Chapter 22: Still, this brat Lu Yuan is wicked!!

After Lu Yuan left, Su Liyan did not immediately go to sleep.

Although she had been tossed about all night last night, Su Liyan was also a bit tired.

But the house still isn't cleaned; yesterday she just wiped the table, and then her husband dragged her off to do something.

Today there are a lot of things to do at home.

Although this house is not as grand as that mansion, whether you live one day or one year, it's still the Lu family's home, so it naturally needs to be well maintained.

Su Liyan first carefully put away the thirty silver dollars Lu Yuan left behind when he left.

Afterwards, Su Liyan first took down the curtains, and also took out many clothes Lu Yuan had stored that hadn't been washed, found a large basin and soaked them, so it would be easier to wash later.

After finishing those chores, Su Liyan suddenly thought of something, her face flushed as she went back into the room and took out a large white towel.

On it was a blotch of bright red.

Holding that large towel, Su Liyan quickly went to the water basin and shoved the towel into the large tub.

However, at that moment, Pang Kaige walked out of the house.

Although it was just a hurried glance, upon seeing the bright red mark on the white towel,

Pang Kaige felt a sharp pain in his heart, it was too painful.

Ahhhh, heavens, kill me now!!

Pang Dekai has been on night shift this week; he just got back, was about to go to sleep, but now he feels he won't be able to sleep today.

After soaking the messy clothes and adding soapberry powder, he went to tidy up the house, being diligent.

And Gao Xushi also returned at this time.

Having been locked up overnight, and when leaving, she was also given a good scolding by Wang Ping; now Gao Xushi is very obedient.

She dare not cause trouble again.

Moreover, Gao Xushi knows the situation well in her heart.

Yesterday she just couldn't let it go.

When the people in the courtyard saw Gao Xushi, they all tactfully avoided mentioning yesterday's incident, as if they had forgotten it.

There isn't a single young woman like Su Liyan among the women in the courtyard.

After all, among Lu Yuan's peers, counting Lu Yuan himself there are only four people, and now only Lu Yuan has taken a wife.

Nowadays during the day, the men have all gone to work, so the Siheyuan only has some middle-aged women left, or those bringing their grandchildren.

Or else there are a few like Pang Dekai who work night shifts and are now sleeping at home.

With a newcomer in the Siheyuan, everyone involuntarily came to the backyard.

They brought a small stool, went to where the sunlight reached, and while looking after their grandchildren, they chatted.

Su Liyan doesn't know these people either, and doesn't know what to say or what to talk about.

Besides, her own household chores aren't finished yet.

So Su Liyan didn't join them; after finishing tidying the house, she went to the water basin and started washing clothes.

Meanwhile, everyone watching Su Liyan washing clothes alone couldn't help but gossip.

"Is Lu Yuan usually able to lazy himself to death?"

"He stored three big basins of clothes and doesn't wash them?"

"Yeah, who would torment someone like that? A newlywed bride just entering the household starts this busywork the next day; won't she be worked to death?"

"Look at Su Liyan's little hands, frozen and all red; that scoundrel Lu Yuan doesn't even know to feel sorry for his own wife!"

"Exactly, you say when the new bride moves in, at the very least she should tidy up a bit; are we just waiting for the new bride to come and do all the cleaning?"

"Isn't this tormenting people?"

For a moment, the women in the courtyard felt Su Liyan wasn't worth it.

"That Lu Yuan is just a scoundrel; the house only has these two rooms, although they've saved some money over the years, hasn't he spent it all on buying horses and showing off?"

After wiping his face at home, Pang Kaige saw this scene in the courtyard and really regretted it, almost wanting to bang his head against the wall.

Who could know that Su Liyan is so capable at work?

"She's so diligent and hardworking, enduring labor without complaint; what did that scoundrel Lu Yuan do in his past life to deserve such a wife?"

Pang Kaige also couldn't sleep, grabbed a small stool, took some melon seeds, and joined the women in the courtyard.

After about an hour or two, everyone discovered that Su Liyan really is a capable worker.

During that hour or two, bustling about inside and out, she broke a light sweat on her forehead, her little face turned somewhat rosy, making her look even more lovely.

At once, Sun Erniang, who lives in the courtyard, couldn't help but look toward Su Liyan and say:

"Come over, Lu family's couple, take a break; you've been busy all morning."

"At noon, the men in the courtyard basically don't come home, so there's no rush to cook."

Su Liyan, who was in the middle of washing clothes, lifted her head to look at those women in the distance and smiled, pursing her lips:

"No, there's still plenty of work at home; better to finish early and relax sooner."

Everyone fell silent; Su Liyan is just too diligent.

However, everyone is still very curious about Su Liyan; after all, how did that scoundrel Lu Yuan trick her into coming?

At once, Sun Erniang curiously looked at Su Liyan and said:

"How much betrothal gift did your husband give you?"

Su Liyan was startled, then she smiled, pursing her lips:

"Ten 【silver dollars】."

Hearing that, everyone was again speechless.

"Really ten?"

"Can such a wife be won for just ten?"

Washing curtains in this winter month—what is this? Isn't this purely just having no livelihood and making up work for oneself?

Such a daughter-in-law would cost ten bucks??

At once, everyone felt a bit of stifled anger in their hearts, and then Sun Erniang asked again:

"How much living expenses does Lu Yuan give you each month?"

Su Liyan was stunned, then she again spoke according to Lu Yuan's words:

Five bucks a month.

Five... five bucks?!!!

Just five bucks?!!

Of course, everyone's living expenses are only about six or seven bucks a month.

But this is a new daughter-in-law!!

This is a brand-new daughter-in-law who just started!!

Just give five bucks?!

Five bucks isn't enough for shit!!

That works out to about sixteen cents a day.

Although this living expense is meant for women's lunch, most women wouldn't go out to eat, after all there's vegetables and grain at home.

But this is in the city; sometimes you need to buy things.

We've all been through the daughter-in-law's struggles to get to now; we know monthly expenses can be huge.

For example, things like smoke oil, sauce, vinegar, tea, or any small household items missing—women have to go buy them.

If the monthly money runs short and you have to ask the masters, you'll inevitably be scolded a few times as a wasteful woman.

At this point, Gao Xushi really felt her intestines turning green with regret.

What kind of good daughter-in-law is this, so diligent and capable; the men of the house aren't home and don't slack off, she finds work for herself, even washing curtains in winter.

The key is she's too easy to support; giving her five bucks a month is enough.

Gao Xushi truly regretted it; if she had known earlier, she shouldn't have skimped on those two bucks of betrothal gift.

Or it's that Lu Yuan brat is bad; he didn't skimp on the betrothal gift, but he skimps from the monthly living expenses.

Skimming two bucks off the monthly living expenses could save over twenty bucks a year!!

Gao Xushi felt fortunate her son wasn't here; otherwise she'd have to cry again.

Meanwhile, Pang Kaige couldn't bear to watch; it was too painful, he took his stool and left.

No, tonight when my parents come back I'll speak up clearly—I also want to marry a wife.

I also want to marry a wife like Su Liyan—pretty, capable, obedient, thrifty!!!

We can't let that scoundrel Lu Yuan be the only one to make a splash in this courtyard!!

(Thanks to the brother who can't be lewd for the 300 book coins reward, thank you very much~)

(End of chapter)