Chapter 18: Who Exactly Got the Better Deal?

Lu Feng was so provoked by those words that he could barely eat anymore. Wasn’t this going too far?

Lu Chuan didn’t even raise his head, yet he could already imagine Lu Feng’s expression.

Li Meng’s face turned pale with anger. “Fang Yuan, let me tell you something. From now on, I’m your eldest sister-in-law. In this family, you’re the second son’s wife, so you have to listen to me. Don’t go around talking about those things being improper. I’m telling you, I don’t have a child at all.”

Only then did Fang Yuan finally look at her. “So you’re saying you came here to trick someone into marriage. Do you think saying that makes you look better? Not having a child is actually a good thing. Commit fewer sins, and save some future child from being pointed at and cursed because of you. You’re accumulating virtue for yourself.”

That mouth of hers truly slaughtered everyone in every direction the moment she opened it. Lu Er could only sit there and listen. In fact, the entire Lu family could only sit there and listen.

Li Meng thought, If I can’t win this today, this woman will be stepping on me forever. “Enough of that. I’m your eldest sister-in-law. If you’re sitting on the kang eating, then I should be sitting there too. And my husband should definitely be sitting there. Stop bringing up the past to mock people. Is there no respect for seniority and hierarchy left in this family?”

Fang Yuan replied, “Corrupt morals are the same as having no conscience. What you two did, in the old days, would have gotten you drowned in a pond. Where do you get the nerve to shout like this? You don’t even know shame, yet you’re talking about seniority and hierarchy?”

Lu Er couldn’t bear listening anymore. The relationships here were too complicated, and it was better not to bring them up. “Didn’t you want meat rolls? Hurry up and eat.”

Fang Yuan glared at Li Meng and ignored her. Turning to Father Lu and Mother Lu, she said, “Mom, Dad, we’ll only eat together like this once. In the future, I won’t have anything to do with her. I won’t even eat at the same table as her. It lowers my status.”

After saying that, she focused on eating and didn’t even look at Li Meng again. Her contempt came from deep in her bones.

At least she had stopped mocking people out loud. That was giving Lu Er quite a bit of face.

Lu Feng felt utterly humiliated throughout the meal.

For the first time in his life, even meat rolls didn’t taste good.

Lu San looked at his elder brother squatting on the doorstep with him and thought, I’m just a kid anyway, so squatting on the doorstep isn’t embarrassing. But I absolutely can’t end up like Big Brother in the future, not even qualified to sit at the table.

Father Lu thought, Today I’m going to exchange for a bigger table. In the future the whole family will sit around it. Otherwise, where are all these problems coming from?

After breakfast, Mother Lu brought out the family’s grain stores and separated a portion of everything for Fang Yuan. She even wanted to divide up the salt.

Fang Yuan was satisfied with her mother-in-law’s performance and generously said, “No need to divide these little things. Mom and Dad can keep them and eat them yourselves. We’ll just take the old hen and leave. Later we’ll go to the township and buy whatever supplies we need.”

When it came to Fang Yuan’s words, Mother Lu carried them out one hundred percent. “Fine. We’ll do everything the second son’s wife says.”

Li Meng watched from the side. She genuinely didn’t think much of this little bit of grain, but they were out of money now, and this was all the food left in the household. Even if Lu Feng was going to become rich someday, that would still take time. So she was somewhat reluctant to part with it.

Who would have thought that Mother Lu would then separate another share for Li Meng as well and say to her, “We’re living together, but these are still two separate households. Lu San still has to marry a wife someday. Your father and I can’t drag you down. From now on, you’ll be the same as the second household. Whatever money you earn, you keep yourselves.”

Li Meng was delighted inside. She hadn’t expected her parents-in-law to be so reasonable. She even felt a little regretful. If she’d known it would be like this, she should have moved into the old house. Having a separate household would have been much better.

She had barely finished being happy when Lu Feng picked up the grain sack and returned it to Mother Lu. “I’m the eldest son. I should be living together with Mom and Dad. What are you doing this for?”

