Chapter 528: The Quarrel in the Courtyard

The summer in the Capital City is harder to endure than winter, because there's no air‑conditioning and even fans are a rarity; at least in winter you can heat a coal stove for warmth.

The bed in the room is covered with a cool mat; when Lu Cheng sleeps, he likes to strip down completely, wearing only a pair of briefs.

"Sister Yan Hong, look at you, why are you still staring!"

Sun Yan Hong has been through everything; she's already the mother of two children.

"Go, go, go, hurry and get dressed; Teacher Wu is going to beat you, we'll hold you back a bit, so put on your clothes and run quickly."

Without giving Lu Cheng a chance to ask, Sun Yan Hong closed the door after speaking.

Teacher Wu Guiwen was being blocked by a few people: "Yan Hong, move aside, I have to teach this little brat a lesson today."

Seeing that Lu Cheng hadn't come out yet, Sun Yan Hong simply spread her arms to block the door.

"Teacher Wu, don't be hasty, there must be some misunderstanding; surely someone else is just talking nonsense…"

The Yue Min Xifu instantly became displeased, clearly implying that she was the one talking nonsense.

"Hey Yan Hong, who are you pointing at! I advise you not to meddle blindly…" Yue Min Xifu said, picking up a branch as thick as an arm from Ji Wo.

"Teacher Wu, here, give him a good lesson, that Lu San'er."

Seeing the thick stick handed over, Wu Guiwen took it without hesitation, about to brandish it forward, when Chen Xianglan and Lu Beitang, hearing the commotion, rushed out of the house while dressing.

"What's going on, this early in the morning! Teacher Wu, why are you holding a stick…"

Seeing Chen Xianglan appear, Wu Guiwen finally paused, though he still looked angry.

"What's it to me! You should ask your good son what that thing he organized last night was called; I'm embarrassed to even say."

Chen Xianglan glanced at Lu Beitang; yesterday she helped the old Wu family for almost a day, went to bed early that night, and didn't even know what time his son came home.

Wu Guiwen felt embarrassed to speak, and Yue Min Xifu stuck her head out, saying, "It was your son who was flirting with Gui Yun last night."

"Flirting with Gui Yun?" Chen Xianglan muttered, not believing it at all: "Don't talk nonsense here, did you see it, or did you hear it?"

The Yue Min Xifu still stuck her neck out: "I saw it, I heard it; your son wants to marry Gui Yun but won't bring a bride price, saying he'll just go to his house and make the rice a finished meal."

Hearing this, Chen Xianglan pursed her lips, thinking it was some matter; it was obviously her son joking.

"I'm telling you, Yue Min Xifu, you've been married here for so many years, we all live in the same courtyard; you don't know what kind of temperament my San'er has? You can't even recognize a joke like that…"

The Yue Min Xifu crossed her arms, turned her face aside: "I'm not hearing a joke; what was said then was serious. Your son just wants to eat the grass by the nest."

Chen Xianglan burst out laughing in anger; not only was her son joking, but even if he truly wanted to eat the grass by the nest, among the girls in this courtyard, Chen Xianglan really couldn't find any she liked.

Lu Cheng wants to marry Gui Yun; regardless of whether Teacher Wu agrees, Chen Xianglan is the first to refuse.

A person like Teacher Wu, who can be miserly to death in everyday life, becoming in‑laws with someone like this is just waiting to be sucked dry.

Chen Xianglan was too lazy to bother with the Yue Min Xifu, and she didn't know why; probably because she can't have children, her mind is mostly twisted.

She loves to pry at the wall roots every day for no reason, and she gets along with Wang Dama in the front courtyard; they can chat together.

Lu Beitang stepped forward and said: "Teacher Wu, Gui Yun got into university, the banquet was just held yesterday, the happy event is only tomorrow; if you have something to say, say it properly. What's with your brandishing of weapons and sticks?"

Wu Guiwen, knowing Lu Beitang is a reasonable person, replied: "Speaking properly is fine; just have Lu San'er come out and apologize to me, that's all. Even if it's a joke, you can't say it like that. No matter how you call my Gui Yun, she's still a pure maiden."

"Right, an apology is needed; apologizing would be a cheap thing for Lu San'er."

Lu Beitang knew it was unreasonable; his son used to like fighting and causing trouble, but in recent years he's improved, yet his mouth hasn't changed—he still loves to joke with people and dares to say any kind of joke.

Wu Guiwen's words also made sense; making such jokes is indeed inappropriate. Lu Beitang decided to go to the West Wing Room to call his son out, apologize to Teacher Wu, and that would settle it.

Resulting in Chen Xianglan blocking him: "Apologize for what? No apology! Those two children grew up together; talking about who marries whom, who weds whom, is it worth making such a big fuss?"

Chen Xianglan persisted in her stance, purely because she didn't want to go along with Yue Min Xifu's wishes.

Seeing Chen Xianglan's attitude, Wu Guiwen felt embarrassed; after all, he was in front of so many people in the courtyard.

"So, Xianglan, what do you mean? You can't possibly want your son to actually marry my Gui Yun, huh? I won't agree; he's a divorced man…"

Hearing the word 'divorced,' Chen Xianglan's temper exploded instantly.

"My son is divorced, so what? Even divorced, he's a Deputy Director; your daughter may want to marry, but she can't marry someone so young a Deputy Director!"

People who can be mentioned as Deputy Directors are at least in their thirties; that's already considered fast.

Wu Guiwen was taken aback; he thought his daughter, who got into university and would become a teacher after graduation, was already a dragon and phoenix among people, but in the Lu family, she was completely ignored.

"I'm telling you, Xianglan, the way you say that…"

Wu Guiwen hadn't finished speaking when the West Wing Room door was pulled open, and Lu Cheng, fully dressed, stepped out.

Sun Yan Hong glanced: "Ah, Lu Cheng, why are you out? Quickly go back to the room; I'm blocking here, he can't get in."

Lu Cheng looked at the frantic Sun Yan Hong and smiled; today Teacher Wu certainly can't beat him—first his parents won't let him, and even if they did, Sun Yan Hong is still blocking.

"It's fine, Sister Yan Hong, you step aside, don't get splattered with blood…"

Lu Cheng pushed Sun Yan Hong aside, strode forward, and Wu Guiwen, seeing Lu Cheng emerge, for some reason, his feet involuntarily stepped back a few steps.

"I'm telling you, Lu San'er, don't get messy; your dad is here, the neighbors are all here too."

Lu Cheng isn't afraid of the neighbors; as for his father Lu Beitang, he used to be quite scared—mainly his father really could beat him.

But it's unclear when it started—was it from when he began working? Or after he was promoted to Deputy Section? Regular Section? Or now Deputy Director?

His father's attitude toward him has undergone a subtle change; he no longer beats him, at most gives him a scolding, a couple of verbal lessons, and generally becomes a bit courteous most of the time.

And Lu Beitang, seeing his son come out, turned back into the house, mainly because he didn't want to get involved; any issue can be settled between the two families, but Teacher Wu insists on making the whole courtyard unsettled.

Seeing Lu Beitang leave, Wu Guiwen suddenly lost his confidence, while Lu Cheng was already at his side.

"You, what do you want to do, trying to hit me or what! No matter what, I'm still your elder…"

Wu Guiwen brandished the stick in his hand, and Yue Min Xifu kept shouting beside him: "Hit him, hit him, Teacher Wu, don't be afraid, I'll cheer you on."