Chapter 113: Someone Sets Their Sights on the TV Set

Lu Cheng staggered home, and Chen Xianglan had already started clearing the dishes.

"San'er, I've told you countless times to soak less! Come over and eat; I saved it for you, but the rice is already cold."

Lin Qingyan took the dishes: "Mom, I'll go heat it up for him."

"No need, no need, I'll heat it. Put the dishes here, don't get your hands dirty, go play in Ying Ying's room."

Lin Qingyan rubbed her hands in front of her belly: "It's fine, then I'll wash the clothes Lu Cheng brought home first."

Chen Xianglan dropped the dishes, looked at Lu Cheng and sighed: "Look at Qing Yan, what a wonderful child; you say how blessed you are, living a life where clothes are handed to you and rice comes to your mouth."

"Next time you should also lift a hand; Qing Yan married into our family as a daughter‑in‑law, not to serve you every day."

Seeing his mother start lecturing again, Lu Cheng slipped his arm around her shoulder and hurried to change the subject.

"If you say that, then my dad is even more blessed."

"How so?"

Lu Cheng gestured toward Lu Beitang, who was lying on the chair.

"He's already been living that hand‑to‑the‑clothes life for a while; you work, my dad works too, look how blessed my dad is."

"After meals he can just lie back, read the Newspaper, how leisurely—truly the life us men envy. My dad really married a good wife…"

Hearing Lu Cheng, Chen Xianglan slowly turned her head, then looked at Lu Beitang, who was crossing his legs and looking leisurely; no matter how she looked, it was displeasing, and she gave him a kick.

"Get up! Go wash the dishes!"

Lu Beitang turned his body: "Just wash them; I'm reading the Newspaper. It even says to vigorously launch the patriotic sanitation campaign, so wash the dishes thoroughly."

Chen Xianglan planted both hands on her hips, gritting her teeth: "I can't clean them; you go wash!"

Lu Beitang, still unaware of the seriousness, shifted his body again: "Just wash them; even if they're not clean, I won't blame you."

"Not blame me? I'm the one blaming you now! Son is right, you claim you work, I've been exhausted all day, so why are you resting here."

Lu Beitang finally realized something was off, lifted his head to glance at the eating Lu Cheng, then at Chen Xianglan.

"I didn't provoke you, okay? That kid is stirring trouble; don't listen to him."

Lu Beitang slipped off his shoes and struck: "You little brat!"

Lu Cheng flashed aside and dodged, Chen Xianglan glanced: "Hey, the rice isn't hot yet, why are you already eating?"

"It's fine, Mom; I have a big stomach, even drinking cold water in winter is fine. Don't trouble yourself; I'll go out for a walk, then later wash the dishes and sweep the floor. You serve us meals and clothes every day, it's not easy—Mom, you've worked hard!"

His words almost brought Chen Xianglan to tears; her son had grown and could now understand a mother's hardships.

Seeing Lu Beitang still unmoved, her anger flared again.

"Get up! Wash the dishes right now, and sweep the floor too!"

Seeing Lu Cheng smiling, Lu Beitang wished he could shut his mouth.

"No, that kid is really stirring trouble."

"Whether he's stirring or not, I gladly listen to my son, but I don't like seeing you idle."

Lu Beitang nodded, reluctantly fetched the broom and began sweeping. When he reached Lu Cheng and was about to swing the broom at him, Lu Cheng hurriedly called out, "Mom!"

Chen Xianglan untied her apron, slapped it on the table: "You dare hit my son, try it!"

"I'm not hitting, I'm just joking with my son!"

Seeing Chen Xianglan drop her apron without leaving, Lu Cheng, while eating, suggested: "Mom, it's cold outside and no one is out walking; why don't we buy a television? You could have something to entertain yourself."

Lu Beitang straightened his back at once: "Hey, I agree with that; the television you wanted last time is still there."

Chen Xianglan glared: "Your agreement is useless! What TV? A 12‑inch Mudan brand costs 432 yuan; no, no, too expensive."

Lu Cheng took a bite of a mantou and laughed: "Mom, you still say you don't want to buy it, but you've already checked the price."

Chen Xianglan choked a bit: "Go, go, go, eat your rice! Anyway we can't buy it; if we did, the whole Hu Tong would come to our house to watch TV, and the home couldn't stay clean. Absolutely can't buy it."

In fact Lu Cheng knew the situation: having a television is an honor, but it also brings the trouble that the house can never stay clean.

He deliberately brought up buying a TV.

First bring up a big purchase; Mom will certainly feel the sting, then later suggest a smaller item, and Mom will be more willing to accept.

"Then... Mom, if we don't want to buy a TV, leaving the industrial ticket is wasteful; how about buying a radio for my dad instead?"

Lu Beitang looked at his son in surprise.

Lu Cheng leaned out, rubbing his fingers, and whispered: "How about it, Dad? The old son still cares for you."

Lu Beitang gave a thumbs‑up and whispered back: "Dad thanks you; take these five yuan."

He had always wanted a radio, but Chen Xianglan was stingy with money and reluctant to buy it.

Seeing Chen Xianglan stay silent, Lu Beitang impatiently jabbed his son's arm.

Lu Cheng took the money and finally said: "Mom, look how well Dad performed today—sweeping the floor and washing the dishes. If you buy him a radio, he won't need to read the Newspaper; he can listen to the radio while working, without any delay. How great."

Chen Xianglan ran her fingers through her hair, nodded, and said: "Hmm, son makes a good point. Reading the Newspaper interferes with work, but listening to a radio doesn't. Fine, I'll buy you a radio; from now on the housework is yours."

"Ah? So I'm the one doing everything from now on?"

Lu Beitang looked at Lu Cheng, then realized: "I think it's you, kid, who wants the radio! You keep pulling it onto me, give the money back."

"The money I've already received, there's no reason to give it back," Lu Cheng clutched his pocket: "We'll listen together; at most you get to listen more, you won't lose anything."

Lu Beitang took the bigger loss—both would listen to the radio while he alone did all the housework.

Nevertheless, regardless, being able to listen to the radio made Lu Beitang generally happy.

After finishing his meal, Lu Cheng was about to return to his room when he stepped out of the Main Hall and saw Wu Guiwen carrying a water basin, who had just turned around and clearly been standing there for a while.

"Wu Teacher, listening to the wall roots!"

Wu Guiwen pretended to pass by, turned around: "What are you talking about, kid? I'm just a teacher; why would I listen to wall roots? I'm just fetching water in the courtyard."

Lu Cheng recalled another matter: "By the way, Wu Teacher, why haven't you bought that pomegranate tree yet?"

"Why are you in a hurry? Where can you buy it now? Wait until next spring."

"Alright, Wu Teacher, nothing else; I'm going back to my room to sleep."

Lu Cheng had just taken two steps when Wu Guiwen grabbed him again.

Wu Teacher, what exactly do you want? Just say it straight.

Wu Guiwen hesitated, cleared his throat, and probed: "First of all, I really was just passing by earlier, and I seemed to hear… you have a TV Ticket?"

Lu Cheng glanced over and realized no wonder Wu Guiwen had been standing here for half a day—he was after his family's TV Ticket.