Chapter 54: Victory and Defeat Hard to Decide

Lu Chuan just smiled reservedly and did not speak. The ones talking behind were people who usually could speak with Fifth Brother, and they were giving him an out.

Fang Eldest Brother had to support the face of these people: “Chuan, everyone has been tired these past days, let’s leave it at that.”

Lu Chuan did not waste words: “Alright, everyone come over and check the accounts, and settle the wages.” Nobody mentioned the finishing work.

Fang Eldest Brother looked up and asked his brother-in-law: “Has the project payment come down?”

Lu Chuan: “No. Fang Yuan went to the county town with Fifth Brother. The deposit can just be refunded a bit, pay out however much there is.”

Fang Eldest Brother said nothing after that. This time the brother-in-law was putting up his own money. If he spoke, it would not be proper.

In Fang Eldest Brother’s heart, he felt the brother-in-law was challenging him, and he had lost, lost on money.

What Fang Eldest Brother pursued was being the one who pays others. Now the brother-in-law was the one paying people.

Lu Chuan’s side of the accounting went very smoothly. People in this era were very honest. There were no discrepancies in the work payments.

Fang Yuan and Wuhu also brought the money back. Of course, the mixer cost was not cheap, and not much was left.

Then, according to what had been agreed at the beginning, accounts were settled and money was paid out. At this moment, everyone was happy and no one caused trouble.

Fang Yuan frowned: “Didn’t they say the courtyard would be cleaned up? Why are we already paying out, it looks like they are about to leave.”

Lu Chuan said lightly: “Those who do not want to work can just leave it. We will clean it up ourselves later.”

The ones leaving were all people who usually followed Fang Eldest Brother. Fang Yuan’s face immediately fell. This was Fang Eldest Brother deliberately causing trouble and not giving Lu Chuan face.

She slapped the table and said fiercely: “Getting arrogant? Not even earning money anymore?”

Without giving Lu Chuan a chance to speak, she stepped forward and called out: “Courtyard cleanup here. Whoever is willing to stay gets five yuan for half a day.”

People with money really did have strong confidence.

Except for the ones who had just been making trouble, everyone stayed. There was not much work left, it was not tiring, and not doing it would be foolish.

Fang Yuan lifted her chin toward Lu Chuan, meaning, look, isn’t your face already gotten back.

He thought to himself, this is bad, I have definitely offended my elder brother-in-law. My wife really does have a quick temper that does not let people speak.

But his wife’s actions were indeed clean and decisive, and she was willing to spend money. That counted as progress.

And it was truly for him, helping him save face. Lu Chuan grinned and gave a thumbs up.

Wuhu, seeing this scene, also felt his emotions surge. He had to work hard, this was how dominance should look: “Look at people with money, they are truly wealthy and imposing.”

Lu Chuan immediately lost a bit of confidence: “There is not much left. It was all used to pay wages.”

Wuhu covered his pocket and left. He was not going to be taken advantage of.

Fang Yuan snorted coldly. You think you can run? Without money, how was she supposed to pay five yuan per person?

Fang Eldest Brother came over with a dark face and stared at Fang Yuan: “What are you making a fuss for? Full and idle with nothing better to do.”

He was speaking to Fang Yuan, and also to Lu Chuan. This was basically slapping Fang Tiger’s face with money.

When Old Sun had been in charge of work, none of this had happened. Wasn’t this just wasting money?

Of course, he was also unhappy about losing face. Fang Eldest Brother now understood what it meant to have a little money and start showing off.

He looked at both Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan with darkened eyes.

Lu Chuan followed behind Fang Eldest Brother and said with a smile: “Big brother, once the work is cleaned up properly, it will be easier to settle wages with others. It also makes it easier for us to speak.”

Fang Eldest Brother’s domineering attitude came from the same root as Fang Yuan’s: “He still dares to short us on wages?”

Lu Chuan could not say that it was to make future cooperation easier and lay groundwork for the future. If he said that clearly, his elder brother-in-law would not listen and would think he was too bookish.

His elder brother-in-law was rather obstinate, that much was already clear.

Wuhu stepped in to smooth things over: “It does not take much effort anyway.” The words were originally said by Fang Yuan, so why get angry at big brother and brother-in-law?

More than ten people stayed to do the work, which meant several dozen yuan in wages. How could that be called not much effort?

Fang Eldest Brother gave a fake smile: “I really did not know you were so generous.”

Fang Yuan still stood on Wuhu’s side: “Big brother, I said it. I have the money. I am willing.”

Lu Chuan stared blankly at Fang Yuan. Was she planning to escalate the damage however she wanted? Did she really not intend to get along with her big brother properly anymore?

Fang Eldest Brother glared at his sister: “You are something else.” Then he turned and left.

Lu Chuan called for his elder brother-in-law to go settle wages together, but Fang Eldest Brother ignored him.

Lu Chuan said to Fang Yuan: “That was big brother. Was that really appropriate? This might really break things.”

Fang Yuan asked very directly: “Then tell me, how should I say it so my big brother would be happy?”

That was true. No matter how it was said, Fang Eldest Brother would not be happy. In this round, Fang Eldest Brother had lost face, and it was his own sister who struck it.

Wuhu said: “Don’t worry. No matter how Fang Yuan acts, big brother will not be angry.”

“Why?” Lu Chuan asked.

Wuhu said: “Why else? There is only one girl in the family. Since childhood, when she got angry she would call Fang Xiaohu all over the streets. If it were you, would you not be afraid? When she is unhappy, she could even rally Dad to hit people. If it were you, would you dare argue with her?”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, that made sense. So this elder brother-in-law, Fang Tiger, had quite the reputation outside.

Fang Yuan said: “Alright, let’s go clean up together. Finish early and go home sooner.”

She had long wanted her big brother to understand exactly how much he was worth. She had been holding this breath for more than a day.

Lu Chuan said: “Why don’t you go back and rest first? The mixer has already been sent back, you should be at ease.”

Fang Yuan said: “No, the accounts are not settled yet. I need to hold onto the money.”

There was absolutely no trust in Lu Chuan’s words. Lu Chuan felt that this hurt him no less than his elder brother-in-law did.

Fine, this concern over money was clearly more important than the mixer. Once money was mentioned, Lu Chuan did not even dare to persuade her anymore.

Wuhu even added on Fang Yuan’s behalf: “Women are always like this when managing a household.”

Lu Chuan thought to himself, Fifth Brother is treating me like I have no experience. The women in their village were not like this. Women in this era rarely held power like his mother-in-law did.

They worked with great strength, and in their family his mother-in-law still knew to give his father-in-law face, always saying the man of the house decides.

With more people working together, the remaining cleanup was finished in just over two hours. Everyone even felt embarrassed to take Fang Yuan’s five yuan wages.

At this point it became Wuhu’s stage: “Everyone, don’t be polite. Those willing to stay and help are doing a favor, giving face to our brother-in-law. Take what you should take.”

Lu Chuan did not step forward. He knew this was Fifth Brother’s method of winning people over. These people basically followed Fifth Brother’s lead.

Behind the scenes, Fang Yuan pinched Wuhu’s arm hard, saying he was being too generous.

Wuhu grimaced in pain: “You have to leave some room for things. We still have big things to do later. Those who stayed to earn this money are also helping us push back against big brother’s face.”

They needed to give people some benefit, easy work and good pay. Otherwise why would anyone follow you?

Besides, in this confrontation between both sides, making money here was also about face. This was their silent contest against Fang Tiger.

Fang Yuan did not think that far ahead. She just snorted coldly while paying people, already regretting having been too generous.