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."