Chapter 99: In this courtyard, only one person can show off, and that's me

And Su Liyan, after taking the fish from her husband's hand, also simply had no intention of giving any to her parents.

She turned and, with a backhand, hung it on the wooden bucket.

After finishing these, Su Liyan then turned to go out and catch chickens.

And Lu Yuan, after coming to his senses, hurriedly said:

"No, where did these three sacks of white flour come from?"

Su Liyan blinked, then hurriedly said:

"It's the leftovers from the banquet you held last time, brother—you bought too much last time, so there's a lot left."

Lu Yuan was speechless for a moment, then said:

"The problem is, if you take it all, what will our parents eat?"

Su Liyan blinked, then said:

"They still have some; I left them half a sack. Besides, Changliang won't be living at home anymore, so the two of them can't eat much."

Lu Yuan: "..."

"The problem is, we're two people too, we can't eat much either, and we still need to come back for New Year to make dumplings, which still requires white flour, right?"

Su Liyan blinked, then hurriedly said:

"That's enough; we still have a lot of mixed flour at home, brother—you like eating the pancakes I make, so I'll take more back to make pancakes for you to eat~"

Lu Yuan: "..."

And Su's parents beside them also hurriedly said:

"It's fine, son-in-law, your stomach isn't good, you go back and eat more; we eat differently anyway, having mixed flour is fine."

Lu Yuan felt it was unnecessary, and he himself wasn't lacking food.

He indeed loves eating the pancakes his wife makes for him, but he can't eat them every day, every meal.

Compared to these wheat foods, Lu Yuan actually prefers eating plain rice.

Besides, he occasionally goes out to eat at restaurants.

These three sacks of white flour aren't necessary.

Immediately Lu Yuan pursed his lips and said:

"The key is, with so much stuff, we can't take it back—you forgot how much you took last time, the horse couldn't even run."

"If we tried to load all this onto the horse, we probably couldn't even ride it."

Afraid Su Liyan would suggest getting a cart, Lu Yuan quickly added:

"We need to hurry back tonight, otherwise the courtyard will be locked from inside; a cart would be too slow—listen to brother, be good, don't take so much."

However, Su Liyan hurriedly said:

"It's fine, brother, I've figured it out—Changliang isn't taking the ox cart back tomorrow, we can just put everything on his ox cart."

"When he gets to town, he'll first go to our place and then directly deliver it home."

Su Changliang beside them also nodded repeatedly and said:

"Brother-in-law, it's fine; my sister has already planned everything."

Lu Yuan: "..."

In the end, Su Liyan ran off to catch chickens for Lu Yuan.

This...

However, the one who still has the final say in this household is Lu Yuan.

In the end, Lu Yuan still carried back two sacks of white flour.

If Lu Yuan remembers correctly, there's still another half sack at home.

Bringing back this many sacks really can't be finished.

Lu Yuan insisted, and Su's parents couldn't say much, also knowing it was the son-in-law being considerate of the old couple.

Lu Yuan sat in the courtyard smoking with Su's father, waiting for Su Liyan to catch chickens, when he saw Su Changliang suddenly take off his shoes and bustle toward the house, saying:

"Mom, I've got a blister on my foot—could you get me a needle?"

At that moment, Su's mother was inside cooking; since her son-in-law and daughter were about to leave, she first made something to eat.

That way, when they return at night, they can just go straight to sleep.

Su's mother handed Su Changliang a kerosene lamp and a needle, then went back to cooking.

Su Changliang sat with his foot raised, picking at the blister himself.

He shivered and hissed.

"You walk every day—how can you still get a blister?"

Lu Yuan took a puff of smoke, smiling and teased:

"Maybe you rushed back yesterday and your new shoes don't fit well."

Su Changliang lifted his head, glanced at Lu Yuan, and also laughed:

Lu Yuan watched Su Changliang pick at the blister, but didn't say anything.

He watched and watched...

