let them. Mom and Dad know what’s going on. I know what you’re thinking, and Mom knows even better. Just stay home, take care of the kids, be filial to my parents, and look after my siblings. You won’t lose out.”

He added, “Don’t worry about what I think or how I treat my siblings. If you’re good to them, Mom and Dad will see it, and so will I. Don’t push the kids onto my parents—raise them yourself.”

Eldest Fang’s wife fell silent. Her husband had a bad temper and a big heart.

People said he was good to his wife and listened to her, but she knew—he’d listen to her on small things, but on big matters, he always called the shots.

Even how he treated his own brothers was up to him. If he decided to turn against them, he’d do it without warning.

Her sister-in-law was always accusing her of scheming, but honestly, who in the Fang family wasn’t scheming?

Meanwhile, Fang Yuan saw her parents off, and the “Five Tigers” got themselves a motorcycle.

When Fang Yuan and Lu Chuan saw it, they were stunned. Why did they get something like this? It wasn’t what they had in mind.

Fang Yuan was annoyed—the thing couldn’t even help her haul her cement mixer.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, There goes the idea of letting his wife hitch a ride in comfort.

Fang Yuan circled the motorcycle. “How much did this cost? Other than being faster than a bicycle, what’s so great about it?”

Fifth Tiger was delighted. He’d fallen for it at first sight. “As soon as I saw it, I wanted it. Less than two thousand—cheap, right?”

Fang Yuan said, “I spent two thousand on a cement mixer, and now it earns me dozens every day. This thing of yours will just cost you money every day. Are you out of your mind?”

Fifth Tiger replied, “What do you know? This is for convenience—and for style!”

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but twitch his lips. Where’s the style in this thing? Only Fifth Brother thinks it’s cool.

From now on, whenever they had to negotiate, they wouldn’t let Fifth Brother ride this thing—he just didn’t look reliable.

Fifth Tiger was still proudly listing the motorcycle’s benefits. “Now I can go from the provincial city to the county twice a day, no problem.”

Fang Yuan said, “In this freezing weather, aren’t you afraid your hands will get numb?”

Fifth Tiger patted the motorcycle. “What do you know? Come on, brother-in-law, let me take you for a spin.”

Lu Chuan shook his head. “Not in this weather. Riding a motorcycle in the cold wind isn’t fun. I’ll wait until it’s warmer.”

Fang Yuan was a bit regretful. “If I’d known you wanted the money for this, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”

Fifth Tiger was unhappy. Why wasn’t anyone happy for him? At least it was a big purchase. “Didn’t you all support me getting a vehicle?”

Fang Yuan said, “I told you to get something that could haul my cement mixer.”

Lu Chuan added, “I meant something more expensive, with four wheels, a roof, and doors.”

Fifth Tiger said, “You two couldn’t agree, so I just bought what I liked. Nothing wrong with that.”

Fine. Fifth Tiger rode off in style. When he came back that evening, he’d bought himself a heavy coat, a pair of cotton gloves, a big scarf, and a warm hat.

Fang Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. “See? I told you it’d be cold.”

Fifth Tiger was a bit deflated. “Bundled up like this, nobody can even see how cool I look.”

184."