Chapter 96: My wife is really getting more and more alluring~

Su Liyan's eyes were red at this moment, her voice somewhat trembling as she said:

"Mom~ I didn't……"

But just as Su Liyan finished speaking, Su's mother lashed out with another stick, glaring as she said:

"Backtalk!"

"Do you know your husband has a stomach ailment?!"

"How dare you not make breakfast for your husband!!"

Su Liyan was so frightened she didn't dare speak, only able to hold up her hands, head lowered, sobbing.

……

At this moment, Lu Yuan sauntered out of the village, just about to walk onto the dam of the reservoir, when he heard Su Changliang shouting from behind:

"Brother-in-law!! Brother-in-law!!"

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow at the approaching Su Changliang and said:

"What's up, you want to go fishing with me?"

"Nope, brother-in-law likes to fish alone."

"Surely fishing requires going alone; if I happen to not catch anything…… I can just go buy some!"

"Right!"

"If someone were to follow me…… damn, wouldn't that just give me away?!"

So, Lu Yuan also really wanted to have someone accompany him and chat while he fished.

But in order to keep up the persona of being a fishing expert, he had no choice but to do it this way.

Su Changliang quickly ran up to Lu Yuan, caught his breath, and hurriedly said:

"No, brother-in-law, you'd better go back—my mom is beating my sister; hurry back and see, my mom's really vicious when she hits people!!"

"Huh??"

"Why did my mother-in-law suddenly start beating people for no reason?"

Immediately, Lu Yuan tossed whatever was in his hand to the side and ran after Su Changliang.

When Lu Yuan had run home following Su Changliang,

His wife's tender hand was lashed, leaving a bloody stripe, a bloody stripe.

Lu Yuan embraced his wife from behind, hurriedly pulled her up, both hands rubbing her tender hand, looking bewildered at his mother-in-law as he said:

"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?"

Su's mother, seeing Su Changliang panting beside her, realized it was her son who had brought the son-in-law back.

Immediately, Su's mother also sighed and said:

"Son-in-law, it's Mom's fault for not teaching Liyan well; she's only been in the city a few days and already started being lazy and fond of eating."

"Lazy and fond of eating??"

"No way!!"

"If my wife were lazy and fond of eating, there'd be no hardworking people left in the world!"

Lu Yuan lowered his head to glance at Su Liyan; look, she's crying with tears like pear blossoms in rain, making him feel pity.

At this moment, Su Liyan couldn't stop sobbing, her face full of grievance as she looked at her man.

Lu Yuan embraced Su Liyan, his hands gently rubbing hers, then looked up and said:

"No, Liyan definitely isn't lazy and fond of eating!!"

"What on earth is going on??"

Soon, Su's mother explained why.

Lu Yuan curled his lips and said:

"Hey! That's not the case!"

"The day Changliang said we bought fried dough stick, we were sleeping at the big courtyard."

"At the time the house was being renovated, so we went to the big courtyard; we don't usually stay there, and there's nothing in it."

"Liyan had to buy something to eat in the morning, right? How could she go to work on an empty stomach?"

Su Liyan, held in Lu Yuan's arms, also looked pitiably at her mother, nodding repeatedly and said:

"Yes, Mom, I really am not lazy and fond of eating."

Su's mother was taken aback, then quickly said:

"But you can't eat that well all the time—fried dough stick and steamed bun, spending money so extravagantly."

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Mom, why not? Liyan is my wife; what's wrong with eating well? Our family isn't short of money."

"I'm the one who lets her eat like this; if she didn't, I'd be the one worrying. If you think it's wrong, go ahead and hit me."

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Su's mother froze, then a bitter smile appeared on her face.

"How could I possibly hit my son-in-law?"

"This son-in-law really dotes on his daughter."

"This is my fault, though…… it's also Changliang's fault!!"

Immediately, Su's mother turned to the now-relieved Su Changliang and said:

"Why didn't you make things clear just now?!"

As she spoke, Su's mother walked toward Su Changliang, while Lu Yuan, still holding Su Liyan from behind, turned his head and said:

"Mom, this Changliang really needs a lesson."

Just the other day I heard him not even calling Liyan sister, just standing there saying "you you you"; I then wanted to beat him up, but he got away.

Su's mother glared at Su Changliang upon hearing and said:

You've been in town two days and don't even know your own surname, right?

Su Changliang: "???"

