Chapter 42: Quite the Spendthrift

Lu Chuan looked at Fang Yuan and was stunned. Then he nodded. “I’ve learned something new today. That actually makes a lot of sense. Later, remember to remind me to have Eldest Brother keep an eye on this.”

Anything his wife said was pure wisdom.

Fang Yuan said, “Aren’t we only responsible for labor and not materials? Why waste effort thinking about that?”

Lu Chuan replied, “Because wasting materials means workers sitting idle.”

Lu Chuan had thought through everything very carefully.

Fang Yuan said, “I’ve come here before with my brothers. The labor contractors weren’t like you, constantly calculating everything. But it does sound a little reasonable.”

Lu Chuan became a little smug. “Of course. Labor contractors aren’t university students.”

Then Lu Chuan added, “No matter what, it’s better than being a shovel worker.”

He was still bothered by what Fang Yuan had said that morning, that he was no better than a shovel worker.

Fang Yuan had long forgotten about that. “A university student who doesn’t even have money for tuition. What are you so proud of?”

Fang Yuan’s words left Lu Chuan feeling utterly stifled, and he shut up.

This woman really knew how to choke people with her words.

Lu Chuan walked around the construction site with Fang Yuan and got a good understanding of the situation.

Then Lu Chuan said to Fang Yuan, “I’ll show you just how capable a university student is.”

Fang Yuan thought to herself, Isn’t becoming a labor contractor already impressive enough?

Then Lu Chuan told Fang Yuan that she would be in charge here. He was going to the county town and would return late, so she should not wait for him.

With his brothers-in-law looking after his wife, Lu Chuan felt reassured. Still, he added one more sentence. “When you go home, have Dad come over and watch things. Don’t stay here by yourself. I mean your dad.”

Fang Yuan thought to herself, What’s the use of an honest man like your father coming here? Isn’t that nonsense?

Only after watching Lu Chuan ride away on his bicycle did Fang Yuan remember that she had forgotten to ask what he was going to do.

When Fang Eldest Brother arrived with a group of people, only his younger sister was left there.

They had actually left someone who understood nothing, Fang Yuan, to watch the site.

The person in charge was not even present, so how were they supposed to start work?

Although Fang Eldest Brother was familiar with construction sites, he had never done this kind of thing before. He did not know where to begin, and his head hurt from thinking about it.

Inwardly, he felt his brother-in-law was unreliable.

But since the workers had already been gathered, half a day was still worth wages.

Fang Eldest Brother gritted his teeth and said, “Alright. We all know what work needs doing. First, move all the materials where they’re needed. Let me be frank with everyone. This is my brother-in-law’s job. Please support him and treat it like your own work. Help him out. I’ll remember the favor.”

Anyone who came today had to share a close relationship with him.

Otherwise, they would never have weakened their support for a labor contractor who regularly provided them with work at a time like this.

Everyone who came today had offended the previous labor contractor and might have trouble finding work later.

So in ways Lu Chuan did not know, his eldest brother-in-law was truly carrying a heavy burden.

This was also a job that offended people.

Everyone was fighting over the same piece of meat.

Fang Eldest Brother told Fang Yuan to go home.

But Fang Yuan was not reassured. She had a task here.

“No need. I’ll stay and bring water for everyone.”

Knowing how stubborn Fang Yuan was, Fang Eldest Brother asked, “What did your husband go off to do?”

Fang Yuan replied, “He said he went to the county town.”

Fang Eldest Brother’s face darkened, and his tone became unpleasant. “At a time like this, what’s he doing running off to the county town? Walls are built brick by brick, not run into existence.”

Why was there no sense of urgency?

Students really were unreliable.

Looking at his younger sister, he ultimately felt too embarrassed to criticize his brother-in-law directly.

In Fang Eldest Brother’s view, university students were unreliable by nature.

Even his breathing felt hot from anger.

The other Fang brothers could tell as well.

This guy was unreliable.

This project was going to lose money.

The brothers rolled up their sleeves and worked hard.

Every little bit they saved would reduce the losses.

Otherwise, their younger sister would not be able to live a good life later.

When work ended and the hired workers left, the Fang brothers were still rolling up their sleeves and working.

They genuinely wanted to use their own labor to help their brother-in-law make up for what they believed was an inevitable loss.

