Chapter 96: If It’s Not Yours, Don’t Covet It

Just from the way she started talking, you could tell something was up.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, this Li Meng is really something else. Just how much trouble did she stir up last night to leave his mother in such a state?

Clearly, Mother Lu had been holding it in for a while. She started complaining about Li Meng to Fang Yuan: “Is she for real? She insists on eating noodle dumplings, but we don’t even have any fine flour at home. Where does she get the nerve to demand food and drink? And then, in the middle of the night, she made me go into town to buy her canned tangerines. I had to go myself—she wouldn’t let your eldest brother go, said she couldn’t be apart from him, that she was scared. Scared of what, exactly?”

Li Meng must have really worn Mother Lu out.

Even Lu Chuan frowned as he listened. “And where’s Eldest Brother in all this? Is the kid not even his?”

That’s what hurt Mother Lu the most—her eldest just stood by and let Li Meng torment his own mother like that.

Mother Lu, feeling bitter, didn’t mention her eldest: “It was your third brother who felt sorry for me and went into town for her. He didn’t get back until midnight. Meanwhile, those two slept soundly through it all. Didn’t even wake up when I called them. And in the end, she didn’t even eat the canned tangerines. Tell me, wasn’t she just messing with me?”

Fang Yuan wanted to nod along—wasn’t it obvious she was doing it on purpose? But Lu Chuan shot her a look, so she held back.

They exchanged a glance, but unfortunately, Fang Yuan didn’t catch on.

Mother Lu finally said, “If it’s my grandson, fine, I’ll put up with it. But if she’s going to torment my own son, I’m done serving her.”

Fang Yuan joked, “So you’re using your son to defeat your grandson.”

Lu Chuan and Mother Lu both had to nod—it did seem that way.

Fang Yuan added, “Looks like Third Brother is pretty useful after all.”

But that wasn’t really the point. Mother Lu was so exasperated by her second daughter-in-law that she wasn’t even feeling sad anymore.

She pulled Lu Chuan aside. “How did your eldest brother end up like this?”

Lu Chuan had complicated feelings about his eldest brother—he wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

Besides, as the saying goes, you can’t just throw away a stinky butt. No matter what Mother Lu says, she’ll complain about the eldest, but in the end, things will go on as usual. What was he supposed to say?

Fang Yuan didn’t bother making things awkward for him. “He’s just spoiled. You shouldn’t have indulged her.” She didn’t care about the future—she’d say whatever she wanted.

Mother Lu grumbled, “And what really gets me is, first thing in the morning, she demanded chicken—specifically, one from my coop. Said her own chickens were for her mother.”

That wouldn’t do. Fang Yuan’s eyes widened. “Don’t get mad, I’ll go over right now and slaughter a chicken for her.”

If Lu Chuan hadn’t grabbed her around the waist, Fang Yuan would have marched off with a knife in hand. Anyone who saw her would know she was going to kill a chicken—though someone who didn’t might think she was up to something else.

Lu Chuan said, “You’re pregnant, just let her be. As long as Mom ignores her, she can’t make too much trouble.”

Fang Yuan protested, “That’s not fair. Even I never acted up like this.”

Mother Lu was just venting—she didn’t really want her two daughters-in-law to go head-to-head. “Just ignore her. After all, she’s carrying my grandchild. I told your eldest brother, let them do whatever they want. Once we split the family, it’s out of my hands.”

Lu Chuan pressed Fang Yuan into a seat. “It’s not worth getting upset over this.”

Mother Lu sighed. “She said that once the baby’s born, there won’t be anywhere for them to live.” With that, she started to cry—she was heartbroken, feeling like she was being driven out of her own home.

Lu Chuan gave a wry laugh. “Where’s Third Brother?”

Mother Lu replied, “I didn’t bother with him—he went out to look for a place. Didn’t Fang Yuan say she’d be bringing building materials today?”

Fang Yuan said, “That’s right. Mom asked Third Brother to go check out some land for building. We’ll build a row of big houses together—let’s see how she likes that!”

