Chapter 199: The Mother-in-Law Who Felt Left Out

It was past nine in the evening when Wu Hu arrived, bringing Wang Cuixiang and Old Lady Lu with him. They really had rushed all the way, and Wu Hu hadn’t even had a proper meal.

Wang Cuixiang was still complaining, “I told you, your fifth brother’s car is too small. Your dad’s coming by bus early tomorrow morning—he just can’t rest easy until he sees you.”

Meanwhile, Old Lady Lu went straight into the yard to find some bricks to set up a chicken coop. She’d come by motorcycle, her face still covered in dust from the road, but she didn’t care—her first priority was to settle the hen she’d brought for Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan couldn’t bear to see her like that. “Mom, at least wash your face first. Close the gate—the chicken won’t run away.”

Then she complained to Wu Hu, “You could have come back tomorrow. Why make such a fuss so late at night?”

Wu Hu shot Lu Chuan a sideways glance, annoyed. Wasn’t it your husband who was anxious? Was it me? Forget it, it’s all just tears now. “I haven’t eaten all day. I’m going to get something to eat.”

Fang Yuan was about to get up, but Lu Chuan firmly pressed her back down—he really wouldn’t let her move at all.

Lu Chuan circled around his fifth brother, “Don’t worry, I bought plenty of food today.” Then he led him straight to the kitchen.

Honestly, Wang Cuixiang, Wu Hu, and Old Lady Lu had all noticed what Lu Chuan just did. They were all stunned.

Ever since they found out Fang Yuan was pregnant, Wu Hu hadn’t seen her yet. Seeing Lu Chuan like this, he asked, “How many are you carrying, gold nuggets or something?”

Why was his brother-in-law fussing so much? Did she need to be treated like a porcelain doll?

Wang Cuixiang was even more direct, “What did the doctor say? Is she not supposed to move?” Seeing her son-in-law’s actions, as a mother, she couldn’t help but worry. It hadn’t been easy for her daughter to get pregnant—she hoped nothing was wrong.

Old Lady Lu immediately blamed herself. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have been so attached to that useless land and those pigs. If I’d come half a month earlier, things would be better.”

Fang Yuan looked innocent. “The doctor didn’t say anything. I’m fine.”

Wu Hu was skeptical. “That can’t be. Look at your husband’s serious face—he won’t even let you get up. What did the doctor really say? Don’t hide it from us.”

Wang Cuixiang was anxious. “What exactly did the doctor say?”

Lu Chuan came in carrying food. “Mom, let me explain. The doctor said we’re young and inexperienced, so it’s best to have the elders at home take care of things.”

Wang Cuixiang paused and looked at her son-in-law. “That’s all the doctor said?”

Lu Chuan thought for a moment. “That’s all.”

Wang Cuixiang turned and went to the kitchen, feeling a bit frustrated with her daughter and son-in-law. Why make such a big deal out of it? If it were her son, she’d have stepped in already.

Old Lady Lu felt a bit awkward too. “The doctor’s right, and you’re doing the right thing. But in the future, don’t suddenly press Fang Yuan down like that—it’s not good to be so rough.”

Lu Chuan agreed, “You’re right. I was too abrupt just now. What if I scared Fang Yuan?”

Fang Yuan asked, “Mom, do you think it’s better if I get up or stay put?”

Old Lady Lu had never thought so deeply about it. “Either way is fine, I think. Do whatever feels right.”

Wu Hu headed to the kitchen. “Mom, do you really think it’s a good idea to have Auntie here taking care of Fang Yuan? Don’t let her spoil Fang Yuan silly.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Even if it’s a bit frustrating to watch, at least your brother-in-law is good to your sister. That’s all I care about.”

She’d just have to put up with her own frustration.

Wu Hu said, “He really is. You have no idea how many people I had working today. I thought it was something big, but it turned out I had to rush back to pick people up.”

Wang Cuixiang felt sorry for her son—he hadn’t even had a bite to eat, but she still had to scold him. “So what if you’re a little put out? Earning money isn’t as important as your sister’s pregnancy.”

Wu Hu rolled his eyes. If only his own mother wasn’t so harsh, maybe he’d believe her. He was probably fuming inside.

Wu Hu looked at the food. “Look at all this—there was never this much at home before. Fang Yuan’s not the careful type, so her husband must have prepared all this himself this afternoon.”

Wang Cuixiang noticed there was quite a lot to eat, but none of it was homemade. “These two aren’t very good at running a household.”

Wu Hu said, “You don’t know. When they want to eat better, they go to my brother-in-law’s school cafeteria.”

Wang Cuixiang just smiled. As long as her son-in-law was willing to take her daughter out, it meant their relationship was good. What mother-in-law wouldn’t be happy about that?

Luckily, the weather was warm, so the food was just right—neither hot nor cold, and ready to eat.

After eating, Wu Hu left—he was busy. Lu Chuan shamelessly said, “Fifth Brother, now that Fang Yuan’s pregnant, keep an extra eye on things at the construction site.”

Wu Hu thought, Is pregnancy some kind of magic spell? Does getting pregnant mean you don’t have to do anything anymore?

Meanwhile, Old Lady Lu and Wang Cuixiang were giving Fang Yuan advice about pregnancy.

Old Lady Lu was conservative—she said just do what you normally do.

Wang Cuixiang said, “When I was pregnant with you six, I could still help your dad butcher pigs.”

Fang Yuan replied, “That’s why none of us can study.”

Wang Cuixiang was annoyed by her daughter and couldn’t help herself. “In-law, what did you do when you were pregnant with your son-in-law?”

Old Lady Lu said, “Same as with the eldest and third child—just did whatever needed doing. So it doesn’t matter what you do. Look at the eldest and third—they’re not cut out for studying either.”

Wang Cuixiang turned to her daughter. “Hear that? It doesn’t matter what you do—just do what you’re supposed to and don’t make a fuss. But if you want to eat something, just say so.”

Lu Chuan had been listening for a while and felt bringing the elders over might have been a bit hasty. Why did they keep picking on his wife? The child needed confidence—even in the womb, it wouldn’t do to be bullied.

That night, when it was time for bed, the two mothers went to the guest room to rest.

Lu Chuan said to Fang Yuan, “We should keep my mom here—your mom’s not suitable.”

Fang Yuan glared at him. “What’s wrong with my mom? You’re always flattering her, but now she’s not good enough?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Do you want your mom nagging you all day and making the baby feel wronged? With my mom here, she’ll listen to you.”

Fang Yuan nodded—she really didn’t want to be nagged. “But will your mom know how to take care of the baby?”

Lu Chuan said, “Don’t worry, my mom won’t just let you do whatever you want. At least she’ll discuss things with you.”

The young couple nodded in agreement, effectively voting the mother-in-law out.

If Wang Cuixiang heard this, she’d definitely want to smack her daughter. How silly—just a few words and she’d been talked out of trusting her own mother.

Early the next morning, Lu Chuan went off to school, reminding Fang Yuan not to listen to her mother-in-law about everything. “If there’s something you can’t do, don’t do it. The baby comes first.”

Fang Yuan nodded. “I know. I’ll check with our mom first. Don’t worry.”

Wang Cuixiang took Old Lady Lu to the market. She’d been here before and was familiar with the place.

But Wang Cuixiang was tactful—she didn’t mention to her in-law that she’d visited her daughter here before.

As they passed by Wu Hu’s place, Wang Cuixiang casually said, “It’s nice that the brothers live close by—it puts my mind at ease. I got to know the area when I came here with his dad.”

Old Lady Lu understood—her in-law was being considerate, afraid she’d think she’d never been to the city and would blame her daughter for only caring about her own mother.

Old Lady Lu explained, “Back around New Year’s, Fang Yuan invited me to stay here for a few days, but my eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant then and running a little shop, so I couldn’t get away.”

200."

"Chapter 200: Let the Mother-in-Law PK It Out

Wang Cuixiang laughed. This in-law of hers was really a straightforward person—she said what was on her mind, which made Wang Cuixiang feel a bit sly by comparison. “Isn’t that the truth? At our age, it’s not like we can just come and go as we please.”

Wang Cuixiang continued, “If I hadn’t known that Wuhu had a house here, and if his father and I hadn’t come to check it out ourselves, we wouldn’t have bothered making this trip.”

Old Lady Lu smiled, eyes crinkling. “In-law, these two kids are both yours and mine. They haven’t had a moment’s rest these past couple of years, always busy with something. It makes my heart ache. We’re both their mothers, so let’s not be polite with each other. If Fang Yuan is happy with it, we can both stay and help out. You can keep her company and chat, and with her own mother by her side during pregnancy, she’ll feel more at ease. I’ll do the cooking, clean the house, and take care of my daughter-in-law—nothing would make me happier.”

Then she added, “If it turns out you don’t need both of us, I’ll go back home. I can tend the land and look after the menfolk. If I start missing things here, I’ll just make a couple more trips. I’m only here to help, nothing else.”

Wang Cuixiang found herself at a loss—who knew this honest woman could be so blunt when she was happy? “You’re happy to do it, but I’m not! If I just sit and chat while you do all the cooking, what does that make me look like?”

She smiled. “You’re speaking right to my heart, in-law. You think I’d be polite with you?”

Old Lady Lu said, “I just worry you’ll overthink it. If we both keep declining, in the end it’s the kids who’ll suffer. No matter who stays, I’m happy—it’s all for my grandchild.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “You’re so straightforward, in-law. I already know—even if Fang Yuan doesn’t want me to stay, my son-in-law is usually so nice. But last night, I just said a couple of words to Fang Yuan, and he immediately changed his face.”

Old Lady Lu was a bit embarrassed—that was her son, after all. “He wouldn’t!”

Wang Cuixiang said, “In-law, I’m out and about on the streets every day. If I’m good at anything, it’s reading people’s faces.”

Old Lady Lu couldn’t help but scold her son a bit. “He’s just over the moon right now. Give it a couple of days, he’ll settle down.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “I can’t really help out here. If I stay, I’ll just end up nagging them all day, and my daughter and I will get into it.”

Old Lady Lu said, “In-law, even if you do, you’re still her mother. If you’re here, Fang Yuan will feel more secure.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Let’s just say I can’t let go of my butcher shop. Sorry to trouble you, in-law.”

Old Lady Lu knew her own strengths—when it came to playing mind games or reading people, her in-law could run circles around her. Her own strength was just being honest and straightforward, so she said sincerely, “That makes me so happy.”

Then she added, “In-law, just come over whenever you can. We’ll discuss things together, and that’ll put my mind at ease. Honestly, even I get nervous looking at Fang Yuan’s face these days. If you know she’s pregnant, it’s one thing. If you don’t, you’d think she was carrying a golden nugget or something.”

Wang Cuixiang couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s what I’m saying—my son-in-law is so nervous he can’t even listen to reason anymore.”

If her son-in-law’s mother hadn’t been there, Wang Cuixiang would have said, “He can’t even understand human speech anymore.”

So, after a trip to the market, the two mothers-in-law had settled who would stay to take care of Fang Yuan.

Wang Cuixiang bought breakfast on the way back and explained the directions to Old Lady Lu.

She also took a look at her own shop, which she’d rented out. Honestly, it wasn’t a big place, but it was still part of her family’s assets.

As she passed by, she glanced at it with pride—the location was good, lots of foot traffic.

Old Lady Lu saw her grinning. “Is it because Fang Yuan’s pregnant that you’re so happy?”

Wang Cuixiang didn’t say that it was seeing her own shop that made her happy. As for Fang Yuan’s pregnancy, she honestly wasn’t as purely delighted as Old Lady Lu.

Wang Cuixiang was always conflicted. Sure, a child could tie down her son-in-law, but if he ever changed his heart, a child wouldn’t be enough to keep him. Then her daughter would be truly stuck, unable to move forward or back.

But seeing how nervous her son-in-law was about her daughter, Wang Cuixiang felt a bit more at ease.

