Chapter 42: Can’t Even a Single King Like Me Lead You?

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Lu Lan again and continued, “Their trouble is just a couple’s quarrel; a few words of verbal education should settle it. But Brother Feng is different—this time, I’m afraid it might really…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone understood—he might really end up in jail.

Hearing this, Lu Lan felt proud.

Threatening to report to the police, to put Feng Oldest behind bars.

Only then did Old Lady Qian start to feel afraid.

Feng Oldest was also scared and said to Feng Feng, “Second brother, I lost my temper earlier. Stop your wife from reporting to the police. Your big nephew wants to join the army in a couple of years—you can’t ruin that for him.”

Feng Feng was also frightened. “I won’t report it. Don’t worry, big brother. I won’t say you hit him; I’ll say I fell on my own.”

Lu Lan’s smile stiffened, anger rising in her chest. She shouted, “Feng Feng, you bastard, you’ve just watched me and Rongrong get bullied for so many years, haven’t you?”

She had finally turned the tables and became a “king,” but this dead weight was dragging her down, almost making her furious enough to die.

“We’re family. No need to report to the police. I can’t let my big nephew fail to join the army. I can’t watch my big brother go to jail.”

Lu Lan rolled her eyes, furious.

“Ahem, ahem.” Feng Fourth Grandpa spoke up again.

Seeing that Feng Oldest and Old Lady Qian both realized their mistakes and apologized, he began to criticize Lu Lan.

“You’re a junior. No matter what, you can’t take a stick and hit your grandmother-in-law. You have to be filial where it’s due.”

Lu Lan retorted angrily, “If she treats me well, then I’d be filial. But have you seen how she treats me? How can I be filial to someone like that? I’m not stupid. She didn’t raise me.”

“You weren’t raised by her, but your Feng Feng was.”

“Then let Feng Feng be filial himself. The money he earns, he can use however he wants to be filial—it’s none of my business. If he can’t use my stuff to be filial, then don’t use Rongrong’s stuff to be filial.”

She glanced at her pitiful daughter and added, “That candy belongs to Rongrong. She’s grown up without ever having a piece from that old biddy. Why should she give her candy away?”

Feng Fourth Grandpa had no rebuttal but didn’t want things to escalate and become a joke.

“Alright, alright. I’m the team leader, and I’ll decide. Let’s call it even for today. You two brothers are living separately now. If you can’t get along, then just keep your distance. Mind your own households. Dawa, don’t send your mother to your brother’s family to freeload.”

Feng Oldest’s face changed.

Old Lady Qian protected her son and anxiously said, “Don’t say nonsense. Isn’t my youngest son filial to me?”

Feng Fourth Grandpa said, “Wasn’t it agreed when you split the family? The big house belongs to the eldest family. The second son took his wife and kids out. In the future, your old age care belongs to the eldest family.”

“I… old age care belongs to the eldest family, but my son should still be filial. You can’t stop my son from being filial, can you?”

That statement left Feng Fourth Grandpa speechless.

Feng Feng was her son; he fed her, gave her money to spend—if Feng Feng was willing, no outsider could interfere.

“Alright, alright, I don’t want to get involved in your family drama. This matter is settled. No more arguing.”

Then he turned to his own son and said, “Go get the medicinal wine from under my bed and give some to Feng Feng. That’s that. Everyone, don’t stand around—disperse.”

Each went back to their own home.

Gu Yuelin stepped forward to help Feng Feng and stayed to help dress his wounds.

Because Lu Lan wasn’t involved and was especially angry, she took her child and went with Feng Mian to Feng Mian’s home.

Feng Feng sighed, “Yuelin, thanks for your help.”

Gu Yuelin replied, “No trouble. Brother Feng has helped us a lot too.”

“We’re neighbors, no need to mention that. Your wife is probably… sigh!”

“Brother Feng, don’t worry. Mianmian will talk to her properly. She’s just upset now. Once Mianmian convinces her, she’ll calm down.”

Feng Feng nodded, then after a moment asked, “Did you really serve in the army?”

“Yeah, I did serve.” It wasn’t a secret.

“No wonder you stand so straight. Does joining the army really require checking three generations of ancestors?”

“It’s true. Any decent job in the city requires a political background check.”

At Feng Mian’s home, Lu Lan happened to ask about this too.

“Do they really check that?”

“Of course. It’s called political review. Any decent job requires it.”

“I get it. In dramas, they call it implicating three generations.”

Feng Mian was a bit surprised—actually, implicating three generations isn’t exactly what it means, but she smiled at the way Lu Lan said it.

Lu Lan laughed too, saying, “Mianmian, I won’t be a pushover anymore. I know how to deal with those shameless people now. If they dare mess with me again, I’ll fight back. I only have one daughter; I’m not afraid. They have three sons—if any of them lay a hand on me, I’ll report them to the police. Want to join the army? Hmph, I’ll drag their whole family down; no one will be able to join.”

Seeing her change so much, Feng Mian felt relieved.

Lu Lan was in a great mood. She was fed up with being a doormat—better to be a crazy woman than weak and helpless.

“Mianmian, it’s thanks to you that I finally have guts.”

Over these days, Feng Mian had unintentionally said some things that affected Lu Lan.

Of course, the key was that Lu Lan wanted to save herself; she didn’t want to be a loser her whole life.

People like Feng Feng, don’t bother trying to give advice. Even if you dragged them by the ear and forced methods into their head, they might not listen.

“Oh, Lan-jie, Rongrong misses school. Did she tell you?”

Lu Lan nodded, “She did, but I don’t have the money yet. We have to wait a bit longer.”

“In a few months, Rongrong will be nine years old. It can’t wait anymore.”

Saying that, Feng Mian took out ten yuan and put it into Lu Lan’s hand.

Lu Lan was startled, “Mianmian, what’s this for?”

“School starts in a few days. Lan-jie, take this money and send Rongrong to school.”

“Ah? This…”

“Don’t refuse.” Feng Mian interrupted, “Consider it a loan. Pay me back when you have the money.”

“You’ve had a tough time too—your wedding banquet, bringing your husband home—must have cost a lot.”

“No worries, that’s from the gift money I got yesterday.”

“You don’t need that much. Eight yuan is enough.”

Feng Mian said, “Eight yuan was last year’s rate. This year it went up to ten. I checked.”

Lu Lan was touched and held the money tightly in her hand.

“I’ll pay you back when I’ve saved enough. Rongrong, come thank Auntie.”

Feng Rongrong immediately said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Feng Mian gently rubbed her head.

She really liked this child.

Thinking about her fake marriage with Gu Yuelin, and how she still had to work hard once policies relaxed, she didn’t know when in her life she’d meet someone to have children with.

For now, helping raise Lu Lan’s child was at least some early practice.

…

Lu Lan was really angry at Feng Feng, almost wanting to just give up on him—but then she felt sorry for him too.

The next day at the production team’s work, Feng Feng limped out carrying a hoe.