Chapter 228: Want to Divorce Sooner

Lu Cheng slept straight through to the next day, sat up and saw it was already 5:30.

The whole Da Za Yuan was still hushed in the quiet morning.

As he was about to roll out of bed, he suddenly saw a round plastic box by the bedside; picking it up, he saw it was Frostbite Ointment.

He sniffed his hand and detected a faint camphor scent.

Lu Cheng unconsciously looked to the side, and through a curtain, Lin Qingyan was still asleep.

Needless to say, Lin Qingyan must have bought it last night and thoughtfully applied the medicine to his hand.

He gently lifted the curtain; Lin Qingyan's pretty face, flushed with a faint pink from the stove's heat, had long, curved lashes.

Seeing such a beautiful woman so close yet untouchable, Lu Cheng couldn't help feeling a pang of wistfulness.

Thinking of others who were reborn, they leveraged their previous life's advantages to amass wealth quickly, then surrounded themselves with lovers, hoping to have red‑haired confidantes all over the country.

In fact he could, for given Sun Yan Hong's current attitude toward him, if he wanted, Sun Yan Hong would certainly not refuse.

But after his rebirth, he first married Lin Qingyan, instantly trapping himself in marriage.

Sigh, who made him want to be a good person, thinking of first repaying Lin Qingyan for the kindness she gave him in his past life.

The reason he hasn't made a move on Sun Yan Hong is that, although his marriage to Lin Qingyan is a contract and neither side has romantic feelings, there is still a factual marriage.

Lu Cheng still has this basic sense of morality; it's not right to be with another woman while the marriage persists.

So he must wait until after the divorce, when he becomes free, and then first get Sun Yan Hong.

No, no, Lu Cheng quickly shook his head.

Sun Yan Hong has already been married and has two children, whereas he's still a virgin; that seems a bit unfair.

Anyway, divorcing early and regaining freedom has no downside; he can pursue any girl without moral self‑reproach.

Lu Cheng recalled on the train the things Wu Zhekun said about Lin Zhenfeng's past misfortunes.

In his previous life he knew that without intervention, Lin Zhenfeng would have to wait two years for Rehabilitation.

But now he thinks that by actively intervening, he might get Lin Zhenfeng rehabilitated a year early.

Thus, not only would Lin Qingyan be able to reunite with her family sooner, repaying the past‑life kindness, but he would also regain his freedom early—a win‑win.

To get Lin Zhenfeng rehabilitated early, he first needs to go to the Dang An Guan to obtain the incriminating documents.

The problem is he doesn't know any director, and others won't let him wander in and out freely, so this is indeed a bit tricky.

Looks like he'll have to look for connections; at that moment a person suddenly came to mind—maybe he could try…

"You're awake."

Lu Cheng was spacing out when Lin Qingyan opened her eyes; she saw Lu Cheng leaning over, staring at her.

"Ah, you're awake, thanks for the Frostbite Ointment you bought for me," Lu Cheng sat up, turned over, dressed, and got out of bed.

Lin Qingyan propped herself up with her arms, looked at the time, and realized it was time to get up.

"Is your hand better? You should keep it on you and apply it twice a day."

"Alright, much better, not that itchy anymore."

He didn't bring up the Dang An Guan matter; he still doesn't know whether it can be done.

After getting up, Lin Qingyan carried a spittoon to the public restroom in Hu Tong Li; there were few people, so no line.

Lu Ying also got up, stood at the courtyard's public faucet; the pipe was frozen and needed hot water to melt.

Lu Cheng leaned over: "Sister."

"No money."

Lu Ying didn't even look, lifted the Thermos Flask and began pouring water onto the pipe.

"It's not about money, sis, I didn't ask for any; I just want to tell you something."

"Even talking about it costs money."

Lu Cheng was speechless: "Fine, you won't listen, but this is about expanding your Tea Stall."

He thought this would pique Lu Ying's interest, but it was the opposite.

"Don't expand; this little Tea Stall is already enough for us to be busy."

The pipe started flowing; Lu Ying squeezed toothpaste, took the enamel jar, filled it with half a cup of cold water, then poured hot water in.

While wetting her toothbrush, she complained plaintively: "Can't you see how early I got up? I don't even want to work anymore; I can't even get a lazy nap. I'd rather be at the tailor shop—nothing much all day, I could take leave whenever. Now it's even worse, busier than the national leaders, having to leave early and return late every day."

How can I not want to work again? That can't work.

If I want to become an excellent, qualified entrepreneur in the future, it'll be even busier—so busy that I wouldn't have time to bend down to pick up a hundred yuan.

So now I must adapt in advance.

"Sis…" Lu Cheng was about to pep up his sister, but Lu Ying, understanding her brother, quickly reached out to stop him.

"Stop it, don't tell me about serving the people; now I'm the one serving them, and no one serves me—I'm a people too."

"Don't mind, little brother serves you." Lu Cheng hurriedly took the enamel jar and held it there.

Lu Ying, chewing on her toothbrush, angrily said, "This lousy director job—others sit in offices, sipping tea and reading newspapers. I both manage and do the work. Hmph, I'm quitting today; whoever wants it can have it. I'm done."

Lu Cheng heard that his sister was truly exhausted and didn't want to be director any more; after all, the Tea Stall is a collective unit, not as formal as a State-owned Enterprise.

The Tea Stall lacks a proper management system; even the title "director" is just a nice‑sounding label, and in reality they're just doing odd jobs like everyone else.

"Sis, here's the plan: this time I'll speak up so that you, as director, only have to manage and not do the work."

Lu Ying gave a sideways glance, continued brushing her teeth: "What good would that do? The Tea Stall is just that; the station has heavy foot traffic, and when it's busy, everyone has to pitch in."

"That's what it sounds like, but actually it's because the Tea Stall is too small and staff are chaotic; if we can expand and strengthen it, the Street Office will definitely regularize its management."

So then, as director, you could become a formal director, only needing to oversee things daily, no longer doing the work; you could even appoint two deputy directors to help, and you'd become the boss of the Tea Stall.

At this point Lu Ying finally stopped brushing and, skeptical, asked, "Really?"

"Of course it's true; could my little brother even lie to you?"

"Tsk, you're the one who lies to me the most." Lu Ying took the enamel jar, took a sip of water, and spat it out.

"Huh, what's that got to do with me? For something like this, I wouldn't lie to you," Lu Cheng hurriedly fetched washing water for his sister again.

"Then you tell me, how can we expand the Tea Stall?"

Watching his sister pour hot water from the Thermos Flask into the water basin, Lu Cheng briefly mentioned the matter of Beijing Station preparing to sell Smuggled Goods.