Chapter 66: This Wasn’t the Result He Wanted

Wu Hu tried to comfort Lu Chuan, who was standing nearby. “Don’t feel embarrassed. She’s always been like this, even back at our place. What’s hers is hers.”

Lu Chuan struggled to praise Fang Yuan. “It’s good, she’s steady. It’s because you, Fifth Brother, are generous.” After all, if he said anything bad about Fang Yuan, Fifth Brother probably wouldn’t want to hear it.

Wu Hu didn’t bother to explain that his “generosity” was just the result of being steamrolled.

And it wasn’t just him—this attitude wasn’t only directed at her own family. In the future, whatever her husband had would be hers too. Wu Hu could only hope Lu Chuan would always feel this way.

Meanwhile, Fang Yuan was daydreaming about making money. “If you guys keep working like this for another two months, I’ll have all my capital back.”

Wu Hu’s face darkened. “If we really have to keep this up for another two months, it won’t matter how much you make—it won’t be enough to cover our losses. Stop only thinking about your own little pile of money.”

At least Fang Yuan knew where her priorities should be. “Then you guys better work hard. I won’t take your money; I can still earn from the eldest brother and the others.”

Then she added, “What are you two still doing here? Go look around! Is this the attitude to have if you want to make money?”

Lu Chuan and Wu Hu were both at a loss for words. When it came to Fang Yuan’s drive to make money, they had to admit, they were impressed.

Both of them knew what Fang Yuan was like. Without doing anything else, they first cleared out a shed for her so she could keep an eye on her new machine.

Lu Chuan complained to Wu Hu, “We can’t have her tied to the machine all day, can we? When we rent it out to others, is she going to follow it around like this too?”

Fang Yuan’s obsession with the cement mixer was even more worrying to Lu Chuan than the construction work itself.

Wu Hu said, “At least for now, you won’t be able to talk her out of it. In her eyes, new things mean money. You can’t separate them.”

Lu Chuan looked a bit resentful. Even when they got married, Fang Yuan hadn’t shown this much enthusiasm. “Seriously.”

Wu Hu didn’t want to hear Lu Chuan say anything bad about Fang Yuan. The bond between siblings was real. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. She’s reliable, isn’t she, brother-in-law?”

What could Lu Chuan say in front of her own brother? Besides, he didn’t really think it was a bad thing.

His wife had come out here to endure hardship with him, whether for the family or for money. Either way, it was to lighten his burden. It was because he wasn’t strong enough, not enough for her to rely on.

All Lu Chuan could do was make sure Fang Yuan was comfortable while she was here—good food, good lodging.

And, during this time, he had to help Fang Yuan understand that renting the machine out was safe, that she didn’t need to watch over it so closely.

He wanted her to stop being so attached to the mixer—it wasn’t necessary. But right now, that seemed a bit difficult.

Lu Chuan said, “Fifth Brother, I just feel bad for Fang Yuan. She can’t rest well here—she’s a young woman, after all.”

Wu Hu nodded. “Don’t worry. Give it a few days for the novelty to wear off, then talk to her again.”

And just like that, the three of them got their business up and running.

Fang Yuan, ever focused on making money, watched the cement mixer spinning all day and asked Lu Chuan in private, “Do you think I should give it a day off? Isn’t it a bit much to have it running nonstop? Even the richest landlords wouldn’t work their hired hands this hard.”

Lu Chuan forced a smile and showed Fang Yuan how to oil every part of the mixer that needed it. “This is called maintenance.”

He patiently explained, “You have to check on it every so often. Don’t worry, it won’t get worn out.”

Only then did Fang Yuan smile. “See, going to school really pays off. You even know how to take care of its food and drink.”

She added, “The guy who sold it to me said there are cheap oils and expensive ones. I only buy the best for it.”

Fang Yuan didn’t begrudge the mixer anything. After all, it was making her money.

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but say sourly, “Of course, it earns more than your husband. You have to take good care of it.”

He really was jealous, just making a joke, but Fang Yuan didn’t even give him a kind word. She just nodded seriously, “That’s right.”

She didn’t even spare Lu Chuan a glance.

Lu Chuan felt a bit stifled. She was even a year older than him—how could she be so clueless?

Was this really the time to agree with him? And to think he always said she’d “snatched” him away. What for, just to watch him from a distance?

Did she not like him? Lu Chuan was feeling pretty resentful.

He’d been brooding over this for days. They’d been married and registered for almost a month now, and they’d spent plenty of time together, gotten to know each other, but Fang Yuan didn’t show the slightest interest in getting closer to him.

She spent all day fussing over the cement mixer. Today, Lu Chuan wasn’t thinking straight and just set himself up for disappointment.

Fang Yuan wasn’t completely unresponsive, though. She said, “Even if you don’t make much, you still have to hand it over to me.” She was staking her claim as head of the household.

Lu Chuan thought, Does this mean she at least acknowledges me?

If he only spent money and didn’t earn any, would she even bother to look at him?

He didn’t dare say it out loud, but thought, We’re both making money—how come you don’t take care of me like you do the machine?

Here he was, a grown man, competing with a machine for attention. Lu Chuan felt embarrassed. But to Fang Yuan, he really wasn’t as important as the mixer.

If Fang Yuan fussed over him the way she did over the mixer, Lu Chuan couldn’t even imagine what that would be like. He blushed at the thought.

Forget it. Why compete with a hunk of metal? He turned and went to help Fifth Brother with the big shovel.

Wu Hu was puzzled. “Why are you helping me with this? We don’t get paid for this work.”

They were the bosses—doing extra work didn’t mean more money. They’d agreed not to take wages.

Lu Chuan, face dark, shoveled sand with a vengeance. “Then why are you doing it, Fifth Brother?”

Wu Hu replied, “To learn the trade! If I don’t know how to do it myself, how can I tell if someone’s cheating us? I’m not just learning this—every job on the site, I want to learn.” He was in it for the business.

No wonder he and his sister were so alike—both so ambitious.

Lu Chuan wasn’t moved by Fifth Brother’s ambition. He grumbled, “Can’t I just be doing it to get some exercise?”

Wu Hu said, “Sure, but you’re a bit scrawny.”

That was harsh. These siblings must have plotted this—seeing the project making money, were they planning to squeeze him out, or just work him to death?

Lu Chuan was annoyed. What’s wrong with my build, anyway? Why do they both look down on me?

He said nothing, just kept working, fueled by frustration.

Even the workers nearby picked up the pace. If the bosses were working so hard, maybe they were rushing to finish.

By the end of the day, everyone was counting their earnings—they’d worked hard and made good money.

Lu Chuan, who’d barely used a shovel before, had sore shoulders and blistered hands.

At least Fang Yuan didn’t ignore him. Seeing him like that, she frowned and thought, Is this guy stupid?

Lu Chuan thought, At least she cares about me.

Then he heard Fang Yuan say, “You did this little bit of work and you’re already like this? How are we supposed to get by in the future? If we ever run out of money and have to rely on you to support me, we’ll be drinking cold water to survive.”

Lu Chuan just stood there, hand outstretched, dumbfounded. This wasn’t the result he wanted.

Thank you all for your support."

"Chapter 67: Brother-in-Law vs. Brother-in-Law – The Showdown