Chapter 29: Nothing Is Ever a Small Matter When Money Is Involved

Fang Yuan could not stand how hesitant Lu Chuan was. “Is it or not? There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’ll have my mother get some medicine for you from the township.”

If Lu Chuan did not speak up now, Fang Yuan was going to treat it as confirmed. “No, no, I don’t have that problem. Stop talking nonsense. Can’t you hope for something good for me?”

Fang Yuan said, “Then you don’t have it. If you don’t have it, what are you dawdling around outside for? A man should be decisive. Why are you so wishy-washy? I’m telling you, you need to change that.”

Lu Chuan watched Fang Yuan rattle on and on, feeling utterly stifled. Fine, I’ll be decisive, I’ll change. “I was just thinking, we’ve already met each other’s parents, and the marriage is basically settled. If I get onto the kang, should I share the same quilt with you?”

He said it plainly and clearly, without the slightest ambiguity.

Lu Chuan only felt a gust of wind rushing toward him, then a pillow smacked him in the face, accompanied by Fang Yuan’s words: “Dream on. You wouldn’t dare.”

Lu Chuan bared his teeth and sucked in a breath of cold air. This was exactly why being too straightforward was not good either. You could not say everything.

He muttered to Fang Yuan, “If not, then not. Don’t I listen to everything you say? Why did you have to hit me?”

Honestly, it was rare to hear such cowardly words spoken with such force.

Then he added, “Besides, I only asked because I was afraid you’d beat me up later for not getting into your quilt. Otherwise, who says I wanted to?”

Fang Yuan assumed he was just saving face and threw out two words. “Go to sleep.”

Lu Chuan stopped talking.

To be fair, it had only just gotten dark. Going to sleep now was really too early. He wondered whether he could keep the light on and read for a while.

Then he thought of the pillow that had just been thrown at his face, and he did not dare say another word. If he could not sleep, he would just lie there with his eyes closed. There was no reasoning with this woman.

Fang Yuan was a girl without worries. If she said no, then it was no. She did not overthink things at all.

In the blink of an eye, she could sleep completely free of distractions, utterly carefree.

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan could only lie there with his eyes closed and sigh. This girl’s heart was huge. Not just a little huge.

She did not even see him as a man.

Of course, even if he was a man, a real man, Lu Chuan would not dare do anything to Fang Yuan.

The night felt unbearably long.

The next morning, Father Lu and Mother Lu arrived bright and early, one carrying a sack and the other carrying an old hen.

Lu Chuan greeted them. “Dad, Mom, why are you here so early? You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

Father Lu said, “We’ve eaten, we’ve eaten. Has your wife eaten? Let’s get to your father-in-law’s house early so we don’t keep our in-laws waiting.”

From inside the room, Fang Yuan answered, “Dad, Mom, wait a moment. We’ll be finished eating soon.”

Father Lu then saw his son clearing the table, and doing it quite efficiently.

As for his daughter-in-law Fang Yuan, she did not even glance at the table, much less show any intention of helping.

Father Lu felt sorry for his second son, but he still did not dare say a word. Instead, he asked Fang Yuan, “Do you still have enough grain at home? Can Second Son cook properly? If it doesn’t suit your taste, tell your mother. She can cook and bring food over for you.”

Lu Chuan glanced at his father. When you were being filial to Grandpa and Grandma, you were never this attentive, were you? You really were willing to sacrifice your son.

Then he looked at Fang Yuan.

She answered openly, completely unaware there was any issue. “Dad, I’m not picky. Once he cooks more often, Lu Chuan’s skills will improve.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself that his father-in-law must have done these sorts of things regularly.

Father Lu twitched the corner of his mouth. “Right, right.”

Then he stopped talking.

His university-going son had not even started working yet, and he was already learning to cook for his wife.

Fang Yuan quickly got herself ready. Mother Lu also helped Lu Chuan finish clearing the table. Then they heard Fang Yuan call out, “Let’s go.”

The family of four immediately obeyed and set off together for the return visit.

As a result, when they passed by the new house, they ran into Li Meng standing at the door. “Dad, Mom, are you accompanying Second Brother’s wife on her return visit?”

Mother Lu shot her eldest daughter-in-law a glare. She had to come over and make things awkward when everyone already knew the relationship was strained. “Didn’t I tell you this morning?”

Li Meng raised an eyebrow and looked at Fang Yuan. “Younger Sister-in-law, today is also the day for our return visit. I told Dad and Mom to accompany you first.”

Mother Lu frowned, afraid Fang Yuan might misunderstand. “What nonsense are you talking about? Today may be your return visit day, but your father and I are going to the Fang family with Fang Yuan to apologize. As for you and Eldest Son, if you want to make a return visit, go yourselves. Whatever business you have comes after Second Son’s wife. Was I unclear, or did you not hear me clearly?”

Mother Lu made her position crystal clear in front of Fang Yuan, terrified that her second daughter-in-law might misunderstand her.

Li Meng’s face flushed red.

No mother-in-law behaved like this.

With a smile that did not reach her eyes, she stirred up trouble. “Dad, Mom, I understand. I’m sensible. I won’t argue with Second Brother’s wife.”

Fang Yuan said, “Stop bouncing around in front of me. Do you think I don’t know what kind of bird you are? A return visit? You eloped here. Can you even go back?”

Lu Chuan glanced at Li Meng. She deserved it. She had no idea what she was and still insisted on provoking his wife.

Li Meng could no longer maintain her composure. “How can you talk like that?”

It was Lu Chuan who spoke next. “You want Dad and Mom to accompany you on a return visit so you can talk about compensation for the damage your family caused when they came and smashed up our house? Are you afraid Big Brother can’t recover the compensation by himself?”

Li Meng slunk away in disgrace.

She had run away from home to come here in the first place and already had no way to explain herself when she returned. If compensation got brought up as well, her sisters-in-law would tear her apart.

And if the Lu family continued pressing the matter, her life would become truly unbearable.

Li Meng resented being reborn at the wrong time.

How wonderful it would have been if this had happened before the broken engagement. Back then, the Lu family had treated her like an ancestor. Now they treated Fang Yuan the way they once would have treated her.

Mother Lu looked at her eldest daughter-in-law, whose dignity had just been crushed, and angrily cursed, “Why is she so annoying?”

Father Lu said, “Don’t get angry over this and delay our visit to the in-laws.”

Fang Yuan kicked Lu Chuan and asked seriously, “Where is her family from?”

Lu Chuan looked at Fang Yuan. Could she really be concerned about Li Meng? She’s not thinking about compensation, is she?

“You really want to go?”

Fang Yuan said, “Why wouldn’t I? Even though I don’t want to deal with her, I can still endure it when it comes to bringing money into the household.”

Then she immediately began criticizing Father Lu and Lu Chuan.

“There are three grown men in this family. How did you let people smash up the house? It’s been so long, and only now you’re thinking about asking for compensation. Things like this should never be dragged out.”

That was no way to run a household.

Did money mean nothing to them?

Lu Chuan stayed silent.

Father Lu stayed silent too.

They simply listened to Fang Yuan lecture them.

Mother Lu said, “Back then we just weren’t tough enough. It’ll be different from now on. In the future, Fang Yuan, you’ll manage the household. We’ll all listen to you.”

Father Lu said, “Let’s forget about what happened before. They’re in-laws after all. Their daughter already ran away and came here. It doesn’t seem right to go asking for compensation now.”

Fang Yuan’s face was full of disapproval. “I’ll say the ugly words first. Even though I don’t know this shameless woman very well, judging from what she’s done, her family can’t be much better. This matter isn’t over for their family. When the time comes, don’t blame me for stepping in.”