Chapter 4: Visiting My Sister

Lu Ying was pedaling a Phoenix-brand bicycle ahead, her expression very downcast.

"You know the situation with Qing Yanjie's family; since Uncle Lin was sent down to the southern labor reform, Qing Yan has been affected because of her family background, staying alone in the Capital City without a job, and the Street Office is trying to persuade her to go to the countryside for a labor team."

"Qing Yan also agreed; I heard she's being assigned to Beidahuang, where the winter is quite cold, so I wanted to bring her several more Cotton‑padded Jackets."

Lu Cheng, of course, knows these circumstances, even more than his sister does.

In the previous life, Lin Qingyan went down to the countryside for a labor team a week later, and by coincidence she was at the same Youth Commune as Lu Cheng.

But because of her family background, Lin Qingyan was repeatedly hauled onto the Commune's stage for struggle sessions, had a stinky shoe hung around her neck, and had her hair shaved into a yin‑yang style…

Because of that, Lu Cheng fought the Commune's militia several times, but each time he was locked up in a labor reform camp.

At that time, Lin Qingyan was criticized even harsher, nearly being tortured to death.

Since Lu Cheng was there, Lin Qingyan still had a familiar support.

But Lu Cheng, in those days, was in a bad mood and rarely spoke with Lin Qingyan.

Until he, drunk, lay in a snowdrift, nearly frozen to death, Lin Qingyan used her body to save him.

Lin Qingyan died with a smile at the corner of her mouth; perhaps at that moment she also felt relieved.

In this life, no matter what, she must not be sent down for a labor team again.

Lin Qingyan's home is in Yu'er Hutong of Nanluoguxiang, very close to Shichahai.

Although later generations heavily redeveloped the Capital City, some Siheyuan were preserved, including the two‑courtyard residence where Lin Qingyan lives, covering 850 square meters.

At the later Capital City's standard price of 60,000 per square meter for a typical Siheyuan, it would cost nearly 50 million.

But the courtyard house where Lin Qingyan lives, due to its prime location near Shichahai and Houhai and surrounded by famous former residences, is valued at directly two hundred million.

However, at that time, when Lin Qingyan went down for the labor team, that courtyard was swiftly confiscated by the Street Office.

From Ganyu Hutong to Yu'er Hutong, it's less than half an hour by bike.

After entering the Hutong, at a glance one sees Lin Qingyan's Siheyuan.

The bright vermilion gate, with a horse‑riding plaque and a drum‑holding stone at the entrance, looks very imposing.

In his previous life, Lu Cheng grew tired of high‑rise complexes; in old age he even dreamed of owning a Siheyuan like this, but by then he could no longer afford to buy one.

The speed at which the housing market prices rose made him click his tongue in disbelief.

After Lu Ying stopped her bike, she sent her brother to knock on the door.

Lu Cheng walked over, about to slam his hand on the door, but thought it better to be polite, so he used the circular ring on the bronze lion head of the door to knock three times rhythmically.

This scene left Lu Ying, who was holding the Cotton‑padded Jackets, staring in shock.

"Is the sun really shining from the west today?"

When did this reckless brother become so polite? He's always just kicked the door open.

"Who is it?"

From the courtyard came a voice as clear as a silver bell.

"Qing Yanjie, it's me, Lu Cheng, open the door."

"Lu Cheng? Oh, you're here, wait a moment."

"Pah pah." Lu Cheng spat twice into his palm and then smeared it on his hair.

"Sister, how does my appearance look today, okay?"

Lu Ying instantly became alert.

She knew how much of an asshole her brother was, because he was always a Pick‑up Artist, and the Street Office people often came to his door, literally driving him crazy.

"Lu Cheng, I tell you, you can pick up others outside, I don't bother to police you, but if you dare make a move on my good friend, I'll kill you."

"Look at you, getting all worked up; in the future, who would dare want you?"

"Get lost, you're annoying."

The vermilion gate swung open from the inside, and when Lin Qingyan saw Lu Ying, she was pleasantly surprised.

"Ying Ying, why are you here? Come in and sit in the courtyard."

Lu Ying handed over a Cotton‑padded Jacket: "I was just thinking you're about to go down for a labor team, become a proud Educated Youth comrade, and it's pretty cold over there, so I brought you a few more Cotton‑padded Jackets."

