Chapter 37: Being Despised

At the end of November in the Capital City, the night temperature had already dropped to zero degrees.

The next morning, Lu Cheng woke up and dawdled for a while, reluctant to leave the bed.

He grabbed the socks by the bedside, about to put them on, but suddenly froze.

"You silly daughter‑in‑law, staying up late, what are you fixing the socks for?"

He put on the toe‑covering socks, slipped the long johns over them, tied the two straps, slipped on his shoes and hopped a couple of times.

Then he took his lunchbox and went out to the state‑run breakfast stall by the street.

It was rush hour, so he had to queue; when his turn came…

He ordered two flower rolls at three cents each.

He got two fried dough sticks at three cents each.

He took two sugar‑oil pancakes at five cents each.

He ordered a serving each of salty tofu pudding at eight cents and millet porridge at one cent, four meat buns at eight cents each, and finally a bowl of fried liver at ten cents.

In total he spent seventy‑three cents, plus a jin of grain coupons; the breakfast was quite extravagant.

The grain coupons were still given to him by his mother; if she knew he was being so wasteful, he would surely be scolded, but since they were bought for his daughter‑in‑law, he believed his mother wouldn't mind.

The side of pickled shredded vegetables was free, and he filled more than half a box, causing the clerk to roll his eyes.

Back in the courtyard, he thought about eating a portion, then decided against it; Lin Qingyan, that silly daughter‑in‑law, is reluctant to spend money, so he left it all for her—if she can't finish it this meal, she can warm it up for the next.

As for himself, he planned to go home and mooch a meal.

When Lin Qingyan woke up, she was about to reheat the steamed buns from last night and deal with breakfast as well.

But when she lifted the pot lid and saw it filled with delicious breakfast, her eyes instantly reddened and tears fell.

Since her parents sent her away, she splits every cent in half, living in extreme tightness; she can't even afford plain flour, let alone have ever eaten a meal outside.

…

Lu Cheng rode his bicycle back to the Hu Tong, where every household erupted with the "clack‑clack" of coal stoves being stoked.

"Mom, I'm back. Is breakfast ready?"

"Almost, almost. I'm cooking rice porridge; your dad went out to buy fried dough sticks and should be back soon."

Chen Xianglan called out from the kitchen.

As soon as the words finished, Lu Beitang actually turned around from behind; Lu Cheng was about to fetch the fried dough sticks, but Lu Beitang ignored him and walked straight back to the main hall carrying the sticks.

"Hmph, the dog's hungry, you know he's back."

Chen Xianglan walked over from the kitchen, apron swaying: "Look at you, what are you saying? Isn't it normal for someone to go back to their natal home?"

Sss!

There's something behind those words.

How did I become the one returning to my natal home?

Lu Cheng took a fried dough stick and didn't dare to eat it for a long while.

"Dad, Mom, you two are echoing each other; what does that mean?"

"Nothing, nothing. Mom will ladle you some porridge; eat more later. You've been suffering at your in‑laws' house, right?"

"Me?" Lu Cheng turned his head: "Dad…"

"Don't call me 'dad'; I'll consider you not my son at all."

"No, what's going on with you two? How come I haven't been home a day and the house is already…"

Lu Beitang hummed: "You do have a home; your home is in Yu'er Hu Tong. Grow up. You've been away two nights; what are you planning, a Reverse Marriage?"

"I'm telling you, Lu Cheng, if you dare a Reverse Marriage, never step into this house again."

Lu Cheng understood; no wonder his parents looked down on him the moment he entered.

"It wasn't dad who did a Reverse Marriage. I just saw that Qing Yanjie's side has a Separate Courtyard, so it's peaceful to live there."

"Hmph, a dog doesn't mind a poor house; that's someone else's home, not a Lu's."

Lu Cheng took a bite of the fried dough stick and changed the subject: "Dad, the sticks you bought are a bit over‑fried."

Lu Beitang snatched it, tossed it onto the table: "If we don't eat it, the dog can."

Damn, I've lost any standing in the family.

