Chapter 61: Brotherly Conflict
Mu Hongtu scolded angrily, “Mu Lantu, what are you pretending to be confused about? If it weren’t for you, why would your sister-in-law be demanding a divorce from me? Do you have a grudge against me or something? Are you determined to ruin my family? Get back here immediately!”
Xu Huazhang’s face darkened. What kind of brother is this?
“Baby, is he really your biological brother?”
Mu Lantu replied calmly, “Biologically, yes.”
“Are you going back?” Xu Huazhang gently kissed his lips, worried about his mood.
Mu Lantu snorted lightly. “Just because he told me to go back, I will? I’d have no dignity then. Even if I do go back, it won’t be until ten days or half a month later.”
Ding-dong.
A WeChat message.
Mu Lantu opened it. It was from a high school classmate, Fang Dongxue, whom he had reconnected with when buying a car.
Why would she message him? Though they’d added each other on WeChat, they had never actually contacted one another.
“Baby, who is it?” Xu Huazhang considered himself a gentleman, keeping his eyes to himself, though he watched Mu Lantu’s subtle expressions out of the corner of his eye.
Mu Lantu said, “Fang Dongxue.”
Xu Huazhang snorted. He remembered her—this was the girl who had eagerly asked to add Lantu on WeChat.
Mu Lantu read the message, and his handsome face turned grim.
[Fang Dongxue]: Old classmate, I have something to tell you. Is your sister-in-law named Yang Xiurong? Does she work at Hongke Restaurant in Anfeng? My sister works there too. I just happened to hear her mention that your sister-in-law was saying you’ve been kept by someone. You know what I mean, right? We’re old classmates. I couldn’t let you be in the dark. I’ve thought about it for a while, and I felt I had to tell you. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way and think I’m being nosy.
[Mu Lantu]: Not at all. Thank you for telling me. When I get back to Qingning, I’ll treat you and your husband to a meal.
[Fang Dongxue]: No need for a meal. I’m just glad you don’t mind. I believe in you! And don’t worry, I’m not the gossiping type—I won’t even tell my husband.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Huazhang could tell something was off.
Mu Lantu said coldly, “I’m going back to Qingning tomorrow.”
Xu Huazhang didn’t feel comfortable letting him go alone and said firmly, “I’m going with you.”
Mu Lantu said, “Book the earliest flight for tomorrow.”
By around eleven, the group of four arrived in Anfeng.
After having lunch in the county town, Mu Lantu called Mu Hongtu.
“I’m at Mom and Dad’s supermarket right now. If you want to talk, come now. I might not be free later.”
Before Mu Hongtu could say anything, he hung up.
Mu Lantu brought two takeout meals to Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang and arrived at the supermarket.
Both parents were there and startled to see them.
“Lantu, you… you all came back?”
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang looked haggard, clearly worn out. He Cuifang looked like she had aged five years.
“We just felt like coming back.” Mu Lantu smiled and handed them the food. “Dad, Mom, eat first. We’ll talk after you’re done. We’ve already eaten.”
He Cuifang took the bag and touched it—still warm. Inside was one box of rice, one of freshly cooked dishes—two meat, one veggie—and a sealed cup of mung bean soup.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She had raised both sons the same way. Why was one so considerate, and the other so…
“Zhenguo, go borrow a few stools from the noodle shop next door.”
Mu Zhenguo hesitated. “They’re still doing business. How can I borrow them?”
Mu Lantu said, “No need, Mom. We’re fine standing.”
He and the others stood under a tree by the roadside. The wind was blowing and it wasn’t hot.
Xu Huazhang bought two ice creams—vanilla chocolate and milk chocolate—and let Mu Lantu pick first.
He chose the milk chocolate.
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang didn’t want them waiting too long and ate quickly.
Soon after, Mu Hongtu drove over with a face like someone here to collect a debt—as if Mu Lantu owed him five million.
“Shall we talk at my house?”
Mu Zhenguo’s heart sank. As expected, his oldest had called Lantu. Who knew what he had said to make him come back?
Mu Lantu said, “No need. I’ve arranged a place.”
There were no cafés or teahouses suitable for discussions in this county. So Mu Lantu paid a nearby breakfast shop owner 100 yuan to use the space for up to two hours.
The shop only served breakfast, so there were no customers at this hour. The owner happily took his phone and went for a stroll, telling Mu Lantu to just lock up when they left. The place had nothing valuable, and it was broad daylight, so no worries about theft.
“This is a breakfast shop. There’s no lunch here,” Mu Hongtu said, thinking Mu Lantu didn’t know.
Xu Huazhang pulled out two chairs for the parents.
They realized the matter between their sons was beyond their control and sat silently.
Mu Lantu said, “We’ve eaten. Let’s finish this quickly so we can go our separate ways.”
Mu Hongtu felt uncomfortable. They’d eaten, but he was still hungry.