In front of her in-law, Wang Cuixiang said, “Of course I’m happy. You have no idea how much trouble Fang Yuan went through these past six months because she couldn’t get pregnant.”

Old Lady Lu replied, “That’s just because Fang Yuan is capable and has money in her hands. Otherwise, I wouldn’t want her to be pregnant right now. With Lu Chuan in school, she’d have to raise the baby alone. No matter how much we help, it’s still hardest on the mother.”

That was the honest truth—they both felt for Fang Yuan. Wang Cuixiang hadn’t expected her in-law to be so straightforward.

Wang Cuixiang said, “But she insisted. My daughter’s lucky to have a mother-in-law like you.”

Old Lady Lu replied, “I’m not just saying this to sound good in front of you. I’m soft-hearted—never stood up straight in my life. I really admire Fang Yuan’s personality. She tells me what to do, I do it, and I feel at ease.”

Wang Cuixiang didn’t even know how to praise her in-law anymore. If you insist on thinking that way, you and my daughter really are a perfect match as mother- and daughter-in-law. My daughter gives orders and rarely accepts pushback—unless you can out-argue her.

She also noticed that, despite being so good at managing a household, her in-law always paid for groceries herself and always bought the best.

Before Fang Yuan got engaged, Wang Cuixiang had asked around about the Lu family—they were known for being frugal, even putting extra salt in their pickles.

So seeing Old Lady Lu so generous with Fang Yuan, Wang Cuixiang took several more glances. Judging by her in-law’s behavior, she felt reassured.

When they got home, her daughter was just getting up.

Wang Cuixiang frowned. “You’re getting up awfully late. Who lives like this? And your mother-in-law is here—you should at least set an example.”

Old Lady Lu said, “In-law, the child works hard all year round, barely gets any rest, and now she’s pregnant. She’s tired.”

As she spoke, she wrung out a hot towel and handed it to Fang Yuan—so attentive that Wang Cuixiang couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward.

Wang Cuixiang looked at her in-law, at a loss for words. It was as if she could see right through her.

Fang Yuan said, “Mom, how did you know?”

Old Lady Lu replied, “Your dad told me when he got home. Don’t think it’s easy, making a bit of money. Your fifth brother runs all over the village in the middle of the night looking for people, but still gets up for work the next day. And you—a young woman—getting up in the middle of the night to supervise unloading. That work has no set hours.”

If it was just about Fang Yuan, Wang Cuixiang might have doubted it, but since even Wuhu’s efforts were mentioned, she had to admit her in-law wasn’t making things up.

Fang Yuan said, “We’re young—this is nothing. Besides, it was only tough at the beginning. Once things were organized, it got easier.”

Wang Cuixiang realized she had no idea how hard her youngest son worked behind the scenes. She didn’t say anything, just went to set out breakfast.

Her own motherly care couldn’t compare to her daughter’s mother-in-law.

And then Wang Cuixiang realized—she couldn’t match up to Fang Yuan’s mother-in-law in any way.

When Fang Yuan said the soy milk wasn’t sweet enough, Old Lady Lu said the sugar here wasn’t as sweet as the kind back home.

When Fang Yuan said she wanted a daughter, Old Lady Lu said she loved granddaughters.

When Fang Yuan said she wanted a son, Old Lady Lu said she loved grandsons. No principles at all."

"Chapter 201: An Extraordinary Daughter

Old Lady Lu’s lack of principles showed in every aspect of her life, and Wang Cui Xiang just couldn’t stand it.

At lunchtime, when Fang Yuan said the rice tasted better if it was cooked softer, Old Lady Lu smiled and added more water to the pot, even saying, “Our Fang Yuan really knows how to care for the kids. Soft rice is better.”

Wang Cui Xiang could only cover her cheeks and slip away. If this was a contest for affection, she had to admit she couldn’t compete with her in-law. She’d never seen such a shameless, unprincipled mother-in-law.

They were both mothers-in-law, but wasn’t Old Lady Lu being a bit too humble?

Wang Cui Xiang even started to reflect on whether she’d been too harsh on her own daughters-in-law.

She watched as her in-law flattered—no, cooperated with—Fang Yuan, and it was clear she genuinely enjoyed it. Whatever Fang Yuan said was right. If there was something lively happening outside, Old Lady Lu would always ask, “Should we get involved?”

If her daughter said no, then no it was. If her daughter wanted to watch, she’d grab a little stool and tag along.

To put it bluntly, that wasn’t a mother-in-law—it was a sycophant.

Wang Cui Xiang thought to herself, well, this is eye-opening.

She asked Fang Yuan in private, “Is your mother-in-law always like this when I’m not around?” She just couldn’t believe it.

Fang Yuan replied with innocent sincerity, “Huh? What do you mean? Isn’t this normal? My mother-in-law is like this with everyone, she’s just soft-tempered.”

That made Wang Cui Xiang start doubting herself. “Tell me, I’m pretty open-minded, right? I’m not a mean mother-in-law to your sisters-in-law, am I?”

Fang Yuan, being considerate toward her own mother, reassured her, “Of course not.”

Wang Cui Xiang pressed, “But compared to your mother-in-law?”

Fang Yuan glanced at her mom, “Mom, just come visit me in the provincial capital, then go home when you’re done.”

Wang Cui Xiang was so annoyed she almost raised her hand to smack her. What kind of daughter was this? After all these years, this was the first time she’d ever hinted at something, and it would’ve been better if she’d just said outright that her own mother couldn’t compare to her mother-in-law.

At noon, Fang Da Leng arrived—a big man over six feet tall, loaded down with all sorts of things for his daughter, all of it food.

When he saw Fang Yuan, he was truly excited. “My dear girl, you’re amazing!”

His voice was so loud that even Master Liu next door and his apprentice looked over. Seriously, was it really worth all this praise just for getting pregnant?

Not being able to get pregnant would be strange. Oh well, it wasn’t their business to meddle in someone else’s family affairs.

Fang Yuan was so happy to see her father she almost ran over, but Wang Cui Xiang caught her. “Look how happy you are to see him. Don’t be so bouncy.”

As her mother, she’d never gotten that kind of reaction from her daughter—she felt a bit jealous.

Fang Da Leng strode over to Fang Yuan. “Don’t rush, Dad’s coming.”

Then he circled around his daughter, beaming. “Truly amazing, you’re about to give me a grandchild.”

Fang Yuan lifted her chin proudly. “That’s right, just wait, your grandchild will be chubby and healthy.”

The father and daughter were so pleased with themselves that Wang Cui Xiang couldn’t bear to watch.

Old Lady Lu was grinning along with them, looking just as proud, as if she could already see her chubby grandchild.

Wang Cui Xiang realized she just couldn’t stay here any longer. This mother-in-law understood her daughter better than she did.

Fang Da Leng showed Fang Yuan all the things he’d brought—smoked meat, blood sausage, cooked pig’s head, walnuts, fine grains. He’d brought all the best for his daughter.

He even asked, “If you want to eat anything, just tell Dad. I’ll buy it for you. Don’t worry about the money, I’ve got plenty.”

Fang Yuan glanced over at Wang Cui Xiang and lowered her voice, “He’s got a secret stash.”

Fang Da Leng replied, “Your mom gave it to me.” After that, the two of them spoke at a normal volume—it was fine to say it out loud now.

Fang Yuan said, “Dad, why did you bring so much? It’s hot and the trip is long, what if it goes bad?”

Fang Da Leng said, “That’s why you should eat it quickly, my girl.”

Wang Cui Xiang looked on, feeling troubled. That’s her daughter—how much could she possibly eat? “There’s so much, how could she finish it all?”

It was a real problem. Fang Da Leng said, “Where’s Old Five? Since I came all this way, I’ll take it to the construction site and let everyone have a taste of some meat.”

Fang Yuan said, “That’s great, our family is generous. Only my dad would think of something like this.”

Old Lady Lu immediately chimed in, “I’ll take it to the kitchen, slice it up, and send it over.”

Wang Cui Xiang honestly couldn’t find anything to do. She really felt a bit left out.

Then Fang Da Leng took out a pile of things. “Your third sister-in-law bought you some fabric. Your second sister-in-law sent cotton for your mom to make a little quilt and pee pads for the baby.”

Then, “Your eldest sister-in-law sent money.”

Fang Yuan wasn’t too happy and said, “Do I look like I need money?”

Fang Da Leng quickly soothed her, “Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. Your eldest sister-in-law sent money and said once the baby’s clothes are ready, she’ll bring them over. How could she upset my daughter? Not worth it, huh?”

Fang Yuan said, “I wouldn’t dare let her set foot in my house.”

Wang Cui Xiang said, “Oh, come on. You know what your brother is like. Even if your sister-in-law has issues, she can’t control your brother. Don’t blame it all on her.”

Fang Yuan said, “Neither of them are any good.”

Fang Da Leng agreed, “My daughter’s right, they’re both no good. Your second brother’s figured it out, but your third brother is still clueless.”

Fang Yuan lifted her chin. “It’s fine. My third brother has a good mentor, and honest people don’t get taken advantage of.”

She continued, “I’ve checked—my third brother’s master is amazing. Most of the workers in my eldest brother’s construction team are my third brother’s fellow apprentices. If my eldest brother dares mess with my third brother, he’ll get what’s coming to him. Those apprentices could leave my eldest brother in the dust.”

Fang Da Leng was a bit confused. “What do you mean?”

It was the first time Wang Cui Xiang heard the inside story. “So your third brother actually holds your eldest brother’s fate in his hands.”

Fang Yuan said, “Exactly. Without people, my eldest brother can’t do anything. If he tries to mess with my third brother, he’s in for trouble.”

Fang Da Leng slapped the table. “See? I knew the kids I raised couldn’t all be useless! Turns out Old Three’s got Old One right where he wants him. That’s my boy!”

Old Lady Lu really didn’t know what to say. Was that something to brag about?

Fang Yuan said, “Dad, don’t lump me in with them.”

Fang Da Leng quickly corrected himself, “You’re different, my girl. I put my heart into raising you. You’re a good one.”

Wang Cui Xiang turned away. So for the first few kids, you didn’t put your heart into it? And this girl is the worst of the lot.

She hadn’t agreed with that before and wanted to scold the father and daughter for being so clueless.

But looking at her in-law, and thinking about how she treated Fang Yuan, she suddenly agreed. “Your dad’s right. You’re not like your brothers.”

Fang Yuan was puzzled. Was her mom acting weird today? She didn’t even try to put her down. She wasn’t used to it.

Wang Cui Xiang kept quiet. If it weren’t for wanting to keep up with her in-law, would she be praising them like this?

Fang Yuan said, “Looking down on Lu Chuan is looking down on me. I’ll remember it forever.”

Fang Da Leng said, “My girl, don’t be so petty. We’re bigger than that—let bygones be bygones.”

202."

"Chapter 202: A Son-in-Law Who’s Not a Fool

Fang Yuan was unhappy and glared at Fang Daleng. “Whose side are you on? Is Lu Chuan an outsider?”

Fang Daleng didn’t hesitate at all. “Of course I’m on your side. You’re my own daughter. The son-in-law isn’t an outsider, he’s family. I misspoke.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “Your eldest is your own too. If word of this gets out, won’t people gossip? Can’t you be a bit more thoughtful with your words?”

Fang Daleng was stubborn. “No one’s closer than a daughter.”

Wang Cuixiang felt exhausted. Yes, daughters are close—you’ve said it, and you mean it.

Fang Yuan said, “Then just don’t let her come.”

Wang Cuixiang’s patience was already worn thin. “Alright, you’re just pregnant, what more do you want? Want to go to heaven? You’re too spoiled.”

Fang Yuan fell silent, her face clearly showing her discontent. But under Wang Cuixiang’s overbearing presence, she didn’t dare voice any objections.

Still, Fang Daleng took his daughter out for a walk.

He just didn’t want his daughter and wife together—no need for both to be upset at the same time.