Lu Yuan suddenly blinked, thinking...

Hmm...

"Could I possibly rig up a bicycle?"

Thinking of this, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up involuntarily.

"Exactly!!"

"A bicycle!!"

Given the Great Zhou Dynasty's current level, making a bicycle's technology is absolutely more than enough!

What technology does a bicycle even have?

After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty can now produce precision items like sewing machines.

Not to mention something like a bicycle.

The spokes, bearings, and chain on a bicycle—the most technically demanding parts—are nothing in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

However, speaking of which…

Why hasn't anyone in the Great Zhou Dynasty invented such a simple-technology bicycle?

Lu Yuan thought for a moment.

Maybe it's because demand isn't high.

Hmm…

To be precise, there are substitutes now!

Looking at human history, one finds that the emergence of something only occurs in two situations: urgent need, followed by investing top talent and technology in research.

Many later things are derived from this research.

The other is accidental discovery.

For example, when people often see certain traditional foods, they say that because a waiter in some year forgot the heat and the time, they accidentally discovered that making it this way tastes good.

Let's not discuss whether this story is true.

Many things were invented this way, accidentally.

Meanwhile, the other situation is urgent need.

For example, the great technological explosion of Earth's humanity occurred during WWII.

Because of urgent need.

First of all, a bicycle generally wouldn't come about through accidental discovery.

As for urgent need…

The Great Zhou Dynasty actually has many oxen and horses as transport animals.

Moreover, the Great Zhou Dynasty's population currently operates over a relatively small area.

It's like villagers basically stay in the village.

And the jobs assigned to city dwellers are also close to home, with at most a half-hour walk.

What would that be like…

It's like some orthodox cultivation worlds, where human civilization spans tens or hundreds of thousands of years, and the cultivators aren't foolish or stupid, so why haven't they developed technology?

Because they don't need it.

Cultivators can fly, so why research airplanes or cars?

Cultivators can burn the heavens and boil the seas with a raise of hand—why would they bother researching something as trivial as nuclear fusion?

Different directions of discovery lead to different historical paths, so naturally some things won't appear.

Anyway, Lu Yuan explains why the Great Zhou Dynasty has sewing machines but not bicycles.

Moreover, he feels his explanation is fairly reliable.

As for whether others find it reliable…

The Great Zhou Dynasty simply doesn't have bicycles, damn it!

What can Lu Yuan do about it?

There just aren't any!

Besides explaining it this way, how else could one explain it?

Lu Yuan thinks he can make a bicycle.

That way, Su Changliang will find it easier to get home.

If he rides a bicycle, he'll be back in two or three hours.

As for when to make it…

Wait until Lu Yuan has something to ask Director Xu for help with.

Showing up uninvited to deliver things isn't Lu Yuan's style~

While Lu Yuan was pondering…

Su Liyan returned, holding two chickens in one hand and a basket of persimmons in the other.

Not only did Lu Yuan come, but his second and third uncles also came to deliver things.

The second and third uncles also carried a lot of mountain produce.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan could only smile helplessly.

My wife… really can drag stuff into our home…

After setting down the chickens, Su Liyan picked up the basket full of persimmons, went to the pond, washed two clean, then came before Lu Yuan.

With her small hand she pinched open a persimmon's mouth, handed it to her man, and said coquettishly:

"Brother~ my third uncle's persimmons are so sweet~"

Lu Yuan wasn't polite either, sucking twice on the small opening his wife had pinched.

Sure enough, it's truly sweet.

The ripe persimmon's interior is like jelly—smooth and sweet, really delicious.

However, Lu Yuan dared not say so, fearing his wife would turn back and pick all the persimmons from her third uncle's tree.

Su Liyan didn't waste what Lu Yuan had sucked; she opened her small mouth and sucked hard twice, then ate it all.

At that moment, Su's mother had also finished cooking the meal.

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan finished eating, then mounted their horses and returned to Huangcheng.

