Chapter 447: The Bustling Da Za Yuan

Chen Xianglan handed the vegetable basket to her son: "Waiting in line back and forth wasted time; after buying the pork ribs, I heard fresh eggs arrived today, so I bought ten jin as well, and had the shop clerk inspect each one with a lamp, otherwise I'm afraid I'd get bad eggs…"

Lu Cheng lifted the basket; on one side lay a small half-portion of pork ribs, on the other side were eggs.

"Sure, son, today's laundry is clean enough," Chen Xianglan said, praising the hung clothes.

"Mom's assigned task, I'll definitely take it seriously, even if my back aches."

"Then you rest for a while; Mom will go make you food."

Lu Cheng followed Mom to the kitchen, placed the basket on the cabinet, and arranged the eggs neatly.

"Mom, when I have money I'll buy you a washing machine, high or low, so you don't have to work so hard washing clothes."

Chen Xianglan felt happy inside, but still refused: "Why would we need that thing? Not only does it cost money, but putting clothes into that tub, I'm afraid it'll ruin the clothes…"

People's mindset nowadays is like that; they still hold a rejecting attitude toward washing machines and refrigerators.

Even during the sports period a few years ago, a Red Youth dragged a refrigerator from a prominent professor's house, trying to label the fridge as bourgeois.

During dinner, Lu Beitang finally returned from wandering outside and, seeing a large bowl of braised pork ribs on the table, immediately frowned.

"What's the occasion today, making such a huge bowl of ribs."

Chen Xianglan, arranging the bowls and chopsticks, replied straight away: "The nation's birthday."

Lu Beitang sat on the stool, looking genuinely pained: "What does the nation's birthday have to do with you."

"Hey, you speak without enlightenment; aren't I a citizen? Celebrating the nation's birthday is everyone's responsibility."

Lu Beitang was choked by a remark: "There's no need to make so much; just buy all the Meat Tickets at once this time, then we'll see if we can get by later."

"Stop the endless chatter; now the whole country's people are protecting the Capital City, so we don't worry about lacking food."

Lu Beitang had to pick up his chopsticks, grab a rib, and couldn't help but sigh: "We worker big brothers eat with oil dripping from our mouths, but it's the farmer brothers who suffer."

Chen Xianglan sat down laughing: "Just now you said you lacked enlightenment, and now your enlightenment appears instantly; so what, just give up your portion and send a bowl to the farmer brothers."

"I'm just sighing…" Lu Beitang was speaking, when he was suddenly drawn to Lu Cheng beside him.

He saw Lu Cheng hugging a pork trotter and happily gnawing on it.

Lu Beitang rummaged the vegetable basin, finding only pork ribs and radish.

"Hey, how come you have pork trotters to eat? Where did they come from?"

Lu Cheng didn't even lift his head: "My mom gave it to me as a reward; I was helping Mom wash clothes this afternoon."

"Just one?"

"Hmm, just one."

Lu Beitang put down his chopsticks: "Why are you eating alone?"

Lu Cheng kept gnawing the pork trotter: "This thing has no meat; it's just skin and bone. You eat pork ribs, which have more meat on them."

Lu Beitang picked up the ribs again: "There's not much meat either; it's all bone. Which side‑dish shop did your mom buy this from? It's a rip‑off; buying some pork belly would be so tasty."

Chen Xianglan clapped her chopsticks: "Stop being picky; my son loves pork ribs. If you don't eat them, go out and drink the northwest wind; no one will stop you."

……

Every day at meals you have to exchange a couple of words first; if you don't argue twice a day, Lu Cheng actually feels something's off.

At this moment, someone who had finished eating early came over, carrying a small stool, wandering from the front yard to the Backyard.

Lu Beitang found it odd: "Is Wu Guiwen holding a meeting tonight? Why is everyone here, yet I still see other Da Za Yuan people."

Lu Cheng, still gnawing the pork trotter, replied: "It's not a meeting; Wu Guiwen's family is setting up a TV, and everyone is here to watch TV."

Chen Xianglan also found it odd: "Wu Guiwen is finally willing to set up a TV? Hey, it's like the sun finally rose in the west."

Lu Cheng explained: "You weren't in the courtyard this afternoon, so you didn't know; this afternoon Sister Gui Yun was threatening to hang herself. That's why Wu Guiwen, fearing his daughter's stress, let her watch TV to relax."

Lu Beitang nodded: "Wu Guiwen finally figured it out; this is right… wait, Gui Yun wants to hang herself—did you incite that?"

Knowing that a child cannot surpass his father, Lu Cheng realized lying was useless: "I just echoed a couple of lines nearby; the main responsibility isn't on me."

Lu Cheng, fearing a beating and eager to clear his name, was surprised when Lu Beitang slammed the table and said enthusiastically:

"What you did was right; Gui Yun is from our courtyard, you all played together since childhood. Lately, I see Gui Yun is indeed under too much pressure, so she should relax a bit."

Hearing his father say that, Lu Cheng finally felt at ease and continued gnawing the pork trotter.

Chen Xianglan then said: "Stop worrying about whose responsibility it is; as long as Wu Guiwen loosens up, that's fine. Let's eat quickly and go watch TV."

Because the TV was rebooted, Da Za Yuan returned to its previous bustling state.

"What's going on, still static? When will the picture appear."

Adjusting the antenna, almost done, Wu Guiwen, this is definitely because it's been on too long and got damp.

"Wu Guiwen, why not just replace it with a color TV? That thing is clearer, a one‑step solution."

Wu Guiwen hummed without speaking; these people really talk without a care, as if the imported color TV were a great wind blowing in.

Finally the TV displayed an image, and the group shouted approval together; such a scene naturally included children.

Da Hu led his sister and a few buddies, gathering directly in front of the TV; even if it was just the news broadcast, they watched it with great interest.

Seeing everyone gathered in the courtyard watching TV, Lu Cheng knew his chance had arrived.

He then filled a bowl with pork ribs, carried it to Sun Yan Hong's house.

Seeing Lu Cheng arrive, Sun Yan Hong wasn't surprised at all; it was as if she knew he would come and was waiting at home.

"Here you are."

Lu Cheng lifted the curtain: "Sister Yan Hong, I brought you a bowl of pork ribs, still hot, give it a try."

"No need to bring me ribs; Ying Ying hasn't returned yet, keep them for your sister."

"I left them for my sister; my mom bought a lot."

Sun Yan Hong had to take out a bowl, pour the ribs out, and didn't return the empty bowl to Lu Cheng.

"You've been busy with work these past few days, must be exhausted; go lie on the bed, I'll wash my hands and give you a shoulder massage."

Lu Cheng was waiting for that line; after comfortably lying on the bed, Sun Yan Hong's freshly washed hands reached into his clothes, noticeably cool.

"I didn't take a bath today, I'm dirty; maybe pressing through my clothes will do."

Sun Yan Hong pursed her lips and smiled: "I'm not rejecting you; is this pressure okay?"

"It's fine; you could still say it's your hands that feel comfortable, those men's hands are neither light nor heavy."

Sun Yan Hong asked puzzledly: "What? There are still men pressing you!"

Those men were naturally the scarred few from Haozi Li, and Lu Cheng couldn't help but think of Qin Shou; that guy was definitely waiting for the report's result.

But I don't know how the General Bureau will write this report.

While thinking about it, suddenly heard someone shout "Lu San'er".

Listening closely, it was Yang Yin's voice.

"How did she get here? We're doomed!" Lu Cheng quickly got up.