Chapter 402: Visiting Someone's Home

This is our first time paying a visit, so we definitely can't go empty‑handed.

A few of us rode the old two‑wheeled cart and stopped at a state‑owned store on the street.

After we went in, we discussed what gifts to buy; although we're all poor students, we can't be too shabby on our first visit.

In this innocent era, a teacher's kindness is as important as parental love.

So after the discussion, we pooled our money and bought six apples, a bunch of bananas, plus some white sugar, eggs, and the like.

Each item was extremely precious in this era, something hard to get even when you crave it.

Zheng Guoping lifted the apples in a net bag and pressed them to his nose, inhaling a few deep breaths.

The scent of those apples was the best smell in the world, even sweeter than a woman's perfume.

After paying, just as we were about to leave the state‑owned store, Lu Cheng stared at the counter, remembered something, and separately paid for a headband.

Even though he bought it while everyone was out, Zheng Guoping still saw it.

"Third, you're a grown man—why are you buying a headband, sneaking around like that?"

Lu Cheng glanced, slipped the headband into his pocket and said, "Who was sneaking? My Er Jie asked me to bring her one; I just remembered when I saw it."

Lu Cheng indeed has an Er Jie, Zheng Guoping knew that, so he didn't press further; the group mounted the old two‑wheeled cart and rode down the main street.

Entering early summer in the Capital City, colors became richer; green street trees lined both sides, and girls in brightly colored dresses walked the streets.

Of course, only a metropolis like the Capital City can see so many hues; elsewhere, people still favor black, white, and gray.

Lu Cheng loves summer, beautiful girls, and this wonderful youth.

Suddenly inspired, he said, "Let's race our bikes—whoever arrives last at Professor Yang's house buys the meal."

As soon as Lu Cheng finished speaking, a few bicycles behind surged ahead.

Lu Cheng cursed, "Damn, I haven't even said start! Second, put your foot down and give me some push…"

There were four bicycles in total; Lu Cheng's was bought with his sister‑in‑law's savings and carried Zheng Guoping, while the other three belonged to three local Capital City classmates, each with a rider.

Even with just four bikes and eight people, they managed to ride with a grand, sweeping momentum.

Their shouts made pedestrians scramble away, and anyone lagging would inevitably be scolded, "Hurry up to be reborn!"

We rode to an alley lined with a row of western‑style houses—the Capital City's few Soviet‑style mansions, two stories tall with front and back yards.

From the iron fence outside, the courtyard was shaded by green trees and filled with flowers and plants, like a small park.

Zheng Guoping forgot to pedal, gazing at the rows of little mansions and sighing, "This is truly a place for highly educated people, so beautiful—when will I ever live in a house like this?"

Lu Cheng shouted, "Damn it, stop staring and pedal, we're already in last place!"

Zheng Guoping was unfazed: "No problem, you're already a big landlord at school; consider this a defeat for us this time."

"Traitor…" Lu Cheng couldn't pedal any more, mainly because Zheng Guoping, that brat, wasn't even pushing from behind, just grinding his feet uselessly.

Because Zheng Guoping knew who was treating, he wanted to eat better, so he followed the big landlord Lu Cheng.

Amid everyone's laughter, Lu Cheng gladly accepted defeat; he never cares about spending money—money only belongs to you once you spend it.

In the front courtyard, a woman was watering plants with an aluminum kettle; the sun was still strong, and some green leaves had wilted.

She heard the laughter outside, turned her head, thought it was passing children, but when Lu Cheng glanced at the house number, she stepped forward to greet them.

"Good afternoon, Auntie, this is Professor Yang's home, right?"

The woman watering the flowers was Yang Yin's mother, Cai Shengjing; her dignified bearing and every gesture marked her as an intellectual.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiled at the young bunch, and said, "Ah, you're Professor Yang's students, right?"

Her husband Yang Kaiming had instructed early that morning that a few old friends and his students would come over for a tea gathering.

"Yes, Auntie, we're here to pay a visit and apologize for the disturbance."

"No disturbance at all; your coming makes the house livelier."

Except for little daughter Yang Yin, the other children weren't around; it was rare to have so many people today, and Cai Shengjing was so delighted she barely had time to…

"It's hot today, come into the courtyard quickly… You're all students, why are you buying things? These things must be so expensive…"

Cai Shengjing scolded, not waiting for Lu Cheng to be polite, when a second‑floor window suddenly opened and Yang Yin's head poked out.

It closed quickly, followed by the "ding‑ding‑ding" sound of footsteps descending.

"We didn't bring much, Auntie, Professor Yang always looks after us; coming today is already a disturbance, but we'd like to show a token—please accept it, otherwise we'll have no excuse next time."

For such polite small talk, Lu Cheng had to lead; the other classmates may excel academically, but they're weak in social niceties.

When Lu Cheng said that, the hosts readily accepted.

Cai Shengjing thought the youngster was truly eloquent: "Then don't make a habit of it, or Auntie won't let you come again."

Yang Yin clutched her mother's arm, swaying and muttering, "Mom, don't be polite to him; his skin is so thick…"

Cai Shengjing instantly sterned, "Don't be rude, Yin Yin; these are your father's students, about to graduate, you should call them brothers."

Yang Yin pursed her lips, "Yes, yes, Lu Cheng brother."

Her affected tone made Cai Shengjing so angry she tapped her daughter's head.

"No respect for elders; you can't do that again. No matter what, they're guests, and if word gets out people will say our family lacks proper upbringing."

Seeing usually outspoken Yang Yin now silent before Mother Cai, Lu Cheng couldn't help laughing, which made Yang Yin glare furiously.

Lu Cheng was used to it; it's not that she lacks upbringing, it's just Yang Yin's nature.

"Auntie, don't scold her; she usually likes joking with people, and we big brothers certainly won't hold it against her."

Cai Shengjing smiled again, "Look at her, such a big‑hearted person, never quarrels with you—unlike you…"

Yang Yin pouted, "Mom, you don't get him; he just says pretty words, empty and pretentious…"

"Hey, you kid!" Cai Shengjing tried to tap her daughter again, and Yang Yin quickly made a funny face and ran off.

"I'll go back to my room and study English."

"Study hard…" Cai Shengjing shook her head, "That child has been spoiled."