Seeing his mother approaching with a stick, Su Changliang panicked and waved his hands, saying:

Mom… no, mom… ah!!!

……

As noon approached, Lu Yuan held Su Liyan in the main hall, massaging his wife's hands.

Su Liyan lowered her head, leaning into her husband's arms, feeling wronged.

Lu Yuan quietly held Su Liyan, about to say something, when Su Liyan suddenly thought of something, turned to Su's mother and said:

Mom, are we out of chicken at home? My older brother loves our home‑raised chicken; let's go to my second uncle's house at noon to catch a chicken for him to eat.

Lu Yuan: "???"

Lu Yuan quite likes eating chicken.

More precisely, it's the chicken here.

The chicken here is nothing like the earthly kind that grows from chick to adult in under a hundred days; they're worlds apart.

Moreover, the chicken ordinary people can eat on Earth, aside from being meat chickens, is mainly frozen.

Whether it's fried drumsticks or anything else,

they've been frozen for who knows how many days.

The resulting chicken isn't tasty either; simply put, it lacks chicken flavor.

Besides, chicken meat is the cheapest meat on Earth, and Lu Yuan has pretty much had his fill of it there.

Last time they held a feast, Lu Yuan didn't even buy chicken meat.

But the chicken here is quite different.

It truly has chicken flavor!

Whether stewed in soup or stir‑fried, it's incredibly fragrant!!

Especially when clear‑stewed, the broth comes out with a layer of yellow oil floating on top.

It's really not just ordinarily tasty.

Those four chickens we caught here last time, Lu Yuan has already eaten them all.

But then…

Even though his wife is like this, he's still thinking about what to eat for lunch?

Her teary eyes, speaking while sniffling once in a while, that adorable look really makes people love her to death.

Su's mother beside her also kept nodding, looking at Su Changliang chopping firewood in the courtyard, and said:

Changliang, go to your second uncle's house to catch a chicken, and tell your second uncle to come over for lunch as well.

Su Changliang answered with a sound and then limped out the door.

Su's mother looked at Su Liyan sitting on her father‑in‑law's lap, and also shook her head with a faint smile.

Her own daughter, pampered by her father‑in‑law, has become like a little child.

Sitting on her father‑in‑law's lap, acting coquettishly~

Immediately, Su's mother also looked at Su Liyan and said:

All right, all right, don't sit on your husband's lap; it's cold in this room, let your husband go warm up on the kang, and you come with me.

Mom will apply some medicine to your hands.

Su Liyan heard her mother's words, nodded, got up from her husband's lap, and said:

Brother, hurry up and go onto the kang, don't get cold, it's chilly in this house.

Seeing his wife feeling better, Lu Yuan also nodded.

He had originally wanted to go fishing, but thinking about it, his second uncle will be killing a chicken for him to eat at noon, so it wouldn't be good for him to be absent.

Upon entering the inner room, he saw Su Father sitting cross‑legged on the kang, studying the chessboard.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan enter, he also quickly smiled and greeted Lu Yuan to come up onto the kang.

Don't think Su Father now is just like an elder who does nothing at home, as if he's very relaxed.

This is because it's winter, and there's no farm work.

When spring planting and autumn harvest come, there will also be weeding, pest control, hoeing, and so on in the hot summer.

The men in this village are exhausted, working bare‑chested under the sun every day, shouldering hundred‑jin hemp sacks and having to carry them home.

Throughout the year, only in winter can the men sit comfortably on the kang, doing nothing.

Everyone is striving to live; nobody is taking it easy.

……

Liyan, don't blame Mother.

Su's mother, in another room, applied medicine to Su Liyan's bowed head while sighing and said:

Which mother wouldn't feel heartache for her own child?

With that stick striking again and again, how could Su's mother not feel heartbroken?

But there's nothing she can do.

Given the situation at that time, she couldn't not discipline her own daughter.

This isn't just to make her daughter remember the lesson.

The main reason is to let her father‑in‑law see it.

My son-in-law is a caring person, good-natured, but there might be some things that others find hard to accept, though they don't like to say it.

Others might be suppressing it in their hearts.

If I strike him a few times, letting the son-in-law see, perhaps the anger in his heart will just fade.

Of course, my son-in-law truly dotes on my daughter, doesn't think there's anything wrong; this is naturally the best.

If my son-in-law is holding some anger inside, and I don't strike him today to let him vent, wouldn't that be troublesome?

If my son-in-law keeps holding in his anger, and one day it erupts, there will be no turning back.

