Married but Untouched! Her Soldier Husband Came Home Dumbfounded! - Chapter 45

Sun Xiujü glanced at her daughter-in-law’s face as she spoke. Fangfei was smiling and listening quietly, she didn’t look upset at all.

She continued, “Yesterday, your father and I discussed that from now on, Zhanxun should stop sending money to us and send it all to you. Honestly, we should have arranged it this way when you two got married, it was our oversight.”

At last, Ye Fangfei understood. It must have been because yesterday afternoon, when she went shopping, her mother-in-law gave her some money as usual, but accidentally let something slip. Fearing Fangfei would be upset about Shen Zhanxun sending money, she’d gone to ask Shen Cuijuan first thing in the morning.

Fangfei almost laughed to death. Could her usual calm and reasonable demeanor make her mother-in-law think she was unreasonable?

Her son had been away from home for years; sending money to his parents was perfectly normal. Why would she be angry?

“Mom,” Fangfei said, “even though Shen Zhanxun and I are married, he’s still your son. Just like I honor my parents, it’s only right that he honors you.”

“If someone marries and then neglects their parents, that’s unforgivable. If Zhanxun were such a person, I’d only look down on him,” Sun Xiujü said.

Fangfei’s words touched her mother-in-law deeply. Her eyes turned red, and a single tear slipped down her cheek. She opened her mouth but could say nothing for a long moment.

Fangfei patted her hand gently, teasing, “Mom, don’t overthink it. Your daughter-in-law isn’t that petty. Don’t worry—I’ll never fight with Zhanxun over money.”

Sun Xiujü wiped her tears and smiled. “You little girl…”

Fangfei stretched, grinning, “Stop worrying so much. Go check the braised pork—if the pot burns, that entire batch will just be for us to eat ourselves.”

“My precious braised pork…”

With a slap to her thigh, Sun Xiujü dashed off like lightning.

Chen Qian worked efficiently, and within a few days, she brought Fangfei good news.

Shen Zhanqiang’s school placement had been finalized. Tomorrow, he will register and start repeating a grade at Huayang Middle School.

The happiest of all was Shen Zhanqiang himself. He chased Fangfei nonstop. “Sister-in-law, really? Can I go to school in the city? I don’t have to walk home alone every day?”

“Yes, yes, it’s true.”

Fangfei rolled her eyes at his endless chatter, warning him, “I’m telling you—study hard. Next year, you at least must pass vocational school. If you don’t, I’ll break your legs and send you back to the countryside to farm. You’ll fend for yourself!”

Shen Zhanqiang turned silently, thinking he shouldn’t have spoken up—repeating a grade didn’t entitle him to an opinion.

Suppressing a smirk, Fangfei went back to counting the shop’s money. It had been a little over a month since it opened, and today was payday.

This week, her second brother and sister-in-law worked the night shift. As they left in the morning, Fangfei handed them their wages.

The brothers earned forty-five yuan each, the sisters-in-law forty. Business had been good this month, so she gave a five-yuan bonus to each.

Shen Jianhua and Ye Laifu also earned forty-five a month. Sun Xiujü had been earning forty, but now, as the master of the braised pork, Fangfei added another five for her.

At lunch, Fangfei and Ye Xihu handed out everyone’s wages.

Ye Dahu held the money, stammering, “Little sister… isn’t this too much?”

The couple earned ninety-five a month—more than a factory worker. In the past, such a thought would have been unimaginable.

Fangfei smiled. “Big brother, this is your hard-earned pay. I’ve always remembered how good you and sister-in-law have been to me. Now that I’m able, how could I treat my own family unfairly?”

“Just take it, and work hard,” Ye Laifu said to his eldest son.

“The egg cakes at the front are almost sold out. Go help out—your sister-in-law can’t manage alone.”

“Yes, Dad,” Ye Dahu said quickly, hurrying to the cake stall.

Fangfei then offered wages to her parents-in-law and her own father, but all three refused.

“I work for my daughter-in-law; why would I need wages? People would laugh,” Shen Jianhua waved them off.

“Your father’s right. We have food and shelter here; we don’t need money,” Sun Xiujü added firmly.

Even Ye Laifu said no. “Your brothers have kids to raise—pay them. But me, helping my daughter? I can’t accept wages. That’s not right.”

Fangfei, knowing this would drag on, spoke firmly: “Everyone must take it. If anyone refuses, I’ll hire outside help instead.”

Ye Xihu, trying not to laugh, chimed in, “Little sister, if you hire outside, make sure they don’t learn your secret recipes and steal our business!”

Fangfei sighed theatrically, glancing meaningfully at her parents-in-law and father. “I can’t let you work for free—it wouldn’t be right. And I’d be accused of exploiting you. I don’t want that kind of reputation.”

The three older adults exchanged helpless glances, and Ye Xihu laughed loudly, earning glares from them.

“Just take it, or tomorrow your daughter-in-law will kick you out!” he teased.

Reluctantly, they accepted.

Fangfei handed thirty yuan to Ye Laifu. “Dad, give this to Mom. She worked hard during the opening days. This is her pay.”

He started to protest, but Fangfei waved him off. “No, this isn’t for you.”

“You little girl… your mouth is sharper than ever,” he chuckled, accepting it and going with Shen Jianhua to the front shop.

With everyone called over to collect wages, only Shen Cuijuan and Shen Zhanqiang remained at the stall, watching the business.

Fangfei also returned the 200 yuan borrowed from her parents-in-law—something Sun Xiujü had refused to accept.

“Mom, this is money I borrowed with Xihu. If you don’t take it, our accounts won’t add up,” Fangfei said, shoving the money into her hands.

When Shen Cuijuan arrived, Fangfei handed her the highest wage—fifty yuan per month. Though a girl, she did the most work: laundry, cooking, cleaning, running the front, and baking egg cakes—fifteen-hour days without rest.

Such a dedicated worker deserved the highest pay.

As for Shen Zhanqiang, Fangfei didn’t pay him yet—he needed no temptation to slack off in school.

After distributing wages, Fangfei and Ye Xihu discussed their own.

“Xihu, we’re bosses, but we should take a salary too. How about fifty each?”

“I’m fine with that,” he said, joking, “My share is small anyway—any salary I take is a bonus.”

“Done, then.”

Fangfei opened the ledger to check the month’s profits. Ye Xihu had already tallied the inventory that morning.

Subtracting expenses and ignoring inventory, the shop had made over six thousand in just a month.

The siblings weren’t shocked; they had been tracking nightly and had a rough idea.

Ye Xihu, holding his share of over a thousand, exclaimed, “Little sister, if business stays this good, I could be a millionaire in under a year!”

“Millionaire?” Fangfei said confidently. “We’ll be hundred-thousand, ten-million, even billionaires someday. Nothing impossible.”

Ye Xihu’s eyes nearly popped at “hundred-thousand,” then widened further at “billionaire.” He thought, This girl has audacious dreams.

Years later, their wealth reached unimaginable heights.

Standing on the top floor of their conglomerate, toasting as the city sprawled beneath, Ye Xihu realized following his sister meant more than riches—it meant standing at the very top.