Before leaving, they also took some things, after all they couldn't let Su Changliang carry everything.

On the way back they weren't in a hurry either.

They walked and stopped intermittently, only reaching home after eight o'clock.

Before this, people in the siheyuan would still come out after eight to chat, play cards, or go outside for a stroll to digest their food.

But in the deep winter, after finishing their meal everyone basically just went to bed.

When Lu Yuan and Su Liyan returned to the courtyard, they happened to see the third elder coming out to lock the gate.

The third elder manages the front courtyard; usually at night it's him who comes out to lock the door.

Seeing Lu Yuan, the third elder was momentarily startled, then instantly noticed the things on the horse.

For a moment the third elder was at a loss for words.

In other towns, a man marrying a village woman is considered a loss, but here with Lu Yuan it's the opposite—marrying Su Liyan is a real windfall.

The third elder also has an unmarried son, and for a moment he wondered whether he should also find a village girl nearby for his son.

"Yo, so many persimmons—are they sweet?"

Lu Yuan led the horse without stopping, not looking back, and said:

"They're sweet."

Watching Lu Yuan walk away without looking back, the third elder couldn't help but curl his lip.

Trying to take advantage of this kid is harder than climbing to heaven!!

After returning home, Lu Yuan did nothing and went straight to bed to sleep.

He had been frozen outside all day, and on top of that he hadn't slept well that morning, so he was sleepy.

Meanwhile, Su Liyan brought the things home, lit the kang heating ducts, put the things away, then went to bed to hug her husband and fell asleep with a happy smile.

The next day, early morning.

Lu Yuan woke up warm and cozy.

He stretched a big yawn in bed, making an indistinct sound of comfort.

Lu Yuan couldn't help but sigh, home is still the most comfortable.

"Brother~ why are you up so early today?"

A soft, alluring voice came from beside him; Lu Yuan turned his head and saw Su Liyan wearing red long underwear, her hair casually tied behind her head, pouring hot water into the thermos.

Looking at his beautiful wife, Lu Yuan couldn't help but click his tongue.

His wife's figure looks good in anything.

Those red long underwear look ordinary on other women; indeed, most people can't pull off that bright red long underwear.

Wearing them makes one look like an old lady.

When his wife wears them, she's truly a top-notch model~

Add to that his wife's peerless beautiful face, and these clothes look like high-end goods.

Lu Yuan didn't rush to get up either; he lay in bed, propping his head with his hand, turned sideways, and smiled at his wife.

"Wife, how were you born like this? How are you so beautiful~"

Su Liyan felt sweet inside hearing her husband's praise, sweeter than honey.

As for her own beauty…… Su Liyan naturally knows it too.

After all, she's been praised like that since childhood.

She's heard such talk since she was little; but hearing it so often, she's become numb to it.

But when praised by her husband, Su Liyan is like a girl experiencing her first love, extremely shy.

After finishing pouring hot water into the thermos, Su Liyan came to her husband's bedside, squatted down, and looked at Lu Yuan with a smiling gaze.

"Brother~ I'll make you fried pancakes to eat this morning."

Lu Yuan glanced at the wall clock and said:

"Is there not enough time?"

Su Liyan shook her head, pursed her lips, and said sweetly:

"It's fine; I started the dough last night when I got back, and with the warmth in our room it rose overnight~"

Lu Yuan really did want to eat a bit, but seeing the time he raised his eyebrows and said:

"It's too much trouble, morning time is tight, just make something simple; you were busy all day at home yesterday, and last night you came back riding the horse, jostled and tired, so just make something quick, eat, and rest."

Su Liyan pouted, shook her head repeatedly, and acted coquettishly:

"It's not troublesome~ I like serving Brother~"

Looking at his wife's beautiful face up close, especially her cute coquettish look, Lu Yuan couldn't help but grin.

