These days, eggs are precious. Although the Lu family was fairly well-off, seeing an entire plate of scrambled eggs go straight into the stomachs of that “shameless pair” made Xu Wenli’s heart ache so much that the corners of her mouth twitched, and even the chopsticks in her hand trembled.
Lu Ming was even angrier, his chest heaving. The bowl of rice porridge in front of him, which had seemed quite appetizing before, now looked like swill impossible to swallow.
Lu Qianqian stared fixedly at the eggs in Su Wan’s bowl, her eyes reddening with anger, wishing she could pounce over and snatch them.
But none of them dared to make a sound.
After last night, they had all witnessed how formidable the two were. They knew clearly that Su Wan was no longer the timid, easy-to-bully girl she used to be. And with Lu Zhaoye practically a living demon by her side, if things really escalated, the Lu family would know no peace.
Better to endure for now and find a way to send the two of them away as soon as possible.
Su Wan chewed on the fragrant eggs, watching the expressions on everyone’s faces like they had swallowed flies and felt an indescribable satisfaction, more refreshing than drinking ice water in the peak of summer.
On this same day in her previous life, she had brought carefully chosen gifts to the Lu family, only to be met with disdain and ordered into the kitchen to work alongside Aunt Xiujv.
By the time she finally finished her chores and returned to the table, the Lu family had already dispersed, leaving her with nothing but leftovers.
From that day on, her position in the Lu family had been set.
Having lived two lifetimes, she had figured it out: when dealing with people like the Lus hypocritical and self-righteous sincerity was useless, and reasoning with them was like talking to a brick wall.
If you wanted to live well, you had to be even more shameless than they were, more ruthless, and only by putting them in their place would they behave.
During the meal, Su Wan and Lu Zhaoye ate voraciously, mouths slick with oil, while the four members of the Lu family ate as if chewing wax, filled with suppressed anger.
After eating her fill, Su Wan set down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth gracefully, and finally got to the point.
“Mom, you have the household registration booklet, right? Zhaoye and I will go get our marriage certificate after this meal.”
The moment her words fell, everyone present was stunned again.
Xu Wenli paused mid-sip of her porridge, set the bowl down, and sighed, speaking earnestly,
“Wanwan, isn’t this… a bit too rushed? I think you should think it over again. This is a lifelong matter don’t act on impulse and regret it later. What happened last night was just a misunderstanding…”
“Mom, I’ve thought it through clearly.”
Su Wan cut her off, her smile unchanged.
“The neighbors all saw what happened last night. It was already quite a scene. If we go back on it now, do we still care about the Lu family’s reputation? Besides, I think Brother Zhaoye is great. I’ve made up my mind about him.”
“Bang!”
Lu Ming could no longer hold back. He slammed his chopsticks on the table and pointed at Su Wan, cursing,
“Su Wan, do you have any shame?! You break off your engagement with me and then turn around to marry him? How desperate are you for a man? So hungry you’ll take anything even a thug like him!”
The insult was extremely harsh. Lu Zhengguo frowned but didn’t stop him.
The smile on Su Wan’s face faded slightly.
She could feel the surge of anger from Lu Zhaoye. Under the table, she reached out and gently held the hand he had clenched into a fist on his thigh.
The veins on the back of his hand bulged he was clearly restraining himself.
Su Wan gave his hand a soothing squeeze before lifting her head and looking at Lu Ming with a mocking smile.
“Second brother, already losing your temper? Even if I were that desperate, I’d still be better than someone who eats from his bowl while eyeing the pot a spineless weakling. Brother Zhaoye may not talk much, but he’s a real man, strong and sturdy.”
She sighed.
“Unlike some people working as a clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative, looking all proper on the outside, but secretly doing shady things. Maybe you should take some supplements otherwise you might not even be able to have children in the future.”
“You you wretched woman…”
Struck at his sore spot, Lu Ming trembled with rage, both furious and humiliated. Under the watchful eyes of his family, he couldn’t stay seated any longer. He abruptly stood up, kicked his chair aside, and fled the dining room in embarrassment.
As soon as Lu Ming left, Xu Wenli’s face turned completely cold.
“Su Wan, watch your language! Where are your manners?!”
Su Wan dropped her smile and looked at Xu Wenli coldly.
“Mom, manners are for people who deserve them. I know you care about Lu Ming and don’t want to give me the household registration booklet. If it were just a broken engagement, you could say the Lu family looked down on me and pin the blame on me. But now I’m marrying the eldest son Lu Ming has nowhere to save face… Still, I won’t make things difficult. If you really don’t want to give it…”
She paused, straightening her collar.
“Then I won’t waste time. I’ll go to Lu Ming’s workplace and ask his superiors to judge the matter and while I’m at it, I’ll tell them about the red undergarment incident last night, so everyone can see what kind of ‘model worker’ the Lu family’s second son really is.”
“How dare you!” Xu Wenli was furious, her chopsticks trembling out of her hand.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Su Wan shot back without yielding.
“Give it to her!”
Lu Zhengguo, who had been silently reading the newspaper, suddenly spoke, his voice deep and authoritative.
Xu Wenli froze, staring at her husband in disbelief.
“Old Lu! How can you”
“I said give it to her!”
Lu Zhengguo slammed the newspaper onto the table, his face dark.
“The situation is already embarrassing enough. If the second son loses his job at the cooperative, where will our family’s dignity go? Besides, the eldest is my son too. Getting married is only natural! Go get it!”
Xu Wenli had never expected her husband to side with Su Wan. Grinding her teeth in anger, her face flushed red.
Under his stern gaze, she reluctantly turned and went back to the room. Moments later, she returned with the household registration booklet and slammed it onto the table in front of Su Wan.
“Take it! And if your life turns out miserable, don’t come crying to us!”
Su Wan didn’t mind her attitude. She picked up the booklet, blew off the dust, slipped it into her pocket with a smile, and hooked her arm through Lu Zhaoye’s, ready to leave then suddenly paused as if remembering something.
“Oh, right. There’s one more thing.”
She glanced around the room.
“Since we’re getting married, we can’t make do with just any place. The eldest brother’s old room is small and drafty definitely not livable. I’ve noticed the west courtyard has been empty. It has good lighting perfect for us after a bit of cleaning.”
“On what grounds?!”
Lu Qianqian jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
“That west courtyard is the studio I picked out! Lighting is crucial for my art I’m putting my easel and plaster casts there! I already told Mom it’s mine! Lu Zhaoye barely comes back for years why should he take it as soon as he returns?”
Su Wan raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Lu Zhaoye beside her finally lifted his eyelids.
His cold gaze fell on Lu Qianqian’s agitated face. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a faint trace of mockery.
“Lu Qianqian, you probably don’t know this.”
His fingers tapped lightly on the table as he spoke calmly,
“This entire Lu family courtyard belongs to my mother’s side. Even the house you’re living in now was built by her family. And that west courtyard… was her favorite place when she was alive.”