A man should take responsibility: he needs to comfort his wife and also cheer up his daughter.

Wang Cuixiang rolled her eyes in exasperation. These two are about to rebel, she complained to Lu Chuan’s mother, “Aren’t they just bullying me with their numbers?”

Lu Chuan’s mother didn’t get it. “What numbers?”

Wang Cuixiang said, “Her belly! Using her pregnancy to rebel.”

Lu Chuan’s mother nodded. “But it’s alright. Fang Yuan knows what she’s doing.”

Wang Cuixiang didn’t want to talk to this group anymore. Knows what she’s doing, my foot.

Meanwhile, Fang Yuan said, “Dad, stay a couple of days and then take Mom home. All she does is pick on me. I haven’t even had the baby yet, and I’m already being wronged.”

That was pure Lu Chuan logic. She’d been subtly converted by him.

Fang Daleng said, “Look at that temper—getting anxious, aren’t you? I’m telling you, no one treats you better than your mom.”

Fang Yuan replied, “But she can’t just boss me around.”

Fang Daleng said, “Aren’t we all used to it by now?”

Fang Yuan nodded. “True. Life’s been too easy lately. No one’s nagged me, and I’m not used to it.”

Fang Daleng laughed. “Your husband’s done well. As long as my daughter’s comfortable, it’s all thanks to him.”

Fang Yuan wasn’t the shy type. She thought about it seriously and said, “Lu Chuan really is good to me. He usually lets me have my way. No wonder I’m not used to Mom picking on me.”

Fang Daleng said, “My daughter’s choice can’t be wrong. Your mom always worries you’re too straightforward, but I say my daughter was born lucky—everyone likes her. So what if you’re straightforward? That’s a good thing.”

Fang Yuan grinned, feeling pretty good about herself. “My dad has good taste.”

Speaking of her husband, Fang Yuan took Fang Daleng to find Lu Chuan, and the two of them ate with him at the school cafeteria.

Fang Daleng was amazed. “So many people here, so many eating, and the food’s cheap. There are even things I’ve never seen before.”

But what really struck him was the people—so many educated, scholarly types. For Fang Daleng, this was something special.

His future grandchild would grow up in this environment—it’d be hard not to study.

Fang Yuan said, “That’s exactly what I thought the first time I came.”

Lu Chuan just listened to the father and daughter chat, keeping them company without a hint of embarrassment. When he ran into classmates, he’d introduce Fang Daleng: “This is my father-in-law.”

Fang Daleng was beaming with pride.

In a place like this, for his son-in-law to introduce him so openly, his daughter’s marriage was solid.

Looking at Lu Chuan, he was genuinely fond of him.

His son-in-law was even introducing him to college students. Fang Daleng felt like his life had reached a new level.

After the meal, Lu Chuan bought two extra portions to take home. “Let Mom and the others try the cafeteria food too, so they don’t have to cook.”

Fang Daleng said, “Son-in-law, your school is really great—so grand, even bigger than our whole village. You’re really something.”

Every word was praise, making Lu Chuan a little embarrassed. He felt his father-in-law was being unusually nice to him.

He even asked Fang Yuan, “Does your dad have something he wants to say to me?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Don’t overthink it. It’s just his first time at such a prestigious school—he’s excited.”

Lu Chuan said, “In the future, let’s make sure our child studies hard, so your dad can be proud.”

Fang Yuan said, “Of course. If a child with our Fang family bloodline makes it here, my dad will be over the moon.”

So, since the son-in-law doesn’t have Fang family blood, the excitement is just a notch lower—her dad’s still holding back a bit. Lu Chuan picked up on that—compared to the child in his wife’s belly, he was still missing a bit of blood connection.

When Wang Cuixiang found out Fang Daleng had gone to the school with their son-in-law, she scolded him, “Can’t you act a little more proper?”

Then she turned to Lu Chuan. “Son-in-law, we must have caused you trouble.”

Lu Chuan said, “Not at all, Mom. Fang Yuan and I often eat at the school cafeteria.”

And the old couple really did treat their son-in-law better than their own daughter.

Lu Chuan had handled things well and earned their approval.

Wang Cuixiang said, “I never expected our son-in-law would take you to eat at the cafeteria. He’s not just stringing our daughter along—I feel much more at ease.”

Fang Daleng said, “My son-in-law isn’t that kind of person. When he introduced me, he was proud—didn’t look down on me at all.”

So, the couple really knew how to judge people and situations.

Later, Fang Yuan whispered to Lu Chuan, “I’m the one who’s pregnant, but it seems like they treat you better than me. Did they forget why they came?”

Lu Chuan thought, That’s because I’ve put their minds at ease.

As for Fang Yuan, she just didn’t get the deeper meaning.

He coaxed her, “Them treating me well is the same as treating you well. Our family’s all getting along, so the baby can feel the good atmosphere. My mom treats you well too, and I’ve never complained, have I?”

Fang Yuan glared at Lu Chuan. “Are you trying to fool me?” But she had to admit, her mother-in-law really was good to her.

That evening, when Wu Hu came over, he flattered Fang Daleng, “Dad, the food you brought was a real treat for everyone. If you hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have had the chance to eat so well.”

Fang Daleng was so pleased by his son’s praise he almost lost his bearings. “Everyone came all this way to support you. We can’t be stingy. Next time, I’ll bring more. It’s nothing.”

Wang Cuixiang thought, If you keep this up, all the money we make will go to your son.

Wu Hu, that rascal, was clearly trying to milk his dad dry. “No need, no need. Once every two or three months is enough.”

Wang Cuixiang snorted. Isn’t that basically once a month? How else are you going to trick your foolish dad?

Fang Daleng patted his chest and agreed. “That’s nothing!”

See, now they’ve already booked him for next time.

Wang Cuixiang wanted to smack the not-so-bright Fang Daleng. Can’t you be a bit more sensible? Would your sons back in the village be happy about this?

Sooner or later, there’ll be nothing left—he’ll end up giving away the whole butcher shop."

"Chapter 203: A Misunderstanding

At this moment, Lu Chuan spoke up. “The main thing is to let people know that Dad still thinks about things back here, so people will say our Fang family is kind and decent. We all come from the same village, so it shows we stick together. Dad does this to help us build up our reputation. But two or three times a year is enough.”

Then he added, “This is Dad doing people favors for us.”

Wang Cuixiang shot her son-in-law a sideways glance, thinking, Don’t go thinking you’re anything special. You’re all the same. Two or three times a year and a whole pig is given away each time.

Fang Daleng, on the other hand, was listening with satisfaction, grinning foolishly. “Did you hear that? No matter how much money it costs, it’s worth it.”

Wang Cuixiang glanced at her son and son-in-law. She thought to herself, We’d better not come to the provincial capital too often. With these two together, the whole house will be emptied out.

She turned to Wuhu. “Fang Yuan next door already has a car repair shop, and I heard there are two cars at the construction site. What about you? How much have you saved up?”

Why is she suddenly prying into my finances? That’s not fair, thought Wuhu. “Me? Mom, you know it’s not easy out there these days. Everything costs money. Otherwise, who would bother with us country folk? If I can get by with food and drink, that’s already good. How could I possibly save up any money?”

He sounded so pitiful that Fang Daleng was almost moved to tears. My son really has it tough.

Old Lady Lu looked at her nephew-in-law in confusion. You can’t say things like that—doesn’t that make it sound like my own son is taking advantage of him?

After all, her own son had managed to save up some money. If this wasn’t made clear, how could they stay relatives? Old Lady Lu was genuinely anxious.

But Wang Cuixiang wasn’t buying it. “Your mom doesn’t care about your little stash. Just don’t try to fool your dad in the future.” That’s what she was really after—she was just using this as a way to get at her husband.

Wuhu just laughed and didn’t dare say another word. His dad really had his back his whole life.

While they were clearing the table, Old Lady Lu was in the kitchen nagging Lu Chuan. “Second son, your cousin-in-law is a good man. For the sake of our Fang Yuan, you can’t take advantage of him financially. That’s not something we do. Besides, my grandson will need his uncle in the future.”

So no one took what was said too seriously, but the onlookers could tell there were some undercurrents. Honest people really do take everything to heart.

Lu Chuan almost laughed in exasperation. His mom really thought highly of him. “Mom, I’d have to be that capable first. Don’t pay attention to Wuhu and my mother-in-law’s little tricks. It’s got nothing to do with us.”

Just then, Wang Cuixiang overheard this from outside the kitchen.

Now she really understood what kind of in-law Old Lady Lu was to her daughter Fang Yuan.

That night, everyone was gathered in the courtyard of the house in the provincial capital. Not only was Fang Daleng feeling sentimental, even Old Lady Lu’s thoughts were drifting. Who would have thought they could all sit here in the provincial capital, chatting and with a place to stay—a home of their own.

Fang Daleng said, “Fifth, work hard and marry a provincial capital girl in the future. Then all the grandkids of our Fang family will grow up in the provincial capital.”

Then he grinned proudly. “My grandson is growing up in the provincial capital.”

Old Lady Lu didn’t say anything, but she couldn’t stop smiling, lips pressed together. That was her grandson. “Going to school in the provincial capital is really something.”

Wang Cuixiang looked at the two of them and couldn’t help but tease, “I never thought our two families would get along so well. No one’s shy at all.”

Old Lady Lu held herself back, then stood up. “I’m just happy, that’s all. My grandson is growing up in the provincial capital, going to school here, no need to get up at the crack of dawn to run to school. I’m really happy. I’m going outside to enjoy it.”

Fang Yuan pulled Old Lady Lu back. “Mom, what’s wrong with being happy inside? They’re already saying we’re not reserved.”

Wang Cuixiang watched her daughter and mother-in-law getting along and wasn’t the least bit upset. That’s just how clever her daughter was. She really wasn’t doing it on purpose.

Old Lady Lu looked at Fang Yuan, her eyes sparkling. “It’s all thanks to our Fang Yuan’s success. If this child had been born earlier, she wouldn’t have had this good fortune. Everything happened just right.”

Fang Daleng agreed, “You’re right, in-law, you really think things through. My daughter was born lucky. If her mother hadn’t insisted back then, my daughter’s name would have been Yuanman—Perfect.”

Wang Cuixiang found herself pushed out of the conversation and couldn’t stand it any longer.

She pulled Lu Chuan aside to talk privately. “It’s not that I don’t care about my grandson, or that I’m not happy for Fang Yuan. It’s just that I really don’t have the knack for flattery that your mom and your father-in-law have. I can’t even listen to it. Your dad and I are leaving tomorrow. Let your mom take care of things. When she can’t keep it up anymore, I’ll step in.”

Lu Chuan tried not to laugh. “Mom, honestly, it’s fine. My mom is still holding back.”

Wang Cuixiang snorted. Lu Chuan added, “Really, when Fang Yuan first came to our house, my mom would watch her every move.”

Wang Cuixiang didn’t like the sound of that. “Why does it sound like my daughter is so bossy?” If her son-in-law dared agree, she’d never let it go.

Lu Chuan said, “Not at all. My mom says our family was just missing a decisive leader, and Fang Yuan fills that gap perfectly. She’s the head of our family now, really.”

Wang Cuixiang glared over at Old Lady Lu. “I give up.”

Lu Chuan said, “Mom, Fang Yuan really appreciates you taking care of her. She feels most comfortable with you. She knows everything you do is for her own good.”

Wang Cuixiang, sharp as ever, immediately picked up on something. “So you all think I don’t take good care of her?”

Lu Chuan thought, Talking too much leads to trouble. The ancients were right. “No, nothing like that.”

Wang Cuixiang snorted again. As if she couldn’t see through their little schemes. They’re just afraid I’ll try to control everything about Fang Yuan.

But as long as you treat my daughter well, I’m happy as her mother. I won’t fuss over it.

Lu Chuan was a little intimidated by his mother-in-law’s snort. He decided he’d better keep his mouth shut in the future.

