Chapter 93: Bro~ Open a window~ It's too hot at home~

Gao Xushi lay directly on the ground, not fearing the cold.

Her hands flailed wildly, her legs kicked about.

Seeing her thrash and roll about, anyone who looked felt uneasy.

At this moment, Gao Tingyu and Chen Taohua both wore helpless expressions, wanting to persuade their mother to go home.

What on earth is this!

How could there be such a thing!

How embarrassing!

But if Gao Tingyu hadn't pulled her, it would have been fine; once he pulled, Gao Xushi became even more worked up.

Crying to heaven and calling for mother, it was quite a lively scene.

The three elders in the courtyard also heard the commotion and rushed to the scene.

Seeing this, they also wore helpless looks.

After listening to Gao Xushi's lament,

nobody knew how to handle it.

The first elder looked at Gao Xushi lying on the ground and said:

"Aunt, hurry up and get up; lying on the ground in this deep winter is terribly cold."

Gao Xushi, however, cried out:

"I've been driven out by them today, wuwuwu; in a few days they'll have to let me come back to live; my son and daughter-in-law are unfilial, wuwuwu."

Everyone fell silent, this again dragged onto the son—where did that go!

Meanwhile, the neighboring residents involuntarily gave helpless advice:

"Aunt, enough already; this child is married, managing his own money is fine, people also say that, from now on we'll give you three coins a month for your support."

As soon as the residents said that, Gao Xushi glared and said:

"Three coins—where is that enough!!"

After Gao Xushi finished speaking, Gao Tingyu helplessly said:

"Why aren't three coins enough, Mother? You don't go out to eat; you have three meals a day at home—why aren't three coins enough?

Su Liyan goes to work every day and only earns five coins a month."

At that moment, Su Liyan hurried over and quickly put a coat on her husband.

Su Liyan heard the Gao family calling her name again and felt somewhat displeased.

Why is she being dragged into this again.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan quickly raised his eyebrows and said:

"Eh eh eh, don't wrongly accuse people; I gave my wife an extra coin, so now she gets six coins a month."

Gao Tingyu glared angrily at Lu Yuan.

The residents in the courtyard also looked speechless.

What's with six coins?

Six coins aren't many either!!

You make it sound like sixteen coins!

In this deep winter, shouldn't we give Su Liyan seven coins a month?

I heard Su Liyan at the factory couldn't even bear to eat white steamed buns earlier, and only recently has she started eating them!

With all these bonuses handed out, who knows if they'd give the wife a bit more!

Seeing the topic veer off, Gao Xushi quickly wailed again:

"This isn't just about three coins; they still want my previous support money!!"

The previous support money?

Everyone gave Gao Tingyu a strange look.

That's just not right!

Gao Tingyu, being looked at like that by the courtyard folk, momentarily forgot about embarrassment and quickly said:

"That's the wages I previously turned over!!"

"My mother said to save it for me, to take out when I urgently need money."

"But when I came back today, there was no coal at home and I didn't know to take money to buy it; there wasn't even any mixed flour, so I came home and gnawed on cornbread!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately shook their heads.

Even a dog hearing this would have to shake its head.

What kind of thing is Gao Xushi doing!

Usually she sneaks tasty bites, but now the house has no coal or grain and she doesn't know to buy any.

When Gao Tingyu returns from a day's work, coming home to this cold with nothing to eat—what mood must he be in!

At this moment, Lu Yuan found this rather amusing and couldn't help but hehehe laugh.

However, out of the corner of his eye he saw Su Liyan come out wearing just a sweater.

He quickly pulled Su Liyan into his embrace, wrapping both of them in the coat he was wearing.

At that moment, Su Liyan held Lu Yuan, her exquisite face resting against his chest.

Su Liyan didn't seem like her husband was there to watch a joke.

Su Liyan merely looked at Chen Taohua, who stood beside Gao Tingyu with a clueless expression, and felt……

Little Taohua is also too pitiful.

This house doesn't even have a stove, today is overcast, how are we supposed to spend this afternoon at home……

She was lighting the stove in Sister Liu's office, yet her feet felt frozen.

Moreover, if there's no stove tonight…… how can we sleep……

As she thought, Su Liyan's grip on Lu Yuan's jade hand grew tighter and tighter.

Su Liyan now simply felt that her luck was truly good.

If she hadn't married her husband……

The one standing there today, being laughed at by others, might just be her……

The more she thought about it, the more Su Liyan felt her husband was truly the most capable person in the world.

Even the hand holding her husband unconsciously used a bit more strength.

Su Liyan feared that her husband might not want her anymore.

And Lu Yuan felt his wife pressing ever closer into his embrace, assuming she was cold.

Alright, don't look any longer, let's head back.

As he was about to hug Su Liyan and head back, Lu Yuan suddenly called out to Gao Tingyu and Gao Xushi:

"You guys have no coal tonight, right?"

