The sister-in-law preferred the family dynamics of the Fang family, finding them far more straightforward than her own.
Her father, though publicly married only to her mother, actually maintained three other wives simultaneously. With over a dozen siblings, she had found the household noisy since childhood. It was only after marriage that she finally found peace. Recently, her parents' home had returned the old family residence, savings books, and previously suspended fixed interest payments. This large sum of money had reignited family quarrels, but she couldn't be bothered to fight for her share—nor could she win even if she tried.
At the Fang family home, the elders proactively offered money, yet all the children declined. Having no urgent need for funds, she also refused.
The money Teacher Mu had prepared remained unclaimed by anyone.
Fang Muyang knew his mother's offer differed from his father's. Old Fang sometimes made empty promises about giving money; if one actually asked for it, he might even accuse them of being vulgar. Coincidentally, Fang Muyang was quite vulgar and rather liked that label. But his mother genuinely wanted to give—her psychological burden was too heavy, always feeling she had failed her children, seeking to compensate with money. Yet her children consistently refused.
Fang Muyang proactively pulled the paper-wrapped money toward himself, smiling as he said, "Thank you, Mom."
Fei Ni shot him a glare, which Fang Muyang pretended not to see. He then took another packet and handed it to his young nephew. "This is from Grandma for your family. Keep it for your mom."
The sister-in-law quickly took the money from her son's hands, attempting to return it.
"Sister-in-law, if you don't take it, I'll just deliver it to your house another day."
"You child." Even though Fang Muyang was married, his sister-in-law still treated him like a kid.
Teacher Mu said with a smile, "Just take it quickly. This money is no use sitting with me."
Fang Muyang pushed the final packet toward Mu Jing. "Sis, you should take it too. Consider it saving for Mom. If you don't, Dad will probably sweet-talk Mom out of her money in a few days to buy fake paintings..."
Old Fang, hearing his rebellious son's slander, immediately denied it: "When have I ever bought fake paintings? All my purchases are authentic works!"
In his flustered state, Old Fang only denied the accusation that mattered most to him. To him, the charge of swindling his wife's money was far less shocking than buying counterfeit art.
The young nephew observed, "So Grandpa often tricks Grandma out of her money to spend."
The sister-in-law promptly scolded her son: "Don't talk nonsense."
"But Grandpa didn't deny it."
Old Fang sighed. This rebellious son was even setting traps for him in front of the grandchildren—hardly behaving like an uncle should.
During the meal, Fang Muyang continuously shelled crab for Fei Ni, until she finally said, "Eat yourself. I can manage."
The young nephew, noticing this, told Fang Muyang, "Uncle, shell some for me instead. I don't mind you—I think you shell crab beautifully." Better than anyone else at the table.
Fang Muyang smiled. "But I only want to shell for those who mind me."
The nephew stuck out his tongue and continued shelling his own crab.
He immediately added, "Mom, I can do it myself. You eat."
Fei Ni divided some of the crab meat Fang Muyang had shelled and gave it to the young nephew.
The boy brightened immediately. "Thank you, Aunt."
The sister-in-law offered her own shelled crab meat to her son. "Eat this instead. Your uncle hasn't even eaten his own portion."
"You eat it, Mom. If I want more, I'll shell it myself." Implying that he'd still accept what his aunt had given him.Old Fang felt quite gratified; this child knew how to care for his mother, unlike that rebellious son who only had eyes for his own wife. He had to personally peel the crab for his wife.
With crab paired with yellow wine, Fang Muyang knew Fei Ni’s alcohol tolerance was poor, so he only poured her a small half-glass. Fei Ni was now well aware of her own limits and didn’t dare drink too much.
After the meal, Fang Muyang took out the camera his sister had given him and took photos of the whole family.
Fang Muyang took over a dozen consecutive shots, and Old Fang said, “Let me take one of you too.”
“No need. When they’re developed, I’ll draw myself in.”
“Only you could come up with that.”
Fei Ni and Fang Muyang chatted with the family in the living room for a while longer before saying their goodbyes and heading home. Mu Jing saw them off downstairs.
“Why don’t you move back?” Mu Jing suspected her younger brother and sister-in-law had moved out to make room for her.
“I’ve always wanted a studio with a skylight, and now I’m finally going to have one. I don’t want to move back. That bedroom, from its orientation to the furniture, was prepared just for you. Only you can live there, no matter how few days a year you stay.”
Mu Jing understood her brother meant she could always come home. To ease her brother and sister-in-law’s concerns, she smiled and said, “Although your brother-in-law couldn’t make it this time, the gift we gave you was chosen together. Did you like it?”
Doctor Qu hadn’t actually selected a wedding gift for his brother-in-law, but he had contributed money.
Fang Muyang said, “It came at just the right time. I was thinking of buying one myself.”
On the way home, a gust of wind blew toward them, making Fei Ni feel a little tipsy.
Fei Ni asked Fang Muyang, “Is Sister being treated unfairly over there?” Mu Jing had only told her family about her marriage after over a year, and Fei Ni felt there must be something wrong with that.
“If my sister felt unfairly treated now, she’d definitely get a divorce. If she’s not divorcing, it means she thinks it’s still acceptable.” He didn’t know how his sister and brother-in-law’s relationship was, but he was certain that at the very least, that Qu fellow hadn’t bullied Mu Jing in their married life. Otherwise, given her temper, even if she could endure it, she would only tolerate it until their parents’ status was restored. If that Doctor Qu laid a hand on Mu Jing, he would immediately take a train to his house and beat him up, letting him know the Fang family wasn’t to be trifled with. But when it came to matters of the heart, he couldn’t interfere.
