The elder sister-in-law preferred the Fang family dynamics—they were much cleaner than her own family’s.
Her father officially had only her mother as his wife, but in reality, maintained three wives, with over ten siblings in the family. She had found it noisy since childhood and only found peace after marriage. Recently, her parents’ family had recovered their old house savings book and suspended interest payments, and this large sum had triggered new family disputes. She couldn’t be bothered to fight, nor could she win anyway.
At the Fang family home, the elders offered money, but the children all declined. She had no urgent need for money, so she declined as well.
No one actively accepted the money Mother Mu had wrapped up.
Fang Muyang knew his mother’s giving was different from his father’s. His father’s offers of money were sometimes just feints—if someone actually took it, Old Fang might jump out and call them vulgar. Coincidentally, Fang Muyang was quite vulgar and liked this assessment. But his mother sincerely wanted to give; her psychological burden was too heavy, always feeling she had wronged her children and wanting to compensate with money, yet none of her children would accept it.
Fang Muyang actively pulled a package toward himself, smiling, “Thank you, Mom.”
Fei Ni glared at him, but Fang Muyang pretended not to see. He took another package and gave it to his nephew, “This is from Grandmother for your family—help your mother keep it.”
The elder sister-in-law hurriedly took the money from her son, trying to return it.
“Sister-in-law, if you don’t take it, I’ll have to deliver it to your home another day.”
“You child.” Though Fang Muyang was married, his sister-in-law still treated him like a child.
Mother Mu smiled and said, “Just take it quickly. This money would just sit unused with me.”
Fang Muyang pushed the last package toward Mu Jing, “Sister, take it too. Consider keeping it for Mom—if you don’t, in a few days, Dad will trick Mom’s money away to buy fake paintings…”
Hearing his wayward son’s slander, Old Fang immediately denied it: “When have I ever bought fake paintings? Everything I bought was authentic!”
In his haste, Old Fang only denied what was most important to him—the accusation of buying fake paintings had far more impact than that of tricking money from his wife.
The young nephew said, “So Grandfather often tricks money from Grandmother to spend.”
The elder sister-in-law quickly scolded her son: “Don’t talk nonsense.”
“But Grandfather didn’t deny it.”
Old Fang sighed—this wayward son was setting him up even in front of his grandson, showing no uncle-like behavior at all.
During the meal, Fang Muyang kept peeling crab for Fei Ni until she couldn’t help saying, “Eat yours, I can do it myself.”
The nephew saw this and said to Fang Muyang, “Little Uncle, peel some for me. I don’t mind you—I think you peel crabs beautifully.” Better than anyone else at the table.
Fang Muyang smiled and said, “But I only want to peel for those who mind me.”
The nephew stuck out his tongue and continued peeling his crab.
He quickly said, “Mom, I can do it myself, please eat yours.”
Fei Ni shared some of the crab meat Fang Muyang had peeled with the nephew.
The nephew immediately brightened up, “Thank you, Auntie.”
The elder sister-in-law gave her peeled crab meat to her son, “Eat this instead—your little uncle hasn’t eaten yet.”
“You eat it, Mom. If I want more, I’ll peel it myself.” The implication was clear—he would still eat what Auntie had shared with him.
Old Fang felt quite gratified—this child was considerate of his mother, unlike his wayward son who only had eyes for his wife. He had no choice but to peel crab for his wife himself.
Crab pairs well with yellow wine. Knowing Fei Ni’s low alcohol tolerance, Fang Muyang only poured her half a small cup. Fei Ni, now aware of her limit, didn’t dare drink more.
After dinner, Fang Muyang took out the camera his sister had given him and photographed the whole family.
After taking over a dozen photos, Old Fang said, “Let me take one of you.”
“No need—I’ll draw myself in after they’re developed.”
“Trust you to think of that.”
Fei Ni and Fang Muyang chatted with the family in the living room for a while before saying goodbye to return home. Mu Jing saw them downstairs.
“Move back home,” Mu Jing suspected her brother and sister-in-law had moved out to make room for her.
“I’ve always wanted a studio with a skylight, and finally I’ll have one—I don’t want to move back. That bedroom, from its orientation to its furniture, was prepared 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, “Though your brother-in-law couldn’t come this time, we chose your gift together—do you like it?”
Doctor Qu hadn’t chosen a wedding gift for his brother-in-law, but he had provided the money.
Fang Muyang said, “Perfect timing—I was just thinking of buying one.”
On their way home, a gust of wind made Fei Ni slightly tipsy.
Fei Ni asked Fang Muyang, “Is Sister suffering over there?” Mu Jing had waited over a year to tell her family about her marriage—Fei Ni felt there must be something wrong.
