Chapter 175: Seeing My Sister‑in‑Law

When he returned to Da Za Yuan, Lu Cheng noticed that the door of Xi Er Fang was open, indicating that Lu Ying had come back from Qinghua Garden.

He hurriedly tossed the wheel into the corner of the front‑yard wall, only then daring to step into Xi Er Fang.

Lu Ying, just back from showering, was sitting in front of the mirror, tilting her head while fixing her hair and makeup.

Leaning against the doorframe, Lu Cheng, with no real topic, said, "Sister, are you doing your hair?"

"Mm."

"The shower at Qinghua Garden was comfortable, right?"

"Mm."

"You have to work tomorrow, right?"

Lu Ying turned her head and asked, "Is there something? If not, get out of the way and stop asking pointless questions."

Lu Cheng scratched his head and tentatively asked, "What if… I mean, what if my bicycle got lost, what would you do?"

Lu Ying glared, "I would kill you."

To get a new bicycle for her younger brother, she visited countless shops and spent a lot of effort.

Hearing his sister's words, Lu Cheng couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

At that moment, Lu Ying looked puzzled toward the Car Shed outside and asked, "Did your bicycle get lost?"

Lu Cheng sat up straight and said, "It didn't get lost; how could it? I hold it in my arms and cherish it every day, even if the bike is a bit broken, that's still my sister's love for me."

Fortunately, the wheel was thrown into the front yard, and luckily he learned his sister's attitude in advance; looks like he'll have to spend extra money to buy a second‑hand one, otherwise his sister won't let this pass.

He'll sell the wheel to the scrap yard later.

Then Lu Ying glanced outside again and asked, "What about your bicycle?"

"I… I lent it to someone."

Buying a second‑hand one also takes time to inquire; buying a new one is difficult, and ordinary people don't easily replace bicycles.

He thought saying he lent it would settle it, but his sister pressed further, "Who did you lend it to?"

"Lent, lent to…" Lu Cheng scratched his head more, suddenly recalling he could say he lent it to Liu Jian'an, since his sister didn't know him.

Just as he was about to speak, Da Hu came running from outside, holding the wheel, and said, "Lu San'er, let me play with your wheel."

Hearing the voice, Lu Ying immediately stood up; Lu Cheng silently cursed his luck, Da Hu's hands were too quick.

"Whose wheel is that? Don't talk nonsense, that's not mine."

"It's yours. I just saw on the roof that you put it there. Don't be so stingy; I'll give it back after I play with it."

"You, you, you, hurry and take it to play."

"Thanks, Dad."

Da Hu rolled the wheel, hopping away, and Lu Cheng turned his head, looking at his sister's stern face: "Hehe, that Da Hu, where did he pick up the wheel? He insists it's mine…"

Seeing his sister take a deep breath, clench her fists, and the Primeval Power within her about to burst, Lu Cheng reacted quickly, stepped out of the room, and slammed the door shut.

Lu Ying pounded the door from inside, "Open the door! The bicycle I painstakingly got back hasn't even been ridden by you for two days, and you already lost it for me. I think you did it on purpose—open the door!"

Lu Cheng dared not open the door, gripping the door handle tightly from outside: "Sister, listen to my explanation. I really didn't do it on purpose; someone stole it."

"What the heck are you doing? You're a Railway police officer, and your bicycle got stolen—how can you even say that!"

Lu Ying alternately pounded the door and pulled it from inside: "Open the door for me, or today I'll skin you."

Lu Cheng held fast and said, "Sister, sister, don't act impulsively; impulsiveness is a devil… hurting sibling bonds over a broken bicycle isn't worth it."

"A broken bicycle? Look, you admit it—you disliked it for being broken and deliberately lost it."

"It's not true; it was indeed broken, but it being stolen is also true, I didn't want that either."

"I won't listen to your excuses; open the door!"

Lu Cheng held on tightly from outside; Lu Ying's feeble strength couldn't pull it open.

After a stalemate, the room suddenly fell silent; Lu Cheng thought his sister had given up and was about to sigh in relief, when the nearby window opened and Lu Ying leapt out, brandishing a feather duster.

"Mom, Mom, help! My sister's gone mad."

Lu Cheng hurried toward the Main Hall, circling around Chen Xianglan who was wiping the table, while Lu Ying chased behind, holding the feather duster.

"Mom, will you still scold him? He lost such a huge item; he's a total prodigal."

"You're the prodigal one, taking a shower at Qinghua Garden!"

"How dare you talk back!"

The two stood on opposite sides, pointing at each other; in the middle, Chen Xianglan took a light breath, tossed the rag onto the table, and walked from between them toward the kitchen.

"Mom, don't leave." Lu Cheng, seeing his leverage gone, tried to run out, only to have Lu Ying yank his ear.

"Run, I'll let you run again."

"Sister, sister, listen to me. Since the bike is lost, it means that bicycle wasn't meant for me. Why not settle it at once—just buy me a new one. As the saying goes, the old won't go, the new won't come… ah!"

Lu Cheng's backside was repeatedly struck by Lu Ying's feather duster, causing him to scream in agony.

It wasn't until a few days later, while on duty with the carriage, that he was still limping.

Fortunately, he could soon see his sister‑in‑law, which gave him a small comfort.

He sent a telegram in advance, and knowing Lu Cheng would come that day, Yan Baoyue arrived early at the station to wait.

When the train stopped, she stood by the railing, holding her daughter and looking out.

"Sister‑in‑law, over here." Lu Cheng saw her and waved his hand from afar.

"Lu Cheng, I'm here." Yan Baoyue also saw Lu Cheng, but the crowd exiting the station was so dense he couldn't get to the front.

Lu Cheng carried a bunch of big and small bags, all the ones his mother had asked him to bring.

When he got close, Lu Cheng took the little niece from Yan Baoyue's arms and said, "Haha, Qing'er, still remember Uncle?"

Qing'er nodded, her big eyes curiously gazing at the train.

Yan Baoyue laughed beside him, "We can see the train. Earlier we were arguing about getting closer to watch it, but I didn't buy a platform ticket, so I couldn't get in."

"Oh, I see, then Uncle will take you on the train." Lu Cheng immediately went to the inspection gate, spoke briefly with the Comrade at the station, and let Yan Baoyue and the child inside.

"Lu Cheng, we won't go in, right? We'll just talk here; I don't want to disturb your work."

"No problem, sister‑in‑law, we still have to stay a bit, just perfect to have Qing'er sit on the train for a while." Lu Cheng pinched Qing'er's little cheek: "Do you want to ride the train?"

Qing'er nodded again, obviously over‑excited.

"Sister‑in‑law, my older brother hasn't come?"

"Your older brother has been swamped lately; I came holding Qing'er. She keeps pestering me at home, wanting to see you."

Yan Baoyue said, seeing the many bags: "Lu Cheng, why did you bring so many things again? I wouldn't dare bring them like this; this place isn't short of food, it's not right to keep supporting us like this."

While boarding the train, Lu Cheng said, "Sister‑in‑law, when you say that, it's being distant. How can that be called assistance? We're family; this is mutual help."

Yan Baoyue felt grateful yet sighed in her heart; this is not mutual help, it's clearly one‑sided assistance.

On the train, they chatted about family matters with sister‑in‑law; this was only a temporary stop, and the train would soon reach its departure time. Qing'er, not having had enough fun, refused to get off.

Lu Cheng suddenly thought of taking Qing'er back to the Capital City alone for the New Year, but he didn't know whether sister‑in‑law would agree?