“Why were you so eager to accept the money earlier?”
“Didn’t you see? Only after we accepted the money did Mom truly feel relieved. Someone had to take the lead in accepting it. Mom gave you so much money—what do you plan to do with it?”
“What do you mean, money for me? It was clearly for you, just passing through my hands.”
Fang Muyang laughed, “For me? Then why was it handed to you? If it was handed to you, it’s yours. But between you and me, there’s no need to calculate too carefully. How do you plan to spend the money?”
“You just got it, and you already want to spend it?”
“Don’t you want to have your own house? Let’s use this money to buy the place we’re living in now. What do you think?” Although the house was just part of a larger compound, it had been renovated into a small, self-contained courtyard, similar to what he had previously described to Fei Ni.
Fei Ni hesitated.
Fang Muyang added, “Do you think you’ll stay at the hat factory forever? Sooner or later, you’ll have to give that house to your brother.”"If I don't work at the hat factory, where would I go? My brother will get an allocated apartment in the future." Fei Ni was genuinely tempted by Fang Muyang's suggestion but quickly dismissed it. She had bought a private house, which meant she should theoretically give up her allocated apartment for someone else and wouldn't be eligible for future housing allocations. Although the allocated apartment was public housing, it was still her most important asset, and she was reluctant to part with it.
"I bet you'll leave the hat factory by next year at the latest."
Fei Ni didn't quite believe him and wondered why Fang Muyang was so certain.
"What if I can't leave?"
"I'll serve you like an ox or a horse."
Fei Ni laughed. "No need for that."
"And if you lose the bet?"
Fei Ni wouldn't mind losing. She said, "If I lose, I'll do whatever you ask."
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true."
"Then just wait and see." Even if she couldn't go to university, Fei Ni had put so much effort into organizing Old Fang's manuscripts, and she had done it so well. Once Old Fang returned to work, both publicly and privately, he would have to help Fei Ni find a more suitable job. This was one of the reasons Fang Muyang had asked Fei Ni to organize Old Fang's manuscripts in the first place. Although the old man had many flaws, he still valued talent.
Fei Ni made the final decision: "We won't use this money to buy a house for now. I'll save it for you."
Fang Muyang had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.
On their first day in the new home, the small boiler Fang Muyang bought proved useful, allowing Fei Ni to take a hot bath in the small bungalow. Soaking in the bathtub he had built for her, Fei Ni was enveloped in the steaming hot water, her face misted over. The door wasn't locked, and anyone outside could push it open at any moment. Although aside from her, only Fang Muyang was in the courtyard, she still felt a bit nervous.
After a quick soak, she prepared to stand up and get dressed.
Just as Fei Ni was about to rise, the door opened, forcing her to sink back into the tub.
Fang Muyang had prepared a cup of milk powder for her. Before he could hand it to her, Fei Ni instinctively said, "Thank you, but no need."
"Since when have you become so polite again?"
Fei Ni covered her body with her hands as Fang Muyang fed her spoonful by spoonful, his eyes fixed only on her lips and the mole on her collarbone, avoiding what lay below.
Annoyed by being fed, Fei Ni snatched the cup from him. "You can go. I'll drink it myself."
"After you finish, I'll take the cup away."
Fei Ni tilted her head back and gulped down the milk. In her haste, some of it spilled around her lips. Fang Muyang leaned in and licked away the spilled milk, telling her not to rush.
Fei Ni felt intensely hot all over. After finishing the milk, she handed the cup back to Fang Muyang. "You can leave now."
Fang Muyang kissed her forehead. "Go to bed early after your bath. I'm going to tidy up the studio."
"You've been busy all day. You should rest early. The studio can wait until tomorrow."
Fang Muyang smiled. "But I can't sleep even if I lie in bed." He leaned close to her ear and asked, "Do you still like our new home?"
Fei Ni couldn't lie. She truly did.
"You'll like it even more in the future." Fang Muyang took the cup and left, leaving Fei Ni with his retreating figure.
When Fei Ni returned to the bedroom, she crossed the small courtyard. The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and the moon was full and bright. Deliberately, she stepped on the gravel path with her bare feet. Though it was rough, it brought her a unique kind of joy.She slipped under the covers, leaving the other half for Fang Muyang, and closed her eyes waiting for him to come. Her heart was pounding fiercely. On their first day in the new home, Fei Ni thought Fang Muyang would be even more unrestrained than usual. Not knowing exactly how he might act, she felt a bit uneasy. But Fang Muyang never came. By midnight, he was still decorating his studio. Fei Ni laughed at herself inwardly—she had really overthought things.
Author's Note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2021-10-16 23:07:24 and 2021-10-17 23:46:47~
Special thanks to: Winter Rose for throwing a shallow water bomb; Pillow for throwing 2 landmines; sabrinaplus and amily for throwing 1 landmine each.
Thanks for the nutrient solution irrigation: Chang Xiaoxi (49 bottles), Bing Di Nan Liang Zhi (30 bottles), Chi Changxu's Wife (26 bottles), detalyu (20 bottles), au girl, Spring Field Flower, harperhsu, 22337497, Winter Child (10 bottles each), 3164455, ichich, Beauty Yi Xiu (9 bottles each), Wine Red Eyeshadow, Still Thinking, Tong Qianqian, Old Wine First Warm (5 bottles each), Third Rib (3 bottles), La Bu Ding, Huo Huo Ha Hei, Deep Space Gray, Ling Ling, lighter (2 bottles each), Two Cats One Dog, lily, Mumu Jun!, Yun Qing (1 bottle each).
Thank you all for your support—I will continue to work hard!
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