"What are we to do tonight? You'll freeze to death—come to my place for some coal, I've got plenty~"

Lu Yuan still needs to go buy another hundred dollars' worth of coal tomorrow.

His kang heating ducts need to burn all winter, day and night, continuously.

A hundred dollars' worth of coal should be enough for the whole winter.

Meanwhile, the people around were a bit bewildered by Lu Yuan's words.

How could this scoundrel be so kind-hearted?

The weeping Gao Xushi, as well as Gao Tingyu, were also dazed.

This?

Before Gao Xushi and Gao Tingyu could say anything, Lu Yuan grinned again and said:

"However, come to my house tomorrow morning to help me clean out the ashes from my kang."

Everyone: "……"

As expected……

But frankly, at this juncture, what's the big deal about helping Lu Yuan clean his kang ashes?

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he then directly said:

"My wife is cold, I'm heading back first—if you want coal, remember to come get it, come early."

We'll be in bed by eight sharp, so whatever you do, don't come then."

Everyone: "……"

Having said that, Lu Yuan put his arm around his wife and left.

This drew a roll of eyes from everyone.

It's just because he's got money!!

And now he's learned to boss people around!!

Despicable!

Let's see how long you can flaunt that money!

……

About an hour later.

Lu Yuan sat in the main hall eating peanuts and drinking a little liquor, while Su Liyan knelt on the floor washing his feet, when a knock sounded at the door.

From outside the door came Chen Taohua's weak voice:

"Brother Lu, Sister Su, are you home?"

Su Liyan hurriedly rose to open the door, seeing Chen Taohua standing alone outside, while Lu Yuan lifted his head and said:

"Come in."

Gao Tingyu and Gao Xushi didn't come; these two certainly couldn't come.

After all, how could they possibly feel embarrassed?

If it weren't for the fear of freezing to death tonight, they wouldn't even let Chen Taohua come.

Chen Taohua stood at the doorway, a bit timid, and said:

"Brother Lu, I'll stay at the doorway and not come in; I just came to get some coal."

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows and said:

"You should come in anyway—it's freezing out there; come warm up, and besides, the coal is in the kitchen, not outside, so hurry in."

And Su Liyan also smiled and greeted:

"Hurry in, little sis—it's bitter out; I'll go get you some coal."

Both Lu Yuan and Su Liyan said this, whereupon Chen Taohua, feeling embarrassed, finally entered.

After Su Liyan saw Chen Taohua enter and closed the door, she then walked toward the kitchen.

Lu Yuan watched Chen Taohua standing in the doorway, curiously looking around, and smiled:

"Have a seat, big sis—don't stand on ceremony, it's fine."

Chen Taohua nodded; there happened to be a stool by the doorway, so she sat down, a little nervous.

Chen Taohua's heart was full of envy—Brother Lu and Sister Su's place is really too warm.

Not long after, Su Liyan came over carrying a prepared bag of coal.

Chen Taohua immediately rose and hurriedly took it, saying:

Lu Yuan big brother, you said where is that ash, and how to scoop it, teach me, I'll come early tomorrow morning.

Lu Yuan was eating peanuts while saying:

Wait a bit then go, you first stay warm here for a while.

Su Liyan continued squatting to wash her husband's feet, turned her head to look at Chen Taohua, pursed her lips and smiled, saying:

Taohua sis, sit down, it's fine.

Chen Taohua watched Lu Yuan washing his feet, not in a hurry either; besides, today Chen Taohua is really going to freeze to death.

At home there's no stove, and we still have to shuffle cold water around, washing and rinsing, it's really going to freeze to death.

It's so warm here, in a moment it'll be nice and warm, just like summer.

Chen Taohua also saw that soft mousse costing over a hundred, and she really felt a bit envious.

After watching Lu Yuan and Su Liyan together, Chen Taohua then said somewhat surprised:

Lu big bro, Su sis, you're both wearing shirts now, this fabric looks like the piece Su sis brought back tonight.

Lu Yuan lowered his head to look, then laughed and said:

It's too hot at home, can't sit still in a sweater or whatever, so I had Su sis make two shirts to wear.

Just now when she came back, Su Liyan tidied up the meal, then sat at the sewing machine and started making clothes with a ga-da ga-da sound.

Her hands are also skillful; in no time she made two pieces.

Chen Taohua nodded repeatedly after hearing that, feeling a bit envious and said:

Su sis, you're really smart; I still haven't learned how to use our sewing machine...

Ah?

Still haven't learned it?

Lu Yuan felt a bit dazed, then Chen Taohua is a bit stupid...

When his wife was just making clothes, Lu Yuan stood beside her and after a while almost understood.

Lu Yuan felt that if he tried it himself, although it wouldn't be as good as his wife's work, it would still be wearable.

I don't know whether Chen Taohua is just being polite or really means it.

At this moment Chen Taohua lowered her head, embarrassed to lift it.

Chen Taohua didn't lie; she really hasn't learned it yet.

Because this matter was also brought up by Gao Xushi...

Lu Yuan looked at Chen Taohua like that... felt it should be true...