And Su Liyan nodded seriously and said:

I know Mother is doing this for my own good~

But Mother, rest assured, your daughter is absolutely not an ungrateful person.

The kindness my brother shows me is something you couldn't even imagine; how could I not dote on my husband?

Mother, don't you even know what kind of person your daughter is?

Su's mother, while applying medicine to Su Liyan, nodded and said:

Mother certainly knows, Mother knows my daughter is both diligent and caring.

But Mother is also afraid; you know how outstanding your husband is, with so many people after him.

If you don't become more outstanding, you might be snatched away by someone.

Su Liyan instantly recalled those words spoken by a female worker at the Bing Jia Chang factory at that time.

For a moment, Su Liyan nodded heavily and said:

Mother, I know!

Su's mother gave a slight nod and said:

You don't have a mother-in-law above you to keep you in check, and your husband dotes on you so much; over time you're bound to slack off.

Wouldn't it be better to give Mother two strikes than to be hit by your husband?

Su Liyan also immediately nodded, then she somewhat coquettishly said:

Then Mother, if you want to strike in the future, you must first ask clearly~

We can't be like today anymore~

Su's mother also smiled, pursing her lips, and nodded and said:

Alright~~ next time Mother will first beat Changliang.

At this moment, Su Changliang, who was catching chickens at his second uncle's house, sneezed.

……

Soon Su Liyan's second uncle grabbed the straps of a pair of overalls……

No, he came in holding the two wings of a chicken.

Lu Yuan also got off the bed to greet this second uncle; after all, this person, the second uncle, specially came from home to catch a chicken for me to eat—how could I just sit calmly on the bed?

Su Liyan's second uncle has a temperament similar to Su's father, very honest and simple.

Seeing his older brother's family having such an impressive, promising son-in-law, Su Liyan's second uncle, feeling somewhat uneasy, looked at Lu Yuan and gave an honest smile, saying:

Your son-in-law, you're back.

Lu Yuan also, while handing over a pack of Gu Lou brand cigarettes, smiled and said:

Yes, second uncle, isn't it the Little New Year?

The second uncle wiped his idle hand, then hastily took the pack of cigarettes, smiling.

This second uncle, being honest and not very articulate, thought about saying thank you, but since the son-in-law is after all a junior, not saying it felt odd.

Immediately, the second uncle shouted toward the house:

Sister-in-law, has the water boiled?

As for this son-in-law, Su Liyan's second uncle really wanted to say thank you.

The other day, the son-in-law had someone send over an ox-cart load of things.

Inside were winter clothes and shoes for New Year's for myself, my wife, and the child.

Moreover, after that feast, the things the son-in-law left behind, our family also ate quite a lot.

We've really benefited a lot from the son-in-law.

At this moment, Su's mother also came out of the house and said:

It's boiled, boiled; hurry inside, in a moment I'll cook with Liyan.

Su Liyan also walked out of the house, saying delicately:

Second uncle.

However, Su Liyan's second uncle said:

No need, I'll do it; the son-in-law has come back with great difficulty, let Liyan help me kill the chicken.

Su Liyan also changed into old clothes, not afraid of getting dirty, and immediately smiled and nodded, saying:

Alright, second uncle.

As Su Liyan walked to her husband's side, she extended her jade hand and secretly tickled his palm.

Huh?

Lu Yuan turned his head and saw Su Liyan, her face flushed, glance at him once, then immediately took the chicken from the second uncle's hand and went to the corner.

Lu Yuan also couldn't help but grin.

My wife is really becoming more and more alluring~

Su Liyan's chicken-killing is really neat; with one hand pulling the neck and the other holding a knife, a 'swish' and she lifts the chicken to bleed it.

Lu Yuan glanced at Su Changliang, who stood to the side watching the chicken slaughter while lowering his head to eat peanuts.

He immediately slapped Su Changliang on the back of the head and said:

"What are you looking at? Your sister's hand is hurt, go help!"

Su Changliang quickly responded, then put the peanuts in his pocket and went to help.

Su's mother, standing nearby, wore a smile all over her face.

Having such a brother-in-law looking out for him in the city, Changliang is incredibly lucky.

Su's mother, having come to her senses, also looked at Lu Yuan and quickly said:

"Son-in-law, quickly go warm yourself on the kang, don't get cold."

