Rich in the 70s: I Made a Rugged Veteran a Millionaire-Chapter 28: Gratitude

Night school, school’s out.

There were more people than usual at the entrance of the night school today.

After being comforted by He Dan, Lin Chengyuan, who was in a good mood, furrowed his brow in contemplation.

He just found out that the sister of Director Chen from the security department of the machinery factory also attends night school.

This was such an important piece of information that he had only just learned.

But it wasn’t too late.

While Lin Chengyuan was plotting something, night school ended.

One by one, the girls found their families, said goodbye to each other, and left.

He Dan found Lin Chengyuan at this moment.

"Cheng Yuan."

"Do you know that girl?"

Lin Chengyuan used his body to discreetly point to a girl with braided hair, and He Dan looked over.

After glancing with the aid of a flashlight, she shook her head and said, "She doesn’t seem to be in our class."

"Is that so..."

Lin Chengyuan didn’t dare openly mention currying favor with the leader’s sister, so he secretly held He Dan’s hand, and He Dan pretended to shyly push him away. They smiled intimately and left together.

Grandma Shen and a few others waited a bit longer, and Jiang Cheng was the last to come out.

She came out with Principal Wang and was not empty-handed.

At the main gate.

Jiang Cheng greeted Grandma Shen and the others, holding several notebooks and pencils.

"Jiang Cheng, what are you doing with those notebooks?"

"These? Oh— I just did a little something for the school, and the principal insisted on rewarding me. I said no, but he wouldn’t listen."

Same old recipe, the same Jiang Cheng.

Grandma Shen: If you hadn’t winked at me, I would’ve believed you.

Behind them, Principal Wang’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. Did this girl’s face just run away from home?

Who was it?

Who was it in the office persistently claiming the police provided a reward?

Principal Wang certainly wouldn’t let the night school students be rewarded by outsiders; that would be a slap to his face.

In the end, Jiang Cheng walked away with several notebooks and pencils.

And that wasn’t even the most aggravating part.

Jiang Cheng, taking the reward, consoled Principal Wang with a smile: It’s okay, Principal Wang, no need to be embarrassed; although it’s not as good as the police reward, I don’t mind.

"Hurry up and go!"

Principal Wang urged, looking exasperatedly at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng, sensing the moment, prepared to leave with Grandma Shen and the other two.

"Wait a minute!"

Sun Jiandong ran out from the darkness and assured Grandma Shen and the others: "I’ll continue!"

Leaving those words behind, Sun Jiandong ran off.

Grandma Shen didn’t quite understand but looked precisely at Jiang Cheng.

"It’s nothing serious; Shen Xing and Shen Yue wrote a thank-you letter to Mr. Sun."

Grandma Shen turned to look at Shen Xing.

"I was responsible for writing, and my sister promised to give me a notebook."

"I used my pencil, and my sister said she’d give me a new pencil."

Shen Yue proudly admitted to being bribed, sticking out her little chest.

"That’s right, our Yue Yue is the best! This is a reward from Principal Wang because you understand gratitude and are a good and kind child."

Jiang Cheng handed the pencils and notebooks to Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

Principal Wang: So, I’m just the supplier, huh?

The group parted ways at the gate and went home separately.

Monday, the next day.

Jiang Cheng left the house with Shen Xing and Shen Yue, parting ways at an intersection.

Not long after setting off, Jiang Cheng realized someone was following her, the same person as yesterday.

Pretending not to notice, Jiang Cheng entered the recycling station.

"Jiang Cheng, you’re finally here!"

The station director warmly greeted her.

"Director, is there something today?"

"No, someone came to thank you."

The director nodded familiarly, and Jiang Cheng looked over—it was Leader Tang.

No wonder the director was so enthusiastic.

"Leader Tang?"

"Comrade Jiang Cheng, thank you for helping my wife yesterday. Without you———"

"It just so happens."

Jiang Cheng seamlessly joined the conversation, exchanging pleasantries with Leader Tang, all the while making sure to include the recycling station director.

She especially highlighted the director’s support and crucial assistance.

In the end, everyone was satisfied with the exchange.

Leader Tang didn’t come alone; his mother also joined him.

They brought quite a few things, some for the people at the recycling station and some specifically for Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng accepted them after a few polite words and stopped Leader Tang when she had a chance.

"Leader Tang, after work yesterday, I felt someone was following me. I couldn’t tell exactly who, but it was a man."

Jiang Cheng’s words immediately caught Leader Tang’s attention.

Among the people caught that night, none were the core members of the human traffickers.

After interrogation, they turned out to be local idlers.

Calling them idlers was a compliment—they were either compulsive gamblers or deep in debt, the ones easiest to blackmail.

They were threatened and promised that if a person was caught, their previous debts would be wiped out or they’d receive urgently needed money.

"Keep quiet about it; I’ll have someone keep watch."

Jiang Cheng showed nothing on her face as she saw Leader Tang and his mother off at the door.

After they parted, Jiang Cheng focused on work, continuing to organize materials.

Leader Tang immediately arranged for someone to follow Jiang Cheng discreetly, as this might lead directly to a crucial clue.

At 4:30 in the afternoon, Jiang Cheng clocked out on time.

She hurriedly left as always, but this time, it was the director who felt gratified and sighed appreciatively at the door.

"Comrade Xiao Jiang is really ambitious."

"Director, Comrade Xiao Jiang is just here to fill in."

Reminded by someone, the director glanced at the speaker, the gap is palpable!

The person reminding was a sorting worker, distantly related to Durant.

"I need to give Durant a heads-up; otherwise, the job may never get back. This Jiang Cheng really is cunning."

*

The remembered Jiang Cheng had already arrived at night school and ran into Principal Wang again.

Even though Principal Wang was annoyed about getting taken advantage of, he still found an excuse to bring food.

Jiang Cheng unhesitatingly accepted the lunch box.

"You truly are a good principal! Under your management, the night school will surely nurture many talents."

"Cut the flattery, not a single word from your mouth do I trust."

Principal Wang had experienced Jiang Cheng’s eloquence firsthand.

"Just study well."

Though he complained, Principal Wang held high hopes for Jiang Cheng.

"Jiang Cheng, make sure you don’t waste this learning opportunity, you hear?"

"Don’t worry, Principal. I actively seek out teachers to ask questions every day."

Unaware of the real "questions" Jiang Cheng asked, Principal Wang repeatedly praised her, not disturbing her meal.

About ten minutes later, Jiang Cheng devoured her meal, a thought bubbling up inside her.

The principal is so good, should she give something in return?

What brings the most delight to people these days?

That’s right, let’s give a bit of honor then.

Thinking about this, Jiang Cheng went to Teacher Lü’s class.

In one class, Jiang Cheng learned two languages.

The speed left Teacher Lü once again astonished.

At the end of class, Teacher Lü curiously asked, "Jiang Cheng, do you have a photographic memory?"

Jiang Cheng shook her head.

"No, I’m not that amazing."

"The stuff you talked about, I can only remember about ninety-nine percent."

Teacher Lü: "..."