Chapter 302: Making Amends to Win Favor

Riding a bicycle to the doorway, Lu Cheng rested his arm on the handlebars and just watched the few people peeking around.

"You go in."

"I don't dare to go in; I was scolded out just now."

Zhong Qingbao angrily shouted, "Look at you all, so spineless. She's just a woman, what's there to be afraid of?"

"Then why didn't you go in?"

Zhong Qingbao choked for a moment, thinking he couldn't be a coward; just as he was mustering the courage to enter the courtyard, his rear was suddenly kicked.

"You motherf—…" Zhong Qingbao turned his head, saw Lu Cheng, swallowed the words, and then put on a smiling face.

"It's Lu San'er, huh? Why are you here?"

Lu Cheng said with a stern face, "This house is mine; what's strange about me returning to my own home?"

Zhong Qingbao's face stiffened, then quickly realized that Lu Cheng is Lin Zhenfeng's son‑in‑law, so claiming the house as his own was unquestionable.

"I still want to ask you, what are you skulking around for? A few grown men, still trying to bully a girl, right?"

Facing Lu Cheng's interrogation, Zhong Qingbao quickly waved his hands.

"No, no, you misunderstand. We're here to help Lin Qingyan tidy up the house."

"Tidy up the house?"

"Yes. We see she's a female Comrade who needs moving and lifting; aren't we just offering a hand? We're sincerely here to help, definitely not to bully her."

"Exactly, truly here to help."

Seeing the few nod simultaneously, Lu Cheng understood.

It must be Zhong Qingbao and the others; they also received news of Lin Zhenfeng's Rehabilitation, so they rushed here to help.

When Lin Qingyan was alone, struggling to survive in Capital City, it was one thing that the Street Office people gave no assistance; they even placed her under soft detention, then forced her to move to the countryside to seize her house.

Now Zhong Qingbao and the others come to help, their purpose obvious: to curry favor with the Lin Family, fearing that Lin Zhenfeng might be targeted again if he returns.

Lu Cheng shook his head, "If you want to help, go into the courtyard; standing at the doorway does no good."

Zhong Qingbao replied helplessly, "We do want to go in, but Lin Qingyan won't let us help and even drove us out; she doesn't even give us a chance to make amends."

Lu Cheng smiled, "That shows you lack sincerity. If you want to make amends, let your Chief Director come in person to do so."

Zhong Qingbao sighed, "Sigh, never mind. Our Chief Director Zhang isn't in Capital City; he was transferred to a Commune as deputy director."

Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow. Going to a Commune as deputy director? That's a demotion.

After all, even as chief director in a Commune, it still offers fewer opportunities than the Capital City Street Office.

As for why Zhang Shoufeng was demoted to the Commune, it's probably because he persecuted many people and was later settled accounts.

Seeing Zhong Qingbao and the others still lingering, Lu Cheng immediately said, "Then you can leave; we don't need your help here."

Zhong Qingbao hurriedly grabbed him, "Um, if you go in, could you say something favorable for us? We did offend in the past, but we were forced, all because Chief Director Zhang pressured us; you can't blame us."

Lu Cheng thought to himself, indeed, when the tree falls the monkeys scatter; Zhang Shoufeng had just been demoted and left Capital City, and Zhong Qingbao's group were already eager to cut ties.

"What can I do for you?" Lu Cheng's tone was a refusal, but Zhong Qingbao didn't catch it.

"Of course you can help. Who doesn't know you're Lin Zhenfeng's dragon‑riding son‑in‑law, and the only son‑in‑law; your words obviously carry weight."

Now the circles are buzzing about Lin Zhenfeng's Rehabilitation; his only daughter Lin Qingyan naturally got thrust into the spotlight, and Lu Cheng, as the son‑in‑law, is being widely discussed.

Lu Cheng could even imagine how they were talking about him behind his back.

Basically, they're saying this kid went from a wild chicken to a phoenix, got lucky, and will now enjoy wealth and honor with the Lin Family, and so on.

Too lazy to tangle further with Zhong Qingbao, Lu Cheng pulled his arm away and stepped straight into the courtyard.

The remaining Zhong Qingbao and the others stayed behind, chatting.

"Does he actually want to help?"

"Who knows, but this kid really got lucky; he once dared to marry a Pro‑Capitalist Faction daughter, and now she's been rehabilitated—there's no logic to it."

"Hiss, I feel like this is an opportunity."

"What opportunity?"

"Think about it: there must be many families like Lin Qingyan's that were persecuted. Just divorce your wife, pick up another, treat them well, and when Rehabilitation comes, we can share the blessings."

Zhong Qingbao cursed, "You damn genius."

…

Entering the courtyard, the first thing that caught the eye was a pile of coal covered with a canvas.

That was from the time he earned a Third-Class Merit; the Coal Department gave a reward of ten tons at once, which couldn't be burned all, so it was temporarily stacked in this courtyard.

Lin Qingyan was holding a blanket that had been sun‑dried during the day; Lu Cheng, carrying a lunchbox, said, "Qing Yan, this pile of coal looks untidy here; tomorrow I'll find someone to haul it to my Master's place."

When Lin Zhenfeng and his spouse return, it's still unclear when they'll resume work and move into the small villa; until then they'll have to stay here temporarily.

Even though this fine Siheyuan is piled with coal, Lin Zhenfeng probably won't say anything, but Lin Qingyan's mother, who lives a refined life, can't help feeling displeased.

Lin Qingyan didn't think much: "It's fine, just leave it here. Carrying it back and forth is tiring; the coal secures our livelihood, it's not dirty stuff."

Lin Qingyan's personality is the opposite of her mother's; though she appears aloof and otherworldly, inside she's a very kind girl.

Just like in the Da Za Yuan, crowded and chaotic, Lu Cheng initially thought Lin Qingyan couldn't endure it, but she ended up living comfortably and befriending many neighbors.

Seeing Lin Qingyan set the blanket down and start moving the coal stove, Lu Cheng took it, "I'll do it; you eat first, I've brought it for you."

"Oh."

Lin Qingyan sat at the stone table, opened the lunchbox, ate the fragrant folded‑cabbage, and watching Lu Cheng hustle about, it seemed like a life of men plowing and women weaving; a smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Lu Cheng saw and said, "What are you secretly laughing at?"

Caught, Lin Qingyan hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to eat, "I'm not laughing at anything."

"Earlier they came to help, why did you drive them away?"

Lin Qingyan thought of it with disgust: "I don't want their help; people like that, when they're bad, will kick you when you're down, and when they're good, they'll just flatter you."

Being from a cadre family, Lin Qingyan has seen far too many such opportunists.

Whether it was the earlier hardships, surviving alone with difficulty, or now that her father is about to return, Lin Qingyan has always had the same attitude toward those people.

After bringing the coal stove into the house, Lu Cheng clapped his hands and walked into the courtyard: "Tomorrow I'll come again to install the exhaust pipe; you can sleep here tonight."

While eating, Lin Qingyan suddenly looked up: "Why won't you let me go back to sleep?"