Chapter 174: Finished, I'm About to Be Scolded to Death by My Sister

No wonder sister only brings a set of fresh clothes and nothing else—she's going to Qinghua Garden to bathe.

That place is the most upscale bathing venue in Capital City, a three‑story Western‑style villa with very fashionable décor, frequented by officials and nobles.

Common folk and low‑rank workers go to the public bath because the price is cheap.

The bath sister will use is the enamel tub in a single‑room at Qinghua Garden, with all toiletries—soap, towel, shampoo, etc. —already prepared.

While luxuriating in the private room, free floral tea and pastries are also provided.

You don't have to soak in a dirty communal pool; this is true enjoyment, and the price is high—a little over five mao per person.

The point is the enjoyment.

Lu Cheng lives one life, and living is just about seeking enjoyment.

But Lu Ying isn't willing to take him: "Go away, we women are bathing; why are you following, it's annoying."

Lu Cheng doesn't give up: "Then there must be a men's bath, take me along."

Lu Cheng just loves soaking until he's drenched in sweat and his bones feel soft.

Even in his past life he was often taken to various baths, so he's seen and tried them all.

Nowadays people go to bathhouses solely to bathe, unlike later eras where bathing is not the goal and going upstairs is.

Lu Ying grabs a bicycle and blurts out four words: "I won't take you!"

"Fine, then don't blame me for neglecting sibling affection!"

Lu Cheng immediately files a complaint: "Mom, will you still look after my sister? She's going to Qinghua Garden to bathe—so wasteful."

Chen Xianglan, wrapped in a scarf, steps out of the house: "Oh dear, why are you two arguing again? I'm taking a day off; can you let me have some peace?"

"Mom, didn't you hear me? She's going to Qinghua Garden to bathe; even Qinghua Pool can't accommodate her!"

Next to Qinghua Garden is Qinghua Pool, a notch lower in class but still far better than the public bath.

"I heard you; the girl just wants a clean bath, so go if you want."

Hearing Mom say that, Lu Cheng immediately gains confidence and says, "Then I want to go too."

"You're not allowed to go; come with me to the department store to shop, otherwise who will carry for me."

Seeing no way to escape, Lu Cheng slumps his shoulders, Lu Ying makes a goofy face at him, grabs her bike and runs.

Lu Cheng still wants to go: "Mom, why don't you take Dad instead?"

"I don't like taking him; if we haven't bought two things yet, I keep nagging."

It seems Dad, like him, isn't interested in shopping.

Today is a day off, and with tourists from elsewhere in Capital City, the department store is bustling.

Somehow, Lu Cheng, who is usually full of boundless energy, feels extremely tired when shopping with Mom.

After two steps he has to lean on the counter to rest, earning Chen Xianglan a disdainful look.

"Ouch, why are you resting again! You youngsters today really have poor stamina. Back in my day, I joined the Agricultural College's Great Village, always at the front, and even earned the title 'Iron Girl.'"

"Mom is mighty." Lu Cheng gives a thumbs‑up.

Chen Xianglan keeps trying scarves at the counter: "San'er, do you think Mom looks better with this scarf or the one she just wore?"

Lu Cheng glances: "Both look good. My mom is as beautiful as a flower, graceful as an orchid—she even looks good wearing a hemp rope."

"If you can't compliment, just shut up…"

Chen Xianglan rolls her eyes and continues picking scarves: "It's okay, though you're as perfunctory as your dad, at least you look."

After finally accompanying Mom shopping and returning home, Lu Cheng rushes to the eastern suburb's open‑air junkyard.

The area is chaotic; many people like to trade contraband there—the so‑called "black market."

Some Blind Drifters even prefer to live there; they never dare enter the city proper, lest they be caught and sent back to their registered residence.

Arriving, he casually leans his bicycle against a wooden post beside a trash heap.

After walking two steps, Lu Cheng turns his head again and locks the bike with an iron chain.

Even a broken bike was obtained by sister's nagging, so it must be cherished.