That was deliberate. Mu Lantu had no intention of sitting at the same table with him. Otherwise, he could’ve just booked a private room at a hotel, which would have had a better environment.
Xu Huazhang squeezed Mu Lantu’s shoulder, and they both sat down.
Mu Hongtu had no choice but to sit as well.
Looking at Xu Huazhang, he said to Mu Lantu, “Maybe you should ask your friend to step outside?”
Mu Lantu tapped the table. “There’s nothing I need to hide from him. Just say what you came here to say.”
Mu Hongtu tried to pretend Xu Huazhang didn’t exist.
“Yesterday, on the phone, I told you about your sister-in-law wanting a divorce.”
Mu Lantu remained composed. “So? That’s between the two of you. Isn’t it inappropriate for me to interfere? Did you really need me to come back just for that?”
Ge Tao came in with four bottles of cold drinks—only four.
Xu Huazhang handed one to each person—except Mu Hongtu.
Mu Hongtu wasn’t thirsty, but seeing he didn’t get one made his mouth feel dry. He licked his lips unconsciously.
Could he blame Ge Tao? No. They had no connection. Why should he be treated to a drink?
Xu Huazhang opened a mango milk drink and passed it to Mu Lantu.
Mu Hongtu averted his eyes. “Since you insist on playing dumb, I’ll say it straight. You bought cars and watches for Zhenzhen and Wangjun, but didn’t buy anything for me or your sister-in-law. She’s upset—says you’re ignoring the two of us. That’s why she wants a divorce.”
Mu Lantu replied without hesitation, “Big brother, you’re good at playing dumb too. Why didn’t I buy you anything? You really don’t know?”
Mu Hongtu’s brows shot up in anger. “You mean you deliberately didn’t buy us anything?”
Mu Lantu answered bluntly, “I’m not stupid. If someone slaps me in the face, why would I spend money on them? Not only did I buy cars and watches for others, when Xiao Xing grows up, I even plan to buy him a house.”
Mu Hongtu exploded, “Mu Lantu, do you even respect me as your elder brother?!”
“And did you ever treat me like your younger brother?” Mu Lantu put down his drink and punched him in the face. “When your wife said I was being kept by someone, did you defend me even once? Trash!”
They say if fists can solve it, there’s no need to talk—punching Mu Hongtu felt amazing.
Mu Hongtu, Mu Zhenguo, and He Cuifang all looked stunned. They had tried to hide this from Mu Lantu but didn’t expect he’d still find out.
Mu Hongtu held his face, wide-eyed in disbelief that Mu Lantu actually hit him.
“Who told you that? It’s not true at all! You’d rather believe outsiders than your own brother?”
Mu Lantu grabbed his collar and landed another punch to the stomach.
“Oh yeah? Then why is everyone at Hongke Restaurant talking about it? Want me to bring in witnesses?”
Mu Hongtu’s expression changed again. He’d thought Yang Xiurong only said it at home. Did she also say it at the restaurant? Then he remembered—He Cuifang and Yang Xiurong had gotten into a fight at work and lost their jobs. Was that because she’d said Mu Lantu was being kept?
He looked uncertainly at He Cuifang.
Her gaze held both pain and resentment.
“Hongtu, you had no reason to call your brother back. No matter why Yang Xiurong wants a divorce, it has nothing to do with him. It’s his money—he can spend it however he wants! You’ve been out in the world so long and still don’t get that?”
Mu Hongtu remained resentful. “You and Dad always favored him!”
Mu Zhenguo was furious.
“How did we favor him? Let’s be honest—you’re just jealous he’s doing better than you! We told you to stay in school, but you insisted on dropping out. You wanted to marry Yang Xiurong early—we tried to stop you. I said there’s no future in operating excavators and urged you to learn a trade—cooking, auto repair, anything! Did you listen? You chose your own path, and now you blame others?”
Mu Hongtu didn’t listen, eyes fixed on Mu Lantu.
“She said unless you give her 300,000 yuan, she won’t divorce me. If she divorces me, she’ll take Xuanyuan and Xiao Yu with her. They’re your niece and nephew. Can you really bear that?”
“If their own parents can, why wouldn’t I, their uncle, be able to?” Mu Lantu took the wet wipes Xu Huazhang handed him, cleaned his hands, and sat back down. “I came back for two things. First—I no longer acknowledge Mu Hongtu as my brother. Whether he divorces or not is none of my business. From now on, Yang Xiurong is a stranger to me.”
Not just Mu Hongtu—both parents were shocked.
“Lantu, you…”
Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang clearly didn’t agree.
“I’ve made up my mind,” Mu Lantu said firmly. “Dad, Mom, after all they’ve said about me, do you really want to try persuading me? Because if you do, that means I can say whatever I want about them in the future, right? If you agree with that, I’ll take back what I said.”
