Chapter 97: Nothing Is Up to Anyone

Lu Eldest’s face turned red as he was spoken to: “I never thought of taking advantage of Mom and Dad.”

Fang Yuan said very firmly: “You just want to take Mom and Dad’s house.”

She continued: “But this matter stops right here with me. Tell that unfaithful woman, if she is carrying someone else’s child, go find whoever made her pregnant. Mom does not have the ability to make her pregnant, and she is not serving her.”

Lu Eldest was still about to speak when Fang Yuan chased him out with a broom: “What a thing. I am getting more and more disgusted with you.”

The corner of Lu Chuan’s mouth slowly curled up. He just loved Fang Yuan’s energetic appearance.

But then it dropped again. Those words meant she had once thought well of him before. Why did that make him so uncomfortable?

Even he himself could not keep up with the speed of his own mood changes.

Fang Yuan turned to Aunt Sun next door: “You are not a good person either.”

Aunt Sun said: “No, Fang Yuan, I was speaking up for you. I was helping you. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t spread it.”

Fang Yuan said: “Go ahead and spread it. Do you think I am afraid of this? If you want my mom to help take care of the child, then serve the old lady properly and coax her well. Otherwise she will not take care of anyone’s child. We raised them to adulthood, married them off, and now they don’t even have their own nest anymore. We do not owe them anything.”

Mother Lu grabbed Fang Yuan, her eyes already red: “How did I end up with such a righteous daughter-in-law? The Lu family ancestors must have accumulated virtue.” She muttered softly: “Lu San has not even married yet, you cannot say things like that.”

Lu San entered the house: “That is exactly what my second sister-in-law said. Even if I get married, it will be the same. If I make you happy, you take care of the child. If not, you do not. Whoever gives birth, whoever takes care of it.”

Aunt Sun stood by the wall and could not quite respond: “Heh, this… this is going to make it hard to find a wife.”

Lu San looked toward Lu Eldest’s direction, also grinding his teeth in anger: “Then I will not get married. No one is allowed to torment an old mother like this.” After speaking, he went inside.

Aunt Sun said: “Auntie, your son is really filial.”

In Mother Lu’s eyes there were no sons at all, only Fang Yuan: “It is Fang Yuan who taught him well. Auntie, Lu San has not married yet, please be mindful with your words. Our family is not that kind of household. When a daughter-in-law gives birth, I am happy, and I am willing to help take care of the child.”

Aunt Sun froze on the spot. Someone who did not know would think Fang Yuan had been raised in this family for decades, yet she had only just married in less than two months. A mother-in-law who treated her daughter-in-law like this was truly rare.

Moreover, with this kind of relationship, once Fang Yuan had a child, would the Lu family’s mother-in-law really not help take care of it?

So her gaze toward Fang Yuan changed. This daughter-in-law had brains. She was already thinking ahead about who would help raise her child. She had completely won over the mother-in-law.

Fang Yuan and Lu Chuan were busy and went back into the house before Mother Lu even followed them in.

Aunt Sun saw Fang Yuan was not around and quietly asked Mother Lu: “What exactly did the eldest daughter-in-law do to make you so angry? Just tell me a bit. If these rumors spread later, we can at least help you explain.”

Mother Lu shook her head: “There is nothing worth saying. We cannot let ourselves be embarrassed outside. It is not just about the daughter-in-law, it is also about the son, and the grandson. Auntie, be careful with your words.”

Aunt Sun said: “You, it is clearly something going on, why won’t you say anything?”

She was then dragged into the house by the Sun family man, otherwise she would have kept asking. She could not get the answer, and even eating would not taste right.

Brother of the Sun family looked at his talkative wife with worry: “Have you forgotten how Fang Yuan splashed you with water?”

Aunt Sun said: “I was just being kind.”

Whether it was kindness or not, he knew better than anyone: “Just behave. The Lu family is clearly rising now. Do not provoke them in the future.”

Aunt Sun said: “It has only been a few days, how are they rising already? Did their family dig up someone’s ancestral grave or what?”

Brother Sun said: “Watch your mouth. Their sons are capable. In the future just watch your own son study. I have no hopes anymore, I am relying on my son.”

Aunt Sun had no idea where all this emotion came from.

Over there, Lu Chuan and Lu San had no time to care about these trivial matters.

Lu San said: “Second brother, I went to the village secretary. The secretary said we should first decide where we want to build the houses, then store the materials there directly. That way we do not need to move them later. Second brother, have you thought about where to build?”

Lu Chuan said: “That makes sense. Your sister-in-law said we should build together. Originally it should be in the old courtyard, but I feel that if we build here, you and Mom might have to stay over there for a while. Dad probably will not have time to come back and manage things.”

Lu San said: “I am not a child anymore. I can help Mom. That courtyard over there was never meant for the eldest brother anyway. I am living there fairly. I heard what second sister-in-law said. That house, even if I do not live in it, it still has to be mine.”

Fang Yuan nodded from the side. This kid could be taught.

Lu Chuan thought to himself: he was just afraid that that unfaithful woman would cause trouble, and Mom could not handle it.

Lu San said slyly: “Second brother, don’t worry, Lu Eldest is still around. He will not be able to cause trouble for Mom. I am also a son.”

Alright, that settled it.

Lu Chuan said: “If we can avoid demolishing the old courtyard, then we should. The area beside it is quite spacious. If you like it, we can build there. Six rooms can fit easily.”

Lu San said: “Alright, I will listen to second brother. We will take half the old courtyard. I will go discuss the rest with the village secretary. Second brother, let us be honest. You are studying outside and may not come back in the future. Most of this house will still be for Mom and Dad. I do not have money for building now, but when I do later, I will pay you back.”

Lu Chuan immediately looked at Fang Yuan. This kind of decision had to respect Fang Yuan’s opinion. Mainly, with a family like this, he could not be the one calling the shots.

Fang Yuan said: “Building the house is Mom and Dad’s matter, and the money is also theirs. You do not need to owe anything, and you do not need to pay me back.”

She continued: “The house that your second brother and I have is ours. You just take care of things at home more.”

Her words were very clear. Anything involving family property was stated without the slightest ambiguity, so there would be no disputes later.

Lu San looked at his second brother, then nodded: “I understand. Even if second brother earns money, he still cannot make decisions at home.”

He immediately understood which direction to lean toward.

Lu San said: “I will listen to second sister-in-law.”

He instantly knew where to align himself.

Lu Chuan gave Lu San a few instructions, then hurried off to the provincial city.

Li Meng was at home chewing corn when she heard that Fang Yuan was going to build a house. Her heart filled with hatred: “She sure is capable. Building a new house, all of it is my money. My money.”

Lu Eldest remained sullen and silent. The money that Fang Yuan had taken from Li Meng was not enough to build an entire house, but adding in the bride price Fang Yuan had originally demanded, it was still a considerable sum.

It was clearly two engagements from the beginning to the end, and the family’s money had been spent that way, but in the end all that money ended up in Lu Second’s hands.

Lu Eldest could not understand it. How did it become like this? It should not have been this way.

All the good days had somehow been sent into Lu Second’s hands. Lu Second had gained both fame and fortune.

Now that Lu Second was about to build a new house, Lu Eldest could not possibly feel comfortable. And he still could not figure it out.

Fortunately, Li Meng was pregnant. He was going to have a son. At least that was something Lu Eldest could still take pride in.