Mother Lu brightened up. “That would be great. I’ll be able to hold my head high then.”

But where would the money come from? Mother Lu thought to herself, this is just wishful thinking, nothing more.

Fang Yuan said, “Don’t worry about it. My dad’s got the big money coming in later.”

Mother Lu liked Fang Yuan even more now—this girl was clever, not one to bite off more than she could chew. Her second son would have a good life with her.

It was important to remember who was paying for the house. Mother Lu really appreciated that.

Fang Yuan said, “Mom, it’s not worth getting upset over someone unfilial, and it’s even less worth letting someone use a grandchild to manipulate you. You have plenty of sons. I’ll give you a grandchild myself, and there’s still Third Brother—once he gets married, he’ll give you lots of grandkids.”

Lu Chuan, listening from the side, nearly choked on his egg yolk. He thought, with your common sense, my mom would be better off counting on that other one for grandkids.

Fang Yuan shot Lu Chuan a look. “How do you even choke while eating?”

Mother Lu said, “Ignore him. Fang Yuan, I’m counting on you for grandkids. I don’t care about boys or girls—if you have a granddaughter, I’ll love her even more.”

Fang Yuan patted her chest in assurance. “Don’t worry, it’s no big deal.”

Lu Chuan coughed so hard it felt like his lungs would come out. This was a big deal.

Mother Lu scolded her son. “What are you embarrassed about? You’re not as open as Fang Yuan. What’s there to be shy about?”

She really thought her son was just embarrassed.

Fang Yuan nodded along. “Who gets married and doesn’t have kids? No big deal.”

Lu Chuan pointed at the two of them, but couldn’t get a word out. He turned and left, thinking, you two sure are bold. Counting on Fang Yuan’s sleeping skills for a kid, huh. Hmph.

Ah, this mess of a heart—who could he even talk to about it?

Lu Xiaosan was out looking for a place to store building materials for the new house, and that was no small matter. Given the Lu family’s situation, how did it come to building a house?

Everyone else was just watching, but Eldest Brother Lu couldn’t sit still. He came over to Second Brother Lu’s place. “Mom, what’s Third Brother up to? Aren’t you going to do something about it?”

Lu Chuan didn’t look pleased to see his eldest brother. What, you think you can just come and go as you please?

It had only been two days, and he’d already come over several times.

If in the future he wasn’t home, and Eldest Brother Lu just kept coming over like this, how would that be okay?

Lu Chuan realized he was actually a bit petty—he really didn’t like Fang Yuan even glancing at Eldest Brother Lu, especially since he was the one she’d originally been set up with.

Mother Lu wasn’t too happy to see her eldest. “What about Third Brother? He’s doing proper work. If you want to help, then help. If not, go take care of your wife.”

Eldest Brother Lu said, “Mom, Li Meng is just talking. The kid is still young. There’s no rush to make room.”

Mother Lu’s heart turned cold. “So when the kid grows up, your mom and dad don’t need a place to live anymore, is that it?”

Eldest Brother Lu didn’t say a word. He really did mean to drive his parents out—where did he get the nerve?

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but laugh. He sure had it all planned out.

Fang Yuan said, “Once the family splits, Mom, Dad, and Third Brother’s affairs are none of your business. But one thing’s for sure—the house belongs half to Mom, Dad, and Third Brother, and half to you. Whether Mom and Dad live there or not, it’s still their house. It’s not for you, your wife, or your wife’s child.”

Then she added, “Making room? Never heard of it. Don’t even think about it. Make sure that unfaithful one knows too—don’t even dream about it.”

Sister-in-law Sun, who was watching from behind the fence, piped up, “Second daughter-in-law, that’s a bit of a tongue-twister. Isn’t it just their family of three? Why did you say ‘your wife’s child’? Isn’t it Eldest Brother’s kid?”

Lu Chuan looked at Fang Yuan too. She was getting smarter, knowing how to talk in circles now.

97."

"Chapter 97: Not the Slightest Bit Within Our Control