Chapter 409: A Sudden Letter

It was Saturday, Lu Cheng organized another college student march, and when he got home at dusk, his blood still felt hot.

In that atmosphere, no one could guarantee they wouldn't get excited or moved.

Just upon entering Hu Tong, a burnt smell rose, coming from the neighboring Da Za Yuan.

Lu Cheng peeked over and saw the neighbor Sun Grandma, holding a heated hair tongs to curl her hair.

This year shoulder-length curls are in fashion, and mother Chen Xianglan is keeping up, fussing over curling her hair these past two days, only to receive a good scolding from father Lu Beitang.

He said mother is already an adult, still trying to show off, disgracing herself! He also said her desire to curl hair is bourgeois, a young lady's style, betraying the revolution, betraying the proletariat.

Angered, Chen Xianglan and Lu Beitang had a huge argument and still ignore each other.

"Sun Grandma, can you manage? I'm already smelling it burnt; if it really doesn't work, go to a barbershop."

Hearing Lu Cheng's shout, Sun Grandma turned her head and said, "No, no, a barbershop curl is pricey; I'll do it myself—practice makes perfect, self-reliant."

"Alright, then take your time curling, just don't set the house on fire, otherwise it could spread to our courtyard."

"Go, go, go, you jinx…"

Lu Cheng laughed and stepped back; a mail carrier happened to pass by, saw Lu Cheng, and stopped his bicycle.

"Hey Lu Cheng, there are three letters for your family."

"Three? Whose?"

After taking the three envelopes, he glanced and found two were from Wu Zhekun—one addressed to him and one to sister Lu Ying—and the other was a letter from his older brother.

"Right?" the mail carrier asked.

"Ah, that's right, thank you, I'll have a cup of tea at home."

"You're welcome, I have to go, there are still a few letters left to deliver."

Lu Cheng waved his hand, went to the Da Za Yuan entrance, sat on the steps, and impatiently opened his older brother's letter.

To my most missed family:

Seeing the characters is like seeing you; may the letter be well opened.

Dad, Mom, second sister, third brother, it is now 11 p. m.

I know the National Day is approaching; during festivals I miss you even more. The countryside is quiet, and lying in bed I suddenly couldn't sleep, so I got up, sat at my desk, and wrote you a letter to pour out my longing.

I know you also worry a lot about my situation here.

Baoyue, Qing'er and Xiao Hui have already drifted into dreamland, sleeping sweetly.

During this time, Xiao Hui has learned to call grandpa, grandma, aunt and third uncle, taught by Qing'er.

……

When he reached this part, Lu Cheng's eyes grew a bit moist; no matter the time or distance, familial bonds are an inseparable tie.

And his older brother's writing is plain, always detailing Qing'er and Xiao Hui's everyday antics; reading the letter feels as if the two children are right there, crying, quarrelling, laughing…

Sometimes when Mom and Dad have free time, they take out the letter and read it again; it's precisely his detailed descriptions that help ease their longing each time they read.

Older brother wrote two long pages; the first part is about the two children, the later part inquires about the family's situation, to be answered by Lu Cheng or sister Lu Ying, describing home life so he won't worry.

It is basically the same as usual letters, but this time Lu Cheng noticed the ending of the paper.

The letter said that the Discipline Inspection Committee Unit has been restored, and older brother was recommended by the Commune Director, successfully entering the Discipline Inspection Committee Unit.

When Lu Cheng read this, he was overjoyed; if older brother can rise quickly in the Discipline Inspection Unit, it adds another protective shield for the Lu family.

Anyone who dares to move against the Lu family should first see if they can withstand an investigation.

Of course, older brother is now only a Junior Clerk, and he even teased in the letter.

"Last time Ying Ying wrote, she said Lu Cheng this kid is about to graduate college, and after graduation he can be promoted to Zhengke Rank; I am proud of third brother, and of course, as the older brother who is a Junior Clerk, I still have to work harder…"

Lu Cheng held the paper, a smile on his face, but thought to himself, what does Zhengke matter? Even if it's a proper position, seeing a Discipline Inspection Committee clerk still gives him a chill.

Of course, provided he hasn't done anything contrary to Party principles.

He tucked older brother's letter back into an envelope, turned to let Mom and Dad read it again; after they finished, Mom would put it into the box together with older brother's previous letters.

Now there is already a thick stack.

He took another letter, Wu Zhekun's to sister Lu Ying, set it aside, and looked at the third letter addressed specifically to him.

Counting the time, Wu Zhekun this kid has been doing who knows what; it's been almost half a year since his last letter.

Because Ning Ning, the child Wu Zhekun rescued from the earthquake, inevitably got in touch with sister.

Usually two letters arrived each month asking about Ning Ning's situation in the Welfare Institute, but this time the gap was unusually long.

Lu Cheng even asked senior sister Su Feixue about it; she didn't say much, but in any case Wu Zhekun is definitely safe.

Safety is all that matters; receiving Wu Zhekun's sudden letter today further confirms he is safe.

He opened the envelope and the paper; unlike older brother's two-page letters, Wu Zhekun's letters to him are always brief, and this one was similar.

"Old Lu, I have another good idea: since you don't want to leave the sect and my dad also refuses, why not have me join the sect, become a disciple under Xu Erye, so we become peers."

Lu Cheng sighed; one must say Wu Zhekun looks quite clever—back when they first met at the ice rink, the guy wore an officer's wool coat, incredibly handsome.

Such a spirited fellow, yet when it comes to the sister matter, he seems to be missing a nerve.

His damn grandfather, putting aside that Lu Cheng is a closed-door disciple, whether Xu Erye would accept another disciple—if he were willing…

It's true that if you join the sect you'd be my peer, but damn, you and your dad would also be peers.

Lucky that this grandson could think of it.

Lu Cheng helplessly shook his head, kept scrolling down the paper, and upon reading the later part, he couldn't help but become solemn.

"Old Lu, could you speak to Xu Erye for me, ask him to accept me as a disciple; once you arrange it here, send me a letter so I can hurry home to take vows…"

"But this isn't urgent; this year there's definitely no time, next year? I can't say now, because I'm being transferred to the Southern Border Region soon, maybe… to go to war!"

War? Lu Cheng suddenly recalled something, but Wu Zhekun's letter to him ends abruptly here.

Moreover, the last three characters are scribbled, as if there was an urgent mission and there was no time to write properly.

Lu Cheng then turned his gaze to the letter addressed to sister; Wu Zhekun's letter to him was unfinished, but the one to sister surely detailed the situation.

Lu Cheng, worried, was just about to pick up the letter and open it when his head was suddenly struck.

"What a stinky problem, who told you to open my letter and snoop on someone's privacy, do you even know! If you dare to peek at my letter again, I'll kill you."

Lu Ying said that and snatched the envelope.

"It's not, sis, listen to my explanation…"

Lu Ying didn't listen, took the letter and entered the courtyard.

Lu Cheng, worried, followed, not knowing what reaction his sister would have upon seeing the letter.