When Lu Ying came over, hair in hand, for breakfast, Lu Cheng passed the fried dough stick on the table to her: "Sis, you eat this stick."

Seeing her younger brother suddenly so kind, Lu Ying looked puzzled: "Why aren't you eating it?"

"I'm not hungry; a little porridge is enough. Isn't that caring for you?"

"Hmm, not bad. Little brother's grown up, huh."

Lu Ying took a bite, struggling a bit: "Dad, the sticks you bought today are old. Next time buy them at Dong'an Shichang; theirs are tasty."

Seeing Lu Beitang about to scowl again, Lu Cheng preempted: "Dad, they're not old at all."

"Sis, you're just being too picky; as long as there's something to eat it's fine. Our parents work hard every day to earn a little money; it's not easy, yet you keep nitpicking."

Lu Ying paused: "I—I was just speaking offhand, offering a suggestion. Is it really necessary to make a big deal out of it?"

"Even offhand remarks matter; a kind word warms three winters, a harsh word chills for six months, it hurts our dad's heart."

Lu Ying rolled her eyes: "Huh, that's really you."

Chen Xianglan carried the porridge in and said: "Alright, you two, stop fighting as soon as you meet. San'er, why didn't you bring Qing Yan for breakfast?"

"Oh, I bought her breakfast already; after I finished eating I went straight to work, so I didn't bring her."

Chen Xianglan nodded and sat at the table: "So what are you planning to do from now on?"

"What do you mean 'what to do'? I go to work normally every day, I'm not out messing around."

"Mom isn't asking about your job; she's asking where you intend to live from now on."

Lu Cheng shrugged: "I think living in that Separate Courtyard over there is peaceful; it's not about work, I can sleep well at night and stay energetic each day."

This is a four-sided courtyard house worth two hundred million, and living there feels like lying on money.

Lu Beitang tapped his fingers and said, "Listen, listen—does this even sound like human speech? You've lived here for nineteen years, and I never heard you complain before; now you say it's noisy? I think you just want a Reverse Marriage, and I truly despise you."

It's not like you just reincarnated back, you reincarnated early and moved to a Separate Courtyard; the Big Mixed Courtyard isn't as comfortable as a Separate Courtyard.

Lu Cheng felt a bit flustered; he hadn't thought the issue through before, assuming any place would be the same, and didn't expect his dad and mom to be so tangled over it.

Lu Beitang's words left Lu Cheng unable to rebut; he could only look to his sister as if seeking help.

Since Lu Cheng wasn't home yesterday, his parents muttered about it all day, essentially meaning that Lu Cheng must never become a Reverse Marriage, and their attitude was crystal clear.

Lu Ying could only give her brother a "I can't help it" expression.

"Um, I'm full, I'm off to work now," Lu Ying hurried away, fearing she'd stir up trouble.

"Um, Mom, I'm off to work too," Lu Cheng quickly made an excuse and left.

"Hey, you come back, this isn't settled yet."

Lu Beitang was about to stand when Chen Xianglan pulled him down, "Alright, alright, he's waiting to go to work, why are you holding him up."

After sitting down, Lu Beitang remained irate, "Going to work isn't important now; my son Lu Beitang is about to become a Reverse Marriage, and that's what matters."

"You don't know, everyone in the Factory Area knows I have a daughter‑in‑law; that's one thing, but I don't know who spread it, saying our Lu Cheng is going to be a son‑in‑law, making me unable to lift my head in the Factory Area."

Chen Xianglan glanced outside, "That must have been spread by Wang Dama of the Reverse Marriage House; her mouth is fast, she just makes up stories every day."

Lu Beitang waved his hand, "Don't blame her for making up stories; the point is our family really is in that situation. This Wang Baduzi—what on earth does he want? He marries a wife but doesn't bring her home; what does that mean?"

Chen Xianglan thought for a moment, "If it really can't work, I'll go talk to Qing Yan; as long as Qing Yan is willing to live here, Lu Cheng will naturally come back."

Lu Beitang nodded, finding it reasonable, "Hmm, your suggestion is good; then today go talk to Qing Yan and have them move back quickly."