Chapter 68: A Mother Quarrels with Someone

Lin Qingyan arrived a little late.

Since Lu Cheng gave Zhao Bin a strategy, the Big Bowl Tea Stall's profit suddenly multiplied several times.

This caused the eleven of them to be busy round the clock; for this, Uncle Zhao Shushu still has to apply for processing funds for them.

When she returned to Da Za Yuan, she learned the news of Lu Cheng's injury and immediately brought the lunchbox prepared by Chen Xianglan and rushed over.

"Why are you smoking again?"

As soon as Lin Qingyan entered the ward, she smelled a heavy tobacco odor.

"Isn't this what you always say, that I never grow up?"

Lu Cheng gestured at the cigarette butt in his hand and casually tossed it out the window from the third floor of the ward.

"Ouch, who the hell threw that? It burned me; have any sense of public decency…"

Lu Cheng quickly closed the window; Lin Qingyan shook her head, walked to the low cabinet beside the bedside, and placed the lunchbox on it.

"Eat first; how's your foot? Don't jump around, I'll help you…"

Lu Cheng was helped to sit at the bedside, took the lunchbox: "It's not serious; a period of rest will be fine. Have you eaten?"

"You eat first."

"What do you mean? Planning to eat my leftovers? I've told you countless times, don't deprive yourself like that."

Lu Cheng's voice was a bit loud; Lin Qingyan lowered her head: "Don't be so harsh."

Chen Xianglan originally had her eat at home; now coming to the hospital, she feared Lu Cheng would go hungry, so she came to the hospital first to deliver the meal.

Lu Cheng shook his head, ate while asking: "How's the Big Bowl Tea selling lately?"

Lin Qingyan sat at the bedside: "Hmm, it's good now; we can sell over a thousand bowls a day, other sweet potatoes and peanuts are also selling well. Uncle Zhao said he'll apply for wages for us, raising each to thirty‑five yuan."

Lin Qingyan's voice was soft, but her tone was clearly a bit emotional, because she got this job thanks to Lu Cheng pulling strings for her.

She feared that with more people, she would be just like plain rice, and eventually others would inevitably have more complaints about Lu Cheng.

Now she no longer thinks that way; everyone is busy round the clock, and she doesn't feel she's a burden to the tea stall. Instead, she feels a sense of achievement, because it was Lu Cheng's strategy that revived the stall.

"You're actually pretty impressive."

A few words brought the tea stall back from the dead, which made Lin Qingyan find it unbelievable.

Lu Cheng turned his head, a mischievous grin on his face: "You haven't experienced it, how would you know I'm impressive?"

Lu Cheng's gaze was a bit intense; Lin Qingyan quickly got up: "You lose composure as soon as you speak; just eat properly, I'll go get you some water."

By the time Lin Qingyan prepared the water and returned to the ward, Lu Cheng had already finished his meal.

"Hey, stop fussing, eat. After you finish, you can go back; I don't need you to stay on guard here."

Actually Lu Cheng could go home, but he wants to stay in the hospital a few days; compared with Da Za Yuan, this is a single room for senior officers, especially clean at night.

There's also a private bathroom, so he doesn't have to, like at Da Za Yuan each morning, go to the public restroom to empty his bladder.

Lin Qingyan took the lunchbox, pursed her lips for a moment; Lu Cheng ate only half, and only the half in front of him, leaving the back half untouched without fiddling with chopsticks.

Though a tiny detail, it gave Lin Qingyan a feeling of being respected.

"It feels… like I've really grown up!"

"I'm not going home tonight; I told Mom and stayed here to look after you," Lin Qingyan said, taking small bites.

Lu Cheng didn't insist either, comfortably leaning on the bed, casually asked: "Have you written to your parents lately?"

"I have, probably just like before…"

Whether it's because her parents' worry affects her, or the letters were intercepted, in any case Lin Qingyan has never received a reply.

Fearing she'd fall into sorrow, Lu Cheng didn't bring it up again; a young lady without parents nearby, alone, is inevitably somewhat pitiful.

At night, while sleeping, Lin Qingyan sat on a stool, leaned on the bedside and fell asleep; fortunately the ward had heating, so it wasn't cold.

Yet Lu Cheng couldn't help feeling a bit reluctant; after returning from the bathroom, with one hand on her thigh bend and the other around her willow‑like waist, he easily lifted her by the waist.

She was sleeping quite deeply; she didn't wake up at all.

Lu Cheng seemed to become her only support; as long as he's by her side, Lin Qingyan always feels at ease.

In a sleep‑talking state, as if unconsciously, her arms wrapped around Lu Cheng's neck.

Lu Cheng gently laid her onto the bed, leaned forward, extended his fingers, brushed the stray hair from Lin Qingyan's face, revealing her pure face.

"Qing Yanjie, hold on for two more years, your parents will definitely be back by your side; then I won't need to protect you."

……

The next morning, Lu Cheng prepared to go home; Chen Xianglan has to work every day, so it's inconvenient to keep delivering meals back and forth.

But to make a show, he specifically got a pair of crutches, limping home.

At the Siheyuan entrance, Da Hu was climbing the wallhead: "Lu San'er, why did you become a cripple?"

"Lu San'er is also what you call, calling you 'dad'."

"Dad."

Lu Cheng was about to agree when a sudden blow struck his shoulder.

"Sss… hehe, Yan Hong sister."

Sun Yan Hong rolled her eyes: "Your leg's already limped and you still aren't honest; I think you shouldn't have injured your foot, you should have injured your mouth."

Lu Cheng laughed: "Look at what Sister Yan Hong says, can you wish me some good?"

"Who made you call me son and call you dad, making my Er Ya truly treat you as dad now."

"Isn't that perfect? I'm quite fond of Er Ya; you marry me, and with Qing Yanjie, the three of us live together."

"Go, go, go, you'll just be blind and poor; you came back just in time, hurry to the Inner Courtyard; Yue Min's wife and your mother started arguing early this morning."

Zhao Yue Min is Zhao Daye's second son.

How would you describe the usual relationship between the two families?

Lu Beitang, when he first entered the Steel Factory, was taken under Zhao Daye's wing for a few months, almost like a half‑master.

So the Lu family still shows some respect toward the Zhao family, but it's only respect for Zhao Daye.

It's just because his two sons and their daughters‑in‑law are too petty, nitpicking and always looking for a cheap gain; they not only take from other families but also from each other within their own family.

At the slightest disagreement, the two families start fighting, smashing pots and breaking bowls, turning the courtyard into chaos.

Each time Lu Beitang tries to intervene for Zhao Daye with a few words, Chen Xianglan never lets him, making his effort futile and unappreciated, and then he gets scolded for meddling.

Although they all live in the inner courtyard, apart from Zhao Daye they rarely interact with those two children's families.

Even if they run into them head‑on, they just pretend not to see.

Because of Zhao Daye, the relationship between the two families is neither good nor terribly bad.

How come they're still arguing with Mom?