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."