Still, Wang Cuixiang made sure to tell her son-in-law about pregnancy taboos. “It’s not about letting her eat whatever she wants. There are things she should avoid. She shouldn’t eat too much cold stuff. Your mom is great, but she spoils her too much.”

Lu Chuan patted his chest in assurance. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got it covered.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “Whatever she wants to eat, you can buy it here. If you can’t find it, let me know. Wuhu can ride back to get it, or I’ll come and make it myself.”

Lu Chuan thought having two mothers at home wasn’t so bad. “Mom, why don’t you just stay here too?”

Wang Cuixiang twitched her mouth. Two mothers-in-law fussing over one pregnancy—aren’t you afraid of using up all your good fortune? “It’s just a pregnancy, no need to worry so much.”

Lu Chuan was genuinely worried. “It’s our first child, Mom. Please stay.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “When I was pregnant with you and your mom, we still worked in the fields.”

Lu Chuan replied, “That’s true. You’re a real heroine, Mom. Fang Yuan can’t compare. She’s only spoiled because of you.”

Wang Cuixiang finally understood how glib her son-in-law was. Anyway, her daughter Fang Yuan was destined to be pampered.

She said, “Son-in-law, she’s my own daughter. You don’t have to back her up so much. I just want to say, now that there’s a child, you should live well together. Marriage isn’t a joke.”

Lu Chuan felt wronged. “Mom, marriage has never been a joke. Did you all not take it seriously?”

204."

"Chapter 204: Perfect

Wang Cuixiang: “Son-in-law, you and Fang Yuan are really worlds apart in terms of conditions. You haven’t been in a hurry to have kids for so long—of course as a mother, I can’t help but wonder.”

Lu Chuan had no idea his mother-in-law could misunderstand him like this. “Mom, I’m not rushing to have kids because it would be hard for Fang Yuan to raise a child alone. I thought I’d wait until I finish college, so I can help her more when the time comes.”

These days, men don’t even want people to know they cook, let alone help their wives take care of kids.

Wang Cuixiang: “You’re actually thinking about helping Fang Yuan raise the child?…”

This really surprised Wang Cuixiang. Fang Daleng was good enough, but he hardly ever helped with the kids.

Wang Cuixiang glanced at her daughter in the room. How much good karma must she have accumulated to land such a son-in-law?

College graduates aren’t rare anymore, but a man who’s considerate and cares for his wife—her daughter really found a treasure.

Looking at Lu Chuan, Wang Cuixiang felt he was truly different. This was her son-in-law, her own son-in-law.

Lu Chuan: “Mom, you’ve really wronged me here. From the very first time I came to your house, I knew this marriage was set—I wasn’t getting away.”

Wang Cuixiang couldn’t help but laugh. He was being honest. Out of all her sons, only this one had that kind of presence.

Lu Chuan: “It’s not like I don’t know what’s good for me. After spending time together, I can see how wonderful Fang Yuan is. Ever since I started coming to your house, I’ve always been the one chasing after this marriage.”

Wang Cuixiang: “As long as you know what’s in your heart, that’s enough. I was just overthinking.”

Lu Chuan: “You really were. With Fang Yuan’s carefree personality, I’m actually the one who feels insecure.”

Wang Cuixiang pretended not to hear that. Isn’t that just playing the victim after getting the upper hand? When it comes to this, women always get the short end of the stick.

But Lu Chuan genuinely felt he was the one lacking stability. He even complained on his own behalf: “Mom, do you know how hard this past year has been for me? Fang Yuan isn’t easy to win over.”

Wang Cuixiang felt a headache coming on. “Son-in-law, go get some sleep. You’ve had a long day.”

Lu Chuan: “For Fang Yuan, I think I can keep going. I’m not tired.”

Wang Cuixiang: “I am.” Her ears were tired, her heart was tired from listening.

Fine, the mother-in-law had had enough of her chatty son-in-law. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have gotten into such a deep conversation with him.

Lu Chuan was in a good mood too—now they were having a child, soon they’d be a family of three. His mother-in-law seemed to be at ease with him now.

Meanwhile, Fang Daleng, Fang Yuan, and Lu Chuan’s mother were chatting away without a care in the world, saying whatever they wanted. Their relaxed attitude made Wang Cuixiang a little jealous—maybe being carefree wasn’t so bad after all.

The next day, Wang Cuixiang pulled Fang Daleng to leave. If they stayed any longer, she’d start to feel unwelcome—she really couldn’t get used to these people.

Fang Daleng was reluctant to go. “If I’d known, I would’ve closed the butcher shop in the village and come to stay with our son-in-law. Wouldn’t that be great?”

Wang Cuixiang thought to herself: “Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Just because you want to stay doesn’t mean your daughter and son-in-law want you to. Time to go.”

Besides, she really couldn’t get used to her son-in-law’s way of doing things. Watching too much of it just made her anxious.

Fang Yuan was reluctant to see them go too. “Dad hasn’t even seen my two cars yet.”

Fang Daleng turned to Wang Cuixiang: “Why don’t we stay one more day?”

Wang Cuixiang’s face darkened. “You stay in the city if you want. I’m going home.”

Seeing his wife’s face, Fang Daleng knew better than to argue. He turned to his daughter: “I’ll come see them next time. I know my daughter is capable. I’ll go home with your mom first.”

Fang Yuan: “Dad, take care of yourself. Don’t argue with Mom for no reason—just listen to her for now.”

Wang Cuixiang snorted. “‘For now,’ huh? Planning to settle accounts later?”

Fang Daleng nodded. “Dad knows.”

Lu Chuan quickly chimed in: “Mainly because Mom is so thoughtful. Listening to her is never wrong. She cares about Dad—everything she does is because she loves him.”

Fang Daleng and Fang Yuan looked at Wang Cuixiang and nodded in perfect sync.

Wang Cuixiang thought to herself, “This son-in-law isn’t so innocent either, always smoothing things over for the men.”

Fang Yuan wanted to see them off at the station, but Wang Cuixiang wouldn’t let her. “You’re having a baby—no need to run around.”

Lu Chuan said, “I’ll go, I’ll go. You all stay home and rest, so Mom and Dad don’t have to worry.”

Wang Cuixiang nodded. Her son-in-law really was thoughtful—she felt even more at ease going home.

Lu Chuan’s mother and daughter-in-law went home, while Lu Chuan took his father-in-law to the station. Fang Daleng pulled him aside: “Son-in-law, I’m leaving my daughter in your hands.”

Lu Chuan: “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take good care of Fang Yuan.”

Anyone who knew would realize Fang Yuan was pregnant. Anyone who didn’t would think they were parting for a long time—what was all this fuss about?

Wang Cuixiang, embarrassed by the scene, dragged Fang Daleng onto the bus. Lu Chuan followed, carrying a net bag full of fruits you couldn’t find in the village.

Lu Chuan: “Dad, I bought some for Fang Yuan too. These are for you to eat on the road. Don’t worry, I won’t let Fang Yuan go without.”

Fang Daleng was satisfied. This son-in-law was filial and cared about his daughter—he thought just like him. “If you need anything, call your fifth brother.”

At times like this, sons are like bricks—move them wherever they’re needed.

As the bus finally pulled away, even the driver couldn’t help but comment: “You’re such a rough guy, but so fussy. That’s your son-in-law, not your son. You’re giving him so many instructions—aren’t you afraid he’ll get annoyed?”

Fang Daleng: “What do you know? I’ve only got one daughter.”

The driver was familiar with Fang Daleng. “You’ve got five sons too! With that many sons, who’d dare treat your daughter badly? Stop worrying.”

Fang Daleng: “My daughter is so sweet.”

Wang Cuixiang retorted, “She’s not sweet—she’s just on your side.”

Fang Daleng: “You’re just jealous. My daughter is my little cotton-padded jacket.”

Wang Cuixiang couldn’t be bothered to argue. But after this trip, seeing how her son-in-law treated her daughter, she was truly happy. The butcher shop didn’t need to be a dowry—it could support their retirement instead.

Meanwhile, Fang Daleng was already bragging to the driver: “My son-in-law is really something. He’s only been in the city a short time, but he’s got a big house and a car. Sure, it’s a bit old, but it makes money. He knows how to live, better than my sons. My sons just buy cars and drive around wasting money.”

The driver had heard of Lu Chuan—plenty of workers who rode his bus were heading to work for Wu Hu and Lu Chuan.

He’d heard those two names plenty, but he didn’t really want to listen to Fang Daleng brag. Was he showing off his son-in-law or his sons?

Drivers see and hear a lot, and this one was sharp: “Old buddy, your son-in-law is impressive, and your sons are great too. But why didn’t your eldest come to the city? Honestly, the city is better for development. The village is just too small.”

Fang Daleng didn’t feel insulted at all. He sighed, “That useless one—I can’t control him anymore. The brothers have split into several groups, but at least they all have work, so I don’t have to worry. You have no idea—having lots of sons is a headache too.”

205."

"Chapter 205: Some Things Just Can’t Be Learned

The driver noticed that this topic was making him even more upset. Take Old Fang, for example—no matter how useless his sons might be, each one of them is still somebody. No matter where they end up, everyone knows their names.

All he could do was listen to Fang Daleng brag. Why did it feel so stifling?

He heard Fang Daleng say, “Honestly, I was worried about my daughter’s marriage.”

The driver nodded. Of course he’d be worried—his daughter was clinging to a college student and the son-in-law was truly great, but they just weren’t a good match for him.

But then Fang Daleng switched to showing off: “I was so happy on the way here, sitting in the back and chatting with you, that I forgot to mention—my daughter’s pregnant. Now I’m not worried at all.”

The driver just wished they’d hurry up and get to the county. There was no way to have a proper chat with Old Fang—this guy’s life was just one good thing after another.

Even Wang Cuixiang could tell the driver didn’t want to hear Fang Daleng bragging, but unfortunately, Fang Daleng really didn’t know when to shut up or realize he was being annoying.

Wang Cuixiang thought to herself, Well, it’s still better than having Fang Daleng go on and on to me.

So she just watched as Fang Daleng pestered the driver the whole way.

Even what he ate at his son-in-law’s house these past few days, the driver knew all about it.

But at least Fang Daleng didn’t say anything he shouldn’t have, like the fact that their family had a shop in the provincial capital—he didn’t mention that at all.

Wang Cuixiang nodded. If you’re going to brag, that’s the kind of thing you can brag about.

When the two of them got home, the eldest daughter-in-law was the first to come over, trying to please her: “Mom, how’s little sister? Is she eating well? Does she need anything?”

Wang Cuixiang glanced at her. How had this eldest daughter-in-law changed so much lately?

The eldest daughter-in-law said, “Mom, next time you go to the provincial capital, take me with you. I made some pee pads and things for little sister.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Alright, I’ll remember.”

The second daughter-in-law came over, not to be outdone: “Mom, let me know when you’re going next time. I’ll make some good food for little sister to take along. You shouldn’t have come back—you can leave the house to me.”

Wang Cuixiang shot her a look. Of course, if I’m not home, you can sell two pigs a day. No wonder you want me to stay in the provincial capital.

But it’s the third daughter-in-law who’s the most straightforward and cheerful. She just asked, “Mom, is little sister doing well? Is her husband treating her right? Did you check on her properly?”

Now that’s genuine concern for Fang Yuan. Wang Cuixiang said, “Your brother-in-law’s alright. You don’t need to worry so much.”

The third daughter-in-law grinned, “That’s good. Little sister’s a bit stubborn, but she’s not complicated. Mom, you should go visit her more and stop thinking about making money all the time.”

Wang Cuixiang actually got scolded by her daughter-in-law. She looked at the third daughter-in-law, annoyed: “You just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you? Don’t you know what’s appropriate?”

The third daughter-in-law replied, “Even if it’s inappropriate, it still needs to be said. She’s my sister-in-law, after all. Besides, it’s not like you like me anyway.”

