Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 23: Drink More Water

Jiang Cheng stood through an entire class.

The learning progress was still rapid. Teacher Lü had a blank expression, but inside she was extremely pleased; she had never seen such an incredible student before.

"Alright, let’s stop here for today."

Teacher Lü closed the dictionary and said with a bit of a scolding tone, "Make sure to review more when you get home. Don’t think you’re so great. Remember, there’s always someone better out there. I’ve seen several, you know?"

"Teacher, I won’t get arrogant, but I don’t have any books!"

When Jiang Cheng said this, Teacher Lü remembered the issue with the books.

That senior is so slow; getting him to apply for a few books is such a hassle!

Teacher Lü automatically ignored the fact that it had only been two days.

"No books, so you can’t review? Where there’s a will, there’s a way."

After saying this, Teacher Lü sneaked a glance.

She was afraid Jiang Cheng would become arrogant, but also concerned about being too harsh—she couldn’t quite find the balance.

Jiang Cheng, who had already put on her backpack, nodded earnestly and said, "You’re right, Teacher. I shouldn’t let having or not having books affect my learning. After all, I’ve memorized it all."

Teacher Lü: Is she showing off? Right? Right?

"Alright, off you go. I’ve said so much, drink more water."

Teacher Lü "subtly" reminded her to drink water, for the third time that day.

With her perceptive mind, Jiang Cheng understood immediately.

The old lady was too shy to give things directly yet wanted it known that the gift was from her, an awkward situation.

Jiang Cheng immediately picked up the water bottle, cheerfully saying, "This is my first water bottle!"

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Jiang Cheng gave Teacher Lü a hug, leaving her a bit stunned.

"Let go! Let go! Get farther away from me!"

Jiang Cheng instantly let go, grinning at Teacher Lü, "Teacher, I’m leaving. Thank you for the water bottle!"

"Who gave it to you? Just borrowing it to you!"

Teacher Lü retorted stubbornly, then feeling it was not quite right, added, "You’ve used it now; I don’t want it back!"

"Got it!"

Jiang Cheng left.

Teacher Lü’s face showed a rarely seen smile, but thinking someone might see, she quickly hid it.

This girl is too cheeky!

Jiang Cheng returned to the classroom, getting out fifteen minutes earlier since the old lady was likely worried about her getting too tired from standing.

Once inside the classroom, Jiang Cheng put down her backpack and quickly blended into the class, chatting with some familiar faces.

"Yue Er, didn’t sleep well last night?"

The weary Jian Yueer shook her head, looking troubled.

Jian Yueer didn’t want to talk about it, and Jiang Cheng didn’t pry—everyone has their little secrets.

Before class, Jian Yueer went to the bathroom, and Jiang Cheng happened to go along.

When Jian Yueer nearly walked into the wall, Jiang Cheng asked once more.

"Jiang Cheng—I—I—"

Jian Yueer, on the verge of tears, clung to Jiang Cheng, and the two stood in a quiet little corner.

A minute later, Jiang Cheng asked knowingly, "You say, you feel like someone is following you home at night?"

Jian Yueer nodded, troubled, "I didn’t see anyone, just have this feeling."

"Sometimes our instincts are quite accurate. Who do you walk home with after school, and where do your paths diverge? Which direction do you take?"

Following Jiang Cheng’s line of questioning, Jian Yueer began answering.

After hearing it, Jiang Cheng called over a few girls who walked with Jian Yueer and bluntly asked, "After you part ways, do you also feel like someone is following you?"

The question raised, three out of the five girls nodded, faces pale, hesitantly speaking up.

None of them had seen anyone; they thought it was an illusion and didn’t dare tell anyone.

After hearing this, Jiang Cheng concluded:

"It seems it’s not a coincidence. If there is something premeditated, it won’t only be you.

"Listen carefully, don’t alarm the others. Go and discreetly ask close friends or classmates if they have experienced the same. Gather their names, addresses, the routes home, and where they felt followed. Write it all down."

Jiang Cheng’s words immediately gave them a sense of direction and security.

After they parted, Jian Yueer gratefully looked at Jiang Cheng, "Thank you, Jiang Cheng."

Jiang Cheng laughed generously, "No need to thank me. You stood up for me at the school gate that day too."

The two shared a knowing smile and quietly returned to the classroom.

As more questions were asked quietly, the greater the shock grew.

Their fear was momentarily suppressed as the class began.

The first lesson was geography class.

The geography teacher also had dark circles under his eyes, causing Jiang Cheng to doubt herself: Could she be wrong?

After hearing Jian Yueer’s account, she inferred it from a trafficking incident in the book that occurred a month later.

Human traffickers never stop at just abducting children; women are also their targets.

But why was the geography teacher so haggard? Could he be involved in selling to illegal mines?

Jiang Cheng’s mind wandered.

At the same time, geography Mr. Li was internally berating himself: What was he afraid of?

Really, as people age, they tend to overthink.

The geography teacher tried to relax, teaching the familiar course with ease.

The nearest student, Jiang Cheng, kept her head down, busy writing and drawing.

Mr. Li was somewhat distracted, and mid-lesson, he made a slip.

In a flash, Jiang Cheng looked up, and their eyes met.

A cold sweat rolled down Mr. Li’s back, his heartbeat speeding up as he tried to correct his mistake.

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly and lowered her head again.

That moment, Mr. Li realized Jiang Cheng really had memorized the textbook.

He deliberately made another error, and once again, Jiang Cheng looked up, eyes filled with confusion.

Once Mr. Li corrected himself, Jiang Cheng lowered her head again.

In the next period, Mr. Li made three errors, with Jiang Cheng looking up each time.

Mr. Li finally confirmed that Jiang Cheng had memorized the entire book.

After class, Jiang Cheng stood up.

"Teacher, you need to take care and rest well."

Mr. Li chuckled dryly, too weary to respond.

Why was he feeling like this? Because of whom???

With mixed emotions, Mr. Li returned to his office, sitting in silence for a long time.

In the classroom, when the teacher made the third mistake, Jiang Cheng knew he was testing her.

Realizing this, she didn’t want to hide anymore.

As class ended, Jiang Cheng compiled everyone’s gathered information, reaching a conclusion.

Someone was systematically following young, single girls from night school.

This matter was beyond what she could handle alone, yet it wasn’t serious enough to involve the police.

As she considered her options, Jiang Cheng obtained several phone numbers and walked out of the classroom briskly.

She went directly to the principal’s office, where there was a phone.

Using the excuse of returning a lunchbox, Jiang Cheng smoothly entered the principal’s office, stating her intention to make a call.

Principal Wang had a very good impression of Jiang Cheng.

Bright, diligent, hardworking, simple and frugal, with strong patriotism, all of which were how he saw Jiang Cheng.

"Go ahead, make your call. I’ll go for a stroll."

Principal Wang left with a smile, not knowing Jiang Cheng mused: If you knew I had more than one call to make, perhaps you wouldn’t be smiling so brightly.

But for now, the matter at hand—whether led by the principal or herself—was fundamentally different, so better not to get him involved.

Jiang Cheng picked up the phone, dialing the textile factory where Jian Yueer’s father worked.