Chapter 75: The Sister‑in‑Law Who Shows Her Might

Qi Baoguo was startled for a moment, wondering who this person was; he took a drag himself and didn't even say "let me have some."

"No, I didn't bring fire."

"You think you're senior, and you still make me light a fire for you!"

Not wanting to embarrass the younger brother‑in‑law, Yan Baoyue, seeing this, grabbed the matchbox on the table, lit a match, and Lu Cheng hurriedly handed over the cigarette.

"Thank you, sister‑in‑law; how could I have you light a fire for me."

At that moment, he patted his sister‑in‑law's hand, showing courtesy for her giving him a cigarette.

He exhaled a puff of smoke straight onto Qi Baoguo's face, choking him so he coughed repeatedly.

"You, what are you doing? Let me tell you, if you dare disrespect me, your brother won't be able to remain the squad leader."

What does it matter that Lu Cheng is from the Capital City? His Li Juzhang, since they are all part of the same Railway system, are normally courteous to each other, yet Qi Baoguo has no reason to be afraid.

After all, Lu Zhiqing is under his control, he has him in his grip, so Lu Cheng must obediently listen.

Lu Cheng let out a cold snort: "Comrade Qi, what an impressive official authority you have. The squad leader doesn't rely on member elections, but on giving gifts? No wonder you just chased the members away; you were afraid they'd see it."

Qi Baoguo glanced sideways: "Don't talk nonsense; I never said you had to give gifts. If you want to give, that's a favor; if you don't, I just deal with things as they are."

Lu Cheng laughed: "What a 'deal with things as they are'—as far as I know, in the last two squad leader elections, my brother received the highest votes. Explain to me how that aligns with 'dealing with things as they are'?"

Qi Baoguo widened his eyes; how could Lu Cheng, a person from the Capital City, know this? Needless to say, it must have been Lu Zhiqing who told him.

Seeing he couldn't get through to Lu Cheng, he turned his head to Lu Feng: "Lu Zhiqing, the elections in our team are internal affairs; how can you recklessly leak them outward? What you're doing is wrong; you're blackening our Big Team, blackening our Commune."

Lu Feng was momentarily stunned; it's because he longs for home that every time he writes a letter, he details the local life, culture, and geography, giving his younger brother and sister a chance to see it thoroughly.

The three siblings all correspond like this; when sister Lu Ying wrote to him, she even mentioned that Lu Cheng had farted the day before yesterday, covering her nose, and felt the need to write it down.

It is precisely these detailed and amusing life letters that soothe his wandering, homesick heart.

To claim he blackened the Big Team would be an unjust accusation.

Lu Feng is straightforward and blunt; Lu Cheng was about to stand up for his older brother, when sister‑in‑law Yan Baoyue lost her temper first.

"Who blackened the Big Team! Aren't we stating the facts? Clearly Lu Feng received the highest votes; on what basis did you give it to someone else? Just because you're the Big Team secretary, you can give it to anyone—then what's the point of voting?"

Three successive questions forced Qi Baoguo to step back repeatedly.

Yan Baoyue didn't stop, seized a broom and waved it up: "You don't come to my house, you go! You go!"

This scene left Lu Cheng with his mouth agape; the sister‑in‑law who seemed gentle turned out to be so fierce when she flared up.

At the same time Lu Cheng felt relieved; his older brother is honest, and having such a formidable wife means they won't be bullied in the Big Team.

"Sister‑in‑law, impressive!" Lu Cheng raised his thumb.

Yan Baoyue instantly felt embarrassed; she had been too angry and momentarily forgot the younger brother‑in‑law was still present.

"Lu Cheng, I… I made you look foolish; actually, sister‑in‑law usually…"

If Lu Cheng went back and told his in‑laws in the Capital City, her image would be ruined.

"It's fine, sister‑in‑law, I just like you this way; why should we be bullied by others? If we need to fight back, we should, and uncle will always support you."

Yan Baoyue felt even more embarrassed.

Qi Baoguo grew even angrier; when he heard Lu Zhiqing's younger brother had arrived with many items, he tried to exploit Lu Zhiqing's desire to become squad leader to take some things and leave.

In the end he got nothing and was chased out with a broom.

"Fine, fine, your Yan family wait; this year the team is calculating grain, and your family will be placed last. If you end up with nothing, don't blame me!"

After saying that, without giving the Yan family a chance to plead, Qi Baoguo swept his sleeves and walked away.