Only in adversity could true feelings be seen.

They were genuinely afraid Fang Yuan would lose all five hundred yuan she had invested here.

When Lu Chuan arrived at the construction site by vehicle, he saw exactly this scene.

His brothers-in-law had even eaten their meals at the site.

His father-in-law was working alongside them as well.

This project can’t be done with just family members. We’ll still need to hire people.

Hearing the commotion, Fang Eldest Brother hurried over. “Where the hell did you go?”

Lu Chuan replied, “I went to find something good. Luckily you all were here. Help unload it.”

Then the brothers unloaded a large iron machine from the tractor.

It was a concrete mixer, something usually seen only on construction sites in the city.

Fang Eldest Brother had seen enough to recognize it. “Where did this thing come from? It’s expensive. Nothing has even happened yet, and you’ve already brought in equipment?”

What he was really thinking was that the five hundred yuan in Fang Yuan’s hands probably would not be enough to lose.

Lu Chuan quickly said, “It’s rented, rented. It’s not expensive.”

Whether it was expensive or not, they all knew perfectly well.

The expressions on the brothers’ faces became somewhat grave.

Fang Yuan had never seen such a machine before.

She circled around it once and asked, “They were willing to let us have it?”

Looking a little embarrassed, Lu Chuan replied, “Of course they weren’t completely willing. Come here, come here.”

He pulled Fang Yuan aside to talk.

Everyone watched Lu Chuan whisper for a while.

Then Fang Yuan handed her money to Lu Chuan.

All five hundred plus yuan was handed over as a deposit.

Fang Dalen felt a sharp pain in his chest. “This isn’t just about losing money anymore. No wonder people say supporting a university student isn’t easy. They come with a talent for wasting money too.”

The Fang brothers all nodded.

It felt as though dark clouds were hanging over their heads.

Their brother-in-law was simply too capable of stirring things up.

Then Wang Cuixiang kicked them from behind.

“Who are you talking about?”

Then she stood together with her husband and sons, looking toward their son-in-law.

Their eyes were dark and thoughtful.

This son-in-law was someone destined to accomplish great things.

Fang Yuan thought exactly the same as her father.

This man really was a spendthrift.

Money came easily to him, and it left his hands even more easily.

He definitely had the potential to squander a fortune.

Could she really blame herself for not looking carefully and only choosing a university student?

After handing over the money, Lu Chuan received a deposit receipt and passed it to Fang Yuan.

“Driver, take care on the road and travel safely.”

The driver said, “Sure enough, educated people do things properly and don’t cheat others. But having your wife manage the money, that’s something new.”

Fang Yuan glared at him.

Her money had turned into a slip of paper, and she was already unhappy enough.

“What business is it of yours?”

The tractor drove away with a putter-putter-putter, spraying Fang Yuan’s face with exhaust fumes.

Fang Yuan nearly exploded with anger.

She almost chased after it to catch the man.

“He did that on purpose.”

Lu Chuan grabbed her. “I think you’re mainly upset about the money.”

Fang Yuan immediately twisted his arm hard.

“You certainly don’t mind. That’s more than five hundred yuan. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a piece of paper.”

Anyone who did not feel heartache over that would be a fool.

Covering his arm, Lu Chuan bared his teeth in pain.

He had known all along that this woman was not someone easy to deal with.

She even used force.

“You were the one who said you weren’t afraid of losing money. Besides, it’s only a deposit. Once we’re done using it and return the machine, they’ll give the money back.”

Fang Yuan glared at him.

Lu Chuan retreated two steps, acting timid.

“Anyway, we’ve already rented it. Trust me, we won’t lose money. This thing can do the work of several people. It’ll save us money.”

Did Fang Yuan look like she would let him run away?

She grabbed Lu Chuan’s arm and squeezed hard, as though she could somehow pull the money back that way.

Lu Chuan said, “Let go first. It hurts.”

Looking toward the direction her five hundred yuan had disappeared, Fang Yuan said, “My heart hurts even more than that.”

She hardened her resolve and stamped her foot.

“I’ll trust you one more time.”

Lu Chuan winced in pain.

He had never imagined that his first intimate contact with Fang Yuan would happen like this.

Still, it counted as intimate contact.