Chapter 173: Snatching People

Qin Shou has lived a life of privilege, but ever since he met Lu Cheng, he has been shortchanged twice.

To him, it is an outrageous humiliation.

He immediately ordered Lao Cai and another officer to go seize them.

He, however, overlooked a serious problem: the other side had two cars, and when they saw him trying to seize them, all the doors opened and a swarm of more than a dozen people poured out.

At that stop, they formed a wall.

He only had three men on his side, weak in force; not to mention seizing anyone, they couldn't even get through.

Qin Shou spread his arms, hoarse, shouting in a fit of anger: "I know you, Director Tang. With you enforcing the law like this, I will report you."

Yet no one paid him any heed; Wang Fengshi led his men, forced Guo Tuzi and the others onto the vehicle, and the two cars sped away.

Leaving Qin Shou fuming, clenching his fists; after finally getting a chance to catch Lu Cheng, he didn't expect him to slip away so easily.

Careless.

…

The jeep turned the corner and stopped; unsurprisingly, Wang Fengshi retrieved the Handgun from Guo Tuzi.

Lu Cheng gave Guo Tuzi a jab to the head, then looked at Wang Fengshi: "Thanks, Director Wang. If you hadn't come today, who knows what chaos might have broken out."

Wang Fengshi wore a stern face: "You actually understand the consequences? Captain Lei gave you the Handgun as a keepsake to keep at home, yet you wander around with it."

"Yes, yes, Director Wang, please stop criticizing me. This time I was careless; I've realized my mistake and will certainly not repeat it."

Seeing Lu Cheng's attitude still fairly sincere, Wang Fengshi finally returned the Handgun to him.

"Director Wang, Captain Lei doesn't know about this, does he?"

Wang Fengshi sighed: "You didn't let me mention it on the phone, so I didn't dare tell him; otherwise you'd be scolded today."

"Thanks, Director Wang. Later I'll treat you to a meal." Lu Cheng reassembled the gun and looked at Guo Tuzi and the others.

"Director Wang, why not just let them go?"

Guo Tuzi glanced in disbelief.

Even Wang Fengshi was surprised: "How could we release them? These guys even dared to steal a gun; they're lawless. They have to be locked up for a few months."

"Better not. I think they're just curious, want to handle it and play. Moreover, if we really take them back, Captain Lei would inevitably find out."

Lu Cheng had a reason for saying that; he thought Guo Tuzi wasn't a real thief, because aside from the Handgun, none of his money or cash was taken.

This shows Guo Tuzi only coveted the Handgun and wasn't interested in other people's money.

In any case, the Handgun was recovered; Wang Fengshi thought it best not to alarm Captain Lei.

So at the next intersection, he let Guo Tuzi and the others out of the car.

Lu Cheng also went home.

Chen Xianglan saw him and started nagging: "San'er, why are you only just getting back? The food's cold; I'll reheat it in the pot, and when your sister returns, you all can eat together."

"Has my sister not come back yet?" Lu Cheng reached into the bun basket and took out a corn flatbread, which Chen Xianglan snatched away.

"Eat it hot; you only like it cold. Sooner or later your stomach will develop a problem."

This point Mom was right; later he indeed developed chronic gastritis.

One should heed mother's words.

After a moment, hearing footsteps, Lu Cheng didn't even lift his head; he knew his sister had returned.

"Sis, you got off work so late today?"

Lu Ying glared: "Who told you not to pick me up? I waited for three buses before I finally squeezed on."

The station was already crowded, and during rush hour it was a sea of people; even a slight delay meant you couldn't get on.

Lu Cheng forced a smile: "Don't be angry, sis. Tomorrow I'll give you a ride to work, okay?"

"I don't need you to drive; I have the day off tomorrow." Lu Ying sat down, fuming, opened the pile of pastries on the table, reached to take one, but Chen Xianglan, who had just arrived, knocked her hand away.

"You're so quick with your hand; why did you open it?"

Lu Ying looked aggrieved: "I'm hungry."

"Even if you're hungry, you can't eat yet; wait for the meal."

Lu Ying pursed her lips; Lu Cheng said: "Mom, if my sister wants to eat, let her. It's a welfare distribution, no money spent."

"What do you know? These things are meant to be kept for visiting relatives; it's convenient not to have to buy them, and bringing them when visiting relatives also makes your face look bright."

Lu Cheng shook his head helplessly: "Mom, I'm not blaming you, but this habit of yours needs to change."

"What habit of mine?"

"Look, you can't bear to eat good things yourself, so you end up giving them cheap to outsiders. What are you after? A shining face? A few compliments? But you should know those compliments are insincere."

Lu Beitang, who was reading the Newspaper, straightened up at that moment: "Hey, this time I agree with what my son said…"

Chen Xianglan glared back: "You shut up."

Lu Beitang had no choice but to lie back down and read the Newspaper.

Although everyone dared not speak further, at this moment Chen Xianglan gradually came to her senses.

Indeed, why should we give it to others?

"Your Master doesn't count as others, right? With the New Year coming, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil—I'll bring some for your Master, and tomorrow I'll go buy other things and bring them together."

Speaking of Xu Erye, everyone naturally had no objections.

Lu Cheng, eating the reheated food, casually asked: "Has my older brother not written yet?"

Chen Xianglan, sitting beside him, sighed: "He came two days ago, same as before, said he wouldn't come back for the New Year. Sigh, when can we have a reunion year?"

Lu Cheng seemed accustomed, taking a bite of the flatbread.

"That's perfect; during the New Year I have a duty riding with a vehicle, passing by my brother's place, I'll bring some brown‑sugar pastries and the like; my niece loves them."

"This time, we won't say to give them to outsiders."

"Look at what you say, my niece can't be an outsider; even if I don't eat, it still has to be given to my niece."

He said the outsiders refer to those relatives who aren't in a very direct relationship; after another one or two generations they could be counted among the five degrees of kinship.

Qing'er is different; she's the only treasure in the whole family, and they haven't even had time to dote on her yet. Chen Xianglan also said she'll buy some more things and bring them to her granddaughter, because this little girl is terribly lacking in nutrition.

Lu Cheng originally planned to take Lin Qingyan to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the next day was Sunday, and in these times there is still a single day off.

Chen Xianglan pulled Lu Cheng along, handling the shopping, and when they went out, they saw Lu Ying and Lin Qingyan also leaving.

"Sister, where are you two going?"

"Going to take a bath." Lu Ying pushed out the father's bicycle; now there are two bicycles at home.

With two laborers in the Lu family, one iron police officer, and even though the sister works at a collective unit, she earns a decent salary, the Lu household now qualifies as a solid middle‑class family.

Lu Cheng hadn't taken it seriously at first, but when he saw his sister say she was going to bathe without bringing toiletries.

"Sister, why didn't you bring a basket?"

Lu Ying leaned her face forward and said proudly, "We're going to Qinghua Garden to soak in the pond; they have everything there."

Lu Cheng, upon hearing that, immediately became dissatisfied: "You two are being way too extravagant, going to Qinghua Garden? No, you have to bring me along."