Chapter 55: Money Is Easy to Earn, But Matters Are Hard to Settle

Lu Chuan settled the account with the site manager. Lu Chuan did things properly, and the manager also did things properly. Not a single cent was shorted to Lu Chuan.

The manager said, “This job was done well. Even the finishing work has no flaws to pick at.”

Lu Chuan smiled a little shyly, but the work was indeed done in a very solid and professional way.

For the finishing work, all leftover materials were sent wherever the manager instructed, and he personally had them delivered together with Wuhu, using only trusted people.

As for what channels the manager used or how he handled the follow up, Lu Chuan did not ask a single extra question. Work meant work. Only talk about work matters.

Fang Eldest Brother never understood the underlying details from beginning to end.

The manager insisted on treating Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan to a meal.

The manager mainly wanted to build rapport with Lu Chuan. As for the leftover materials at the construction site, whether they could be turned into a few yuan or a few dozen yuan, usable ones were taken away, and useless ones were treated as trash.

Before doing this job, Lu Chuan had already prioritized the manager first. He never thought about taking advantage or sharing any hidden benefits. How could he not leave a good impression?

However, the manager’s goodwill was still not accepted by Lu Chuan. “If you really think I am decent and my work is reliable, then if you have future jobs, just call me, or introduce some work to my brothers. That is enough. Since I took your job, my wife and I have not even gone home yet. We should go back and take a look.”

The manager was reasonable and spoke plainly to Lu Chuan. “I have never seen a contractor this responsible. Go back then. I will call you in a couple of days.”

Lu Chuan immediately understood there really would be more work waiting.

Lu Chuan smiled a bit more openly this time. “Thank you, brother. No matter what, I will not let you down on the work.”

Lu Chuan took the money back, first returned the money that Fang Yuan had advanced, then went home to split the earnings with the eldest brother of the Fang family. The moment of victory had arrived.

Wuhu did not expect that this job could earn so much money in just over ten days.

No wonder the eldest brother had lost his composure.

Fang Yuan smiled with a slightly red face and asked Wuhu, “What do you think?”

As expected of siblings, Wuhu immediately said, “Sister, you married too cheaply.”

Fang Yuan and Lu Chuan both looked at Wuhu. He pointed at the two stacks of money. “Look at this, compare it. Isn’t it cheap?”

Fang Yuan actually nodded. “It seems so.” Then she added, “I am not even worth five hundred. I only asked for two hundred as the marriage payment.”

Lu Chuan panicked. “What kind of comparison is that? Stop talking nonsense.”

He quickly took the two unreliable ones home. No one knew that the bag holding the lunchbox now contained money.

At the father in law’s house, Lu Chuan and the Fang family’s eldest brother settled accounts and split the money. Lu Chuan took out the account book. Every figure in the contract, income and expenses were clearly recorded line by line.

In the end, Lu Chuan and Fang Eldest Brother each received more than seven hundred yuan, which was quite a large sum.

Compared to Lu Chuan alone receiving over seven hundred, the group of five brothers on the other side splitting over seven hundred felt much less pleasant.

Fang Yuan looked at their expressions and her face also turned dark.

Wuhu held his money and said again, “That is quite a lot. In just a few days, over two hundred in wages, and another hundred or so in profit. That is already over three hundred.”

Fang Sihu nodded. If not compared with his brother-in-law, it was not little. He honestly said, “This job really makes money.”

Wuhu continued, “Speaking of which, Fang Yuan, you stayed at the site all day, and Lu Chuan and big brother did not pay you wages. Your brother-in-law was running around the site and also had no wages. The two of you worked and earned over seven hundred, split it and it is just over three hundred each, about the same as me. I feel balanced now.”

He said it bluntly, and the others nearby also felt balanced. That was indeed the case. If divided per person, everyone was around three hundred.

They did physical work, but Fang Yuan provided the capital. The brother-in-law did not do heavy labor, but he ran around handling work on site.

By this calculation, no one took much advantage.

Fang Eldest Brother was the first to smooth things over. “Stop talking nonsense. Are we afraid our own sister makes money? We are all family. What is this talk about balance?”

Wuhu looked at the brothers and thought, If I had not said it, would you have figured it out? One by one, you see money and do not even recognize your own sister anymore.

He then said aloud, “I am just feeling unbalanced seeing others make money.” He glanced at the brothers as he spoke.

Sanhu and Fang Sihu turned their heads away. They now felt balanced. That was clearly not about them.

Fang Dalen stood by happily, simply glad for the children. “Amazing, really amazing. The son in law is truly capable. In just a few days he earned so much.”

Once someone who could not speak tactfully joined in, the atmosphere that had just settled immediately changed again.

Fang Eldest Brother said nothing. How exactly was this money earned? Was it not all due to the son in law’s ability? Without him, there would be no money.

Sanhu and Fang Sihu also glanced at Fang Eldest Brother with complicated expressions.

Wang Cuixiang happily sent Lu Chuan and Fang Yuan off. “Alright, go back and have a look. You have only been married a short time and have been out for more than ten days. Your in laws must be worried.”

Lu Chuan also wanted to go home. “We will listen to mom. Dad, we will come back with Fang Yuan to see you later. We really need to go home now. We are both dirty and smell.”

No matter what happens later, this ending for now was already quite good. Lu Chuan was a smart man.

Wang Cuixiang even packed a piece of meat for her daughter to take back. She truly felt sorry for her. After more than ten days on a construction site, even without heavy labor, she had tanned and lost weight.

On the other side, Wuhu and Fang Sihu quickly went out to play after packing up. Once they relaxed, they had no more worries.

Sanhu said sourly, “Mom, did you see that? Even if the son in law is capable, it is useless. Once he earns money, he rushes to take it back.”

Wang Cuixiang immediately scolded her third son, “You earned money and did not even give it to your mother.”

Sanhu shut up awkwardly. That was because he already had a wife.

Wang Cuixiang then said to the eldest and second sons, “I will say this today. You brothers working together to earn money is a good thing. If you can do it, do it. If you cannot, stop. Do not ruin harmony over a little money.”

Sanhu said unwillingly, “We helped the son in law so much, and he still dares to break harmony with us?”

Wang Cuixiang smiled. “Helped him so much? Did you give your wages to him, or did you not also take your share of what he earned?”

Fang Sihu said, “Mom, that is not how it is. Without big brother and without us brothers, the son in law could not have earned this money.”

Wang Cuixiang knew her sons well. Once money was involved, even brothers could turn against each other. “Without your son in law, could you have earned this money?”

Fang Sihu fell silent. Fang Eldest Brother also said nothing. They had to admit it was a mutual achievement.

Wang Cuixiang continued, “You work on the site every day, but I have never seen you bring money home like this. It is fine if you do not remember kindness, but you cannot hold grudges.”

The sons said nothing.

Wang Cuixiang said, “Money is a good thing, but do not value it too much. You are all married and living your own lives now. I will not interfere. But if you feel you cannot work together, then talk it out properly with your son in law. If you make things clear, then go your separate ways and do your own work based on ability. That is not a problem. That is what a man should do.”

Fang Eldest Brother finally spoke. “Mom, do not worry.”