Chapter 414: The Enlightened Sister

Lu Ying looks at the pants before her; it is no longer merely a pair of pants, but a need for self‑expression among young people.

Although it is not yet accepted, she believes it won't be long before more people share this spiritual demand, eventually forming a trend that no one can stop the market's change.

Because the market follows demand, especially this year, some goods have become noticeably richer, whereas before they seemed too monotonous.

Watching his sister's eyes shift from confusion to clarity, Lu Cheng tentatively asks, "How's it, sis, did you gain any insight?"

Lu Ying puts the pants down and thinks seriously for a moment.

"Hmm, there is something… I'm not sure I can say it well?"

Lu Cheng knows that their generation was born into and lived their whole lives under a planned economy, collectivism, collective profit‑and‑loss responsibility, and Big Pot Rice ideology, which have long been deeply imprinted on everyone's mind.

So making his sister jump from that mindset to another is very difficult.

Lu Cheng encourages, "It's fine, just try speaking; I'm your own brother, and even if you're wrong, no one will persecute you."

Lu Ying believes that anyone who dares to persecute her would have to face Lu Cheng, that foolish brother who would brandish a kitchen knife and fight, whether you're a Red Guard or something from the Street Office.

"I always feel what you just said doesn't fit this era, like you talk about the limits of liberating thought; everything is collective, and even if it's further liberated, it can't become individual, right?"

Lu Cheng picks up the Bell-bottom Pants: "Sis, look, just like these Bell-bottom Pants, where there's demand there's a market. Likewise, our current planned‑economy system works the same way; when society reaches a stage that can't meet people's needs, we must seek change and gradually transition to another system.

Of course, this is an exploratory process, not something that changes in a day or two."

Transition to another system? Hearing his brother's words, Lu Ying felt a bit nervous, but the nervousness gradually faded, replaced by excitement.

Lu Cheng can understand his sister's change of expression.

Now whether it's a State-owned Factory, a collective small enterprise, or rural land, it's the collective for everyone and everyone for the collective.

But with changes in the coming years, collective small enterprises such as tailoring shops, public bathhouses, department stores, and land turning into household joint‑production contract responsibility systems…

All will shift from collective profit‑and‑loss responsibility to individual self‑responsibility, meaning the collective no longer backs losses; individuals bear deficits, risk rises, and it's natural for everyone to feel nervous at first.

Can I do it well? What if I incur losses?

Yet when diligent, clever, or bold people reap rich rewards, their nervousness turns into excitement.

Lu Ying looks back at her brother, a moment of complexity, almost making Lu Cheng's hair stand on end.

"Why are you staring at me like that? I'm a bit good‑looking, but if you later want a man prettier than me, that'll be hard."

Lu Ying rolls her eyes: "Tell me honestly, are you really my brother? Because I feel you don't seem like a person of this era."

Lu Cheng's heart jumps; could his sister have discovered something?

He never told his sister he's a reincarnated person; could he have muttered something in a dream?

"Me, how could I not seem like it?"

"Exactly, you're different; I'd know your past conduct, but in the last two years you've practically become another person."

Brother Lu Cheng may still appear the reckless type on the surface, yet sometimes he can speak with great depth.

Lu Ying also realizes a problem: she finds her thoughts constantly guided by her brother, but she can't say where the guidance leads.

Hearing his sister, Lu Cheng laughs, "My university years weren't wasted; the school has so many excellent teachers and classmates, so some change is quite normal."

Lu Cheng's words sound reasonable, and Lu Ying finally dispels her doubts.

Leaning on the table, Lu Ying mutters, "So, as you say, will the department store at the train station someday become private?"

Lu Cheng nods, his tone firm: "It will, and it'll happen quickly, so you need to do something now."

Lu Ying understands her brother's meaning; if policies change and the collective shifts to individuals, she should seize the chance to claim the department store at the train station.

Seeing his sister's determined gaze, Lu Cheng leans in: "Sis, I can't give you enlightenment for free; how about you give me two yuan, I want to go eat out."

Lu Ying glares: "What sins did I commit in my past life to be your sister in this one?"

"Don't say that; there are so many people who want to be my sister, and I refuse them all. You should feel honored to have this chance."

Lu Ying rolls her eyes, and when her peripheral glance lands on the envelope on the windowsill, she suddenly remembers something.

"Then let's go; we can stop by the Welfare Institute, pick up Ning Ning, and eat out together."

Hearing this, Lu Cheng hurriedly drags out his bicycle, wipes the rear seat clean, and says, "Come, sister‑queen, have a seat!"

Chen Xianglan calls from inside, "Dinner's ready soon; what are you two off to?"

Lu Cheng pushes the bicycle outward and replies, "We won't eat at home; my sister says your cooking is terrible, so you have to treat me to a restaurant."

Lu Ying kicks out, "You keep leaning on me again; have some shame! With you like this, you brag that people scramble to be your sister, but anyone who does ends up cursed for eight lifetimes. If I reincarnate as a dog next life, I won't be your sister either…"

Riding his bicycle while listening to his sister's complaints, Lu Cheng feels surprisingly happy.

Compared with his older brother, he grew up with his sister, spending more time together and sharing a closer bond.

On the main street, the National Day festive atmosphere grows thicker.

On October 1st, the area in front of Tiananmen Tower will be the liveliest spot.

Lu Cheng and Zheng Guoping have arranged to watch the flag‑raising ceremony; it's said there will also be a gala this year.

When the city tower is lit up with countless light bulbs, it will be stunning; outside the Capital City such a spectacle is rare, and Lu Cheng certainly doesn't want to miss it.

Yet fate opposes them; those Educated Youth also know the best times to cause trouble for greater effect.

With five days left until National Day, Lu Cheng receives news—a call personally placed by Director Song, which went straight to the General Bureau.

Clearly, the situation is far from optimistic.

The military‑cap youth led a group of Educated Youth to cause trouble in the Capital City two days ago, but on the way they were seized by local Public Security.

Lu Cheng thinks, that military‑cap youth is really impulsive; with the Capital City's National Day approaching, who else would you arrest if you don't catch him?

Yet arresting him won't solve the issue; it will only exacerbate the conflict further.

Logically, the military‑cap youth's detention by Public Security has nothing to do with the Railway Bureau, but as Lu Cheng anticipated, such a capture fully inflames the tension.

More Educated Youth are banding together, following the Railway to the Capital City to demand an explanation; since railway safety is at stake, the Railway Bureau cannot stand by.