Mother Lu said, “We’ll talk about the future later. We’re not old yet. You don’t need to worry about us. Let’s leave things like this for now.”

She didn’t bring up any formal household division document because she was afraid her eldest son’s pride couldn’t bear it.

Li Meng said, “Brother Feng, since Mom and Dad have said so, let’s just listen to them. In the future, when we make good food, we’re living under the same roof. Would we really leave Mom and Dad out?”

Those words sounded nice, so Lu Feng accepted the arrangement.

Lu Er glanced at Lu Feng and thought, Big Brother really can’t stand on his own. A few sentences from a woman and he’s already been coaxed over.

Mother Lu sighed inwardly as well. Her eldest son still preferred living for himself and was afraid of being dragged down by the younger and older members of the family.

When Lu Er carried two hens and some grain back to the old house with Fang Yuan, they saw several young men around Lu Er’s age helping build a chicken coop there.

Lu Er introduced them to Fang Yuan. “They’re all my classmates. They came to help.”

Fang Yuan was pleased to see it. Good, people were willing to help him. Lu Er wasn’t a loner. “So you’ve got close companions.”

Lu Er nearly tripped over his own feet. “What nonsense are you talking about? They’re classmates. We get along well. They’re not that kind of close companion.”

Fang Yuan thought there wasn’t much difference. Why was he talking so loudly? “Then I’ll make a trip to the township. I’ll buy some things and invite them to stay for a meal when we get back.”

Lu Er replied, “No need. There’ll be opportunities in the future. They’re going to tutoring class soon.”

Fang Yuan glanced at the two young men building the chicken coop. “They’re still studying? How old are they?” Then she suddenly remembered to ask Lu Er, “How old are you?”

Lu Er thought, You already settled the marriage before remembering to ask how old I am. Isn’t that a bit late?

Fang Yuan stared at him. “What, is it hard to say, or did you forget?” Was something wrong with this man’s brain?

Keeping a straight face, Lu Er said, “I’m older than them. I’m twenty-one.”

Fang Yuan’s expression immediately soured. “How are you a year younger than me?”

Lu Er glanced at Fang Yuan. Since she had snatched him away herself, she was the one who got the bargain.

Then he heard Fang Yuan say, “Originally I wanted to find someone older who would know how to take care of people. Now look at this. I lost out by a whole year.”

No matter how he listened, she sounded as though she had suffered a loss and been cheated. Combined with the look of disdain she shot at him, Lu Er felt so stifled he could hardly bear it.

This was a woman who didn’t know what was good for her.

His chest felt blocked with frustration.

Without saying another word, Lu Er went next door and borrowed a bicycle. “Let’s go. We’ll head to the township and buy some things.”

Getting angry with Fang Yuan was the same as making life difficult for himself. After only this short time together, Lu Er had already understood that principle.

Lu Er rode the bicycle with Fang Yuan, but Fang Yuan held tightly to it without letting go, her face full of concern. “Can that frame of yours really carry me?”

Lu Er’s bad temper almost made him forget about Fang Yuan’s brothers, who couldn’t be seen but whose presence was very real. He snapped at her, “What’s wrong with my build exactly?”

Why did this woman keep picking him up and putting him down just to criticize him? Was she looking for a fight?

Fang Yuan replied, “Why are you shouting? Just look at yourself. You’re as skinny as a noodle. Can you blame me for doubting whether you’re up to it?”

Lu Er pressed his lips together and refused to say another word. Was “not up to it” really the sort of thing that should be said in a situation like this?

This woman had no brains.

The fact that she had managed to deal with Li Meng and the entire Lu family yesterday had simply been a stroke of luck.

Fang Yuan reached for the bicycle. “Fine, stop making that face. I’ll carry you instead.”

Lu Er held firmly onto the handlebars and insisted, “We’re going to the township. You sit on the bike. I’ll take you.”