Chapter 112: The Schemes of an Honest Man

Fang Yuan said, “You big man, talking behind people’s backs like a woman, spit, you disgraceful thing. You just want to get ahead, do you even have that luck? Go get jealous somewhere else.”

Angered to the extreme by Lu Feng, she did not bother with words anymore and swung the broom wildly, chasing Lu Feng all over the yard as he dodged.

Even Father Lu found it embarrassing to watch.

Lu Chuan pulled Fang Yuan and said, “Let’s go. As long as he is not coveting our house, that is enough. You already said he is a disgraceful thing. Why should we lower ourselves to his level?”

Over there Lu Feng shouted, “Lu Chuan, you think going to school makes you superior. You took all the benefits and still look down on me for being embarrassing.”

Lu Chuan said, “I only think I am above you. Not because I went to school, but because of something else. Do you really not know?”

Lu Feng said, “I do not know. Do not act so arrogant. Do not think having a little money makes you so great.”

Lu Chuan said, “I think I am better than you because I believe I do things in a justified way. Lu Feng, do you stand on solid ground when you do things? Dare you stand out and explain it so everyone can hear? As for this little money of mine, it is nothing impressive, but it already has you jumping around, does it not?”

He continued, “I cannot decide what belongs to my parents, but my things, and Third Brother’s things, you do not need to covet them, and you cannot get them anyway. In terms of scheming, you are not even in our league. You do not have that brain.”

Lu San muttered from the side, “Why do I feel like that does not sound like praise for me.”

Fang Yuan said, “I do not think so either, but being better than that shameless thing is still good.”

Lu Feng was furious and pointed at the two brothers. “None of you are good people. Lu San, you are even worse. You cling to Second Brother and think you can benefit from it.”

Lu San said, “Better than clinging to you and letting you take advantage of me.”

Father Lu felt like crying. A whole family, how did it end up like this? Clearly life was better now, but instead they had become a laughingstock. This was not even as good as when they were poor.

He worked outside to earn money while his wife managed the household. What was it all for?

What no one expected was Li Meng. She did not say a single word.

Looking at the shabby house in front of her, she became confused. Was the mindset of a future wealthy man really this small? Was his ambition really this limited? When would he finally strive for greatness?

When Fang Yuan returned home, she even said to Lu Chuan that Li Meng’s reaction was strange.

This was not her usual unruly style. She had not followed along to make trouble, nor had she protected her “Brother Feng”.

Lu Chuan laughed. The way she said “Brother Feng” was very telling.

“They are naturally a couple, birds of a feather,” he said. “Do you really think all the trouble Li Meng causes has nothing to do with Lu Feng? If Lu Feng had said a few words behind her back, do you think she would still dare to act up?”

Fang Yuan said, “So you are saying the root of the problem is your brother.”

Lu Chuan said, “Is it not? Back then, if Lu Feng had behaved properly, no matter how capable Li Meng was, could she have caused so much trouble that the engagement fell apart?”

A man cannot just be manipulated by a woman like that. In the end, it is his own lack of restraint.

He did not say it too clearly, afraid Fang Yuan would find it unpleasant, and he also did not want to mention his brother’s past engagement with Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan said, “Do not think I am that kind of person. Whether the engagement succeeded or failed was not something Lu Feng or Li Meng could decide.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself that she was right. Back then, she had also been engaged to Lu Feng. That thought made him feel even more stifled.

If not for Li Meng stirring things up, perhaps right now she would have been chasing him with a broom instead.

The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he became. He muttered, “I am going to check the fields.”

Fang Yuan could tell he was unhappy, but she still did not understand why.

Maybe it was because Lu Feng was unfilial. Anyone with such a troublesome elder brother would not be in a good mood.

When Mother Lu arrived, Fang Yuan even tried to comfort her. “I do not know what Lu Chuan is being awkward about. Lu Feng is unfilial, but there are still two other sons. It is not like the family cannot get by without him.”

Mother Lu thought to herself, I only have three sons. I cannot just discard them one by one like that. Even if one is useless, I still have to hold on to him.

Thinking of Fang Yuan swinging a broom at Lu Feng’s face, she did not dare say it out loud.

She only asked, “Is the second son having issues with you? Why is he so sensible? Did he start thinking strange thoughts?”

As a mother-in-law, all her thoughts were now on her daughter-in-law, even worrying about whether her own son had improper intentions.

Fang Yuan really did not overthink it. “What thoughts?”

Mother Lu looked at her daughter-in-law and felt that if she said what she was worried about, it would only burden her.

Better to go and see her son first. “I will go talk to him. Whatever thoughts he has, he should not have them.”

He had only been to school for less than a month, and now he was already coming back and acting distant with Fang Yuan? How capable was he getting?

Was he starting to look down on his rural wife after a few days in the provincial city? That would not do.

Fang Yuan watched as her mother-in-law stormed off, still confused.

Inside the house, Lu San and Father Lu were cleaning up a pig head and offal, sent over by the Five Tigers.

This was what they would eat for the holiday.

The house was full of festive atmosphere again. Fang Yuan helped out here and there while the father and sons chatted happily.

Father Lu felt sorry for his daughter-in-law and did not want to assign her too much work, so he soon sent her back to rest.

Lu Chuan had not even managed to calm himself down before Mother Lu came looking for him.

She pulled him around the new house, inspecting it inside and out.

After looking for a while, Lu Chuan asked, “Mom, you have already seen it. What are you trying to say? Are you planning to buy furniture?”

Mother Lu said, “If I want to buy anything, your father can help me buy it. I am letting you look at the house. Look carefully. Every corner of this house was arranged by Fang Yuan.”

Lu Chuan did not understand. “Was it not Fourth Brother helping?”

Mother Lu said, “Without Fang Yuan, would her Fourth Brother even know who you are? What is the difference between this house and Fang Yuan arranging it herself?”

Lu Chuan thought to himself that there was a difference. If Fang Yuan arranged it herself, it would not have been so meticulous, and she definitely would not have spent so much money. She would probably be saving to buy a crane.

Mother Lu said, “Second son, I want you to see Fang Yuan’s goodness and steadiness. Do not think that just because we are from the countryside, others can look down on us. And you cannot look down on rural people either.”

The topic was drifting, and Lu Chuan sensed something was off.

“Mom, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Mother Lu said, “Your eldest brother has already made people point fingers at our family. Second son, if you also become like Chen Shimei, I would be afraid your father and I would have our graves dug up after death.”

Lu Chuan said, “Mom, do you have to say it so harshly?”

Mother Lu said, “Second son, I have to be harsh. Fang Yuan is truly good. I am not being shallow, nor am I thinking only about the house. You went out to study for a few days and came back acting distant with Fang Yuan. Are you being tempted by someone outside?”

It is the start of the school term, a somewhat pleasant mood. Identity: parent.