Chapter 186: The Fu Family’s Scheming Calculations

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: The Fu Family’s Scheming Calculations

"Does Old Fu want to repair the relationship with her?" Li Jianlu asked his wife.

"Nonsense. If he truly has good intentions, I’d let you chop off my head and use it as a stool!" Li Cuihua rolled her eyes. She would never believe that the hypocritical Fu Minghua genuinely wanted to reconcile with Fu Xiaoxiao.

"But what if?" Li Jianlu asked puzzled. "Are you hiding something from me? Otherwise, why are you so antagonistic towards Old Fu?"

"Oh! I’ll be honest with you now, I’ve seen that old fox next door being two-faced more than once." Now that she had ’evidence,’ Li Cuihua was finally willing to share what she had seen with her husband, who finally believed that Fu Minghua was no good.

"I’ve told you several times in the past, but you never believed me and even called me petty! Now the girl backs me up, see, that Fu person is no good!" Li Cuihua said seriously, leaning close to her husband’s ear and told him about the time she saw Fu Minghua pretending to be nice while secretly reporting to the supervisor.

"Just like last time when they were selecting for the outstanding employee award, everyone knew that it was definitely going to Old Chen, yet who ended up with the spot? I happened to see Fu Minghua coming out of the supervisor’s office that day, and if you tell me it had nothing to do with him, I won’t believe it even if I’m dead." Li Cuihua said to her husband.

"If that’s the case, then it really is..." Li Jianlu agreed, sensing something odd about the situation. Everyone knew who deserved the award, yet the deserving person didn’t get it, and the undeserving one did.

"So they keep pretending in front of us that they live harmoniously, with a loving mother and filial child, but look at Fu, her clothes are hand-me-downs from her sister, the work is all hers, and does she ever get any credit?" Li Cuihua commented seriously, as anyone with insight could see the most discordant part of their family dynamic.

If they truly were that harmonious, why is Fu Xiaoxiao the one who does all the work, why does she never get any of the benefits, even when the whole family goes to a movie, Fu Xiaoxiao is left at home to watch over the house. Do they really lack just one movie ticket?

No matter how well they pretend, there will always be moments of slip-ups.

"What do you think?" Li Jianlu had gradually come to trust his wife’s words and looked at her questioningly.

"Either they can’t stand Fu being happy, trying to do something to her, or... there’s something about her that Old Fu is after," Li Cuihua thought aloud, sharing her idea.

"It’s probably the second one, right?" Li Jianlu considered, thinking the second possibility seemed more likely.

"When you’re at work, keep an eye on Old Fu’s recent happenings and report back to me. I’ve been cooking near our front door lately to watch what the Fu family is up to!" Li Cuihua explained her plan, and Li Jianming nodded.

"Alright, I’ll keep watch." Li Jianming agreed.

The Fu Family was unaware that they were being watched. As soon as Fu Xiaocui learned that Fu Xiaoxiao had married a soldier, and not just any soldier, but one with quite a rank, she was utterly upset.

She thought Fu Xiaoxiao should be suffering and farming in the countryside, but instead, she was given such opportunities. If it had been her sent to the countryside, she’d be the one enjoying life in the military now.

The more she thought about it, the more unbalanced she felt, to the point where Fu Xiaocui didn’t even want to go to work.

These temporary positions only paid a few bucks a month, were exhausting, and rarely led to permanent positions.

Unlike Fu Xiaoxiao, who could sit at home and receive a stipend each month, spending it however she pleased!

"Mom! Did you find anything for me yet? I don’t want to go to that lousy job anymore. Look at my hands, they’re peeling!" As soon as Fu Xiaocui got home, she complained to her mother.

"Oh dear, your hands are really peeling. I’ll give you a dollar to buy some clam oil and apply it." Seeing her daughter’s hands cracked from the cold, Mrs. Fu felt concerned and quickly took out money for her daughter to buy hand cream.

"Mom! What can I buy with just a dollar? Weren’t we using Snow Cream before? Where’s my Snow Cream?" Fu Xiaocui dissatisfiedly looked at the dollar, having always preferred high-quality goods.

"The family money is tight lately, just buy something to use for now, and I’ll make it up to you when we have more money," Mrs. Fu consoled Fu Xiaocui.

"Don’t forget then!" Though discontented, Fu Xiaocui accepted it. "What about my matchmaking? Did you find anyone?"

"I’ve found several, but you didn’t like any of them." Mrs. Fu looked at Fu Xiaocui; people were interested in her, it was her who wasn’t interested in them.

"Those you found are merely ordinary soldiers, how much stipend do they get! You should look higher, otherwise, I’ll be outdone by Fu Xiaoxiao!" Fu Xiaocui complained. Those people were unattractive, too dark from the sun, and couldn’t relocate with her to the army, and their stipends weren’t high. How could she marry them!

Fu Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, can relocate with her spouse and surely receives a substantial stipend each month.

She couldn’t let herself be outdone by her!

"Darling, I want you to marry well too! But it’s not easy to find such types!" Mrs. Fu wanted even more than Fu Xiaocui for her to marry better than Fu Xiaoxiao, but the conditions were limited, and their daughter’s demands were for someone good-looking with a high rank, qualifications that their family could hardly access.

"I don’t care, if it’s less than what Fu Xiaoxiao has, I don’t want it! You have dad keep looking! I’m so pretty, they’ll definitely like me." Fu Xiaocui boasted proudly, lifting her chin.

"Yes, my daughter is naturally beautiful." Mrs. Fu said with a satisfied smile.

"Any news about Fu Xiaoxiao?" Fu Xiaocui mentioned Fu Xiaoxiao with an unhappy look.

"Your dad already found out where that little brat is, and as soon as we ask her to come back, she’ll surely come running." Mrs. Fu sneered, suggesting it’s easy to manipulate Fu Xiaoxiao into doing things for the family.

That little brat had always tried to impress them, hoping to be noticed. They saw her intentions and could easily have her accomplish family tasks; she would listen no matter what.

If she ever got temperamental, a few gentle words would make her come back eagerly.

This time, although she went to the countryside and married well, her nature couldn’t possibly change.

"What if she refuses to come back?" Fu Xiaocui raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"She can’t refuse. We gave birth to her and raised her; she can’t just discard us after her life turned good. If she refuses to honor us, the public scorn would drown her. And her husband in the army cares a lot about character." Mrs. Fu said coldly.

"That’s dad’s way of handling it." Fu Xiaocui knew right away it was her father’s idea; her mother wouldn’t have thought of such a plan.

"When she returns, I want a new dress! It’s been ages since you bought me new clothes." Fu Xiaocui hugged her mother and pouted.

"Alright, alright... We’ll have her buy it for you!" Mrs. Fu said, patting her daughter with a smile.

"Mom is the best! Is the meal ready? I’m starving." Fu Xiaocui, satisfied with the answer, let go of her mother.

"Yes, it’s ready. We’re just waiting for your dad and brother to come home, then we can eat." Mrs. Fu brought dishes from the kitchen to the table.