Wang Cuixiang called her back home, fuming. Thinking about how Old Lu treated her own daughter, Wang Cuixiang asked, “Tell me, have you saved any money?”

The third daughter-in-law said, “Mom, do you need some? How much? If I don’t have enough, I’ll ask my family to help out.”

Other than being blunt and a bit tactless, this daughter-in-law really had no faults. If it were the eldest, who knows what roundabout way she’d take.

The second daughter-in-law was all talk and no action.

Wang Cuixiang asked, “How much do you have?”

The third daughter-in-law wasn’t clueless. Seeing her mother-in-law ask, she said, “You want the truth?”

Wang Cuixiang was exasperated by this daughter-in-law—such a good person, but just can’t stop talking: “If you want to keep it a secret, go ahead.”

The third daughter-in-law replied, “How could I hide it from you, Mom? I’ve got about seven or eight hundred.”

That’s not a small amount. Wang Cuixiang said, “You’re good at managing the household. How much did you and your eldest brother split?”

The third daughter-in-law replied, “It wasn’t a small amount. I even lent my family two hundred.”

Wang Cuixiang glared at her: “Your second brother has his own job, your eldest brother isn’t stupid—don’t you have any plans for yourself?”

The third daughter-in-law said, “It’s good to earn money with big brother. We’ve got skills, and with him looking out for us, we get paid well. As long as we don’t cause trouble, he knows what’s what.”

Wang Cuixiang said, “If your family’s doing alright, get your money back. Give it all to me—I need it. If you want to keep good relations with relatives, don’t mix money into it.”

The third daughter-in-law didn’t even hesitate: “Is something up with little sister? Mom, is it enough? If not, I can borrow more.”

She didn’t even ask what her mother-in-law needed it for. This reaction really made Wang Cuixiang happy.

Wang Cuixiang said, “Don’t worry about your sister-in-law. Don’t go asking around, and don’t tell anyone.”

The third daughter-in-law said, “Don’t worry, Mom. If you say not to, I won’t even tell my husband. But be careful, don’t let anyone trick you. As long as little sister’s fine, that’s all that matters.”

Wang Cuixiang felt particularly frustrated—she could tell her third son didn’t even know how much money was in the house. Looking at her third daughter-in-law, she really felt annoyed.

She snapped, “If someone like you hasn’t been cheated, how could I be?”

The third daughter-in-law really was straightforward. That night, she brought over more than a thousand yuan to Wang Cuixiang.

Wang Cuixiang counted it and realized it was more than her daughter-in-law had said: “Didn’t keep any for yourself?” So she was being conservative earlier.

The third daughter-in-law said, “No, Mom, you take it first. Later, I’ll have my husband settle up with big brother and get a few hundred more.”

From start to finish, she never asked what Wang Cuixiang needed the money for. Wang Cuixiang didn’t even bother to write an IOU.

She was pleased that her third daughter-in-law was thoughtful—the amount she gave was more than she said. But she wasn’t too shrewd either—giving all the money away, how would they manage at home?

The next day, Wang Cuixiang made a special trip to the provincial capital, saying she was bringing Fang Yuan some vegetables and eggs.

Fang Daleng was puzzled—they’d just come back yesterday, and Fang Yuan didn’t need anything. So she was just sending him back, which made him feel a bit put out.

Even Fang Yuan was surprised to see Wang Cuixiang: “Mom, you’re really thinking about me.”

Wang Cuixiang replied, “Of course I am. If you don’t annoy me a couple of times, I can’t sleep at night.”

That made Fang Yuan feel guilty—her mom really did care about her.

Then Wang Cuixiang took Old Lu’s wife all over the provincial capital, staying for two days before heading back. Old Lu’s wife was shocked by her in-law’s abilities—it turned out she was looking at houses.

Her in-law told her not to say anything, and when Old Lu’s wife got home, she only told Fang Yuan and no one else. In her mind, you can’t keep secrets from your daughter-in-law.

In the end, when Wang Cuixiang got home, she handed the third daughter-in-law a property deed.

206."

"Chapter 206: The Daughter-in-Law’s Little Brother

When Third Fang’s wife saw what it was, she was shocked. “Mom, what’s the meaning of this? You’re secretly giving this to us? Do you like me that much?”

Who knows how this daughter-in-law could think that way. Wang Cuihua replied, “You wish! The other brothers all have their own incomes. Old Third is honest—he only earns a little through hard work. You never scheme for anything, and you just keep your money to yourself, letting others use it as their capital.”

Third Fang’s wife finally understood—her own money had turned into a house, and she got anxious all of a sudden. “You used my money to buy it, Mom! You didn’t even talk it over with Third!”

Wang Cuihua thought to herself, What nonsense. When you borrowed the money, why didn’t you discuss it with my third son? She said, “I didn’t discuss it with you either. Listen, you owe me two hundred yuan—forget about paying it back. Don’t come nagging me.”

Third Fang’s wife pulled a long face. “That’s a huge expense, and now the money’s gone. How am I supposed to explain this?”

Wang Cuihua pointed at her daughter-in-law’s nose. “You had no problem borrowing money from your own family, but now you’re scared to invest in your own household?”

She wanted to learn from Old Lady Lu how to coax a daughter-in-law, but she just didn’t have the patience for it.

Third Fang’s wife said, “How is it the same? Now the money’s just gone. I’ve never managed such a big household before. Mom, what should I do?”

Then she finally asked, “Where’s the house? How big is it?”

Wang Cuihua replied, “Not very big, just a shopfront of a bit over thirty square meters, with a small courtyard. In the provincial capital.”

Third Fang’s wife really didn’t have much foresight. She said to her mother-in-law, “It’s not even as big as our house. Why buy it? It’s not worth it.”

Wang Cuihua glanced at her third daughter-in-law. She thought to herself, I must be too idle, meddling in her business. “It’s rented out. The annual income is three hundred.”

Third Fang’s wife immediately shut up and grabbed the property deed. “People in the provincial capital must be fools—so expensive! Mom, don’t worry, I’ll explain it to Third. If anything comes up, I’ll take responsibility.”

Wang Cuihua was so angry her nose was crooked. This daughter-in-law was actually more likable when she kept her mouth shut. “So now you like it? Not scared anymore? Do you want it or not?”

Third Fang’s wife had already stuffed the deed into her pocket and sidled up with a grin. “I want it, Mom. Can I tell others about it?”

Wang Cuihua said, “Just don’t drag me into it.”

Third Fang’s wife replied, “Even if I say it, no one would believe me. How could I go to the provincial capital and buy a shop for myself? I’m not that smart.”

Wang Cuihua sent her third daughter-in-law away, feeling annoyed. She’d spent over two hundred on this trip. If it were another daughter-in-law, she wouldn’t bother so much. But Third and his wife were just too honest—if she didn’t help them plan, they’d spend their whole lives suffering.

No one else knew about this, but Fang Yuan was well aware. She whispered to Old Lady Lu, “See? She did all this for my third brother, even spent her own money. I’m so moved for nothing.”

Old Lady Lu said, “That’s what mothers do.”

Fang Yuan said, “If those brothers found out, there’d be a famine. But no one would say this money was my third brother’s own.”

Old Lady Lu replied, “You have to admit, your in-laws are well-off. Look, any one of their sons can come up with this much money.”

She thought to herself, If only my three sons could be this capable, I’d be smiling every day.

Fang Yuan said, “That’s just what they’ve earned these past two years. It was all thanks to Lu Chuan helping them pave the way. Otherwise, they’d still be earning five yuan a day.”

Old Lady Lu said, “You can’t say that. Capable people will rise sooner or later. Even without Lu Chuan, your brothers wouldn’t be doing too badly.”

Then she added, “Fang Yuan, listen to me—let this go. Don’t bring it up again, it’ll just hurt your feelings.”

Fang Yuan said, “Alright, I wouldn’t even talk about it if it weren’t you. I just can’t get over it with my eldest brother. Without Lu Chuan, he never would’ve taken that step. But look at what he did—was that even human? Lu Chuan doesn’t hold a grudge only because of me. He’s my big brother, but I can’t just let it go.”

Old Lady Lu hadn’t realized her daughter-in-law had such deep thoughts. No wonder she always looked sour whenever Fang’s eldest daughter-in-law was mentioned.

Old Lady Lu said, “Fang Yuan, it’s not worth getting upset over this. Look, now that you’re apart, things are fine. Lu Chuan gets along well with your fifth brother, and they’re earning good money. If you think about it, your eldest brother actually did you a favor, right?”

Fang Yuan’s stubbornness showed at this moment. She shot back, “That’s no excuse for kicking my husband out and dragging in my little brother-in-law.”

Old Lu and Lu Xiaosan were both working at the construction site, so Old Lady Lu really did know a bit about the Fang family’s affairs. “To be honest, there were definitely problems, but as for your eldest brother’s side, that little brother-in-law is just so-so these days.”

Fang Yuan said, “My fifth brother said he just wanted everything for himself. First he used my brothers to squeeze Lu Chuan out, then used the little brother-in-law to push out my fourth and second brothers. In the end, only the honest third brother was left to make up the numbers. What a piece of work.”

Old Lady Lu was convinced by her daughter-in-law and even nodded along. He really was a piece of work.

Then she quickly shook her head. “But your in-laws really know how to have sons—none of them are fools. Look, this is just like kids fighting. Your second, eldest, and fourth brothers still get along fine on the surface, don’t they?”

Fang Yuan said, “Why should I give him face?”

Old Lady Lu said, “That’s just your eldest brother humoring you. Otherwise, who would Fang Laohu care about?”

Fang Yuan was annoyed. “Mom, whose side are you on? Lu Chuan got squeezed out.”

Old Lady Lu never took sides in front of her daughter-in-law. “Of course I’m on your side! How could I be on anyone else’s? Here’s what—we won’t let your dad or Xiaosan go work on his construction site anymore. Our family’s cement mixer, we’ll rent it to that Sun guy, not your eldest brother.”

Fang Yuan was satisfied. “We still have to make money, though. Why shouldn’t we take his money? But I still don’t want to deal with him.”

Old Lady Lu just sighed, “You really were spoiled growing up.”

Otherwise, what girl would have this kind of confidence? Not talking to someone, but still wanting to make money off them. If he weren’t your real brother, no one would indulge you like this.

Old Lady Lu really took good care of her daughter-in-law, both physically and emotionally.

She was always making grand promises to her daughter-in-law, which gave Lu Chuan a headache. She wasn’t there to look after her daughter-in-law—she was there to compete with her son for his wife.

With Old Lady Lu around, Fang Yuan was happy every day. If Fang Yuan wanted to fix her bicycle, Old Lady Lu would set up a stall, help out, and even coax the young apprentice over to repair the bike.

All the good food was sent to the young apprentice, just so he’d sit there and fix the bike for a while and make her daughter-in-law happy.

When Fang Yuan said hiring a repairman was too expensive, Old Lady Lu watched the master for several days and even tried taking the wheel off herself.

In the end, she failed and told Fang Yuan with a frown, “I just can’t learn this stuff.”

Truly, the whole family wanted to sneak over and learn other people’s skills.

Master Liu was so angry his nose was smoking. If someone decent came to learn, he wouldn’t be so annoyed, but these two—one pregnant, one elderly—were just making a fool of him and his craft.

Master Liu couldn’t argue with a pregnant woman or an old lady, so he grabbed Lu Chuan and gave him an earful.

207."

"Chapter 207: All Experts

Master Liu was fuming. “Is your family marrying a daughter-in-law or worshipping an ancestor? Does your mother have something on your wife? Just look at how servile she acts—I’ve never seen a mother-in-law so humble.”

Those words were a bit harsh. Lu Chuan replied, “They just get along well. My mom likes to dote on her daughter-in-law. Didn’t you see how generous Fang Yuan is with my mom? How can you call her servile? At most, my mom just goes along with Fang Yuan a lot.”

