Chapter 114: The Returned Letter

"I was just passing by, and I accidentally overheard…"

Wu Guiwen, fearing he would be seen as a nosy eavesdropper and damage his image as a teacher and role model, hurriedly added an explanation.

Lu Cheng, too lazy to argue about it, said: "I have a TV Ticket at home. So, Teacher Wu, do you want to buy a TV?"

Wu Guiwen set down the water basin, ready to have a proper chat.

"I want to get a whole set. I'm about to retire, and I don't like walking birds, so I've been thinking that if I could buy a TV, I could pass the boring retirement time."

Wu Guiwen, because of his teacher's imposing image, didn't want to lower his head and ask for anything, so he didn't bring up the need for a ticket, and Lu Cheng wouldn't bring it up either.

Instead, he made a teasing remark.

"A TV isn't cheap, Teacher Wu, are you willing to spend on it?"

Wu Guiwen was taken aback; he really couldn't bear to part with the money, and the reason he wanted to buy it was that he was biting his teeth to do so.

"If you're willing, then when the time comes, everyone will come to my house to watch TV."

Lu Cheng was quite surprised; today the stingy old rooster not only shed its feathers but also laid an egg for everyone to eat.

He spent a lot of money on the TV, yet he didn't hide it or keep it covered; he was even willing to take it out for everyone to watch.

Self‑sacrifice? Could Wu Guiwen have such enlightenment? Lu Cheng quickly figured it out.

It seems that at the last courtyard meeting, Wu Guiwen, although he successfully became the decision‑maker, immediately launched a sweeping reform plan for Da Za Yuan, like a radical cure.

But because the illegal construction issue touched everyone's interests, Wu Guiwen couldn't treat everyone equally; he started by cutting into the old Lu family, and hit a hard nail.

This caused his authority as the decision‑maker to plummet.

Nowadays, there's little evening entertainment; any household that has a TV is the most prestigious in Hu Tong Li.

Wu Guiwen is probably hoping to use the purchase of a TV as an opportunity so that everyone will have to go to his house to watch, indirectly swaying people's hearts.

Along with that, his authority as the decision‑maker could recover, and in the future, whatever he says, people, eager to watch TV, will have to listen at least a little.

Seeing through his scheme, Lu Cheng didn't call it out and said, "Alright, Teacher Wu, go ahead and buy it, I support you."

Lu Cheng said that and left; Wu Guiwen suddenly became anxious. This Lu San'er is quite clever—he's already taken the conversation that far, so why is he still hesitating to hand over the TV Ticket?

"Hey, San'er, I was trying to buy it, it's just that the ticket is hard to get."

"Oh, then take your time with it."

"No, no!" Wu Guiwen grabbed his arm, not letting him go: "Since your family has a TV Ticket and doesn't need it, just give it to me. Rest assured, I won't let you give it away for nothing; I have two jars of yellow peach canned fruit at home to trade with you."

Lu Cheng glanced and teased, "I wouldn't dare eat Teacher Wu's stuff; it would probably give me diarrhea."

Wu Guiwen knew exactly what he meant; the last time the cured meat made the whole Da Za Yuan have diarrhea, and his face turned a bit awkward.

"Don't worry, this time it's good canned fruit, just issued by the school last month; only two teachers have it, and I've never been willing to eat it."

He spoke as if it were precious, but Lu Cheng wasn't interested at all.

"Teacher Wu, you also said the TV Ticket is extremely hard to get; trying to exchange it for two cans of fruit—are you being a bit too shrewd?"

Wu Guiwen naturally understood that with this trade he would be getting the advantage.

"Then, if it really doesn't work, I'll buy it with money; set a price!"

Finally willing to bleed, Lu Cheng pointed inside the house: "I'm not the head of this matter; you should go to my mother instead."

Lu Cheng returned to the West Wing Room, and Wu Guiwen muttered as he watched his back: "You can't make the decision, you've been pulling me here for ages!"

"Yo, Teacher Wu, why are you standing here?" Chen Xianglan came out, about to cover the cabbage by the wall with a felt cloth, otherwise it would freeze.

"It's Xianglan, I'm out here collecting foot‑washing water."

Wu Guiwen hesitated a moment, then stepped forward and said, "By the way, Xianglan, I just heard your Lu San'er say that your family has a TV Ticket?"

Chen Xianglan pulled the felt cloth off with her hand, muttering inwardly that this San'er spills everything and doesn't know how to keep wealth hidden.

"Hehe, yes, Teacher Wu, it's because last time my San'er carried out a mission, he did a great deed, broke his leg, and the organization gave us a consolation allowance."

Chen Xianglan instantly saw Wu Guiwen's intention; she deliberately emphasized how difficult it was to obtain this TV Ticket.

Sure enough, when Wu Guiwen heard that, he felt embarrassed to propose swapping cans again.

"Then, Xianglan, does your family need to buy a TV?"

"Not at the moment; it's mainly too expensive, over four hundred. My husband Lu and I don't eat or drink, and it would take half a year or more before we could afford it."

Hearing Xianglan say that, Wu Guiwen felt hopeful.

"Then, since you don't need it now, why not give it to me? I'll buy it with money; tell me how much you need."

Chen Xianglan thought for a moment; selling was fine, it would also cut off the father‑son duo's wish. She didn't want to buy a TV and end up with a crowded house of people that would later disperse, leaving her to clean up.

For that bit of face, it's not worth it.

"Alright, Teacher Wu, we're from the same courtyard; I won't ask for much. Just give me fifty bucks."

"What? Fifty bucks?" Wu Guiwen felt a toothache: "It's not Xianglan, you're asking for way too much; it's just one ticket, it's not worth that much."

Chen Xianglan didn't back down: "Just one ticket? Without the ticket, even if you have all the money, can you buy it back?"

Wu Guiwen nodded: "That's the logic, but it's a bit too much. Ten bucks—does that work? If so, I'll go back to my room now and bring the money."

Chen Xianglan waved her hand: "No, no, considering we're neighbors, I'll give a little more. If you truly want it, forty‑five bucks, and I won't sell for less."

After speaking, Chen Xianglan turned back into the house, leaving Wu Guiwen there, biting his teeth while sucking in the cold air.

In Si Jiu Cheng, the weather grew colder each day. Lu Cheng returned home, first warming his hands by the stove, and while bending and twisting, a envelope on the table caught his eye.

He walked to the table, picked it up, and saw the address on the envelope was Public Security Bureau Grand Courtyard, Director Qin Zhaochun.

"Director Qin?" Lu Cheng suddenly recalled something.

He remembered that the first time he carried out a mission on the Beijing Station train, there was a non‑cooperative named Qin Shou, who kept shouting that his father was a director; he guessed his father must be this Qin Zhaochun.

"Lu Cheng, your clothes have been washed; if tomorrow's weather is good you can dry them, remember to bring them in early so they don't get damp again in the evening," Lin Qingyan walked in from the courtyard.

Lu Cheng, holding the envelope, didn't open it: "Qing Yan sister, this is …"

Lin Qingyan noticed the letter: "Oh, that's a letter I wrote to Qin Bobo."

"Because of your father's matter?"

"Hmm."

"So what does this mean? It wasn't sent, or…"

"It was returned, Qin Bobo didn't look at it."

The envelope wasn't opened at all; it was sent back in its original condition.

The reason was clear to Lin Qingyan; she lowered her head and said with some self‑reproach.

"This time it was my recklessness. I had assumed my family and Qin Bobo's family had a good relationship, that Qin Bobo would be willing to help… Now I see I shouldn't have written this letter."