The house finally quieted down, but the silence was somewhat uneasy, mainly because the harsh words Qi Baoguo left as he departed made everyone worry.

Yan Lao Han regretted not having taken the cigarette away from Qi Baoguo; this man is the Big Team secretary, not easy to offend.

Lu Cheng didn't care at all, cradling Lu Qing'er in his arms; after all, they're blood‑related, and the little niece not only isn't afraid of him, she actually loves to cling to him.

"Big brother, your Big Team secretary is really impressive," Lu Cheng said casually while teasing his little niece.

Lu Feng squatted at the doorway and sighed: "The Yushu Gou Big Team is surrounded by mountains on all sides, far too isolated. The Commune rarely visits; whatever Qi Baoguo says is taken as truth, and no one dares to oppose him."

The mountains are high and the emperor far away; no wonder Qi Baoguo is so overbearing—he can even show up at someone's door demanding gifts.

Lu Cheng comforted: "Big brother, you needn't worry; there's no need to curry favor with such a person. What's so great about the squad leader? He still has to dig for food in the fields. I'll get you a job in the Commune."

As soon as Lu Cheng finished speaking, the whole family turned to look, then all shook their heads, showing disbelief.

In their family, even being a squad leader is so arduous; the thought of working in the Commune is unimaginable.

Even if Lu Cheng is from the Capital City, his hand can't reach into the Commune.

"Little uncle, Qing'er believes you."

That sudden remark made Lu Cheng laugh: "Qing'er, do you want to ride a bicycle?"

Seeing Qing'er with a clueless expression, Lu Cheng pulled out a bicycle ticket, waved it and said, "It's that kind of two‑wheeled big horse, runs fast. Shall I have your dad buy it for you?"

This time Lu Qing'er finally nodded a little.

Lu Feng saw the bicycle ticket and exclaimed in surprise: "Lu Cheng, why did you bring this? I don't need a bicycle."

"You'll need it! I said I'd get you into the Commune, so I can definitely get you in."

All the roads here are mountain paths; in the future, going out of the mountains daily to work in the Commune will definitely require a bicycle, and Lu Cheng had already thought ahead.

"Take it, it was originally meant for Er Jie. My sister said her job is close, so she doesn't need it. I take the bus every day and am too lazy to ride. Also, this is two hundred yuan and National Grain Tickets; earlier there were many people, so I didn't take it out."

The family was shocked again; the specialties Lu Cheng had brought earlier were already plentiful enough to make the Big Team members enviously die, yet the big boss was still behind.

Yan Baoyue quickly pushed back: "No, Lu Cheng, this is too valuable; sister‑in‑law can't take it. Thank you, you coming to see sister‑in‑law already makes her very happy."

Lu Feng also said: "Lu Cheng, listen to your sister‑in‑law; put it away."

"Big brother, this isn't for you; it's for my little niece. You can endure hunger, I don't care, but you can't shortchange my little niece. Look at her pale, waxy face, she's so thin; if Mom saw, she'd be heartbroken."

Lu Feng had nothing to say; he knew Lu Cheng was using a trick to get him to accept the money.

"Sister‑in‑law, you take it; today you still have to kill a chicken for me to eat," Lu Cheng directly stuffed the money into Yan Baoyue's pocket.

Yan Baoyue still couldn't accept: "No, no, it's just a chicken; how can it compare with all these things? Sister‑in‑law can't take it."

Even if you just pull it out casually, it's still more precious than that chicken.

Lu Cheng laughed, "Sister‑in‑law, the account isn't calculated that way. Take a bicycle, for me, after a few months of work I could buy one; it's something optional."

But this chicken, for you, sister‑in‑law, is the most precious thing you can produce, incomparable in value to any amount of money.

As the saying goes, a bicycle has a price, but your sentiment is priceless."

Yan Baoyue smiled helplessly; she's usually quite articulate, otherwise she couldn't have lured Lu Zhiqing back home, but in front of her younger brother‑in‑law, she suddenly couldn't find a rebuttal.

"Thank you, Lu Cheng. You must be hungry; sister‑in‑law will stew the chicken right away, and later you should eat more."

While the family was busy at the stove, Lu Cheng pulled his elder brother into the courtyard, intending to ask in detail about the matter of the Commune leaders coming down for inspection.

This matter will hinge on whether elder brother can smoothly enter Commune employment.