Chapter 123: Going to the Widow's House for a Visit

As the sales clerk carried out carton after carton from the warehouse, the scene immediately erupted into commotion.

"Look, the TVs are coming!"

"Only ten? That's way too few."

Everyone realized that queuing would guarantee they couldn't buy any; they'd have to fight for them.

Lu Cheng, watching everyone rubbing their fists in anticipation, understood why Wu Guiwen had been beaten so badly—once chaos breaks out, who cares about your rules.

He gave Da Hu a glance; Da Hu immediately caught on, ran into the crowd, cupped his hands over his mouth, and shouted loudly.

"Fire! Fire! Run, everyone!"

Wu Guiwen heard it, looked left and right, and the crowd instantly descended into chaos.

"Lu San'er, that was Da Hu's voice, right? What is he shouting about, where's the fire?"

Lu Cheng grabbed him: "Don't mind Wu Laoshi; if you don't shout like that, we won't be able to push our way in."

Wu Guiwen saw it worked and immediately sparked more turmoil; the crowd all echoed, "Fire! Let me out…"

They could postpone buying the TV; they couldn't risk their lives.

Da Hu's shout alone reduced the crowd by at least a third.

Moreover, the once‑packed crowd by the counter became considerably more scattered.

Lu Cheng seized the chance and ordered, "Da Kui, clear the way ahead."

Niu Da Kui nodded, then, like a wild buffalo, barreled through the crowd, tearing a huge opening.

"Monkey, slip behind Da Kui, dart through the gap, and get the TV ready at the counter for me—people are the TV!"

"Yes, team leader."

Being short has its own advantage; as Niu Da Kui cut a bloody path, no one could pull him back, he surged forward relentlessly, while Chang Jinbu stayed low, using hands and feet as if in an empty field.

The scene left Wu Guiwen stunned, and Lu Cheng felt proud to have such a teammate.

"How's that, Wu Laoshi? Everyone has their strengths; we won't just eat your rice for free."

Wu Guiwen glanced, "What about you? Aren't you contributing anything? Just standing here watching?"

Lu Cheng crossed his arms, "I'm in charge of command."

Wu Guiwen shook his head, "We'll see if we can actually grab one."

As soon as the words fell, Chang Jinbu leapt onto the counter and grabbed a TV in one hand.

The sales clerk was stunned, even thinking Chang Jinbu had fallen from the sky: "Hey, do you have a ticket? Just standing there holding a TV!"

"Got it, got it!" Chang Jinbu shouted back, "Wu Laoshi, come pay quickly, I got it."

Several people nearby tried to yank Chang Jinbu away, but he stayed clinging to the TV, refusing to let go.

Anyway, today, whoever wants this TV can haul it home together; otherwise, no one else gets a chance.

Lu Cheng reminded, "Wu Laoshi, stop hesitating and go pay."

Wu Guiwen realized he wanted to pay, but the key was he couldn't get in; the group that had fled from the fake fire went out, saw nothing, realized it was a deliberate ruckus, and hurried back.

The scene was once again packed tight, as impenetrable as before.

Lu Cheng had a plan; he still had an unused big gun on his side.

"Big guy, hoist Wu Laoshi and toss him in!"

"Huh? Can't throw, can't throw… Hey, this won't do, someone's life could be at risk…"

Wu Guiwen had no room to resist and was directly lifted by the big guy.

Now he had no choice, just like that morning—when he didn't want to fight, his body still moved forward, even a sudden fist hit his face; but now it was completely different from the morning.

Jin Zhu, tall, was hoisted onto the shoulders, evading countless punches; standing high gave him a clear view, and as Jin Zhu kept pushing forward, he could see the TV beckoning.

When they were close enough, Jin Zhu shouted, "Da Kui, catch!"

Wu Guiwen shouted in terror, "No, no…"

But quickly, he became like a cabbage tossed out; if it hit the ground his bones would shatter, yet he overthought it—Niu Da Kui caught him securely.

"Money and ticket, hand them to the clerk quickly." Wu Guiwen, eyes on the counter, knew that once the clerk took the cash and ticket, the TV would be his.

Chang Jinbu snatched the money, ignoring the clerk's busyness, and shoved it into the clerk's hand.

Wu Guiwen was thrilled; he finally snagged the TV.

It wasn't easy—just like a battle.

Niu Da Kui hoisted the TV, left the department store, and walked back to Hu Tong under a crowd's envious gazes.

Without waiting for Wu Guiwen, Da Hu started shouting all over the place.

"Wu Gongji bought a TV, everyone come see, Wu Gongji's house now has a TV…"

Wu Guiwen, hearing that, stopped arguing with the kids; he was just exhilarated—nothing had ever thrilled him like his wedding night.

In Hu Tong Li, he was the first household with a TV; from now on his status as the decision‑maker would be rock solid.

Hearing her son's chaotic shouts, Sun Yan Hong ran out, grabbed Da Hu's ear, and said, "What are you shouting for? That's impolite."

"Mom, it hurts! I won't shout Wu Gongji anymore; today Tie Gongji got plucked, I ate two bowls of plain noodles, so delicious."

Usually Wu Guiwen took advantage of everyone; getting Tie Gongji plucked in this Da Za Yuan could only be done by Lu Cheng.

"Mom, let go, Lu San'er, hurry and save me."

"Call dad…"

Sun Yan Hong went up to strike Lu Cheng; Da Hu managed to pull away and shouted again in Hu Tong Li, "Wu Gongji bought a TV!"

"That kid!" Sun Yan Hong stamped her foot.

"Kids being a bit naughty is normal."

Lu Cheng said, grabbing Sun Yan Hong's hand still on his arm, "You're wasting your hand beating a child; how about tonight I come to your house and you give me a shoulder massage?"

"To hell with you, Qing Yan just left and you're being dishonest again." Sun Yan Hong quickly pulled her hand away, swiveled her hips, and went to look at Wu Guiwen's new TV.

Lu Cheng stood there, smelled his hand, and while taking big strides into the inner courtyard, hummed a song that only became popular in the 1990s: "How many… good sisters… do you actually have?"

Today is the busiest day for Wu Guiwen's family; the whole Da Za Yuan is packed to the brim, and even a few neighboring Hu Tong alleys have come over.

When Da Kui and the others climb onto the roof and set up the antenna, everyone can't wait any longer.

"Teacher Wu, hurry up and turn it on so we can see it."

Wu Guiwen pressed his hands down and said, "No rush, no rush. I've already inquired; we'll wait until 7:30 pm tonight, when there will be a revolutionary model opera—Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy. Everyone is welcome to watch."

Now go home first; eat when it's time to eat, nurse the baby when it's time to nurse, take it easy, and come back with a small stool in the evening…

Chen Xianglan leaned against the doorframe, watching the sea of people, grateful she didn't buy a TV; otherwise the house would never be peaceful again.

Finally night fell, and some people didn't even have time to eat; they early on carried stools and claimed a good spot.

From Wu Guiwen's house all the way out into the courtyard, everyone waited for the moment the TV would be turned on to watch the model opera.

Lu Cheng had no interest in watching TV; the plasma TV at his previous home sat gathering dust, and when it was turned on once in a while, it was always about some member—either this member or that member.

The night temperature in Si Jiu Cheng dropped below zero, and Lu Cheng didn't want to freeze just to watch a TV; he originally thought of crawling straight into the duvet, listening to the radio Mom bought, which would be fine.

But he noticed that everyone in Da Za Yuan had come to watch the TV, except Sun Yan Hong.

Lu Cheng instantly abandoned the idea of listening to the radio, hoisted two big cabbages, and went to the front courtyard Yan Hong's House.