Master Liu snorted, “If I had a mother-in-law like that, I’d be generous too. Look, your wife says she works fifteen hours a day, and your mom has to get up in the middle of the night to help her like a rooster crowing at dawn.”

Lu Chuan said, “It’s not that bad. My wife isn’t that kind of person.”

So you do know what your mom is like. Master Liu said, “As an elder, she’s actually helping the younger one misbehave. I’m not being unreasonable saying that about her.”

Lu Chuan replied, “But you were out of line talking about my wife. Didn’t Fang Yuan already say you can’t fix our bikes anymore?”

Master Liu had never seen anyone so blatantly take sides. He glared at Lu Chuan. “You’re just lucky no one else pays me as well as you do, or you think I’d still serve you? Tell your wife to stay inside and rest, and stop coming around here.” With that, he stormed off.

Lu Chuan went back to the yard, only to have his mother jump in first. “I’ve never seen a hired hand stirring up trouble for the boss’s family. Now he thinks he can push us around. So what if Fang Yuan comes over? What boss doesn’t keep an eye on things?”

“Mom, don’t say that,” Lu Chuan tried to calm her.

But with her daughter-in-law backing her up, Lu’s mother was full of confidence. “That was years ago, let’s keep it in the family.”

Then she added, “Your wife is just working hard to make money, nothing wrong with that. Don’t let anyone drive a wedge between you.”

Lu Chuan reassured her, “Don’t worry, Fang Yuan’s never done anything wrong.”

Lu’s mother beamed, “I knew my son couldn’t be swayed by some old man. Do you know how much money we’ve made? It’s not just Fang Yuan who can’t stand to see him idle, I can’t either.”

These two really would get up in the middle of the night like roosters.

Lu Chuan was resigned. If only his mom would try to persuade Fang Yuan a little, she’d probably listen.

But Lu’s mother had no intention of reining in her daughter-in-law. In her mind, Fang Yuan could do no wrong. She often said, “I never stood so tall in the village, but in the provincial capital, with my daughter-in-law by my side, I’ve never felt so proud in my life.”

Fang Yuan was genuinely flattered by Lu’s mother’s praise.

“Our family does things right, so we can hold our heads high.”

Lu Chuan was a bit embarrassed to point out that their past actions weren’t always so justified.

As for Master Liu, at his age, what he valued was skill. He could just stand there and direct his apprentice and the job would get done—no need to do everything himself.

He was like a treasure of the household. If you don’t treat him well, and even look down on him, then the mother and daughter-in-law really don’t know a gem when they see one.

Too bad no one listened. If she could actually learn the craft, Lu’s mother would have tried to pick up some skills herself, just so the old man couldn’t boss her daughter-in-law around.

It wasn’t until Fang Yuan took a liking to another junked bike—one that was basically scrap—that Master Liu, after much grumbling, finally agreed to take a look.

Within a few days, the wreck they dragged home was running again, and someone even came by offering several thousand to buy it.

Lu’s mother’s attitude toward Master Liu changed immediately. At dinner, she brought him several boiled eggs.

She finally understood—this was a man with real skills.

She even whispered to Fang Yuan, “Let’s put up with him for now. I’ll sneak over and watch a few more times. If I can pick up this skill, it’ll be a goldmine.”

Lu Chuan didn’t dare let his mother go over there. “At your age, you can’t just pick up a craft by sneaking peeks. If people start saying you’re interested in some old man, that would be a real headache.”

Even Master Liu said, “If you have any clever relatives, I’d be willing to teach them. Just tell your mother to stop coming over here. I have a family, you know.” How mean!

He knew full well Lu’s mother wanted to learn his craft, but still tried to keep her away. Of course, there aren’t many as shameless as Lu’s mother either—trying to sneak a look again and again.

Lu Chuan felt his life was especially lively. Fang Yuan was making money, taking care of her pregnancy, and keeping the men entertained—all at once, without missing a beat.

Lately, Wu Hu was a bit troubled. Things weren’t going well with his girlfriend, and he’d run into some small issues at work. Other than picking up some odd jobs from Zhang Wei, Wu Hu had also gotten some work through friends he met at construction sites. But after the job was done, the money never came.

Back in his hometown, Wu Hu had never encountered anything like this. The Fang family had a big reputation—no one dared owe them money.

He never expected that in the provincial capital, people would treat a tiger like a sick cat and try to stiff Wu Hu.

Wu Hu had never dealt with such slippery people before.

Wan Shun and the others said, “Let’s just beat the guy up and forget about the money. We’ve never been treated like this.”

Wu Hu said, “That won’t do. He’s not worth that much. If I had the time, I’d go toe-to-toe with that old bastard. He’s only daring to stiff me because he knows I’m busy.”

When he vented to Lu Chuan, Lu Chuan said, “Let’s learn from this. If this keeps happening, who’ll want to work with us? Even if he doesn’t pay us, we can’t shortchange our own workers. We’ll pay them first.”

Fang Yuan nodded. “We need to build a good reputation, so we have to pay.”

“We can’t do anything dishonorable,” she said through gritted teeth. “Pay them. Don’t worry, I’ll go get the money myself.” She wasn’t afraid at all.

Lu Chuan said, “You’re pregnant. Don’t make a scene.”

Fang Yuan glared at him. “So what if I’m pregnant? I’m just supposed to sit around and let people walk all over me? I need to teach him a lesson.”

Wu Hu thought, I’ve been keeping a low profile in the city, but my sister is still so fierce.

Fang Yuan almost convinced Wu Hu to drop what he was doing and go collect the debt with her. Lu Chuan held her back. “I’ll handle this.”

Fang Yuan looked down on Lu Chuan for that. “You? You’re not cut out for this.”

Lu Chuan retorted, “Why not? What am I lacking compared to you? I’m not saying you can’t do things while pregnant, but you shouldn’t have to deal with people like that. If you ask me, we should get Big Brother’s brother-in-law to help.”

Wu Hu slapped the table. “Nice! That’s exactly the kind of person we need to mess with that bastard Cui. Let him see what I’m made of.”

Wu Hu added, “Honestly, the only person tougher to deal with than Fang Yuan is that little rascal.”

Lu Chuan frowned, “Wu Hu, what are you saying? Fang Yuan isn’t like that.”

Wu Hu wanted to ask, “Aren’t you bringing up Big Brother’s brother-in-law because you think he’s similar to Fang Yuan?”

But the couple’s fierce glares made him swallow his words.

Fang Yuan wasn’t too happy. “Hiring someone costs money, doesn’t it?”

Wu Hu said, “I’m happy to pay.”

Wu Hu and Fang Yuan really were cut from the same cloth—both hot-tempered. As they spoke, they hopped on their bikes and rode off.

208."

"Chapter 208: Clever Use

Lu Chuan explained to Fang Yuan, “They’re just taking advantage of the fact that we don’t have time to mess around with them. We’ve got so much to do, we can’t afford any delays—time is money. But if Big Brother’s brother-in-law comes, well, his time isn’t worth much. Let’s see if the other side can outlast him.”

Fang Yuan still felt she could handle it herself. “Actually, I’m pregnant, so my time isn’t worth much either. Doesn’t matter where I spend it.”

Lu Chuan shook his head. “No way. You don’t know how to play dirty. Our parents taught us to be fair and righteous. Tell you what, if you’re bored, let’s treat it as a learning experience. We’ll grab some little stools and watch the show from the sidelines.”

Fang Yuan, straightforward as she was, was too embarrassed to say, “There’s nothing to learn here.”

The next morning, Wu Hu came back, bringing along Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law.

Wu Hu took him straight to the worksite, not home—just to avoid getting tangled up with the guy.

Honestly, it was a bit of a slap in the face. They’d said before not to bring the guy out, afraid he’d be a nuisance. Who could’ve guessed they’d need him one day? Wu Hu learned a lesson from this: always leave yourself some wiggle room.

Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan came over, and Lu Chuan explained, “This job’s simple. As long as you can tie up the other guy so he can’t get anything done, I’ll pay you ten yuan a day. But if he manages to get anything done, I’ll dock your pay.”

Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law complained, “That’s not much money.”

Fang Yuan snapped, “You’re not doing any real work, not even breaking a sweat. How much do you expect? Robbery?”

Wu Hu, the rascal, added, “It’s a total of a hundred yuan. Whether you finish in three days or ten, it’s still a hundred. If you’re capable enough to finish in a day, it’s still a hundred.”

That was no small sum. Fang Yuan got anxious. “Fifth Brother, let me handle this. I can do it!”

Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law stood up and blocked her. “You’re a girl, stirring up trouble. No one can do this job better than me. Come on, take me to see him.”

Well, what do you know—big rewards really do bring out the brave.

Fang Yuan wasn’t happy, but Wu Hu insisted, wanting the other side to see they weren’t helpless, and specifically sent Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law to annoy them. “Bro, make sure to give him a hard time for a couple of days.”

Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll get it done in a day and even give you half a day extra just to annoy him.”

Earning a hundred yuan in a day—Fang Yuan thought this was a skill worth learning. She went home, grabbed Lu Chuan’s mother, and brought along a little stool. The two of them really went to watch the show, mainly to learn. Fang Yuan even brought a little notebook.

Lu Chuan’s mother asked, “Who came up with this sneaky idea?”

Fang Yuan answered proudly, “Lu Chuan, of course! My man’s got brains.”

Lu Chuan’s mother felt a little embarrassed. “He used to be such an honest kid. Who’d have thought he could come up with something so crafty?”

Fang Yuan immediately said, “He didn’t learn it from me.”

Lu Chuan’s mother replied, “Definitely not. I’d never think that way.”

That earned Fang Yuan a particularly beautiful smile.

Master Liu, standing at the door, overheard and curled his lip. “Like mother-in-law, like daughter-in-law. What a pair.”

Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law really was a character, as long as you used him in the right way. Big Brother Fang knew how to use him, which is how he managed to edge out his own brothers.

Wu Hu thought to himself, you don’t just learn lessons from your opponents—you can pick up skills from them too. This was a trick Big Brother Fang had taught them, hands-on.

Wu Hu brought Big Brother’s brother-in-law to the guy who owed them money, and introduced him very directly, “We’re here to collect the debt. I’m too busy to keep an eye on things, but our village has plenty of people who aren’t busy. This is a relative of mine, he’ll handle it for me.”

With that, Wu Hu left, his job done.

Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law started asking for the debt inside, his tone soft, attitude friendly, calling the guy “brother” at every turn.

Outside, Fang Yuan and Lu Chuan’s mother sat on their little stools, listening in—they were here to learn.

Big Brother Fang’s brother-in-law’s surname was Wang, and his name was Wang Bao. He’d been spoiled since childhood.

Wang Bao could get chummy with anyone. He couldn’t accomplish anything good, but when it came to making trouble, he was a natural—couldn’t do good deeds even with the best intentions. That’s just how he was.

He wasn’t afraid if you said you had no money—he just wanted to chat. He started with, “Brother, let’s check the accounts first.”

For a hundred yuan a day, Wang Bao was determined to show some real skill.

No money? Fine. But checking the accounts isn’t too much to ask, right? If you refuse, then you’re just being unreasonable.

Of course it wasn’t too much. If you don’t pay up, you at least have to reconcile the accounts. And once Wang Bao got started, he wouldn’t let go—this wasn’t right, that wasn’t right, what was this money for, what was that money spent on—he’d ask about everything, talking non-stop.

Lu Chuan’s mother and Fang Yuan listened until they were completely lost. This didn’t even seem related to collecting a debt anymore.

The debtor got so dizzy he said, “No, I need someone else to check the accounts with you.”

Wang Bao grabbed him. “No way. Fifth Brother said it has to be with you. If you switch, how do I know you’re not trying to scam me? Are you trying to set me up?”

Then he added, “People from the provincial capital are clever. I may be from the countryside and inexperienced, but I know if there’s a problem, you call the police. Brother, if you keep this up, I really will call the police.”

The debtor sneered, “Go ahead, go to the police station. You won’t get out in a day.”