Then he leaned forward slightly and kissed his wife, saying:

"Alright, Brother really does want to eat~"

Hearing her husband's words, Su Liyan felt immensely sweet, and then said:

"So Brother, do you want to get up now, or sleep a bit more?"

He had gone to sleep as soon as he got back yesterday, at eight o'clock; he's already slept nearly eleven hours, so now he can't sleep any more.

Besides, today Lu Yuan also plans to go find Liu Shoucai.

His father-in-law's house, Lu Yuan intends to have these people build it.

If he goes late, he fears they might be taken away and he won't find them, then he'd have to go again tomorrow.

Moreover, Lu Yuan really can't estimate the building materials needed for the house.

Bringing Liu Shoucai along, I'll show him this design draft and let him help me estimate, so I won't end up buying too much or too little later—either way it's a hassle.

Lu Yuan immediately said:

Not sleeping, let's have breakfast with my beautiful wife~

Su Liyan's beautiful eyes curved like crescent moons, her smile especially lovely.

Su Liyan also stood up immediately to help Lu Yuan put on his clothes.

Lu Yuan hurriedly said:

No need, go make pancakes; finish early so we can eat early, you can rest ten minutes before leaving, otherwise if you go out right after eating, cold wind will blow into your mouth and your stomach will hurt~

Su Liyan also laughed and nodded repeatedly, saying:

All right~

After Lu Yuan put on his clothes and pants, he took a big red basin and poured some of the just-boiled scalding hot water his wife had just heated.

Then he went out to the pond to fetch some cool water.

When Lu Yuan arrived at the pond, Pang Kaige also came out.

Coming up beside Lu Yuan, Pang Kaige raised his eyebrows and said:

Hey, you actually get up early and wash your face yourself?

Huh?

Lu Yuan gave Pang Kaige a strange look.

Usually Pang Kaige avoids me by taking a detour when he sees me; today how dare he come up to me?

His words, inside and out, seem to be squeezing me.

Looking at him, Pang Kaige seems quite pleased with himself.

The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and you think you're capable again?

Lu Yuan froze for a moment, then suddenly noticed something, huh??

I didn't notice last night when I came back in the dark, but why are there double happiness characters pasted on the Pang family's doors and windows?

Pang Kaige... got married!!

Was it just during these two days when I returned to my hometown for the Little New Year?

Oh~ no wonder he's feeling full of himself~

Kind of interesting.

Lu Yuan isn't in a hurry either.

He just raised his eyebrows and said:

Hey, what's this talk? I, your brother, am quite diligent~

Pang Kaige, hearing Lu Yuan's words, couldn't help but scoff in his heart: 'People let Su sister wait on you every day, and you still claim to be diligent?'

You diligent my ass!

However, Pang Kaige doesn't care about that; what Pang Kaige cares about is……

Are you blind, Lu Yuan?!!

You didn't see the double happiness characters pasted on my door?!!

Hurry up and ask me what's going on!!

Let me show off, show off!!

Lu Yuan, who had just fetched the cool water and started washing his face and brushing his teeth, didn't ask either; Lu Yuan knew what mischief Pang Kaige was holding back.

Pang Kaige's wife is surely that one I saw at the noodle shop last time; she's quite a catch, her father is an official in the blue-cuff rank.

Pang Dekai probably wants to show off to me that he married a good wife, but doesn't know how to bring it up.

For now he's holding it in, then waiting for me to ask.

Pfft, this old trick—brother's used it to death, too lazy to even use it!!

And you still want to show off to your brother?

In this courtyard, only one person can show off, and that's me, Lu Yuan.

You want to show off?

I'll deliberately not ask, just to suffocate you!!

Thanks to Old Brother Xingxing for the 1666 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to Old Brother Wo Zhen Bu Kan Xiaoshuo for the 500 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to Ultimate Diamond VIP Old Brother for the 200 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to Yufeng 1016, Xiao Xi, Shu You 202004, Sai Li Ya, four Old Brothers for the 100 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Mua mua~

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(End of chapter)