"Thank you, Ying Ying, you always think of me," Lin Qingyan clambered onto Lu Ying's arm.

Lu Ying hissed, whispering, "These fabrics were taken by my mother from the cotton mill; they're top‑grade material."

"Mm‑mm, I know, thank Aunt Lan for me."

The two laughed and chatted, arm‑in‑arm as they walked into the courtyard, while Lu Cheng remained, striking a cool pose, ignored by everyone.

"Cough cough, cough cough cough… cough cough…"

Lu Ying turned and glared, "What's with the coughing? I don't want to stay here, go play elsewhere; seeing you is annoying."

Lu Cheng walked over, yanked Lu Ying aside, then stared straight at Lin Qingyan.

Why didn't he notice Lin Qingyan's beauty in his previous life? He only blamed having grown up with her since childhood, seeing her like an older sister, always finding her ugly.

Even now, looking at her again, Lin Qingyan is astonishingly fresh and refined.

She has an oval face; when she smiles, she is graceful and dignified, and when she doesn't, she exudes a cool, aloof aura.

Her tall, slender figure is like a noble swan; even in winter cotton attire, her graceful curves remain evident, and her willow‑thin waist is a handful.

Her skin needs no description—it's like freshly peeled egg white, delicate and smooth.

Most importantly, Lin Qingyan naturally possesses an elegant, refined aura.

This aura cannot be cultivated later; it is ingrained in her bones.

Before the founding of the nation, Lin Qingyan's grandfather participated in most of the War of Resistance and was rated a major general after liberation.

Her grandmother was the daughter of a renowned lady of the Republic era.

Her mother was the daughter of a certain Deputy Department-level official.

Her father, Lin Zhenfeng, was Deputy Bureau Chief of the Metallurgical Bureau before being sent down, a Deputy Department-level official.

Under such a family atmosphere, it also forged her extraordinary temperament.

Lu Cheng regained his composure, walked over with a deeply affectionate expression, and said, "Qing Yanjie, it's really great to see you."

Lu Ying recalled her brother's earlier odd behavior, and when she got home she hugged her and her mother and kissed them.

Thinking of that, she immediately stepped in front and said, "Hey, hey, hey, don't go kissing around like that."

Where did you learn these nasty habits?

"They're all Revolutionary Comrades; a handshake should be fine," Lu Cheng said, extending his hand.

Lin Qingyan, though an ice‑mountain beauty, was still gracious in manners.

She extended her hand and shook it, smiling with her lips, "Lu Cheng Comrade has grown up, huh? I heard from your sister that you're going to work at the Railway Department. Congratulations! From now on you must work hard, no longer be so frivolous as before; you're a real man now."

After speaking, Lin Qingyan tried to withdraw her hand; a normal handshake between a man and a woman ends with a brief touch.

But Lu Cheng held on tightly and wouldn't let go; I must say, Qing Yanjie's hand is truly soft.

An older sister's hand is hard, because striking someone is especially painful.

Lu Cheng straightened his back, his face radiating righteousness.

"Thank you, Qing Yan Comrade, for your encouragement. Your encouragement makes me feel like bathed in spring breeze; I am fortunate across three lifetimes. I will definitely work hard, stand firm for the people at the final post, and never betray Qing Yanjie's trust."

Lu Ying, sitting nearby, rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away, "Are you sick? If you're sick, go take medicine, get out of the way."

It actually made Lin Qingyan burst into laughter, "Lu Cheng's younger brother is still the same as before, his mouth is really sweet."

"He's not sweet at all; day after day he's just stinky and poor. This morning he still had to… the recruitment quota…"

Lu Cheng quickly cleared his throat twice, "Sister, in front of Qing Yanjie, give me some face."

"Go, go, go, go lie down at the doorway outside."

The two girls linked arms and kept walking into the courtyard; Lu Cheng isn't a dog, so he naturally wouldn't lie down at the doorway.

Following them into the courtyard, he looked around; the environment here is truly wonderful—pavilions, towers, birdsong, fragrant flowers—definitely a future retirement haven.

Lu Cheng instantly had an idea: this courtyard must be acquired, worth 200 million, and under no circumstances should the Street Office's Turtle scoundrels get it cheap.