Chapter 268: You Want Me to Become a Live-In Son-in-Law?

When Wu Guiwen turned off the TV, the people sitting on the small stools, heads craned and eyes glued to the screen, immediately burst into a commotion.

"Teacher Wu, why turn off the TV? Turn it back on quickly, it's at the most intense part…"

"Teacher Wu, are you trying to hold a meeting? You don't need to turn off the TV for a meeting; you speak your part, we watch ours, it won't delay anything."

"Yeah, Teacher Wu, turn it on, turn it on…"

Staring at the TV, their thoughts were on the picture, leaving no attention for anyone speaking; Wu Guiwen waved his hand, about to signal everyone to be quiet, but the TV was suddenly turned back on.

He turned his head and saw Da Hu crouching and turning it back on.

Wu Guiwen, angry, gave him a kick: "Who told you to turn it on? Go, go, go…"

Da Hu, clutching the TV and unwilling to let go, said: "You adults can have your meeting, but why should you turn off us kids?"

Wu Guiwen's anger made his teeth itch; he didn't know that the whole fee‑for‑TV thing had originally been reported to the Street Office by Da Hu.

If he had known, Da Hu would have gotten his butt blown to pieces today.

At that moment someone in the crowd shouted: "Da Hu makes a good point; we adults can hold our meeting, there's no need to delay the kids watching TV."

Seeing others echoing, Wu Guiwen had to give up.

"Alright then, everyone sit up straight; I'm about to announce something."

In order to watch the TV together, the big guy sitting on the stool immediately straightened his posture; Wu Guiwen was pleased, feeling once again like he was teaching in a classroom.

And the elementary students below had turned into adults, giving him an instant sense of being a leader.

Looks like this TV still can't be sold; if it were, no one would be so obedient.

"Everyone listen carefully; today I'm announcing something about our Da Za Yuan… The weather is warming, everything is becoming active, so our Da Za Yuan must first pay attention to fire prevention, second to theft prevention; I'll start with fire prevention…"

While Wu Guiwen talked at length, Yue Min and his wife each perched on a small stool beside Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng saw this, reached out and snatched a few pumpkin seeds from Yue Min's wife's hand to eat.

Yue Min's wife didn't mind and whispered: "Lu San'er, why are you and Qing Yan not having children?"

Lin Qingyan glanced but said nothing, continuing to listen to Wu Guiwen's fire‑prevention talk; Lu Cheng gave a quick glance and replied offhand, "Don't want them."

Yue Min's wife, curious, leaned forward and asked: "Why don't you want them? Is it because you can't have children? Is it Qing Yan's reason, or yours?"

Lu Cheng turned his head, laughing, and teased: "I don't know; why don't we try, then we'll know if it's my reason."

Yue Min's wife nudged him: "Look at you, I'm speaking kindly; I'm well‑meaning, having been through it, I have experience. If you truly can't have children, I'll give you the family formula to adjust, but I can't give it away for free; after all I paid for it, just give me two bucks."

Yue Min's wife had recently craved pastries; recalling how she spent a lot on herbal formulas that still didn't help her conceive, she thought of selling them to Lu Cheng for some pocket money, and then buying pastries to satisfy her cravings.

Lu Cheng shook his head wordlessly: "Your family's formula works so well, why aren't you pregnant yet?"

Yue Min's wife, hit at a sore spot, said awkwardly: "I… our situations differ; the formula depends on fate. It didn't work for our family, maybe it would for yours…"

Lu Cheng pursed his lips, too lazy to reply.

Yue Min's wife hurried: "Do you want it? If you do, I can bring it to you now; five for a piece is fine…"

Lu Cheng found her unbearably noisy; fortunately Wu Guiwen intervened at that moment.

"Who is that? Yue Min's wife, stop whispering down there, listen to me seriously…"

Yue Min's wife rolled her eyes, reached out and took the last pumpkin seed from Lu Cheng's hand.

Seeing Yue Min's wife sit obediently, Wu Guiwen cleared his throat: "Where did I leave off?"

No one responded; when he looked around, everyone was side‑facing the TV in unison, paying no mind to what he was saying.

Infuriated, Wu Guiwen immediately turned the TV off again, and the big guy couldn't help but complain.

This time Wu Guiwen firmly refused to turn the TV back on: "Everyone, listen to me carefully; this concerns our entire Da Za Yuan and each individual. Fire and theft prevention is our next task, as directed by the Street Office."

So my plan is: each household sends one person, pairing two people per team, rotating nightly watch according to the calendar.

Upon hearing about night watch, someone grumbled: "Teacher Wu, you're really overdoing it; we work a full day in the daytime, and every night we're exhausted—how can we have the energy to stand night watch?"

"Yes, Teacher Wu, fire and theft prevention is talked about every year; the Street Office just goes through the motions. There's no need for you to be so pedantic."

Wu Guiwen set his face sternly: "How can you say that! How could it be mere pedantry? You forgot the recent midnight fire in the neighboring Hu Tong; it was discovered in time and only one room burned. If we had someone on night watch, we could spot and resolve issues instantly—that's for everyone's benefit."

Someone still refused night duty: "Teacher Wu, we appreciate your concern for us, but the recent fire was caused by Yang Huzi; it's resolved now. As for theft, don't we have Lu San'er as a police officer in our courtyard? Nothing can be stolen…"

"Exactly, with Lu San'er in our courtyard, no one dares to steal."

Chen Xianglan, upon hearing that, instantly became displeased; it was like putting a hat on someone. If anyone actually lost something later, they'd all blame Lu Cheng for lax protection.

Our sons have to work and go to school every day; no one can stay home to guard the house daily.

"Hey Brother Miao, that's not right. It's true our San'er is a police officer, but police aren't omnipotent. I think we should follow Teacher Wu's suggestion: one person per household, sharing the responsibility."

When others tried to speak, Wu Guiwen immediately asserted his authority.

"It's settled then; I'm turning the TV on right now."

At the prospect of watching TV again, nobody said anything; watching TV was the priority.

In the mid‑1970s, TV programs weren't that varied, mainly featuring model operas; today they aired "Surprise Attack of the White Tiger Troupe," and everyone watched with great interest.

Lu Cheng wasn't very interested; after a while he went back inside, and Lin Qingyan, seeing this, also got up.

From inside, the sound of the model opera from the courtyard could still be heard; it wouldn't end before 9:30.

After Lin Qingyan entered, Lu Cheng, while taking off his clothes, said: "How is it? Is it noisy? Living in the Separate Courtyard must be comfortable, right?"

Lu Cheng had asked several times to move to that Separate Courtyard, but Lu Beitang firmly refused and hid the key.

Lin Qingyan, folding Lu Cheng's discarded clothes, said: "It's fine; I think it's lively. The Separate Courtyard is too quiet; here, as soon as you step in, people greet you, even while doing laundry there's chatter, and there are many kids in Hu Tong."

Lu Cheng then started taking off his pants, glanced up, and saw Lin Qingyan already turned sideways.

"Your adaptability is strong; no wonder your father survived the incident and kept going! Even if you like this place, after your father's Rehabilitation, you'll still have to move into the small western‑style building."

When Lu Cheng got into the nest, Lin Qingyan picked up his pants and draped them over her arm.

"If you want to live in the small western‑style building, then you… can go with us too."

Lu Cheng was stunned: "What does that mean? You want me to become a live‑in son‑in‑law?"