Wang Bao replied, “I’m not afraid. I’ve got nothing else to do. Fifth Brother’s busy, but I’m not.”

Fang Yuan stayed quiet, but Lu Chuan’s mother said, “Fang Yuan, write that down. That’s a useful line, and it makes sense.”

She added, “We’ve got nothing else to do—let’s learn as much as we can.”

Then she called into the house, “Nephew, what do you want for lunch? I’ll bring it to you.”

Wang Bao replied, “No need, that’s too much trouble. I’m here, so they should be the ones providing food. You two go do your thing. If you’re not busy, you can eat with me. Don’t worry, as long as I have a bite to eat, I won’t let Fang Yuan go hungry.”

Fang Yuan scoffed, “We’re here for business. I don’t want to eat your freeloaded food.”

See? Even his own people knew he was a rascal.

Wang Bao just kept at it, not even mentioning the money anymore—just checking the accounts.

Fang Yuan was exhausted just watching. “I can’t. I’ll come back this afternoon to keep learning.”

Wang Bao said, “Don’t worry, sis. I’ll teach you the best parts later.”

Fang Yuan replied, “This isn’t even a great trick. If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d be even better at it than you.”

She pulled her mother-in-law away. The contractor, overhearing their conversation, was left with a headache—what kind of people were these?

With only Wang Bao left, the debtor finally spoke up, “How much are they paying you? I’ll pay you—just stop bothering me.”

Wang Bao replied, “Once the accounts are settled, I’ll leave right away. But don’t try to poach me. Fifth Brother said, in the provincial capital, you’ll run into people like you all the time. If I do this job well, people will always come to me for help. I’m not in this for a one-off deal. Besides, we’re relatives. Relatives shouldn’t cheat each other.”

The debtor gritted his teeth. “You think you’re some kind of upright guy?” The sarcasm was obvious.

Wang Bao didn’t notice, thick-skinned as ever. “Of course. Us country folk are honest people.”"

"Chapter 209: A Clever Move

Pah! Is there anyone as blunt as you? You almost made me so angry I could’ve had a stroke. “Fine, if you’ve got the guts, just follow me.”

Old Lai wanted to embarrass Wang Bao, so he took him to places he normally wouldn’t go.

But Wang Bao really was something else—not the least bit fazed, actually enjoying himself. He kept saying, “I’m learning so much, really broadening my horizons. The provincial capital is great! Don’t be in a rush to pay me, I want to look around for a couple more days.” Those were his exact words.

Old Lai was stunned. There are actually people like this? He was learning something new, too.

That afternoon, when Fang Yuan woke up from her nap and brought her mother-in-law over to see what was going on, Wang Bao had already scored a breakthrough victory: he’d asked the foreman to take him out sightseeing, and the foreman refused to go.

The foreman, gritting his teeth, said to Fang Yuan, “Impressive, you guys are really something. Where did you find such a treasure?”

Fang Yuan scoffed, “You just haven’t seen much of the world.”

Wang Bao said, “That doesn’t sound like a compliment. What are you saying? We’re all on the same team, aren’t we?”

Fang Yuan replied, “I wasn’t complimenting you. This is about all you’re good at. Don’t think you’re so great.”

Wang Bao didn’t want to hear it. If he really wasn’t capable, would Fifth Brother have brought him to the provincial capital? “You’re just a girl, don’t stir things up. Go listen outside.”

Old Lady Lu, ever thoughtful, handed Wang Bao a big tea mug. “Nephew-in-law, I brought this for you. Let me tell you, you really do have a knack for this. Before, you just weren’t using it in the right place.”

Then she went outside to keep her daughter-in-law company.

That evening, Old Lai hurried to find Wu Hu, with Wang Bao trailing behind. He said to Wu Hu, “I give up. I really do.”

Wang Bao stood behind him, grinning. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was Old Lai’s lackey.

Wu Hu said, “Don’t say that. You’re just taking advantage of me being too busy to deal with you. It’s fine, I’m busy. I’ll have someone else keep you company.”

Old Lai paid Wu Hu on the spot. Wu Hu took the money, feeling a bit emotional—he hadn’t expected to learn how to manage people from the boss.

He looked down on Old Lai in every way. “Let’s not deal with each other anymore. We’re not the same kind of people. This isn’t the way to get rich.”

Old Lai handed over the money but didn’t leave. He didn’t want to cut ties, so he tried to rebuild the relationship. “Don’t say that, Brother Fang. I was in the wrong here, but I had no choice. Everyone else owes me money, but you’re lucky—your jobs all pay up. You don’t know how tough it is for me.”

Wu Hu had heard stories about people being slow to settle accounts, but he’d never experienced it himself. Hearing this today, he learned his lesson: not everyone out there is trustworthy, and they’d need to be more careful in the future to avoid this kind of thing.

Of course, his opinion of Zhang Wei shot up—now that was a good partner, someone who didn’t cheat you.

Wu Hu said, “Whether it’s hard for you or not, I’m not going to charge you less. People like you, if you run into someone who doesn’t pay you, you deserve it.”

Then Wu Hu turned to Wang Bao. “Brother, thanks for your hard work.”

Wang Bao looked at Wu Hu, a bit reluctant. “This guy’s no good. I just got to the provincial capital and don’t want to leave yet. Let’s give him another half day.”

Wu Hu had been thinking the same, but seeing Old Lai’s defeated face, he said to Wang Bao, “Don’t. Your skills were honed back in the village. You should hold back a bit, or they’ll lose their edge.”

Wang Bao nodded, feeling recognized for once. “Makes sense. I’ll listen to you, Fifth Brother. You’ve got more sense than that Fang Yuan girl.”

Old Lai looked at Wu Hu, then at Wang Bao, and said eagerly, “Hey, brother, can we talk? Could your relative help me collect some debts? I’ll pay him. I think he’s got what it takes.”

Wang Bao’s eyes lit up. This job could continue? Are there really that many interesting people in the provincial capital? Is it really that easy to make money here?

Wu Hu refused without hesitation. “No way. We country folk don’t make money off ill-gotten gains.”

Wang Bao was quick to read the situation. Hearing Wu Hu’s words, he realized this wasn’t easy money. “Forget it, I’m not going.”

Old Lai tried to persuade Wu Hu. “But it’s just money other people owe me! Brother, you’ve got such a talent on your side, help me out!”

Wu Hu said, “How would we know? You’re not trustworthy. If you take us villagers to do shady things, we wouldn’t even know what’s going on. Who knows if you’re actually scamming people or what? We’re not going to be someone else’s tool.”

Wang Bao nodded, “Exactly. We really can’t do this. I trust Fifth Brother, that’s why I came. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t.”

No matter what Old Lai said, neither Wu Hu nor Wang Bao would budge. These country folks were really stubborn.

Wu Hu, not wanting Wang Bao to be tempted by money and actually go collect debts for someone else, paid him promptly and personally drove him back, handing him over to Fang Laoda.

He explained the risks. “If he ever gets tricked into being someone’s thug and ends up in trouble, don’t come looking for me. Things are messy out there. You never know what’s really going on, so you have to be careful.”

Fang Laoda glanced at his brother-in-law. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him. I won’t let him get rich off this.”

Wang Bao said, “Don’t worry, Fifth Brother. I only followed you because I trust you. I’ll listen to you—no one else can talk me into it.”

Wu Hu looked at Fang Laoda and gave a slightly mocking smile.

Only Fang Laoda could understand what that smile meant.

The two brothers understood each other without words. They both knew exactly what kind of person Wang Bao was, so they were well aware of each other’s thoughts. Fang Laoda didn’t show it on his face.

Wu Hu said to Wang Bao, “Thanks, brother. Next time there’s a job like this, I’ll call you. Just don’t let anyone use you for anything shady.”

Wang Bao replied, “Don’t worry, don’t worry.” A hundred yuan was so easy to earn, but you can’t just take any job—someone might trick you.

Wu Hu added, “Oh, I forgot to tell you. You got lucky this time. The last guy who tried to collect debts from him got beaten up.”

Wang Bao’s eyes widened. “Really? I knew you were up to something. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Wu Hu said, “If I’d told you, would you have acted so tough?”

Then Wu Hu rode off on his bike. He’d handled the aftermath well enough, but it felt like a waste of a hundred yuan. Not everyone’s money is worth earning in the future.

When he got home, Wu Hu praised Lu Chuan. “Brother-in-law, that was a brilliant move. How did you ever think of using Wang Bao for this?”

He went on, “I just wanted to get it over with. You don’t know—when that bastard said he had no money and wouldn’t settle up, he acted like I was the one who owed him. Back home, I’ve never been treated like that.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, Of course. With the Fang family’s reputation, who would dare owe you money? Here, though, Fifth Brother is all about business, so his reputation isn’t as strong. “That’s why we don’t take just any job.”

Wu Hu said, “If that guy hadn’t tried to get Wang Bao to collect debts for him, I would’ve let Wang Bao mess with him for another day. Consider it a favor.”

Fang Yuan overheard and said, “Why use outsiders? Mom and I have already learned how. We’ll go next time.”

210."

"Chapter 210: Stubborn as a Mule

Lu Chuan: ""It's not time for you to step in yet. Hold steady.""

Lu’s mother always listens to her daughter-in-law: ""We don’t want your hundred yuan. We just want to try out this trick we learned to see if it works. If not, maybe we can go talk to that person and help him get his money back.""

Wu Hu: ""How could I bear to let my own aunt go out and run around like that?""

Lu Chuan felt his scalp tingle—gentle persuasion wasn’t working, so he had to scare them a little: ""Enough, enough! This is a last resort. If we act like ruffians and get sent back to the countryside as troublemakers, we’ll lose even our livelihoods.""

Lu’s mother was really frightened. She hadn’t realized there were people watching over them: ""Is that true?""

Fang Yuan nodded: ""Yes, it’s true. Now that we’re in the provincial capital, where we live and what we do is all clearly regulated.""

Lu’s mother was worried. If she got in trouble, she wouldn’t be able to help take care of her daughter-in-law and grandson: ""Then I won’t mess around anymore. This kind of thing isn’t sustainable.""

For once, money hadn’t clouded her judgment, and Lu Chuan was relieved. As long as they could be scared into stopping: ""You just stay with Fang Yuan. Our family has plenty of ways to make money—we don’t need to stoop to this.""

He wanted to say, ""And don’t go spying on that old man fixing cars either—some things just can’t be learned by watching."" But looking at his mother and wife, Lu Chuan swallowed the words.

Lu’s mother: ""But we still need to learn. Next time someone owes us money, we won’t need to ask others for help.""

Fang Yuan nodded again: ""Mom’s right. That’s just how life is.""

Lu Chuan had no grounds to object. ""Whatever you say."" He’d just have to avoid these kinds of deadbeats in the future.

This was the hardest money the brothers had ever split—getting it back was no easy feat.

Wu Hu: ""I don’t dare take on jobs lightly anymore. You never know what kind of people you’ll run into.""

Lu Chuan: ""At the end of the day, it’s because we’re not skilled enough. If we could take jobs directly and sign contracts ourselves, at least there’d be some guarantees.""

Wu Hu: ""I don’t have that kind of ability or status. Bro, we’ve got money and people—just do what you think is best. For now, let’s stick with Zhang Wei’s crew. At least the pay is guaranteed.""

Lu Chuan: ""Thanks for supporting me, Fifth Brother.""

Wu Hu: ""No need for that between us. If you’re doing well, then I’m doing well too.""

That tone made Lu Chuan feel that if he didn’t do well, he’d be letting Fifth Brother’s trust down.

Fang Yuan put the money straight into savings, saying it was meaningful and should be kept as a reminder, not spent.

Wu Hu saw it as the greatest humiliation of his life, having to rely on Wang Bao to get the money back: ""I don’t need a reminder—I’ll never forget this.""

Lu’s mother: ""It’s good to save it. In the past, no family ever had enough money to save—if you had it, you spent it. This just shows our Fang Yuan is lucky.""