Just as he finishes locking the bike, a middle‑aged man in a tattered military coat walks over, leans toward Lu Cheng and whispers, "Brother, want any Magnetic Tape?"

Before Lu Cheng can answer, the man flings open his coat, revealing both inner sides stuffed with all kinds of Magnetic Tape.

"All are foreign—men, women, black, white, golden‑eyed, blue‑eyed—prices are fair; pick one!"

Lu Cheng scans around, thinking it would be nicer to get them free from the Beijing Station warehouse.

"Any with animals?"

"Animal ones?" the man pauses: "Do animals even sing?"

Lu Cheng smiles without replying and keeps walking inside.

There's still no proper waste‑processing method; garbage from several nearby factories is all piled here.

You can see many people with iron hooks scavenging—not for trash, but for sellable scrap.

Since they're from large factories, besides waste paper you can also chance upon copper, iron and similar scraps.

Lu Cheng's gaze stays on the wandering folks, as they might be selling illegal goods.

He asks a few people and learns of someone nicknamed "Hei Zi" who carries a firearm.

Selling guns means also selling bullets.

Following the direction, he reaches a sheltered spot and instantly spots "Hei Zi."

The man is dark‑skinned, wrapped in a cotton‑padded jacket, wearing a cotton hat, squatting with a pile of items wrapped in torn bags—by shape, they appear to be shotguns.

Another person nearby is also squatting, rummaging through them.

Lu Cheng walks over; Hei Zi glances at the stranger but says nothing.

"Hello, Comrade, do you sell bullets here?" Lu Cheng asks.

He still doesn't look up: "Do you have money?"

No.

No, why the hell are you asking?

Heh, just a joke, I definitely won't cheat you out of money.

Hei Zi finally looked up and gave Lu Cheng a once‑over; seeing that Lu Cheng was too young, he crossed his arms and said, "Selling this kind of thing is illegal; I don't sell it here."

Lu Cheng was startled for a moment, pointed at the person beside him who was picking out a hunting rifle, and asked, "Then what is he buying?"

"A gun; he isn't afraid of breaking the law."

As soon as Hei Zi said that, the man selecting the hunting rifle glared fiercely at Lu Cheng and even gestured a sandbag‑sized fist.

I see! Lu Cheng adjusted his clothes on both sides and said, "Perhaps my kind appearance and courteous manner deceived you; actually, I'm also someone who isn't afraid of breaking the law."

While speaking, Lu Cheng drew his Handgun; Hei Zi gave it a glance and finally believed he wasn't a good person.

"That's a German style, it doesn't match."

Lu Cheng understood and said, "Name your price."

"Two yuan each."

Lu Cheng felt a toothache and said, "You're trying to rob me."

"I'm not trying to rob you," Hei Zi dragged out a wooden crate, opened the lid, and inside were all kinds of Bullets—some for hunting guns, some for Rifles, and even a wooden‑handled hand grenade.

Hei Zi rummaged a bit and said, "Well, there are only two that you can use in total."

Lu Cheng was about to reach out to take them, but Hei Zi clenched his fist and said, "If you don't understand the rules, it's one hand for the money and the other hand for the goods."

"Fine then." Lu Cheng, having no choice, first produced four yuan.

Hei Zi took the money and said, "Whether the Bullets have any issues or not, no refunds."

Even though the other party's attitude wasn't great, Lu Cheng didn't want to argue; after all, this kind of item that has a market but no price is up to the seller to decide.

With the Bullets in hand, Lu Cheng returned to where he had parked his bicycle.

The scene that unfolded on the spot left him standing there dumbfounded, rubbing his eyes in disbelief before opening them again…

What the hell! What the hell…

He stepped forward two paces and saw that in front of the wooden post, the iron chain was there, the entire frame was gone, leaving only a wheel rim.

Lu Cheng clutched the iron chain and shouted, "Who the hell stole this? Are they crazy poor, stealing even a broken bike! What a worthless thing!"

It's over, now I'm definitely going to be scolded to death by my sister.