When Su sis has free time, come to our house and let her teach you; this thing is simple, you'll learn it right away.

Lu Yuan ate peanuts while saying polite words.

Forget it, my wife is busy enough serving me every day, where would she find time to teach others?

Wouldn't it be better to spend that time playing a few rounds of poker in bed with myself?

And Chen Taohua, seeing Su Liyan attentively washing Lu Yuan's feet, also knew it was just polite talk.

Su sis is busy; she works during the day and has to come back at night to wash clothes and cook.

Chen Taohua truly admires Su Liyan; even not working and just tidying up at home is already tiring for her.

This Su sis has to both work and manage the household.

This makes Chen Taohua feel she really can't compare to Su Liyan.

But... it's mainly because my mother-in-law keeps finding trouble for me, making me do this or that for no reason.

I also don't have any idle time.

By the way, how did you guys handle that matter?

Lu Yuan took a sip of little wine, clicked his tongue twice, and asked curiously:

When mentioning that embarrassing matter at home, Chen Taohua felt even more embarrassed to lift her head, and said with her head down:

From now on, I and Tingyu will give mother-in-law four yuan each month for her support, and that's it.

Lu Yuan nodded, saying, "Look, the crying child gets candy; see, this isn't the extra dollar per month that Gao Xushi caused to be added, is it?"

At this moment, Su Liyan raised her head, smiling sweetly, and looked at Lu Yuan, saying:

Brother~ the washing is done~

Lu Yuan looked at his adorable wife, couldn't help laughing as he pinched Su Liyan's beautiful face, and said:

Alright, you go teach Taohua sis how to scoop ash; I'm going to lie down on the bed.

This ash-scooping, Lu Yuan just taught Su Liyan; after all, I won't be doing this myself in the future, so it definitely has to be my wife who does it.

But this matter is simple, about the same as a stove.

Su Liyan lifted the foot-washing basin, also smiling and nodding, saying:

Mm~ brother~ hurry and go rest on the bed~

After saying that, Su Liyan, holding the foot-washing basin, turned her head to look at Chen Taohua sitting by the door and smiled, saying:

Let's go, Taohua sis.

Just as the two opened the door, Lu Yuan lying on the bed immediately called out:

Wife, hurry up~

Su Liyan's pretty face instantly flushed with shyness, looking at Lu Yuan with bashful timidity, she said in an extremely charming way:

I know~

Chen Taohua beside them blinked.

After Su Liyan went to the water basin, poured out the foot-washing water and came back, Chen Taohua couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

Su sis...... do you guys do this every day?

Su Liyan felt a bit embarrassed, and lightly nodded:

"Hmm~"

Chen Taohua blinked, somewhat unable to believe:

"Brother Lu's physique is so good……"

Su Liyan was so shy she didn't know what to say.

And Chen Taohua didn't ask further.

She just felt somewhat unbelievable.

Chen Taohua had two men, but none were like Brother Lu.

However, seeing such a gorgeous Su Liyan, Chen Taohua also understood something.

Even as a woman, Su Liyan felt she was extremely beautiful, let alone men……

Su Liyan, after bringing Chen Taohua to the firing opening of the Kang heating ducts, opened the Kang door, took an iron hook, and said:

"Little sis, look, that lower layer is where the coal ash is stored; in the early morning you can take this iron hook and pull up the bottom layer of ash to dump it out."

"It's similar to how we handle ash in our stove, just this one is a bit bigger."

Chen Taohua found it novel; it was her first time seeing this heating method.

She inwardly marveled at how clever Brother Lu was.

After Su Liyan taught Chen Taohua, she pursed her lips and smiled:

"Little sis, once you've learned, hurry home; it's freezing outside."

Chen Taohua nodded slightly, carried a net bag of coal back home, but in her heart she thought, "Su Liyan is truly so happy."

……

Deep into the night.

"Brother~~ shall we open a window a bit~~ it's so hot at home~~"

Su Liyan, lying on Lu Yuan, drenched in sweat, coquettishly said:

And Lu Yuan was also soaked in sweat.

It's really too hot; before bed, Lu Yuan added another batch of coal to the Kang heating ducts.

This was the first time using the Kang heating ducts at night, and he didn't know how much coal was appropriate.

Lu Yuan feared it wouldn't be enough for the night, so he added a lot.

The result…… good grief……

In this room they almost died of heat, feeling like their home was practically a sauna.

Not to mention exercising now; even lying still, the sweat poured out.

Lu Yuan nodded. He gasped two breaths and said:

"Fine, but you'd better keep it under control later—no singing."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he got Su Liyan's infinitely shy reply:

"Hmm~~"

Thanks to older brother Yuwen Jingzhe for 283 silver coins, plus 52Hz, and two older brothers Jiangliu Xizi for 100 silver coins.

Many thanks to the three older brothers for their rewards, muah muah~

As usual, first two updates at night totaling eight thousand, then four thousand during the day.

(End of chapter)