Wu Hu: ""Auntie, what’s this got to do with Fang Yuan?""

Lu’s mother replied, ""Fang Yuan’s right—saving money is better than spending it, isn’t it?""

Wu Hu wanted to say, ""You have to earn it before you can save it. Shouldn’t you praise the ones who earned it first?""

Lu Chuan: ""Fifth Brother, that’s just how my family is. Don’t talk about earning money in front of my mom, or she’ll say Fang Yuan earns just as much as you.""

Wu Hu took a deep breath: ""That’s true. You two really know how to hustle. Maybe I should get married too.""

Lu Chuan: ""Of course! There’s no girl you couldn’t marry if you wanted to, Fifth Brother.""

Wu Hu: ""Well, not just any girl will do. She can’t be as wasteful as Fang Yuan, but she’s got to have Fang Yuan’s knack for making money.""

Even Lu’s mother couldn’t help but look at Wu Hu—those were some high standards.

Fang Yuan thought, ""Just being able to get married is good enough—who are you to be picky?""

Lu Chuan: ""Fifth Brother, maybe lower your standards a bit. Our Fang Yuan was trained by you, so of course she’s the best.""

Wu Hu glanced at Lu Chuan, impressed by his way with words. If Lu Chuan hadn’t said Fang Yuan was trained by him, Wu Hu would never have agreed.

Fang Yuan really wasn’t the best—if you used her as the standard, it wasn’t even that high.

Forget it, Wu Hu decided not to argue: ""Don’t worry, Fang Yuan isn’t my benchmark. I’m not looking for someone just like her. I want someone who’s educated and sensible.""

Lu Chuan smiled: ""Fifth Brother, I’m sure you’ll get what you wish for.""

Wu Hu started to wonder if there was some kind of family curse that only affected the men, not the women. Otherwise, how did a village girl like Fang Yuan manage to tie his brother-in-law around her finger like that?

Maybe it was something from his grandma’s side—his dad seemed to have the same problem with his mom.

The more Wu Hu thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He’d have to ask when he got home.

Meanwhile, Lu’s mother and Fang Yuan were too busy to pay attention to Lu Chuan. The two of them roamed all over the provincial capital, buying all sorts of things.

Master Liu saw Lu Chuan and had to comment: ""Congratulations! Looks like you don’t have any mother-in-law/daughter-in-law issues at home?""

Lu Chuan: ""Why do I hear a hint of regret in your voice?""

Master Liu: ""I’m just curious—your mom’s got quite a temper. How does she get along with your wife?"" He was genuinely puzzled.

Lu Chuan couldn’t say, ""My mom serves my wife like a palace eunuch serves the Empress Dowager—if they didn’t get along, that’d be strange."" So he said, ""Mainly, Fang Yuan respects her elders, and my mom is loving and reasonable. Why wouldn’t they get along?""

Master Liu sighed: ""No wonder you’re educated. I don’t know about anything else, but you sure know how to talk.""

The two apprentices could tell there was sarcasm in his words.

Lu Chuan: ""Master’s praising me."" Luckily, he had thick skin, or he couldn’t have taken it.

Master Liu wheeled out a pedal tricycle: ""Your wife and your mom dragged this back from the junkyard, right? The master who charges over three hundred a month spent two days fixing it. Take it home, but don’t buy cheap stuff again, or you’ll lose out.""

The apprentice snickered. Their master had been in a bad mood for two days over this tricycle—fixing it was a waste of his skills.

The key was, Master Liu really wasn’t good at fixing tricycles.

Lu Chuan had no idea what his wife and mother wanted with it, but as long as it didn’t hold anyone up, he’d take it home: ""Thank you, Master.""

Master Liu: ""No need to thank me. A new one costs about the same.""

Lu Chuan: ""But a new one wouldn’t have Master Liu’s touch. You don’t know—my whole family trusts your skills.""

Just one sentence, and Master Liu’s mood improved. He coughed: ""You’ve got a point. If your mom and wife are using it, I can modify it to make it more convenient.""

The apprentices thought, ""Then why didn’t you do that from the start? It’s just because the lady boss rubbed you the wrong way.""

Lu Chuan quickly wheeled the tricycle away: ""That’s great. This will be one-of-a-kind in the whole city.""

The apprentice was already pushing another bike to the repair area.

Master Liu, hands behind his back, was in a great mood: ""Don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon.""

211."

"Chapter 211: An Unreachable Height

Lu Chuan shook his head. If Fang Yuan hadn’t come over to greet Master Liu, Master Liu would actually have a pretty good temper. Master Liu was the classic “easygoing donkey”—as long as you stroked him the right way, he was easy to get along with.

When Master Liu modified the tricycle, he mainly considered making it suitable for carrying people. For convenience getting on and off, he added footrests. The cargo bed was made small and placed behind the rear seat, making it both handy and lightweight.

He really took safety, aesthetics, and convenience all into account. The apprentices could all tell: Master was being serious this time.

Lu Chuan had been spending more time at home lately, and when he was at school, he’d even go help out in the cafeteria on his own initiative.

He got free meals without asking for pay, but he did pester the chefs to teach him a few dishes.

So, all the cafeteria chefs knew that Lu Chuan’s wife was pregnant. This guy really knew how to take care of his wife.

When Lu Chuan’s mother came home with Fang Yuan, they saw Lu Chuan had already finished cooking, and his skills actually looked pretty decent.

Lu Chuan’s mother was surprised. She picked up some chopsticks and tasted the food. “You can actually cook! My son’s got skills now.”

Lu Chuan grinned. “I learned it for your daughter-in-law. Otherwise, what will my daughter or son eat in the future? I’m going to be a dad—I need to know how to coax kids.”

His mother nodded. “Then you’d better learn properly. Tomorrow I’ll teach you how to make dumplings.”

Fang Yuan chimed in, “The more skills, the better. We should all learn.”

Lu Chuan’s mother said, “You don’t need to. Just tell me what you want to eat. Didn’t Lu Chuan already learn?”

Then she took Fang Yuan’s chopsticks away. “I just tasted it. You wait a bit before eating.”

Fang Yuan asked, “Why?”

Lu Chuan’s mother replied, “It tastes good, but who knows what he put in it? Listen to me, just to be safe.”

So Lu Chuan’s mother was actually taste-testing for her daughter-in-law first, making sure it was safe. Lu Chuan couldn’t believe it—his own mom would do this? Wasn’t she being a bit too hard on her son?

Lu Chuan thought, if Master Liu ever saw a scene like this, he’d never wonder again why there was no such thing as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law drama in their family.

Fang Yuan glanced at the table and said, “I’ll listen to Mom.” Then she smiled. “These are all the dishes from your cafeteria.”

Lu Chuan pretended not to notice his own mother. What else could he do? He let Fang Yuan sit down. “I’ve learned how to make them. From now on, we can have these at home too.”

Fang Yuan was genuinely delighted with Lu Chuan’s cafeteria-style food. “This is great, really great.”

Well, both mother and daughter-in-law were quite pleased with the compliments.

Lu Chuan asked, “So, what have you two been doing out all day?”

His mother replied, “Buying things for the baby. Fang Yuan’s been showing me around the provincial capital, mainly so I don’t get lost.”

Lu Chuan said, “But we haven’t even used the car at home. If you want to go somewhere, just have my fifth brother take you.”

His mother shook her head. “No, that thing’s too fast. Fang Yuan can’t handle it. I think the tricycle is just right. From now on, I’ll take Fang Yuan out for walks—no need to ride in a car, the smell inside isn’t good.”

Lu Chuan underestimated the two women and joked, “Where could you two possibly go?”

His mother replied, “Anywhere we want! As long as Fang Yuan’s happy, that’s where we’ll go. She’s pregnant—it’s not good to stay indoors all day.”

Fang Yuan nodded in agreement. Her mother-in-law really was thoughtful.

Lu Chuan said, “Alright. Or maybe we could pool our money and buy a car for you two to use?”

His mother’s eyes went wide—she couldn’t even imagine that.

Fang Yuan gave Lu Chuan a playful slap. “Don’t waste money!”

Then she declared, “We’re not buying anything that doesn’t make money. If we want to buy something, we have to discuss it first.”

Lu Chuan nodded obediently. “Whatever you say.”

His mother added, “Fang Yuan’s right. You can’t just buy things on a whim.”

She repeated, “Fang Yuan makes sense.”

Lu Chuan looked at his mother, thinking, Even if Fang Yuan didn’t make sense, you wouldn’t dare say otherwise, would you? Do you even have any say in this house anymore? Everything revolves around your daughter-in-law now.

He watched as his mother served Fang Yuan food, fussing over her, circling around her like she was the center of the universe.

Lu Chuan chuckled. “Well, I guess my cooking passed the test. There’s nothing more you can do. You can’t even mess with your daughter-in-law anymore.”

His mother replied, “It’s not bad. Later, I’ll learn from you too. I can see Fang Yuan likes it.”

Lu Chuan was speechless. His mother really was following the “imperial eunuch” rulebook—holding herself to the highest standards.

After dinner, Lu Chuan watched as Fang Yuan and his mother compared pieces of floral cloth, discussing how to make baby pads.

He, a grown man, was completely ignored—no one even looked his way.

Lu Chuan said, “Mom, you can just make them however you like. Anything you make will be fine.”

Then he added, “Fang Yuan, let’s go out for a walk.”

Ever since his mother came to the provincial capital, the young couple barely had any time alone. Lu Chuan felt like his mother was stealing the spotlight.

But Fang Yuan was chatting happily with his mother-in-law and didn’t want to move. “I’ve already been out for ages. You go by yourself.”

She didn’t pick up on Lu Chuan’s desire for some alone time at all.

His mother, holding onto Fang Yuan, had no intention of letting her daughter-in-law leave. “We’re working on this together. It’ll be special when we finish. Don’t worry about us.”

Lu Chuan realized he’d made a mistake—he should have kept his mother-in-law around. When she was here, Fang Yuan was on his side. But with his own mother, she just split the couple up. If you do everything for your son, what’s left for him and his wife to talk about?

Why couldn’t he communicate this to his mother? Couldn’t she find her own place?

With no other choice, Lu Chuan went to the repair shop to help Master Liu modify the tricycle.

That night, even when Lu Chuan tried telling jokes to his wife, it didn’t work—he couldn’t get Fang Yuan’s attention.

His mother was busy gossiping with her daughter-in-law about old stories from the village. When they got excited, they’d even whisper to each other.

He wanted to ask, “You’re gossiping so loudly, but who even knows who you’re talking about?”

Lu Chuan said, “Mom, those stories are ancient history. Fang Yuan doesn’t even know those people.”

His mother replied, “They’re still true stories. The ones you tell are all made up. Don’t worry about us—we just enjoy chatting.”

Fang Yuan said, “Don’t interrupt. Mom’s talking about Zhang Xiaole’s dad’s third aunt—that’s the party secretary’s family in our village.”

The way they talked, it was like they’d reached some glorious new height.

Lu Chuan, face dark, went off to read. If his grades improved over the next six months, it would all be thanks to his mother—she’d completely monopolized his wife.

Late at night, Lu Chuan ended up going back to Master Liu’s place. He just couldn’t stay at home anymore.

He saw that Master Liu had almost finished modifying the tricycle. The footrests were on, and it was much easier to get on and off.

Lu Chuan even made a suggestion: “If only there were some kind of power assist for pedaling.”

Master Liu, impressed by Lu Chuan’s thinking, said, “That’s a good idea. If there was a device up front to reduce the effort, I could swap out the back wheels for bigger ones. The ride would be much steadier, and the driver wouldn’t get so tired.”

Lu Chuan said, “But we can’t just put an engine on it—my mom wouldn’t dare ride it then.”

Master Liu replied, “Then we’ll have to think of something else. Let me mull it over for a few days. For now, just ride it as is.”

212."

"Chapter 212: A World of Their Own