Chapter 38: How Can Someone Be So Shameless

Chapter 38: The Audacity of Some People

The two slept far apart, Fu Qinhui struggling to maintain his composure.

Though they always slept separately, this was the first time such a vast distance—a veritable galaxy—separated them. Lu Xiang felt an inexplicable annoyance, thinking him petty. She had already explained everything clearly, yet he was still acting this way. Deliberately, she scooted closer to Fu Qinhui.

Fu Qinhui immediately rose, declaring he would sleep on the floor.

Lu Xiang was furious. "Suit yourself!" she snapped. Sleeping alone on the bed suited her just fine.

Just as Fu Qinhui laid out the bedding, her mother-in-law knocked and entered. She had intended to discuss investing money with Lu Xiang the next day, as she also wanted a share. But upon entering, she found the young couple sleeping apart. With a stern face, she ordered Fu Qinhui back to bed. "You've just gotten married—no sleeping apart allowed! I'm still waiting for a grandchild!" Her words made Fu Qinhui blush.

Lu Xiang had always viewed her marriage to Fu Qinhui as a temporary measure. Once she could venture out to do business, a divorce would grant her freedom. But, to be honest, Fu Qinhui was a very capable partner!

Fu Qinhui lay on the bed in silence, but Lu Xiang could feel his body's tension.

Ignoring him, Lu Xiang focused on sleep, as she had other matters to attend to the next day. Soon, her breathing became slow and even. Fu Qinhui gradually relaxed. Lu Xiang smelled so lovely—he couldn't help but want to draw closer. Hearing his mother mention having children had even stirred a few impulsive thoughts.

He silently recited texts from his school days to calm himself. Following the rhythm of Lu Xiang’s breathing, on an impulse, he put his arms around her. Lu Xiang was a heavy sleeper and didn’t wake easily.

She was truly soft and fragrant.

...

Meanwhile, Lu Zhaodi and her mother were embroiled in an argument.

Lu Zhaodi’s mother had gone to the county town without telling anyone. Upon her return, her father scolded her for leaving the house unattended and the stove cold, demanding to know where she had been all day. Her grandmother also berated her. Frustrated, she reluctantly cooked a meal and pulled her daughter aside. "Explain to me what’s going on!"

Lu Zhaodi’s mother had thought her daughter had already won over Li Yucai, but it turned out he was disdainful of her.

The back-and-forth had wasted a lot of time. If she had known it would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have gone to the county town.

"I don’t know either. He wasn’t like this before," Lu Zhaodi said. In her previous life, they had been a loving couple.

Her mother retorted, "Your idea of moving to the city? Forget about it."

Lu Zhaodi’s face flushed red. "No way! I will move to the city. My life will be better than anyone else’s!" She had an inexplicable sense of pride. After a moment, she added, "How about this? Let me go back to school."

Her mother was furious. "Are you crazy? School costs money! And you’re already old enough to get married. What’s the point of going to school?"

Those who could get into college were rare. Lu Zhaodi’s mother knew her daughter’s academic performance was even worse than Lu Xiang’s back in the day. It would be a waste of money. Even if she agreed, the grandmother and father would never allow it.

She scolded Lu Zhaodi for aiming too high and being impulsive.

Lu Zhaodi didn’t actually want to study. She just wanted to use this as a way to get closer to Li Yucai, knowing the Li family valued educated people. She was trying to appeal to their preferences.

"Did you know Lu Xiang went to the county town to sell things today?" Lu Zhaodi said indignantly.

Her mother replied, "You used to be better than her in every way. How did you end up falling behind?"

Lu Zhaodi had always believed she was superior to Lu Xiang. Provoked by her mother, she said, "She’s just selling at a little makeshift stall. I can do that too."

But her mother had lost patience. "Well, she’s also married. Why don’t you get married too? If I had known this would happen, we shouldn’t have called off the engagement with Fu Qinhui. I regret it now."

Lu Zhaodi blew up. "Stop talking about marriage! I know what I’m doing!" Her pride would never allow her to marry someone in the village.

Her mother was exasperated. How could she and her husband have raised a daughter with such high-flown ideas?

Lu Zhaodi said, "Give me five yuan!"

Her mother exclaimed, "Five yuan? You might as well kill me! Where would I get five yuan?"

Lu Zhaodi looked down on such a small amount. She felt contemptuous that her mother couldn’t even produce five yuan.

Though her mother was eccentric, she had always been supportive of Lu Zhaodi. "Keep a low profile for now. Once we get the grain share and have money, I’ll give it to you."

Lu Zhaodi grew anxious, worried that Lu Xiang would earn money during this time. "Then I’ll sell something every day to make some extra money for the family," she said.

Her mother agreed, thinking that as long as Lu Zhaodi stayed out of trouble, she could do as she pleased.

Lu Zhaodi decided to make food to sell. But when she checked the kitchen, she found that her grandmother had all the good ingredients put away.

She had no choice but to make vegetable buns. While chopping vegetables, her grandmother scolded her, "Acting like a young lady, cooking whatever you want! You’re wasting the family’s food."

Lu Zhaodi was furious. Her grandmother was shortsighted and didn't realize her future potential. She silently vowed that her grandmother would never benefit from her success.

Her grandmother strictly wouldn't let her use the family’s grain. Lu Zhaodi explained she was making the buns to sell the next day, and her grandmother reluctantly allowed her to make ten. But what good were just ten buns?

Her grandmother refused to budge, so Lu Zhaodi had no choice but to swallow her anger and make ten. The next day, when she opened the steamer, she found only five left. She immediately went to her grandmother.

Her grandmother said, "Your father took two this morning because he was hungry! I tried one too. How stingy can you be? Is this how you treat your elders?"

Lu Zhaodi’s anger flared. "How am I supposed to sell these now?" It was so meager.

Her grandmother retorted, "Then don’t sell them. Just stay home."

Fuming, Lu Zhaodi wanted to argue with her grandmother. In the distance, she saw Lu Xiang’s tricycle taking off. Without another thought, she grabbed the five buns and chased after them.

The atmosphere between Fu Qinhui and Lu Xiang was also awkward that morning. The reason was that Lu Xiang had woken up to find herself sleeping in Fu Qinhui’s arms, their bodies uncomfortably close.

As a young man and woman, they felt uneasy.

They barely spoke all morning, silently heading to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Soon, Lu Zhaodi caught up to them. "Wait for me! I’ll get a ride with you!" she declared, as if their previous conflict had never happened.

Sometimes, Lu Xiang envied her nerve.

But Lu Xiang refused. "No, there’s no room," she said.

Lu Zhaodi gave a pleading look at Fu Qinhui, thinking he might show some consideration given their past connection. But Fu Qinhui ignored her and rode off, leaving her behind.

Enraged, Lu Zhaodi cursed relentlessly.

She walked all the way to the supply and marketing cooperative, her feet blistered and her clothes soaked with sweat. She looked like a complete mess.