“If my sister felt wronged now, she would divorce. If she’s not divorcing, it must be okay.” He didn’t know about his sister and brother-in-law’s relationship, but he was certain that at least Qu hadn’t mistreated Mu Jing in their married life. Otherwise, given his sister’s temperament, even if she could endure it, she would only have endured until their parents’ status was restored. If Doctor Qu ever raised a hand against Mu Jing, he would immediately take a train there and beat him up, showing him that the Fang family wasn’t to be bullied. But matters of the heart—he couldn’t control those.
“Why were you so eager to take the money earlier?”
“Didn’t you see? Only after we accepted the money did Mom’s psychological burden truly lift. 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, gave me? It was clearly for you, just passing through my hands.”
Fang Muyang laughed, “For me? Why was it handed to you then? If it was handed to you, it’s yours. But between us, we don’t need to be so particular. How do you plan to spend it?”
“It just arrived, and you want to spend it already?”
“Didn’t you want your own house? Let’s use this money to buy the house we’re living in. What do you think?” Although this house was only part of a larger courtyard, it had been converted into an independent unit with its entrance, quite similar to what he had discussed with Fei Ni before.
Fei Ni hesitated.
Fang Muyang continued, “Do you think you’ll stay at the hat factory forever? You’ll have to give that house to your brother eventually.”
“Where would I go if not the hat factory? My brother will get his housing allocation in the future.” Fei Ni was genuinely tempted by Fang Muyang’s suggestion but quickly rejected it. If she bought a private house, she would theoretically have to give up her allocated housing to others and wouldn’t be eligible for future housing allocations. Though the allocated house was public property, it was still her most important asset, and she was reluctant to give it up.
“I’ll bet you’ll leave the hat factory by next year at the latest.”
Fei Ni didn’t quite believe it, not understanding why Fang Muyang was so certain.
“What if I can’t leave?”
“I’ll be your slave.”
Fei Ni laughed, “No need.”
“What if you lose?”
Fei Ni was willing to lose. She said, “If I lose, I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Then just wait and see.” Even if she couldn’t attend university, Fei Ni had been so diligent in organizing the old man’s manuscripts, and doing it so well—once the old man had work, both publicly and privately, he would have to help Fei Ni find more suitable work. This was one of several reasons why Fang Muyang had initially asked Fei Ni to organize Old Fang’s manuscripts. Despite his many flaws, the old man did value talent.
Fei Ni finally decided: “We won’t buy a house with this money—I’ll save it for you.”
Fang Muyang had no choice but to accept.
On their first day in the new house, Fang Muyang’s small boiler proved useful, allowing Fei Ni to take a hot bath in the small house. Fei Ni soaked in the bathtub Fang Muyang had built for her, her whole body warmed by the hot water, her face covered in steam. The door wasn’t locked—anyone could push it open, and though only she and Fang Muyang were in the courtyard, she still felt nervous.
She had just started to get up to dress when the door opened, forcing her to sink back into the tub.
Fang Muyang brought Fei Ni a cup of milk powder, but before he could hand it to her, she instinctively said, “Thank you, but no need.”
“Since when did you become so polite?”
Fei Ni covered herself with both hands while Fang Muyang fed her the milk powder spoon by spoon, his eyes fixed only on her mouth and the mole on her collarbone, not looking below.
Annoyed at being fed, Fei Ni grabbed the cup, “Go away, I’ll drink it myself.”
“After you finish, I’ll take the cup away.”
Fei Ni tilted her head back to drink the milk powder, but drinking too quickly, she spilled some on her lips. Fang Muyang bent down to kiss away the milk powder from her lips, telling her not to rush.
Fei Ni felt intensely hot all over. She finished the milk powder and gave the cup to Fang Muyang, “You can go now.”
Fang Muyang kissed her forehead, “Go to sleep after your bath—I’ll go organize the studio.”
“You’ve been busy all day, better rest early. The studio can wait until tomorrow.”
Fang Muyang smiled, “But I wouldn’t be able to sleep in bed anyway.” He leaned close to Fei Ni’s ear and asked, “Do you still like our new home?”
Fei Ni couldn’t lie—she truly did like it.
“You’ll like it even more in the future.” Fang Muyang left with the cup, showing her only his back.
When Fei Ni returned to the bedroom through the small courtyard, it was almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon was very round and bright. She deliberately stepped on the stone path, and though it hurt her feet, there was a unique joy in it.
She slipped under the covers, leaving the other half for Fang Muyang, waiting for him with closed eyes, her heart beating fast. On their first day in the new home, Fei Ni had thought Fang Muyang would be more unrestrained than usual, and not knowing how unrestrained he might be, she felt somewhat nervous. But Fang Muyang never came—at midnight, he was still renovating the studio. Fei Ni laughed at herself internally—she had overthought things.