MTLNOVEL Chapter 25: This Is My Wife!
Chapter 25: This Is My Wife!
Lu Yuan returned home laden with packages. These items from his mother-in-law’s house were worth at least ten yuan. His mother-in-law had given him everything she could spare from her household.
Of course, Lu Yuan accepted with a clear conscience—after all, he’d given her money later, hadn’t he? If you don’t want the gifts, you can’t give the money.
However, the neighbors in the compound saw things differently. They whispered: “You only gave Su Liyan ten yuan as a betrothal gift, but took so many things from your mother-in-law’s house?”
Lu Yuan ignored these busybodies. After bringing Su Liyan home, he set up a small stool and table outside. Tomorrow he’d have to attend that worthless class again—so annoying!
Su Liyan immediately busied herself putting everything away. She built a small fence in the corner of their yard and placed the three old hens inside. After finishing these tasks, she looked over at Lu Yuan sitting by the door.
“Brother,” she smiled, still holding her tools, “what would you like for dinner? I’ll make whatever you want.”
Lu Yuan, sitting with his legs crossed, replied casually, “I’m happy with anything you cook. First, bring me some crispy peanuts and wine.”
Su Liyan nodded repeatedly. Soon she returned with a plate of crispy peanuts lightly sprinkled with salt and a bottle of wine, placing them on Lu Yuan’s small table.
The neighbors watched Lu Yuan’s comfortable setup with mounting anger. What kind of person goes to their poor rural in-laws and returns with so many things? Is this what marriage meant—extorting goods from your wife’s family? Everyone imagined Lu Yuan as a villain deceiving the honest, simple Su family.
“Bad seed!” they thought. “A complete scoundrel! Best to stay away from him. He’ll sell you out just to count his money!”
As the neighbors glared at Lu Yuan with smoldering resentment, someone approached his house.
“Hey! How can you still afford peanuts? They’re more expensive than meat nowadays!”
A man appeared at Lu Yuan’s door looking about thirty, though he was actually only eighteen—one year younger than Lu Yuan himself. This was Liu Haizhu, the last of the three people of Lu Yuan’s generation in the compound. He was the cook Lu Yuan had mentioned before.
His work schedule differed completely from everyone else’s, making encounters with him rare. Despite his youth, his face was that of a thirty-year-old.
Liu Haizhu stood outside the wall watching Lu Yuan drink and eat peanuts. Without ceremony, he pushed open the low door and walked in, immediately grabbing peanuts from Lu Yuan’s plate.
Had anyone else done this, Lu Yuan would have kicked them out. But Liu Haizhu was different—perhaps the only decent person in the entire compound. Though he looked older and acted somewhat childish, he harbored no ill intentions. He was genuinely kindhearted.
When Lu Yuan’s parents died, Liu Haizhu had stayed with him through the entire process, including obtaining the death certificates. During that difficult time, despite having little money himself, he often brought Lu Yuan food. At the factory cafeteria, he would secretly give Lu Yuan an extra spoonful of vegetables.
His only flaw was his bluntness and lack of tact in conversation, which often offended people. Those who knew him wouldn’t take offense, but others might hold grudges.
Lu Yuan looked at him and raised his eyebrows. “Fresh out of the pan!”
Liu Haizhu grinned. “What do I care? Am I afraid of a little heat?”
Lu Yuan ignored his silly expression and continued eating his peanuts.
“Where did you get these?” Liu Haizhu asked.
Lu Yuan crossed his legs. “My mother-in-law gave them to me. My wife went home today and brought them back. Didn’t you know I got married? Where have you been these past few days?”
Liu Haizhu curled his lips. “Don’t even ask! My father bought mountain goods, and I went to Xiaobei River with him to sell them. Barely sold anything, but sweated all night and fed every mosquito in the area.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuan called toward the house, “Wife, bring another stool and wine glass!”
Liu Haizhu waved his hands. “Forget it! Your reputation’s gone bad lately. When I returned, everyone was talking about you. I should leave quickly—want nothing to do with this mess.”
Lu Yuan just grinned without responding.
Soon, Su Liyan emerged with a stool and wine glass. The moment Liu Haizhu saw her, he froze completely.
“S-sister-in-law… sister-in-law…” he stammered, staring at Su Liyan.
Su Liyan hesitated, confused by being addressed as “sister-in-law.”
Lu Yuan’s face darkened as he watched Liu Haizhu stumble over his words. Suddenly furious, he kicked his friend.
Damn it! This is my wife! Why are you nervous? Why are you stuttering? Are you blushing?!
After kicking Liu Haizhu, Lu Yuan turned to his wife and explained, “He’s from our compound, one year younger than me, and a cook at the factory. His cooking is just average, not nearly as good as yours.”
Su Liyan smiled at her husband’s words. What was he talking about? She could tell Liu Haizhu must be a good friend of Lu Yuan’s and they were just joking around. She was surprised he was actually younger than her husband—he looked so much older.
Liu Haizhu rubbed the back of his head. “When you have time, sister-in-law, I’d love to learn cooking from you…”
Lu Yuan was bewildered. “???”
If anyone else had suggested Liu Haizhu wasn’t a good cook, he would have exploded with anger on the spot. But today? What was going on?
Su Liyan modestly waved off the compliment, but remembered she had food cooking in the kitchen. After a few polite words, she hurried back inside.
Once she left, Liu Haizhu looked at Lu Yuan in amazement. “How did you manage this? Where did you find such a beautiful wife? She’s prettier than the movie star on that billboard!”
Lu Yuan snorted. Never mind the ignorant Liu Haizhu—even Lu Yuan himself had never seen anyone more beautiful than his wife.
Liu Haizhu grabbed another handful of peanuts and walked toward the door. “I want to get married too! You have to help me find a wife like yours!”
Lu Yuan grinned as he watched his friend’s envious departure. He doubted there was another wife like his in the entire world.