……

At noon, Su Liyan's third uncle also came carrying a chicken, but seeing that it had already been cooked, he tossed the chicken into the fence wall, saying he would save it to cook for Lu Yuan in the evening.

At noon, it was again Huangjin Tie Sijiao eating on the heated brick bed.

Lu Yuan, Su's father, second uncle, third uncle.

The remaining people were busy in the kitchen.

After the second uncle finished the chicken, he went up onto the kang to eat together.

Everyone drank little liquor together, feeling very pleased.

"Second uncle, your skill is truly amazing; not opening a restaurant to make money is really a pity."

Lu Yuan took a big gulp of chicken soup and couldn't help praising:

This second uncle is honest and simple; he just smiled and said:

"Just make do with eating, just make do with eating."

Lu Yuan, however, seriously said:

"I'm not just being polite, second uncle, your skill is indeed impressive!"

"I've eaten at quite a few restaurants, and what you make is truly good!"

Lu Yuan wasn't lying; this second uncle's skill is absolutely far superior to that of Kou Zhi Guo in the Siheyuan.

The second uncle smiled without speaking, feeling pleased inside as well.

This son-in-law often goes out to eat every few days; being praised by him is truly wonderful.

At that moment, Lu Yuan also picked up a piece of chicken and suddenly said:

"Second uncle, have you never thought about opening a restaurant in the city?"

"Opening a restaurant in the city?"

"Who wouldn't want that!"

"But the problem is... how could this be so easy?"

"Although I can cook, the problem is I don't know any specialty dishes."

"I'm just a village hand for weddings and funerals, so I can only make big pot dishes."

"I can't make anything else either."

"Opening a restaurant in the city without a signature dish to attract customers."

"Just relying on this big pot dish."

"Who would come to eat?"

"Moreover, going to the city requires finding a shop to open."

"One should go to a place with heavy foot traffic, right?"

"If you set up in a remote place, even if the food is good, nobody will go far out of their way to eat."

"In places with heavy foot traffic, the shop rent can be quite expensive."

"With my skills, it's not possible."

"The second uncle knows this himself."

But Lu Yuan smiled and said:

"Second uncle, I know what you're worried about; I'm just asking if you'd like to open a restaurant in the city."

"This..."

The second uncle was startled, then immediately said:

"I definitely have thought about it."

"No matter what, being a cook with this skill is definitely stronger than farming at home."

"This means we can actually make a living in the dynasty!!"

"The key is I have no capital……"

"Or perhaps, this son-in-law plans to open a restaurant and intends to hire me as the cook?"

Immediately, the second uncle excitedly said:

"Son-in-law, if you were to open a restaurant?"

In his haste, the second uncle even used the honorific 'nin'.

Lu Yuan, however, shook his head and said:

"I won't open it; I'm thinking of opening one for you. We're family, so helping you after you killed this chicken for me is no big deal."

"Ah this..."

The second uncle was very excited but also afraid, thinking his skills couldn't bear the responsibility of being a restaurant chef……

After the second uncle's excitement, he sighed, looked at Lu Yuan, and said emotionally:

"Son-in-law, second uncle truly thanks you, but... second uncle knows his own skill; he can only make big pot meals and banquet dishes, nothing else is possible."

"If I mess up for the son-in-law......"

Lu Yuan gave a hehe grin and said:

"Knowing how to make big-pot dishes is enough; if you, Second Uncle, can't make big-pot dishes but only know something else, that's useless."

The three brothers on the kang stared blankly, looking at each other.

What does that even mean?

The three people busy in the kitchen also pricked up their ears to listen.

Why is that?

But Su Liyan knew that since her man had said it, it had to be true!

Her man is awesome~

And Su Changliang also firmly believed that his brother-in-law meant exactly what he said.

Su Changliang would believe it if his brother-in-law said pigs could fly.

Su Changliang was just curious what trick his brother-in-law had up his sleeve.

At that moment Lu Yuan sat cross-legged on the kang, took a sip of wine, and said with a smile:

"After the New Year, the Forging Bureau will build two new factories; the construction funds have already been approved, and they are now selecting sites."

I can get you a shop outside this new factory, Second Uncle!!

Thanks to little Fu Li's flamboyant old brother for the 1500 book-coin reward; thank you so much, old brother—don't be polite, next time just toss a silver alliance reward~

Thanks to the Supreme Diamond VIP old brother for the 100 book-coin reward; thank you so much~

Thanks to both old brothers for the reward, mua~

(End of chapter)